MEMORIAL DAY

Dear Lord, so many have givien their lives in the service of our country.  So many familys feeling the pain and hurt of loss.  Such a price of suffering and death for Freedom.  We pray for all those who have made those sacrifices.  We also pray for our Country and those that are now serving.  Keep them safe in Your care, and may they realize that our only hope in this life is Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross to save us eternally.  Grant joy and peace to those who have lost the most.  We love You. Amen.

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Dear Heavenly Father,

As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy every day, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior. Jesus Christ. Please hold our servicemen and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and your presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.

We also remember the families of our troops. We ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes, and we pray that your peace, provision, and strength will fill their lives.

May the members of our armed forces be supplied with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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if my people

This Old Testament verse, depicted below, was very popular amongst Christians back in the 70s when we were celebrating America's bicentennial. It is a compelling passage on prayer. A few thoughts about the passage:

• My People: Many believers point to atheists and others for the secularization of America. This passage seems to indicate otherwise.
• My Name: It is to God we are called and to Him we must answer for the state of our nation.
• Humble Themselves: The image that many see in believers is often anything but humility. I am so opinionated and so in need of humility.
• Pray and Seek: I sometimes forget how these two things go together. I think that we can determine the depth of our humility by the amount of time we spend praying and seeking.
• Turn: It is so easy to point a finger of repentance at other people. The heart of this verse is that we would turn. That we would repent. That we would change.

I love how God responds to humility, prayer and repentance. He says that He will hear, He will forgive, and He will heal. Please join me in prayer for your country.

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we remember

In this time surrounding Memorial Day,

We remember:

• All those who gave all for our peace and freedom.
  May we never forget their legacy of courage.
  
• Every family member who grieves a great loss
  May they be surrounded by encouraging friends.
  
• The children who will grow up without a parent.
  May grace fill their lives as they grow.

We pray for:

• Soldiers and sailors who are in harm's way.
  Let them be filled with grace knowing you are there.
  
• Leaders all over the world as the govern nations.
  Let them be filled with hearts of peace and reconciliation.
  
• The next generations of our children.
  Let war and hate be words that are foreign to them.

We say Amen to peace. Amen to love. Amen to Christ Jesus.

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The fragrance of our prayers

I was reading in Revelation chapter 5 this morning and came across a gorgeous scripture that just took my breath away. 

The more I read it, the louder it spoke to my spirit. 

The more I pondered it, the more vivid the image  of it became in my mind. 

“And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the PRAYERS of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8)

As I read this passage over and over again, the imagery just blew me away!

I could see the elders holding those beautiful golden bowls high in the air. And I could imagine as we usher forth our prayers here on earth that those prayers are carried away and deposited into those bowls. 

And the fragrance of those heartfelt, gut-wrenching, pleading and sometimes desperate prayers are a pleasing aroma to our God.

That every time we cry out to Him, another prayer goes into that bowl to be a sweet smelling fragrance to our Creator.

Those prayers that we sometimes aren’t sure are heard.... they are.

Those prayers that we whisper in the wee hours of the morning. Those prayers that are uttered in times of defeat and despair. 

Those prayers that are sometimes comprised of more tears than words. 

Those prayers that we think aren’t worthy of an answer. Those prayers that we honestly don’t think matter to Him. 

Isn’t that just a beautiful picture? 

We don’t have to wonder where our prayers go when the petition leaves our mouths... 

We don’t have to wonder if our prayers have reached the ears of God...

We can know that each cry of our heart finds its way to the heavens and is lifted up as a beautiful fragrant offering to our Father.

Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting.

Golden bowls filled with fragrant incense...the prayers of God’s people.

Thank you LORD for your Sovereignty and your love...and for the beautiful gift of PRAYER.

Amen

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the work of our hands

Gracious and Merciful Lord,

We praise You for all that You are, all that You have done, and all that You will do. We glory in Your faithfulness, Your beauty, Your power and righteousness. May Your Spirit rest upon us this day.

We commit to You the work of our hands. May it be for Your renown. May we seek to do Your will alone. Help us see others as You see them, see ourselves as You see us, and do the work You have called us to do.

May we see every small thing we do as significant. May we be humbled by every big thing You have asked of us. Teach us to know the privilege and power You have give us to love others well, to be good news and share good news to the world. May our lives be a testimony to Your grace.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    for as many years as we have seen trouble.
 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
    your splendor to their children.
 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
  establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands.

                             (Ps. 90:14, 16-17)

Amen

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CHILDREN OF GOD

I John 3:1-3  "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is,  Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

How can we thank You, Father for adopting us as Your sons and daughters?  How can we even begin to grasp what that adoption really means?  For reasons we will never understand, You have chosen us to be heirs of a heavenly legacy, and even more remarkably to be joint-heirs with Your only begotten Son.  We are so grateful Lord and in our gratitude we long to be like Jesus.  Transform us into His likeness, so that in this life, as well as in the life to come, we will come to bear a family resemblance to Him.  I love You.  Amen.

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Maranatha Worship Bible

Amen

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God is for Us!

"The fear of man lays a snare....." Prov. 29:25 a (ESV)

So many people live in the grip of human fear that paralyzes their lives, immobilizes their behavior and traumatizes their emotions. It is the three dimensional aspects of fear: that the past will catch up with them, that they are trapped in their present life or that the future will be a disaster. Politicians and Commerce traffic in the fear that controls, coherence and confuses people and we should have none of that!

Thank you Father for the fact: "... whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." Prov. 29:25 b (ESV)

Thank you Father for the fact: "....This I know, that God is for me." Psalm 56:9 (ESV)

Thank you Father for the fact: “...if God is for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Thank you Father for the fact: "....we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear..” Hebrews 13:6 (ESV)

Thank you Father for the fact: "..God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Tim.1:7 (ESV)

Thank you Father for the fact: "You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ Lamentations 3:57 (ESV)

Thank you Father that Biblical faith, Holy humility and Reverential fear is the way to spiritual life, emotional peace and physical well being. " The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life." Proverbs 22:4 (ESV)

In Jesus glorious Name. Amen.

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fill us with compassion

Father,

fill our hearts with deep compassion

for those who suffer,

and may the day come quickly

of your kingdom of justice and truth. 

Amen.

- a prayer of Eugène Bersier

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for justice and peace

To you, Creator of nature and humanity,

 of truth and beauty, I pray:

Hear my voice,

 for it is the voice

 of the victims of all wars and violence

 among individuals and nations.

Hear my voice,

 for it is the voice

 of all children who suffer and who will suffer

 when people put their faith in weapons and war.

Hear my voice

 when I beg you to instill

 into the hearts of all human beings

 the vision of peace,

 the strength of justice

 and the joy of fellowship. 

Hear my voice,

 for I speak for the multitudes

 in every country and in every period of history

 who do not want war

 and are ready to walk the road of peace.

Hear my voice

 and grant insight and strength

 so that we may always respond

 to hatred with love,

 to injustice with total dedication to justice,

 to need with the sharing of self,

 to war with peace.

O God, hear my voice,

 and grant to the world your everlasting peace.

-Pope John Paul II at Hiroshima, Japan, 1981

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Prayer for Strength

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29)

When the hurt in your life seems to be too much...

When you don’t think you can take another step...

Surrender it all to Christ. 

Release the hurt and allow Him to exchange them for His Strength.

LORD, give us the strength we need to release our hurt and entrust them to You.  Enable us to tap into the abundance of Your Grace.

Amen

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Ascension

Father, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven. We thank you that you have not left us comfortless, but have sent your Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us. Amen

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PRAYING GOD'S WORD

Psalm 119:33-37(NET)

"Teach me O Lord the lifestyle prescribed by your statues so that I might observe your law and keep it with all my heart.  Guide me in the paths of your commands for I delight to walk in it.  Give me a desire for your rules, rather than wealth gained unjustly.  Turn my eyes away from what is worhless.  Revive me with your word.  I love your word.  I love You.  Amen.

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God's Care for Us

"....the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2 (ESV)   

We have two doves (male and female) nesting on one of the ledges of our window and I am amazed and inspired by their diligence, faithfulness and care for the two eggs they are hovering over. This so reminds me of the faithfulness of God in watching over us and of His tender care each day. It is a beautiful thing to behold and so endearing to our hearts. It reminds me of the song: "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" by Civilla D. Martin.

His Eye is on the Sparrow.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me."

Thank you Heavenly Father for such faithful and tender care.  In Jesus precious name. Amen.

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