God Bless America

President-elect Obama! A year ago, who would have thought it probable, much less possible? Our President-elect is no friend of evangelicals. Unless he governs differently than he campaigned, he is not going to be supportive of Biblical values that are so important to us. Now that the election is over, I will admit to a deep sense of concern over the direction our nation will likely take during his administration. He will be governing alongside of leaders in Congress that are equally hostile to evangelical Christian ideals, so there will be little reason to be a moderate. Most troubling for me personally is the kind of judges our new President is likely to appoint to the Federal bench.

Despite all of that, I see his election as a real opportunity for evangelicals to get back to our calling to be the Church. I hope that we will embrace God's call to pray for our leaders, to work for a just society, and to proclaim the transforming Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work. We can now stop looking to the Oval Office and our legislators for initiatives to save our nation from her sins! It time to feed the hungry, to care for the dying, to visit the imprisoned, to become the defenders of the oppressed, to offer love to the outcasts and hope those who are enslaved by their sins.

These words from Romans challenge us to remember that God gives us leaders and demands that we pray for them and live as good citizens. It becomes even more compelling for us when we remember that the authorities at the time these words were written were pagans, not just apathetic toward Christianity but in many cases actively persecuting the Church.

Read these words, then take time to pray for those elected to serve us.
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong.
Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.

So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do." (Romans 13:1-6, NLT) _______________________________

Father in Heaven, I thank you for Your reign!

Today, I pray for our leaders, particularly for President-elect Obama.
Protect him from those who hate him because of the color of his skin.
Grace him with virtues of Wisdom, Justice, Courage, Humility, Faith, Hope, and Love as he prepares to assume the Presidency.The challenges presented to him in our world are many.
Work deeply in his heart and mind and draw him to a new understanding of Who You are.

Spirit of God, call your Church to a renewed understanding of her place in this world, a place of service and a place of embodying the Truth of Christ.

May we interact with our government, even when those who govern are hostile to Your ways, with grace and gentleness.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us.
All of this, I ask in His holy Name, Amen.
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TFTD will not be in your email box for the next few days.
This writer needs to unstring the bow for a few days and give my heart and mind a recess.
Thanks for reading along. See you next week.

Do You Worship Worry?

A year ago, the church I serve as a Pastor was experiencing a difficult time financially. I dreaded the monthly meetings with the Leadership Team when I had to bring reports that showed we were consistently running in the red. We knew some of the reasons that our income was down. We had added an additional staff member a year prior, anticipating growth to help us meet the expense, growth that did not occur when we expected. I began to experience real worry and it increased over time. I thought about the church's finances all of the time. Every decision I made as a Pastor was colored by the financial implications involved. Every time of prayer seemed to end with worried pleas for God's provision.

Around February of this year, the Lord helped me to see that I was actually worshipping worry! If worship is defined by what we give most attention to, what we spend the greater part of our time and energy on, then worry had become my god! In His great faithfulness, He helped me to see the faithlessness of my prayers. Isn't that a contradiction- 'faithless prayers?' I was praying faithfully, but focusing on my perception of need rather than His promise of provision. Instead of deepening my assurance, which true prayer will do; my misfocused prayers were actually increasing my anxiety. The counsel of friends and the wisdom of the Word brought a corrective and I intentionally changed my focus to thankfulness. That did not mean ignoring the reality of the need. However, I began to look beyond the need to the One who promises that He will resource us to fulfill His call. Instead of worshipping worry, I offered my praise to Him - and we have seen His ongoing provision.

In the book of 2nd Chronicles, which tells us about the times of the kings of Judah, there is an account that should encourage us to pray with praise, not with worry. The chapter opens with this assessment of the real threat. "Some time later the Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat received this intelligence report: "A huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea to fight you. There’s no time to waste—they’re already at Hazazon Tamar, the oasis of En Gedi." (2 Chronicles 20:1-2, The Message) The king brought together the leaders of his kingdom for a prayer meeting, but the focus of their prayers initially was on their powerlessness! Then a prophet of the Lord redirected their prayers with this cry, "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s." (2 Chronicles 20:15, NIV)

Jehoshaphat's response is simply astonishing. When he sent his armies off to war, look what he did. "Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed." After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: "Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!" (2 Chronicles 20:20-21, NLT)

It's praise-time, disciple. On this pivotal day in America, don't worship worry over the future. Instead, praise the sovereign Lord who stands Eternally over the affairs of humanity. Whatever your need may be today, present it to the Lord, as you focus on His majesty, His love, His purposes. Send out the singers, in front of the army, and God will make a way for you.
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The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty;
Let all the earth rejoice, let all the earth rejoice!
He wraps Himself in light and darkness tries to hide,
It trembles at His voice, it trembles at His voice.

Age to age He stands and time is in His hands,
Beginning and the End, Beginning and the End!
The Godhead, three in one, Father, Spirit, Son;
The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb!

How great is our God!!
Sing with me - how great is our God!!
And all will see how great,
how great is our God!!

Name above all names!!
Worthy of all praise!!
My heart will sing,
"How great is our God!!"

How Great is our God
Chris Tomlin © 2004 worshiptogether.com CCLI License No. 810055

A choice for a better life!

There is a choice you can make today that will make a real difference in life; for you, for others! It does not require much time, needs no money invested, and is not difficult. When you choose to do this thing, it infects people around you with optimism and joy. It can become a habit and when it does, it will make you much more likely to enjoy better health, a wider network of friends, a deeper relationship with the Lord. A person who does this often, sincerely, and with enthusiasm will have enjoy the blessing of God. You want to know what 'it' is?

You're going to laugh because it is so simple. You may be tempted to dismiss it thinking it cannot possibly be that easy! So, should I tell you? Here it is, the wisdom of God.

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice." (Psalm 34:1-2, NIV)

You and I cannot always choose our situations and circumstances, but we always can choose our response! A person who lives a praise-filled life, centered on God, has a stronger faith, a more joyful outlook, and invites the Lord and others to bless him!

I cannot do a thing about the American economy today, but I can choose to thank God for His promise to provide for all my needs.

I cannot do anything to change my Dad's cancer, but I can choose to love him and to thank God for every moment we get to spend together.

I cannot stop my critics from trying to make my life miserable, but I can thank God that He sees my heart and loves me, in spite of all my flaws!

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." (Psalm 7:17, NIV)

"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." (Psalm 56:4, NIV)

"Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does." (Psalm 96:1-3, NLT)

If you think I am selling positive thinking, you're missing the point. Optimism is good, but it is not the same as praise. Thinking positively only can carry a person so far. Situations arise which simply defy all attempts we make to put a positive spin on them. But, praise never fails us because real praise is centered on the Person of our God, His promises, and His power to save us! Do not let anyone sell you the folly of praising God for bad things! It's just plain stupid to praise God for cancer, for example, but we can praise God that He can and will use even cancer to accomplish His purposes.

I challenge you, throughout this month of November, which ends with Thanksgiving, to cultivate a spirit of praise. When you're tempted to complain, shut your mouth, pray for a moment, then speak praise to God. Keep it sincere. Insincere praise is a form of profanity! Print this Psalm and read it often, perhaps at the start of everyday. Read it out loud. Praising God will change your life. He guarantees it!

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100, NIV)
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