Inauguration

Today, this is a bit of a rant.
Tomorrow is the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama. I have to admit that I am not a fan of the man. People are fawning over him like he's going to be the savior of all our countries ills. There are some of his policies that I do not agree with. Before anyone comments on this, let me say I lost alot of respect for George Bush and I thought John McCain was a doofus. To be completely honest, I do not trust politicians in general. Especially those who have been in office for years.
This morning though during my devotions, the author wrote about about those in our government. Her verse was 1 Timothy 2:1-2 "I urge, then, first of all, that request, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings, and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
I do not have a problem praying the "request, prayer, and intercession" but at this point I just don't think I can be thankful for him (or our politicians in general). But it is commanded so I will try my best to do this.
This was the author's prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for our national leaders. Allow their hearts to be open to Your wisdom and guidance. Remind me to pray for them fervently and frequently. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1 (NIV)

Help Wanted

49 yr old Christian woman, seeking a mature Spirit-filled mentor.

I've been praying for several months for a woman mentor. Currently I go to my pastor with problems that need a spiritual answer. But, there are times when a woman would be a more appropriate person.

Abba, Father

This has not been the best of days. There were several issues that came up at work today. One of which is that I'm on a 90 day probation. See, I'm a bank teller and the last 3 months I have been having trouble getting my drawer to balance. So, though I'm not surprised by the probation, I am disheartened by it. I keep reminding myself that if I lost my job God will take care of my family and myself. He's never forsaken me. My family and I have never lacked food or clothing. We've never been late on a bill. The verse I keep hearing right now in my head is "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging for bread."
But, I do have a need right now to feel secure. Abba, Father, hold me in your arms and please help me to feel safe.
Truthfully, this week God has answered a prayer. My daughter, Kelsey, who is 18, had her gall bladder removed. She went into surgery at 7:15 and we were home by 11:15. And I know that
her 'success' is due to the fact that so many people have prayed for her and God in His abundant love has answered.
As for the first paragraph, it becomes a matter of fear as well as insecurity. And God is faithful. I just have to remember this and rest in that fact and His love.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3 & 4

My New Years prayer.

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me this year of growing in you. Lord, thank you that you have protected my family and myself from and tragedy. Thank you for bringing answers to prayer. Thank you Lord, for family and friends that you have placed in my life. Thank you for their love.

Lord, in this new year may you find me bowing before you as your servant. May my heart truly be a servant's heart. Lord, if it pleases you, use me to show others your love and your forgiveness. Lord, in my humanity I am weak. I fail you. Please help me to keep my focus on you and on the fact that you are my Rock and my Deliverer.

Literally

How often do I read a passage of the Bible and not recognize what it is actually saying, literally? The last several days I've been depressed and wondered how can God use a person who sees things "half-empty" the majority of the time. This afternoon while I was fixing supper I'd been listening to Chris Tomlin's new CD "HELLO LOVE" and I hear scripture woven in his songs. And it made me think about how I see God's words but I don't take it literally. The song that's playing right now says "my deliverer is the Lord" I've heard those verses and read those verses so many times and thought of King David as he wrote them but never, ever realized that the words are alive. God is my deliverer. And if I have to endure this time of depression He is my deliverer. He told Paul that His grace is sufficient. Taking this literally and continually doing so means that as I feel this darkness all I have to do is remember that His grace is sufficient. I'm not alone no matter if that's how I feel.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor 12:9

The meaning of Christmas

I've been concerned lately about the relationship that my children have with God. I tried the other morning to initiate a conversation with my daughter, Kelsey, about her spiritual walk. The talk didn't go very far. But as I was driving her to school that morning something was said about Christmas. I asked her if she knew the true meaning of it. She said something that just hit me as very profound. She said that the true meaning was that God loves us. And I thought, wow, she's right.
Christmas is definitely about the birth of Jesus. But His birth is about the fact that God loves us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

refrigerator magnet

I was reading a devotional last week named "Hope for the Holidays" It was about labeling ourselves by our past mistakes. It also was about salvation. How because of God's forgiveness and His erasing our past mistakes our slate is clean. And because He forgave us. we should forgive ourselves. And no longer label ourselves by the past.
But, for me as I read this all that really stood out was the labeling. I don't know for how long I'd considered myself to be a failure, unfit parent, unfaithful wife. I look at my past and say, "wish I'd never did that. I such an idiot for having said that." And I began wondering about the people I see everyday at the bank. How many of them consider themselves not to be worthy or unloveable? Maybe they needed to be treated special that day because they didn't feel special.
I also read something else around this time: Remember this, if God had a refrigerator, He'd have your picture on it.
As for my labeling of myself, God's still working on me. Using statements like the latter to remind me of how much He loves me. Showing me that my "slate is clean" That the past is just that, the past. I can't change it. I just need to move on. And to remember that if God had a refrigerator my picture would be on it.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalms 103:12