[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A CALL FOR PRAYER ON THE EVE OF WAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 19, 2003

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening on what may be the eve 
of war. Like so many Americans, my prayers are with our men and women 
in uniform who so bravely and honorably prepare to fight the evils in 
this world in order to insure the continued safety and wellbeing of 
friends, family and citizens of this great Nation. On this day, my 
thoughts are also with our President and our other leaders of this 
great Nation upon whose shoulders the burden of these decisions falls.
  I was recently given a prayer written by Jeff Stewart, a close 
personal friend and lay leader at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mobile 
Alabama. The following prayer will be delivered at an ecumenical 
service in Mobile with the cooperation of four local churches.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in lifting 
this prayer to our Lord God in hopes that it will provide strength and 
reassurance to our President and our armed forces.

       ``Help us, Lord, not be anxious about anything,'' During 
     this time of pending war and the death that will surely come 
     to our Service men, women and civilians. Give us Your peace 
     and the power to invoke Your love and strength, ``but in 
     everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, we 
     present our request to You'' that those that will lose their 
     lives will find the comfort of Your presence and Your peace. 
     ``O God which transcends all understanding, guard their 
     hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'' (Phil. 4: 6-7)
       We seek not war but peace and we know that You, O God, can 
     bring peace if it is Your will; therefore, we put our trust 
     in You and we know that ``You are the Lord, the God of all 
     mankind. And nothing is too difficult for you.'' (Jer 32:37) 
     Amen.
       Be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary the devil, as 
     a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. As 
     we seek to do God's will, we must deliberately make ourselves 
     subject one to another and be clothed with humility, for God 
     resisteth the proud and giveth the grace to be humbled. 
     Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that 
     He may exalt us in due time, casting all our cares upon Him, 
     for He careth for us all.

  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Jeff Stewart for this thoughtful prayer 
and the comfort it provides during these times of needed guidance and 
wisdom--words from the heart and words from which we may all benefit.

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