Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Daily Brief - Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Daily Brief

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

"Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know My hand and My might; And they shall know that My name is the LORD." (Jer. 16:21)


Today's Daily Brief



1. McCain, Obama Score Big Wins in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia - AP

McCain, Obama go three-for-three in Potomac Primaries; battleground now shifts to Wisconsin, Washington, Hawaii on Feb. 19, with Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, Vermont to be decided March 4. Virginia returns showed the Republicans nine points apart, McCain at 50 percent and Huckabee at 41 percent. The returns showed Obama with 64 percent and Clinton with 35 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

· Praise the Lord that Americans still believe in the voting process that our founding fathers established and support the candidate that each thinks is best for our nation. As Christians, we are happy to see the response that Gov. Huckabee won, for he truly is a man with a strong faith in God. Continue to pray that Christians will see clearly how to vote God's Word and principles only!

· "Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble [Huckabee]: Thou wilt prepare his heart ,Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear." (Psalm 10:17)

2. Huckabee: I Offer Republicans a Choice - AP

Despite John McCain's sweep of the Potomac primaries Tuesday, Mike Huckabee said Republican voters still want to hear an alternative voice in deciding who should be the party's presidential nominee. "There is still a sense in the Republican Party to have a choice," Huckabee said after a strong showing in Virginia, where he said he closed a broad gap between him and McCain.

· Pray for Gov. Huckabee that he is encouraged in his heart to continue to stay in the campaign for the presidential candidacy. His presence puts pressure on Sen. McCain to be his best and to support conservative views, especially Christian views. Competition drives us all to do better. Our voice must be heard, even though the media would silence us.

· "The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of His land." (Psalm 10:16)

3. Clinton's Deputy Campaign Manager Resigns - AP

Mike Henry has resigned as Hillary Clinton's deputy campaign manager, after campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle left her post Sunday amid a string of defeats to Barack Obama.

· According to Mr. Henry, he resigned because he felt that the new campaign manager should have a deputy of his own choice. Pray that Mr. Henry will meet the Lord in a powerful way that leads him away from the liberal agenda of abortion, same-sex marriage, and big government as the solution of our nation's woes and problems. Our hope is not in man, but in the Lord.

· "And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of His doing." (Psalm 64:9)

4. Senate Approves Terror Surveillance Bill - AP

The Senate on Tuesday approved new rules for government eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails, giving the White House much of the latitude it wanted and granting legal immunity to telecommunications companies that helped in the snooping after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. House Democrats said they would vote on Wednesday for a 21-day extension of current but expiring legislation to take a look at the Senate bill.

· Although not everyone agrees with the FISA bill, telephone companies should not be punished for helping in the fight against terrorists. All Republican senators and 19 Democrat senators voted for this new bill. Praise the Lord for bipartisan accord in the Senate.

· "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression" (Proverbs 19:11)

5. Special Election for Lantos Seat to Be Held April 8 - AP

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday, scheduled an April 8 special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Tom Lantos. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held June 3 between the top vote-getters in each party.

Lantos died Monday of cancer of the esophagus. A Democrat, he was the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress. In Washington Tuesday, the House observed a moment of silence in Lantos' honor and brought a resolution to the floor to express condolences.

· Praise the Lord for the services of a righteous man in our Congress. Rep. Lantos was a strong supporter of Israel and received a number of awards for his work on behalf of Israel. We mourn that his death had been caused by cancer rather than a peaceful passing from old age. Pray that the the voters in California will choose a man as righteous as Rep. Lantos has been.

· "Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments." (Psalm 112:1)

6. U.S. Navy Intercepts Russian Bombers Flying Near Ships - AP

U.S. fighter planes intercepted two Russian bombers flying unusually close to an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific during the weekend, The Associated Press has learned. A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 buzzed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 50 nautical miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.

· What in this world is Russia thinking - intimidating one of the U.S. great warships? Pray that God will remove from any Russian officials' minds, plots and plans to play games with the USA. Pray for President Putin and for his salvation in Jesus Christ, for he is surely treading on dangerous ground. As always, continue to pray for the safety of our military, wherever they are - sea, ground, air - and for courage and wisdom in dangerous situations.

· " Blessed be the Lord, my strength , which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight." (Psalm 144:1)

The Middle East in Focus



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

"You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 97:10)

1. Israel: Iran Seeking Nuclear Weapons - AP

Israel's prime minister on Tuesday brushed aside suggestions that the threat from Iran's nuclear program has receded, saying he remains convinced that Tehran is "moving forward" with plans for an atomic weapon.

2. Ashkenazi: IDF ready to widen Gaza actions as much as needed - Ha'aretz

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday that the army is ready to expand its operations against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, but is waiting on orders from the political echelon.

3. Merkel to Olmert: Israel has right to defend itself - Ynet News

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that her country would support an Israeli operation in Gaza, in view of the ongoing Qassam fire.

4. 'Jerusalem talks on and under table' - Jerusalem Post

Hatem Abdel Qader, the Jerusalem affairs adviser to Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad, confirmed Tuesday that Jerusalem is one of the issues currently being discussed by Israeli and PA negotiators.


Prayers for the Persecuted Church



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

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." (2 Sam. 22:31)

1. Nigeria Churches Destroyed, One Killed, After Muslim Marriage Row

A Muslim man's failed attempt to marry a young Christian woman resulted in him accusing her of "blasphemy", triggering violence in the Nigerian town of Yana that left at least one person dead, seven Christians hospitalized and five churches destroyed, a Christian news agency reported Tuesday, February 11.

2. China: Uyghur Christians Arrested, Jailed in Xinjiang

Last January 12, state security officials arrived at the home of Alimjan Yimit, a Muslim convert, ethnic Uyghur and Christian house church leader in Xinjiang province, northwest China.

3. Vietnam: Pastor Visits Jailed Christian Lawyers

Imprisoned Christian lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, their sentences reduced by one year due to international pressure, received a rarely granted visit from non-family members when four pastors managed to see them on January 31.


Prayer for the Primaries



Saturday, February 16

(R) Guam Tuesday, February 19

(D) Hawaii Caucus
(D) (R) Wisconsin Primary

Saturday, February 23

(R) American Samoa

· 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: