O.K., So Where Do We Go From Here? We Keep Going...

Whew! Deep Breath...1...2...3...My heart is somewhat "heavy" as I write this, I'm sure many of you feel the same way...

What a journey these past months have been, so many have diligently prayed, have become actively involved in this election process, and have pleaded with God on behalf of our country. Please be encouraged, your work is not in vain! I believe we HAVE made a difference. I believe we HAVE had a voice. Maybe we didn't get all of the "results" we wanted (maybe some of you did), but we were willing to stand & fight for what we believe in. THAT in itself is victory & we can REST in that & leave the outcome up to God.

I am glad for President-elect Obama for what this victory means to him & his family personally, and definitely for what it means for many of our dear African-American friends. What a historical marker this is in our country, what a milestone. We've come a long ways, with our racial differences & boundaries, we've needed to, for that, I am grateful!
Where we still have miles to go is our differences in moral issues, social issues, economic issues - will we ever get there? Probably not.
So what does that mean for us now? Where do we go from here?

WE KEEP GOING!
WE KEEP PRAYING!
WE KEEP STANDING STRONG!
WE KEEP BELIEVING THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD & WE KEEP TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THAT VERY THING!
WE KEEP BELIEVING IN THE ONLY ONE WHO REMAINS CONSTANT IN THIS LIFE, OUR LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

He is the ONLY One who is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. That & that alone, is our REAL HOPE! He's still the same, no matter who is president, no matter what battles we face in this life, no matter what Wall Street is up or down to today, etc.. He is still God, He is still on the throne, He is still Sovereign, nothing takes Him by surprise, He is not up there wringing His mighty hands over what to do with this Obama Presidency, we can REST in the fact that He is ultimately in control and will work His good in EVERY situation.

My dear friend Pam Schulz who started the website http://www.pray-the-vote.org/ wrote some encouraging words this morning in an email, these are some things that we CAN be grateful for from this election process:

"While the election did not go as most of us hoped and prayed, there are some bright spots. It looks as though all of the marriage amendments - including the one in California! - will pass. Even the amendment in Florida where the bar was set very high (60% needed to pass) will indeed pass. The gains in the House were not as large as most predicted and it does not appear that the Senate will get a 60 vote filibuster-proof majority.
Praise God that we are citizens of America by birth or by choice, but we are citizens of heaven because of God's great love for each of us. As a citizen of heaven, we have the promise that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." I am fully confident that every prayer we've prayed for righteousness will be answered. There will be a day when the nations are judged. On that day the "our righteousness will be like the dawn and the justice of our cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:6)"

Yesterday, Nov. 4th, I got up in the morning, got my Bible out to read, had coffee with my husband, hugged my kids as they woke up one by one for the day, etc..., etc...
And you know what? Today, Nov. 5th, I did the exact same thing.
And hopefully, for the next 4 years, I'll keep doing that same thing.
Even in the midst of this huge historical event, my life remained pretty much the same...that kind of gives me a little reality check. No matter WHO'S President, life goes on, the journey goes on...we keep loving our families, we keep loving our God, we keep doing what He's called us to do. And maybe it's for this reason alone, God didn't intend for the "government" to stand the test of time, He never says that the "government" will stand forever or that our government is eternal.
God says that He is forever and the church, His people, are forever - that is what is eternal, ever-lasting, that is what matters most!

Here's our responsibility now - pray for President-elect Obama, his family, and for those who will be in positions of authority in our country. He needs our support, he needs our prayers, He needs God to be his counsel, and our nation needs unity.
If you're struggling in knowing where to start, here's a few thoughts:
1. Pray that President-elect Obama would govern our nation in the fear of the Lord, that he would have an amazing awareness that he is accountable to God for every decision made and every action taken.
2. Pray that God would give him wisdom & guidance as he sets up his team of advisers & counsel for the years ahead. Pray that God would intervene in positioning godly leaders & counsel to surround our new president.
3. Pray that Pres.-elect Obama would humbly recognize his complete dependence and need for God to lead him in this most important place of authority.
4. Pray that God will protect him & his family from evil and evil influence and that God will guard his way.
5. Pray that he will become known as a leader of integrity, honesty, a man who seeks after God's heart. (God can do anything! Our responsibility is just to pray!)

I'll close with this great verse from 1 Timothy 2:1-2 :
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Yep - there it is fine print - PRAY - not only when we "agree" with those in authority, not only because we "like" those in authority, not only when those in authority are who "we" want there - God's heart is just that we, His people, will PRAY.

Love you friends, thinking of you today, continuing to pray for our nation. God bless America!