Prayer requests and updates

     The Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for the following personal prayer requests:  

1) Please pray for Sen. Steve Halloran as he faces possible disciplinary action from the Executive Board of the Legislature and a resolution (LR 335) concerning comments he made on the floor of the Legislature while debating LB 441.

2)  Please continue to pray for Whitney, Sen. Murman's daughter who has Rhett's syndrome.

3)  Please ask God for healing for Sen. Jane Raybould who has cancer.

4)  Please ask God for healing for Rick Sanders, Sen. Rita Sanders husband.  Rick has cancer.

5)  Please pray for Sen. Tom Brewer who will be undergoing surgery this week.

      As we come to the end of this Legislative session. Nebraska is yet again the focus of national attention.  With 4 days left on the calendar for this legislative session please continue to pray for our leaders in Nebraska.  May God give them wisdom, and keep them safe. May all receive the gift of salvation and surrender their lives to the lordship of Jesus.  As Senator Clements has said there are only two kinds of leaders in government those who know  Jesus and those who don't.

      The Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for the following personal prayer requests:  

1) Please pray for Sen. Steve Halloran as he faces possible disciplinary action from the Executive Board of the Legislature and a resolution (LR 335) concerning comments he made on the floor of the Legislature while debating LB 441.

2)  Please continue to pray for Whitney, Sen. Murman's daughter who has Rhett's syndrome.

3)  Please ask God for healing for Sen. Jane Raybould who has cancer.

4)  Please ask God for healing for Rick Sanders, Sen. Rita Sanders husband.  Rick has cancer.

5)  Please pray for Sen. Tom Brewer who will be undergoing surgery this week.

     The Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to pray for these additional prayer requests:

1) Please pray for Steve Corsi, the DHHS director, who is in Wyoming attending to his mother who recently had a stroke.

2)  Please pray for the ranchers whose cows are calving.  The blizzard creates problems of survival for newborn calves.

3) Please pray that authorities and family members in Wyoming will locate a girl named Tammy.  Tammy is a teenage girl who went missing during the blizzard a few days ago and she has not been found.

4) Please pray for our national security.

5) Please pray for Rick Sanders (cancer), the husband of Sen. Rita Sanders.

6) Please pray Sen. Halloran as he faces an investigative hearing on Thursday for remarks he made last week on the floor of the Legislature.  Pray that the situation can be resolved amicably with truth, justice, and grace.

    The Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you and your prayer group to join them in praying for these personal prayer requests:

1)  Please pray for truth in journalism, especially as it relates to the Unicameral Legislature.

2)  Please pray for the spiritual warfare of the Capitol.  

3)  Please continue to pray for Whitney Murman (Sen. Dave Murman's daughter, and Kathy Murman (Sen. Dave Murman's wife).  Whitney suffers with Rhett's syndrome.

4) Please pray for healing for Rick Sanders, Sen. Rita Sanders's husband.  Rick has cancer and will undergo six months of chemotherapy.

5)  Please pray for Sen. Jane Raybould, who has cancer. 

 The Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for the following personal prayer requests:  

1)  Please pray for Sen. Rita Sanders's husband, Rick, who has cancer.

2)  Please continue to pray for Sen. Murman's daughter, Whitney, who has Rett's Syndrome.  Please also pray for Sen. Murman's wife, Kathy, who takes care of Whitney.  Whitney had another good week.

3)  Please pray for the Appropriations Committee as debate begins this afternoon on the budget bills.

4)  Please pray  for the pastors' meeting tomorrow at the Capitol in Room #1510.  Arin Hess has invited pastors to the Capitol tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. to hear from a few Senators and to hear a special message from Pastor Steve Davenport of Calvary Community Church in Lincoln.   

    Attached is the Senators Prayer of the Nebraska Prayer Group.  In addition to these prayer requests, the Nebraska State Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for the following personal prayer requests:

1)  Praise that Whitney (Sen. Murman's daughter) is doing better.  Please pray that she continues to have good days.

2)  Sen. Brian Hardin is scheduled to meet with the federal Department of Homeland Security to discuss security matters in Western Nebraska, especially nefarious Chinese groups seeking to buy land near our missile silos.

3)  Kara (Joel's wife) is flying home to Nebraska from Oregon today.  Please pray for safe travels and no migraine headaches.

4)  The Senators give thanks for the recent 9-0 SCOTUS ruling concerning Donald Trump's name on the ballot in Colorado and other states.  Please ask the Lord to continue guiding our SCOTUS justices in their other court rulings this year.   

  Attached is the Senators Prayer for February 13, 2023.  In addition to these prayer requests, the State Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for these personal prayer requests:

1)  Praise that Whitney and Kathy Murman are having a good week without pain and without night terrors.

2)  Praise that Allen's open heart surgery went well.  Allen had a quadruple by-pass and doctors say he is ready to come home this week.

3) Dr. Steve Corsi's mother has had a stroke.  Dr. Corsi is the new director of DHHS.  Dr. Corsi is on his way to Wyoming to be with his mother.

4) Pastor Ketalu is a pastor and seminary professor who recently took the gospel into the People's Republic of the Congo.  Pastor Ketalu was shot in the chest by a local man who believed that killing the pastor would kill his god.  Pastor Ketalu was discovered by some other men who carried him to a doctor who just happened to be in town.  Pastor Ketalu survived the shooting and is now recovering.  Please pray for his complete healing. 

  Attached is the Senators Prayer for February 13, 2023.  In addition to these prayer requests, the State Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for these personal prayer requests:

1)  Praise that Whitney and Kathy Murman are having a good week without pain and without night terrors.

2)  Praise that Allen's open heart surgery went well.  Allen had a quadruple by-pass and doctors say he is ready to come home this week.

3) Dr. Steve Corsi's mother has had a stroke.  Dr. Corsi is the new director of DHHS.  Dr. Corsi is on his way to Wyoming to be with his mother.

4) Pastor Ketalu is a pastor and seminary professor who recently took the gospel into the People's Republic of the Congo.  Pastor Ketalu was shot in the chest by a local man who believed that killing the pastor would kill his god.  Pastor Ketalu was discovered by some other men who carried him to a doctor who just happened to be in town.  Pastor Ketalu survived the shooting and is now recovering.  Please pray for his complete healing. 

 Attached is the Senators Prayer of the Nebraska Prayer Group for February 6, 2024.  In addition, the Nebraska State Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for these personal prayer requests:

1)  Please pray for Ben, who went into the Emergency Room today due to complications from lung cancer.  Please also pray for Ben's salvation.

2) Please pray for Matthew, who is being released from jail today.  Please pray for his successful re-entry back into society.  There are many who believe Matthew is innocent and was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated.

3) Please pray for Allen, who will undergo open heart surgery tomorrow.

4)  Please continue to pray for Terry, who had lung transplant surgery last week.  Terry is no in rehab and is recovering well.  Praise God!

5)  Please continue to pray for Whitney, Sen. Murman's daughter who has special needs and experiences night terrors.  Please also pray for Kathy, Sen. Murman's wife, who cares for Whitney. 

 Heavenly Father,

 As the wife of a Nebraska senator, I come before you with this prayer. 

Please watch over my husband and his fellow senators, guide them with your wisdom, and protect them from harm. Grant them peace in their hearts, and unity in their actions. Shield them and their families from the attacks of the enemy, especially on their thoughts and minds. Help them to remain focused on serving with integrity. 

In the mighty name of Jesus, I ask for victory over any forces that seek to divide or harm them. Provide comfort in lonely moments and remind them of the importance of their service to our state.   May your presence be their constant guide, leading them with grace and strength. Amen.  

Cathy Erdman,  Wife of Sen. Steve Erdman District 47 

 This morning NECLF leaders sponsored the breakfast for the Capitol Studies bible study that takes place every Wednesday morning for Senators.

The Senators voiced their appreciation for the prayers of the churches across the state.

"We can tell a difference this year"

We were told there is more of an openness between the Senators than in the past and jokingly one said "Even this group is getting along this year" referring to the bible study group.

For a photo of the group please see the photo gallery on the home page.

 Attached is the Nebraska State Senator's Prayer for this week.  In addition to these prayers, the Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for these two personal prayer requests:

• 1)  Please continue to pray for Whitney, Sen. Dave Murman's daughter.  Whitney is a special needs child, who experiences night terrors, pain, and other problems.
• 2)  Please pray for Terry who just received a lung transplant.

The window for introducing new bills has closed and there are hearings currently taking place as every bill that is filed gets a public hearing.

The unicameral works on a two-year cycle.  This is the second year of the 108th Legislature.

This means bills that were brought to the floor last year are still in the process of being debated and voted on.  

Please be praying that God is honored in all the bills being brought forward and in the debate that is taking place.

The Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you and your prayer group to pray for the following personal prayer requests:

1)  Norma is a widow who recently lost her husband.  Her husband, George, went down to Mexico.  He entered a store, where a drug cartel showed up and shot everyone in the store.

2)  Please continue to pray for Whitney.  Whitney is Sen. Murman's special needs daughter,  She has been experiencing a lot of abdominal pain.

3)  Please pray for Kathy, Sen. Murman's wife.  Kathy has been caring for Whitney and is now experiencing pain in her back.  She is also under a lot of stress.

4)  Praise the Lord that Kara's migraine headaches are lessening.

This is not a prayer update but a link to useful information.

 Attached is the Nebraska State Senators Prayer for 

Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  

Today is Religious Freedom Day in Nebraska.  In addition to the Senator's prayer, the Senators would like to share with you these personal prayer requests:

1) Please continue to pray for Kara's migraine headaches to subside.

2) Please continue to pray for Whitney's night terrors to subside.

3) Please pray for Melissa who has a kidney stone.

4) Please pray for the rules debate which will continue through Friday of this week.

5) The Senators' Breakfast Bible Study will start tomorrow morning (Wednesday).  Please pray for good attendance and pray for Arin Hess of Capitol Studies, who will be leading two studies (one for Senators and one for staffers) on the Book of Daniel. 

  The State Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group met for the first time today for the 2024 legislative session.  Attached is the Senator's Prayer for this week.  

This year the theme of the Nebraska Prayer Group will be "God's Wisdom, Not Ours." 

 In addition to the attached prayer, the State Senators of the Nebraska Prayer Group invite you to join them in praying for the following personal prayer requests:  

1) Please pray for the Legislature's Rules Committee, which is meeting this week to decide which rule changes to send up to the floor for debate.

2) Please pray for Jessica who had a baby.

3)  Please pray for Kara who has been getting migraine headaches.

4)  Please pray for Sen. Dave Murman's daughter, Whitney, who has been experiencing night terrors,

5)  Please pray for persecution to end against Donald Trump and for the U.S. Supreme Court to make a just ruling on placing his name on state ballots. 

Proclamation by Gov. Jim Pillen

WHEREAS, The right to religious freedom has been foundational to America since its founding; and

WHEREAS, Our Founding Fathers understood the importance of freedom of religion for a healthy

Republic, and the U.S. Constitution protects the free exercise of religion; and

WHEREAS, January 16th is the anniversary of the 1786 Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom that

restrained the practice of taxing people to pay for the support of the local clergy and

protected the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering

discrimination. This statute serves as the model for protecting religious freedom as

enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, As Thomas Jefferson said of the First Amendment, it  "guard[s] in the same sentence,

and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press;

insomuch as that whatever violates either throws down the sanctuary which covers the

others"; and

WHEREAS, Nebraska’s Constitution recognizes that, “All persons have a natural and indefeasible

right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jim Pillen, Governor of the State of Nebraska, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM the 16th day

of January, 2024 as

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY

in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.

Transcript of the prayer given at the opening of today's session.

Lt Gov. Kelly 

George W. Norris legislative chamber for the fourth day of the 108 legislature. Second sessions. Our Chaplain today is Senator Aguilar please rise.

Senator Aguilar

"Please assume an attitude of prayer"

"As we start today. Please help us remember the citizens of Nebraska that we serve. And let us strive to be the servants they need. Grant us the patience to listen to each other, with our hearts as well as our ears. Help us to use the voices and wisdom, you gifted us with to speak with eloquence and kindness to each other, and to guide us to cast our votes in a way that benefits the people and communities that we represent. Above all, let us look to you in all these so that we can work together to make our great State of Nebraska even better. In Jesus name, Amen."

Message from Senator Clements

Jason,

I watched the video and it is well done.

Thank you very much for organizing the churches to pray.

We definitely have a spiritual battle in the Capitol, not just a political battle.

Prayers of Christians have given me encouragement over the last seven years.

Also, please have people pray for the salvation of Senators who don't know Jesus.

We have the victory in Jesus and we want everyone to share in it.

Thanks again,

Rob Clements

Opening Day

Today was the first day of the 60 day session.  The next 10 days are when the Senators will submit new bills.  80 were introduced just today.  The senators will also submit the bills from last year that they want to continue to advance.

Pray that we have proposed legislation that will be effective in resolving problems and bring blessings to our state.  

Jeramiah 29:7  But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare 

The next several days will be debate on the rules for this session.  Both Speaker Arch and Senator Erdman (chair of the rules committee) have proposals to help navigate this session.