• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation
• The First Thanksgivings
• The Good News Corner
• Happy Thanksgiving from CHPP
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for the Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Wednesday, November 23, 2011
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Ps. 100:4,5)
We will stand down until next Monday, to celebrate this wonderful holiday with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
The Daily Brief
1. Iran Mulling Creation of 100-million-Strong Muslim Basij Army - Fars News Agency
Commander of Iran's Basij (volunteer) force Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi announced on Sunday that Tehran is studying formation of a 100-million-strong Muslim world Basij force.He underlined that Basij will bravely and steadfastly continue its struggle and fight for the freedom of Quds from the occupation of Zionist regime and to release all mankind from the claws of the world arrogant powers... Earlier, Ayatollah Khamenei had also underscored the profound and vast influence of Iran's Islamic Revolution on the growing waves of Islamic awakening in the region.
- Dear Father, we marvel at the unfolding of Your Word as nations seek to gather a great show of military strength determined to eliminate Israel. Thank You for lovingly preparing Your people with the knowledge of the enemy's tactics and what is to come. Thank You Lord, that as nations prepare to accomplish this attempted destruction, we have Your promises of intervention and the safety that is only found in You!
- "No king is saved by the multitude of an army." (Psalm 33:16)"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance of the LORD." (Proverbs 21:31) "Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear. Though war may rise against me, in this (the Lord) I will be confident." (Psalm 27: 3)
2. Massive Hydrovolcanic Explosion Inevitable at Fukushima -The Intel Hub
...the architect of Fukushima Daiichi Reactor 3, Uehara Haruo, was interviewed in Japan. He warned that a "China Syndrome" situation is inevitable at the plant. If the fuel reaches an underground water source, it will result in the contamination of water, soil and the sea. More catastrophic, underground super-heated water will ultimately create a massive hydrovolcanic explosion. Although media in Japan and the alternative media have covered this story over the last few days, it has been uniformly ignored by the corporate media.
- LORD, the best of man's knowledge has been unsuccessful to stop this critical nuclear situation. God, we call on You to intervene and stop the dangerous progression of this reactor's meltdown! If there are actions men may take to divert this terrible disaster, we humbly ask You to reveal this knowledge speedily. We pray the world may see that You alone have the power to save mankind. In Jesus' Name!
- " For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95: 3,4)
3. Nation's Densest Network of License Plate Data-Trackers Raises Privacy Concerns - Popular Science
But one tool, automatic license plate readers, could become much more than a crime-prevention device. D.C. police maintain the country's densest network of plate readers, and keep a three-year database of license plate locations - meaning they can track where everyone's car is, all the time, whether at the grocery store, an ammunition shop or Planned Parenthood.
- Lord, we see knowledge increasing on the earth as was told by Your servant Daniel.(Daniel 12:4) It is so apparent that this knowledge may be used for good or for evil. Today, we ask You to impress upon those in authority to only use this tracking capability to expose those bent on evil. If authorities track law abiding citizens unjustly, may they be the ones who are exposed and corrected. Hide Your children under the shadow of Your wings.
- " For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me...and now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies all around me. " (Psalm 27:5,6)
4. France, Germany to press euro zone treaty change - Reuters
"We will do everything not just to defend Europe but also to consolidate it." French President Nicholas Sarkozy has embraced a German campaign for treaty change that could give European authorities intrusive powers to intervene in the national budgets of countries sharing the euro currency.
- Lord, You are taking the wealth of nations that have ceased to honor You. The nations are losing their individual sovereignty because they disobey You. We pray for a mighty move of Your holy Spirit across the nations of Europe, that men and women may rise up to proclaim You as the Lord of their lands.
- " For the Lord says, ' By the strength of My hand I have done it, and by My wisdom, for I am prudent, and have robbed their treasuries. So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man." (Isaiah 10:13)
5. Face Recognition Makes the Leap From Sci-Fi - New York Times
Immersive Labs, a company in Manhattan, has developed software for digital billboards using cameras to gauge the age range, sex and attention level of a passer-by. The smart signs, scheduled to roll out this month in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, deliver ads based on consumers' demographics. In other words, the system is smart enough to display, say, a Gillette ad to a male passer-by rather than an ad for Tampax.
- Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day, I thank You for recognizing each of us individually, and that our face is known to You. I thank You for watching over our lives to guide us in the way everlasting. I thank You that because of Jesus death on the Cross in our place, our name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!
- " rejoice because your names are written in heaven!" (Luke 10: 20)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is their God? But our God is in the heavens. He has done whatever He has pleased." (Psalm 115:1-3)
1. Hezbollah 'cripples' CIA - or so it seems - UPI
Hezbollah's roll-up of an alleged CIA operation in Beirut has given the Iranian-backed movement an immense boost at a time when its ally, the Syrian regime in Damascus, is fighting for survival.
2. Ban calls on PM to hand over Palestinian money - Ynet News
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hand over tax payments owed to the Palestinian Authority and to stop settlement activity, his spokesman said.
3. Israel Expects 'Grave Erosion' in Peace Pact With Egypt - Fox News
Israel expects a "grave erosion" in its peace agreement with Egypt and is even preparing for the possibility of the historic deal collapsing altogether, a Cabinet minister said Wednesday, in the first official assessment of the unrest rocking Israel's southern neighbor.
The Daily Jot
The truth about the Thanksgiving story
In the days leading up to the first "Thanksgiving" of the Pilgrims, they had dispatched a group of ten men to "explore the bay and trade with the natives." They were guided by the English speaking Squanto, who also served as an interpreter. When the men returned, they were very impressed with the land around the bay and wished they could have settled there instead of Cape Cod. William Bradford, wrote however, "But it seems that the Lord, Who assigns to all men the bounds of their habitations, had appointed it for another use. And thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to bless their outgoings and incomings, for which let His holy name have the praise forever, to all posterity."
This "Thanksgiving" to the Lord offered by Bradford in his history "Of Plymouth Plantation" indicates that Jesus was at the center of his thoughts about all things--even the land they were allocated by God to begin their colony. It also forebears testimony to the very positive Christian witness and relations the Pilgrims maintained with the Indians. This comment was followed immediately by Bradford's account of the harvest in October 1621. Bradford writes,"Each person had about a peck of meal a week, or now since harvest, Indian corn in that proportion; and afterwards many wrote at length about their plenty to their friends in England--not feigned but true reports."
One of those true reports is found in "Mourt's Relation" by Pilgrim Edward Winslow--the only account of the first "Thanksgiving." Winslow writes: "our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors...at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others."
Winslow concluded, "And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." Thanks to the godly men and women who came before us, even in our decline we remain blessed more than any other nation on earth. Jeremiah 4:2 says that if God's people return to Him, "And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory." This is a promise to the nations. So today, as should be our practice each day, may you have a Psalm 103:2 day, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;- and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; - to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
Signed: George Washington
Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
[Published by the National Day of Prayer Task Force]
Celebrating Thanksgiving in America
by David Barton
The tradition introduced by European Americans of Thanksgiving as a time to focus on God and His blessings dates back well over four centuries in America. For example, such thanksgivings occurred in 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas with Coronado and 1,500 of his men; in 1564 at Fort Carline, [now Jacksonville] Florida with French Huguenot (Protestant) colonists; in 1598 at El Paso, Texas with Juan de Oñate and his expedition; in 1607 at Cape Henry, Virginia with the landing of the Jamestown settlers; in 1619 at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia; (and many other such celebrations). But it is primarily from the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 that we derive the current tradition of Thanksgiving Day.
The Pilgrims set sail for America on September 6, 1620, and for two months braved the harsh elements of a storm-tossed sea. Upon disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they held a prayer service and then hastily began building shelters; however, unprepared for such a harsh New England winter, nearly half of them died before spring. Emerging from that grueling winter, the Pilgrims were surprised when an Indian named Samoset approached them and greeted them in their own language, explaining to them that he had learned English from fishermen and traders. A week later, Samoset returned with a friend named Squanto, who lived with the Pilgrims and accepted their Christian faith. Squanto taught the Pilgrims much about how to live in the New World, and he and Samoset helped forge a long-lasting peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford described Squanto as "a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . and never left [us] till he died."
[Published by the National Day of Prayer Task Force]
The Good News Corner
Presidential Thanksgiving Day Proclamations, past and present
In late 1863, our nation was embroiled in the midst of the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg had been fought in July, resulting in more casualties than any other battle during the war. It was in the context of these events that President Abraham Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation on October 3, 1863, urging citizens to set apart "a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens," and to "fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it . . . ."
This year, on November 16, President Obama issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation noting, "When President George Washington proclaimed our country's first Thanksgiving, he praised a generous and knowing God for shepherding our young Republic through its uncertain beginnings. Decades later, President Abraham Lincoln looked to the divine to protect those who had known the worst of civil war, and to restore the Nation 'to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.'" President Obama urged Americans to "give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives," and to "pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come."
Happy Thanksgiving from Capitol Hill Prayer Partners:
A THANKSGIVING TRIBUTE
Our gift to you on this holiday is a Thanksgiving tribute -- a stirring rendition that captures the true meaning of Thanksgiving in picture and in song.
May you each be blessed as you enjoy this tribute, and may you each enjoy a wonderful day of giving thanks to our Lord for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, and upon our nation. Amen.
