Memorial Day
Is Not Simply a Three-day Weekend
On Memorial Day in the United States of America, we honor all those in our Armed Services who gave the ultimate price of their life for our freedom. We honor their memory and the memory of all who have served our country and are no longer with us. It is with deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks that we remember each of them today. Let us pray for all those families and friends who are daily grieving the loss of loved ones who died serving to keep us free.
Quotes to Ponder
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s own life for his friends.” Jesus, John 15:13
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12
“But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-we cannot hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ~President Abraham Lincoln, November 1863, Gettysburg Address
“We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” ~Douglas MacArthur
“The purpose of all war is ultimately peace.” ~St. Augustine
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father God, We thank You for the ultimate price that Jesus paid to set us free. We remember our fallen warriors and ask Your peace to descend on their families this day and always. Place deep in our heart the love of God and love of country that has guided our Nation from its inception. We thank You that You keep Your hand on this United States of America and that we will remain One Nation Under God. Raise us up in fullness ‘for such a time as this.’ We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.