Dear Mulligan Society,
I was asked the later part of this past week to give the invocation at this year's Birdies for the Brave Charity Golf Outing. Birdies for the Brave is the PGA TOUR's program designed to express appreciation to the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces and to raise funds for military charities that support Wounded Warriors and their families. Thankfully, I have been given no stipulations as to what is or is not off limits. As I result, I have the priviledge of honoring Jesus, as well as our nation's U.S. Armed forces. What a priviledge!!
In light of Thankgiving and Veteran's Day (Thursday), this is the prayer I will be praying:
Father God in Heaven,
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, we are mindful of your blessings. Lord, we are thankful for your presence with us here this morning at the Birdies for the Brave Charity Golf Outing. We are thankful for the sunshine and the warmth that it brings (will bring us today). Father, we are thankful for your provision. We are thankful that you have given us abundantly more that what we deserve. And, Lord, we’re thankful that you give us exactly what we need.
Father, your Word tells us that you have given us blessing, that we may be a blessing. So this morning, Lord, we thank you for our men and women of service. We lift to you these heroes standing in our midst, as well as those serving and fighting so faithfully in this country and on foreign soil. Lord, we thank you for the blessing of freedom that all these men and women have fought to secure. We thank you that these men and women have put their country before themselves; that they have put mercy above their very own lives.
Lord, we acknowledge that the blessing of freedom comes a cost. And so we lift up the families of our troops to you right now. Bring comfort to them as they long to see their loved ones. Give them peace and assurance as you keep a watchful eye over their mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. For the families who have lost loved ones in battle, meet them where they’re at Father, and consol their hearts with your love and peace.
Father, your Word reminds us that we can take comfort in knowing that you understand the cost that comes with freedom. For it is only by the cost of your Son, Jesus, that we can experience freedom in this life and the next. So, Lord, we thank you, too, for this blessing.
And now, Lord, may you be pleased with what takes place here today. Again, we thank you for our brave men and women of service. May they and You be honored today in this place.
In Christ’s name I pray,
Amen.
For more information about Monday's Birdies for the Brave Golf Outing, click the image below.
You are loved,
Matt
