THANKSGIVING 2008

Bless the Lord, O My Soul
Psalm 103:1
Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name!2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits,

“In order to our return of praises to God, there must be a grateful remembrance of the mercies we have received from him: Forget not all his benefits. If we do not give thanks for them, we do forget them; and that is unjust as well as unkind, since in all God’s favours there is so much that is memorable.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Leaders honor Warrior Brigade during transfer of responsibility

Leaders honor Warrior Brigade during transfer of responsibility

http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/postnews/blizzard/blizzard_online/hnews.asp?id=2


Col. David Paschal, 1BCT commander, steadies his unit's guidon as Command Sgt. Maj. Corbly Elsbury, 1st BCT senior enlisted leader, ties the protective casing shut following the brigade's transfer of responsibility ceremony Thursday at FOB Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq. Photo by Spec. Josh LeCappelain

By Spec. Josh LeCappelain
10th Mountain Division Journalist
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Nearly 150 miles away from the farthest reaches of his command, Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, Multinational Division – Center and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, traveled to Kirkuk and Forward Operating Base Warrior to pay tribute to 1st Brigade Combat Team.The Warrior Brigade completed a transition of responsibility to 18th Engineer Brigade on Thursday after more than a year of support for Operation Iraqi Freedom.“I am very proud Maj. Gen. Oates is here with us as well,” said Oates’ counterpart at MND-North, Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling (who also commands 1st Armored Division), to the gathered crowd.
“I wanted him to know the kinds of things his Soldiers have done. “I say ‘his Soldiers’ with a little bit of pain,” he continued, “as we hate to give them back.”
Hertling spoke to the crowd about the impact Warrior Brigade had in stabilizing security and partnering with Iraqi Security Forces in Kirkuk Province.
He highlighted their accomplishments, noting that Kirkuk had seen better security, better economic prospects for residents, a better-trained and more functional ISF, as well as a close relationship with U.S. State Department counterparts, which had not been the case before 1st BCT’s deployment.Col. David Paschal, 1st BCT commander, thanked colleagues of the brigade who helped them throughout their deployment, highlighting contributions of the Provincial Reconstruction Team and 506th Air Expeditionary Group, as well as significant strides that had been made by their Iraqi partners in Kirkuk.“I am truly honored to be among you,” he said, before transitioning into some of the highlights of the brigade’s tour. “We worked alongside the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to reduce violence in the province by 70 percent. The IA continues to grow in capabilities and capacity.”Leaders also discussed 1st BCT’s involvement in significant economic developments, infrastructure improvements and improved stability in Kirkuk Province.
“I remain confident that the best days of the Kirkuk Province lie ahead,” Paschal added.
He also called for a moment of silence for the 15 Warrior Brigade Soldiers who gave their lives in support of an improved Iraq, as well as numerous Iraqi martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country’s future.Col. Matthew Russell, 18th Engineer Brigade commander, thanked the leadership and staff of 1st BCT for a smooth, easy transition. He said he hoped his unit was able to build off the numerous successes that 1st BCT Soldiers accomplished during their tour of duty in Iraq.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Engineer_Brigade_(United_States)

Kirkuk Memorial

thank you for serving our country and preserving freedom

1BCT10th MTN-heading home 11/08, thank you

In the words of the great poet Walt Whitman,
“The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music,
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.”

As veterans, you have confidence in freedom's cause -- because you have seen with your own eyes the power of liberty to transform nations and secure the peace. The men and women gathered before me took an oath to defend America -- and you upheld that oath with honor, and decency, and valor. You humbled tyrants, liberated continents, and freed millions from unspeakable oppression. And because of your service and sacrifice, the world has been transformed in once unimaginable ways. Today, across Europe and Asia, former adversaries in war have become allies in the cause of peace. And in towns and villages on both continents, there are still men and women who talk of the day when the Americans arrived to free them from tyranny.
I thank our nation's veterans for the fine example that you have set for our country. I thank you for your courage and your patriotism and your devotion to duty. I thank you for standing up for the men and women of our Armed Forces -- and I thank you for all you do to support the families they leave behind during this time of war.
May God bless and keep all who have made the ultimate sacrifice. May God bless and keep our brave and honored veterans. May God bless those who are in harm's way. And may God continue to bless our nation. Thank you. (President Bush 2007)

Welcome Home.. Matt

WELCOME HOME MATT

10/31/08

watching and waiting...

Psalm 130:6
My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. (The Message)

Col 4:2
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

(Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.)

Welcome Home.. cyndi

WELCOME HOME CYNDI

10/30/08

watching and waiting--

Psalm 130:6
My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning-- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

"no other song"

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Sixpence None The Richer & Jars of Clay - With Every Breath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt5ibMqAL6k
Thanks Lord For EverythingHallelujah from the heavens
Hallelujah in the heights above the earth
Hallelujah all His angels
Hallelujah for the last will be first
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Hallelujah in the morningHallelujah for the beauty of His scars
Hallelujah in the twilight
Hallelujah sun and moon and shining stars

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside

For all your times of laughter
In every hopeful prayer
When the world weighs on your shoulders
Through sorrow and your despair
With everything, with every breath, praise the Lord
Let everything, let every breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything, let every breath praise the Lord
When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside

"Waiting, waiting for the return of Matthew and Cynthia to the USA

We have had some delays ---

Impatient waiting---

At times I start to doubt the wisdom of God's timing or the goodness of his guidance.

I know that God's care over me and my loved ones is something far greater than i can conceive but walking it out is a hard road at times.

"Are you waiting for something? I mean really waiting with deep longing in your soul for something beyond your control? Are you waiting for God to answer? If so, you are in a good (though hard) place.
God highly values the fruit produced in the soul that learns to wait patiently for him. So he takes pains to cultivate it in us. "

Source:

http://www.desiringgod.org/AboutUs/MonthlyNewsletter/2006_11/

Luke 21:19—"By your endurance [patience] you will gain your lives."
Romans 2:7—"To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, God will give eternal life."
Hebrews 6:12—"Do not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Excellent article by John Piper to Battle Unbelief of Impatience

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1988/659_Battling_the_Unbelief_of_Impatience/

As Long As You Are Glorified
Mark Altrogge

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain

Shall I thank You for days of sunshine

Yet grumble in days of rain

Shall I love You in times of plenty

Then leave You in days of drought

Shall I trust when I reap a harvest

But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me

In Your love I will abide

Oh I long for nothing else as long

As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper

And true only when I’m filled

Are You King only when I’m carefree

And God only when I’m well

You are good when I’m poor and needy

You are true when I’m parched and dry

You still reign in the deepest valley

You’re still God in the darkest night

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:5)

UnderOath - A Love So Pure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUDPo21Bdd4

Always did it on my own then one day I realized

I was blind,, nothing I could do on my own

Turn, we have found a way to see, look up... feel the Almighty

Take control as we gaze into your eyes

We're just the tool you use to bring this world to you

Oh, Lord, how we love you

With your grace, take away the hurt and the bruises inside,

reach down let your glory reside

The cross carried for all of us, paint the image in my mind

So I will never think I am something,

but nothing am I but you, you are something

Lord you keep me alive, you give me rest at night

When there seems no way to find calmness in the storm you come and

take me in your arms and then the waves drown me no more

With you I'll last this battle and many others

Through the ages your name will reigh forever... never to be replaced

In these trials I face, I pray you humble me

Humble me I want to be like you Jesus more and more like you

I was crucified on that day with Christ

Nailing you there with sin, accepting you

I nailed my soul to the cross and now my life begins

This world so cold but your love keeps me warm

My father holds me in his nailed scarred hands which I put there

But for some reason he still loves me with all his heart

Even through I betray him constantly

He always keeps his arms open waiting, till I give up my old

was

God my father, you are the only one that can give me comfort

You touch my heart in such a way that all I can do is cry your name

Jesus Christ I love you

My heart aches for your love