[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of this day, 
for Your incredible love for us and for the privilege and opportunity 
of and the freedom in which we live. May our lives reflect our 
gratitude for all these things by living according to Your purpose.
  Father, we realize that our children, to a large extent, will become 
like us as parents. In the same way the shaping of our Nation will be 
molded by its leaders. May we be willing to ask if we, as leaders, are 
like what You want our Nation to become.
  Your word says, ``Blessed are the poor in spirit.'' In our great and 
rich Nation, too many find themselves spiritually poor. Father, help 
them to open their eyes to Your love. Please help all of us to 
understand that no woman or man can open his or her heart without 
humility and willingness to accept their dependence on You.
  On this day when we honor President Lincoln and all he did to unite 
our Republic, we recall how he never lost sight of Your hand of grace 
and guidance.
  Father, help and encourage the Members of this great body to aspire 
to excellence as Senators, as leaders, and as Americans. Build Your 
character into their lives so that their conduct will be a reflection 
of You.
  And now, may the living Lord be with you this day; may He go above 
you to watch over you, behind you to encourage you, beside you to 
befriend you, and within you to give you peace and before you to show 
you His way. Amen.

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