20 Encouraging Scripture Cards for Deployed Military Men and Women (Living Through Deployment Series)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Today begins a new series here on Abundant Family Living.  My son has been in the Army National Guard for 7 years now, but today, things changed.  Today is the day he reported for his first day on active duty status.  OPSEC guidelines (Operational Security Guidelines) prevent us from sharing dates, times, and places so I won't be revealing those here on the blog until or if ever a such time is appropriate, but when the time arrives, this will be the second time I've lived through a deployment.  The first time began in 1992 when I watched my husband, a young US Marine, head for Somalia.  At the time, I was  pregnant with my son who will deploy at a time and to a place unnamed for now.  I've known this was coming for a long time so I thought I would handle this pretty well.  After all, I've done this before so I can do it again.  Let me tell you though.  No amount of time this side of Heaven and no amount of previous military family experiences could have prepared this mama's heart for watching her son prepare to head for the dangers of a foreign land to fight a so-far 17 year war.  My heart is breaking into a million pieces along with many other moms, wives, husbands, children, and all sorts of people who love these brave men and women.

This ornament is available here.

I have been thinking about what I might be able to send with my son to help encourage him in his faith during this long span of time away from his family, his home, and his church.  I know that I could never bear this calling - this high calling - chosen by God to be the wife and mother of two brave military men - without a firm foundation of faith.

There is an old saying that says, "God will not put on you more than you can bear."  My friend, my partner in the bearing of heavy burdens, this is not true at all. 

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

God does allow us to be burdened more than we can bear.  In fact, according to 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, He allows us to be burdened EXCESSIVELY more than we can bear so that we will not trust in our own strength but in God.

I've decided that one of the things I want to send with my son is a stack of cards.  On each card will be a Bible verse of encouragement.  Each verse is intended to help him gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as he endures certain weaknesses.  If you have a loved one deploying or you have a loved one enduring a different kind of hardship, perhaps these cards will help your loved on too.  In fact, I will be creating two stacks, one for my son and one for me.  I know that I will be enduring all these weaknesses too.  We all do from time to time in our daily circumstances.

I want to share these with you.  I'll be offering them for free right here in this post.  The only thing I ask is that, if you want to share them with someone else, you will refer them back to this blog post.

20 Encouraging Scripture Cards for Deployed Military Men and Women

Simply right click.  Then save to your computer.  I will be printing these out on card-stock in the 4X6 size.  Then, I'll write a personal message to my son in my own handwriting on the back of each card.  

If your Military family member needs a whole Bible, here are some which are geared to specific branches of service.

Read other posts about living through deployment here.

I failed to write down who originally preached the sermon ,but the following are my Bible study notes from a sermon titled "Pressed Beyond Strength."

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Image Credit - Ben White - CCO Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

I'm sure you've heard the saying:  "God will never put on you more than you can bare."  Friend, this is not true.  Whoever originally came up with it meant well, I'm sure, but the fact is that it is simply not scriptural.  Look at the scripture above.  Paul wrote that they were "burdened excessively, beyond our strength."   Read 1 Corinthians 10:13.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

The scriptures teach us that God will provide a way of escape.  It is only with Him and through Him that we can bare excessive burdens.

Pressed Beyond Strength - Living Through Hard Times

1.  There is no cause for us to be surprised by God.
 
There is a side effect to living.  It's called trouble.
   
    A.  The Reality of Suffering:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. - 1 Peter 4:12

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

    B.  The Reasons for Suffering:

We suffer because of the sins of others.  We grieve the poor decisions of those we love.

We suffer for the training of God.  We learn more lessons in the struggle of the valley than in the victories of the mountain top.

    C.   The Response to Suffering:

When we try to handle things on our own, we will find deficient strength.

2.  There is no command to be sufficient without God.

His strength is perfected when we realize that we are weak.

     A.  A Principle We Must Learn:

We suffer so that we will learn to not rely on ourselves.

I'm reminded of another old hymn.  Enjoy.

     B.  A Place We Can Lean:

We cannot lean on ourselves, but we can lean on God.

3.  There is no chance to be separated from God.

     A.  His Performance Behind You:

How do you survive your current situation?  Remember this is not the first time.  Yet you are still here.  God, in His moments of mercy, will always come through for us.

     B.  His Promise Before You:

He is still working and moving in our lives.

     C.  God's Presence Beside You:

Paul's faith is not in an outcome, but in God.  Biblical faith relies on God, not outcomes.