How Do You Stay Warm?

I make no bones about it - I don't like to be cold! I can take 100 degrees easier than I can take
0 degrees. When I get cold, I am cold all over more than anywhere else. And, it is difficult for me to get warm once I have gotten chilled. I don't mean to sound like I am complaining, tho there may be some truth to that, but there is a lesson to be learned. How do you get warm and stay warm? You could add more clothing, but then that gets a little burdensome. You could just stay inside and not get out when the temperature drops. Or maybe we could take some advice from our fine feathered friends who go South for the winter. I know, you are sitting there thinking what can we learn from this. Well, there are, no doubt, times when we become a little cold in our walk with God. We realize that things just aren't what they used to be and we don't like it. So, we try adding some good works to our already busy schedule - still cold. So, we turn to hybernation, thinking that if we stay out of the world, we won't be enfluenced by the world. That doesn't work either, because it hasn't done anything for what caused us to be cold in the first place. Okay, so what about our fowl friends? Well, as the birds in the sky become uncomfortable and turn their backs on the situation, so should we. We can stay in our cold funk or we can move toward the warm love of our waiting Heavenly Father. Then we can begin to understand that the warmest place to be, even in the coldest of times, is in His presence. That is by far the best way to stay warm.

Now What?

Okay, finally, the elections are over. Now what? Well, there is that dead time when the people coming out of office begin now to do less than they did while they were in office, if that is actually possible. And there is the time when those who have been re-elected begin to party, I mean celebrate their being trusted again for another term. But, I guess the biggest challenge comes to those who have made great promises so that they could get elected in the first place. Sometimes, I think the realization of being elected hits them and they realize they are accountable for all they said they would do. Now, we know that people will say what is necessary to get the trust of the people, but, we can rejoice over the fact that God isn't that way. When God says He will do something, you can mark it down - it will be done. Man will make promises with every intention to fulfill them, but find out that they simply cannot. It is beyond their power or authority to do so. Omnipotent God has the right and the ability to do exactly what He says He will do. Which means that, when He says "whosoever will may come" He means that no one is turned away. When He promises that He will "never leave you or forsake you", then you can count on His ever presence to comfort you in times of distress. And when He says "he that believeth is not condemned and he that believeth not is condemned already", you can rest assured that if you have put your faith and trust in Him alone, you are on your way to Heaven. You can also be sure that if you have done nothing, you are born on your way to hell and only you alone can change that by accepting His sacrifice for your sin. Okay, God doesn't have to win any election, but we do have to elect to accept Him. Have you?

Finally, It Is Over

Yesterday was election day. For the last several months, we have endured the deluge of commercials for and against those running for office. It's almost becomes like an afternoon soap opera, except this is supposed to be based upon real life. I know that the biggest majority of people are far more interested in hearing what a candidate can do rather that how bad a person that he or she might be. By the end of it all I was struggling to find a good reasosn to elect anyone. But, that is all behind us not. We can move on to bigger and better things. You know, like trying to decide how we are ever going to make it now that these particular people have been elected. Well, let me make this rather short and sweet today, if I may. As I write this, a couple days in advance, I have no idea who will be placed into office by the vote of the people. But, I do know who is in control. We may elect a President, Governor or Mayor to oversee the affairs of our land. But we still serve a King. There are no term limits for our God. He is still Sovereign and regardless who is resting in the seat of political power, God reigns and rules over all the affairs of the world. So, let's be glad it is over and rejoice in who we serve.

Go Vote!

We are so privileged to live in the United States of America and to enjoy the freedoms that are ours. Freedom to choose our elected officials, from the local dog catcher to the President and all positions in between. We are also free to ignore the process and let someone else do it for us. I certainly hope that is not your choice. As is usually the case, the Presidential election seems to garner most of the attention and as usual there are those who know exactly who they are going to vote for and then there are those who have yet to make up their minds. Unfortunately, some have made their decision based up political affiliation. It doesn't matter what the person stands for, it is just a matter of what party he/she belongs to. Some have also decided that regardless of what a person believes, it is time to elect a minority into office. Once again, a bad reason for making the selection. I am not here today to tell you who to vote for, tho I have determined long ago that if a candidate is solidly against God's Word on issues such as abortion and same sex marriages, then they would not get my vote. But, let me ask you to do a couple of very important things today before and after you vote. PRAY! Ask God who you should vote for and listen to His advise. Then, once the elections are over, trust that the people of God's choosing are in office and continue to PRAY! I know that God wants to bless our nation again, but the Psalmist said "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" and right now, that just isn't the United States of American. But, it can be, if we pray and turn back to Him. So, go today and cast your vote for God. You can't go wrong there.