9.23.12 Your Vote Counts!

Bountiful Blessings

September 23, 2012      

            Good morning! How are you? It is a beautiful fall day, a day to rejoice in the Lord and all he has made.J When I typed in the date for this note, that is when it hit me how fast time is going by. The end of September? When did that happen? School has started back. Christmas is coming up fast. But something else of importance is right around the corner…. Election day. Now before you start getting upset with me, you need to read further, because I am not telling you who to vote for. Voting is too important and too personal for anyone to “tell” you how to vote. But I will say this directly and in your face J, GET OUT AND VOTE.

            Is this note a little early to talk about voting? Seems like it. However, time flies, doesn’t it? And you need to be weighing out everything now to make the best and informed decision. I mean, we are talking about the leader of our country. And we have the finest example to draw from, Audio Adrenaline calls Jesus, “a mighty fine leader“. Lets brainstorm some of his leadership traits - wise, honest, trustworthy, strong work ethic, able to handle conflict and deal with challenges, offers hope for a future. Ok. Now take a look at our present candidates. Yes, I know, sad, isn’t it? Well, neither shares all (or even a majority) of traits with our mighty fine leader. But… Is God giving you a nudge towards one or the other? Pray about it. Listen to him.

            On facebook, I read everyone’s outlook on his/her candidate. What makes him the right one for the job. But really what I am reading about the most is why the other person should not be elected.  I am going to insert a little Terri lecture here - to determine who is best to lead our country into the future, look at the individuals. Pray about it. What strengths does he bring to the table? Who is a better fit? Who is more qualified? By telling me, the other person is too rich or the other person cannot produce his birth certificate is telling me NOTHING. People, people, people. God gave us more intelligence that any creature on Earth. Use it. If you look in the Bible, some of the greatest leaders were not born into politics or the law. Jesus took simple men and helped them to lead large amounts of men and women. Men who were poor. Men who were disliked. Men who were poor speakers. All that to say, that looks, polish and history do not necessarily make a good leader. We tend to be fooled by the hair, the smile, the smooth way of talking. Sigh. When I break it down that way, both candidates fall in there. I guess what I am trying to say is look beyond the surface. When you pray, what is God telling you? What is that little feeling inside that keeps pushing out into the forefront of your mind?

            Right now, there is considerable amount of unrest in the middle east. Bomb threats have been made at several American universities. Healthcare. Women’s medical issues. Unemployment. National debt. These are very big and important issues that must be addressed by whomever WE elect as our leader. Your vote counts.

Bible verse for the week:

“Find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”    Psalms 62:5-8

Prayer for the week:

Dear Lord, tragedy brought us closer together and closer to you. As time passed, we began to lean more upon ourselves and our country. We are nothing without you. Our country is nothing without you. Please open our eyes and our hearts. Guide us back to the true path. Guide us back to you. As we approach election day, may we all vote and may we all listen to you when making the choice. We cannot continue without you in our lives, our politics and our country. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Thought for the week:
Any readers out there? Go check out The Harbinger. Very interesting read. Is it stretching? Is it far-fetched? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide. Either way, it will get you thinking.

Bible fun for the week:
Lets take a look at Biblical leaders, and well, their human characteristics. I will give you a few and then you think about the others, ok?

Moses              orphaned at birth, unsure of who he was, not a comfortable speaker

Peter                a fisherman, known for a little temper problem, uneducated

Samson            blinded by a woman and her greedy ways

Paul

Esther

Deborah

Jeremiah

Mary Magdalene

Adam                once again, blinded by a woman and her greedy ways (wow… women get a bad rap)

 

What was the common thread between all of these leaders? Loyalty to God. J God can use anyone, I repeat, anyone to lead. Lead a country? Lead a Sunday school class? Lead a peewee football team? Lead a divison? You may not even recognize your role as a leader. But your role is important. Your actions are important. You are a leader for God. Lead on, good people, lead on.