Weekly Prayer Requests

These are the weekly requests for June 21, 2009:

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President as he continues to lead the nation in discussions on issues such as his Friday town hall meeting on the importance of fatherhood.
• For wise decisions on the part of State Department officials and the President as they deal with the challenges of the Iranian elections and continued protests.
• For scheduling so the First Family can spend time together.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Labor, which is tasked with job training, preventing employment discrimination, and enforcing federal job protections. Pray for its 15,000 employees and its Secretary, Hilda Solis.

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House as they continue considering appropriations bills, this week for the Department of Homeland Security and Interior, and Defense Authorization legislation.
• For members of the Senate as they hold continued hearings on health care reform legislation and deal with the impeachment trial of a federal judge.
• For the staff of the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan panel of experienced policy experts that provide research and information to members of Congress. Pray for wisdom and that they would give wise counsel to those relying on their research.

State Government Officials

• For Judge Beverly Martin, a federal court judge in the Northern District of Georgia, who was nominated to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday.
• For the family of Rep. Jerry Keen, the State House Majority Leader, whose mother passed away this last week.
• For the Department of Community Health, which oversees the Georgia Medicaid program and assists in reaching needy populations with health services. Pray for its employees and Commissioner Dr. Rhonda Meadows.

National Requests

• For the continued recovery for our national economy, especially those who are searching for jobs.
• For safety for the people of Iran. The protests have continued in spite of statements by the Ayatollah, and many fear that the militia will crack down soon.

Thought for the Week

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” - Abraham Lincoln

Weekly Prayer Requests

Here are this week's prayer requests.

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President as he completes his overseas trip and returns to the U.S. He continued his efforts in the Middle East.
  
• For the President’s staff as the work on health care reform legislation begins in earnest. The goal is to have a bill passed by the beginning of August.
  
• For the President’s relationship with his wife to stay strong.
  
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of the Interior, which is tasked with protecting America’s natural resources, including research, conservation, and serving native communities. Pray for the more than 70,000 employees and its Secretary, Ken Salazar.
  

 U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the House as they finish consideration of the War Supplemental appropriations bill for funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  
• For members of the Senate as they deal with a variety of legislation this week, but continue their focus on the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Her committee questionnaire was filed this week.
  
• For the Legislative Assistants for members of Congress and Senators. “LAs” have responsibility for review of policy in particular areas. Members of Congress have   2-3, and Senators have 5-10. Pray for them to give wise counsel.
  

State Government Officials

• For wisdom for continued cuts to state agency budgets. All agencies found out this week they have to reduce their June budgets by 25% to ensure the overall state budget remains balanced.
  
• For the Governor’s Judicial Nominating Commission, a group of lawyers who must interview the 47 applicants who have been nominated for the vacant seat on the Georgia Supreme Court.
  
• For the Insurance Commissioner, John Oxendine, whose department regulates all insurance companies in the state. 

National Requests

• For the wife, children, and grandchildren of Dr. George Tiller, killed last Sunday. Pray also for the pro-life cause.
  
• For the continued search for the wreckage of Air France Flight 447, and safety for those involved in the search on the high seas.
  

Thought for the Week

“Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if you did.” - C.S. Lewis

 

 

Weekly Prayer Requests

This week's prayer requests are below.  After the preparation of these requests last night, news broke that former Congressman and Vice Presidential nominee Jack Kemp had died.  Please be in prayer for his family and former members of his staff during this difficult time.

 U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For the President as he has completed his first 100 days in office and now must select a new Supreme Court Justice to replace Justice David Souter, who announced his retirement Friday.
  
• For the President’s advisors as they work to set priorities. The President announced that the Freedom of Choice Act was not a priority for his administration.
  
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Health and Human Services, which is tasked with protecting the health of Americans and administering Medicare. Pray for the more than 65,000 employees and its newly-confirmed Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius.
  

 U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the Senate as they consider legislation addressing the mortgage crisis.
  
• For members of the House as they also consider legislation addressing the housing crisis and predatory lending.
  
• For the staff of Senate Judiciary Committee as they deal with the uncertainty of adjusting to the new leadership on the minority side after Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties.
  
• For the  Senate as it prepares to consider nominees for the Supreme Court sent by President Obama.  Nominees could include Georgia Chief Justice Leah Sears, and Solicitor General Elena Kagan.
  

 State Government Officials

• For the continued recovery of Lt. Governor Casey Cagle after his surgery on Monday of last week.
  
• For public health officials as they continue to address the potential H1N1 flu crisis in the state of Georgia.  There is only one confirmed case in Georgia so far.
  
• For Governor Perdue and his staff as they continue to determine which bills to sign and veto within the 40-day window after the adjournment of the legislative session on April 3.  The Governor has already signed a number of bills, but has many more to consider.
  

National Requests

• For the continued flu crisis and prevention of the further spread of the H1N1 flu.
  
• For the release of bank “stress tests” conducted by the U.S. Treasury and the market impact this week.
  

Thought for the Week

 “Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right.”  
--H.L. Mencken

Lt. Governor Cagle

Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle announced today he was dropping out of the race for Governor due to a degenerative spinal condition.  Although the condition can be corrected with surgery, the Lt. Governor decided it would be too challenging to run for Governor and continue that process.  The Lt. Governor was the decided frontrunner in the race prior to his announcement this afternoon.

Here are some prayer requests for the Lt. Governor during this time:

• Pray for his physical healing, and that the surgery would completely correct his condition.
• Pray for his wife and children as they watch their husband and father go through a difficult recovery process.
• Pray for his staff as they must now transition roles with the change in the Lt. Governor's goals.
• Pray for wisdom for his advisers as they determine what needs to be done to wind down the gubernatorial campaign.
• Pray for the candidates that may consider getting into the race now, that they would be wise and make the right decision.

The Lt. Governor is facing an incredibly challenging time following what must have been a nearly impossible position as the frontrunner.  Let's continue to hold up our government leaders in their times of need.

Weekly Prayer Requests

A little late posting this week’s requests – sorry about that!  Here they are:

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

•  For great wisdom for President Obama and his staff as they focus on the nation’s healthcare system after the summit at the White House last week on healthcare.
  
• For the First Lady, Malia, and Sasha as they continue to adjust to life in the White House. The First Daughters have a new swing set on the South Lawn.
  
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Defense’s mission is to provide the military forces needed for our nation. Pray for the more than 2.4 million active duty and reserve soldiers and National Guard, DOD’s 700,000 civilian personnel, and its Secretary, Robert Gates.
  

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the Senate, as they continue to deal with the bill to fund the government for the remainder of this fiscal year. Leaders are a few votes short and had to delay a planned vote from last week. Funding for the federal government runs out on Tuesday absent further action.
  
• For members of the House, as they consider the updated Water Quality infrastructure legislation, possibly legislation giving DC a voting member of Congress, and consideration of any budget legislation passed by the Senate.
  
• For endurance for Congressional staffers as this year’s session has stretched into the weekend several times already.
  

 State Government Officials

• For members of the state House and Senate as the session continues. This week will be incredibly busy due to the deadline for bills to pass out of one house or the other by Thursday. Tuesday is day 28 of the 40-day session.
  
• For the continued budget shortfalls, as state revenue fell 35% last month over a year prior. Legislators are facing cuts no prior legislature has had to face.
  
• For the pressures of session on the spouses and families of legislators as the session increases in intensity as it nears its conclusion.
  

 National Requests

•  For the continued security of our nation in the face of growing global threats.
  

 Thought for the Week

 “A politicized faith not only blurs our priorities, but weakens our loyalties. Our primary citizenship is not on earth but in heaven. . . . Though few evangelicals would deny this truth in theory, the language of our spiritual citizenship frequently gets wrapped in the red, white, and blue. Rather than acting as resident aliens of a heavenly kingdom, too often we sound like resident apologists for a Christian America.” - John Seel.

Weekly Prayer Requests

This week's requests come after the President's address last week and the continued discussions regarding the state of fiscal affairs for our country, particularly as Congress begins studying the President's budget proposal for the next fiscal year.

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

•  For great wisdom for President Obama as he continues to deal with the challenges created by dealing with international entities. The President visited with the prime minister of Japan last week and already faces threats from North Korea and other rogue regimes.
  
• For the First Lady, as she continues to be put in the spotlight.
  
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Commerce promotes economic development and innovation, along with overseeing the Census.  Pray for the more than 38,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary-designate, Gary Locke.
  

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the Senate, as they consider the omnibus spending legislation which includes large amounts of spending for the remainder of this fiscal year.
  
• For members of the House, as they consider the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act and legislation to give a voting Member of Congress to the District of Columbia.
  
• For members of the House and Senate as they begin consideration of the President’s budget for the next fiscal year, including projected cuts.
  
• For the relationship between Speaker Pelosi and the President, which appears to be strained already.
  

 State Government Officials

• For members of the state House and Senate as the session continues. Tuesday is day 25 of the 40-day legislative session.
  
• For continued work on the state budget for the current fiscal year, which should move through the House this week, and the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 as both Houses prepare.
  
• For the House’s consideration of the transportation governance overhaul this week, along with the changes at the Department of Transportation due to the firing of the Commissioner on Thursday.
  

National Requests

• For the continued economic challenges, and tough balancing of spending priorities for families and government entities
  

Thought for the Week

“To devote all, or even most, of our time, energy, money, and strategy to putting a facade of morality on the world of the appearance of ‘rightness’ over our governmental and political institutions is to badly misunderstand our roles as Christians in a spiritually lost world.” - A prominent evangelical leader.

 

 

Weekly Prayer Requests

This past week saw a number of new initiatives by our nation's leadership to address the continuing financial crisis, including new efforts at solving the house problems facting our country. The President also made his first foreign visit to Canada. Secretary of State Clinton embarked on an Asian trip, and Congress was in its week-long President's Day recess.

This coming week will involve a number of issues as Congress returns, and as the President gives an address to Congress on Tuesday evening.

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• For President Obama, his staff, and family as they work to prepare the President’s address to Congress for Tuesday night.
• For the executive branch agencies, their directors, and staff as many agencies begin the difficult process of implementing the stimulus bill according to the terms passed by Congress.
• Cabinet Spotlight: The Department of Agriculture oversees the nation’s policy on farming, agriculture and food, and plays a vital role in fostering trade and ensuring food safety. Pray for the more than 100,000 employees of the Department and its Secretary, Tom Vilsack

U.S. Legislative Branch Officials

• For members of the Senate, as they consider legislation this week to grant a voting Member of Congress to the District of Columbia and continue to work through confirmation of the President’s appointees.
• For members of the House, as they consider an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government through September 30 of this year and possibly the President’s home mortgage plan.
• For Senator Ted Kennedy, his family, and his staff as his brain tumor appears to be worsening. Pray for healing, grace, and strength for everyone involved in this extremely difficult and challenging time.

 State Government Officials

• For members of the state House and Senate as the session continues. Tuesday is day 24 of the 40-day legislative session.
• For resolution to the state’s budget challenges as the Governor and others work to determine the amount of federal funding coming to Georgia as a result of the federal stimulus legislation.
• For committees and staff as they analyze and amend the blizzard of bills including tax incentives, changes to power regulation, school vouchers, and transportation governance.

National Requests

• For wise leadership in the banking system of the U.S. as challenges continue and nationalization is discussed.
  

Thought for the Week

 “Thou, O Lord and Master, hast given [our earthly rulers] the power of sovereignty . . . that we, knowing the glory and honour which Thou hast given them, may submit ourselves to them, in nothing resisting Thy will. Grant them therefore, O Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, that they may without failure administer the government which Thou hast committed to them.” - Clement of Rome, in the wake of the persecutions ordered by Nero.