[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[SENAT]
[Page 16127]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today's opening prayer will be offered by 
guest Chaplain Rev. Willie C. Barnes from Macedonia Missionary Baptist 
Church in Eatonville, FL.
  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray.
  O Lord our God, how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth.
  We come today to give You thanks for Your excellent greatness 
throughout this country, the United States of America. We acknowledge 
You, O God, for Your wonderful attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, 
and omnipresence.
  As we assemble in this august body, it is our prayer that You restore 
Your blessings upon the Commander in Chief of these United States, 
President George W. Bush. Give him wisdom to execute the many 
responsibilities he is confronted with for the sake and safety of this 
Nation. Bless his family with health and prosperity.
  Then, Lord, for this branch of Government, the Senate, it is our 
prayer that each Member of this great body may be gifted with the 
acumen to make decisions that will reflect the principles and morals of 
this great Nation. For every dilemma, please provide the answer through 
these men and women You have ordained to satisfy the needs of the 
millions of people they represent. As this Senate debates the issues at 
hand, let every voice that desires to be heard speak with clarity, with 
honesty, and profoundness in such a way that the democratic process of 
this Government be made with peace from every representative.
  We ask that You would bless the men and women of the armed services 
who serve this country so bravely. Bless their families and loved ones 
with comfort.
  We pray this day that Your guidance will revive, restore, and refresh 
in these arduous times; that the towns and cities and States of our 
country may give help and the hope so needed today. There is an answer, 
O God, from You. We need You for reasoning for families, for 
businesses, for schools, and faith-based institutions, that the future 
prosperity of the United States may be well even to the benefit of the 
needs of this world.
  Please forgive us for erroneous infringements that have resulted in 
ill will toward our families and neighbors alike. Help us, dear God, to 
appreciate You for our daily necessities, and help us to realize that 
our sufficiency comes only through You.
  Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that 
we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto 
Him be glory throughout the world without end.
  In the Name of God the father, God the son, Jesus Christ our Lord, 
and the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

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