|
That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
Thoughts
A little history on the NDP (National Day of Prayer) that will never be referenced in our public education system which I discovered from John Bornschein, Vice Chairman of the NPD Task Force, on the Day of Prayer website. While sitting in the same pew previously occupied by Abraham Lincoln, President Dwight D. Eisenhower learned from Rev. George M. Dotherty a reminder worded "under God" placed within the Pledge of Allegiance would be impressed on all our children. Per President Eisenhower, "In this way, we are affirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war." On June 14, 1954 Congress introduced and passed the bill that the President signed into law four months later challenging this great nation's citizens to remember the God of our fathers.
The first school privilege, my teacher, my classmates, and myself collectively did was to stand and recited the Pledge of Allegiance right after the morning bell quieted. Having had family members serve in the military, it was an honor to pledge my allegiance under my God's observant eye to my country and honor that awesome symbol of my freedom, our flag. Thank you, President Eisenhower and all who served, currently serving, and those who died protecting our freedom and our flag.
Before the law, the Pledge of Allegiance author, Francis Bellamy, was known for using the "under God" phrase many times in 1892 even though he did not include it in the initial pledge. Before him, it was utilized by an impressive list of courageous men:
- Sir Henry Bacon, the father of modern law during the 13th century
- Captain John Smith to Queen Anne.
- William Bradford, the Mayflower Compact author.
- 21 of our Founding Fathers including John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.
Our country was birthed to protect all men created equally possessing certain unalienable rights endowed by our Creator; in other words "under God's sovereignty." Territorial selfishness, Planned Parenthood, and Nazi eugenics, the sadistically insane planned deaths of millions of precious Jews and their supportive friends were not even on the horizon to cloud their thoughts.
God is the defender of the innocent. The question is when will He require justice from America for the loss of 1.3 million innocent future doctors, lawyers, politicians, teachers, inventors, engineers detailed in these averaged statistics:
- 1.3 million irreplaceable babies per year providing desired ingredients for fountain-of-youth cosmetics.
- 26,400 priceless babies per week protecting a woman's choice.
- 3,800 precious babies per day protecting a woman's sexual lifestyle.
- 158 priceless babies per hour ensuring a woman's selfish lifestyle.
- 2.6 precious babies per second guaranteeing a woman's irresponsible lifestyle.
These statistics reflect more than all the men and women we have lost in all our wars and battles of this great nation. Our hearts break and grieve over the loss of one life in the military, why not for the precious babies that have no voice? "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Statement clarified in innocent blood.
Now on to the National Day of Prayer historical occurrences:
- First inception in 1774 conducted by a reverend opening the Congress in prayer followed by the reading of four Bible chapters.
- 142 national calls to prayer between 1789 to 2013.
- 65 Presidential National Day of Prayer Proclamations between 1952 to 2013. Every President since 1952 has signed a proclamation.
- 34 of our 44 Presidents signed the Proclamations. Three of the 10 Presidents who didn't sign them died in office. President William Taft and President Warren Harding of the 10 fell into a different category due to signing Proclamations for Prayer and Thanksgiving.
- Congress and President Harry Truman established by law the National Day of Prayer into an annual event supported by the Constitutional freedom of speech and the Constitutional freedom of religion.
- President Reagan designated the annual day to be the first Thursday in May in 1988.
- 1259 state and federal calls for prayer have occurred since 1775.
- The day is for all Americans to have the right to celebrate the day in their own way regardless of their religion.
- The National Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz is available on the website and also on her Facebook page. The prayer is read by everyone and by every group representing all of us as one voice and one nation under God on this national day as well as our personal requests.
- The scheduled activities are amazing and awesome. For example:
- Prayer breakfasts..
- Concerts of prayer.
- Student flagpole gatherings.
- Sports stadium gatherings.
- Rallies.
- Church prayer vigils.
- Bible reading marathons.
- Most advertized Washington DC formal gathering.
Action Point
Found this summarizing statement on the National Day of Prayer website by Shirley Dobson, NPD Chair, "We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too." Which reminds us of Edmund Burke's statements:
- "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
- "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.
Also love her instructions on PRAYing:
- Praise.
- Repent.
- Ask.
- Yield.
Some of you remember PUSHing from Promise Keepers:
- Pray.
- Until.
- Something.
- Happens.
James 5:16 reminds us to "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much," (NKJV).
In summary here's the plan:
- Stop sleeping. Wake up. Stand..
- Become proactive in following Christ closely to preventing evil's success and sin's lure.
- Actively avoid the appearance of all evil.
- PRAY in community.
- PUSH till prayers are answered.
- Find new problems, people, challenges, and needs while PRAYing and PUSHing.
- Bibles are very powerful instructions when read and devoured daily.
- Attend a NDP in your area today. Get involved.
- Starting 9 am EST you can watch live on the website..
- Go to the website and sign up your email to stay informed.
- Put on the armor of our God.
Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-
|
