Friday, February 8, 2008

The Daily Brief - Thursday, February 7, 2008

"The LORD is nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)

Today's Daily Brief

1. Romney Drops Presidential Bid- Fox News

Mitt Romney suspended his presidential campaign Thursday, telling a stunned conservative group that continuing his uphill battle against John McCain would hurt the Republican Party and make it more likely that the Democratic candidate would win the general election in November.

· Lord, we pray for Mitt Romney and his family as they face disappointment. May they seek Your face, and may Your Holy Spirit bring truth and life to them as they continue in other forms of public service.

·"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things . . ." (John 14:26)

2. Agreement has been reached on Economic Aid Package-AP

Senate Republicans and Democrats agreed Thursday to add rebates for 20 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans to a House-passed economic aid package, ending a partisan stalemate over the plan.

· Lord, we ask that You bring wisdom to our lawmakers and stop the constant attempts to add costly items to proposed legislation. We continue to trust in You alone for a stimulus that will revive our economy.

·Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

2. Crying Baby Found in Field, Survived Twister - AP

County Mayor Shelvy Linville could only shake his head at the horrific toll left by a deadly series of tornadoes that pounded across the South. "It really is unbelievable that Mother Nature can create that much devastation," he said Wednesday evening at his Macon County home. "We need your prayers."

President Bush, who said he called the governors of the affected states to offer support, plans to come to Tennessee on Friday. "Prayers can help and so can the government," Bush said.

· Father, thank You for a blessed miracle amidst a deadly winter. We pray with humble hearts for Your mercy as the treacherous storms continue across America. We plead for Your heart to reign over us, Your mercy to redeem us, and the Holy Spirit to cause us to repent. We take authority over all activity of the enemy to destroy in storms and declare that You have come to destroy the works of the devil.

·"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, kill, and destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

4. Transformed UN Created to Propose "New World Order"- London Independent

Gordon Brown has begun secret talks with other world leaders on far-reaching reform of the United Nations Security Council as part of a drive to create a "new world order" and "global society".

· Lord, let not one moment of Your timing be usurped by the spirit of anti-Christ.

·"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him." (Psalm 50:3)

5. Iran Testing Advanced Centrifuge at Natanz Plant- Ynet News

Iran is testing an advanced centrifuge at its Natanz nuclear complex, diplomats said on Wednesday, a move that could lead to Tehran enriching uranium much faster and gaining ability to build atom bombs.

· Lord, let our leaders see the truth of Iran's actions, and act with wisdom concerning them. May they not be blinded by political lies or world pressure.

· "Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah." (Psalm 140:8)

6. Al-Qaeda in Iraq Teaching Children to Kill - Washington Post

The Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq is training boys as young as 10 to kidnap and kill, U.S. and Iraqi officials asserted Wednesday, showing propaganda videos seized from suspected insurgent hideouts that depict masked boys wielding guns and kicking down doors.

· Lord, we ask that You unravel the thread of evil that pervades the militant Islamic movements. We ask Your mercy over the children caught up in this demonic hatred.

· He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." (Psalm 72:4)

7. The Archbishop of Canterbury has called for the U.K. to adopt Sharia law for Muslims - The London Times

Rowan Williams suggested today that it "seems unavoidable" that elements of Islamic law be accepted into the British legal system.

The head of the Church of England believes that officially sanctioning Sharia will improve community relations and aid integration. He conceded that his view would be controversial but said similar concessions to other religions were already allowed in the U.K.

· Lord, we are appalled at the words of this man who is Your servant. We repent on his behalf, and in sorrow beg for your mercy over England and over those who truly belong to You there.

· "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2)


The Middle East in Focus

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:1-2)

1. Syria acquiring Russian rockets at 'furious' pace - WND

Syria, aided by Russia and Iran, in recent months has been furiously acquiring rockets and missiles, including projectiles capable of hitting the entire state of Israel, according to Jordanian and Israeli security officials speaking to WND.

2. Qassam rockets hit Sderot, western Negev - Ynet News

Nine Qassam rockets have been fired at the western Negev Thursday morning. Three rockets landed in Sderot, causing several people to suffer shock and damaging a shed.

3. Israel to begin work on separation fence along border with Egypt - Ha'aretz

Israel will begin promoting a proposal to build a separation barrier that will separate it from Egypt, the cabinet decided Wednesday during a meeting attended by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the heads of the defense establishment.

Prayers for the Persecuted Church

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Mt. 5:44)

1. China Police "Burning" Bibles and "Beating" Christians in Yunan Province - Worthy News

Members of a house church in China's Yunan Province were "severely beaten" by police officials, who earlier "burned" the church's Bibles, a Christian rights group said Wednesday, January 30.

2. Pakistan Evangelical Pastor Killed Amid Growing Religious Tensions - Worthy News

Christians in Pakistan's volatile North West Frontier Province (NWFP) faced new tensions Wednesday, January 30, amid reports that a Pakistani pastor has been shot and killed because of his involvement in evangelistic work.

3. Malaysia: Indigenous Group Sues Over Demolished Church - Worthy News

An indigenous church community has filed a lawsuit against local authorities in the state of Kelantan over the demolition of their church building on June 4, 2007.


The Value of the Values Voter

Amid all the commotion from the outcome of Super Tuesday, a dominant theme has emerged over the last two months. Values voters may be many things, but fatalists they are not. Despite the inclement weather and overwhelming odds, social conservatives continue to turn out in droves to show both parties that they are still active, still potent, and a political force ignored only at the candidates' peril. It is encouraging to me that social conservative voters are refusing to compromise their core beliefs and follow the media's lead. Remember, no matter what the outcome of these primary elections, when we vote our values we are sending a powerful message that it is the issues that galvanize Americans--not the parties and definitely not their apologists.

One group that will certainly be taken more seriously as a result of last night's outcome is pro-life voters, whose presence was keenly felt in the victories for Mike Huckabee. Exit polls showed that pro-life Republicans in both western, southern, and midwest states were overwhelmingly supportive of the candidates most willing to speak and act on behalf of the unborn--Govs. Huckabee and Romney. John McCain, who lost some traction because of his record on embryonic stem cell research, had a difficult time attracting pro-lifers' support even in the states that he won. It took backing from pro-abortion Republicans and moderates to propel the Arizona senator to victory.

In the general election, the eventual nominee will have a fatal problem if he does not reach pro-lifers. Clearly, that person cannot win without the active, enthusiastic support of social conservatives. Regardless, if we reach September and the candidates you endorsed are not the final nominees, it will not mean the values movement has failed. No matter whom the parties entrust with this race, values voters will have succeeded simply because they've been heard. I guarantee that the frontrunners will have moved closer to our issues after this push than they would have if we had simply thrown up our hands--as the media had hoped--and walked away. (Tony Perkins FRC Action, Family Research Council; Feb. 6, 2008) I VOTE VALUES.com


PRESIDENT ATTENDS NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

(Reported by: Intercessors for America)

"We believe that the Almighty hears our prayers -- and answers those who seek Him. . . . Through the miracle of prayer, we believe he listens --

if we listen to his voice and seek his presence in our lives, our hearts will change.

And in so doing, in seeking God, we grow in ways that we could never imagine."

- President Bush, from remarks made at the National Prayer Breakfast,
February 7, 2008

A crowd of 4,000, including President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, lawmakers, judges, heads of state and others from more than 100 countries, came together for coffee, conversation and spiritual contemplation at the annual National Prayer Breakfast held this morning in Washington, D.C. The National Prayer Breakfast is an outgrowth of separate private weekly prayer breakfasts that various members of Congress have attended since the 1940s.

Lawmakers host this bipartisan event, according to this year's invitation, to remind leaders of "the teachings, example, and spirit of Jesus of Nazareth." Sen. Mike Enzi (R., Wyo.) and Sen. Ken Salazar (D., Colo.) were co-hosts. The breakfast is staged without government funding every year by the Fellowship Foundation, an evangelical Christian group.

In remarks to the gathering, the President said prayer has helped him cope with the stresses of leading the nation. "I believe in the power of prayer, because I have felt it in my own life. It has helped me meet the challenges of the presidency. I understand now clearly the story of the calm in the rough seas." (AP; Wall Street Journal 2/7/08)

To read the President's entire address, go here.


Prayer for the Primaries

Saturday, February 9

(D) Louisiana Primary

(D) Nebraska Caucus

(D) Washington Caucus

(D) Virgin Islands Other

(R) Kansas Caucus

(R) Louisiana Primary

(R) Washington Caucus


Sunday, February 10

(D) Maine Caucus

Tuesday, February 12th

-- Maryland

-- Virginia

-- District of Columbia

· Earnestly intercede against media and special interest manipulation during this primary season. Pray that moral, God-fearing, pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-family men and women be selected, supported, and find favor in local, state, and national campaigns. Intercede that the Lord reveal His choices, expose corruption, immorality, bribery, the occult, and hidden anti-biblical agendas.

(Source: Intercessors for America)

" . . . if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

For a complete guide to the Republican primaries, go here:

For a complete guide to the Democratic primaries, go here:



Links to Other Resources

Recommended links are now posted on our CHPP Blog. Click here to visit our blog for more information.

We particularly wish to cite Intercessors for America as the source to find all other ongoing prayer initiatives at this time.

For news at the state level (including court decisions re: gay rights), please see the links for the Family Research Council and for Citizen Link (Focus on the Family.) Thank you!!


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