Friday, April 29, 2016

Devot. Prayer is the Difference

Dear Friends,
I hope you have had a good week!
This coming Thursday, May 5th, is the National Day of Prayer and also Holocaust Remembrance Day and I wanted to share a few things that were on my heart.

First, I would like to share a bit of background on the National Day of Prayer.  This day was designated by the U.S. Congress "when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". Each year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging  all Americans  to pray on this day.  The modern law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952, although earlier days of fasting and prayer had been established by the Second Continental Congress from 1775 until 1783, and by President John Adams in 1798 and 1799.[3][4] Most presidents have issued annual or special occasion proclamations for a national day of prayer..."  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Prayer)

2 Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;  then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  

That is an amazing promise-healing of one's country, forgiveness of national sins, but the condition is specifically Christians coming to God in humbleness and prayer and asking for forgiveness themselves.  Then the healing, forgiveness and restoration can begin.

Secondly, we must never forget that horrors that have happened around us, specifically the Holocaust (or others that have occurred).  Some say that the Holocaust never happened,
but there are survivors, one of which my parents and I were privileged and honored to meet some years back and hear his story.    A favorite heroine of mine is a Christian Dutch lady
named Corrie Ten Boom. She and her family hid Jewish people in their home and suffered in a concentration camp for it.   Corrie alone survived the ordeal.

I was thinking yesterday of the statement of 9/11 is "Never Forget." If we do not remember it or the Holocaust, do not share, educate our children and youth of  this reality, it will happen again.   

I would challenge you to youtube "Corrie, ten Boom" and see her interviews or see the film "The Hiding Place' which does a powerful job of recounting the story as  Corrie recorded in her biographies. There is also a new film "Return to the Hiding Place" which shares the true story of a young man who helped Corrie and her family.
Just some food for thought....

In closing, is a devot. on prayer, specifically how it indeed makes a difference. 
I pray it would bless you this weekend!  Lord keep you and yours safe.

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/prayer-difference  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)



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