"Lord Change Me"

Several years ago my wife found a book written by Evelyn Christensen with the above title. It was quite an interesting book because it goes against the grain of our human nature. Generally speaking, the average person thinks that they are alright with the way that they live. What that means is that when there is a conflict with someone else it is the other person that really needs to change. I guess one of the most fundamental truths for us to live by is that we are only responsible for doing what we know to do is right. We cannot control what other people do. The point of the book was that she asked God to change her outlook about the person rather than change the person. She knew that if her outlook changed - she loved them for who they were and not what they did - then she would still feel the same about them even if God dealt with that person and they changed. I heard someone say the other day that we are not responsible for another person's action, but we are responsible for our reaction. Even thought we can't determine what they will do to us, we can decide what we will do when it happens. James tell us that we are to be slow to speak and slow to wrath. Jesus said that we are to turn the other cheek. Being from Oklahoma, I am quite familiar with Will Rogers and his statement that "I never met a man I didn't like". But, I know some people that Will Rogers never met. Do they need changing? Very possibly. But, then so do I.

A New Man In Charge - Or Is He?

Today a new President begins his term in office. The President of the United States is often described as the most powerful man in the world. I don't know that that is the case, but then that is just my opinion. What I do know is that he has a tremendous amount of responsibility, to our nation and to the world and that he cannot do it alone. Whether we were supporters of his, during the campaign process or not, he is still the new man in charge. Or is he? One thing that has given us consolation through all of this is that we have the promise from God's Word that "the King's heart is in the hand of God" Prov 21:1. From what I have read and from what I have heard, the next President has some policies ready to be put into place that will destroy many of the moral rights and freedoms that we have fought for over the last several years. God has blessed us in recent days with a man who, at least attempted to follow after what he felt God was leading him to do. My point is not to be political, but to remind everyone that we need to pray for our leaders. God's Word has instructed us to do just that, and if ever there was a time to intercede for our Nation, it is today. Praise God, we know Who is in control and he doesn't sit in a plush chair in an oval office. But rather on His Throne in the portals of Heaven.