"Please remain calm..."

I just want to reach out to everyone who might read this today and tell you, "Be encouraged today!" I have no idea what you're facing. Maybe you're facing a tough decision. Maybe you're dealing with family issues. Maybe your finances are weighing you down. Maybe your PlayStation 3 won't work. I don't know. But, whatever it is, God is bigger than the outcome you're fearing, should you're fears be proven correct.

Read over Psalm 40 today. It offers some pretty encouraging stuff. It really shows how much God intercedes in our lives on a moment-by-moment basis if we allow Him too. Verses 1-3 say, "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

So, in a difficult situation that is really stressing us out, our role is simply to wait on God. That's all we have to do and He'll do the rest. He'll work the situation in a way that is best for us and glorifying to Him. Simple, right? Acutally, it sounds pretty vague to me. I think maybe it means that we don't have to let our apprehensions and misgivings force us into jumping to a decision or being too afraid to make a decision, thereby letting an opportunity pass. I think, too often, we rob God of the opportunity to give us something amazing that we'll be singing about to everyone we come in contact with for days to come. Instead, we get scared because we really don't trust His ability to reveal Himself to us and we pass on something great. Or, we jump at the first thing we see because we're afraid that if we don't act now, we'll miss out and it'll never get any better.

But, then again, some would argue that everything that happens is supposed to happen, so we just need to ignore our situation and find contentment where we're at by focusing on God and His goodness. I'm not advocating either way, at least not intentionally. I just know that it says God will pull us out of the muck and mire if we turn to and wait on Him. So, obviously we somehow got in a situation that we're not supposed to be in. Man, that free will. What a brain teaser!

Anyway, even if you're more confused now than ever, be encouraged! Nothing has come upon you that you are not able to overcome through the help of Christ Jesus. God wants to prosper you and put a song in your heart that will turn people toward Him. We just need to cling tightly to Him and not listen to the nay-sayers and the lost when they call us foolish and misguided. We know the truth. It is in us. We just have to believe it and really trust that God is in control and at work in our lives moment by moment. I can't tell you exactly how, but the Holy Spirit can. Pursue Him more passionately than you pursue everything else in your live and He will show up!

I love you all! Be blessed today and keep your eyes on God. Fight the desire to panic. Fully give yourself into His hands. He will raise you up! Amen and Adios!!!

Faith Tester

Well, my worst political fears have come to pass. Barrack Obama has been elected President and the Social Liberals have gained even more control of the Congress. It was a bleak evening last night and the forecast isn't looking much better. I think the worst part about being a pessimist is that even when you're right, you're not elated. I just knew that Obama would win. But, unlike the mesmerized masses that have been lead to the water by the media-dubbed "Chosen One" and drank without question, gulp after gulp, there was no celebration upon confirmation of my hypothesis. It was just that same ol' sinking feeling that you get after you scratch off that last square on the lottery ticket that just gave you two $10,000 signs and only requires one more to win. You know deep down that your chances are too slim to bank on, but you can't help but have that tiny little glimmer of hope that says, "You might actually be a winner!" But, in the end, the square only reveals a $1 sign and your instincts again prove accurate. Unfortunately, that tiny little glimmer was big enough to cause that rise in your stomach that you now feel sinking like the Titanic fresh off a brush with an iceberg. What can you do? There is no "I told you so" moment. It's all the victory with none of the spoils. You were proven right again. Yay for you. (Notice the intentional absence of an exclamation point.)

So, what do we hopeful, prayerful Christians who were praying for anything other than Obama and what looks like some inevitable "Nero-esque" Rome burning do now? Well, hopefully, retreating to Montana to join a militia is not on your immediate agenda. For a while there, it looked like Montana was swinging left as well. (Way to hang on Montana!) You have to do what I did this morning. I grabbed my heavily caffeinated, fat-free, "Vote for Change"-free cup of JOE and opened up the Bible. It was inspiring!

I turned to 2 Peter and started at Chapter 1. The first three verses were quite uplifting. It talked of how we have everything we need for this life and to be godly in our knowledge of God and of Christ. Grace and Peace flow in abundance through that very knowledge. If anything, we are going to need lots, and lots of Grace and Peace over the next 4 years. Grace to show love to the Obama supporters and Peace to trust that life as we know it won't come to a screaching halt (and if it does, we'll still be sustained). If we dig into the word and not give into the temptation to throw our hands in the air and scream, "What's the point?," then God will pour His Grace and Peace into our lives and show us that it is not a President, a Government, or legislation that sustains us. It is not a campaign slogan or a nebulous "hope for change" that will be our anchor and guide. It is not a man of flesh and blood that will be our savior. It is the only real Chosen and Risen Son of God that saves us and offers the only real hope for change in our lives and neither has His campaign slogan nor have His values ever changed!!! Nor are they ambiguous and uncertain!! His agenda is still the same--that all should come to know Him (Jesus not Obama) as their one and only hope for salvation!! (Notice the presence of many exclamation points!)

So, on this day of historical significance, I urge you to dig into the Word and get yourself grounded in what God says and strive to apply it to your lives. Work on increasing your knowledge of God and His word daily. The Father will sustain us and He will prove Himself worthy of our allegiance. His track record speaks for itself!