Memorial Day

Memorial Day Invocation:

Psalms 127:1 Unless the Lord build the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stands guard in vain.

Father, I come before you this morning to ask for your blessing on this nation, for  your blessing on those who have served and are serving: those who love this country and the freedom for which it stands, and the families of those brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Lord, I ask today that we are reminded of Joshua. He and his army were successful in the battle as long as Moses' hands where lifted to you. But when his arms grew too heavy to hold up to you the armies of the enemy advanced and pushed Joshua and his forces back.

So today we lift up to you our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters who don the uniform. These are the soldiers  who stand to defend our freedom. These are the men and women who stand as watchman. Men and women who value this belief that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  

Lord, in our pursuit of happiness let us not lose sight of you our Creator: unless we cause the watchman stand watch in vain. Like Moses let us stand with our arms stretched out and lifted up to You. Let us see that the nation that forgets You, that forsakes You, will be turned into hell. 

Unless You watch over us, the watchman stand guard in vain.

Today I call upon Your Name.

Let us be held accountable before the memory of all those Soldiers who lay in  eternal rest, that we discharge our duties, and answer this high calling. Let us count the high cost of the freedoms and liberties won for us. Let us measure our conduct before the memory and the magnitude of sacrifice of those who have given their lives in defense of liberty. 

For these souls cry out to us:

"In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, 

With a glory in His boson that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;