Wednesday, December 14, 2016
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Carol Bauer
As you know, my wife, Carol, prepares a prayer alert about once a month. I hope you will share Carol’s thoughts with your friends and fellow worshippers. Thank you for taking an interest in her monthly devotion. — Gary
Dear Friends,
Over the years, I have so appreciated reading your responses to my Prayer Alerts. While we have not used the Prayer Alert for fundraising, I feel led to tell you that Gary is under enormous stress and mounting pressure at American Values this month. In addition to the usual concerns of year-end fundraising, the transition has added tremendously to his daily workload.
While too much work is certainly far preferable to the other extreme, I know just how frantically Gary and his entire team are working right now. I also know how much you appreciate their dedication to our values. As you consider your year-end charitable giving, please pray for Gary, his staff and their families, and how you might bless their work. Thank you!
Capital Prayer Alert
The election is behind us and we are thankful that the incoming administration is committed to a course that will spur economic growth, tighten immigration standards to put our national security first, and repeal and replace Obamacare. Also on tap are mid-course corrections for the country on tax law, job-killing regulations, the expansion of religious liberty, student-oriented education policy changes and a host of other areas that are more in line with the views of Middle America. And, perhaps the most important change of all, a Supreme Court nominee will be named to fill the seat of revered jurist Antonin Scalia.
A red/blue map of the United States starkly illustrates that coastal states and urban communities are out of step with the rest of the country. Donald Trump gave voice to those who felt the country was speeding off in the wrong direction. They felt understood and affirmed by him. And so, the country enters a new era on January 20th when Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the country’s 45th president.
The transition of power, particularly a transition between opposing parties, can be a tricky time. Barack Obama has only five weeks left in his presidency and all indications are that he will waste no time in using his power to put forth regulations covering an array of issues. On many fronts he has made it clear that he will not go quietly into the twilight of his administration.
At the same time Donald Trump is naming an impressive cabinet at a fast clip. The center of power for him lies just past January 20. Friend and foe alike across the globe are watching this dance as one center of power winds down and another anxiously waits in the wings to take center stage.
Please turn to our Heavenly Father during this time of a government in transition and seek His protection for our nation. Ask Him to still the efforts of those who in word or deed are seeking to delegitimize the incoming administration. Pray that the name-calling, scare tactics and personal vitriol would come to an end. Ask God to impress on all citizens the desire to have an open mind to new ways of doing things, to give the new administration the time to get in place and move forward on its agenda reserving judgment for a bit of time during a grace period.
Ask God to disrupt the efforts of any adversary who is reading this time of transition as a good time to make a surprise move on the world stage with the assumption that the U.S. response might be sluggish or hesitant. And pray that the president-elect and vice president-elect would seek guidance from our Lord in personnel choices and policy decisions as they take the reins of government and implement steps to right our course as a nation.
Finally, as the transition gets fully underway in the coming weeks there will be thousands of personal transitions. There are families leaving jobs in Washington and other families arriving to new jobs, new homes, new schools, new places of worship. This starts with the president and vice president and is reflected throughout cabinet departments and agencies and the White House itself.
Washington is a very demanding city in which to work. Schedules are full, tempers are short, time to reflect is too rare. Every administration wants to hit the ground running and is judged by what is accomplished in “the first 100 days.”
Ask God to place His hand of protection over the outgoing and incoming president, vice president, newly elected senators, representatives and cabinet officials and all their staffs. Secret Service, police and other protective details will work long hours during the transition and through the inaugural events.
Pray for the physical safety of all these individuals as they leave or enter government service. Ask God to protect their marriages and their children as settled lives are turned upside down. Finally, ask for the Lord’s protection all through the mid-January transition of power as the leaders of the free world are gathered in one city to pass the torch of leadership.
As Christmas approaches and our schedules become more demanding with travel, preparations, holiday celebrations and visiting family, it is our honor to pause and to thank our Heavenly Father for you, faithful citizens who are committed to passing on to future generations a country that is both militarily strong and centered on the values that have stood us in good stead since our founding.
Gary is a voice in Washington for you and the values we share, and it is your support, encouragement and prayers that have made that happen. Thank you!
Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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American Values
2800 Shirlington Road
Suite 950
Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: 703-671-9700
Fax: 703-671-1680
