National Day of Prayer

Today is National Day of Prayer

I have been very pleased to be praying with my wife and the Bug every morning and evening for almost a month now. We are trying to implement good spiritual practices, and disciplines into our life.

With National Day of Prayer today I am reminded of the opportunity to be in prayer for a number of things. 

We have started preparing for the 40 Days of Prayer Campaign with the UMC Young Clergy.

I am praying today for those who are sick and struggling with illness.

I am praying for my denominational leaders, District Superintendent, Bishop and General Board Secretaries and officers.

I am praying for our national leaders.

Here is a list of all the members in office with President Obama, so that you may pray for them as you are led. 

Thank You again for being faithful and for being positive and keeping the focus on praying for our great country, the United States, and all those in leadership. 

President Barack Obama 
Vice President Joe Biden 
wives: 
First Lady Michelle Obama 
Dr. Jill Biden 


WHITE HOUSE STAFF 

Chief of Staff 
Rahm Emanuel 

Deputy Chiefs of Staff 
Jim Messina 
Mona Sutphen 

Senior Advisors 
David Axelrod 
Valerie Jarrett 
Pete Rouse 

to Visit the Executive Office of the President section to learn about more of the President's staff: 


THE CABINET 
The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. 

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General. 


In order of succession to the Presidency: 

Vice President of the United States 
Joseph R. Biden 

Department of State 
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton 
http://www.state.gov 

Department of the Treasury 
Secretary Timothy F. Geithner 
http://www.treasury.gov 

Department of Defense 
Secretary Robert M. Gates 
http://www.defenselink.mil 

Department of Justice 
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. 
http://www.usdoj.gov 

Department of the Interior 
Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar 
http://www.doi.gov 

Department of Agriculture 
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack 
http://www.usda.gov 

Department of Commerce 
http://www.commerce.gov 

Department of Labor 
Secretary-designate: Hilda L. Solis 
http://www.dol.gov 

Department of Health and Human Services 
http://www.hhs.gov 

Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan 
http://www.hud.gov 

Department of Transportation 
Secretary Raymond L. LaHood 
http://www.dot.gov 

Department of Energy 
Secretary Steven Chu 
http://www.energy.gov 

Department of Education 
Secretary Arne Duncan 
http://www.ed.gov 

Department of Veterans Affairs 
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki 
http://www.va.gov 

Department of Homeland Security 
Secretary Janet A. Napolitano 
http://www.dhs.gov 


The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank: 

Council of Economic Advisers 
Chair Christina Romer 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea/ 

Environmental Protection Agency 
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson 
http://www.epa.gov 

Office of Management & Budget 
Director Peter R. Orszag 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb 

United States Trade Representative 
Ambassador-designate: Ronald Kirk 
http://www.ustr.gov 

United States Ambassador to the United Nations 
Ambassador Susan Rice 

White House Chief of Staff 
Rahm I. Emanuel 

link to Executive office of the President: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ 

I am also praying this prayer that has been on my heart of late.

This prayer is often called "St. Patrick's Breastplate"because of those parts of it which seek God's protection.  It is also sometimes called "The Deer's Cry" or "The Lorica".

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.