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- Issue 676 – Verse of the Week
December 5th – December 11th, 2024
VERSE OF THE WEEK
O Lord, come! – 1 Corinthians 16:22
Maranatha!
As the world starts its celebration of the birth of the Baby Jesus, faithful Christians boldly look for Christ’s Second Advent. To that end, the prayer of today’s verse is used: Maranatha. The Aramaic word has been counted as a prayer for the return of Jesus. For those who love Him, it is a beautiful plea; but for those who do not know Him, it could be a fearful declaration. As you utter those words during this season of Advent, remember the promise of Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Giving Tuesday is here. Thank you for your generosity.
Our gift to you this holiday as we remember the true reason for the season with sacred and traditional Christmas music.- Issue 676 – Federal Branches
Praying for Our Leaders in Government
Executive Branch: Pray for the President and his Administration
During his trip to Angola, President Joe Biden announced $1 billion in humanitarian aid for people in 31 African countries who have been displaced by conflict or drought. He also met with leaders about extending a railway from Congo to Zambia for the transport of critical minerals.
Pray for the president and his advisors as he makes agreements in the final weeks of his term.
Legislative Branch: Pray for Senators and Representatives in Congress
Representative Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, chair of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, raised concerns over the history of disciplinary actions against the Capitol officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbit, who was unarmed, during the January 6 protests. The officer was promoted by Capitol Police in 2023 despite his disciplinary history.
Pray for representatives and senators as they provide oversight of federal departments, including the Capitol Police.
PRAY FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Representative Sam Graves of Missouri, has called for an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general into allegations that FEMA workers left entire neighborhoods where three or more patriotic or Trump signs were present without alerting hurricane-impacted residents of available federal assistance.
Pray for the members of committees as they address concerns regarding the actions of federal agencies.
Judicial Branch: Pray for Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges
This week the justices of the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti. President Biden’s administration has sued the state of Tennessee for restricting transgender medical treatments for minors, claiming it violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
Pray for the justices of the Supreme Court to receive God’s guidance as they consider the arguments in this case.
Featured Leaders For Prayer
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Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has almost doubled the number of H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for Fiscal Year 2025.
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Jared Moskowitz, U.S. Representative for Florida
Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida said that streamlining the government and reducing ineffective spending should not be a partisan issue.
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Judge Daniel Bress, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
A panel of Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Seattle violated the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution by blocking ICE from using the King County International Airport.
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Rear Admiral Jason Tama, Commander, Coast Guard Cyber Command
Coast Guard officials are addressing the risk posed by Chinese-made cranes in use at U.S. ports for intelligence gathering through remote access.
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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- Matt Cartwright, Representative for Pennsylvania
Matt Cartwright, Representative for Pennsylvania
- Born – May 1961 in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Education – B.A., Hamilton College; J.D., University of Pennsylvania
- Military Service – None
- Profession – Lawyer
- Political Experience – None
- In office since – 2013
- Family – Married to Marion Munley, 2 sons
- Religious Affiliation – Catholic
- Matt Cartwright, Representative for Pennsylvania
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AMERICA’S HISTORY OF FAITH AND PRAYER
- Issue 676 – Faith and Prayer History
“I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common country. Let us invoke a continuance of the same protecting care which has led us from small beginnings to the eminence we this day occupy, and let us seek to deserve that continuance by prudence and moderation in our councils, by well-directed attempts to assuage the bitterness which too often marks unavoidable differences of opinion, by the promulgation and practice of just and liberal principles, and by an enlarged patriotism, which shall acknowledge no limits but those of our own widespread Republic.“
– President Zachary Taylor, Inaugural Address, March 5, 1859
- Issue 676 – National Prayer Needs
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
The U.S. and Japan are developing a joint military plan to address a possible emergency involving Taiwan. The U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Littoral Regiment is deploying to Japan’s Nansei Islands, while an American tech unit will be stationed in the Philippines.
Pray for U.S. commanders and military officials as they collaborate on defenses in the Indo-Pacific.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
President Joe Biden announced another drawdown of roughly $725 million in defense aid to Ukraine this week. The assistance package will include weapons and rocket systems and ammunition.
Pray for the president and his administration as they continue to send Ukraine munitions and weapons.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has recommended sanctions for allies who help the International Criminal Court after it issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister.
Pray for U.S. and allied officials as they assess the ICC’s warrants and how to respond to them.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Food and Drug Administration has published new guidance regarding human gene therapy, addressing the application and development process of new cell or gene therapies (CGTs). The guidance urges close monitoring of subjects for safety and information on proposed marketing at biologics license application meetings.
Pray for FDA officials to be discerning as they seek to streamline the development of CGTs.
Pray for Needs Across the States
California Governor Gavin Newsome has signed a law that prohibits the same individual from appearing on the ballot as a candidate for simultaneous races after California candidate Vince Fong, who was listed on the most recent ballot for both federal and state legislative positions, won a seat on the state assembly as well as the U.S. House, despite already serving in the U.S. Congress. California voters will have to choose a new member of the assembly through a special election.
Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) continue to apprehend human smugglers and rescue unaccompanied children under Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. During President Biden’s administration, DPS officers have rescued over 900 unaccompanied minors.
For state officials as they seek to ensure the safety and welfare of their residents and stop criminal activity.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Prayer is a time we speak to our Heavenly Father and communicate with Him with devotion and intentionality. … Prayer is the most typical and frequent practice of faith among American adults. … Prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines a believer does in his faith journey. It isn’t merely a ritual of closing eyes, arms together, with knees hitting the floor. It is a means to communicate with God with devotion and intentionality. Just as a son/daughter goes to their father to verbalize something, prayer is a time we speak to our Heavenly Father. This communication is possible anywhere, anytime, alone or with other people. Such 24/7 access to God was made possible through the finished work of Jesus in Calvary. Because of Christ, we can go to the Father, through prayer, confidently and without shame and hesitation.“– Alex Shute, Faith Giant, November 2024
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