Let's pray with King David today, from I Chronicles 17:16-27
Who am I Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
As we consider 2013, Lord, we count our blessings. Humbly, we thank you.
There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our ears.
What other God would go seeking people, loving them enough to die for them? What other God turns the stars, stores the snow, calms the seas? What other God can save the soldier, give the baby breath, see our deepest hearts?
You my God have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You Lord are God! You have promised these good things to your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight, for you Lord have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.
Lord build your church in 2014! And use us! Here at fort drum, in our chapels.
Lord build your families. Continue to grow us in you, coming together. Save our marriages. Unleash our children to take on your work in the world.
Lord we pray for our deployed. Comfort them and keep them safe. We pray for those leaving soon, for safety in travel, for courage, for a heightened desire to know you. We pray for our soldiers h here, for a sense of purpose, and that they would seek you in their loneliness.
We pray for the families as we go through this crazy cycle of separation and reuniting. May we hold onto you through the trial until we receive the blessing of being closer to you.
We praise you and follow you into this new year. Every day a gift from you.
Amen
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
December 23, 2013
I think I figured out the comment thing; so comment away! Just continue to remember that it is a public site.
Joy to the world! Our Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King!
Yes, Lord, joy-joy-unending joy to us because You have come for us.
May we receive You.
May we be empty enough for You to come in. May we prepare room for You.
And may all of Fort Drum.
We pray for our chapel services this week:
--may people prepare room in their calendar to come
--may the words of the chaplains be glorifying to You
--may the atmosphere be welcoming to all
--may the music and all details bring attention to You
--may the weather permit
May it be a life-changing experience for some families.
We pray for safety for our Fort Drum community in this challenging weather. We especially pray for our first responders who risk their safety every time a siren goes.
We pray for health.
We pray for You to be the grace amongst the family members with all this time together.
We pray for the soldiers who can't go home to family. May they feel You holding them.
We thank You for our many gifts. May we handle them rightly; and teach our children to also.
Lord, may we be the people of Joy on Fort Drum. Even as we see heaven and nature singing their praises, may we also be witnesses.
And heaven and nature sing...
Joy to the world! Our Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King!
Yes, Lord, joy-joy-unending joy to us because You have come for us.
May we receive You.
May we be empty enough for You to come in. May we prepare room for You.
And may all of Fort Drum.
We pray for our chapel services this week:
--may people prepare room in their calendar to come
--may the words of the chaplains be glorifying to You
--may the atmosphere be welcoming to all
--may the music and all details bring attention to You
--may the weather permit
May it be a life-changing experience for some families.
We pray for safety for our Fort Drum community in this challenging weather. We especially pray for our first responders who risk their safety every time a siren goes.
We pray for health.
We pray for You to be the grace amongst the family members with all this time together.
We pray for the soldiers who can't go home to family. May they feel You holding them.
We thank You for our many gifts. May we handle them rightly; and teach our children to also.
Lord, may we be the people of Joy on Fort Drum. Even as we see heaven and nature singing their praises, may we also be witnesses.
And heaven and nature sing...
Sunday, December 15, 2013
December 16, 2013
Let's pray with Mary in Luke 1:46- today:
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
Yes Lord yes! Today we stop and praise You. You hold the storehouses of the snow and cover miles and miles with inches of millions of exquisite flakes. And in the midst of all that, You find the sparrow a safe place to sleep. You move the winds that can stop our best technology in its tracks. You can thwart the strongest nation with a storm. You can melt the hardest heart. And Your love covers people of all nations, of all ages.
for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is His name.
The Mighty One who turns the stars, also knows and sees and loves the poorest child in the most forgotten hovel. You have done such great things for us.
Holy is Your name! This is a sacred time, and we bow before Your throne.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
Forgive us, Lord, for when we don't fear You. For when we live our own lives out of selfishness, or carelessness. Teach us to fear You. Thank You for Your mercy. You know our inmost thoughts, our hearts.
And You have done mighty deeds for us, for our country, for our soldiers. Thank You Lord for communities of friends, for battles won, for planes of warriors returning home safely, for a land of resources, for the best nation in the world.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty....
Lord, we pray for peace in this world. No one wants it more than You. No one knows the pain of the children more than You. We long for when You come again. Help us to do Your work--feeding the hungry, lifting the broken, freeing the prisoners.
Move in our hearts Lord. We love You! Amen.
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
Yes Lord yes! Today we stop and praise You. You hold the storehouses of the snow and cover miles and miles with inches of millions of exquisite flakes. And in the midst of all that, You find the sparrow a safe place to sleep. You move the winds that can stop our best technology in its tracks. You can thwart the strongest nation with a storm. You can melt the hardest heart. And Your love covers people of all nations, of all ages.
for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is His name.
The Mighty One who turns the stars, also knows and sees and loves the poorest child in the most forgotten hovel. You have done such great things for us.
Holy is Your name! This is a sacred time, and we bow before Your throne.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
Forgive us, Lord, for when we don't fear You. For when we live our own lives out of selfishness, or carelessness. Teach us to fear You. Thank You for Your mercy. You know our inmost thoughts, our hearts.
And You have done mighty deeds for us, for our country, for our soldiers. Thank You Lord for communities of friends, for battles won, for planes of warriors returning home safely, for a land of resources, for the best nation in the world.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty....
Lord, we pray for peace in this world. No one wants it more than You. No one knows the pain of the children more than You. We long for when You come again. Help us to do Your work--feeding the hungry, lifting the broken, freeing the prisoners.
Move in our hearts Lord. We love You! Amen.
Monday, December 9, 2013
December 9, 2013
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--Crescent Woods and Rhicard Hills, and Adirondack, and Monument Ridge 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 of trial of its own. There's more tomorrows to get it done.
Lord, for our village of Fort Drum, we pray:
--for the illnesses plaguing many families
--for safety in traveling many miles
--for grace to prevail in the homes, especially with returning warriors
--for those suffering loneliness, despair, pain--especially our 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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
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--Crescent Woods and Rhicard Hills, and Adirondack, and Monument Ridge 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 of trial of its own. There's more tomorrows to get it done.
Lord, for our village of Fort Drum, we pray:
--for the illnesses plaguing many families
--for safety in traveling many miles
--for grace to prevail in the homes, especially with returning warriors
--for those suffering loneliness, despair, pain--especially our 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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
December 2, 2013
White. Clean. Fresh. As the snow makes all things beautiful, Lord, we are reminded how You have made all things beautiful for us. You forgave us. You covered us. You made us fresh and new and innocent again, like a brand new baby. Unmerited grace!
And so we start this advent season with hearts overflowing with love for our Savior and Lord. How can we not be full of joy? Lord forgive us for letting the thief steal our joy. For clouding our minds with so many things when only one thing is important.
Help us to crawl up on Your lap, and just quietly let You love us--every day through this season. Starting right now....
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
The millions of crystal snowflakes, the hugs of children and happy giggles of families, the voices raised in chapels, the number-less good deeds and gifts offered in Your name
Praise Him all creatures here below
The bunnies in their burrows, the deer moving quietly through the woods, the mighty whale arching over the water, the tiny chickadee flitting about the branches,
and the tiny baby's sigh, the soldier turning his face to the heavens, the mother rocking away the child's fears...Praise Him...
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
The sky full of heavenly hosts praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill to men."
Oh Father! How awesome and terrifying and wonderous to imagine a sky full of angels, Your glorious throne in the heavens, Your Son coming as a tiny baby.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Lord we praise You now, and we need You now, more than ever. Use us when we go shopping. Use us when we attend the parties. Use us when we greet our neighbors. Lord, so many lost sheep need You so desperately. May we be guided by Your Spirit to reach them.
Lord, give hope to the hopeless through us. We pray for the returning soldier who feels like a stranger in his family. We pray for the young private who is away from home and scared. We pray for the hardened warrior who is full of pride.
Father God, may this be the season that many on Fort Drum would find You.
We love You Lord,
Amen
And so we start this advent season with hearts overflowing with love for our Savior and Lord. How can we not be full of joy? Lord forgive us for letting the thief steal our joy. For clouding our minds with so many things when only one thing is important.
Help us to crawl up on Your lap, and just quietly let You love us--every day through this season. Starting right now....
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
The millions of crystal snowflakes, the hugs of children and happy giggles of families, the voices raised in chapels, the number-less good deeds and gifts offered in Your name
Praise Him all creatures here below
The bunnies in their burrows, the deer moving quietly through the woods, the mighty whale arching over the water, the tiny chickadee flitting about the branches,
and the tiny baby's sigh, the soldier turning his face to the heavens, the mother rocking away the child's fears...Praise Him...
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
The sky full of heavenly hosts praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill to men."
Oh Father! How awesome and terrifying and wonderous to imagine a sky full of angels, Your glorious throne in the heavens, Your Son coming as a tiny baby.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Lord we praise You now, and we need You now, more than ever. Use us when we go shopping. Use us when we attend the parties. Use us when we greet our neighbors. Lord, so many lost sheep need You so desperately. May we be guided by Your Spirit to reach them.
Lord, give hope to the hopeless through us. We pray for the returning soldier who feels like a stranger in his family. We pray for the young private who is away from home and scared. We pray for the hardened warrior who is full of pride.
Father God, may this be the season that many on Fort Drum would find You.
We love You Lord,
Amen
Sunday, November 24, 2013
November 25, 2013
Let's fill the comments, our speech, our prayers, the air on Fort Drum with praises this week! Let's join with David from I Chronicles 16:
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name;
make known among the nations what He has done.
Lord, we say to eachother "Praise the Lord" and talk about the wonderful things You have accomplished. Help us this week to make known Your deeds and Your praise on the streets of Fort Drum, through the internet circles, and wherever You have given us a circle of influence. For You have done so many good things for us.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Yes, Lord, this week even more than others, we take time to thank You. How hollow it is to 'be thankful' without anyone to thank. We praise You! We glory in You!
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, his miracles, and the judgements He pronounced.
Thank You Lord for all our soldiers who returned safely this year. Thank You for all those who continue to serve honorably. May those who are poor in spirit be comforted by You. Only You can heal hearts, and we ask for You to do that.
Sing to the Lord all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Father, You have given us a sphere of influence. By moving us Army wives around, You have made us missionaries to many communities; and our soldiers can spread Your love around the world! Help us to use that network, Lord. Help us to reach out to Fort Drum, to Watertown, to the world. Help us to forget ourselves this week, and show someone the love of Jesus.
...Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name...Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness....Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad...Let the sea resound and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord...
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever!
God we thank You for:
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name;
make known among the nations what He has done.
Lord, we say to eachother "Praise the Lord" and talk about the wonderful things You have accomplished. Help us this week to make known Your deeds and Your praise on the streets of Fort Drum, through the internet circles, and wherever You have given us a circle of influence. For You have done so many good things for us.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Yes, Lord, this week even more than others, we take time to thank You. How hollow it is to 'be thankful' without anyone to thank. We praise You! We glory in You!
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, his miracles, and the judgements He pronounced.
Thank You Lord for all our soldiers who returned safely this year. Thank You for all those who continue to serve honorably. May those who are poor in spirit be comforted by You. Only You can heal hearts, and we ask for You to do that.
Sing to the Lord all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Father, You have given us a sphere of influence. By moving us Army wives around, You have made us missionaries to many communities; and our soldiers can spread Your love around the world! Help us to use that network, Lord. Help us to reach out to Fort Drum, to Watertown, to the world. Help us to forget ourselves this week, and show someone the love of Jesus.
...Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name...Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness....Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad...Let the sea resound and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord...
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever!
God we thank You for:
Sunday, November 17, 2013
November 18, 2013
Let's pray IPeter 4:7-11 today:
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Lord teach us to number our days. Help us to understand the times enough to hate our complacency in working for You. Open our eyes to the masses, the lost sheep, the little ones You love.
And Father God may we pray. Remind us that it is The most important work. May we say what Luther did, "I have such a busy day, I must pray longer." Don't let us be distracted, but focused in mind, bonded in unity, fighting the spiritual battle. Thank You for these sisters to pray with. What an encouragement to know we are not the only ones.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Yes, Abba, help us to love as You love. May our first response to our husbands not be 'what's in it for me', but 'how can I serve you?' May our first response to our children not be impatience but unfailing endurance. May our first response to our neighbor not be artificial, but deeply caring. May our first response to the stranger not be judging, but loving. Lord, what would Fort Drum look like with an epidemic of love? How can we start that contagion today?
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.
As the old hymn says, "Lord make me a servant today." God give strength to our soldiers, who are serving our country and us. Thank You for our gifts Lord. Don't let us hide them under the basket of distraction. Or fear of failure. Or low self-confidence. Multiply our efforts, Father, and may we see the blessing of the work of our hands. May we serve our families, our Fort Drum, our Watertown, our world. Show us how.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
God we pray for our chaplains. What a terrifying responsibility--to speak the words of God. Don't let them speak any other. We pray for the other workers to rise up, step forward. We pray for the youth workers on Fort Drum. May all these leaders be ever mindful of integrity.
And may we all be filled with Your strength so we can serve. Not by our own might. Not out of our own ability in any way. 'To bring You the glory. May we give and give and give...
To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Climb to glory, Lord! You are our glory! We long to be with You. Near You is no weakness. No sickness. No hatred. No selfishness. No hopelessness. Near You is all beauty. All goodness. All strength. All hope. All love. Forgive us for all we do that takes us away from Your glory. Thank You for loving us enough to give us a way to be with You.
So that God may be praised. God the Father of light. God the maker of the stars and the sunrise. God, the source of all love. God the all-powerful. God the creator of all creatures. We praise You.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Lord teach us to number our days. Help us to understand the times enough to hate our complacency in working for You. Open our eyes to the masses, the lost sheep, the little ones You love.
And Father God may we pray. Remind us that it is The most important work. May we say what Luther did, "I have such a busy day, I must pray longer." Don't let us be distracted, but focused in mind, bonded in unity, fighting the spiritual battle. Thank You for these sisters to pray with. What an encouragement to know we are not the only ones.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Yes, Abba, help us to love as You love. May our first response to our husbands not be 'what's in it for me', but 'how can I serve you?' May our first response to our children not be impatience but unfailing endurance. May our first response to our neighbor not be artificial, but deeply caring. May our first response to the stranger not be judging, but loving. Lord, what would Fort Drum look like with an epidemic of love? How can we start that contagion today?
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.
As the old hymn says, "Lord make me a servant today." God give strength to our soldiers, who are serving our country and us. Thank You for our gifts Lord. Don't let us hide them under the basket of distraction. Or fear of failure. Or low self-confidence. Multiply our efforts, Father, and may we see the blessing of the work of our hands. May we serve our families, our Fort Drum, our Watertown, our world. Show us how.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
God we pray for our chaplains. What a terrifying responsibility--to speak the words of God. Don't let them speak any other. We pray for the other workers to rise up, step forward. We pray for the youth workers on Fort Drum. May all these leaders be ever mindful of integrity.
And may we all be filled with Your strength so we can serve. Not by our own might. Not out of our own ability in any way. 'To bring You the glory. May we give and give and give...
To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Climb to glory, Lord! You are our glory! We long to be with You. Near You is no weakness. No sickness. No hatred. No selfishness. No hopelessness. Near You is all beauty. All goodness. All strength. All hope. All love. Forgive us for all we do that takes us away from Your glory. Thank You for loving us enough to give us a way to be with You.
So that God may be praised. God the Father of light. God the maker of the stars and the sunrise. God, the source of all love. God the all-powerful. God the creator of all creatures. We praise You.
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