For your Sunday

"Some quote Psalm 91 as though it was some kind of magic wand, but there is nothing magical about this psalm. It is powerful and it works, but only because it is the Word of God, alive and active. And we confess it out loud, simply because the Bible tell us to." - Peggy Joyce Ruth, Psalm 91: God's Shield of Protection (Military Edition)

For your Sunday

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: 

the Lord bestows favor and honor; 

no good things does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 

Psalm 84:11

For your Sunday

God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory:  

I call out to You on behalf of Your people. 

Give them minds ready to receive wisdom 

and revelation so they will truly know you. 

Open the eyes of their hearts, 

and let the light of Your truth flood in. 

Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. 

Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. 

Let them see the full extent of Your power 

that is at work in those of us who believe, 

and may it be done according to Your might and power.

Ephesians 1:17-19

(The Voice)

For your Sunday

May God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed 

surround you with grace and peace.

Ephesians 1:2 (The Voice)

For your Sunday

This weekend I attended a conference held by Military Outreach of Greater Chicago. The purpose of this conference was to equip individuals and churches in the Chicago metropolitan area to provide a support role to all military members, veterans and their families impacted by the invisible wounds of military service.

I sat quietly through the conference listening to how we as a church can be a beacon of God's hope and light to our military community. Paul tells us in Galatians to carry each other's burdens (Gal. 6:2). The burdens of our military community are great. Not only can we be a beacon of God's hope and light to them, we need to be.

The presenter closed our time together by sharing from Psalm 118:6.

"The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid."

As is becoming rather common for me these days, tears began to well up. I was there to learn how to reach and support our military community but as I heard those words from Psalm 118:6 they filled a need in my own heart.

My husband will soon deploy. The day is approaching all too quickly and the closer it gets the greater my fears become. The words from Psalm 118:6 gave me comfort. They reminded me of how He is with us and I do not need to fear the day to come. And I'm grateful for the church community we have that will be praying for us daily.

But If my own need for God feels so great how can I not be a beacon of His hope and light to our military community? They need me. They need you too. 

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:2

Today and everyday, let us be praying for our military members and their families. Your prayers for my family would also be appreciated. If you are a military family please let me know how I can be praying for you.

For your Sunday

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

To him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

Who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

Who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

Who made the great lights—

His love endures forever.

The sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.

The moon and stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-12

For your Sunday

All that My Father gives to Me comes to Me. 
I will receive everyone;
I will not send away anyone who comes to Me.
John 6:37 (The Voice)

For your Sunday

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, 

and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. 

When he had cleansed us from our sins, 

he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)

For your Sunday

Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.

Songs of Solomon 2:12-13

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Linking with

The Weekend Brew

Still Saturday

The Sunday Community

Sunday Stillness

For your Sunday

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall; 
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Dedicated to my Aunt Juanita Thomson

August 31, 1921 - April 10, 2013

She was small but mighty 

and loved God with all her heart.

The above scripture was chosen as one of her favorites
and read today as we celebrated her life.

For your Sunday

Jesus answered,

 “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. 

Indeed, the water I give them 

will become in them a spring of water 

welling up to eternal life.”

John 4:13-14

For your Sunday

You've captured my heart, dear friend.
You looked at me, and I fell in love.
One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!

Song of Solomon 4:9 (MSG)

For your Sunday

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said,

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me,

you won’t have to walk in darkness,

because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 8:12

Memorial Day Weekend ~ Remember Our Fallen

"Remember the fallen
who gave up their tomorrows
with family and loved ones,
so that we can enjoy our todays."
Wreaths Across America

For you, with love

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit — not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength — that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plump the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG)

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My husband is off playing Army and it's during these times when my heart feels a bit heavy. With talks of a deployment later this year, I find myself questioning having the strength to get through those months apart. These words from Paul have encouraged me this morning. 

I pray whatever may be weighing on your heart today that you find the same encouragement. Invite Him into your heart, friends, and you will find strength.

"God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!"