In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Israel Fights Back
• Conference Call: Pray for Israel
• PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL
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The Daily Brief - Monday, Dec. 29, 2008
". . . my God turns my darkness into light." (Psalm 18:28b)
The Daily Brief
1. Israel At 'War to the Bitter End,' Strikes Key Hamas Sites - Fox News
Israel's defense minister said Monday the country is engaged in a "war to the bitter end" against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and said the military operation against the terror group would continue and intensify. "We have stretched our hand in peace many times to the Palestinian people. We have nothing against the people of Gaza," Ehud Barak said to a special session of parliament. "But this is an all-out war against Hamas and its branches. The restraint that we have demonstrated is the source of our strength when it is time to fight."
Israel's air force obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming Gaza assault, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home, devastating a security compound and flattening a five-story building at a university closely linked to the Islamic terror group.
• Please see our section, below, on "Prayers for Israel" for guidance in intercession in this critical hour for the Israeli people.
• "Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 108:13)
2. White House Says Violence in Gaza Will Stop When Hamas Ends Rocket Fire - AP
The Bush administration is continuing to monitor events in Israel and Gaza, but insisted again Monday that Hamas stop agitating for a fight whose latest violence has resulted in more than 300 dead Palestinians and two dead Israelis.
"In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable cease-fire. That is the objective to which all parties need to be working. That is what the United States is working towards," National Security Council Spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Crawford, Texas.
• Offer praise for the stand that our nation is taking now, in support of Israel as she fights her own terrorists, and laying blame squarely where it belongs -- on Hamas. Ask that our Lord would continue to strengthen the hand of President Bush in this matter, and the he and our nation would remain unwaivering in its support of the peace of Jerusalem.
• "To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness . . ." (Eccl. 2:26)
3. White House Urges Continued Pursuit of "Roadmap to Peace" - AP
National Security Council Spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the administration is interested in getting back to the "roadmap" for peace and following the blueprint laid out in 2007 in Annapolis between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party is at odds with Hamas.
He said President Bush has spoken to several regional leaders, including the kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. He added that Bush had a detailed briefing early Monday by video conferencing with Vice President Dick Cheney, White House chief of staff Josh Bolten and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has also been making calls, speaking Monday afternoon with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
• Pray that, in his remaining days in office, President George W. Bush would see the biblical danger of "dividing the land" in order to create "peace" in Israel and in the Middle East. Pray!
• "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Prov. 21:1)
4. Wall St. faces record losses in last week of 2008 - AP
Investors are preparing to close out the last three trading days of 2008 with Wall Street's worst performance since Herbert Hoover was president.
• Lord, we pray to You for guidance in the ways that we should handle financial situations such as the one that we are currently facing. We pray for patience and mercy for this country as it faces uncertain times.
• Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Mark 10:21)
5. Blagojevich Says He's 'On Wrong Planet' if Impeached - Fox News
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Friday that if what he's done as Illinois governor is an impeachable offense, he's living on the "wrong planet" and is in the "wrong place."
• We turn to You for mercy because these revelations are a public show of the corruption that we have allowed in our government. If these allegations are true, we pray that the governor will feel shame and will repent of his actions and act justly for the people of his state.
• "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." (Romans 1:18-19)
6. Franken Maintains Small Lead in Ongoing Minnesota Recount - Fox News
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board meets again on Tuesday to allocate the very last of the withdrawn ballots that were not disputed by either Democrat Al Franken or Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in the still up-for-grabs Minnesota Senate race. Those ballots are just a part of the 6,600 original challenged ballots that may be put back into the mix. Franken's unofficial lead over Coleman remains at 46 votes.
• Lord, as this count continues, let the people in authority be honest and work to make this a fair and legal assessment of the votes of the people.
• "You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly." (Leviticus 19:15)
7. Palin's Daughter Gives Birth to Son - AP
People magazine reported that 18-year-old Bristol Palin gave birth to Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston on Sunday. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol's grandmother, told the magazine that "the baby is fine and Bristol is doing well."
• Every child that enters this world is a blessing from You. We praise You that this child was born healthy and that the Palin family was kept safe from anyone who would have harmed them.
• "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth." (Psalm 127:4)
8. Somali president quits amid power struggle - CNN
Somalia's transitional president has resigned amid a power struggle with the African nation's prime minister and parliament, sources told CNN on Monday. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed announced his resignation Monday before parliament in Baidoa. Ahmed's resignation is the latest turn in the political crisis in Somalia, which is already struggling with an Islamist revolt, a refugee crisis and rampant lawlessness that has fueled a wave of piracy off the Horn of Africa.
• We pray for peace and for authority to take control of this nation which is spreading its chaos throughout the world. We pray that the UN will take action that will help the Somali people to get rest from the constant attacks that surround them.
• "Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves." (Romans 13:2)
* * * SPECIAL REQUEST * * *
'Santa' Gunman's Marriage Dissolved When Wife Discovered He Abandoned Brain-Damaged Son - Fox News
A man plotting revenge against his ex-wife dressed up like Santa, went to his former in-laws' Christmas Eve party, shot at partygoers and destroyed his former in- laws' house with a homemade device that sprayed flammable liquid, slaughtering at least nine people before killing himself hours later. Bruce Pardo, 45, saw his marriage fall apart this year when his wife discovered he had abandoned a brain-damaged son years earlier but continued to claim the boy as a tax write-off, the L.A. Times reported.
• Lord, for someone to take advantage of the celebrations of Your birth in order to sow evil is a stunning and saddening event. We pray for peace and healing for the victims of this attack and for the child that this man abandoned. We ask, too, for a miraculous move of divine intervention in the heart of the perpetrator of this crime -- a work that only You can do -- bringing him to salvation in You.
• Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:24-26)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 108:13)
1. IDF: Tunnel bombing cripples Hamas - Ynet News
Destroying the tunnels under the Philadelphi Route means cutting off Gaza terror's lifeline, military sources told Ynet Sunday.
2. IDF mobilizing tanks in event of Gaza ground incursion - Ynet News
The Israeli Air Force struck a total of 100 Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday with the launching of the operation dubbed 'Cast Lead.' Palestinian medical officials have reported at least 230 people killed in the Israeli strikes.
3. IAF air strikes target Hamas centers at Islamic University - Jerusalem Post
IAF aircraft bombed the Islamic University and government compound in Gaza City early Monday morning, both centers of Hamas power. Witnesses saw fire and smoke at the university, counting six separate air strikes there just after midnight.
4. Hamas: Gaza death toll passes 340 - Jerusalem Post
At least five Palestinians were killed in IAF attacks in Gaza late Saturday night and Sunday morning, as the death toll in the Strip rose to over 340, and over 1400 injured.
5. Hezbollah Leader: Group Is on Alert, Won't Abandon Hamas - Fox News
The leader of Lebanese militant Hezbollah said Sunday that he has asked his men to be on alert in southern Lebanon in case Israel attacks and promised not to abandon Hamas.
6. Israel defends Gaza op to UN chief - Jerusalem Post
In an urgent letter to the United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the UN Security council, Israeli UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev on Saturday night defended Israel's decision to embark on a military operation in the Gaza Strip in order to put an end to rocket attacks on the South.
7. Long war could delay election - Jerusalem Post
Politicians expressed concern on Saturday night that the general election set for February 10 could be postponed if the IDF operations in the Gaza Strip require people to remain in bomb shelters for an extended period.
Israel Fights Back
For months, Hamas thugs in Gaza have fired missiles and mortars into southern Israel, subjecting hundreds of thousands of Israelis to a campaign of 24-hour terror. This was done in clear violation of an Egyptian- negotiated cease-fire to which Hamas had agreed. As usual, the world's reaction to this outrage was a collective "yawn." The United Nations was silent. Major newspapers seldom reported the daily attacks.
But this weekend, Israel did what any sovereign nation would do under the same circumstances: It struck back at those responsible for the aggression - Hamas, the Iranian-backed terrorist group. As I write this, the Israeli counterattack is continuing. Israeli government officials are suggesting that their goal is to cripple Hamas. We should all hope they are successful.
Predictably press reports have been distorted to make Israel look like the aggressor who doesn't care about civilian casualties. Don't be taken in by the propaganda. The war criminals in this conflict are the Islamic extremists who comprise Hamas and their allies throughout the Middle East, including Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and his government of thugs.
Has Israel gone too far? Hamas propagandists are already screaming that the Israeli attacks are "disproportionate." Some "mainline" U.S. religious denominations are repeating this charge, and before the day is out Jimmy Carter will be singing the same tune. They are arguing that since most rockets and mortars fired by Hamas into Israel have missed their targets, Israel should not respond effectively.
But under international law, any nation can respond at a level sufficient to meet the threat. Hamas rocket attacks are destroying normal life and have made daily routines impossible for countless Israelis whose children cannot go to school. Israel has every legal and moral right to demolish the terror infrastructure that supports the daily rocket attacks on its people.
Gaza, in recent years, has been turned into "Gazastan," an Islamic republic that educates its own children to seek death in martyrdom operations. Weapons are being stored in mosques. The only university in Gaza has turned its labs over to the terrorists, who are using them to make bombs and mortars. Gaza TV airs "children's shows" that teach six and seven year-olds to kill Jews. The Gaza government just instituted a new legal code based on Sharia Islamic law that permits crucifixion for certain crimes against Islam.
Gaza is hell, but not because of Israel. Its conditions are unbearable because its people elected Hamas - an organization with no economic plan, no educational ideas, nothing to offer at all except to kill the Jews, kill the infidel and destroy Israel.
It is almost laughable to see demonstrations by outraged Muslims reacting to Israel's air strikes. There was no such outrage when a Sunni extremist blew up 14 Afghan school children ages eight to ten a few days ago. Over Thanksgiving, when Islamic terrorists attacked in Mumbai, India, intentionally killing civilians, including Jews, the streets of the Middle East were calm as those murderers spread death in the name of Islam. (We now know that many of the Indian victims, including a rabbi and his five- month pregnant wife, were sexually assaulted and their genitals mutilated before they were killed.)
Israel is fighting back, and the usual alliance of Islamists and leftwing extremists are protesting. If our new president at some point concludes that America will have to fight back too, the same extremists will go after him, just as they have savaged President Bush. But fight back we must or we and our civilization will die.
All men of goodwill should be thanking Israel today and praying for her success. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; 12/29/08)
Conference Call: Pray for Israel
Dear Intercessors Across America:
Please join us for a very important conf. call prayer meeting for the people of Israel/Gaza tomorrow morning (12/30), 9-10am Eastern/6-7am Pacific.
You may connect by using 712-432-9998 with the access code of 526338#.
Together in Christ,
Dai Sup Han
Prayer Surge NOW!
PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL
(Submitted by various intercessory teams in Israel)
SECTION ONE:
• Pray for the leadership of Israel - that the God of Israel will give them clarity, strategy, courage and discernment (2 Kings 6:8-12)
• Pray for Gaza's leadership - that God would frustrate their plans, operations and strategies (Psalm 83:4, 9-15)
• Pray for the civilian population of Gaza, many who support the terror - that God in His mercy would reveal Himself to many as their Savior and Prince of peace (Jonah 3:8-9)
• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of the Jewish people (Psalm 122:6; Romans 10:1)
• Pray for the struggling tiny community of believers in Gaza, some who have been tortured or martyred by Islamists in recent days
• Pray for the Jewish believers in the Negev area bordering on Gaza, some who contend with daily rocket attacks (Source: Avner Boskey; Final Frontier Ministries)
SECTION TWO:
• Pray for the Lord to have His hand upon the war going on between Israel and terrorist-run Gaza - that the conflict with not expand to other terror groups or other Arab nations entering into warfare against Israel, yet Israel would be able to limit the attacks from Gaza that caused this outbreak.
• Pray for a continued divided house - that Egypt and the Palestinian Authority led West Bank and others would continue to call Hamas the problem.
• Pray for the ultimate removal of terrorist control in Gaza - the downfall of Hamas to continue crumbling an unable to carry out its leader's declaration of a third Intifada and suicide attacks in Israel.
• Pray that international media and govt. would follow the lead of the U.S. in demanding Hamas cease terrorizing Israeli towns with missile attacks.
• Pray for those ministering in the name of the Lord to find fertile ground in the midst of the warfare - both in Israel and in Gaza and the West Bank.
• Pray for protection of the Palestinian Christians who are under direct threat of Muslims. For the safety of those involved, we cannot be more specific - pray in the Spirit.
• Pray for the legal protection of Israeli Jewish believers under threat from anti-Messiah groups in Israel. There has been an increase in persecutions and these groups usually take advantage of the chaos of war to up the ante. (Source: Arrows from Zion; partial list)
SECTION THREE:
• Protection of the innocent on both sides of the battlelines.
• Israel to strike a hard and decisive blow on the Hamas infrastructure and terrorist leadership.
• Israel to have an anointing and ability to explain to the world why this is happening and to remain committed to finishing it properly in spite of the worlds condemnations and accusations. Pray too, for the USA and Canada which seem to be the only nations that are clearly laying the blame for this war where it belongs: on Hamas.
• The Israeli elections: that they will not be postponed, nor that this long overdue Israeli response will shift the election into the hands of those who are responsible for the condition in the first place. (Up to this point the Likud of Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly ahead in the polls.) Please pray that this military campaign will not throw the election to Kadima (Livni) or Labor (Barak), as they would continue with the policies that make this kind of operation an ongoing necessity.
• Extreme vigilance for Israel's intelligence services so we are not surprised by an attack by Hizbullah or Syria. Pray also that there would be clear communication between the intelligence services and divine wisdom as to what to act on and what not to. In addition, pray that policy would be driven by what's truly best for the nation and not by politics or personal ambition. • If it is the time for Israel to deal a decisive blow to Hizbullah and Syria, that we would not hesitate but do it quickly.
• While we pray for the safety of all of Israel's soldiers, please remember that many Messianic believers are serving at this time and more may be called to the battle.
• Ultimately, that God's will is done. (Source: Intercessors for Israel)
