Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5
Monday, November 10, 2008
Confusion - How to pray for our nation?
On one hand I know God's Word tells me to pray for him. I know I should pray for him, his family and his administration. Pray that he will turn an ear to God and rely on Him for direction, wisdom and discernment when making decisions on behalf of our nation. Pray that he is surrounded by godly men who also rely on the Lord's wisdom instead of the wisdom of men.
However, another part of me truly believes he is in office because God has given this nation over to their evil desires. He is in office because Jesus' Bride, the Church, has grown lethargic and has chosen compromise over God's Truth. I look at Obama's stand on issues such as religious beliefs in politics, marriage and abortion (in his own words) and I believe our nation has been blinded. As I recently overheard - "we have voted for death".
So, if Obama is in office because God has given us (this nation) over to our evil desires, if in a way he is judgment from the Lord on an unfaithful nation, should I still be praying for blessing on him and this nation?
I believe the answer is yes, God still wants us to pray for Obama and our nation. But we need to do much more than pray for favor and blessing though - we must pray for mercy and grace and nationwide repentance. We must go down on our knees in intercession for this nation and it's leaders (Obama included).
I'm praying that through all that is to come, God's Bride, the Church, will wake from her slumber and rise up to stand beside her Bridegroom in Truth. That we will clearly see God's Truth and have the strength and courage to boldly strive for that Truth. That we will unashamedly proclaim that Truth in love.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
My Prayer for Obama as our next President
However, that being said - I'm even more confident in the fact that my Lord is still in control. I may not understand it, but He knows what He is doing, He is never wrong and He IS in control! My hope is in Him and Him alone.
In the past couple weeks there have been a couple discussions I've been involved in or been privy to that I believe sum up how I'm feeling today. I'm going to share them with you now.
First, in my daughter’s homeschool co-op they are learning about Daniel. The elections came up because they have been praying about the elections and the US. One of the questions was “What if Obama does win?” One child had an amazing answer for someone her age (maybe even for someone our age!). She replied (my paraphrase, but you get the point) – “Well, God is always in control even when we don’t see it ourselves. In Daniel it says that God chose Nebuchadnezzar and used him to do His will even though Nebuchadnezzar did not know God. So if Obama wins maybe this is the same thing. We just have to trust God.” Amazing insight!!
This has also come up as a topic on the Christan email distribution group at work. One question that came up was if Obama does win, how will you react? Especially considering God’s Word tells us to pray for our leaders and to submit to them.
Here is the answer I sent in reply:
Even if Obama wins I will submit to his leadership and pray for him and all our leaders - however I do add one exception, I will not follow any "rules" under Obama (or any president or other leader) if they are in direct opposition to God's Word. I don't plan to be "in your face" about these things if it comes to that point, I will do it in God's Love, but I will only submit so far as it does not make me walk off the path God has put me on.
In a way I live this same way at home. I have a husband I love dearly however, he is not a Believer. God's Word tells me that I should submit to my husband, and so in many matters I do. I've learned to pray and "pick my battles" with him and then to "fight" those battles in a respectful and loving way. In this way I honor him and in doing so honor my Lord (and hopefully in the process show my husband the love of Jesus for him).
Regardless of who becomes president I will handle things the same way. I will pray for the leaders and honor them as long as honoring them will not quench the Light of God that He has asked me to shine on this world. I will probably mess up along the way as I tend to become very passionate about certain things, but the Lord is slowly teaching me in my own home how to stand for His Truth in a way that draws others to Him instead of repelling them.
So - with that being said I lift up our future president in prayer:
Dear Lord,
I put my trust in you 100% even when I don't understand what is happening around me. I lift up to you all our current leaders and all new leaders who have been elected this day, including our president-elect, Barrack Obama. I pray you give them wisdom and discernment in leading this country and pour your blessings upon them.
I pray that you will whisper to them in your quiet still voice and draw their hearts to you, that they will learn to rely on you in all their decisions. I pray Lord, no matter what is in store for this country, that it be within your Will and that many will come to know you more through the circumstances that arise.
I acknowledge your sovereignty Lord and ask that you lead us to walk with you, I pray for repentance and healing for this country and I'm willing to accept that through whatever means you choose to use. Please change my heart where it is not in alignment with your Will. Please give me the grace to look past my biases and see your hand at work around me.
I praise your holy name, Jesus
~Amen~
Sunday, November 02, 2008
CA Governor's Prayer Team - 40 Days to Pray the Vote - Day 40
For a President Whose Heart is Tender Toward God; Who Will Listen to Him and Sow Seeds of Justice Throughout His or Her Tenure.
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.--Proverbs 21:1-3
Heavenly Father, You have laid out the oceans and rivers, the mountains and valleys; You set the planets on their paths and You know the name of every star in our vast universe.
Please, Lord, give to us a president whose heart is attuned to You—who hungers to serve You and do Your will above all else. Protect us, God from trusting in our own ways, and keep our hearts attuned to You so that we will be acceptable to You in all things and in all our ways. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Father, in Jesus' name, I give thanks for the United States and its government. I hold up in prayer before You those people who are seeking a position of authority in political office. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord rests upon them.
I believe that skillful and godly wisdom has entered into the heart of everyone whom you have appointed to lead us and that knowledge is pleasant to them. Discretion watches over them; understanding keeps them and delivers them from the way of evil and from evil men.
Father, I ask that You surround everyone in authority with men and women who are attentive to godly counsel and do that which is right in Your sight. We pray that our leaders will be people of integrity who are obedient concerning us that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. I pray that only the upright shall be elected to govern over us...that only a person who is blameless and complete in Your sight, Father, shall obtain these positions of leadership. In the name of Jesus we pull down the wicked from this election and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it. I also pray that the media who proclaims any news about this election, will clearly speak and write truth that prevails, and their influence will be for good and not evil.
It is written in Your Word that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, and you turn it whichever way You desire. I believe the hearts of our leaders are in Your hand and that their decisions are divinely directed by You, Lord.
I give thanks unto You that the good news of the gospel is proclaimed and published in our land. The Word of the Lord prevails and grows mightily in the hearts and lives of the people. I give thanks for this land and the leaders You will give to us, in Jesus' name.
"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." Martin Luther King, Jr.
~California Governor's Prayer Team
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Must Read Post - Future of Abortion under Obama
Pre-Election Final
I only was able to watch about half and then had to stop watching until towards the end when the graphic images stopped because I was sobbing and was so sick to my stomach and sick in my heart.
My daughter had sat down next to me as I started watching the video, but when the warning came on I asked her to go get ready for bed before I watched that part of the video (she is only 7). She understands the basics of what abortion is but she is too young to be exposed to these types of images in my opinion. When she came back in she asked me why I would watch a video that would make me cry. I told her that sometitmes we need to watch something that will make us cry so our heart will become more involved. If we don't see what is really going on and involve our hearts in it, it is too easy to ignore the problem and not work to change it.
I am still sooo amazed that anyone can call abortion a choice and not see it as the taking of an innocent life. However, I also realize when I was a teenager, I would have given the standard pro-choice line if anyone had asked me about abortion (in fact I think I did just that a few times). At that age I had no idea nor had put any thought into what it really was. I don't understand how anyone could really think this through and watch a video such as this and still casually dimiss the killing of innocent, defenseless babies as a "Choice".
The actor in the video (popular Mexican actor and producer Eduardo Verastegui) makes a point at the end that really struck me. He says - "if a President is not willing to defend the most innocent of his own country, which are the baby's in their mother's wombs, then my question is, who is he willing to defend?"
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
In the News and On my Heart
3 Arrested for Stealing Political Signs
So I've seen and heard about many poltical signs being stolen, mostly Yes on Prop 8 signs. I know many who have repeatedly had their signs vandalized and/or stolen (so far ours has been left untouched but we live at a dead end and don't get much traffic). Three individuals were caught this morning in the act and with 53 signs in their car. I find it very sad though that it was young adults - these are the youth that are our country's future.
Decriminalizing Prostitution in San Francisco
Now this one (Prop K on the SF ballot next week) seems to be too liberal for even San Francisco (imagine that!). It would not technically make prostitution legal in SF, but it would prevent law enforcement from pursuing prostitutes. Many are protesting this because they believe it will increase problems with human trafficking. Even opposed as it is - I'm concerned that it even made it onto the ballots.
Constitutional Sinners - The Growing Challenge to Freedom of Speech
I am a huge Ted Dekker fan. He is a wonderful fiction writer (one of the best I've ever read, and believe me - I go through books like you would not believe!) and he is able to portray such Truths about God's Word and His Character in his books. It is amazing. I recently read his newest book Sinner, which deals with the future US (2034) in which a National Tolerance Act has been passed that basically makes it hate speech to preach the Good News among other things. Basically saying Jesus is the Way is inflammatory speech. The above link is an article written regarding how themes in the book are showing up in the world today and how the US is on that path as well.
Letter from 2012 in Obama's America
I warn you - this is a long one. It may seem a bit extreme as well. I'm not sure that I agree that this much can happen in just 4 years, but I do believe that this is the path we are walking down as a nation, especially if Obama becomes our next president (or at least at a faster rate if he becomes president). I've said many times in the past weeks now that I believe as individuals and as a nation we must repent and turn back to the Lord. When you realize that everything referenced in this letter prior to Oct 22, 2008 is based on fact you have to stand up and at least pay attention and give it some thought!
I'd love your comments and thoughts on any and all of these items.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Reader's View on Obama's Speech
I think Obama’s attitude shows he’s not a Bible believer. A person who lives for God doesn’t put God in a box and say I’m only going to let you into certain parts of my life. We invite God into ALL parts of our life with none of it off limits to him. After all, trying to live our life without God is when we mess things up. If we follow God, we’ll never, never go wrong. That is a belief in stark contrast to the beliefs of Obama. Obama has a very ‘twisted’ view of scripture as far as I’m concerned and I find his beliefs to be very offensive and arrogant.
My personal belief is that he could be a lot more dangerous than most people even realise as president. Hearing his speeches gives me the creeps. His sudden rise out of nowhere…….his smooth, mesmerising speeches…..his attitude toward God…..his arrogancy and his belief in how wonderful and wise he is……all these things make me concerned about him. Personally the more I hear of him, the more I’m reminded of things I’ve found out about Hitler over the years. That’s not a very comforting thing. I don’t think he has the right stuff to be a good president, but he has so many questionable ‘things of concern’ that I think he could be a very bad person in power. He has an enormous ego. God help us all if he becomes president.
If he gains the presidency, he will be coming into it in one of the most critical economic times worldwide we’ve had in our lifetime. Right now the US and the world is on the edge of a cliff economically and I’m convinced he would tip them over the edge for sure. And that isn’t even bringing our safety and security issues into it concerning terrorists, etc.
I’ve been studying prophecy since when I was pregnant with my youngest son (Angela's note: her youngest son is my age!). I’ve been praying about this for years, studying and just watching to just see what was happening in the world. I do, now, believe it’s possible that things may be entering into the time period of the last days. If we are then this will only be the beginning of our troubles. God is now and will in the future be our only help, contrary to what Obama thinks. Trying to leave God out of the US and it’s government, etc would be a major mistake for any president. Good things don’t happen to those who forget God, who denigrate him, ridicule him and attempt to lead his people away from him or destroy them spiritually or otherwise. His leadership as a president would, I’m afraid, put him at great risk. People can’t stand against God or his word and come out ahead or even be safe…….. I wouldn’t want God angry with me… there’s no place to hide from him. Obviously Obama has no fear of God if he makes fun of God’s word the way he did.
Anyway, I don’t trust Obama, and think he’s very dangerous and arrogant. All that said, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t become president.
But then again, I believe we may be entering the end of days. If we are, this will mean the end of the world as we’ve known it. Things will never ever be the same again. We need to be sure we’re doing God’s will, and watch and pray.
Prop8 and Education
Many sites (including mine) have pointed out what has happened in Massachusetts where parents are being told they not only can't opt-out their children from homosexual and same sex marriage discussions/indoctrination, but that they have no right to have a say in what their children are taught. Opponents will tell you that California will not be like that because we have a right to opt-out in this state, supposedly Massachusetts did not have this.
So - how do you know who is telling the truth? You don't have to look far because what the Opponents of Prop8 say will not happen here, has in fact already begun.
Class Surprises Lesbian Teacher on Her Wedding Day
A class of 1st graders went on a field trip to their lesbian teacher's wedding. Now from what I've read, in this case the children were required to get permission slips, however in order to justify the field trip as being academically related it was deemed as a "teachable event".
"It really is what we call a teachable moment," Jaroflow said, noting the historic significance of same-sex marriage and related civil rights issues. "I think I'm well within the parameters."
So much for those who say homosexual lifestyles are not discussed in the school, especially at such a young age (opponents of Prop8 claim this as well as many blog commenters who insist on calling those of us who support Prop8 liars!)
However, even more disturbing is the following story:
School Holds Surprise Gay Day for Kindergartners
A "Coming Out Day" was held today at this school in California (not far from Sacramento). Other events include celebrating Gay and Lesbian History Month and observing "Ally Week" which usually targts high school students.
Even more disturbing is the fact that the school did not see the need to inform any of the parents of these events. They have confirmed the events are taking place, but they are not listed on the public calendar! How are parents supposed to "opt-out" as we keep being told we have the right to do in California if we are not being informed of what our children are being taught! Click on the link above and read the full article yourself!
Regardless of how you feel about same-sex marriage, this country has a freedom of religion right. As parents we have a right (and a God-given duty) to teach our children morals.
Even if for some reason you don't believe that I have a right to teach my children morals - it can not be denied that the claims of the Prop8 opponents that this will not affect our children's education are lies. It is already affecting our children's education and being pushed down our throats. In the words of San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom - "The door's wide open. It's going to happen whether you like it or not!" - Well Gavin, not if I can help it!
Pray for our Nation - Jeremiah 19
I will be posting other things on my blog (a review of Fireproof which I watched last night is forthcoming) - but expect that each morning as I read Jeremiah and the Lord points out verses to be applied to our nation at this time - I will be sharing.
Today I read Jeremiah 19 - the Lord brought the following verses to the forefront:
For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned sacrificies in it to gods that neither they nor their fathers nor kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal - something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind. (verses 4-5)
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says: "Listen! I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words." (verse 15)
I started thinking about this - we don't necessarily worship stone idols anymore and we don't take our children out in the valleys and throw them in the fire. At least not literally. But this nation, this world in many cases - is still doing these things, the gods have just changed their names and the sacrifices have changed faces.
What gods do we serve in this nation right now?
* Tolerance (political - correctness) - God's Word and Will should rule our lives, not the fear of offending someone because we speak the Truth. Truth is often offensive because it brings to light our sins, something we desparately want to keep in the dark. But some day we must account for these. I'd rather repent of them now than have to explain them to my Creater later as I stand before His Throne.
* Convenience - abortion, greed, we only think of ourselves and we want what we want now. If it may hurt others, we justify it in some way. It does not matter what spin we put on sin, Truth is Truth and sin can NOT be justified.
* Self - We may say we are looking out for others, but in the end we only care about one person, us! And deep down we don't even really like that person. We can not show love if we don't know and understand love. God is LOVE. Without Him we are hopeless. The only true and fulfilling way to live is for Him, not for ourselves!
I keep coming back to Jeremiah 2:11-13
"Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the Lord. My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
Please join me in prayer (repentence & intercession) for this nation. Let us turn from our broken cisterns that we have dug and run to the cistern of the Lord, the spring of Living Water!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Pray for our Nation - Jeremiah 18
However, the elections on their own will not be enough to save this country. We need to have our hearts remade. Individually and as a nation. In the beginning of Jeremiah 18, the Lord tells Jeremiah to visit the potter. While there Jeremiah watches the potter reshaping a marred clay pot in his hands, he reshapes it as he sees as being best to him because he is the expert. The clay pot doesn't know what is best - only the potter does. This is us, our nation - we are that marred clay pot. We need to acknowledge this and ask the Potter to reshape us as He knows best because only He is the expert!
Jeremiah 18:7 - 10
If at any time I announce that a nation or or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Obama - separate "religious" beliefs from politics
This video was recently posted on a blog I visit regularly (which happens to be written by someone I work with) - Mike's Mind Emissions. I had commented on his post, but I just can't get this one out of my mind. So I'm posting here the video for my few readers to see and I've copied my comment below as well.
I'm curious - what is your take on these words of Obama? If you are a Christian - do you agree with Obama? Do you believe that as Christians we should separate our "religious" beliefs from our politics?
My comments on Mike's Blog:
First, I am soooo tired of liberals telling me that I can not base my poltics on my beliefs. They base their poltics on their beliefs. The only difference between my beliefs and theirs is that I trust in a higher power than myself to determine what is right and wrong. Because of this they label my beliefs as "religious" and therefore discount them.
Secondly, for any Christians out there who are thinking they should vote for Obama, if this video does not show that he is NOT a Bible believing Christian, I don't know what does. Nobody who truly believes our Creator is all-knowing and all-powerful, anyone who truly believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God would ever say what he has said here. He basically says God is not reasonable and therefore we can't base our poltics on God.
But I guess that is to be expected. The Bible clearly says God's Ways are not our ways and His Thoughts are not our thoughts. It says the Wisdom of God is foolishness to those who don't believe.
Unfortunately in many ways Obama is right, we are no longer a nation of Christians. As a nation we no longer believe that there are absolutes, that we have a Creator larger than us. As a nation we have chosen to follow our own path and I'm afraid that soon the Lord is going to give this nation over to their desires. I for one am praying for God's mercy.
Someone recently told me that they believe the Lord is going to give America the president they deserve this election. I pray that is not true.
I've really not gotten involved in politics very much in the past and I would never have been considered an intercessor, especially not for our nation. However, this election things have changed.
Thank you Mike for this posting this video.