I think it's important to take note of today. January, 20, 2009, we, the American people, watched a new President take office. I also think it's important to note that his skin color doesn't make a difference. Black or white, Christian or Muslim, we all hold one thing in common - we're Americans.
He deserves our prayers. He deserves our support. He deserves to be spoken of positively. We have no idea what kind of pressure he is under. We have no idea what types of decisions he has to make in a split second. I don't ever want to know how that feels.
Being in discord just because he's a democrat, or just because he's black, is the most unAmerican thing we can do.
I also think it's important to take note that this man is not God. I think the American people are fooled into thinking he is the next Savior of this country. He is not. His policies will not save us unless he is submitted to the greater will of God and even then a policy will never save us. It might save our bank accounts, or our retirement funds, but never our souls. We are shooting ourselves in the foot as a nation for worshipping him. We are setting ourselves up for failure for letting this new and different (which is good) man become like God in our eyes. Support, love, be charismatic about, but never worship him.
Yes, he can be an instrument. Yes, he can be used. And I truly believe he has America's best interest in mind. But truth be told, putting him on a pedestool will only cause and further a fall.
There is only one person who will save the American people. His name is Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Change.
We had an incident tonight at our house where a lit candle burned too low, producing a flame probably 6 inches off the candle. Because of that, it created smoke and (thankfully) set off our upstairs smoke detector. We were all sitting at the dinner table and after a split second of hearing the smoke detector going off, we bolted upstairs, remembering there was a lit candle. With a bit of fearlessness, if I do say so myself, the counter was mounted and the candle was blown out. Thankfully, the only casualty was the time it will take to clean up the wax that dripped everywhere. And I do mean everywhere.
With my heart pounding, and my hands shaking, I thought to myself, “wow that could have ended way differently”. What if we hadn’t been home and had forgotten that candle was lit? What if we had let the smoke detector go off thinking it was another false alarm? What if we hadn’t changed the batteries just a month ago? Yes, it could have ended incredibly different.
Later that night, I got to thinking again… why can’t things change on a dime, for the better? Or better yet, why do we expect that when things change suddenly, it is always for the worst? Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not convinced that things can change for the better in an moment’s notice. I got that phone call that said someone ran a stoplight and t-boned my sister going 50 mph. I got that word that said the cancer won. I’ve heard the call where the job was lost for someone I loved. Not good. Stealing, killing, destroying. That can’t be the work of my God…
I will fully admit to you that I don’t get a lot of things. So, this was some sort of revelation. If I truly don’t believe that my circumstances can change in my favor, instantly, I am limiting the God of the universe. I am limiting the God who spoke and then light came into existence. I am limiting the God who breathed and then life was given. And I am limiting the God who died and then lived three days later. Speaking light, breathing life, conquering death – those are feats for a miracle working God. Those are feats for a God who is willing to go to the ends of the earth for my soul.
Who am I to belittle what He has already done and think He will not, or better yet, cannot, move on my behalf?
He’s all knowing, all loving, incredibly sovereign, and a miracle working God. Even for me.
With my heart pounding, and my hands shaking, I thought to myself, “wow that could have ended way differently”. What if we hadn’t been home and had forgotten that candle was lit? What if we had let the smoke detector go off thinking it was another false alarm? What if we hadn’t changed the batteries just a month ago? Yes, it could have ended incredibly different.
Later that night, I got to thinking again… why can’t things change on a dime, for the better? Or better yet, why do we expect that when things change suddenly, it is always for the worst? Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not convinced that things can change for the better in an moment’s notice. I got that phone call that said someone ran a stoplight and t-boned my sister going 50 mph. I got that word that said the cancer won. I’ve heard the call where the job was lost for someone I loved. Not good. Stealing, killing, destroying. That can’t be the work of my God…
I will fully admit to you that I don’t get a lot of things. So, this was some sort of revelation. If I truly don’t believe that my circumstances can change in my favor, instantly, I am limiting the God of the universe. I am limiting the God who spoke and then light came into existence. I am limiting the God who breathed and then life was given. And I am limiting the God who died and then lived three days later. Speaking light, breathing life, conquering death – those are feats for a miracle working God. Those are feats for a God who is willing to go to the ends of the earth for my soul.
Who am I to belittle what He has already done and think He will not, or better yet, cannot, move on my behalf?
He’s all knowing, all loving, incredibly sovereign, and a miracle working God. Even for me.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Exile.
I can't believe it's 2009, or that I have to go back to work tomorrow. I'm not sure I'm ready for either... But that's kind of how it works. We get thrown into a lot of stuff we aren't ready for, then somehow make it through only to be stronger on the other side.
Maybe that's where I am right now. This stage of life, this "exile", as Pastor Alan calls it. This stage after one has ended and before the one you want starts. Maybe this stage of life - this after college, trying to find out what to do with my life, everyone else's lives are passing me by, not being content with where I am - stage of life is all one big, divine set up.
Jeremiah plead with the Israelites to grow, get married, plant crops, establish lives in their exile (Jeremiah 29). They got kicked out of their homeland. He plead with them to be content with where they were trusting that their faith in God would pull them through.
Maybe that's why I'm so not content with what's going on around me. I feel like everyone else's lives are moving forward at a pace I can't keep up with (and oh, I try). Maybe that's why I feel like I'm becoming cynical or bitter when people around me are experiencing the happiest times of their lives. It feels like everyone else is not in their exile and I am... What if the divine set up is preparation? Am I prepared to go through a season of exile to be prepared for what God has for me? My flesh says "no", but my spirit cries, "yes".
Habakkuk also prophesied in the time of the exile, and he was firey at God about the exile. He complained, he whined, he was confused. I'm probably most like Habakkuk at this time in my life. I don't understand. I feel like my most common answer to anything regarding the future is "I don't know". And I'm downright not ok with where I am. I would say that's pretty real.
Here's the revelation I got: Jeremiah and Habakkuk were preaching to the same group of people, but their messages hit home with different personality types. There are days where I need to hear that I need to be content, and I need to continue on the path I'm on until God moves me. But there are days (probably more), where I need to see that it's ok to go to God with questions. Because I am human. I don't understand. Habakkuk finally got to the point where he submitted to God's will. And the pay off for submitting and the Israelites being exiled prepared the way for Jesus Christ.
I have only two choices at this point in my journey: I can either trust myself or I can trust God. I have failed myself countless times, not one time has God failed me (regardless of how much I don't understand what he's doing).
Habakkuk 3:17-18: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Maybe that's where I am right now. This stage of life, this "exile", as Pastor Alan calls it. This stage after one has ended and before the one you want starts. Maybe this stage of life - this after college, trying to find out what to do with my life, everyone else's lives are passing me by, not being content with where I am - stage of life is all one big, divine set up.
Jeremiah plead with the Israelites to grow, get married, plant crops, establish lives in their exile (Jeremiah 29). They got kicked out of their homeland. He plead with them to be content with where they were trusting that their faith in God would pull them through.
Maybe that's why I'm so not content with what's going on around me. I feel like everyone else's lives are moving forward at a pace I can't keep up with (and oh, I try). Maybe that's why I feel like I'm becoming cynical or bitter when people around me are experiencing the happiest times of their lives. It feels like everyone else is not in their exile and I am... What if the divine set up is preparation? Am I prepared to go through a season of exile to be prepared for what God has for me? My flesh says "no", but my spirit cries, "yes".
Habakkuk also prophesied in the time of the exile, and he was firey at God about the exile. He complained, he whined, he was confused. I'm probably most like Habakkuk at this time in my life. I don't understand. I feel like my most common answer to anything regarding the future is "I don't know". And I'm downright not ok with where I am. I would say that's pretty real.
Here's the revelation I got: Jeremiah and Habakkuk were preaching to the same group of people, but their messages hit home with different personality types. There are days where I need to hear that I need to be content, and I need to continue on the path I'm on until God moves me. But there are days (probably more), where I need to see that it's ok to go to God with questions. Because I am human. I don't understand. Habakkuk finally got to the point where he submitted to God's will. And the pay off for submitting and the Israelites being exiled prepared the way for Jesus Christ.
I have only two choices at this point in my journey: I can either trust myself or I can trust God. I have failed myself countless times, not one time has God failed me (regardless of how much I don't understand what he's doing).
Habakkuk 3:17-18: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year's Resolution...?
I've been thinking about the word "resolution". Did you know it means: a determination, to make firm to do something, firmness of purpose, a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting...?
I know this is a popular time to make "new year's resolutions". It would be easy to sit down and write: work out more (which I do need to do), drink less alcohol (which I probably should do), and read more books (which I only, at times, want to do). But what's the point of making a resolution we have no intention of keeping? How many of us actually "keep" whatever shotty goal we make for ourselves? Very few, I would venture to say.
But what if the point is making some sort of resolution, and actually keeping. The root word is resolve. Resolve means: to come to a definite or earnest decision about, to make up one's mind, to firm one's intent. When I think of resolution, I think of an unattainable goal I've set for myself to be a better person on the outside. When I think of resolve, I think of soldiers who fight for my freedom. I think of people who did something, anything, to get to their goals.
I've convinced myself that making a resolution is pointless, but having a resolve about this life is poingnant. I need to look at every day with determination. I need to be guided in my studies. I need to actually learn from the people put around me, and the situations I'm in - they do all, indeed, have a purpose.
There is nothing wrong with having goals. They are how a lot of people get up in the morning. Making goals are how we change who we are. Making goals are how we challenge ourselves to be better people, inside and out.
Have the resolve to change; not just a silly New Year's resolution.
I know this is a popular time to make "new year's resolutions". It would be easy to sit down and write: work out more (which I do need to do), drink less alcohol (which I probably should do), and read more books (which I only, at times, want to do). But what's the point of making a resolution we have no intention of keeping? How many of us actually "keep" whatever shotty goal we make for ourselves? Very few, I would venture to say.
But what if the point is making some sort of resolution, and actually keeping. The root word is resolve. Resolve means: to come to a definite or earnest decision about, to make up one's mind, to firm one's intent. When I think of resolution, I think of an unattainable goal I've set for myself to be a better person on the outside. When I think of resolve, I think of soldiers who fight for my freedom. I think of people who did something, anything, to get to their goals.
I've convinced myself that making a resolution is pointless, but having a resolve about this life is poingnant. I need to look at every day with determination. I need to be guided in my studies. I need to actually learn from the people put around me, and the situations I'm in - they do all, indeed, have a purpose.
There is nothing wrong with having goals. They are how a lot of people get up in the morning. Making goals are how we change who we are. Making goals are how we challenge ourselves to be better people, inside and out.
Have the resolve to change; not just a silly New Year's resolution.
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