Presidential Election 2016

Yesterday was election day and America voted in Donald Trump for President.

I have many personal thoughts about this but it really doesn't matter what I think. One thing I know is that our nation has been straying from God more and more over the last couple of decades. Franklin Graham just finished doing the "Decision America" tour to all 50 state capitals to come lead prayer for repentance and mercy from God to help us heal our land, to vote for Biblical values and to engage in this nation politically. This all made a lot of sense to me.

No matter who won, today will be a day of frustration and triumph. Some people will doubt our system of government and others will be hopeful for change. But I think that we must look back in God's word to see how history has repeated itself. God blessed people, they started to think their accomplishments were all their own doing and then they became arrogant and started relying on themselves. They turned their backs on God and went their own ways with their own reasoning and then God let them have their way. Eventually, so much sin ruled the land that the people begged for God's mercy and He forgave them, blessing them once again. The cycle has gone on over and over for centuries around our world.

I believe God has a plan no matter who He allows to be our President. No person on earth will have a spotless record going into office. I trust God to guide the President and believe God is good and everything will work together for our good.

His plans are prevailing and we can be strong as a nation if we unify under God. I will be praying for our nation, president and peace among us. Will you join me?

"Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone." Psalm 33:22

In those moments.....

There are times that I just have to believe and trust in God’s words, even when I can’t see the good in things. In fact, this week I had to go to the doctor for a second mammogram. The technician found something, measured it and went to get the doctor. At that moment, I prayed for God’s will to be done and for Him to strengthen me. That I could be in perfect peace regardless of the results. I was frightened and alone on the doctors table, waiting to hear what they had found. It was in that moment that I decided that the results would not define me. I am a child of God and I believe that he has a perfect plan for my life. That I am here to live for Him no matter what.

Thankfully, what they found were benign cysts and I do not have cancer. But in those moments, God is all we have and He is all we need. Know that He is there for you too. Keep your eyes on Him because He is bigger than our storms.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

“Blessed be the Lord who daily carries us. God is our deliverer.” Psalm 68:19 ISV

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 ESV

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 NLT

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! ” 

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

"This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NLT

Faith in the Unseen

Have you ever had one of those mornings? You know, the realities that life throws at you.

Here is my morning so far...

I woke up at 2 am with my heart skipping a beat every 5 seconds -scary!  I recently became aware of my heart skipping a beat and made an upcoming appointment with a heart specialist.

I had to use a screw driver for the kitchen faucet because it is torn apart waiting for a replacement part to fix it. Hopefully Moen will have it here within the week and we won’t need to use a screw driver anymore.

The bathroom floor is wet because there is a leak and it needs to be fixed (with the floor tiles lifting up from moisture). 

I realized my newly upgraded used cell phone is shattered. 

I receive emails reminding me that our son is leaving this year for college.

Plus I wonder if my car will quit working today because of a part that is breaking and about to quit. I need my car to help get our kids around and an elderly lady I help.

This can definitely make me feel down due to circumstances. So I pray and tell God my concerns. As I write, I try to think about who He is and this helps me move from being under my circumstances into the presences of the One who can help. 

"So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." Hebrew 13:6a

• God loves us. (John 3:16)
• God has a plan for us. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
• He will always provide. (Philippians 4:19)
• I can be confident of my future, God is there. (Philippians 1:6)
• His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
• My hope is in Him alone. (Psalm 34:22)
• Why should I be down and doubt? He is the same good God always. (Psalm 136:1)
• He will meet our children at whatever college He has chosen for them. (Jeremiah 23:23)
• God is a blessing to us that is filled with eternal goodness and can never be taken away. (Romans 8:38)
• This too shall pass. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

What trials are you facing today? God is over our circumstances, so lets keep our eyes on Him.

He is our Lord and Savior who gave His life for us because he loves us deeply. Through faith we can believe that it will all be okay. We can trust God is in control and be thankful for things that we can not yet see. 

I pray for God to give you and me His strength and faith so that we can find joy in trials as He builds our character and helps us be prepared for anything. Not trusting in our own reasoning but in Him. I chose to find hope and joy in His ways because He knows best. 

Here is a verse to aspire towards: "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25