Tag: Challenges

A True Soldier

On August 16, 2018

WHAT IS A TRUE SOLDIER?

On April 5, 2003, at the age of 34, Army Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker was killed by enemy fire in Iraq during a raid into Baghdad. Although I had heard and read about other casualties of war, this particular incident hit close to home because he was family! To the world he was Staff Sergeant Booker, but to those close to him, he was Stevie.

I was in shock the night I received the news that he was dead. My heart especially ached for his mother, sister and nephew. Stevie was gone??? No! It couldn’t be right! Again, he was ONLY 34 years old!!! He had been in the service since he was 18 or 19 years old.

He still had so many more years to live. In fact, following his death, I was told that Stevie had made plans to bring home a special lady, also a member of the service, to meet his family, and in just a few more years, he would have been eligible to retire. However, none of that was going to happen now, and it just didn’t seem fair!

As I pondered over the tragic event, I found solace in knowing that Stevie was a true soldier! A soldier can be defined as an enlisted man or woman. However, just because one survives boot camp doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is a TRUE soldier! A true soldier is willing to fight in order to defend his or her own. In battle or war, a true soldier risks being injured, maimed and even killed. Although we didn’t want to believe that Stevie was never coming back, we had to remember one thing! He was a true soldier who had made an allegiance to the army and to this country, even if it meant losing his life!

ARE YOU A TRUE SOLDIER?
The book of Romans was an epistle or formal letter written by the apostle Paul to the Christians at Rome. In Romans 8:35-36 he asked,

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Paul was informing them that as Christians they would face trouble. In other words, at times they would be persecuted, hungry and destitute, and in grave danger because they chose to follow Jesus Christ.

This truth still resonates today. As believers in Christ, we will face challenges, just as Jesus faced challenges while living on earth as a man. Because He was ridiculed, we will be ridiculed. Because He was mistreated, we can expect to be mistreated. Because He was attacked, we shouldn’t be surprised if we’re attacked. Therefore, we must learn to persevere.

To persevere is to endure through difficult circumstances. II Timothy 2:3 says,

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Paul wrote a letter to his young Christian brother Timothy encouraging him to continue doing the work of the Lord and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, despite any suffering and hardship he would experience.

Like a true soldier, as believers in Christ, we’ve made a commitment to serve God. Consider the apostle Paul. He was totally committed to telling others about Jesus, even if it meant sacrificing his life. In II Corinthians 11, he acknowledged being a prisoner and facing death countless times, including being whipped and even stoned by Jews and Gentiles alike. Three times he was shipwrecked. There were nights he didn’t get any sleep and days he went without food, water or warm clothing. Nevertheless, because of his faith in Jesus and undying devotion, he continued to persevere. He kept praying, preaching and encouraging other believers.

ARE YOU FULFILLING YOUR COMMITMENT?
Just as the apostle Paul persevered, I encourage you to do the same! Don’t allow anything or anyone to stop you from fulfilling your commitment to God. Trust that even when you go through, that God is with you. Know that every struggle is worth it, because not only do you gain rewards on earth, but you will gain the reward of eternal life because you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and remained faithful to the end!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION
If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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A One-Woman Skit

By Kimberly Joy

On June 26, 2016

In Inspirational

Early this month, I had the honor of performing a one-woman skit at my church Power and Faith Ministries’ Annual Women’s Conference. Although it was not the first time I had acted—–even in a skit by myself—–it was the first time I had performed in a skit I created all on my own.

When my mom asked me to do a skit based on the conference’s theme, “Wise Women Build”, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I had already decided that 2016 is the year I am going to branch out and create my own projects. Once upon a time, maybe even as early as last year, I would have been reluctant, suggesting that my mom write the skit for me. After all, she had written skits and plays for me in the past. However, I knew that this time I needed to say yes and accept the challenge!

For many, writing skits and plays comes naturally. But, for me, not so much! The challenge wasn’t because I couldn’t do it, but because I had never taken the time to do so. It was always easier for me to have someone hand me an already completed script. All I had to do then was concentrate on memorizing the lines and bringing the character to life.

To write my own script means to reach beyond just learning lines. I now have to look at the world around me and consider my many encounters along the way, in order to create characters and stories that mimic my experiences and observations. Although this new challenge was fun, it was also a little scary.

*Will people like my skit?

*Will it be funny or just corny?

*Will it be dramatic enough?

*Will the audience be able to connect with the characters?

*Will it even make sense?

In spite of the questions floating around in my head, I chose to step out on faith in God and in the gift He has given me.

When I first sat down in front of the computer, I asked God to write through me. And He did just that! The setting, characters and dialogue came to me at the snap of a finger! It was exhilarating and liberating! I was finally creating my own project without struggle. In fact, I was writing so much, I had to remind myself that I was asked to write a skit, not a four act play!

The night I premiered my skit was the moment of truth, and boy was I nervous! I wasn’t nervous about acting, but about how well my writing would be received. Although I believed the script was good with the right amount of humor and drama mixed in, the audience’s reaction would tell the truth! The response was overwhelming! They even laughed during what was meant to be the funny moments. By the end of the church service, I had received much praise from members of the congregation. Some even suggested that I turn it into a one-woman show (I’ll be working on that soon). One woman, in particular, said that she was able to relate to the character, while another requested that I perform it at an upcoming conference.

For the past couple of years, God had been telling me to write. However, due to a lack of confidence and fear of the unknown, I wouldn’t do it. Needless to say, because of His undying love, God allowed things around me to come to a halt in order to get my attention. Well God………….You have my attention!!! And now that I’m writing, there’s no time to stop or even slow down! Someone, somewhere needs to hear MY story!

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