NUCLEAR DEAL FACES UPHILL BATTLE WITH CONGRESS

The Obama administration put on a full-court press Sunday to defend the deal the U.S. and key allies struck to try to halt Iran's burgeoning nuclear program - but the White House faces a tough sell with members of Congress who criticized the terms and said they'll still press for even tighter sanctions on the Islamic republic.


President Obama spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the agreement a "historic mistake." The American leader assured Mr. Netanyahu that the deal is just a first step, and that the U.S. remains firmly committed to Israel's interests.

 

First prayer focus: Thanksgiving! As intercessors read this, our nation's annual Thanksgiving remembrance is less than a day away. And while Christians do not need a special day to give thanks, it is a pleasant and traditional event, usually bringing families together to reflect on God's blessings over the past year. And even as the U.S. moves further into full-blown secularism, still let us give thanks for God's faithfulness; for the truth of the Gospel; for God's grace, mercy, and love; for this "age of grace" whereby the church can still share the "good news"; and for the sure promise of Jesus Christ's return in triumph to reign supremely.

As for what is being called "the Iran nuclear deal," this subject is dominating the news coverage and will for days and weeks to come (see next article also, which considers Israel's viewpoint). It is not our place to editorialize. Diverse opinions are plentiful as to President Obama's intentions, as his trust rating is at an all-time low, since the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) is floundering in its early applications. We do know that Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu believes the agreement to be a "historic mistake," and even staunch liberal thinkers in the president's own party, such as Senator Charles Schumer, are raising questions as to the implications of the "deal." Please also read the next article and pray accordingly. Our chosen Scriptures do not discount God's purpose in the national restoration and protection of Israel, but simply exemplify the truth that all the nations belong to God and none will withstand His purpose.

 

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his [own] hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?" (Isaiah 40:12)

 

"Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold He takes up the isles like fine dust. [The forests of] Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness." (Isaiah 40:15-17)

      

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL FUELS ANGER, JITTERS IN MIDEAST

Israel's prime minister harshly condemned the international community's nuclear deal with Iran on Sunday while Saudi Arabia remained conspicuously quiet, reflecting the jitters felt throughout the Middle East over Iran's acceptance on the global stage.

Elsewhere, many welcomed the agreement as an important first step toward curbing Iran's suspect nuclear program.

 

With Syria off media front pages at least temporarily, the spotlight for intercession is fully centered on the triangle formed with the U.S., Iran, and Israel in the "nuclear agreement" forged in Geneva that appears to temporarily contain Iran's nuclear plans. While our administration seems pleased with the new agreement to curtail Iran's nuclear development, it raises the question of America's loyalty to Israel as our strongest Middle East ally, and whether Iran will ever renounce or even modify its ultimate determination to see Israel destroyed. President Obama has given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu full assurance of our commitment to that beleaguered country, but Israel's government has reason to be nervous because of Iran's record of duplicity and betrayal of its prior commitments. As Christian intercessors and loyal supporters of Israel's right to exist and flourish, let us pray for and call out to God to sustain "the [fragile] peace of Jerusalem." Our prayer foundation stems from God's promises going back to Abraham, promises we believe have never been withdrawn.  

 

[God to Abraham:] "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

 

[Our Lord to Jerusalem:] "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Matt. 23:37)

 

[Paul to the Romans:] "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.... Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace ..." (Romans 11:1-2; 5-6)

 

BANKS WARN FED: MAY HAVE TO CHARGE DEPOSITORS   

Leading U.S. banks have warned that they could start charging companies and consumers for deposits if the US Federal Reserve cuts the interest it pays on bank reserves.

 

Depositors already have to cope with near-zero interest rates, but paying just to leave money in the bank would be highly unusual and unwelcome for companies and households.

 

Prayer focus: All intercessors know it is wise to pace themselves and choose their prayer battles. We do not waste time and energy jousting with windmills. We know the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, but we also apply that in its proper context (2 Cor. 10:4). We try to discern which news items we should immediately address in concerted prayer and which are part of a larger picture. In a corrupt and greedy world, some issues will only be adjusted by God's direct intervention. Thus, how any country, including our own, places value on its money supply and tries to control its economy is a challenge with national and international implications. However, we know that God owns everything and that His heart is open to the cry of the poor. So let us ask, "How will this affect our fellow citizens?" What about the elderly who need bank services but cannot afford more bank fees? Let us intercede with compassion for those whose finances will be adversely affected. Perhaps some can help through charitable ministries in our local areas. Meanwhile, God sees, knows, and cares. Yes, money is an important commodity, but a believer's dependence is primarily upon God Himself and His grace.

 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

 

"[Even] if I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness.... Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:12-15, portions)

 

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done." (Proverbs 19:17)
 

THIS IS WHAT PANIC LOOKS LIKE!

Incredibly, we learned this week that Team Obama is gearing up to announce that the Obamacare open enrollment period for 2015 will be pushed back one month from the original start date of Oct. 15, 2014. This means that people will not be able to see what their insurance rates for 2015 will be before Nov. 15, 2014. Hmm, what's happening in that one month that could possibly make this odd delay make sense? Oh yeah, America is holding national elections on Nov. 4, 2014.

  

Prayer focus: This article has a three-fold significance for intercessors. First, it is clearly an anti-President Obama/Democrat opinion piece, and yet published in the very liberal Washington Post! This is a fairly recent trend and suggests the liberal press believes the president is taking too many liberties with the checks and balances that keep a U.S. president accountable. Second, this points at an increasing pattern. Both The Washington Post and The New York Times, along with several other openly liberal-leaning media sources, have recently been very critical editorially of the president and his administration's handling of the highly controversial Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare). Third, it calls attention to next year's highly important and potentially pivotal mid-term elections, where much prayer and activism will be focused with an eye to electing senators, representatives, mayors, and state governors who will lead our nation back to its roots in the Constitution. We leave the analysis of the president's motivations to others, but as intercessors, we urge much concerted prayer toward the election of morally upright, God-fearing men and women. Our quest, through prayer, is for elected officials who will tell the truth and walk in honesty and integrity among their fellow citizens.   

   

[The apostolic commitment as leaders:] "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (2 Corinthians 8:21)

 

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)

 

"The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; He sets the standards for fairness." (Proverbs 16:11)

 

"The entirety of Your word is truth; all Your just regulations will stand forever." (Psalm 119:160)

 

"Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked." (1Timothy 1:19)

 

"The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful." (Proverbs 12:5)

    


CONNECTICUT 9TH STATE TO REJECT OBAMACARE 'FIX'  

Connecticut is joining eight other states in rejecting President Obama's "fix" that allows healthcare policyholders with non-complying Affordable Care Act insurance plans to renew them through 2014. Previously, California, Massachusetts, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington had come to the same conclusion.

 

Prayer focus: This brief article speaks for itself and points clearly toward the need for intercession that asks God for a general clean-up within our national government. A bipartisan group tracking honesty in the media has documented 30 separate venues in which President Obama repeated the promise that "if you like your existing plan you may keep it." Sadly, it was not true, and the "fix" offered is not working, with nine (9) states now rejecting that approach and more to follow. But good government requires good people, so pray that salvation will come to the White House and to the halls of Congress.

 

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

 


AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO ABORTION
Judging by the ObamaCare mess, Congress has enough to worry about without adding U.S. sovereignty to the mix. But in the Senate, where inefficiency is an art form, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is choosing to waste more of the chamber's time on an international treaty that could be one of the greatest threats to parents' rights that no one knows about.

 

This article provides further evidence, if needed, as to how far the U.S. has fallen from its earlier ideals. American leadership once believed in its special calling and ability to lead the world due to its unique commitment to freedom and the power of its Founders' principles of self-balancing and accountable government. To think that our nation's day-to-day life and parental authority, with regard to special needs children, could be enhanced by surrendering U.S. sovereignty to the UN, or that we would submit our governance to a body of nations that cannot govern themselves properly, would be laughed away as simply preposterous by the generation that emerged victorious from World War II. Pray for a return to "yesterday's" idealism and courage to live free and to lead, not by might, but by being right about the principles that matter in parental duties as well as international relations. Pray for a general, nationwide repentance and revival, and that God will help us back to a place of courage to take personal responsibility rather than palm it off on the crippled and decadent UN. And while we do not see our country as "the chosen people," still our Scriptures speak uniformly of doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.  

 

"And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers." (Deuteronomy.6:18)

 

"And [King Josiah] did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." (2 Kings 22:2)

 

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." (Prov. 21:2-3)  

    







IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL
BATTLE IN CONGRESS

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL JITTERS IN MIDEAST

U.S. BANKS WARN FED
CHARGE DEPOSITORS

THIS IS WHAT PANIC
LOOKS LIKE

CONNECTICUT REJECTS
OBAMACARE 'FIX'

NEW APPROACH
TO ABORTION

NSA INFECTED 50,000 NETWORKS

COURT ON RELIGIOUS
RIGHTS OF CORPS

CALM SOLAR CYCLE
PROMPTS QUESTIONS