December 31, 2017

Lead on, O King eternal, The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, O King eternal, We lift our battle song.

As we turn to another year
And some of us start a new home and ministry
And some of us face a year of change--
As we consider time passing out of our control
we look to You, the King of time
The Eternal One who doesn't fear death or challenges
the One for whom nothing is impossible

As we look into Your face, we can't help but be joyful and triumphant
ready to take on whatever battle You lead us into.

Lead on, O King eternal, We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning Where'er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us, We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest: Lead on, O God of might.

May we see Your face daily this year, Lord
May we turn to You with every hardship
with every glimpse of beauty
with every smile
with every loss and every win

And Lord may this be the year Your warriors shine Your light.
Use us to spark revival throughout our ranks.
May Your Spirit be unleashed in every airplane and helicopter,
every battleship and cutter,
every stryker, humvee, platoon of marching soldiers,
every office and command center.

We thank You for the exciting growth to come in our kids this year, and we pray for them.
We thank You for Your hand in the world's affairs, and we pray for peace.
We thank You for our warriors, and we pray for their courage and skill.
We thank You for healing the broken hearts of our veterans, and we pray they will hold to You.
We thank You for the privilege of managing our homes, and we ask for Your perspective in it.
We thank You for our passions and ideas, and we ask You to lead us in using them.

We pray for those who are traveling.
We pray for those who are hurting and sick.
We pray for those who need You.

We thank You that You have conquered all.

CCLI#7051633
Lead On, O King Eternal by Ernest W. Shurtleff

December 17, 2017

When there is weeping in Ramah...

When family, friends are suddenly no more
When hearts are broken through separation of a PCS
When little ones lie in hospital beds
And mothers refuse to speak of their deadly cancer

God with us

God with us in the tears at the gravesite
God with us when we feel so very alone
God with us in the unknown

When our loved ones are on the other side of the world, surrounded by hatred
Or when they are right next to us, but a world away in their heart
When the worry of what's to come takes us away from the here and now
When we dread the morning's light because of the decisions of the day

God with us

When a shadow covers our Christmas
we remember the shadow of the cross over Your manger

Thank You Lord for truly being with us in all our days
for coming, for knowing our hurts, for crying with us, for feeling the pain

We pray we would shine Your light so brightly through our brokenness
that others will be so pulled in they can see You.

We pray for the extended family whose son had a severe skiing accident.
We pray for Your help in containing the California fires.
We pray for those who are terminally ill--may they find You in their last days.
We pray for those who are sick. May they acknowledge Your healing touch.
We pray for our deployed. Please keep them safe and give them peace in their hearts. May their families be encouraged.
We pray for safety for those who are on the road.
We pray You will go ahead of those PCSing and prepare a home for them.
We pray for peace in our homes, peace in the world. May Your Holy Spirit overflow.

And we pray for our hurting veterans, military members. Please hold them close. May the spirit of suicide be pushed away.

Cup our face Lord, turn our eyes to You. We look to You to dry our tears. We hold unswervingly to You for hope.
We thank You for the moment of laughter, the unexpected gift, the glimpse of a sparrow being cared for by Your hand. We thank You for the fresh, white snow creating new beauty. We thank You for the Christmas hymns running as a soundtrack through our days. We thank You for extra time with people we love. We thank You for deep breaths of cool air--for our life. We thank You for the cookies and the cards and the preparations reminding us of joy to come.

We thank You for turning our mourning into joy.

December 25, 2017

All is well
Because of Your love
All can be well, all will be well
and all is well
Lord help us hold to that as the rush and roar of this world spools up. Help us to cling to the joy and wonder that the God of the universe would come to be with us, that You would enter our mess to save us from it. Lord help us not to have soul amnesia, but to remember You hold us, and we can trust You. 

Lord, may Your will reign supreme on the Korean peninsula, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and so many other hurting places.

We pray all is well with our deployed troops. May the hard times bring them closer to You. Please bless their efforts to bring peace on earth. Please keep them safe and bring them home. 

We pray for the young military member, away from home for the first time this Christmas. May they feel Your presence.

We pray all is well with our military families--the ones struggling in their marriage, the ones struggling with sickness, the ones grieving over loss, those who are PCSing, those who need houses bought/sold/rented,
in all these things, Lord, may we seek Your face and do Your will.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones recently.
We pray for the chaplain's wife who is losing her mother.
We pray for the families of our fallen military as they face a new year.
We pray for those fighting cancer.
We pray for parents--from the tired parents of toddlers to the anxious parents of teens--please give us wisdom.
We pray for the little girl with pneumonia and the baby boy recovering from heart surgery.
We pray for those retiring. Lord, please guide their steps.
We pray for those deploying and going to training. Lord, please grant safe travel. Please be with their families and give them endurance.

Father, please give peace and wisdom to our leaders, especially as they decide on assignments and choose new people for positions (including the Chief of Chaplains' office).

Lord God, please be with our veterans and please calm their personal wars.

It is only through You, Lord, that our soul can find rest in the midst of such need. We will tell of it. We will sing it. We will remember it and live like it. Help us Father. Thank You for making all well.

Click here to hear All Is Well with Carrie Underwood & Michael W Smith

December 10, 2017

Glory to God in the highest!

When the stars shimmer and the aurora lights dance, and we breathe, "Glory!", it is a small glimpse of Your Glory.

When the waves roar and the wind blows, we yell to You, "Glory!"

When the first delicate pink petal pops open until the whole tree puffs pink, we join it in singing of Your Glory.

When the rainbow arches over the meadow, and Your promises arch over us, we nod "Glory!"

When the clouds glow gold over the dark purple mountains before the sun bursts through the cracks, we whisper "Glory!"

When peace settles over the baby, and his breathing slows to sleep, we feel Your Glory.

When the child's language of a smile erupts in a mountain village, at a fish camp, in the desert, in the city, we see Your Glory.

When a man lays down his life for his brother, we know Your Glory.

When a man and woman live as sacrifice for each other, we learn to live Your Glory.

More beautiful than anything we can see--
More calming than anything we can sense--
More awe-inspiring than any tale we tell--
More awesome than we can comprehend--
More loving than we could ever give--

Glory to You God! Glory to You in the highest!

Lord we thank You for our military marriages. For all those tough warriors who fight the battles of the day, then come home to have their hearts calmed and muscles smoothed by their help-mate. For the partnership in facing the challenges that mirrors the partnership we have with You. For someone to love and be loved by.

And Lord, help us in these marriages. As we follow our warriors off to all kinds of unknown lands, give us strength, and joy. As you bless us with children to raise, with homes to care for, with more money to manage, give us wisdom. Always Lord, we pray for unity. Lord teach us how to help each other more, to grow into the best you would have us be.

We pray for those who cannot be together this Christmas. Lord, guard their hearts and heal their wounds.

We pray for the single soldier, Lord, hold them. Give them peace, patience, wisdom. 

We pray for the unrest of our world. Please calm the tensions. 
And Lord please stop the terrible fires.

We pray for those traveling and PCSing. Lord please keep them safe.

We pray for those with homes to sell/rent/buy, and those looking for new places to make a home.

We pray for those who are hurting this Christmas, including the Chaplain's wife whose mother is dying of cancer.
And always, Lord, we pray that our veterans' hearts would not succumb to the spirit of suicide.  May they be aware of Your pursuit.  May they hold to hope.

Thank You Lord for loving us so--
Amen

December 3, 2017

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Emmanuel. God. With. Us. Thank You Lord for the truth of this. No other god comes to us because of love for us.
And You Lord will be with us. We have the promise of seeing You face to face.
Yet, Lord, today is that in-between time. We long for Your full presence, when there will be no suffering.

And ransom captive Israel

We still need saving, Lord! Please save us today from ourselves--our selfish, greedy, basic sin nature.

That mourns in lowly exile here

Cast out. Away from Your presence. We are in this fallen land, and trouble engulfs us. For many, Christmas is anything but a time of joy. And even for You, Jesus, the manger was in the shadow of the cross. Thank You for being one of us, for understanding our sufferings.

Until the Son of God appears

What unspeakable awe--the Son of God with us. You have saved our soul; You have promised us a future with You; and You've given us life--now--today--with You in Your abundance.

Don't let us squash that present in the midst of wrapping silly trinket presents. As moms, influencing the attitudes of our homes and teaching our children with every little act we do, make our joy in You overflow. As we change our homes, may we change our streets, our communities--Ft. Wainwright and Ft. Benning  and Ft. Polk, and Fort Bragg seeing Your glory this season!

May we not see Christmas as a to-do, but as a reminder of time with You.
May we not see work as a drudgery, punishment, but as a light-burden, a mission You have given us.
May we not be overwhelmed by all to come, but remember each day has enough trial of its own. 

Lord, for our communities, we pray:

--for the illnesses plaguing many families
--for safety in traveling many miles, especially those PCSing in this season
--for grace to prevail in the homes, especially with returning warriors
--for those suffering loneliness, despair, pain--especially our veterans and soldiers. Lord, ransom them from the hell they find themselves in. Use us to rescue and save...
--for the many social events these days, show us how to reach out to people for You
--for our soldiers who are far from home this season. Hold them in Your arms Lord.
--for our leaders, may they hear Godly wisdom

--for the Chaplain's wife whose mother is suddenly dying

--for the family who just lost a son

Lord we long for You!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

November 19, 2017

Our Great God,
We get lost in the dark and forget You hold the stars.
We get enamored with glitter and forget Your throne above all.
We get overwhelmed by our grief and forget You are eternal.
We drown in our shame and forget Your grace has no end.
We get frustrated in our helplessness and forget Your power.
We despair in our lack of resources and forget You own it all.
We get confused in our decisions and forget Your wisdom.
We get caught up in our exercise wheel of daily life and forget to look up to You.

Help us, Lord, to look up. Forgive us for our unbelief.
Help us to praise You--with all of our mind, heart, and soul--today.

And thank You, Lord, for taking care of our needs.
Thank You for giving strength and joy for today.
Thank You for protecting us from the enemy's poisoned arrows.
Thank You for showing us the way for each day.
Thank You for surrounding us with beauty we don't have to buy.
Thank You for hope beyond what we can see.
Thank You for Your peace.

We pray for the many things that concern us as we try to hold down the home front.
We pray for Your guidance in houses that need bought/sold/rented/fixed.
We pray for Your hand in vehicles and washing machines and computers and all the things that cost money.
We pray for clear priorities and discipline and margin in the use of our time.
We pray for wisdom in leading our children.
We pray for growth in our marriage.
We pray we would be shining witnesses for You.
We pray our lives would be full of praise.

Lord, please surround our hurting veterans with the wonder of Your love.
May our deployed see Your hand keeping them safe.
May the nations bow to Your will, Lord.

And may we all be in awe of You today Lord. May Your praise rise from all over this earth.
Amen

Click here to join Powell and Ortega in praising Our Great God

November 5, 2017

God of the winds,
the One Who moves the storms
and sends the tickling breeze
Who lifts the monarch on its way
and rolls the waves in
Who blows in the seasons

God Who can comfort a mother's heart
Who can turn a tyrant's will
Who can still the nations

It is to You we pray
to You we bring our soldiers, our sailors, our warriors in the air, our defenders of the coasts

We pray for their protection
We pray for skills in their tasks
and wisdom for their missions.
We pray for courage
We pray for food and water and supplies
strength and rest
We pray for revival.
Stir the winds of Your Spirit throughout our ranks.
May they turn their hearts to You.

We pray for mental fortitude
steady their hearts, secure their resolve
may they find their confidence in You.

We pray against suicide in our military
and our hurting veterans.
Lord please heal as only You can.

We thank You Lord for these men and women, willing to serve and sacrifice.
We thank You for Your love and protection.
We thank You for pursuing us.
And we give You the glory.

October 29, 2017

Trying to earn
trying to prove
trying to fix
trying to take care of
trying to control

When every missed appointment screams failure
when the to-do list never gets anything checked off
when the finances and the fashions and the fitness don't measure up
when the calendar pages just keep flying by...

You Are
You are enough.

You are enough for my loneliness.
You are enough for my fear.
You are enough for my failures.

So, Lord, help me to hog tie and haul up and throw my stuff on Your altar again.
I am so incapable of carrying it.

And You are
You are more than capable
You have more than enough strength
You have more than enough resources
You have more than enough love for me.

We lay at Your feet our many concerns today Lord:
our warriors in harm's way
our children in the throes of growing up
our home's issues as we establish again
our parents with health issues
our hurting friends

We pray for our hurting veterans. Lord, may they be able to lay it all down at Your feet too. May the spirit of suicide be defeated.

We pray for our leaders and our world. Lord we ask for peace. Give our leaders wisdom in dealing with North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and so many more.

We pray for ourselves and the many things we are trying to do. Lord, may we be in Your will. May our work be accomplished as we honor You. Lord, please help us to filter our emotions through You. Help us with the anxiety our lifestyle can so easily bring. May we be with You in every decision we make throughout the day.

We pray for the transportation of this military on the move. Please keep our warriors safe.

It is to You, the great I Am, we pray
the One who moves the winds and the storms and the waves
the One who turns the seasons
the One who has the power of life and death
lead us now,
Amen.








Click here to hear Lauren Daigle's Once and for All

God I give You what I can today
These scattered ashes that are hid away
I lay it all at Your feet

From the corners of my deepest shame
The empty places where I've worn Your name
Show me the love I say I believe

O Help me to lay it down
Oh, Lord I'll lay it down

O let this be where I die
My Lord with thee crucified
Be lifted high as my kingdoms fall
Once and for all, once and for all

There is victory in my Savior's loss
And in the crimson flowing from the cross
Pour over me, pour over me

O let this be where I die
My Lord with thee crucified
Be lifted high as my kingdoms fall
Once and for all, once and for all

O Lord I lay it down
O Lord I lay it down
Help me to lay it down
O Lord I lay it down

October 22, 2017

Praying today with Hillsong's O Praise the Name. Click here to sing along!

I cast my mind to Calvary 
Where Jesus bled and died for me. 
I see His wounds, His hands, His feet. 
My Saviour on that cursed tree

His body bound and drenched in tears 
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb.
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone

Oh Jesus how can we ever forget what You have done for us? And how can we not trust You when You have already died for us? And how can we fear death when You have gone before us?

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

And how can we not praise You?

Then on the third at break of dawn, 
The Son of heaven rose again. 
O trampled death where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King

And Lord Jesus, how can we not share this hope? Please help us to shout it from the rooftops!

We pray for Your messengers in our ranks, on our streets, in our FRGs. Give them boldness and a clear message. May their lights--our lights--shine so bright they are undeniable.

We pray for our chapels. The big beautiful ones with comfortable pews. The metal-enclosed ones on our ships. The shelter ones on the FOBs. Lord please keep them safe, but make them Your dwelling place. May people meet You there.

We pray for our chaplains. Lord, please keep them strong against temptation. May their witness not be tainted. Protect their marriages. May they be renewed in You. Make them tireless and fearless in sharing the Gospel.

We pray for all the Christians in our midst. May we stand out in these hard times with hope and peace. May we be Your witness today! Help us to grow in You. Establish the work of our hands Lord. Show us Your viewpoint of eternity.

He shall return in robes of white, 
The blazing Son shall pierce the night. 
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

We pray for the hurting. Lord, please hold the families of the fallen in Your arms. Please help the wounded warriors to rest. Calm the minds of the veterans and bring Your order, Your peace. May they come to praise You.

Help us to mourn with hope. Help us to stand strong with courage. Help us to move forward with joy knowing the glorious end You have for us.

Amen!

October 15, 2017

Through the thud of bullets, the explosion of bombs, the cries--
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through the plane crashes, shootings, the beheadings--
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through the posturing, the moving of borders, the bullying of the weak
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through the yelling, the wounding, the self preservation, and the stinking lukewarm apathy--
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through all the roller coaster emotions, the roller coaster finances, the promotions or the waiting, the good jobs and the not so good ones
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through the days passing so quickly we can't keep up
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through the adventures of seeing more of Your world, the following of Your lead, the battles won
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Through the birthdays, the goals achieved, the triumph of simply staying on task--day after daily day
Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lord, this world You created for good has fallen so far from You. So much hatred, suffering, sin. Yet You remain. And so does Your promises for hope. We cling to You.

We pray for the hurting, please heal body and soul. We pray for the good guys fighting against evil, may they prevail. We pray for the responders, please still their minds.

Lord, give our world leaders wisdom. We need You to move forward. We pray for our nation. God we need You. Please pour out Your Spirit. Bring us to repentance. Turn our destructive culture. Heal our land.

We pray for our warriors working around the world, on the edge of confrontation with so much hardship. Lord, please give the deployed the safety, the rest, the comfort, the fortitude they need. May Your presence cheer and guide.

O God, our Father, we especially pray for our warriors who are heart-sick, who have no idea they are wasting away inside, and no idea how to fix it. You are the ultimate physician, and we pray for soul-healing. Help us to help these people. We so need that pardon for sin and peace that only You have.

Lord, thank You for the word 'new'. A new season, new mercies, a new day, and You making us new. Teach us to number these days. We know we can follow You-- because You are good. Unchanging. Forgiving.
We go forth Lord! With strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow--You give blessings overflowing!

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”   Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—     “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me! Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

October 8, 2017

Ah Lord, as tiny eyes flutter open and little mouths open for their first cry--

as they start the song of their new life, we thank You. We are amazed again and again at Your creativity, Your love, Your hope for our future.

We pray for health and strength for our little ones. We ask for Your protection over them and may their song for You grow with every day.

We pray for our school kids as they take on each new day. May they learn to be difference-makers. May they find their joy in what You have gifted them. Be with them in their lonely times. May the hard times mold them without breaking them. 

For our military kids, Lord, please guard their hearts as they await the return of their deployed parents. May they learn to turn to You when others fail them. Please help them find new friends in new schools. May they be the friend who can encourage and point others to You.

We pray for our young adults who are finding their way. Lord please make the path You would have them take be clear. May they find joy in learning, passion in serving, and a continual love for You.

We pray for our kids who are sick or injured. We pray for the little guy who got an eye injury, we ask for Your continued healing, and Your direction in his life if he can't see with it again. We pray for the baby whose bones are so fragile. Please help her grow strong. We pray for the little premie who needs to keep growing. We pray for the many pregnancies and the labor and delivery. We pray for the young boy who is full of anxiety with his dad deployed. 

We pray for the young adults who are straying from You, Lord. Thank You for Your long-suffering. Please make them miserable until they return to the truth they know, Lord.

We pray for our kids who have gone into the military; please keep them safe. For those and the ones in college, please help them with their many tasks and tests. For all those in the launching process, we pray for wisdom and courage.

And we pray for the children of our fallen and of our hurting veterans. Lord hold them close. May they sing Your song of hope to those around them. We pray against depression and suicide in our military families. 

Lord may this next generation lift their voices to You louder than the previous ones! May Your goodness be known by them. May our kids be singing their songs for Your glory all their days. 

Click here to Sing a Song with Third Day

I want to sing a song for You, Lord
Lord, for You I want to sing a song
And I want to lift my voice to Heaven
And listen to the angels sing along

A song of Your faithfulness

A song of Your grace

And of Your loving kindness
To the glory of Your name

With everything that's in me, Lord
Listen to me say
I want to sing a song for You
I want to sing a song

And I want to live my life for You, Lord
Lord, for You I want to live my life
And I want to praise the name of Jesus
And Pray above all things You're glorified

I sing about Your mercy
I sing about Your love
Your goodness, Lord
Your righteousness

And we'll sing holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, are You Lord almighty?

October 1, 2017

Let's pray with verses from Revelation this week:

Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.

When there are wars and rumors of warriors; earthquakes and fires and floods;
When it seems like the end of the world,
We look to You--the Omega, the One who controls the beginning and the end.
And when we look to You, Lord, we can't help but be in awe
and give You praise.

 You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things,
and by Your will they were created
and have their being.

Thank You Lord for creating our brave men and women willing to serve in the military. Thank You for the strength You have given them. Thank You for the wisdom You have given the leadership. Thank You for the many Christian leaders throughout the ranks.

Who will not fear You, Lord, and bring glory to Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before You
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.

Thank You Lord that we can trust in You for the future. You hold all things in Your hand.

As the nations rage against one another, and our warriors stand ready, we pray for Your peace. We ask that You would give wisdom to our leaders, and move in the hearts of the kings of this world.

As much as it takes strength to create peace, we ask for Your continued blessing on our military. Please keep our warriors healthy. Help them learn their skills. Give them insight into their missions. We pray their equipment would be working, their supply lines would be open. May they have favor with the locals, and may the next generation of many of these countries view America as a friend.

Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.

Lord we pray for the physical saving of our warriors. But even more we pray for their spiritual salvation. May the hard times draw them to You. May Your voice be heard through the chaplains and the many Christians. May revival sweep the ranks. Will you please guard their hearts and keep them morally straight? We pray against shame, depression, suicide.

We especially pray for our new, young soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors. Lord may they grow in You and not stray from the faith of their childhood.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

God we pray for our hurting veterans. Show them the way to find forgiveness, peace, purpose in their lives. Please wipe away their tears.

Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!

We ask these things not for us, Lord, but for Your glory! Amen!

September 24, 2017

To the God who shines in our lives like the morning sun burning away the fog
To the God who makes the dragonfly's wings sparkle
To the God who sets the trees ablaze with yellow, orange, red
To the God who cools the air, stirs the breeze, sparks the imagination
To the God who makes the puppy soft and attentive
To the God who shakes the mountains, quiets the nations, causes the strong men to tremble
To You we give praise.

We give praise to the One who gives true forgiveness
We give praise to the only One who can bring peace
We give praise to the One who heals the soul, heals the heart, heals the memories and the insecurities and the fears, heals the body.

Thank You Lord Jesus.
Thank You for being with us through this military life.
Thank You for Your daily protection.
Thank You for settling us into new homes and new adventures and new missions.
Thank You for new friends.
Thank You for saving so many in the hurricanes and the fires.
Thank You for making peace among the nations.
Thank You for successful missions, for excellent skills and good equipment and smart strategies.
Thank You for going into the schools every day with our children.

Thank You for Your healing of so many of our friends. We ask for Your hand on more of our sisters, like K and J's chronic pain...
Thank You for houses bought and sold and rented, and we pray for those that still need to be.
Thank You for protecting our warriors, and we pray for the families of those deployed now and those deploying soon. Please help our sisters manage their homes. Please help their children, like young man G, find strength in You.
Thank You for Your hand in so many's stories with the natural disasters, and we pray for those dealing with the aftermath. Please give our sisters like J wisdom in knowing how to help her loved ones when she is far away.
Thank You for our amazing children. Please help us constantly show them You. We pray for those kids who are straying, like S, I, and C.
Thank You for the exciting opportunities our young adult children have, and please help them in their new paths. We pray for the lonely mommas left behind, may they find new missions.
Thank You for allowing us to serve You, for shining Your light through us. We pray for our sisters in leadership positions. May they be effective in their work. May they not try to shoulder the burden alone.
Thank You for our marriages, and we pray for our sisters who are caring for injured warriors. Give them long-suffering and courage.

Thank You for Your strength to change the heart. We pray for those struggling with depression. And we pray against all spirits of suicide.
Thank You for the wisdom You give all who ask. And we ask for those in the White House, the Pentagon, the platoon and the squadron.

We can't help but praise You, Lord.

Click here to praise Him with Fernando Ortega's All Creatures of Our God and King

September 17, 2017

You asked for my hands, that You might use them for Your purpose. I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them, for the work was hard. You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice. I gave You a whisper that I might not be accused. You asked for my eyes to see the pain of poverty. I closed them, for I did not want to see. You asked for my life, that You might work through me. I gave a small part, that I might not get too involved. Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve You--only when it is convenient for me to do so, only in those places where it is safe to do so, and only with those who make it easy to do so. Father, forgive me, renew me, send me out as a usable instrument, that I might take seriously the meaning of Your cross. Amen. --The Worship Source Book from Calvin Institute of Christian Worship 

Lord, there are so many things we want for our little ones--safety, comfort, joy, a great spouse, a fulfilling work...but all of that means nothing compared to knowing, loving, following You. So that is our true prayer. May this next generation be mighty warriors for Your kingdom.

We pray that our military children would be forged in this life to be Your Servants. As they see their parents do hard things, may they see Your faithfulness and be emboldened. As they go through times of isolation, may they learn to rely solely on You. As they see teamwork, may they be strong against injustice. As they see sacrifice, may they learn to be selfless. As they see good leadership, may they become good leaders.

And Lord please guard their hearts. Even as they are tough on the outside, may they follow hard with a tender heart.

We pray for the children of the deployed. Lord, hold them in Your arms.
We pray for the kids who are PCSing. Lord, please go before them.
We pray for the big kids finding their way in the world. Lord, please lead them.
We pray for the children of the hurting veterans. Lord, please give them and their homes a peace that only You can give.
We pray for the children of the fallen. Hold them close Lord. Be so very real.

We pray for peace in this world.

Lord, we can ask these things because we know You love them more than we do. You curled their pinky finger, their eyelash, their lock of hair. You opened their eyes and made them sparkle in so many colors. You set their mind turning with new ideas, new questions. You breathed Your breath of life in them. And we are so grateful.

September 10, 2017

Lord, You have promised You will never leave us or forsake us,
so we pray You will be with our warriors
in Korea
in Iraq
in Afghanistan
in Europe
on the seas
and everywhere

You have promised You will give wisdom to those who ask.
So we ask for our leaders
in the White House
in the Pentagon
on the ships
in the cockpits
on the battlefields

You have promised to draw all to You and to forgive those who repent.
So we ask that our military members would be convicted and turn to You. May revival happen in our ranks!
We pray the Enemy of their soul would have no say in their lives.
We pray the spirit of suicide would be thwarted and Your hope would prevail in every life.
We pray You would turn their mourning into dancing.

We know You give power to the weak and skills to the warriors.
So we pray for our military. May their missions be in the right.
May their equipment function. May their supply lines be open.
May their aim be straight. May their hope, their confidence be in You.

You say You will rescue the perishing. We pray for safety for our deployed. And we pray justice and peace will prevail for the people of the world.

You promise rest for the weary, so we pray for our warriors to be able to sleep. Please keep them healthy. May they not be ate up with worry or depression.

You have promised a peace that is beyond understanding.
So we pray for our warriors' hearts as they are far from loved ones. Give them courage and may they feel Your presence.

You have said You will be a Father to the fatherless. And so we confidently pray for the families of our fallen. Lord please be with them, help with every step and decision, heal their hearts.

What an amazing thing to be able to trust You to fulfill Your promises! You are faithful. You are loving. You are powerful. And You have this whole world in Your hands!

September 3, 2017

Because we need a love that never fails
that never gives up
that never runs out

Because we're facing mountains
and graves
and we need something constant,
some One who will never change,
so we turn to You Lord.

We need You when planes fall from the sky
and ships sink to the deep
We need You when nations rattle sabers
and neighbors raise fists to neighbors
We need You when orders come
and warriors walk away, sail away, fly away

And we need You when we wake to little smiles and happy giggles
We need You when the sun shines and the checklists get done
We need You when the stars come out and the deep breaths come

Because Father God in You we live and move and breathe

God we thank You for working in every detail of our lives
We thank You for homes bought and sold and rented and made at each new station.
We thank You for new babies and adopted little ones coming home.
We thank You for directing all of our families through this military life.
We thank You for experiences and friends and adventures and education.
We thank You for surrounding us everywhere we go.

As we see Your hand all around us, we are emboldened to ask You for more.
We pray for the military spouse, Lord.
We pray for our many projects and volunteer involvements.
We pray for PWOC and the chapels.
We pray for the long days and short years of the moms of little ones.
We pray for wisdom for the moms of teens, grace for the moms of young adults.
We pray for those teaching their kids.
We pray for those in challenging careers. We pray for those in challenging marriages.
We pray You will hold closely the spouses of the deployed.
And we pray for Your healing power to work through the spouse of the hurting warrior.

Father God we especially pray for the loved ones of the recently fallen. Help them through their daily decisions. Give them the peace only You can give. May You be more real to them now then ever before.

May we see Your love surrounding us today. Thank You Lord.

Click here to sing One Thing Remains

August 27, 2017

Heavenly Father,
the One who loves our children more than we could ever imagine,
to You we pray for them.

Lord, as this new school year starts, we pray for their friends, old and new. May they be edifying relationships. May our military kids be shining lights and influencers--leaders!
But mostly Lord, we pray they would be close to You. May they feel Your presence in their lonely times.

We pray for their teachers. May there be joy in learning. May our kids grow in their knowledge. May they be encouraged.
But mostly Lord, may they grow in wisdom in You. May they be preparing to do Your mission.

We pray for their passions and interests. May they find joy in their pursuit of excellence. May their skills be honed for the betterment of others.
But mostly Lord we pray they would feel Your pleasure in doing what they love. May they follow hard after You and not idols.

We pray for our children who are sick. Lord, we ask for a full healing. We ask for You to take away all pain. But mostly Father, we ask that they would become mighty witnesses to Your love.

We pray for their future spouses. Lord protect them and grow them up in You. We pray for future generations that will serve the Lord.

We pray for the safety of deployed parents. Hold our military brats' hearts close to You in this hard time. Help them to not lash out or push back in their frustration and loneliness. May they turn to You when their earthly parents fail them. May they be strong and courageous in You. Don't let them harden their hearts.

We pray for the children of the hurting veteran. Lord, may they get their needs met from You. May they be wise and strong beyond their years and able to help their parent. May whole families be drawn to You. We pray against suicide in all our ranks, all of our communities.

Father God we pray for the teens of our communities. We ask that they have big dreams and strong desires to make a difference. May they not give in to the way-it's-always-been. May they not succumb to feeling helpless or being bored. May they find value in their time. May they be united with each other.

We can ask these things because You are the God of love. You are the Creative One who made their talents and interests. You are the Mighty Warrior who has a mission and a purpose for them. You are the One who holds hope for a better future. You are the Giver of all good gifts--including our children.

Thank You Lord!

Click here to sing along with Children of the Heavenly Father

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

August 20, 2017

Lord,
for the sailors in the depths of the seas
and on the oceans of endless blue
for the marines in the jungles
and the soldiers in the mountains
or the desert winds
for the warriors in the skies
and reading the skies
and for all those in the training fields
and hunching over computers and nuts and bolts and bandages and policies
for these, Lord, we pray

We pray for their safety
We pray for engines running as they should at critical times
and supply lines being open.
We pray for good kevlar and good eyesight and good intuition.
We ask You Lord to stop malfunctions that lead to disasters.
We ask for clarity of thinking to stop accidents.
We ask that You would thwart the plans of the enemy.

Lord, please give our warriors wisdom
skill
courage
But mostly, Lord, please draw them to You.
May they see Your power and feel Your presence
May their darkest days be a breakthrough of Your light
Raise up an army for Your Kingdom
May those who are suicidal be so overwhelmed with Your love
May they be unable to run from Your presence

For You, Lord, You are the God of the Heavenly Armies
You stop man's plans and move nations according to Your will
You are the Master of Myriads, and You hold each and every heart
You understand the mysteries of the mind and only You can truly heal
You can bring peace when the nations demand war
You are our only hope
And we are completely overcome by Your love for us

In all our little battles today, Lord Jesus, please draw us to You. Thank You for being for us.

Click here to sing Jesus Loves Me with Chris Tomlin