July 29, 2018

Lord, we can ask 'why so much ugliness in the world?'
But, like Ann Voskamp points out, we can also ask 'why so much beauty?'

Why the colors of the peacock's feathers?
Why the curve of the swan's neck?
Why the purple of the iris, the yellow of the daisy, the baby pink of the rose?
Why the movement of the clouds?
the twinkling of the lightning bug?
the depth of a baby's eyes?

You are the creative Creator!
You bless us with endless beauty
simply for our pleasure
simply because You love us

And though we could ask why the hard times in this military life,
the deployments
the separations
the frustrating work environment
the difficulties of moving
Instead we dwell on how You have blessed us with the good things:
The friends who become family
The adventures we have around the world
The times You have protected our warriors
The opportunities our kids have had
The corners of America we have come to love

We thank You for the roof over our heads
the extravagant food on our plates
the medical care
the security

May we remember our blessings, and live as people knowing we are loved.

And we ask for Your continued blessings
Guide our steps Lord.
May we use the gifts You have given to bless others. Show us how and where, Lord.
Heal our hearts when we are missing loved ones. We weren't made for separation. Yet You send great people when we need it most.
Strengthen us and teach us in the hard times.
May we find our identity in You.
Give us the words to encourage our children, our spouse.
Be the grace between us in our families.

We pray for the mommas setting up new lives in new homes.
We pray for the mommas planning their homeschool year.
We pray for those who are waiting for babies and adjusting to little ones.
We pray for those preparing to minister to others.
We pray for those who are just trying to keep little ones alive.
We pray for those gearing up to teach this year.
We pray for the lonely
We pray for the overwhelmed
We pray for the hurting

We especially pray for the mothers, the wives, the loved ones of our fallen. Lord, hold them close in Your arms.

July 22, 2018

Praying 'Every Giant Will Fall' with Rend Collective this week:

I can see the Promised Land
Though there's pain within the plan
There is victory in the end
Your love is my battle cry

From their first breath, our children's lives are a struggle in this world, Father.
If it weren't for You, all would be hopeless, meaningless.
Thank You for the ultimate goal.
Thank You for making the pain worth it.
Thank You for showing us how to fight with love.

When my fear's like Jericho
Build their walls around my soul
When my heart is overthrown
Your love is my battle cry
The anthem for all my life

Lord, we pray for the fears of our children
from their first steps
to first bike ride
to first day of school
to first day on the team
to deploying parents
to being afraid to be loved
to what to do with their lives,
May they glorify You.
May they see Your hand in every step.

Every giant will fall, the mountains will move
Every chain of the past, You've broken in two
Over fear, over lies, we're singing the truth
That nothing is impossible with You (woah)
With You (woah)

There is hope within the fight
In the wars that rage inside
Though the shadows steal the light
Your love is my battle cry
The anthem for all my life

Father God we pray for the ultimate victory in our children's lives--that they would live for You!
In their dark days, may the struggle help them grow in You.
Make them courageous. Make them patient. Make them bold for You, as this generation must be.
Lord, may they find fellow believers for the journey.
May their teachers and leaders shine Your light.
Please keep them from idol worship of social media, sports, grades, popularity...anything that distracts from You.

No greater name, no higher name
No stronger name than Jesus
You overcame, broke every chain
Forever reign, King Jesus

And when they fail, Lord, may they not be stuck there.

We know You will pick them up again.

May they not keep looking back.

We especially pray for the children of the fallen warriors. Lord, may they have a deep sense of knowing who they are in You.

We pray for the children of the hurting veterans. Give them strength and wisdom beyond their years.

We pray for the kids of the deployed. May they have Your peace.

For these kids who've grown up in a fish bowl and with parents coming and going for their jobs, Lord use those hard times to make them better.

And we thank You that nothing is impossible for You! May the giants fall!

*Every Giant Will Fall
CCLI #7051633
Written by Rend Collective
2015, Thank You Music

July 15, 2018

Praying with excerpts from II Samuel 22 for our warriors this week:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior--
from violent people You save me.

Lord, may our warriors trust in nothing other than You
Not the thickness of the ship's hull
Nor the quickness of a plane's maneuverability
The strength in their legs
or the wisdom of the orders
But only trust in You!

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and have been saved from my enemies.

Thank You Lord for the many ways You have saved our warriors.
Most of all, thank You for those who have turned to You for their eternal salvation, the ultimate triumph.
Thank You for the many times You physically saved.
Thank You for the times You gave mental strength
and helped them be brave.
Thank You for holding our veterans close.
And we pray You will save them from the enemy of suicide.

In my distress I called to the Lord;
I called out to my God.
From His temple He heard my voice;
my cry came to His ears.
The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens shook;
they trembled because He was angry.
Smoke rose from His nostrils;
consuming fire came from His mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

Thank You Lord for loving us. For being a God who hears our cries and comes running to our rescue. For knowing, and giving, just what we need when we need it.
You are all-powerful. And that gives us true comfort.

He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under His feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
He soared on the wings of the wind...
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded...

We pray for our military Lord.
Please continue to help and rescue those who bear Your Name.
Please keep safe those in the skies, on the seas, marching up the mountains, driving over the roads.
We pray for our leaders and the decisions made every day.
We pray for the offices, the motor pools, the training grounds--
May iron sharpen iron
May they be able to work together
May truth and fairness triumph.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Ultimately Lord, we pray for the salvation of all our military.
May the hard times show them Your love, Your power.
May Your servants in our ranks shine their light.

You, Lord, are my lamp;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.
With Your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall...
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make Your saving help my shield;
Your help has made me great...

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!

Thank You Lord Jesus!
Amen.

June 30, 2018

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God My Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changes not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Lord we need You when everything around us is changing. Please help us pull close to You in the moves, with all the orders and OERs and lists, when children's emotions change with the wind...

You remain
You remain loving even when we are unloveable
You remain constant even when we can't decide
You remain strong even when we come to the end of ourselves
You remain able to provide even when we keep needing more
You remain faithful even when we've lost all faith

We can't understand You Lord. But we need You desperately.

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!

We have seen You provide over and over
from coast to coast
from toddlers to teenagers
from good jobs to bad jobs
You are Lord of all

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.

We have seen Your great mercies, and we ask for new ones--
Please help us be mothers who show their children Your character.
Please be with those waiting to be mothers.
Lord, encourage the warrior mommas. Draw them to You.
Show us how to be true help mates to our spouses. May we give love as You do.
May we be good stewards of all You have given. And may we not fret over what You do not give.

We pray for the leaders among us who volunteer time to make all these things run.
We pray for our PWOCs and VBSs and Bible studies and chapels. Help us to be a blessing to the community.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

In You we live and move and breath
In You we live and move and breath
In You we live and move and breath--
Forgive us for trying so hard to control.
We look to You for the peace that endures
We look to You for our joy
and our strength
and our hope
just from Your mere presence.
Thank You Lord
Amen.

CCLI #7051633
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Written by Thomas Obadiah Chilsholm
1923 Hope Publishing Company

June 24, 2018

We prayed for their existence

for the spark of their tiny hearts

for their development

for their birth

for their growth

for their health

for their first steps

for their words

for their walk with You.

Thank You Lord for our little ones.

Every breath is a gift to us

Every day a reminder of Your love

So we boldly come to Your throne to pray for our children--

Your children--

knowing You love them more than we possibly could.

We place them in Your arms

We trust You with all of their days.

We pray for the pending births and the nervous parents.

We pray for the waiting mommas, by birth and adoption.

We pray for the summer fun and safety of the little ones.

We pray for the waiting mommas of those at camp, on missions, at boot camp, at various adventures, at college. And we pray for those kids. Lord, grow them up in You!

And we pray for the waiting mommas of the prodigals. May they feel Your presence beside them as they watch the horizon. May those prodigals turn their heart to You soon.

We pray for our kiddos who are facing walls--

struggling to learn

struggling to find friends

struggling to take their next step in life

struggling to find direction

struggling to have courage

struggling to keep faith in You.

May they see Your faithfulness as they remember their past.

May they rest in their trust of Your plans.

May they find peace, patience, endurance in the process.

Lord please be with the PCSing children. Strengthen their families and may this be a time of great memories.

Please comfort and hold close the children of the deployed. May You be very real to them in their loneliness.

Father please encourage the child of the hurting veteran, that they may encourage their loved one.

And please be the Abba Daddy for the children of the fallen

We pray with confidence knowing You have never failed any of us yet.

And we ask You to do it again--

Amen.

Click here to pray with Elevation Worship's 'Do It Again'


Walking around these walls
I thought by now they'd fall
But You have never failed me yet
Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battle's won
For You have never failed me yet

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I'm still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You've never failed me yet

I know the night won't last
Your Word will come to pass
My heart will sing Your praise again
Jesus You're still enough
Keep me within Your love
My heart will sing Your praise again

I've seen You move, You move the mountains
And I believe, I'll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I'll see You do it again

I'll see You do it again

CCLI #7051633

Do It Again 

Written by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Matt Redman, Steven Furtick

2017 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing

June 17, 2018

Praying with Psalm 97 today:

The Lord reigns, 

let the earth be glad,

let the distant shores rejoice.

We are glad You reign in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea.

We rejoice that You reign in Okinawa, Louisiana, Georgia, Alaska.

Clouds and thick darkness surround Him

righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.

His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

And so we trust Lord that when we are in darkness, You are near.

We trust that when injustice seems to rule, You are still on the throne.

We believe, to the very core of our being, You will make all things right. You will win the battles. Your truth will be victorious.

In our tough times, we look to You to judge us, fight for us.

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

before the Lord of all the earth.

Lord, we have some mountains that need melting.

We pray for our warriors who are in harm’s way. May Your mighty hedge of protection keep them safe. 

We pray for all the people that need to work together in the offices, the motor pools, in the hulls, on the fields. Lord be the grace between them. May Your people shine in these areas. May they point to Your glory.

The heavens proclaim His righteousness,

and all peoples see His glory.

All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship Him, all you gods!

Lord, please smash our idols of pride, wrongful ambition, glory seeking. May our warriors be selfless servants for You.

For You, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Father we pray for our warriors. May they be always growing closer to You. May they hate evil. May revival spread! In the hard times, may they feel Your love. Strengthen them for the task at hand. Give them wisdom to complete their life mission. Help them balance their work and their family. Teach them to be better spouses, parents, friends, leaders. 

And Father God please hold close our veterans. Silence the nightmares. May Your voice prevail in their lives. May the demon of suicide be thwarted.

May Your light and joy shine in our military ranks, Lord God of the heavenly armies!

Light shines on the righteous

and joy on the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,

and praise His holy name.