Thankful-Day 9

I'm thankful for our veteran's and the sacrifices that they make in order to protect our freedom.  Their jobs are not easy and I can speak from personal experience here as I'm married to a vet and I'm proud to count many of them as friends and family!  They have this sense of duty that runs deep and they are motivated to serve.  They leave their families for months upon months at a time to work 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week sometimes because that's what's needed.  And they don't complain about it (I'm sure that I would).  They travel thousands of miles from home, missing birthdays and holidays.  And they don't complain about it (again, I'm sure I would).  So please, take a moment today to say thank you to our veterans!     

Prayer for Veterans Day

God of peace,
we pray for those who have served our nation
and have laid down their lives
to protect and defend our freedom.

We pray for those who have fought,
whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war,
whose nights are haunted by memories
too painful for the light of day.

We pray for those who serve us now,
especially for those in harm's way.
Shield them from danger
and bring them home.

Turn the hearts and minds
of our leaders and our enemies
to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.

Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!

May the peace you left us,
the peace you gave us,
be the peace that sustains,
the peace that saves us.

Christ Jesus, hear us!
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!

Amen.

-ConcordPastor
Austin Fleming

Military Ball, 2008

Home from Iraq, 2008

Home from Iraq, 2008

Home from Afghanistan, 2010

Grant and Chris, Dress Blues 2010

Ben's Wedding, 2010

Chris in Iraq, 2008