Tag Archives: entertainment

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – Over There

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It is the morning of April 6, 1917. The headlines proclaim the United States has declared war on Germany. Most people are reeling with concern – but one man begins humming a tune.

Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.”

Numbers 23:15

George M. Cohan, actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, playwright and Broadway producer responsible for hundreds of songs including “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” and “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” began composing a song in his mind. By the afternoon, the anthem for World War I was written, the classic song “Over There.”

In 1936, Cohan was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for writing the words: So prepare, say a prayer / Send the word, send the word to beware / We’ll be over there, we’re coming over / And we won’t come back till it’s over – over there. Cohan wrote about America’s determination to do whatever it would take to win liberty for the oppressed.

As a believer in Christ, you are enlisted in God’s army. Your orders are to stand beside your nation in prayer while God completes His plan to conquer death and darkness. Hold your position today with courage and determination. In His timing, God will win the war and take His people into a glorious eternity…over there.

Recommended Reading: Luke 21:9-19

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Ultimate Awards Ceremony

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“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12

The Oscars are awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to those who have done an impressive job of producing, directing, acting in, or scoring a film. Some of the Academy’s most highly anticipated awards are for the best film and the best actor and actress. In reality, for what are the actors and actresses being honored? It is for doing an excellent job of pretending to be someone else.

When we stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, it won’t be about who did the best job of pretending to be someone else. We will be judged for being who we really should be—not pretending to be someone we weren’t. It will be about authenticity and a genuine Christian life that has been lived for the glory of God.

Jesus told His disciples, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). He also said that we should be faithful in the little things because our Father, who sees in secret, will reward us openly (see Matthew 6:1–4).

There will be two judgments: the Great White Throne Judgment (see Revelation 20), which is for nonbelievers, and the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is for believers (see 2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

This is not about how much you did. This is about why you did what you did and how faithful you were with what God has called you to do. Be faithful in that, and He will reward you for your faithfulness.

 

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – By Name

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If you watch the Oscars, you’ll witness the actors singing each other’s praises. They might say, “His timing is perfect!”, “Her dedication is amazing!” or “Though he is veteran actor, he makes us newbies feel like family.” They don’t say, “Oh, praise Tom Hanks, praise Tom Cruise, praise Meryl Streep!”

Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!   I Chronicles 16:9

When the author of Chronicles praised God, he listed specific attributes: strength, miracles, right judgments. In the Psalms, David honored God for His loving kindness, His mercies, and for being a refuge in times of trouble. When you praise the Lord for specific things in your life, you will not only please Him, but also testify to others that God is real, loving and answers your prayers. Plus, when you exalt God in this way, you build up your own faith.

Today, give thanks for His specific characteristics and deeds. Worship Him by name, and declare it often! Then pray that Christian leaders in this nation will praise God in such a way that fellow leaders, citizens and all the world will marvel at His goodness.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 100

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Max Lucado – Face the Music

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Many years ago a man conned his way into an orchestra although he could not play a note.  He would hold his flute against his lips, pretend to play but not make a sound.  Then one day the leader requested a solo from each musician. The man was panic stricken. On the day of his solo performance, he took poison and killed himself. The explanation of his suicide led to a phrase that found its way into the English language:  “He refused to face the music.”

Face the music! Some of us have buried a marriage, parts of a conscience, and even parts of our faith—all because we won’t face the music…we won’t tell the truth. Ask yourself, am I honest in my dealings? Am I a trustworthy student?  An honest taxpayer? Do you tell the truth—always?

Proverbs says, “The Lord hates a lying tongue.” (12:19)

Just tell the truth.

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Max Lucado – Nothing But the Truth

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A woman stands before judge and jury, places one hand on the Bible and the other in the air, and makes a pledge.

For the next few minutes, with God as her helper, she will “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”  She is a witness.  Her job is to tell the truth. Leave it to legal counsel to interpret. Leave it to the jury to resolve. Leave it to the judge to apply.  But the witness? The witness speaks the truth.

The Christian, too, is a witness.  We are called to tell the truth. The Bible is present, the watching world is the jury, and we are the primary witnesses. We are called to testify; to tell what we have seen and heard. Our task is not to whitewash or bloat the truth. Our task is to tell the truth.  Period.

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Our Daily Bread — Now I See

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John 14:15-27

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. —John 14:26

Deborah Kendrick loves to attend Broadway musicals even though she is blind and always struggles to understand the setting and the movements of the characters onstage. Recently, however, she attended a play that used D-Scriptive, a new technology that conveys the visual elements of the stage production through a small FM receiver. A recorded narration, keyed to the show’s light and sound boards, describes the set and the action as it unfolds onstage. Writing in The Columbus Dispatch, Deborah said, “If you ask me if I saw a show last week in New York, my answer is yes . . . I genuinely, unequivocally mean that I saw the show.”

Her experience struck me as a vivid illustration of the Holy Spirit’s role in our understanding of God’s Word. Just before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

As we open the Bible to read or study, the Spirit of Truth is with us to guide us into all truth (16:13). On our own we are blind, but through the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit we can see. —David McCasland

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;

My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word. —Lathbury

The Father gave the Spirit to teach us from the Word.

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Presidential Prayer Team; A.W. – Wishful Thinking?

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Miss Congeniality, a movie starring Sandra Bullock as an undercover FBI agent in a beauty pageant, contains a scene of an onstage interview where the pageant host asks, “What is the one most important thing our society needs?” A comical montage of contestants answering “world peace” follows. Bullock’s character, though, answers, “Harsher punishment for parole violators.” When she gets no response, she adds “…and world peace” and the crowd goes wild. Some think it’s a joke to wish for world peace, but is it really possible?

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders. Isaiah 60:18

Today’s verse refers to a time in the future when it will happen. The prophet Isaiah describes the “New Jerusalem” which will be established when Christ sets up His kingdom on the earth. During that time there will be no violence, war, death, mourning, crying or pain. There will truly be world peace.

When you hear stories of unrest happening today, do you long for world peace? Or do you need peace in the midst of your personal circumstances? God’s Word promises both. Pray today that you might know His peace – and for fellow Americans and your leaders to recognize it as the only hope for the future.

Recommended Reading: Revelation 21:2-8, 24-27

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Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Timeless Love

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After a prolonged process of tucking his two three-year-olds in bed, Steven Curtis Chapman felt impatient to get back to songwriting. As he shut the door, the Lord reminded him how quickly his oldest daughter Emily grew up. Steven felt bad for rushing his daughters, and knew this was an important message for parents. Steven wrote “Cinderella,” containing the words “the clock will strike midnight and she’ll be gone,” not knowing two years later his adopted daughter Maria Sue would be killed in an accident involving his 17-year-old-son, Will, as the driver. The first thing Steven said to him after the accident was, “Will Franklin, your father loves you.”

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I John 2:14

Steven Curtis Chapman can relate to the pain the Heavenly Father experienced when He gave His Son on the cross, simultaneously loving the one who was killed and the one who was responsible. In today’s verse, John appeals to fathers to love others…knowing the Father’s timeless and passionate love.

As you daily relate to family, friends and acquaintances, remember God’s desire is to express His love through you. Ask the Lord to use you. Then pray the people of this nation and their leaders will know and live in the Father’s love.

Recommended Reading: John 3:16-21  Click to Read or Listen