Answered Prayer...

It is so exciting to me when I see answered prayer! Our prayer for our son before he ever left home in October was for the Lord to provide another Christian young man, one who is actively walking with the Lord and has things in common with our son. Well, a couple of Sundays ago, James went back to one church he had visited in the past. He attended the singles class, the worship service and went back for the Sunday evening service. In the singles class he met two other officers who are in UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training). Steve is a few weeks ahead of James in the program while Ryan is a few weeks behind James. After church they went out for pizza and met up with some of the others from that singles class. Steve talked about a Bible study/prayer time that he was trying to get going.

Yesterday while James was working out, his SRO (Senior Ranking Officer) struck up a conversation with him. From my understanding, it began with mormonism but turned into just a plain religious discussion with Luke asking questions of James. They are all struggling with the pressures of being in UPT and the incredible demands it makes on them. Luke is looking for 'something more' out of life. Anyway, it was an exciting time as James was able to share some of his faith with Luke. Later, Steve (from Sunday school) called James and said the Bible study was going to meet for the first time that night (last night, Friday). James called Luke and asked him if he wanted to come. He said sure.

Well, James said there were four Christians that showed up along with Luke and a friend he brought with him (also from UPT) named Kevin. James believes Kevin is a Christian who is struggling in his walk, waffles back and forth, not living for the Lord. Finally, before they got too far along, Steve's roommate, Jared (who is actually in James' UPT class) came on down and joined them. They began sharing where they were and what they wanted out of this group.

James shared that he had been reading in 1 Peter 2. He began with how the Lord had really impressed on him several verses out of chapter 2. Verses 1 -3 state "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." Also, verse 9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." And then, finally, verse 23b: "Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." James shared how these verses had struck him---in verse 1, 'all' meaning all, not just partial, not just some. That he should be striving to rid himself of 'all'. James also shared how acutely aware he is that it is God who has allowed him to come this far, it is God who has placed him where he is today. And, it will be God, and God alone, who gets James through UPT. James acknowledged that they are there, learning to be pilots and eventually to be pilots, but truly, as a believer, he is there for an even higher calling, that is, to be a witness for God in the pilot community (vs. 9). Finally, he is very open in class or giving a briefing, admitting that he doesn't know or understand something completely, and is willing to take the consequences for that, trusting that the Lord is in complete control of the whole situation. For James knows that Capt. ---- cannot do anything to him unless it has passed through the Lord's hands first (vs 23b).

They also shared how they were all desiring a prayer time, where they can support and uphold one another during the difficult times. No one understands what they are going through, unless one has already been through it, or, are going through it themselves. They feel the need to lift and encourage each other through prayer.

After the get-together Luke went out to James' car with him and they continued talking. Luke continuing to ask James questions and James directing him back to the Bible with his answers.

It is so exciting to be involved (by prayer) in our son's life as he seeks to serve his country, but more importantly, as he seeks to serve his Lord and Savior. Will you join with us in prayer for Luke, as we see the Lord pulling him to Himself. Pray that his heart and mind would be open to the Holy Spirit and may his ears, eyes and mind begin to comprehend his need before God. Pray that satan would be bound, not able to snatch the Truth which James is sharing with him and pray, too, that Luke would have a hunger to be in God's Word. Also, pray for Jared. I don't know if there is any interest there, but he did come and join them and since I don't believe in coincidences but in God-incidences, then, there was a reason for him being there too. And, pray for Kevin, that he will be convicted to stand firm in his faith, desiring to live for the Lord in all areas of his life. Finally, would you please pray that this group would be faithful to meet once a week, and faithful to uphold one another in prayer. It would be so easy to say they don't have time or something else is more important. May the Holy Spirit cause them to see the bigger picture...that being, if God is number one in their priorities then all the other will fall into place.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21)