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- Issue 647 – Verse of the Week
May 16th – May 22nd, 2024
VERSE OF THE WEEK
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. – Hebrews 12:1
Spiritual Athletes
Every two years, during the Olympics, athletes from around the world compete to see who will bring home gold medals. Contestants train for years to be able to accomplish their very best in winter or summer sports. There are “Olympians “ of a different sort within the Body of Christ. Many of them are well-trained or well-accomplished in what they do. However, training by itself is not the key – one must train in the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Some use their knowledge to judge, as the Pharisees did at the time of Jesus’ ministry. It is essential that you use your gifts for the body of Christ. Avoid being an Olympic Conclusion Jumper, Instead, seek the character and example of Christ and use your training and talents to help others. “Run” to offer grace—to be gentle, kind, and caring to others as they go through the adversities of life. Also, continue your training through meditation on God’s word. As an “Olympic athlete of faith,“ prepare to “run with endurance,” as today’s verse states. Your heavenly Father will give you an imperishable crown at the end of your race!
May Ministry Update and Prayer Guide Survey – READ MORE 
Our gift to you this holiday as we remember the true reason for the season with sacred and traditional Christmas music. LISTEN NOW!- Issue 647 – Federal Branches
Praying for Our Leaders in Government
Executive Branch: Pray for the President and his Administration
U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy has announced that the early implementation of some of the USPS modernization plans will be paused until January 2025. The decision came after bipartisan senators recommended delaying the plan for extensive mail processing operation changes.
Pray for discernment for Postmaster DeJoy as he oversees efforts to modernize and streamline USPS operations.
Legislative Branch: Pray for Senators and Representatives in Congress
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York led a small bipartisan group to recommend at least $32 billion in funding to implement policies to support and safeguard the development of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next three years. Senator Schumer said, “It’s complicated, it’s difficult, but we can’t afford to put our head in the sand.”
Pray for federal legislators to receive God’s wisdom as they seek to provide support and safeguard the development of AI technology.
PRAY FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Representative Sam Graves of Missouri, heard testimony this week on the progress of the recovery of the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse. Witnesses included leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Highway Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Pray for the members of congressional committees as they hold hearings and provide oversight for agencies and projects of the Executive Branch.
Judicial Branch: Pray for Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges
The Supreme Court ruled that, under the Copyright Act statute of limitations, copyright infringement damages may be recovered beyond the three years before a lawsuit is filed as long as the filing occurs within three years of the discovery of the infringement.
Pray for wisdom for the Supreme Court justices as they determine and write opinions in dozens of outstanding cases.
Featured Leaders For Prayer
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Michael Horowitz, Inspector General, Department of Justice
Justice Department Inspector General Horowitz called the lack of appeal process for suspensions of federal whistleblowers “especially problematic.“
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Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee
Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced legislation that would place students and professors on a no-fly list for supporting terrorists.
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Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court of the United States
Justice Kavanaugh wrote the Supreme Court’s decision that Due Process mandates a timely civil hearing for personal property forfeiture cases, but a preliminary hearing is not required.
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Dr. Christopher Kent, Tactical Technology Program Manager, DARPA
Dr. Christopher Kent stated that DARPA needed to contract with the developer who could meet the agency’s aggressive schedule and technical goals.
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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- Gene Rodrigues, Assistant Secretary for Electricity
Gene Rodrigues, Assistant Secretary for Electricity
- Education – B.S., Northern Arizona University; J.D., University of California Hastings College of Law
- Military Service – None
- Profession – Energy management
- Political Experience – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, California Efficiency & Demand Management Council, Alliance to Save Energy’s Active Efficiency initiative
- In office since – 2023
- Family – Undisclosed
- Religious Affiliation – Undisclosed
- Gene Rodrigues, Assistant Secretary for Electricity
Featuring twelve former U.S. Presidents – Only 1,000 copies available!
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AMERICA’S HISTORY OF FAITH AND PRAYER
- Issue 647 – Faith and Prayer History
“The men doing the vital things of life are those who read the Bible and are Christians and not ashamed to let the world know it.
Great men cultivate love… Only little men cherish a spirit of hatred. … The man is unwise who does not cultivate in every manly way the friendship and goodwill of his next-door neighbor, whether he be black or white.
In the sight of God there is no color line, and we want to cultivate a spirit that will make us forget that there is such a line anyway.“– Booker T. Washington, May 1900, and in Up from Slavery, 1901 (1856-1915: born into slavery, became leading intellectual founding Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute)
- Issue 647 – National Prayer Needs
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
The U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force tested long-endurance drones during Balikatan military exercises in the Philippines. American soldiers monitored the electronic surveillance gathered by the drones and practiced passing data to Philippine troops to increase interoperability.
Pray for U.S. military commanders to be discerning as they oversee training and interact with allied forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced trip to Ukraine this week to offer reassurance of the United States’ support. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the “crucial package” of aid recently approved by Congress.
Pray for the secretary of state as he engages with Ukrainian leaders regarding the war.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
President Biden’s administration notified Congress that it is moving forward with a new $1 billion sale of weapons to Israel. Due to the number of armaments, the sale could take years to deliver. The proposed sale now begins its journey through the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Pray for wisdom for U.S. legislators as they review and evaluate the potential sale of munitions to Israel.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning to launch a public dashboard that will track Influenza A in wastewater from sewers. The agency hopes to determine levels and sources of H5N1 bird flu from dairy cattle, dairy processors, or human infections.
Pray for CDC officials as they seek to determine the levels of Influenza A from wastewater data.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
The Department of Labor reported the consumer price index was down in April, at 3.4 percent. Monthly inflation came in slightly below projections, at 3 percent. However, the department stated, “The index for shelter rose in April, as did the index for gasoline.”
Pray for Labor Department officials as they assess and report U.S. economic data, inflation, and employment.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The Delaware House of Representatives passed a measure to establish a hospital cost review board. The legislation seeks to reduce healthcare costs by requiring hospitals to submit budgets that comply with spending guidelines set by the state government.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green has approved $385 million for victims of the Maui wildfire. The governor reported that 75 percent of those displaced by the fire have moved from shelters into long-term. housing.
Pray for state officials as they approve laws and acts to address the issues facing their residents and constituents.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“It is time for us to get our praise bills current. Some of us are just way behind. Some are delinquent, 60-day notice, 90-day notice… taking God for granted because you know He’s a good God… You owe Him the breathing breath He gave you to breathe! And you owe Him praise. … Some of us praise only when we’re happy. … Hebrews 13:15 says, ‘Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.‘ … A sacrifice means an offering. When the Bible says give an offering it’s not talking about giving it grudgingly, giving it with an attitude. Some of us were raised by parents who said, ‘Not only do you have to do certain things, but you’re going to do them with the right attitude.‘ … You had to not only do what you were supposed to do, but you had to do it with the right attitude. … We have the privilege of offering to Him a sacrifice, right attitude sacrifice, right motive sacrifice, right language sacrifice. I owe Him a sacrifice. That has nothing to do with my feelings! … Your feelings have nothing to do with it. A sacrifice has to do with the object. Give God your best, whatever you’re giving Him. Give Him your best. … I’m telling you, God is a God who will show up if you will be a person who strategically, regularly, at all times, no matter what you’re going through. You give Him the praise He is due and He will show up in your life.“ – Paul Sheppard, Destined for Victory, May 2024
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