Sorry Folks, but I gotta RANT!!

Okay, as sick as I am of the politics and the pundits I do have to do a bit of "ranting" here.

I'm having a bit of difficulty understanding how people that call themselves Christians can turn around and say they're voting for a particular candidate.

Okay, before you "x" out of my blog, please hear me out. I'm not saying I question a person's heart or am judging someone's heart, that is a "God" matter. I don't claim to see into anyone's heart. But, the big question and one I need clarification on is this: if a person is believing in God and living for Jesus Christ and living according to the Scriptures, then how can said person vote for a candidate who does not believe in the sanctify of life and does not believe in marriage being defined as the union between one man and one woman and does believe that homosexuality is okay?

Forget about the other issues; economy, foreign affairs, the war, etc...

Listen folks, if we don't get this right, we won't have to worry about our economy. I believe God is going to judge this nation and judge it hard. We have strayed so far from what our founding fathers set in place for this country. We have strayed so far from God's Word and from living out that Word in our lives and our value systems. It is apalling. It is scary. It is a wake up call.

Anybody - Everybody - IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!!!

1 John 1:8-10 (New International Version)

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

Gentle Reminders

Recently, while at church and praying during our "after service" worship time, I was just kind of sitting there and I guess I was sort of complaining and grumbling to the Lord about how bad I was feeling, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.... you get the picture.

Anyway, it was as if the Lord gently nudged my spirit and told me to look at the altar area. So, I lifted up my head and looked at the altar and guess what I saw?

All three of my children were at the altar and were worshipping the Lord. All three of them had either their hands raised or were in a bowed position before the Lord. The Lord then reminded me of how blessed I was and how I should be grateful to Him for the incredible things He has already done. I immediately snapped out of my "piteous stupor" and praised Him.

Isn't that how it is with us? We so quickly forget all He has done for us. The cry of my heart since my kids were born has been that they would grow up to love and serve our Father. It's so easy to get our eyes off of what God IS doing and start looking at what WE think should be happening.

It really was a wake up call for me. God is trying to teach this thick-headed, stubborn, servant of His just how much He has poured out His kindness and mercy to me already and how much He does on a daily basis.

His mercies are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness!!

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Momentary Light Affliction

I happened upon this scripture today because I have had on my mind all day today and all day yesterday an excerpt from a verse, "momentary light affliction". I feel as if I've been experiencing a good bit of that lately.

I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say I've been struggling with some physical stuff and it was really starting to wear on me. It's been going on for well over six months now and I just was starting to get really (as my hubby says) "sick and tired of being sick and tired"!!

God has used several other blogs and several people to encourage me in this trying time. I've been anointed with oil by the elders in our church and have done all in my power that I could do.

I now feel as if I am on the upswing of whatever it has been, but God has been encouraging me and speaking to me in so many ways that He wants me to grow up in Him and become more like His precious Son. But, for some reason, when you don't feel well physically, it just seems to affect everything else. It does for me anyway. I guess the Lord wants me to get to the place where I'm totally reliant on Him regardless of my circumstances.

Can I tell you ~ I am nowhere near that point. I fail so miserably in this area; which, in itself, is almost discouraging. But, I do know He loves me and doesn't give up on me!!

The following passage of scripture is referring to the Apostle Paul in his journeys and the persecution that he was experiencing and suffering because of his sharing the Gospel. I do believe the message can be applied to any trial and suffering we are experiencing. My point is that whatever I suffer is very miniscule compared to what Jesus suffered or even what Paul suffered or any other martyr or persecuted Christian. Here I am complaining and having a pity party about what I'm suffering and people are losing their lives for the Gospel's sake every day. What's the message to me? Don't lose heart. It really is a very light affliction. It's also momentary compared to the eternal reward it will bring. "For the momentary light affliction is producing in me an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison. "

So, anyway, here is the scripture passage that spoke to me today. It's 2 Corinthians, chapter 4.

1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
2but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
6For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12So death works in us, but life in you.
13But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak,
14knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
15For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
17For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
18while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Regardless of what you think of Sarah Palin, this is a must see!!

I love this cartoon. Enjoy ~