John 17:15-17
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
In 1966 and 1967 I was on an unaccompanied assignment to the northern tip of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland. By unaccompanied I mean that my precious wife, Joyce and our three beautiful kids could not go with me. I can truly empathize with our men and women of today’s military who are separated from their families. It is hard!
My assignment was to a radar site and I am sorry to say that morality was very low. I often prayed that the Lord would remove me from this place of sin. The Lord did not answer my prayer, but He did change the focus of my attention from how miserable I was to how I could be used by Him. He answered my prayer!
I was recently looking through my Air Force file. I found a certificate that was typically given at the end of an officer’s tour. It was almost always humorous and exaggerated. Mine was no exception except for the last sentence. “He will be long remembered by all for his lay-preaching, Sunday School teaching, Bible Class leadership and community relations.”
God did not remove me from my assignment with the US Air Force, but He did give me a ministry that I cherish. It has taught me that whenever situations arise in our life that distress me, instead of trying to get out it I ask the Lord how He wants to use me in that very situation. He has promised to be with us in the world. Thank you Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Give obediently to the Lord, be willing to make the Lord’s deliveries when asked and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil