Been Awhile

It's been awhile since my last post, partly because the morale net was down and that is the only way I can post my blog. But the main reason, I didn't have much to write. Not much goes on when you are deployed. You work, eat, work out, and sleep. Sometimes you see your friends and get to say more than hi in passing and other times you get to settle down and read a good book. It is an exciting life let me tell you.

In the time that has past I've continued my quest through the NT and came across this which I find crazy cause I taught on this passage about 8 months ago and totally skim over this:

Ephesians 5:19,20 "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Now I don't really get the addressing one another in psalms and hymns part, but bear with m e and if you do understand please help me to. The part of this passage that hit home is "making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and everything to God." This goes back to the heart issue I mentioned before. But am I giving praise to my lord with my heart? Granted I can't carry a tune to save my life, but I know my heart sure can. I am coming to the realization that "making a melody to the Lord with your heart" with then translate in how you speak Luke 6:45 "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Crazy how a heart issue becomes a mouth issue...

"Give Thanks always for everything to God.." Wow! How many times have I only thanked God for getting me out of the mess I put myself in, but throughout the whole ordeal I blamed him? Or if things are going great I take credit for it and not realize the blessings being poured into my life are from God? I find it very humbling that I tend to thank God when things go according to my plans and when they don't I complain and ask God why. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who has a hard time giving thanks always and for everything especially in the hard times. I got really frustrated when I found out I was deploying and for how long I would be gone for. In fact I dragged my feet because upon my return people who I care about would no longer live in Okinawa and I missed the past year with them. Looking back at the past 6 months I can see the blessings that this deployment has brought. I got to spend quality time with my good friends in Oklahoma, who I hadn't seen in 2 years. Spent Thanksgiving with my family and had the joys of spending time with my family besides my bro, who I will see when I get back. And even here in lovely Afghanistan I am building lasting friendships. So even though I wasn't thankful for everything in the beginning, I can see the melody in my heart changing and yes giving thanks always and for everything. I will leave you with this: How can my mouth/words worship and give thanks to God if my heart is not?

Song: Spirit Speaks-All Sons & Daughters and I wonder-Leeland