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- Issue 643 – Verse of the Week
April 18th – April 24th, 2024
VERSE OF THE WEEK
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you. – Psalm 141:2
Sweet Aroma
Ah, spring! Among some of its best delights are the fragrances that waft on the light breezes – lilacs, jasmine, lavender, and cherry blossoms. These are sweet accents to brighten your day, and blossoms are often collected in bowls of potpourri indoors for a sustained enjoyment of their sweet smells. In the Old Testament, worship included the burning of incense, a ritual some congregations still practice today. There was a special recipe for the incense that was used. Not just any incense would do since some types were also offered to idols. The psalmist was eager that his prayers be received by God as if they were the incense from the temple. In Revelation 5:8, you read, “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Your prayers are a sweet aroma to the Lord, and He keeps them along with their fragrance in golden bowls. Keep that in mind the next time you come before Him, for He values you!
RESULTS FROM THE 2024 VITAL SIGNS SURVEY – READ NOW 
Our gift to you this holiday as we remember the true reason for the season with sacred and traditional Christmas music. LISTEN NOW!- Issue 643 – Federal Branches
Praying for Our Leaders in Government
Executive Branch: Pray for the President and his Administration
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced President Biden’s administration would be placing new sanctions against Iran after the regime launched its attack against Israel. He said, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness and confront the full range of its problematic behaviors.”
Pray for the president and members of his administration to be discerning in their response to Iran’s aggression and remain committed to the alliance with Israel.
Legislative Branch: Pray for Senators and Representatives in Congress
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the House and Senate that would make analytic tools developed to address COVID-19 emergency program fraud permanent. The Government Spending Oversight Committee Act would provide inspectors general in federal agencies tools “to promote program integrity, prevent improper payments, and facilitate verification efforts to ensure proper expenditure and utilization of covered funds.”
Pray for members of both houses of Congress as they consider the legislation that seeks to address fraud in government spending programs.
PRAY FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony from a whistleblower regarding Boeing’s shortcuts in the assembly of 787 Dreamliners. The witness, a Boeing engineer, stated, “They are putting out defective airplanes.”
For chairs and members of the committees as they investigate manufacturing practices to ensure public safety.
Judicial Branch: Pray for Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges
The justices of the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the obstruction charges brought against defendants in trials over the events of January 6, 2021. The law under which protestors have been sentenced had previously applied only to the tampering of evidence in or interfering with a congressional investigation.
For the justices to be led by the Lord as they deliberate over the federal law and its application.
Featured Leaders For Prayer
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Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General
The Postmaster General told a Senate committee that transition time is necessary as USPS modernizes operations.
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Lou Correa, U.S. Representative for California
Representative Correa co-sponsored a bill that would have the Department of Homeland Security develop a border security plan that incorporates AI.
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Justice Neil Gorsuch, Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch stated a lower court’s injunction against an Idaho law that prohibits transgender procedures on minors went too far.
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Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense
In testimony before Congress, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the U.S. has no evidence that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
As we lift up the federal government of United States of America, each day we will highlight one elected or appointed federal official serving in office. Pray with us for each of them as they tackle their unique responsibilities and fulfill their oaths of office.
TODAY’S NATIONAL LEADER FOR PRAYER
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- Christoper E. Thomas, Administrator, Defense Technical Information Center
Christoper E. Thomas, Administrator, Defense Technical Information Center
- Education – B.S., Old Dominion University; M.A., George Mason University
- Military Service – None
- Profession – Software developer, government official
- Political Experience – Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Information Systems Support director, DTIC Chief Technology Officer and Component Information Support director
- In office since – 2012
- Family – Undisclosed
- Religious Affiliation – Undisclosed
- Christoper E. Thomas, Administrator, Defense Technical Information Center
Featuring twelve former U.S. Presidents – Only 1,000 copies available!
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AMERICA’S HISTORY OF FAITH AND PRAYER
- Issue 643 – Faith and Prayer History
“No man can study the movement of modern civilization from an impartial standpoint and not realize that Christianity and the spread of Christianity are the basis of hope of modern civilization in the growth of popular self-government. The spirit of Christianity is pure democracy. It is equality of man before God—the equality of man before the law, which is, as I understand the most God-like manifestation that man has been able to make.“
– President William Howard Taft, 1909
- Issue 643 – National Prayer Needs
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract to a Texas-based contractor that will construct an airfield on an island in U.S. territory in the Pacific. Airfields on Tinian, one of the Northern Mariana Islands, have not been used since the Second World War and have become overgrown.
Pray for wisdom for U.S. military officials as they prepare airfields and bases to address security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested 25 Patriot missile systems as Russia has targeted his nation’s energy and civilian infrastructure. An executive with Raytheon stated that the company is only able to produce 12 of the systems per year, and negotiations with other nations who use the Patriot system are underway.
Pray for Defense and State Department negotiators as they assess the possible excess of Patriot systems globally to potentially equip Ukraine.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
After Iran launched hundreds of military drones and missiles against Israel, Israel and its allies successfully shot down 99 percent of the projectiles. The U.S., UK, and France joined Jordan and Saudi Arabia, part of the Middle East Air Defense Alliance, in helping Israel defend itself against the attack.
Pray for the leaders of Israel, and other Arab nations, and U.S. officials to be discerning in their responses to Iranian threats.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert regarding counterfeit Botox (botulinum toxin) shots. Nineteen people in nine states have experienced dangerous reactions to the shots, with nine being hospitalized. The shots were reportedly administered by unlicensed individuals in non-healthcare settings.
Pray for CDC Director Mandy Cohen and agency officials as they seek to prevent further damage from Botox shots of uncertain origin from unqualified vendors.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac) reported that a 30-year mortgage has now reached a national weekly average interest of 6.88 percent, and 15-year mortgages were at 6.16 percent. This reflects a rise of 0.61 and 0.62 of a percentage point, respectively, over one year ago.
Pray for U.S. mortgage lending officials as they evaluate the market and endeavor to assist and inform homebuyers.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The Utah state legislature passed 591 bills before concluding its annual session. The legislation set the budget for the coming year and included measures to address homelessness, reduce taxes, and classify genders according to reproductive organs at birth.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is seeking to increase the number of public school buildings equipped with solar panels on the roof. He said, “I think we ought to have each and every one of our schools with more solar power,” adding the savings could be “put right in the classroom.”
Pray for discernment for state and local leaders as they address the issues that faces their residents and communities.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Why is Christianity such a problem? … The theology’s there, don’t get me wrong. The archeology’s there, don’t get me wrong. The science is there, don’t get me wrong. But when someone comes up and says, ‘All I know is once I was lost, and now I’m found‘ that is a powerful statement. And that makes the Church a problem. Because when you have that brought before you, it challenges, immediately, your status quo, your place of comfort. … The kingdom of God is experienced within. … Listen, a real, on-fire church that preaches hope, salvation, love, grace, sin, hell, and death will be an enemy of satan. Why? Because the world cannot stomach the truth. The world cannot handle the truth. It’s got to be changed, altered, edited, manipulated. And the Church, the true Church, … where there’s worshippers of God, based on the Word of God, obedient to God, the fact of the matter is, that Church is going to be a problem to the world. “ – Pastor Jack Hibbs, Real Life Radio, April 2024
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