Our Eugene Mayor is Lucy Vinis. Do you know who your mayor is? I have never been much interested in politics and I am sure there were many years even in my adult life when I couldn’t have named the mayor of my town. And yet many things in my immediate day-to-day experience of my home town depend upon decisions made by my mayor and local city council. Today I pray especially for them, by name. [Here is a list of the Eugene city council members.]

I looked into current city council topics, and so along with those agendas, and what I saw on our mayor’s blog, I am praying for these topics:

  • Federal CARES funds (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) extended to the city, much of which will go to address housing assistance and homelessness prevention, rent assistance and homeless services.
  • Ongoing peaceful protests in support of Black Lives Matter, and those who are trying to hijack the peaceful protests with violent and destructive rampages; the need to distinguish the two issues and not equate criminal acts with civic protests.
  • Farmer’s Market plans and our city’s Park Blocks and renovations needed, like new restrooms. The Farmer’s Market is a big deal in our community and we have many local farmers who need to make a living.
  • Library services, Urban renewal projects
  • New appointments to the police commission to include more ethnically diverse members

What are the issues in your community that need prayer? How can you be praying for them?

days 16.17.18

I will not be able to post for the next couple of days, so I wanted to mention our next daily topics.

Day 17: Our Neighbors

Who are your neighbors? Do you know them? I read this great post yesterday about how one man had a chance to be a true neighbor to one of his neighbors facing an extremely difficult time. It reminded me of myself and my husband (the one who is better at meeting new people), and just reminds me to pray – God, is there is someone in my neighborhood who needs some encouragement today, help me to notice with you and be available.

Day 18: Abortion and our local Pro-Life service for young mothers through Dove Medical

How to summarize a hot-button issue in a paragraph? I am not even going to try. I just pray, Lord, help me know what kind of weight to give this issue in electing my government officials, and how I can support LIFE – not just the unborn lives, but the lives of women who are irrevocably changed when become a mom, including how they handle a pregnancy. Help me not forget the kids who need to be adopted or placed in loving homes through foster care. Even if I can’t personally support these people, God I pray you would strengthen those who are working for you on the front lines, and show me how I can give and pray to support women and children who don’t know who they can turn to for help. I pray for Dove Medical that you would allow them access to schools to present their Stop And Think program to help young people fully realize the consequences of their actions and make wise decisions. I pray more women would have the courage to choose life, and that the fathers and the families would be supportive as well. Every life is important to you, Lord. Most of all, help me to show your love and grace to people on all sides of the abortion issue, and to know how to speak truth in a way that it will bear the most fruit for your Kingdom. Amen.