2008 Prayer for Our Nation

~

Dr. Ravi Zacharias

~

2008 Honorary Chairman, National Day of Prayer Task Force

~

Holy Father, in a world where so many are hungry,

You have given us food in abundance;

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In a world where so many are hurting,

You offer to bind up our wounds;

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In a world where so many are lonely,

You offer friendship to every heart;

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In a world longing for peace,

You offer hope.

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Yet, we are so stubborn and resistant.

Have mercy upon us, Lord.

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Our nation is at a crossroads this year;

we look to you to be our strength and shield.

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Please give us the guidance to elect one who will honor you and to respond to the wisdom from above so that our hope may be renewed and our blessings be treasured.

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In God's holy name.

One Moment at a Time

Well, I may not be as on-track as I would like to be, but God is still here with me. He reminded me of that first thing this morning.
Last night, in looking at Nancy Guthrie's website and listening to one of her sound bytes on there... (basically, still avoiding my homework) I ended up in 1 Peter. And though she was speaking on chapter 4 verses 1 and 2 my eyes wandered over to something I had underlined many moons ago now. 1 Peter 5:6-7 ~ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
"Wow. Great reminder. Thank you, Father. I'll have to commit that one to memory this week."
I go to bed.
Then, this morning, having the opportunity to sleep in a later than usual (as I had to work to close tonight) I rolled over and thought: 'Oh. It's 9:30. Ravi Zacharias is coming on. I need to turn on the radio.'
Well, it happened to be a minute or two before, because I turned it on just as Anne Graham Lotz was coming on. She just has a little 'thought' for the day before Ravi comes on. Not long at all. Literally, just a moment of scripture and a thought she shares at the end.
Well, she no sooner said "1 Peter 5:6-7" and my eyes were just brimming up. It was like God was there, just saying "Just in case you might have forgotten while you slept... or just in case you were wondering if it's really true... I assure you, I have you in my hand and I truly do care."
What a wake-up call, huh. :)
It's said that the devil's in the details... well, it appears that God's not too far from them either!
Then, on my way to work, Mercy Me came on the radio with "Here With Me". And I found even more comfort in those words. I thought about my 'wake-up call' and how I felt His presence right there with me. Then, I thought "Here in this moment, I surrender" - that's all I really have to worry about. This moment.


Here With Me

I long for Your embrace
Every single day
To meet You in this place
And see You face to face

Will You show me?
Reveal Yourself to me
Because of Your mercy
I fall down on my knees

And I can feel Your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of Your touch
Here in this moment ~ I surrender to Your love

You're everywhere I go
I am not alone
You call me as Your own
To know You and be known

You are holy
And I fall down on my knees

I can feel Your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of Your touch
Here in this moment ~ I surrender to Your love

I surrender to Your grace
I surrender to the One who took my place

I can feel Your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of Your touch
Here in this moment I surrender:

I can feel Your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of Your touch

Here in this moment ~ I surrender to Your love

I was Just Thinking... !

Oh, my gosh! I just had the most exciting day at work I've had in some time. And to think it may have even been MORE amazing had my mind actually been functioning at full capacity at the time!!

I don't know how many of you are familiar with our own Atlanta-based apologist Ravi Zacharias , but I listen to him many times a week. Most weekdays at 9:30 and then on Saturday mornings at 8:30. I LOVE to listen to him. I could listen to him for hours. He is just a very interesting, funny, yet serious, knowledgable guy with the coolest Indian voice.

I found him on 93.3 a couple of years ago on Sundays, coming back from church and then just kept finding him on more and more and found myself listening to him more and more.

Well, this morning, while I was getting ready, listening to his program, I thought: "You know, I would just love to have the chance to meet this guy... I'd have a question or two for him that I would love to hear the answers to!"

... Fast forward to about 1:00 this afternoon, in the gift shop. A good-sized group came in and we filled up pretty fast. We had helped one particular international couple with several purchases. They were very sweet. Then, I turned around and looked up and thought 'Huh. That guy over there looks just like Ravi Zacharias.' And went about my business. Didn't think another thing about it.

About 2 hours later, the sweet international couple (I don't know where they were from... they just spoke with a strong accent) came back from lunch to pick up their packages. And then the lady who seemed to be 'hosting' them proceeded to check out. I looked down at her charge slip and the name on it was Margaret Zacharias !!! It WAS him!

I wanted to say "Oh, my gosh! Do you know who you are?!?" But, even in my excitement, I knew that was a silly question. :) And he, being a guy, didn't come back down to the gift shop. :( I would've LOVED to at least said "It is so good to meet you! I love your programs! Please, keep up the great work."

But, turns out, I didn't even know what to say to his kind wife. So, as far as my big questions that had been on my heart earlier that morning... even if given the chance, I guess they would've just turned to "Uhhhhh....................." So, I guess I'm better off just listening to his programs after all!!