A Few Good Men, a.k.a. When the Saints Go Marching in. . .

The afternoon before the Superbowl I sat in front of this same computer and listened to Drew Brees give his testimony to a lady interviewing him, and it moved me. He told the story of the night that he received Christ. He said that he remembers his pastor preached a sermon on how God wants "a few good men." He said something inside him clicked, and he thought to himself, "That's me. I want to be one of God's few good men." Joshua and I have discussed this deeply. We have discussed that God is looking the earth over for men who will love Him, serve Him, lay down their lives, and be faithful to Him.

My thoughts have centered on this lately. In fact, at times it is all I can think of. Several nights this week as I have gone into the boys room to kiss them before I go to bed, I have fallen on my face in the middle of their room and begged the Lord to be glorified through them. That is why they were created. They were not created to be good Christians. That term tickles me. "Good Christians" as opposed to being "bad Christians"??? Anyway, He created them so that He, Himself, could be glorified through their time on Earth. So, that they would recognize Him as Lord of All and because of that knowledge embedded deep within their souls that their lives would make the Lord of All recognizable to others who walk this mortal journey.

There is a song that I have been singing in my head all week this week. It is by Sara Groves, and it is called When the Saints. It is amazing. Perhaps I love it because it makes reference to the underground railroad and Jim Elliot ~ both of which I am huge fans!!! She tells the story of many lovers of God who lived their lives fully for God ~ doing things that most of us would be too afraid to do. And, then the chorus says, "When the Saints Go Marching in, I want to be one of them!!!!" Amen and amen!! I worship every time I hear it, and most times I fight tears as I listen. And, it is a happy song, but it's truth is just what God has been saying to me lately.

A few good men. . . and women. . .

That is what He wants. That is what we were created to be.

One line of the song talks about a prostitute huddled on the floor and a man full of passion (holy passion :-) knocking down the door (to rescue her).

Oh, my heart!!! Sweet boys, this is what it is all about!! I have been so challenged this week to use the 18 years that we have with these little men to the fullest! Every opportunity, every moment, fanning the flame ~ the flame that will never go out! God, help me to be faithful to be counted worthy of them, of this responsibility! Walk with us, guide our steps.

I'm going to end with the words of this amazing song. . .

When the Saints

by Sara Groves

"I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know. It's more than I can handle, but Your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones, and I can't let it go. . .

(Chorus)And, when I'm weary and overwrought with so many battles left unfought, I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard. I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars and when the Saints go marching in I want to be one of them.

Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind. It all can overwhelm me but when I think of all who've gone before and lived a faithful life. Their courage compels me. . .

I see the shepherd Moses in Pharaoh's court. I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord. . .

I see the long quiet walk along the underground railroad. I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul. . .

I see the young missionary and the angry spear. I see his family returning with no trace of fear. . .

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights. I see the sister standing by the dying man's side. . .

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor. I see the man with a passion come kicking down that door. . .

I see the Man of sorrows and His long troubled road. I see the world on His shoulders and my easy load. . ."

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. . . .

Hebrews 12:1