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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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

For your Sunday

"Come!" say the Spirit and the Bride.

Whoever hears, echo, "Come!"

Is anyone thirsty? Come!

All who will, come and drink,

Drink freely of the Water of Life!

Revelations 22:17 (MSG)

For your Sunday

Original Photo by friend Judd Johnson

Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

To my mother...

Thank you for your unconditional love.

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The Weekend Brew
Scripture and a Snapshot

For your Sunday

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness

come before him with joyful songs.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 (NIV)

"Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise."

For your Sunday

Original Photo by friend Judd Johnson

"God's love for us is not greater when life is easy and less when difficult.

When life gets tough - no matter how tough, God's love is measureless and strong!"

"God's love for the individual believer - His love for you - is very personal!"

James A. Kirkwood, Godman - The Sunrise of Salvation

For your Sunday

Original Photo by friend Judd Johnson

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.

Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard,

for out of it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:20-23

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Sunday Stillness

For your Sunday



Original Photo by friend Judd Johnson

The God of Glory

How blessed is God!

And what a blessing he is!

He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ,

and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.

Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind,

had settled on us as the focus of his love,

to be made whole and holy by his love.

Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.

(What pleasure he took in planning this!)

He wanted us to enter into the celebration

of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Ephesians 1:3-6 MSG