Memorial Day Prayer

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America, courage, Giver, God, Jesus, Memorial Day, military, One Nation, peace, prayer, Prayer of Saint Francis, United States, veterans

Heavenly Father,

You are great, and worthy of all praise. We reverence You as the Creator of the Universe, our Source for all things, the Giver and Sustainer of every living thing. We pause to recognize those who have given their all for what we oftentimes take for granted—the freedoms of America.  We pray in celebration and thanksgiving for Your amazing grace and eternal mercies to be extended to this Nation.

As we remember the brave and courageous men and women who fought for our country, let us always remember it was You who gave them what they needed most to stand tall against the opposition to defend our freedoms.  Let us not forget! Thank you for their families and loved ones who suffered great loss because of the ultimate sacrifice they paid. We pray that their memories of time shared together would bring solace and replace sadness. May they know You as the God of all comfort.

Thank you for every branch of the United States of America military and every officer that made the tough calls, and gave the commands that ended in loss of lives…we pray for peace, healing and wholeness for all veterans of war.

Father, I pray that this Memorial Day, there is a greater sense of personal purpose that connects us; that will bring a deeper sense of reverence for You as the Only invisible God of Peace in Whom we really do trust…and that we live by example as One Nation under God.  May the honor for the service and sacrifice of our military heroes remind us always that “freedom is not free; someone paid the ultimate cost—life.”

We pray for all active duty military personnel worldwide. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace (Numbers 5:25-26).

And finally, may the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi be the prayer of every American believer and representative of Jesus Christ, confident in the hope and eternal peace that is in Him:

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness light. Where there is sadness, joy.”

We seal this prayer in the Matchless Name of Jesus the Christ with thanksgiving. Amen.

Sacredness of Tears

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battle, children, courage, family, hope, life, love, military, military family, military life, military wives, overwhelming grief, Patriot Project, Religion and Spirituality, spirituality, tears of joy, tears of sorrow, Washington Irving

Lord knows in this life tears equates to a flowing stream of water. There is so much to deal with day in a day out— not to mention the concerns that goes with military life.

Sometimes it seems like it’s more than you can bear, but that’s when everything is in an uproar at the sign of war, and sorrows overwhelm your spirit. But did you ever think about the tears of joy in which the flowing streams seems to bring life to the weary soul?  For example, seeing the little face of your child light up when they see you after being away so long. And oh! the gentle touch of your significant other upon your return home…

Tears of joy…There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.  They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. —Washington Irving

It is the tears of unspeakable love and joy that flows when we remember your service, sacrifice and the honor you deserve.

Praying for you,

Count what matters most

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afghanistan, battle, Beauty, courage, Flower, hope, memories, military, Patriot Project, servicemen, servicewomen, soldier, war

No doubt flowers are rarely seen in the life of a soldier on the battlefield. Even if there are flowers it’s probably easier to miss their beauty because of the ugliness of war.  Who has time to count flowers, or be distracted by their creative blossoms that reminds of the Creator’s meticulous care for nature’s beauty?

Yet, there is always the hope of beholding beauty and counting blessings that are so often taken for granted, especially when you’re called to the unfertile soils that are trampled by soles of combats boots. But there comes a time when you must let the beauty unfold in the eyes of your spirit to hold on to the hope of eternal bliss.So, take a moment to read these words and listen with your spirit to count what really matters most to you:

Count Flowers

When we start to count flowers, we cease to count weeds;
When we start to count blessings, we cease to count needs;
When we start to count laughter, we cease to count tears;
When we start to count memories, we cease to count years.

—Author Unknown—

Praying for you,

Happy Mother’s Day

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family, God, Holidays, home, love, memories, military, Mother, Mothers Day, Parent, Patriot Project, prayer, servicewomen

Just wanted to wish all military mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!

For whatever reason you will have to spend Mother’s Day apart from your child/ren, and the pain of separation seems unbearable, I pray that you are comforted by the memories you shared together.  May you always remember that you have been given a priceless treasure—motherhood.

To the mothers serving in every branch of the U.S. armed forces I pray for your well-being, and that your service and the sacrifice you make bring you greater honor and blessings for an eternity. And as Proverbs 31:25 declares, “Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.”  May that time come when you are reunited with your children and family.

Bernie Wiebe said,

Loving relationships are a family’s best protection against the challenges of the world.

And I say, a mother’s influence makes the difference!

As always, praying for you,

Faith Arms from Fear

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family, fear, Jesus Christ, military, Patriot Project, peace, prayer, safety

No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world’s storm-troubled sphere;
I see heaven’s glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.

—Emily Bronte

Praying that your faith fail not when you find yourself in fearful situations at home or abroad.  May the love of family and friends, and most of all, our heavenly Father bring comfort during times of sorrow that would cast a shadow of death your way. May the peace of God reign supreme and set a garrison against the doubts and fears that can ambush the soul and spirit.

I’m confident you have all the weapons you need to defeat the greatest war you will fight on land, or sea, in air or in mind, at home or abroad. Today, I send the word of peace to hold captive the negative and fearful thoughts of your mind. May the Lord bless you and give you peace. And may faith arm you from fear!

Praying for you,

A Gentle Word

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family, gentle words, love, military, Patriot Project, peace, poetry, prose, war

As I mature in age, and become wiser from my experiences and studying the Bible, I’m convinced that the simple things in life are very important.  Simple things like a gentle word.  In the rustle and bustle of life it’s so easy to be offended and use words as weapons of defense.  And like bullets, words can injure us and even kill the potential within (Proverbs 18:21).

I’m certain that you know better than any of us, and therefore, will agree that life is too short, fragile and uncertain to use words as weapons against those we love and need in our lives. So, why not use gentle words to turn away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).

Perhaps, it may seem that a gentle word is insufficient for times of war, or when the signs of peace is nowhere in sight. But why not keep it simple and speak a gentle word to someone’s delight.

Here’s a poem I found that inspired this post:

A gentle word, like summer rain, may soothe some heart and banish pain.  What joy or sadness often springs from just the simple little things!                    —Willa Hoey

As always,

Praying for you

Look it in the eye

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battle, courage, God, hope, Jesus Christ, military, Patriot Project, prayer, protection, safety, servicemen, servicewomen, soldier, war

If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye, and say, “I will be bigger than you.  You cannot defeat me.”

— Ann Landers

Pretty good advice.  One thing for certain, trouble is an inevitable part of life, and we must confront with confidence.  However, that confidence cannot be solely in man’s strength, abilities and skills, which are, in most instances, no match for the troubles we face in this life. Consequently, I choose to put my trust in the One that’s bigger than the trouble. One thing I’d like to add to Ann Landers’ advice is based on the Word of God.  I will be bigger than my trouble because the Greater One is within me, and He gives me the strength to overcome life’s troubles and sorrows (John 16:33). And, I choose to believe that He is a very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 37:9; 46:1; 50:15).

I can’t imagine the troubles you face on a daily basis in combat; the strength to perservere in the face of danger, the courage to stand defiantly and look trouble in the eye; or the sacrifices you make so that your fellowman will not face the horrific troubles of the past.

Whenever trouble comes your way, I pray you’re always able to stand and boldly say, “I am bigger than you.  You cannot defeat me. The Bigger One has already defeated you for me, and He is on my side.”

Praying for you,

He Calms

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afghanistan, fear, Jesus Christ, military, prayer, protection, safety, servicemen, soldier, wives, women

Feeling lonely and being alone are both reasons for fearfulness. I am sure military wives can relate all to well.  It’s something about feeling secure when your “protector” is lying next to you.  But then duty calls and you’re left alone. Thoughts of the worst kind bombard your mind and cause you to retreat…

May this prayer calm your spirit and bring comfort to you in those lonely and alone times:

Father, I can’t begin to count the number of times You’ve wrapped Your loving arms around me and calmed me in the midst of fears.  You’ve drawn me near in times of sorrow and given me assurance when I’ve faced great disappointment.  So, here am I, needing You again.  Amen.

Praying for you,

Making a difference

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hope, love, neighborhood programs, Patriot Project, servicemen, soldier

Sometimes we think that making a positive difference is contingent upon power, position and platform.  For example, making large monetary donations to non-profits, being high profile activists, or having an established platform as a voice for the people.  These are all advantages that can make a positive impact in the lives of individuals and enhance the quality of life in society, but they should not be considered the norm.   Truth is,  the greatest differences can be made in our individual spheres of influence—the workplace, small communities, neighborhood programs, local places of worship—where there’s no media coverage.   For example, a major difference was made in the lives of children with heart disease when one young woman organized a spring camp just for them because they are a high risk for regular camps.  She asked others to contribute their time and talents to the cause.

Yes, it seems that making a difference is contingent upon power, position and platform.  However, I consider one of the greatest differences one can make is service to country and fellowman.  The risks are high; the length of time can be too long, and the rewards in this life are less valued.

Oh, yeah! This blog was created for the purpose of making a difference.

Still, above all any of us could ever do is let love make the greatest difference…  the poem below by Donald Grey Barnhouse.

Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch.  Goodness is love’s character.  Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulness.  Self-control is love holding the reins.

As always, praying for you

 

Through it all…

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defeat depression, hope, Jesus Christ, love, military, prayer, spirituality

Everyday it seems that bad news outweigh the good. And if I really believed that I would be overcome by a sense of defeat, depression, and utter disdain for life.  But my prayer is for those who do believe the bad news outweigh the good.  I’m concerned about those who feel it’s too late to believe, to hope, to have faith—saying, “It is what it is.”  Perhaps you may be one of those persons reading this blog.  Perhaps you have served your country, suffered great loss, one sacrifice after another, barely escaped death, and it appears it was all in vain.  Let me encourage you. Everything that happens in life does not always make sense.  But through it all—defeat, depression, and even utter disdain for life—the one thing that will never change is the love of Christ.  I know; it’s hard to comprehend this truth when you’ve experienced such pain, heartache, battlefield wounds and scars. How about this? When you’ve done all you can to make sense out of misery, know that there is someone else that has also been through it all…and HE understands.

I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:16-18, NIV).

Sure, everyday it may seem as if the bad news outweigh the good; but through it all this is the good news worth embracing everyday: God loves you!

Praying for you,