September 19, 2016

God of the heavenly armies

who knows the heart of the earthly soldier

God of all power

who can turn a battle with a wind

God of all strength

who knows every weakness

God of all endurance

who made the body to age

God of all wisdom

who knows the thoughts of the veteran

We pray to You, Lord, our God who knows our pain, knows our weakness, knows our thoughts and our hearts. 

You, in all Your sovereignty, wrapped in thick clouds of darkness, seated on a throne of light, yet still You choose to love us, be with us, enter our world. Thank You Jesus.

Lord we pray You will hem our soldiers and sailors and airmen and marines into Your fold. Gather up our warriors’ broken pieces, and may they rejoice in You.

May they see the wonder of You.

Hold them in Your arms.

Chase them down in their darkest moments.

Bring them through their grief.

Renew their courage.

We pray for those with head trauma. Lord, may they rest in You and may their swirling thoughts center in on Your peace.

We pray for those with failing shoulders, aching backs, broke down feet. Lord please help them deal with the pain. Please give doctors wisdom. Please heal.

We pray for the young ones in boot camp. Lord, give them courage and strength.

We pray for our deployed—please keep them safe. Hold them close.

We pray for the leaders. May they turn to You for all decisions this week—including the Chief of Chaplains’ Office.

Lord please be the God of our military’s everything.

click here to sing with Bebo Norman's God of My Everything

Oh God of heaven come and hem me in
Gather the pieces that are broken
Show me the wonder of you again
Oh God of heaven

God of my hope, God of my need
God of my pain that no one else will ever see
God of my healing, God of my strength
God who has always and will forever reign
God of my everything

In all creation you call my name
In all the beauty that this world displays
Still I'm the one for whom your heart aches
In all creation

And when the mountains shake
You are my God
You never change
And when the earth gives way
You are still God
You never change

Read more:  Bebo Norman - God Of My Everything Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

September 12, 2016

click here to sing: I'm Falling On My Knees

Hungry, I come to You, for I know You satisfy
I am empty but I know Your love does not run dry

So I wait for You, so I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for

Broken, I run to You, for Your arms are open wide
I am weary but I know Your touch restores my life

So I'll wait for You, so I'll wait for You

I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for

Lord, I thank You for all the beautiful women You have placed at this time, in these places. Thank You for tender hearts, quiet determination, daily obedient service. Thank You for meals made, boo-boos kissed, encouraging words, strong vision. All these little things, small glimpses of Your love being poured out through people. Please continue to use and to help your daughters. How awesome that You are able to be with all of us, in all of our needs, in all of our places.

We pray for Your grace to continue to rain down on them. 

We pray for our sisters who are in chronic pain. Lord please pour Your healing grace over them. Give them strength; please ease this thorn in their side.

We pray for the mommas of the sick children. Lord, please help them trust in You.

We pray for the leaders in our communities. We ask for wisdom.

We pray for our PWOCs and Bible Studies and Planting Roots and other ministries. May they be honoring to You and drawing women to You.

We pray for patient endurance for the children's ministry workers.

We pray for the pregnant women. Lord, thank You for this life. Please help babies to be born safe. 

We pray for the mothers of little ones. May they have joy in their tasks today.

We pray for the mothers of the school aged. Please give them clarity and direction to guide their kiddos.

We pray for the mothers of those off to college and the military and other paths. Lord, please help them to find their new role where You would have them.

We pray for our marriages. Lord help us to adjust to be the kind of wife our husbands need. As we change, help our relationships to change. May we grow towards You. Give us strength and endurance the rough times. May our resiliency be a shining example in this world of abandonment.

For all of us Lord, we want more of You. Help us to be willing to empty out our junk so we can offer all.

Lord, may our broken veterans run to You for healing. Use us to save them from suicide we pray. May You be what they are living for.

We pray our leaders' pride would be broken--may they be humble before You and honoring You--from the Chief of Chaplains Office to the Pentagon to the sergeant.

And God please keep our soldiers safe. May they fall on their knees before Your throne of grace.

Today, we offer all of us to You.

September 5, 2016

Singing with Selah today:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

Nothing can keep me from You Lord. No height, no depth, no evil attack, no loneliness, no feelings...
And also for our children. Lord, Your arm is not too short to reach to college, to the hospital, to the lonely post, to the pressured school, to the negative locker room. Lord, we pray our children's names are written on Your heart, graven on Your hands.

VERSE 2
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

How can we ever thank You enough Lord, for giving Your Son to take the punishment our sons deserved? Thank You Lord for a love that reaches generations.
Forgive us when we doubt that love. A love like that can be trusted, especially with our children. Help us to give them to You, over and over and over.

VERSE 3
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless Righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

Lord, today, will You please be very real to our kids? Soften their heart, open their souls; may they see You.

We pray for the babies in the womb--the potential of life from the joy of love. Please keep them safe.
Please help the crisis pregnancy centers--meet their needs. May they have many workers for the harvest.
We pray for the little ones busy with life. Please keep them safe and give their parents strength.
We pray for our school kids. Lord, please teach them the right attitude to do their best without being stressed. May their teachers be inspiring.
We pray for our kids who are not well. Lord, we ask for healing. But we also ask that they would learn well the lessons of adversity.
We pray for our high schoolers as they discern Your path for their future. May they be more focused on You than their shortcomings, more on Your work than the hardships. May they be a generation of joyful Christians.
We pray for our ones who are off to school and the military and other adventures. May their confidence be in You.
We pray for protection from despair, depression, drugs... We pray that You would hold the hearts of the children of the deployed very close.
We pray for the youth culture of Ft. Irwin especially, as well as all of our posts. Lord, please help them to find meaning and purpose in You. We ask that the Christians would be shining lights for You. We pray against the spiritual forces there. Lord, please reign victorious over that desert.

Most of all, may their names be written on Your heart.

Help us to remember we are all loved by You, and help us to love each other.
We pray for our deployed, and our veterans.
We pray for our leaders, and the Chief of Chaplains office.

We pray because we know You are a loving Father. Thank You Thank You Thank You.

August 29, 2016

Praying with the hymn "Take My Life and Let it Be Consecrated."

God who breathes life--
Who tells the baby to breathe
Who pops open the flower
Who gives the horse its strength
And makes the young man run
Who causes the hearts to flutter
Who heals the stricken
Who mends the broken

Who brings the dead to life.

Lord,
Take my life, and let it be 
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Thank You Lord for life.
Thank You for the beauty and the joy and the excitement of love.
Thank You for our husbands, God, and the families You have created.
We pray You will take our lives and consecrate them.
We vowed before You for our marriages, may we continue to work out that commitment.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Yes, Lord, may we run to serve our spouses, to be their help-mates.

Take my will, and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart--it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Lord help us to be unafraid to love. Bring us back into the garden. May our marriages reflect Your perfection. And not just for our own benefit, but may we be a blessing to others.

Take my love, my Lord I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only all for Thee
Ever, only all for Thee

Lord there are so many pitfalls for the military marriage.
Help us not to grow apart.
Help us find the balance between the needed independence and dependence.
Help us to work together toward a common mission as much as we can.
Protect our hearts when we are apart.
May our marriages be a blessing, a solid foundation for our children.

We pray for our deployed and their spouses--for the loneliness, the fears, the exhaustion. May they be growing towards You, and thus growing towards each other even in the absence.

We pray for those who have lost their loved ones. Lord, hold them close.
We pray for Your healing for those who have been betrayed.
We pray for the marriages where a person is seriously ill. We ask for Your grace in their relationship, and we ask for healing. Thank You for hope and progress in recovery for many.

We pray for Your grace to be between us in the hard times, like when we head out again to a new station. We thank You that You have the military plans in Your hands, and we are not out of Your will. Help us to embrace the new adventures.

We pray for strong Christian marriages in the Chief of Chaplain's Office, in the Pentagon, on every post. May we shine as a light for You in this blessing You have given us.

And as always, Lord, we beseech You to help our hurting warriors. May they never give up on life.
May we all live ever, only all for Thee.

August 22, 2016

Worship with Fernando Ortega and Mac Powell by clicking here

Eternal God, Unchanging, Mysterious and unknown.
Your boundless love unfailing, In grace and mercy shown.
Bright seraphim in endless flight around your glorious throne.
They raise their voices day and night in praise to you alone.

Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God! 
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God! 

Lord, We are weak and frail, Helpless in the storm.
Surround us with your angels, Hold us in your arms.
Our cold and ruthless enemy, his pleasure is our harm.
Rise up, O Lord, And he will flee before our Sovereign God.

Let every creature in the sea and every flying bird; 
Let every mountain, Every field and valley of the earth; 
Let all the moons and all the stars in all the universe
Sing praises to the Living God, Who rules them by His word.

Father, God, Lord of the Heavenly Armies, Master of the Universe,
Creator of all things seen and unseen,
and still You love us. And know every detail.

Help us to see the true battle Lord. God we pray for Your help in this spiritual battle.
We cannot win the war without You. We cannot even see the enemy. Help us to see as You see and not attack each other or the victims.

Lord we pray for Your warriors--the Church. We pray for the military chapels. Lord, may they be on the frontline of the battles, saving souls. May we be the hospital for the hurting Christians. May we be the encouraging huddle before we head out for the week.

We pray for the choices of messages and curriculums. Guide the leaders Lord. May we be true to Your Word and get in Your Word.
We pray for schedules to be cleared and consciences to be pricked so people can come.
We pray for joy and patience for our children's teachers.
We pray for a welcoming spirit.
We pray for our chaplains, but we also pray we would be not just relying on them. We pray for their integrity. We pray for their renewal of vision. We pray for the Chief of Chaplains, all the way to the youngest Chaplain Assistant.
Lord, hear our worship, whether it is a handful singing acapella or gym full with a band. May it be pleasing to You.
God please help us to have unity. Help us to be following You, celebrating the differences You have given us and yet all pulling towards You.

We pray for our PWOCs and small groups. May the leaders have wisdom and joy in their work.
Lord, we pray for child care for all of our services. Help us to lead our little ones to You with exemplifying sacrifice to serve them. Help them to learn to worship in our services.

We pray for the deployed with their worship services in hangars, on ships, in tents. May You be very real to them.
We pray for our veterans. May they be surrounded with Your people and thwarted from the spirit of suicide.

Lord may we be a loving people. May we be a caring people. May we be shining You. May we help draw all to You.

For Your glory, Lord! Boundless, beautiful, unending glory--

August 15, 2016

Praying with Psalm 86 today--

Among the gods there is none like You, Lord;
no deeds can compare with Yours.
All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, Lord;
They will bring glory to Your name.
For You are great and do marvelous deeds;
You alone are God.

You alone can send a sandstorm to cover the retreat of an army.
You alone can confuse an enemy camp until they turn on each other.
You alone can give good flying weather for the pilots.
You alone can stop a bullet with a chest pocket Bible.
You alone give wisdom for strategies
strength for the tired soldier
skills for the fingers
courage for the heart.

Thank You God of the Heavenly Armies

I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify Your name forever.
For great is Your love towards me;
You have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.

Thank You Lord for bringing so many of our warriors home safely.

Hear me Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to You; save Your servant who trusts in You.

Father please be with our deployed. May our soldiers and airmen and sailors learn to trust in You. Please guard their lives as we are known to be Your people.
Please strengthen their feet from the blisters.
Please heal the aching shoulders and backs.
Please sharpen the minds of the intelligence community.
Please guard the hearts of those who have to do the hard things.

You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to You all day long.
Bring joy to Your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in You.

Lord, please renew our warriors.
When they have to make the tough calls--
When they find they are failing at their job--
When they have to invest, again, and again, and again--
When they are just so tired of it all--
Lord, be real to them.

We pray for their relationships with their sons. May the time together be life-changing.
We pray for their relationships with their daughters. May they know they are loved.
We pray we will be the support You want us to be for them.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You.
Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

It is not because of our goodness that we can ask these things, but because of Your mercy. Thank You Lord.

Please have mercy on our hurting veterans. May their pain drive them to seek and find You. We pray for the Samaritan's Purse Heal our Patriots program. May the ripple effects continue and may the suicides stop.

We pray for the Christian leaders in the military, and the Chief of Chaplains office. May there be excellence and ethics in all they do this week.

We pray for the wounded, and those who are sick, including the young man with Krohns' and the young mothers with energy-sapping syndromes.

But You Lord are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve You just as my mother did.

We can stand today, in joy and hope and strength, because of You.

August 8, 2016

Father God,

the Olympics!

One place where we can see the people of the world come together.

The beautiful skin tones

the creativity in dress

the languages and cultures

all from Your hand, Lord!

all with Your breath of life

a tiny taste of the glory of heaven when we all can come together to worship You!

What a God of creativity You are

and You are the God of love 

and unity

and we so quickly fight against that.

Forgive us Lord for our self-centered quarrels.

Forgive us for our elitism

for trying to make all like us, in our image

for not seeing You in our brothers and sisters

Lord, we pray for unity in Your bride

As we draw closer to You, we want to draw closer to each other

may we get messy and real and committed to the body

because we need it so--

Lord, we pray for each other

the military wife can be pretty lonely with our best friends and mothers and even our husbands miles away

give us the strength and the courage to keep trying, keep investing in new relationships.

We pray for our many roles. Lord, use us and work through us in our jobs, our volunteer positions, our chapels and Sunday Schools and PWOCs. May we be willing to sacrifice ourselves as You did over and over and over.

Lord help us in our mothering. May we lead them always to You, even when that means farther away from us. 

Please be with our sisters who are physically hurting. Lord may they be able to glory in their weakness because they see Your strength. 

We pray for our teachers and homeschooling moms--may they have wisdom and optimism for the year.

We pray for those who want to be moms--Lord, fill their arms with a ministry from You.

We pray for the moms whose husbands are deployed. Please keep their families safe. May they see You.

We pray for the deployed moms and dads. Lord please surround them with Your hedge of protection. Guard their hearts. Help them complete their missions. And may those missions be part of Your will. Lord, be real to them as they have never seen before.

We pray for our hurting veteran sisters and brothers. Lord may they find You. Please thwart the demon of suicide.

And we pray for our leaders. Lord, You can move the hearts of kings. We pray You will move amongst those making decisions, from the White House to the Pentagon to the Chief of Chaplain's office to the platoon sergeant.  May Your will be done. May there be unity amongst Your people.

All of this from Your hand, from Your power, from Your vision--

the One true God!

Click here to worship with Steven Curtis Chapman

One voice in the dark,
A song that lights up the stars
One breath that gives life
One sovereign in power
Who speaks with thunder and fire
One Lord One King
There is no other that can compare to You

You are The one alone in greatness
The one who never changes
Jesus You are!
The One who rose in power
The One who reigns forever
Jesus the one true God!

One man on a cross
And One light of the world
One Name One word
One way to be saved
And one lamb that was slain
One love above all
There is no other that can compare to You!

And we have seen His Glory of
The One and only Son of God
The One and only Son of God
The One and only Son of God
The One and only Son of God
And You are!

Read more:  Steven Curtis Chapman - One True God Lyrics | MetroLyrics