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February Journal Archived Saturday, 3 Feb: Praise God! I am safely back in Iraq. I got back here Thursday morning around 6 and have been playing catch up on sleep ever since. Thank you for all your prayers for safe travel! I would just like to fill you in on my two weeks at home and then give some shout outs. It was so wonderful being home and spending time with family and friends. My week started with a small party at my house to watch my beloved Saints defeat the Eagles. There was a great time had by all. Sunday we went to church and was welcomed back by a host of people. It felt really good to be back "home". Monday and Tuesday I was down with vertigo. The doctor said it may have been caused by the transatlantic flight, coupled with my sinus problems. I was fine for Wednesday night and did praise and worship with the boys for youth group. I am so very proud of Da Boyz! They were definitely made to praise God! We went to ride go-karts and played a game of putt-putt. We had a great boys day out. I look forward to being able to do that more often in the very near future. We pretty much lounged around on Saturday and I got to catch up on Grey's Anatomy and House. Sunday, we had some folks over to what the NFC Championship game. As most of you are aware, I couldn't pull by beloved Saints through that one and get them to the Super Bowl. It was not all doom and gloom, though. They are a young team and I am confident they will be around for many years to come. We got up Monday and headed north to Virginia Beach. We visited with Angi's sister and her family and the boys stayed there while we left for Williamsburg. Angi and I did some dining and shopping there and just had some good quality time with each other. One day, we were given a free breakfast and then the sales pitch for the time share. After some negotiating, we ended up purchasing a time share to use for the rest of our lives. It was definitely an economic decision, as well as a family one. We headed back to Va Beach to get the boys and brought them back to Williamsburg for our last night there. On Friday night, Angela and I met some friends of ours at EasyLife Meals and prepared a few meals. That was also alot of fun, then we went out afterwards for a night cap. Saturday was pretty much another lounge around day and Sunday I got to sing with the Praise Band. I so look forward to doing that more, too. Monday morning, it was off to the airport for my trek back here. I want to thank so many people, but forgive me for not remembering everyone's name. Starting in my own home with Angi and Da Boyz; their strength and perseverance through all of this has been tremendous. Mom is simply a gem. She has stepped in to take care of the boys when Angi is out and I am sure, if not #1, she is in the top 3 prayer warriors for me and the folks over here. Lee and Angela Thompson are a God send. They, along with the home group, have taken my family in and loved on them like there is no tomorrow. For that, and for the relationship that has developed between Lee and I, I am truly grateful. Mike and Sherri Salter are dear friends who have practically become family and for what they have done for my family in my absence is immeasurable. Braxton and Jessica Wynn has taken the boys under their wing and taken a great burden off on Angi--for that I am truly thankful. Chuck and Angi Harlow are friends from my work and they have kept in touch with my Angi and have stepped in when needed. The RCC family has embraced us like no other church ever has. To all of you, too many to name, I am eternally thankful. I am always concerned I will miss someone, and if I did, I am truly sorry, but you know who you are and I am thankful for each and every one of you. As the UNC-State game comes to a close, so is this entry. As always, I covet your prayers and support for the remained of my time here in Iraq. I will be home in early spring to finish out my Navy career and embark on a new one. I will resume normal entire tomorrow. Until next time...Todd out. Wednesday, 7 Feb: Hello everyone. Praise God! I have taken enough time off and now it's time to get back to the Bible. For some reason, I was thinking about group night and the question was raised as to why we don't see many miracles anymore. There were several great responses, but one in particular caught my attention. Our fearless leader said that we don't see them because we don't expect them. In my reading today, I came across a message that captures the very thing he was talking about. I read Genesis 22:1-14. In case you can't recall, that is part of the passage about Abraham, Isaac and God. So how can we truly expect a miracle from God? First, we must TUNE INTO GOD'S VOICE. With all the distractions present in the world today, we must make a concerted effort to hear what God is saying to us. Abraham could have listened to other voices, those that told him he was foolish and maybe suggested other things to sacrifice instead of Isaac. Abraham, instead, listened to God's voice. We must learn to pray for miracles that are in line with God's wishes. You must listen to God's voice, though, to know what His wishes are. Second, we must TAKE THE FIRST STEP. Notice that if Abraham was not willing to go as God had directed, the miracle would have never happened. Think of others...the Israelites in Egypt, David on the battlefield, Christ on the road to Golgotha. You see, there is action on our part. God will tell you what you need to do...so just do it. Don't let anyone talk you out of taking that first step toward that miracle. Think of it this way - Do something so big that you can't do it without God. You must take the first step and watch what God will do. Third, we must TRUST IN A FAITHFUL GOD. The world offers many promises, but many of them never come true. God's promises are true and eternal. Abraham didn't know what kind of miracle God would do. He didn't know how or when, but he knew God would come through. He held on to a faithful God. Don't make the mistake of missing the miracle because it is not how you pictured it. We serve a powerful God who wants to perform miracles in our lives. Don't just believe He can do it...expect that God is faithful and will do it! Lastly, we must THANK GOD FOR HIS WORK. Please don't wait until after something happens. Give Him thanks, knowing that He will do it. Thank Him for what He has already done and for what He is going to do. Here are some ways you can thank Him, before and after He does his thing. Thank Him through your testimony; tell others what God has done in your life. Thank Him through your treasure; support the work of the church. Thank Him through you talent; use the gifts you have been given to serve. Thank Him through your time; take time to pray, study and worship. Miracles are things that happen that cannot be explained by anything in the natural world. That's because they happen in the spiritual world and are transported. There is a battle in the spiritual world between good and evil. The evil in this world doesn't want us to see or experience God's miracles, therefore he will use any means to knock you off track. Remember those who saw and experienced miracles before and tune into God's voice, take the first step, trust in a faithful God and thank Him for his work. Don't just believe miracles will happen...EXPECT THEM TO HAPPEN!!!! Until next time...Todd out. Monday, 26 Feb: I guess I should have gone back and read some of my own entries. Ever since I got back to Iraq, I have felt like I was in a spiritual "funk", for lack of a better word. Maybe some of you know what I am talking about. I had such a wonderful time when I was home on leave. I got to see some friends of mine and spend some quality time with my family. I really do miss doing that. I got to praise God with the greatest group of people I have ever played music with. That's what I do...I am a singer. That's what God wants me to do...sing. Sing to Him and about Him. So, was it really a spiritual funk, or was it just me missing the things I like to do most? Why now, though? Because I had gotten into a routine and become used to not being with family and friends or singing with the group. This is where I ask you all for forgiveness for being lazy in keeping this journal updated. In my heart, I wanted to. But my mind was feeling sorry for me, I guess, because I was, once again, far away from family, friends and my group. I am certain that Satan was whispering in my ear, reminding me that I was, well...far away from family, friends and my group. But the problem was, frankly, I was listening to it. I had pretty much convinced myself that because of my circumstances, I could not share with you like I had before. Well, guess what? I finally went back to the worship service here and God bopped me on the head and told me to get over it! He told me to remember why He had allowed the Navy to send me here. I was to be a light in the darkness, shining brighter than anything and everything the enemy has to offer. He reminded me of the guy that I might have had a hand in brining him into a right relationship with Him. He reminded me of people in the services that have told me they could see Him in me. He reminded me that He made me to glorify Him and to lead others to do the same. He reminded me that He never left me, I just was listening to the wrong voice. He reminded me that this journal was His idea, not mine. He reminded me that some people are blessed by the journal and I had better straighten up and get back to it. Thanks be to God for his grace. So much grace, He forgave me for being hard headed and welcomed me back, with arms wide open! I was being foolish, but He showed me the err of my ways. So, folks...after further review...I am back! Well, back "online" anyway. Please continue to pray for me and for all our military men and women here in Iraq and around the world. Call someone who may appear to be in a spiritual "funk". Remind them God promised to never leave us or forsake us...and He keeps his promises! Thank you for allowing me to share with you. Until next time...Todd out. Wednesday, 28 Feb: Well, it’s the last day of February and Angi has started the countdown to my return to civilization...LOL I was thinking about how much support my family and I have been given since I have been gone. I got to thinking about burdens. You know those things in life that happen to us that tend to weigh heavy on our hearts and minds. I can think of plenty of burdens people may carry and I know you can, too. You may have a burden at this very minute. But, you may know someone that has a burden, maybe even bigger than yours. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he wrote this in verses 1-3 of Galatians. I love The Message translation-“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” There is so much there and it is pretty self explanatory, but I would like to touch on a few things. Notice it says to share their burdens, not take them upon yourself. It is very tempting sometime to think if we take the burden from them, they will be okay. Although that may be true, there are at least two reasons not to take them. First, we can learn so much from getting through them ourselves and you would be robbing them of learning a lesson that God wants them to learn. Second, you, more than likely, have burdens of your own and don’t need anymore. Instead of taking their burdens, we are called to be burden sharers like Jesus, to help people in need. But how do we do this? PRAY. Never pass up an opportunity to pray for or with someone. If you know someone is sick or discouraged, simply ask them if you can pray with or for them. You will be amazed at what a difference that can make in someone’s life. People helped my family by praying for safety, comfort, peace. I have said it before, but the strength I draw from knowing people are praying is better than anything I could ever get in the mail. I believe I can speak for my family, too. Your prayers will be a blessing. SPEAK POSITIVE. Words are powerful. Remember Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Ever word you speak to someone is either bringing life or death to them. You are either building them up or tearing them down. Burdens are hard enough to bear without others talking negatively. A kind word can change a person’s outlook on life as soon as they leave your lips. Save your critical comments for yourself. There is a time for them, but not when you are trying to “be there” for someone that is hurting. People spoke words of encouragement to me and my family when it became certain that I would be coming to Iraq. People expressed how much they would miss me. Those words, too, were better than anything I could get in the mail. Your positive, uplifting words will be a blessing. LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP. You know it’s been said that you have not because you ask not. If you are the one with the burden, ask for help. If you are helping someone bear the burden, ask them if they need anything. One of the simplest and best things you can do is hug someone. There are plenty of other ways you can help, but hugs are quick and painless. How do you feel when you are down in the dumps and someone hugs you real tight? I would venture to say the feeling is positive. You really feel that that person really cares about your situation. I was hugged many times prior to my coming here, and even since I have been here. I know people care. I promise, you will never run out of hugs! Hug someone today and they will be blessed. So, here are three simple things we can all do to share another’s burden and complete Christ’s law. Until next time...Todd out.
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