National Day of Prayer - May 1, 2014

 http://nationaldayofprayer.org/national-observance/

FAQ

When is the National Day of Prayer?
The National Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday, May 1, 2014.

Did President Obama issue a proclamation in 2013?Yes, you can view that here: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/2013-proclamation/

Will the National Observance be available to view LIVE?Yes, you can view that here: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/national-observance/

What is the theme and verse this year?The 2014 Theme is ONE VOICE, UNITED IN PRAYER which is based on Romans 15:6: “So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Can I post an event for the National Day of Prayer?
Yes, you can do post an event here: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/events/ 

Is there a National Prayer this year?Yes, the National Prayer by our 2014 Honorary Chairman, Anne Graham Lotz is available in English and Spanish.

Will there be Downloads available?
Yes, downloads are available here: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/product-category/shop/downloads/

Will there be Spanish resources available?
Yes, Spanish downloads are available here: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/product-category/shop/espanol/

Is there a Theme Video this year?
The 2014 Theme Video is available as a download as well as in the DVD Event Kit (http://nationaldayofprayer.org/shop/2014-dual-disc-kit/)

What is the National Day of Prayer?
The National Day of Prayer was established as an annual event in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The observance of the National Day of Prayer is founded on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion and can be celebrated by all Americans.

What is the National Day of Prayer Task Force and what is its purpose?
The National Day of Prayer Task Force concentrates on the need to pray for the well-being of America and for those in leadership on all levels of national, church and educational areas of influence. The National Day of Prayer is observed annually on the first Thursday of May.

When did the National Day of Prayer begin?
Days of prayer have been called for since 1775, when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for such a day. Officially, the NDP was established as an annual event by an act of Congress in 1952 and was signed into law by President Truman. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the NDP.

Is the National Day of Prayer exclusively a Christian event?
No. This government-proclaimed day is offered to all Americans, regardless of religion, to celebrate their faith through prayer. However, the efforts of the NDP Task Force are executed specifically in accordance with its Judeo-Christian beliefs.

Is the National Day of Prayer a political event?
No. The National Day of Prayer, as designated by our government, belongs to all Americans. It is not sponsored or owned by any one group. Every American can observe the NDP in his or her own way. Each year, the President issues a proclamation in support of this significant day.

Who is behind the National Day of Prayer Task Force?
The Chairman is Mrs. Shirley Dobson, who has held the position since 1991. Mrs. Dobson volunteers her time and does not receive a salary. The NDP Task Force consists of a full-time staff and a network of thousands of grassroots volunteers nationwide. Mr. John Bornschein serves as the Vice Chairman and Executive Director. Prior to Mrs. Dobson’s involvement, the Task Force was led by Mrs. Vonette Bright, wife of former Campus Crusade for Christ president and founder Bill Bright.

Is the Task Force affiliated with Focus on the Family or Family Talk?
No. Though Mrs. Dobson is married to Focus on the Family and Family Talk founder Dr. James Dobson, the NDP Task Force is a separate organization. It was housed at the Focus on the Family headquarters from 1991 to 2009 and is currently located at an independent office in Colorado Springs, CO. Its business affairs have always remained separate and Focus on the Family was compensated for services rendered. However, between 1991 and 1993, Focus on the Family did provide grants in support of the NDP Task Force. Since then, the Task Force has been completely self-supported.

What kinds of events are planned?
The most visible gathering has been held historically at our nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C. on the first Thursday of May. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government are represented, as well as the military. In addition, Christian leaders address the current year’s theme and other areas of interest (i.e. education, youth, families, etc.). Every year, tens of thousands of events are held nationwide. Local volunteers hold a variety of activities ranging from prayer breakfasts, Bible reading marathons, concerts of prayer, rallies, church prayer vigils, student flagpole gatherings and observances held in sports stadiums.

Full website: National Day of Prayer

Leadership Through Love - Chapter 2 "Use the Tools, Not the Staff" by Steve Martin

The following are a few paragraphs taken from Chapter 2.

Use the

Tools, Not the Staff

The Lord Jesus Himself gave us valuable lessons, while He led His band of men and women on earthly team, which has proven itself to be most applicable in my leading of business and ministry staffs. These very effective truths in administrating were spoken by Him, when He said to His small band, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)

These were two of my key attitudes I took early on in my management positions, as I learned how to be a “manager of the people”, as one other executive team member put it, during one of my years with Derek Prince Ministries (1987-1990 and 2001-2005).

Not wanting to be one who “lords it over others”, demanding my own way and using the “staff rather the tools”, I took the posture of treating the staff who served with me as I desired my boss to treat me - honoring them as I wanted to be recognized and honored, and uplifting them as I often needed, but rarely received, in some cases. As I sought to encourage each one in my care, even as a pastor does his flock, I found that the love grew between them and I. When those bonds were established, staff readily would give beyond the call of duty and pay, as they knew my heart was not just for the job to be done, but for them in helping me get it done.

Not only did we labor together for the cause of the Lord in the ministry, with me as the recognized leader and their boss, but we became friends for the long haul. I still treasure and continue to keep relationships with those who were in the same office setting with me, or on the church volunteer teams, as fellow servants. Taking a heart position of being their servant, and not one seeking to be served, created and maintained unique, precious, and long term relationships. 

Steve Martin

Author

Buy now: Leadership Through Love

Blessings on the heads of the Irish!!

...and those who are wannabe Irish today!

Love For His People 

especially wants to give thanks 

to St. Patrick, 

who took the Gospel of the 

Lord Jesus Christ 

to Ireland!

May his life be an example

for the people of Ireland 

even today in your lives.

Patrick, Ireland and His Love For God

St. Patrick of Ireland

"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples, even though some of them still look down on me."
– St. Patrick

St. Patrick is Ireland's patron saint, known for spreading Christianity throughout the country as a missionary during the 5th century.

Born in England arguably in the late 4th century A.D., Patrick was captured by pirates as a child and brought to Ireland. During his enslavement, he was called to Christianity and escaped his captors after six years. He returned to Ireland as a missionary, and in his teachings, combined Irish pagan beliefs with Christian sacrament, devising the Celtic Cross. He is annually honored on March 17.

Early Life

St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland, was born in England circa 385. His father, Calphurnius, was a deacon from a Roman family of high social standing. His mother, Conchessa, was a close relative of the great patron St. Martin of Tours. Patrick's grandfather, Pontius, was also a member of the clergy. Surprisingly, Patrick himself was not raised with a strong emphasis on religion. Education was not particularly stressed during his childhood either. Later in life, this would become a source of embarrassment for Patrick, who in the early 440s, would write in his Confessio, "I blush and fear exceedingly to reveal my lack of education."

When Patrick was 16 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates. They brought him to Ireland where he was sold into slavery in Dalriada. There, his job was to tend sheep. Patrick's master, Milchu, was a high priest of Druidism, a Pagan sect that ruled religious influence over Ireland at the time.

Patrick came to view his enslavement as God's test of his faith. During his six years of captivity, he became deeply devoted to Christianity through constant prayer. In a vision, he saw the children of Pagan Ireland reaching out their hands to him. With this, he grew increasingly determined to free the Irish from Druidism by converting them to Christianity.

Missionary Work

Circa 408, the idea of escaping enslavement came to Patrick in a dream. In the dream, a voice promised him he would find his way home to England. Eager to see the dream materialize, St. Patrick convinced some sailors to let him board their ship. After three days of sailing, he and the crew abandoned the ship in France and wandered, lost, for 28 days—covering 200 miles of territory in the process. At last, St. Patrick was reunited with his family in England.

Now a free man, Patrick went to Auxerre, France where he studied and entered the priesthood under the guidance of the missionary St. Germain. As time passed, Patrick never lost sight of his vision: he was determined to convert Ireland to Christianity. C. 431, Pope St. Celestine I consecrated Patrick Bishop of the Irish, and sent him to Ireland to spread "The Good News," or Christian Gospel, to the Pagans there.

Upon his arrival in Ireland, Patrick was initially met with hostile resistance. But Patrick quickly managed to spread Christian teachings far and wide. Through preaching, writing and performing countless baptisms, he convinced Pagan Druids that they were worshiping idols under a belief system that kept them enslaved. By accepting Christianity, he told them, they would be elevated to "the people of the Lord and the sons of God."

Throughout his missionary work, Patrick continued to promote the conversion of Ireland to Christianity by electing Church officials, creating councils, founding monasteries and organizing Ireland into dioceses.

Patrick died circa 461 in Saul, Ireland. He is said to have been buried in Ulster, County Down, Ireland.

Though he was never formally canonized as a pope, Patrick is on the List of Saints, and was declared a Saint in Heaven by many Catholic churches. Patrick was also venerated in the Orthodox Catholic Church.

The Episcopal Church annually honors St. Patrick with the celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 17, which falls during the Christian season of Lent. For more than 1,000 years, the Irish have observed St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday. Traditionally, on St. Patrick's Day, Irish families would attend church in the morning and celebrate later—including eating a traditional meal of cabbage and Irish bacon.

QUICK FACTS

NAME: St. Patrick

OCCUPATION: Saint

BIRTH DATE: c. 385

PLACE OF BIRTH: England, United Kingdom

AKA: Saint Patrick

AKA: St. Patrick

VIDEOS see all videos

Saint Patrick - Warrior of God (2:23)

Saint Patrick - The Druid(2:24)

Saint Patrick - Sold Into Slavery (2:20)

Saint Patrick - Facing his Sins (3:24)

People

• St. Patrick

Saint Patrick - Warrior of God watch more videos (6)

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Synopsis

© 2014 A+E Networks. All rights reserved. Biography.com

Love For His People Editor's Note: I was raised a Roman Catholic, and attended St. Patrick's School, grades 2-8, in Cedar Falls, IA. With most of my teachers as nuns, we learned about Patrick and his love for the Lord. I appreciate his example of laying down his life so that others would know of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

And...it was fun playing football in 7th and 8th grades there. We were the Shamrocks! 
Steve Martin

“No More Namby Pamby Christians” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

              

        “No More Namby Pamby Christians”

“Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.”    (Rev. 3:2-3 The Message)

Dear family of friends,

Some call it “fire in the bones”. Some say “I’m steamed up” or that "burns me up."  Others use words I was raised not to even think about saying. But however you express the attitude of “I am just tired of it”, that will move you to move, that will be better than to waste your God-given life away as the world dies away.

On the way to work this morning, having again donned my “Jeff Gordon NASCAR helmet”, for the trip north on I77 in Charlotte, NC even at 6 am, I was flashed twice with the bright lights from behind, for no apparent reason. But then I knew it must be because of the Israel flag sticker on my left rear window, or the “I Love My Wife” one on the opposite side. Facts that I stand for. Loves that I will die for.

My car's rear window.

You know, I have had enough of those who keeping telling me, and our country, and the world, that historic truths are lies; that standing for righteousness is pushing my beliefs on others; that sharing a word of hope and love on the job isn’t permitted, because it might offend someone else. Really? Well then so be it.

Christians around the world are being hammered, murdered, tortured for their beliefs, and many of us in the USA are just content to sit in the Sunday pew, hear a nice song, and then join the rest of them as if we ourselves have never “seen the light”, or have been saved from the lukewarmness that has engulfed so many of us these past twenty years. We have been fogged over.

Becoming so content to just lay around waiting for the rapture, when the King of kings and Lord of lords, who saved us from that dead beat life we had, has already given us the command to “Get up and get out there” to the dying world. (Just as a side note: General George S. Patton knew how to get the job done in World War II. I know the Lord used him and pray He gives us leaders again who are willing and able to do the right thing as required.)

How we have chosen to just pass the days, night after night, watching TV shows that leave you with no meaning and no purpose, while at the same time just letting the ungodly thoughts come into our homes and numb our minds without us thinking twice about it. How we have become namby pamby*, afraid to speak a word, declare His truth, or spread the gospel to those who need to hear it before eternity hits them tomorrow.

“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

“The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!

“Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” (Revelation 3:15-22)

As for me and my house, I for one am going to talk louder, share more often, help those who want help, and do that which I have been called to do. Feeding my self-love is not the answer I want. I hope you are so moved to do what you have been saved from, and called to do. If you don’t, we all will suffer from your inaction.

The world doesn’t need any more namby pamby Christians. They need God-fearing, not man-fearing, disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to do what He has already commanded us to do. Get up and get going.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder, Love For His People

NOTE: This was published on Dec. 10, 2013, before the Duck Dynasty/A&E issue over Phil Robertson's stand on Biblical beliefs. It is good to see believers and families speaking up in support of our right to share the truth.

Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty on A&E TV

*Namby Pamby is a term for affected, weak, and maudlin speech/verse. However, its origins are in Namby Pamby (1725), by Henry Carey. Another: lacking in character or substance

Related Words

unexciting, uninspiring, unrewarding; bland, boring, drab,dreary, dry, dull, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, lifeless,monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous, tedious, tiresome,tiring, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome, weary, wearying;inane; innocuous, inoffensive; mild, soft, subdued, tame,weak; common, commonplace, ordinary, stale,unexceptional

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.

Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless the known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

Be sure to get my two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com , plus other website book stores.

You can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for $14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  martinlighthouse@gmail.com

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Ahava Love Letter #94   “No More Namy Pamby Christians”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (12.10.13 Wednesday  at 7:30 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters

The old way to fly...and the soon way.

The old way to fly...

...and the soon way!!!

Maranatha Yeshua HaMashiach!

(Lord Jesus Christ!)