USA Heritage

 

~ A Congressional Prayer for Independence Day ~

 

“Eternal God, stir Thou our minds and stimulate our hearts with a high sense of patriotism as we approach the Fourth of July. May all that this day symbolizes renew our faith in freedom, our devotion to democracy, and redouble our efforts to keep a government of the people, by the people, and for the people truly alive in our world.

 

Grant that we may highly resolve on this great day to dedicate ourselves anew to the task of ushering in an era when good will shall live in the hearts of a free people, justice shall be the light to guide their feet, and peace shall be the goal of humankind: to the glory of Thy holy name and the good of our Nation and of all mankind.

 

Amen.

 

—The Congressional Prayer by Chaplain, Reverend Edward G. Latch on Wednesday, July 3, 1974.

 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalms 33:12 ESV),

 

Note ~ Reverend Latch (Methodist) was the Chaplain of the US House of Representatives (1967-1978) went home to meet his Savior in April 1993 at the age of 92.  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted. Emphasis is added.

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Independence Day 2023

|||* FREE BOOKS EXTRAVAGANZA: See Below *|||

 

~ God Governs ~

 

Introduction ~ Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian—he was a deist. He is nearly universally considered to have been a very smart man. Listen to what he said:

 

Quote ~ “I have lived… a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice[a], is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured… in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it’[b].”

 

Comment ~ It was Ben Franklin who suggested that the Constitutional Convention should seek God’s blessing in an opening prayer at every session!

 

Scripture ~ [a] Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

 

[b] “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

Free Books ~ Right now you can obtain any, or all, of my eBooks for FREE (epub). Only at https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=robert+lloyd+russell 

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ell 

What A Story!

 

~ Do You Really Understand Independence Day? ~

 

Prayer ~ “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12a).

 

“Eternal God, stir Thou our minds and stimulate our hearts with a high sense of patriotism as we approach the Fourth of July.  May all that this day symbolizes renew our faith in freedom, our devotion to democracy, and redouble our efforts to keep a government of the people, by the people, and for the people truly alive in our world.

 

“Grant that we may highly resolve on this great day to dedicate ourselves anew to the task of ushering in an era when good will shall live in the hearts of a free people, justice shall be the light to guide their feet, and peace shall be the goal of humankind: to the glory of Thy holy name and the good of our Nation and of all mankind.

 

“Amen” (Congressional Prayer by Chaplain, Reverend Edward G. Latch on Wednesday, July 3, 1974). 

 

 

Comment 1 ~ If ever there was a time when our nation (United States) and the world needed prayer it is this year. 

 

Comment 2 ~ There is a secular movie (documentary) that I believe every American should watch.  It is available from many libraries and I’m sure many other places (as well as on Amazon for purchase).  “Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure” with Kirk Cameron (2012, PG, 1:24).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Independence Day 2020

~ Have We, As A Nation, Become “Independent” of God? ~

“It is impossible to rightly govern... without God and the Bible.” (George Washington, June 8, 1783).

“National morality cannot exist in the absence of religious principle.” (George Washington).

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.  Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.  Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (John Adams, October 11, 1798).

“The strength of a country is the strength of its religious convictions.”  

“Equality, liberty, popular sovereignty, the rights of man – these are not elements which we can see and touch.  They are ideals.  They have their source and their roots in the religious convictions.  They belong to the unseen world.  Unless the faith of the American people in these religious convictions is to endure, the principles of our Declaration will perish.  We cannot continue to enjoy the result if we neglect and abandon the cause.”  (Calvin Coolidge, July 5, 1926)

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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NOTES:

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