Tuesday, January 5, 2010

CHPP Daily Brief - January 5, 2010

In This Issue
• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Good News Corner

Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, January 5, 2010

"So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm." (Joel 2:13)

Today's Daily Brief

1. Cold Blast Spreads Shivers - Wall Street Journal

An Arctic blast swept across a large swath of the U.S. on Monday, sending temperatures plunging from Minnesota to Florida and bringing a bone-chilling start to the first workweek of the year. This winter is on track to be one of the coldest in the past decade or two, said Ken Reeves, director of forecasting operations at Accuweather.com.

• Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are affected greatly by this cold - the poor, the elderly, the disabled, homeless, and those who work outside. We pray for the weather to change to good weather, and for a Hedge of Protection around our nation against bad weather, calamities, and terrorists attacks.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." (Psalm 91:15-16)

2. Bankruptcies in 2009 total 1.4 million, up 32 percent - Washington Times

U.S. consumers and businesses are filing for bankruptcy at a pace that made 2009 the seventh-worst year on record, with more than 1.4 million petitions submitted, an Associated Press tally showed Monday.

• Lord, the economy is not prospering because we have elected people who support laws that go against Your Laws and against You. Remove them quickly and give us godly, righteous leaders who follow faithfully after You! Help those who are unemployed with Your mercy, favor, and Divine appointments.

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: (Deuteronomy 28:15)

3. States Braced to Tighten 2010 Belts Amid $14.8B in Shortfalls - USA Today

States across the nation begin the year facing grim budget shortfalls that could mean a repeat of the service cuts, layoffs or furloughs and higher fees imposed in 2009, a USA TODAY survey shows. Lawyers have been steadily shifting away from their other areas of business, civil lawsuits and divorce cases. There's also no sign that things are slowing down.

• Lord, when everything is falling apart in families' lives, let them turn to you and cling to you even harder. Open doors of opportunity to get their lives back together and let them never stray from You again. Bring good out of these bad times.

• Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

4. Health Care Countdown: Senate Bill Could Hit Middle Class Hard - Fox News

The Senate health care bill could end up hitting middle-class workers hard, through a new tax on insurance plans that could ultimately cut through to their wages. But the Senate bill raises the biggest chunk of its new revenue through a 40 percent tax on so-called Cadillac health insurance plans - plans that cost more than $23,000 per family.

• Heavenly Father, we pray that this bill will be stopped quickly. Let there be arguing and division over the special provision for Nebraska that Sen. Nelson procured. Let them not agree to finalize this because of their jealousy and quarrels.

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them. (Proverbs 22:22-23)

5. Obama's Nuclear Weapons Plan Runs into Resistance - Ynet News

US President Barack Obama's plan to begin phasing out nuclear weapons has run up against powerful resistance from officials in the Pentagon and other American agencies, but a senior defense official, who described the debate as "spirited," acknowledged that some officials are concerned that the administration may be going too far, the paper pointed out.

• Lord, we pray that the leaders who want to weaken our national defense will not accomplish their plans. We pray for a large outcry to come and stop all actions that would hurt our nation. Give us wise leaders who have Your wisdom!

You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the Lord, And glory in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:16)

6. New Security Rules on U.S. In-Bound Flights - CBN News

New security measures are scheduled to go into effect Monday on all international flights to the U.S. Yemen - considered a key U.S. ally though not always reliable - has become a haven for terrorists taking advantage of a weak central government and widespread poverty. Some of those coming to Yemen include former prisoners at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay prison.

• Lord, we pray that the officials will not close Guantanamo Bay prison, release prisoners, or move them to the states. We pray that any prisoners who are being considered for release will be thoroughly reviewed and retained if they will attack us again.

There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)

7. New Hampshire Adopts Same-Sex Marriage - CBN News

New Hampshire has become the fifth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples can get married, change their union to a marriage or wait until it will be automatically converted in 2011.

• Heavenly Father, we pray for many attorneys to find a way for the courts to change their position so they will be against same-sex marriages. Change our nation to follow after Your Laws.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV)

The Middle East in Focus

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

"Moreover the word of LORD [YHWH] came unto me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see? I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said LORD..."You have seen well - for I will hasten [watch over] My word to perform it." (Jeremiah 1:11-12)

1. US plan calls for Mideast peace deal in two years: report - AFP

Washington is pushing a plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that foresees reaching a final deal in two years and agreeing on borders in nine months, an Israeli daily said on Monday.

2. 'Atmosphere now ripe for peace talks' - Jerusalem Post

Peace talks with the Palestinians must resume without preconditions, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday.

3. Rights group slams planned 'Israelis only' highway in West Bank - Ha'aretz

Less than a week after Israel's highest court ordered the state to lift its ban on Palestinian motorists from a highway that stretches into the West Bank, left-wing activists are denouncing new plans on Tuesday to build a road on West Bank land which they claim is intended for use by Israelis only.

4. Livni says Mofaz trying to destroy Kadima - Ynet News

Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni responded Monday to Knesset Member Shaul Mofaz's harsh accusations against her, saying that he "is trying to destroy the party."

5. Mofaz says Livni causing damage to Israel - Ynet News

Kadima's No. 2 Shaul Mofaz on Monday accused his party's chairwoman, Tzipi Livni, of "causing damage to the State of Israel, Kadima and the faction members."

The Good News Corner

"Where is the line to see Jesus?"

A high school student records songs with his cousins for family and friends at Christmas and gives them as gifts. This year one of the children in the family asked while standing in line to see Santa why there wasn't a line to see Jesus. The dad was inspired by his grandson to write this song and record with his daughter. The cousins recorded and produced this video. The singer is Becky Haupt Kelly from Lindbergh HS 98'. I believe the clip is filmed in Crestwood Mall in Crestwood, Mo. West St. Louis

I hope you enjoy the song. It is beautiful.