Posted on 11/07/2013 8:46:45 PM PST by NEWwoman
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Heavenly Father –
As Veteran’s Day – November 11th – draws near, may we remember that freedom is not free. It has and still is purchased by the blood of patriots. On Veteran’s Day, as well as all days, we uphold the patriots in our prayers who defend us and put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. Give them strength and protection. Likewise, may we be grateful for all the veterans, the brave men and women who have served others.
In this corrupt world system, evil is so ubiquitous and seems at times to triumph. Yet, You are our Hope and Defender of those who seek refuge in You. And - most precious - our salvation has been purchased by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
While Kate Smith introduced a new song – God Bless America – on November 11, 1939 –nations fell like dominoes, plunging into World War Two. May we turn our hearts to God and repeat the solemn prayer set to music by Irving Berlin. ( lyrics here ) May His Providence move our nation to be used for good as all believers fill our hearts with the power of Your Spirit to be lights in a dark world.
Amen
Amen!
May He protect our brave heroes who are defending our freedoms and those who've fought for this great nation.
Thanks, NEWwoman for the posts and the prayers. Loved seeing Ronald Reagan in the Kate Smith video reading Variety. Very comforting to hear that song and see that great man :-)
It made no sense for a widow to donate her last few coins to a corrupt institution in Jerusalem, where scribes who were dependent on those gifts “devour[ed] widows’ houses” (Mark 12:40). But in that woman’s act, Jesus saw a moving display of the proper attitude toward money (vv.41-44).
Gordon Cosby, while serving as pastor of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, tells of a widow whose income was barely adequate to feed and clothe her six children. Yet every week she faithfully placed $4 in the offering plate. A deacon suggested that Cosby go to her and assure her that she could use the money instead for her family’s benefit.
Cosby followed the deacon’s advice—to his regret. “You are trying to take away the last thing that gives me dignity and meaning,” she said. She had learned a key to giving: It can benefit the giver more than the receiver. Yes, those in poverty need financial help. But the need to give may be as important as the need to receive.
The act of giving reminds us that we live by the grace of God—like the birds and the flowers. Those creations don’t worry about their future; neither should we. Giving offers us a way to express our confidence that God will care for us just as He cares for the sparrow and lily (Matt. 6:25-34).
Read: Mark 12:38-44
I join in prayer for our heroes and nation!
Blessings, Jane Long, for your prayers and encouraging comments.
Blessings, The Mayor, for your continual prayers.
Blessings, Alamo-Girl, for your prayers.
For years, I ended every concert with “God Bless America”.
To This day, my students vie with each other as to who will sing it at the close of the recital.
Thank you for sharing the history of that song. Irving Berlin was a Jewish Immigrant fleeing the oppression and pogroms of Russia. Upon his arrival, he learned English, worked hard, and plunged himself into American Culture, so much so that now, his music IS American Culture. His First Big Hit was “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, and Soldiers sang his songs in WW1. He dedicated the profits from “God Bless America” to the Boy Scouts of America, his favorite organization.
He lived to be 102, and never wavered in his love for America, the Golden land that gave him freedom.
praying with you this Veterans Day Weekend, for Our American heroes and Our Beloved Nation.
Prayers for our Heroes and Nation, every day and always.
Blessings, etabeta
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Blessings, left that other site, for your prayers and all you do to build up the body of Christ.
My grandmother came to the US in 1913 leaving Austria-Hungary (Croatia) just a year before World War One broke out. Whew! I remember in her humble abode she had a piece of her crochet hanging on her wall that said - God Bless America.
Thanks for sharing all the info. (The irony of a Jewish immigrant named Berlin, writing patriotic songs to fight and against Germany and later Hitler is precious.)
The video clip made a few references to “Yip Yip Yaphank,” which at first made no sense to me. It seems Sergeant Irving Berlin, during World War One, was an inductee from New York at Camp Upton in Yaphank, Long Island. There he wrote a musical revue to raise support for the war effort with more upbeat songs. (One song was “Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning” - which described how Berlin felt at revelry.)
Found an interesting site on Yip Yip Yaphank - http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/history/upton/berlin.htm
Blessings, etabeta, for your prayers for our heroes and nation.
Amen, GonzoII, for your prayers of mercy and protection.
Blessings for joining us in prayer for our nation and heroes.
Blessing, MEG33, for your prayers and intercession for our military. And God Bless America!
It is a funny coincidence about “Berlin”. His Russian Name was “Belinsky” but he Anglicized it to “Berlin”. Who would had thought back in 1903 that within 10 years we would be at war with Germany.
And then AGAIN twenty years after that.
I used to do and entire one-hour musical solo act that celebrated the life and songs of Irving Berlin. I remember the day he died, back in 1989.
You are a woman of amazing talents - left that other site!
Awww...thank you (blush blush)
I correct myself...Irving Berlin’s Russian Name was “Israel Beilin”, not “Belinsky”.
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