NOTE: 1) The following prayer requests were meant to be posted LAST Sunday, Nov. 11th, the day set aside to honor the veterans of our military. I post it now because we really should take more than once a year to remember and pray for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. In particular, I note the second list of those who remain missing or unidentified from recent wars. May we not forget them and their families as they still hope for final word of their loved ones. 2)The main article below and the one following speak to the recent elections from a spiritual perspective. Note how EACH article speaks of how our nation continues to forget God.
PRAYER REQUESTS: America loses more than 800 World War II veterans each day. In addition, soldiers have remained on the battlefield in Afghanistan for 12 years now, the longest war in American history.
PRAYER REQUESTS: America loses more than 800 World War II veterans each day. In addition, soldiers have remained on the battlefield in Afghanistan for 12 years now, the longest war in American history.
Heavenly Father, words fail us Americans as we try to thank you for the sacrifice of the millions who have served in it's defense over the years. May you comfort the families of those who have died and provide for the needs of those who survive and especially those who remain wounded physically or mentally. May each one never feel abandoned by his or her country as may we truly never forget that they are each heroes deserving of our continued care. In Jesus's name, Amen.
We also remember and honor…
- The more than 74,000 Service Members that remain unidentified and missing from World War II
- The 7,997 Service Members that remain mission from the Korean War
- The 1,689 Service Members that remain missing from the Vietnam War
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What's Next? - Pray for Our Leaders
Eric Metaxas, November 07, 2012; Breakpoint.org
Whether you voted for Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, whether you’re recovering from your all-night celebration or drying the tears from your pillow, today’s a good day, as Chuck Colson reminded us, to heed these words of the Apostle Paul: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
As I record this, I don’t know the outcome of yesterday’s voting. But I’m sure of one thing, whether the president’s last name is Romney or Obama, he will need our prayers, because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world—challenges that we cannot overcome without divine aid.
Think about it. At home, the economy is still sluggish, to say the least. We face the so-called “fiscal cliff” and sequestration. Economists and politicians on both sides of the aisle are telling us this would be an economic disaster for the nation. And speaking of disasters, there’s the national debt. Overseas, America’s foreign policy seems, to put it mildly, confused, even as Iran seeks nuclear weapons, as Islamists have either grabbed or are on the cusp of grabbing power in countries throughout the Middle East, and as we struggle to figure out what in the world to do about the war in Afghanistan.
Think about it. At home, the economy is still sluggish, to say the least. We face the so-called “fiscal cliff” and sequestration. Economists and politicians on both sides of the aisle are telling us this would be an economic disaster for the nation. And speaking of disasters, there’s the national debt. Overseas, America’s foreign policy seems, to put it mildly, confused, even as Iran seeks nuclear weapons, as Islamists have either grabbed or are on the cusp of grabbing power in countries throughout the Middle East, and as we struggle to figure out what in the world to do about the war in Afghanistan.
How has America come to this point? Why is our economy on the brink of disaster? And why is our culture so utterly depraved?
Chuck Colson asked these questions the day after the last presidential election four years ago. And his answer was spot on. Chuck cited what Russian author Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said about the catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. “I recall,” Solzhenitsyn said, “hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.”
Solzhenitsyn was right. And Colson was right. The best explanation for why we Americans find ourselves in the state we are in is that to some extent we have forgotten God. We have also forgotten that American democracy—indeed Western Civilization itself—is the product of the Judeo-Christian understanding of God and humanity. As Chuck told us, “Without that revelation that man is created in the image of God, our founders never would have recognized the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Make no mistake, no matter who won yesterday, the attacks on Christianity are not going away. They’ll only intensify. So we have to continue, as Chuck said, “to make a winsome witness” to the truths of the Christian worldview, because those who would banish Christianity from American public life are risking the very survival of American society.
So, if your presidential candidate or your congressional candidates won yesterday, keep the celebration short. If they lost, don’t head for the hills. We’ve got work to do. As Chuck told us four years ago, this is a time for Christians to stay involved, to, as he said, “lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy.”
So by all means pray for the President and his administration. Pray for our nation. But most of all be salt and light in a culture, in a country, that is in danger of forgetting God.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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"Franklin Graham: US Has Turned Its Back on God" CBNNews.com
Saturday, November 17, 2012 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/November/Franklin-Graham-US-Has-Turned-Its-Back-on-God/
Evangelist Franklin Graham is issuing a wake-up call to America, saying the nation has turned its back on God.
He also warned that President Obama's agenda will bring the greatest changes to the United States since the Civil War. "Everybody's taxes will go up," Franklin told "The Brody File" show. "Not at first, but everybody's taxes are going to go up. It's just going to get more expensive as you try to pay for Obamacare and all these other things that are out there before us."
Graham said Christians share part of the blame for the crisis facing the nation. "God is in control, and if Christians are upset, they need to be upset at themselves," he said. "We need to do a better job of getting our people - the church - to vote," he admonished. "Now, I'm not trying to tell you how to vote. You can vote, but vote, my goodness, and vote for candidates that stand for Biblical values." "Our country is in trouble," he warned. "It's in trouble spiritually. We've turned our back on God
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