Prayer for our Nation, our Leaders and Topics of Concern for 12/27/13- 1/2/14

Begin with the End

Have you ever started a book by reading the last chapter? Some book enthusiasts compulsively read the end of a story first, and then start again at the beginning. Most say knowing the ending helps them appreciate the finer details of the story.

The Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father. Matthew 16:27

Do you know the end of the Bible? In the last chapter of the last book, Jesus is basically saying “Look, I am coming soon and my reward is with me.” He invites those listening to come partake of His free gifts and spend eternity in bliss with Him. And He warns those rejecting Him they are on the edge of an eternity without God’s wonderful presence.

As the end of another year approaches, are you prepared for Christ’s return? If you were to suddenly hear heavenly beings announce the approach of the King of kings, would your heart leap in anticipation of your Savior’s presence, or would fear drive you to dread and retreat? Make no mistake…when the end comes, every nation and every person will confess Jesus Christ as Lord! Pray for America and its leaders – and personally prepare yourself: the end of the book is the beginning of eternity.

Recommended Reading: Revelations 22:12-21.

Be BOLD in Prayer Today for the Obama Administration - Valerie Jarrett, Senior Adviser to the President

 

Senior Advisors have responsibilities in four key areas - White House Office of Strategic Initiatives, intergovernmental affairs, political affairs and as public liaison.

As the Lord leads, BOLDLY pray:

That God would reveal Himself to Valerie Jarrett in undeniable ways, drawing her closer to Himself and His grace. For wisdom and integrity for Ms. Jarrett as she serves President Obama as a Senior Adviser. For an outpouring of love on Valerie and her family.

Pope’s Christmas Wish Is “Hope for a Better World”  - Pray for peace.

Pope Francis says he hopes for a better world, including successful Middle East negotiations in the land of Jesus’ birth, and dignity for refugees fleeing misery and conflict.

American Embassy In Kabul Attacked On Christmas Day – Pray for peace.

Hundreds of American diplomats and workers in Kabul, Afghanistan woke up to the sound of explosions on Christmas morning, after the American embassy came under attack just after dawn.

Power Outages Mean A Dark Christmas For Thousands – Pray for our neighbors.

The fierce winter storm that brought a White Christmas to many northerners is also bringing a dark Christmas for thousands who are still without electricity in Michigan, Maine, Vermont and New York State.

All prayer requests are made directly from our Presidential Prayer Leader.  We ask you all  to pray for our leaders as the scripture says.

 

 1 Timothy 2:1-3

  King James Version (KJV)

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

 ² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

 

Contact Evangelist Waters:

www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistries.com

Follow my Bible Study Blog:

www.PureGoldMinistries.blogspot.com

Follow the Weekly Prayer Blog:

www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com 

 

 

Prayer for our Nation, our Leaders and Topics of Concern for 12/20/13- 12/26/13

The Star of Calvary Nathaniel Hawthorne It is the same infrequent star, The all mysterious light, That, like a watcher gazing on The changes of the night, Toward the hill of Bethlehem, took Its solitary flight. It is the same infrequent star, Its sameness startleth me; Although the disk is red a-blood And downward silently It looketh on another hill, The hill of Calvary. Behold, O Israel! Behold! It is no human One That we have dared to crucify. What evil hath he done? It is your king, O Israel, The God-begotten Son. -Nathaniel Hawthorne

Christians need to come together even more, laws in our nation are perverse, when you can be forced to go against your own religious freedoms that our nation was founded upon.    We need to take a stand to get laws changed so our freedom of religious practice and beliefs will be protected.  

Public Accommodation Bias? Court says business discriminated against same-sex couple by Diann Noles So, you own your own business. Do you leave your Christian beliefs and principles outside the door? That’s the question Colorado Administrative Law Judge Robert Spenser was asked to decide. His answer? Yes, you apparently do have to disregard your beliefs when it comes to same-sex marriage. Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado has been ordered by Spenser to “cease and desist from further discrimination.” The “discrimination” stemmed from his July 2012 refusal to sell a wedding cake to homosexual couple David Mullens and Charlie Craig who were “married” in Massachusetts, but requested a cake for their reception in Lakewood. Phillips, a Christian, declined. “I’ll make you birthday cakes, shower cakes, sell you cookies and brownies,” he reportedly told the men. “I just don‘t make cakes for same-sex weddings.” After Phillips’ refusal to serve them, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (CCRC) on their behalf. In their investigation, the CCRC stated there was evidence that Phillips had baked a “wedding” cake for two dogs, but had refused two women the same service. In refusing the same-sex couples, the CCRC determined he had violated a state law barring discrimination at public accommodations based on race, gender or sexual orientation.   John Podesta, Special Adviser to President Obama John Podesta, former Chief of Staff in the Clinton White House, has agreed to serve as a special adviser and counselor to President Barack Obama. He will return to the White House as President Obama struggles to regain his credibility after the troubled rollout of the health care website. Tim Johnson, United States Senator from South Dakota The Senate Banking Committee’s leaders have drafted a bill that would slap fresh sanctions on Iran and will pass the legislation if Tehran fails to follow through on its end of a temporary nuclear deal with global powers. Crafted by Banking Chairman Tim Johnson of South Dakota and ranking member Mike Crapo of Idaho, the bill will be moved “quickly” if Iran falls short of the parameters of a six-month temporary agreement.  Lieutenant General Bernard S. Champoux, Commander Combined Forces U.S.-Korea The commanding general of the top U.S. Army formation in South Korea said the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance is the strongest military alliance in the world. At a Korean-American Friendship Dinner, Lt. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux thanked members of the Korean-American Club for supporting American troops in Korea and helping to strengthen the alliance. Judge Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit “There is an epidemic of Brady violations abroad in the land. Only judges can put a stop to it,” said Judge Alex Kozinski beginning a hearing on a recent case. “Brady” is shorthand for the Supreme Court decision that requires prosecutors to turn over exculpatory evidence to defense attorneys. In the case being heard, a decision released by the Ninth Circuit found extensive prosecutorial misconduct. Swindling America’s Soldiers Cowardly Congress cuts military pay by Jim Ray The old soldier’s nightmares did not come in color, but in black and white, like old movies. “Under Magellanic Clouds,” he wrote, “two men were trudging upwards from opposite sides. One, wearing muddy battle dungarees, and the camouflaged helmet cover that we wore to distinguish ourselves from army infantrymen, was the scrawny, Atabrine-yellow, cocky young Sergeant of Marines who had borne my name in 1945. The other was the portly, balding Brooks-Brothered man who bears it today. They met on the crest, facing each other in the night like mirror and object.” The two men in the dream were one and the same –William Manchester, a survivor of some of World War II’s most horrific battles. One, the young, cocky marine in 1945. The other, the aging, portly, docile, greedy man he had become. The younger man had risked everything, and felt betrayed by the older man. He demanded an accounting for his sacrifices. Manchester died in 2004, but others like him who served their country loyally would understand his disillusionment that things had not quite worked out the way he had expected. And things got worse for veterans last week when the U.S. House of Representatives presented their own version of an “accounting” for the sacrifices of America’s heroes: the politicians slashed military pension benefits to pay for other government programs.     President Barack Obama has named former Microsoft executive, Kurt DelBene to take over the volunteer job of overseeing ongoing much needed fixes to the federal ObamaCare marketplace website, HealthCare.gov. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Iran’s foreign minister about the importance of moving forward with implementation of the interim agreement on Iran’s nuclear deal and Congress’ intent to possibly impose new sanctions. Pray for President Obama and his Cabinet as they work on both domestic and foreign issues. Senator Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), the Minority Leader, said he can’t imagine the coming debt ceiling negotiations to create a “clean” unconditional increase, hoping to find significant offsets to increases in spending. Senator Tom Coburn (Oklahoma) has released his new “Wastebook,” outlining areas of federal financial waste in “pork” projects, fraud and abuses, and highlighting the Army’s “megablimp” and ObamaCare among the costliest. Pray for members of Congress as they conclude 2013’s business and enjoy the Christmas and New Year recess. A cross atop Mount Soledad in California is an unconstitutional religious display on government land and must come down, a federal judge in San Diego ruled. The case is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. A Florida appeals court sided with a college student who challenged a university rule that banned students from storing guns in their cars while on campus, saying the school does not have the authority to regulate firearms. Pray about court rulings that either impede or expand individual rights – religious, speech, firearms possession. THE WARS At a meeting with Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Zebari urged the Afghan to get over his differences with the Americans and sign the deal that would secure Afghanistan after the 2014 troop withdrawal. Six American soldiers died in a crash involving an aircraft in southern Afghanistan. No enemy activity was known of in the area, officials said, and an investigation into the case of the incident is under way. Pray for the safety of America’s military men and women serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe. TERRORISM India took retaliatory measures against the U.S. in a row over an Indian diplomat who complained of being strip-searched while in U.S. detention for arrest on felonious visa fraud and underpaying her Indian nanny. China said a recent near-collision between a U.S. guided missile cruiser and a Chinese navy ship in the South China Sea was the result of threatening actions by the U.S. military warship, denouncing any free navigation in the area. Pray about the relationships between the United States and nations of Asia. THE ECONOMY The Federal Reserve is debating the outlook for inflation and the economy as they consider reducing $85 billion monthly bond purchases designed to support the unprecedented stimulus program. U.S. consumer prices were unchanged last month after falling in October. Compared with a year ago, overall prices are up 1.2 percent. Meanwhile, gasoline prices have dropped about 33 cents since Labor Day. Pray about the struggling and still-anemic economy of the nation and the millions who remain unemployed. ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST Armored Russian trucks will carry Syria’s chemical weapons to its coastline, where they will transfer to Danish and Norwegian ships and be delivered to an Italian port, to be offloaded to American ships where they will be destroyed. A day-long gathering for speeches by Secretary of State Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, and more than two dozen other foreign ministers is planned prior to the opening of peace discussions on Syria next month in Switzerland. Pray that the transport and destruction of Syria’s chemicals will not be subject to assaults or hijacking. HEALTH CARE The U.S. infant mortality rate is increasing well behind Sweden, Finland and Japan, and on a par with Egypt, Turkey and Peru, largely because of low birth weights from teenaged mothers, congenital malformations and SIDS. Multivitamin researchers say “supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful – the case is closed.” Pray about the well-being of America’s populace, particularly mothers-to-be and the elderly.  All prayer requests are made directly from our Presidential Prayer Leader.  We ask you all  to pray for our leaders as the scripture says.    1 Timothy 2:1-3   King James Version (KJV) 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;   Contact Evangelist Waters: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistries.com Follow my Bible Study Blog: www.PureGoldMinistries.blogspot.com Follow the Weekly Prayer Blog: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com

Prayer for our Nation, our Leaders and Topics of Concern for 12/13/13- 12/19/13

Barack H. Obama, President of the United States President Barack Obama has turned his attention yet again to the economy. Zeroing in on what he called the “defining challenge” of this generation – growing income equality between the richest 1 percent and the rest of America. But the president didn’t unveil any grand proposals to tackle the problem; instead, he repeated a laundry list of initiatives centered on many familiar themes: economic growth through government investment; job training and education reform; stronger protections for labor unions and paycheck fairness legislation; a hike to the minimum wage; and a revamped approach to how Americans save for retirement in private accounts and in government programs such as Social Security.

Patty Murray, United States Senator from Washington While the politics of healthcare and immigration reform play out elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Senator Patty Murray of Washington is working with Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin on the details of a possible two-year budget agreement. This would be significant because it would avert the threat of another government shutdown and allow both sides an opportunity to “regain some trust,” according to an aide.

Christine H. Fox, Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that President Barack Obama has appointed Christine H. Fox to serve as Acting Deputy Defense Secretary. Fox, who assumed her duties on December 4, is now the highest-ranking woman ever to serve the Defense Department. “Over the last five years, Christine has played a key role in helping shape solutions to the core challenges facing the Department of Defense,” a senior official said.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court appeared likely to reinstate the trespassing conviction of a man who was caught protesting military activities in a place he had been ordered to avoid: the zone designated for demonstrators outside the main gate at a California Air Force base. The protester tried to persuade the Court that his case raised important First Amendment issues. But the Justices focused instead on the federal law under which he was convicted, which gives commanding officers authority to prevent people from entering military installations.

Praying For Righteous Government New IRS regulations look to curtail corruption by Dr. Tom Askew Politics is about power but wise people want it to be regulated. Then, regulators have the power. Because of man’s sin nature, people rebel against power and look for ways to cheat the regulators. Mankind’s “pride of life,” causes each side to point fingers and claim the other side is cheating. As a result of the curse that “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,” (Genesis 3:19) everyone knows that there’s no free lunch. It’s because of the realization that no one can do it all individually that there are corporate efforts for national defense and protection of private property. Lacking imaginative alternatives, those things are funded through taxes. Because humans are created in the image of God, most people are in agreement and support acts of charity and kindness. So these acts – and their donors as well – get tax breaks. On the playground, to get more power, you shout louder than your opponent. In the adult world, that’s called advertising, and it costs a lot of money to advertise more loudly than those who oppose you. Some greedy people figured out that they could avoid taxes and grab more power by masking their power grab as a charitable act. Now, because of their deception, innocent charities may suffer. Here’s what’s happening:

Congresswoman Celebrates Birth of Baby Girl Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington and her family have been blessed in the arrival of a new baby girl, Brynn Catherine. She was born on Sunday, November 24, weighing in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces. The Washington Congresswoman has made history as the first member to give birth three times while serving in Congress. She and husband Brian Rodgers already had two – son Cole, born in 2007 and daughter Grace in 2010. “Nothing compares to the miracle of bringing a new life into the world,” wrote Rodgers. “She’s beautiful and seems to be taking it all in stride. Our hearts are full.” Congratulations to the Rodgers family from everyone in The Presidential Prayer Team. Communion In The Conference Room Do corporations have religious freedoms? by Louie Christensen You can’t pick and choose which type of freedoms you want to defend. You must defend all of them, or none of them. That’s not a philosophy, or a constitution, but rather the definition of the word “freedom.” Unfortunately, it isn’t an easy definition to put into law or practice in a melting pot culture like that found in the United States. Whose liberty should be defended? The strong majority or the endangered minority? The paradox of freedom may be an unsolvable question, but it’s an ongoing problem. Now, it seems that the most unlikely organization will step into the ring to stand up for their freedom. Two weeks ago the U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear a lawsuit against President Obama’s health care law filed by Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. The national arts and crafts business objects to providing employees with certain contraceptives mandated by The Affordable Care Act. Hobby Lobby’s founder David Green claims that the government cannot force him to provide his thousands of employees with insurance covering contraceptives such as morning-after pills. Vice President Joe Biden met with families of the victims of last year’s Sandy Hook school shooting and announced $100 million federal funding to increase the quality of mental health care in the United States. President Barack Obama has hired former Clinton Chief of Staff John Podesta as a special white house counselor for a year to aid in issues involving health care, climate change and intended executive actions. Pray for President Obama and Vice President Biden as they carry the burdens of leading the nation. Farm bill negotiators conceded that they will not finish their work before Congress recesses but Senator Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) said they should be ready to vote on new legislation in January. Representative James Sensenbrenner Jr. (Wisconsin) has called for strict limits on the Patriot Act’s broad surveillance powers, saying he is “incensed” over the lack of oversight by Congress. He authored the Patriot Act. Pray about the many issues Congress must complete before they recess for Christmas and New Year’s. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that addresses what responsibility states have – or may not have – in regulating pollution that ends up in other states’ skies. A decision is not expected until June. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals announced it will provide live streaming video for some of its oral arguments, beginning with a privacy case involving police department retention of DAN profiles of criminal suspects. Pray about the wisdom of the cameras-in-the-courtroom decision and whether it should be used in other courts. THE WARS A car bomb exploded by a gate at a Kabul airport used mostly by NATO troops. No one was killed. The Taliban have taken responsibility for the bombing saying the attack was in response to foreign military occupation of Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai lashed out at the United States again, accusing it of making threats in the dispute over an agreement to keep U.S. troops in the country beyond 2014, and acting “like a colonial power.” Pray about all the issues surrounding America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in part or in whole by December 2014. TERRORISM Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab neighbors have agreed to establish a joint military command, paving the way for tighter security coordination in the face of their regional rival, Iran’s, ongoing pursuit of nuclear weapons capability. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the U.S. military to transport Burundian troops to Central Africa amid sectarian violence in that country. French troops have deployed to the region and have suffered two casualties. Pray about the many regions involved in sectarian and Islamist extremist conflicts, and the extent of U.S. involvement. THE ECONOMY The federal government sold its remaining shares of General Motors stock ending the controversial $49.5 billion bailout of the automaker with an approximate $10.5 billion loss for taxpayers. By almost two to one – 64 percent to 38 percent – Americans say the U.S. no longer offers everyone an equal chance to get ahead and the government isn’t doing much to help, according to a new Bloomberg National Poll. Pray about the erosion of faith in the American dream and growing income inequality. ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST European auditors said the European Union should stop funding Palestinian civil servants in the Gaza Strip because money is going to officials who do not work,and that the EU the biggest donor to Palestinian terrorists. Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians have reached agreement on a three-way water supply arrangement to slake rising cross-border demand, a rare step toward economic integration of the region. Pray that the cooperation on the water supplies will ease some of the settlement tensions in the West Bank. HEALTH CARE Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has called on the Inspector General to investigate the botched roll-out of the HealthCare.gov website and its apparent ongoing lack of security controls. A trial has begun to see whether a drug used to treat diabetes can slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The study will involve 200 people with memory problems and involves reducing brain inflammation. Pray for laboratory physicians and technicians involved with drug testing, and for pharmaceutical effectiveness. Please accept our apology for sending out the weekly prayer request a day late. All prayer requests are made directly from our Presidential Prayer Leader.  We ask you all  to pray for our leaders as the scripture says.    1 Timothy 2:1-3   King James Version (KJV) 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;   Contact Evangelist Waters: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistries.com Follow my Bible Study Blog: www.PureGoldMinistries.blogspot.com Follow the Weekly Prayer Blog: www.PureGoldEvangelisticMinistriesPrayer.blogspot.com