Quote from Forum Archives on May 23, 2002, 3:25 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Many of you have heard of the National Day of Prayer, which, by signed
executive order of the President of the United States of America,
happens the first Thursday of May each year. This yesr's official
event was held on Thursday, May 2. I had hoped to take my own family
to the state house lawn for a time of prayer, but alas, that didn't
work out this year - we had a raw New England spring day on May 2.

This coming Monday, however, we observe an official American Holiday,
Memorial Day. This year, George W. Bush has already asked the Nation
to spend a time of prayer. My understanding is that we're being asked
to specifically take a few moments to pray around 11 AM on that day.

Of course, no one can legislate when we can pray, we can do so at any
time. I am, however, grateful for the realization that prayer is
still openly allowed and still cherished by many in our country. I
pray that it will always be that way. As for me, personally, I will
continue to pray whether encouraged to do so or not.

How many of you are familiar with the passage of scripture from II
Chronicles 7:14? This passage has been used often by those who
promote corporate and individual prayer time. Here's what it says:
"14 if my people, who are called by my name, will 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."
(NIV)

The Amplified Bible puts it this way: " 14 If My people, who are called
by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of
necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear
from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."

Oh yes, now those are some words I can relate to! I really crave the
Presence of the Lord! When I think about my own ways and my condition
and compare myself to God, I realize what a worthless comparison it is
- for God created all things, and His ways are right and true. I am
what I am, only by His Grace - and NOTHING else.

I encourage each of you to draw near to God, admit that you've been
searching for something or someone, but your search has been in vein,
until you come to the place to acknowledge God as Creator and lover of
all His Creation.

Will you accept the request to pray for our leaders and our nation
this year?

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

THE PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR PEACE ON MEMORIAL DAY

The Presidential Prayer Team encourages its members to observe
Memorial Day in the manner the President has asked for, as a day of
prayer. In addition to setting the day aside for prayers for
permanent and lasting peace, all Americans are asked to pause Monday
for a moment of remembrance and gratitude for the sacrifices of those
who have given their lives for the freedom of all.

PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER REQUESTS FOR MAY 24, 2002

The prayer requests this week concern the President's travels to
Europe during the next several days. Pray for the President and First
Lady's safety and protection as they travel. They are visiting
Germany, Russia, France and Italy, including a visit to the D-Day
memorial at Normandy, France and participation in the NATO-Russia
summit on May 28. Pray that our nation's relationships with these
countries and with the entire European community will be strengthened,
and that the world powers that honor freedom and democracy will be
strengthened in their resolve to preserve peace.

Pray also for the President and his key advisors as they endeavor to
keep our nation safe from further terror attacks. With increasing
threats of another attack, we must pray that our communities will be
kept safe, and that the security systems that are in place will catch
threats to our security, whether in the air, at our borders, or from
seemingly innocent sources within.

ON THE ORIGINS OF MEMORIAL DAY
FROM THE HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

The 30th day of May 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing
with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died
in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose
bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard
in the land. What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing
tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a
barricade between our country and its foes? We should guard their
graves with sacred vigilance.

If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the
solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth
of life remain to us. Let us, then, at the time appointed gather
around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above
them with the choicest flowers of spring-time.

By order of JOHN A. LOGAN, Commander-in-Chief

INSPIRATIONAL REFERENCES FOR MEMORIAL DAY
"The memory of the righteous will be a blessing."
The Bible, Proverbs 10: 7 (NIV)

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen
to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek with all your
heart." The Bible, Jeremiah 29:12, 13 (NIV)

PRAYER QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
--St. Francis of Assisi

PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE FOR MEMORIAL DAY

"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, and that government of the people by the people and
for the people shall not perish from the earth."

--Abraham Lincoln

WORDS OF GRATITUDE FROM THE PRESIDENT FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

"Today, those sacrifices are being made by members of our Armed Forces
who now defend us so far from home, and by their proud and worried
families. A Commander-in-Chief sends America's sons and daughters
into a battle in a foreign land only after the greatest care and a lot
of prayer. We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask them to
leave their loved ones, to travel great distances, to risk injury,
even to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.
They are dedicated, they are honorable; they represent the best of our
country. And we are grateful."

--President George W. Bush

ADDITIONAL LEADERS TO PRAY FOR THIS WEEK
Director of Homeland Security--Thomas Ridge
Director of the Secret Service--Brian L. Stafford
Head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation--Robert S. Mueller, III
National Security Advisor--Condoleezza Rice

LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION FOR MEMORIAL DAY

In respect for their devotion to America, the Congress by a joint
resolution approved on May 11, 1950 (64 Stat. 158), has requested the
President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United
States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent
peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the
United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law
106-579, has also designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local
time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the National
Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, do? designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00
a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all
Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at
3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. I urge the press, radio,
television, and all other media to participate in these observances.
--George W. Bush, May 2001.

(NOTE: The 2002 Proclamation for Memorial Day will be sent separately
when it is released from the White House)

PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL DAY QUOTE

(The Civil War) created in this country what had never existed before
a national consciousness. It was not the salvation of the Union; it
was the rebirth of the Union.
--Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) Memorial Day Address, 1915

JOHN TESH JOINS THE HONORARY COMMITTEE

"I've always lived my life by the 'hard work, risk and prayer' model.
I have come to a time in my personal life where I need to be honest
about my power base. True happiness for me is playing worship music
and sharing with others the power of prayer."
--John Tesh

ON THE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY

"Quite simply, it is about remembering, and honoring. Our freedom and
prosperity, our nation's deserved status as the beacon of hope
throughout the world, our security as a nation and our comfort and
confidence as a society are the result of the sacrifice of those who
served our nation in the military. That is what we are supposed to
remember and honor today."
-Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General of New York State

OUR NATION'S GODLY HERITAGE
MEMORIAL DAY -- A DAY FOR NATIONAL PRAYER FOR PEACE

While many consider Memorial Day to be just another reason for a
three-day weekend, the law that was passed on May 11, 1950 instituting
Memorial Day states that its original purpose is to serve as A DAY
WHEN OUR NATION UNITES IN PRAYER.

Section 169g. Memorial Day as day of prayer for permanent peace--

"The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to observe each May 30,
Memorial Day, by praying, each in accordance with his religious faith,
for permanent peace; designating a period during such day in which all
the people of the United States may unite in prayer for a permanent
peace; calling upon all the people of the United States to unite in
prayer at such time; and calling upon the newspapers, radio stations,
and all other mediums of information to join in observing such day and
period of prayer."

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Update #34 5/24/2002 (c)Copyright 2002, The Presidential Prayer Team,
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is a trademark of The Presidential Prayer Team, Inc.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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