We WIN!

You and I are VIPs today -- that's because we are voters.. Some of you have already cast your ballot. Good for you! Franklin Roosevelt was right: "Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."

Remember that every election is decided by the people who show up. So let's pray, seek God's wisdom, and vote.

Chances are that tomorrow, November 9th, half of the country will be happy and half will be sad. So regardless of our political affiliation and no matter which candidate wins today, we don't have to know how the story of our country ends. We don’t even need to know how tomorrow will end. We only need to do the next right thing.

Regardless of today's outcome, our calling as Christ-followers is to lead with a humble heart and point men and women, boys and girls to the One who lives and reigns forever.

Consider William Wilberforce, the man who saw slavery abolished in England mere months before his death in 1833. He had been fighting toward this end for nearly five decades, one of the few in Parliament who lived out the Christian faith in all areas of his life. Oh that his spirit of perseverance be demonstrated in our current culture. We could all benefit from his example of relentless tenacity

Sometimes it feels easier to retreat and hide at home, school, or church than to be a Christian. Wilberforce told us to follow the words of John Newton who said, “It is hoped and believed the Lord has raised you up for the good of His church and for the good of the nation.” Whether your candidate wins or loses today, our work as Christ-followers continues. We must press on and be a light in the darkness as we share the promise of the Good News with others.

No matter what we face personally or nationally, nothing comes as a surprise to God. He is still sovereign over all. He is good, loving, and faithful through the best and the worst of times.

Because of that, we will continue on our journeys of faith -- knowing that it's not by chance that we are here, during this time, to be difference makers in the world around us. We do that best when we let the Light of Christ shine brightly through us. We believe God directs our paths. So today and everyday, we pray for our country, our leaders and our world. No matter what -- God is the real Winner and with knowing that....we will live this day with the joy of knowing WE WIN!

Had Any Knee Jerk Reactions Lately?

Had Any Knee Jerk Reactions Lately?
I had a huge decision to make. "Should I say “yes” or should I say “no”. Should I stay or should I go?" Ever been faced with some tough decisions and rather than waiting to hear the voice of God, we just couldn’t sit idly still….we had to make a move. So, with a knee jerk reaction, we WENT.....only to realize we put the cart before the horse.....er.....rather, we put our ways before God's ways.

What happened to that instruction from our loving, all-knowing Father? ”Be STILL and KNOW that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) We just couldn’t sit STILL long enough to get the plan from THE MAN. So we head out on our own. Someone came to my office last week and she told me she really made a mess of a situation and became quite disappointed in herself. She went to see her Mom and her downcast attitude caused her mother to say, “I know that look! So, you had to be in charge again, instead of letting God be charge?"

Oh, the messes we get ourselves into. During this season of my life, I am wading my way through options of saying “yes” or “no” and whether to stay or go. So, as any capable, deliberate, strong and able, “can do” gal would do, I just GO. After all, the light is green….. so I begin to move forward….aggressively, and then suddenly I’m overcome with a loss of peace, a troubled heart and thinking “What was I thinking?” I just couldn’t sit still long enough to listen for His voice. I just couldn’t wait for His voice to call me, instead, my “knee jerk” reaction propelled me into unknown territory with making even some regretful decisions.

Does that sound like a story familiar to you, too? But, here’s what I love about this faith journey we are on. Though I may start out my day as an independent, self-willed "can-do" woman, and I may get myself into some crazy circumstances that may come as a surprise to me, they are not a surprise to God. In spite of my knee-jerk reactions, my God is still my loving Father. And, like our kids who repeatedly do something that we’ve told them a hundred times not to do, we lovingly reel them back in with correction and help them through the mess they got themselves into.

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11)

God’s character can be trusted. God delights in answering our prayers. Only, He doesn’t always answer how we think He should answer. I think I have great ideas about how my life should go. I think I know what is best, but then I remember that He knows better. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows what outcome will bring about His purposes. He wants to bless us with good things . . . health, wholeness, peace, joy, and rest. When I pray and I feel as though He is silent or not letting me in on the game plan, I have to trust that there is purpose to what He hasn’t told me. He doesn’t hide things from us to hurt us. He will allow me in on His plans in His perfect timing. His perfect timing is the timing that places us at the right place at the right time with what we need for ultimate blessings.

I have a line I use to help people when they have met up with some difficulty or challenge. “Nothing happens to us that doesn’t first go through His sovereign hands. We are no surprise to God.” It all matters to Him. He allows circumstances and consequences to come, especially when we have KNEE-JERK reactions. But thanks be to our loving Father, He gently jerks us back on course to help us finish the race we've started.