New Season

"They that wait upon the Lord...

....shall walk and not faint."

Is. 40:31

*

"There is no thrill in walking, it is the test of all stable qualities. The "walk and not faint" is the highest reach possible for strength......When we are in an unhealthy state physically or emotionally, we always want thrills...The reality of God's presence is not dependant on any place, but only upon the determination to set the Lord always before us. Our problems come when we refuse to bank on the reality of His presence.....At critical moments it is necessary to ask guidance, but it ought to be unnecessary to be saying always--"O Lord, direct me here and there." Of course He will! If our common-sense decisions are not His order, He will press through them and check them; then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence."

~Oswald Chambers,

My Utmost For His Highest, July 20th

****
I am finishing a season in my life.

I am entering a new one.

The season I am leaving behind is one of familiarity.

I am stepping into the unknown, but I know the Lord is by my side, keeping His hand in mine, and guiding my steps.

I started this blog to document my life through my college journey, but since I have graduated those days are now behind me and it is time for a change.

So, cheers to a new season......there is a link to my new blog on the right!

It is hard to leave the past behind. The season that I just finished had its fun, easy times as well as its difficult moments. I have found myself leaving behind girlhood and embracing womanhood. I have experience many challenges, and these have brought me to a different horizon....the next phase of my life-journey that I will continue to walk hand-in-hand with my Savior.

L.s.R

:My Liberty:

For freedom Christ has set us free;

stand firm therefore,

and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

~Galatians 5:1 ESV

At the Tea Party

*

For you were called to freedom, brothers.

Only do not use your freedom

as an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

~Galatians 5:13 ESV

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres,

being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,

he will be blessed in his doing.

~James 1:25 ESV

Jesus Christ is the author of liberty. He is my liberty.

No matter what the laws of my country or my world say, I am free in Christ.

I am reminded of Paul, who even while chained in a dungeon still believed

"for freedom Christ has set us free."

No matter my circumstances or my place in life,

I am free in Christ.

*********

I love Diane Kruger's style.

Her flawless bohemian is impeccable.

I wish I could pull off the 'much-needed-hair-color-touch-up' look like she does.

Really, I do...imagine all the money I would save.

Well, awesome shoes help too....

L.s.R

God's Forecast

Thoughts from Mark Driscoll's Series: Rebels Guide to Joy in Temptation
*
God wants more than a change; He wants my heart, my will, my mind, my strength to change. He wants all of me.
*
The Christian life is not so much what I need to stop doing, but more what I need to start doing. I need to replace an old affection with a new one, an old pattern with a Christ-focused one.
I need to embrace my new life through Jesus.
*
It is always a heart issue. God changes us from the inside out. If you are a Christian, God is at work in you, so work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

God wants to change my will. He wants to change my deepest desires and passions so they are for Jesus and not for sin. As a Christian, I should not want free will--but God's will.
*
God is a good God. He takes pleasure in doing good for His children. He delights in forgiving and changing people, giving people new life and a life we can be proud of--a life that is boastful of Jesus and not ourselves.


I need to stop grumbling and start learning. I need to stop questioning and start trusting.
*
Religion either results in pride or despair. Meaning, if you try really hard and are passionate you will be full of yourself or you've tried to do good things but can't stop doing bad things and end up being angry and bitter.
The gospel of Jesus Christ ends in humble joy. We are not saved because of what we do, but because of what He has done.

God will not forsake us, He will not give up on us.
*
God is willing to give a joyous, purposeful, meaningful life to those who are willing to obey Him.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my [Paul's] presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life...."

Philippians 2:12-16 ESV

L.s.R

Just One of Those Days

This week was full of attorney and staff meetings, listening to hearings, learning a new computer system, balancing accounts, talking on the phone with clients and making a gazillion copies of orders and judgements.

So, I was happy when Thursday night finally rolled around and I was able kick off an early weekend by taking a little road-trip. We stayed the night in a nice hotel, slept in late, watched old black-and-whites, spent the afternoon driving around in a beautiful national wildlife reserve, talking, getting lost and listening to music. Finished up by eating at a restaurant that is pretty famous in these parts. The sweet tea, freedom fries, cheeseburgers, and cherry cobbler with homemade ice-cream was pretty amazing.....the country music in the background helped too :)



Thoughts from this week:

*I am listening to a sermon by Mark Driscoll as I write this post. It is about God's grace. God has been revealing to me what I would be like without Him. I don't deserve God's love, His forgiveness, His redemption. I am nothing without Him. Without God's salvation, I am capable of all evil. It is only because of Jesus that I am a new creation. Being shown these truths and taking the steps to believe them has not been easy, but I am thankful that God has shown them to me. Oh, to be like Christ! To show His forgiveness and selfless love to others!

*For the past year and half I have been following Amy Wenzel's photography blog: http://blog.amywenzel.com/. I have admired her talent in writing and photography, as well as the love she shares with her husband, David. I went on her blog a few days ago and found out that her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I do not try to understand why God lets these things happen.....all I know is that He does allow them to happen, and it is for purposes far higher than my intelligence. God is truly mysterious, and He is continually drawing His children closer to Him. I am learning personally that if a hardship brings you closer to Christ it is all worth it in the end. I am praying for Amy and David, and know that the Lord will be glorified.

*God is a miraculous God.

*"You can never give another person that which you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have." Oswald Chambers

*"Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing." From Jennifer Rothschild's, 'Me, Myself and Lies.' God is who defines me. My fears, my insecurities, and the lies that Satan throws at me do not. I am a new creation in Him. My old-self has died, and has been replaced with a life that is born in Christ.

*"He has made everything beautiful in its time....." Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Cheers to the start of another weekend!

L.s.R

Newness

Jesus, loves me just the way I am.

My awkwardness, shyness, quietness.

I can be myself with Him.

He understands me.

He wants to be with me.

Jesus keeps His word to me.

I am the apple of His eye.

I am His daughter.

He takes me as I am.

He loved me before I was born, before the earth was created.

Jesus' love is greater than any human love.

He gave His life for me.

He doesn't say things He doesn't mean.

He proves His love for me everday.

He doesn't leave me hanging.

I want Him to come first in everything.

I want to love Him more than anything.

I don't know who reads this blog, how many...if anyone.

To be honest, I don't write on here for your benefit.

But for mine.

I like to write reminders of God's promises to me, that I can read over and over again.

To remind myself to take my eyes off myself, and fix them on Jesus.

*

The song by fm static is special to me.

I like to listen to it in the car with the sunroof open and the windows down :)

L.s.R

My Weekend

This weekend was busy, stressful, and fun.

Started out with being able to see one of my dear friends get married.

***

On Sunday, I helped Hannah move. I am so excited for her, and for our plans for the end of the summer.....I will miss having her next door to me though :(

On Sunday evenings I have been attending a church with a few friends. Last night the pastor spoke on Psalms 23. He gave a new, deeper perspective to the popular verses. The one that jumped out to me was in verse 3: "He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." The Lord is my Shepherd in my immaturity and failure. He will restore my soul and lead me through the rut and into His way of righteousness. Restoration and maturity is not only for my sake, but for His. Christ's reputation is at stake. As a follower of Him, how I act, say and do represent Him.

***

A few of my jumbled, random thoughts from this weekend:

1. Working for a ministry does not make you holier.....God calls people to their own unique paths. This could mean being a pastor, politician or a farmer. This is something that has always gotten under my skin, Christians who think it is a sin or look down on other Christians for having a job in a secular field. They shy away from universities, politics, or the military because they think it is unholy. I want to follow what the Lord has for me, and if that means becoming a senator, wife/mother, secretary, or teacher, I will do it. The world is our mission field, and Christians are called to be a part of it. Christ was sent to this world to save the lost and to reach them right where they are at. I believe Christ has placed me exactly were He wants me....I just need to depend on Him and be willing to be used by Him.

2. Josh Groban's concert on PBS.

3. I cannot put my trust in a person or people. They will only let me down. Jesus Christ is the only one that I can fully trust. He is always there. He is my constant. He always keeps His word and never says anything He does not mean.

4. I need to work on my posture at work.

5. Beth Moore's summer Bible study.

6. I really want to try the new Mango Limeade at Sonic.

L.s.R

Thank God It's Friday!

For the first time in my short life I can say TGIF and really mean it, because I don't have to work on Saturdays anymore!! This entire week as been full of learning legal terms, computer systems and commands, and memorizing everything and its brother....and I only set off one alarm!!

So.....needless to say, I am very ready for this weekend.

***

It is Hannah's birthday today, so we started the celebration by going to lunch.

After lunch, I headed back to the office and went through more training.

At 4:30 I had nothing to do so I took pictures of myself in my cubicle..........that is how I roll!

(No, really I only did this for about a minute!)

After work Hannah and I got manis/pedis done.

I got solar nails for the first time...I love the click-clackety sound when I type! My poor little feet had gotten pretty beat up from the marathon last month and were in need of some TLC, and thankfully I didn't get any grassy decor this time either!! ***

Tomorrow I am doing my friend's make-up for her wedding...I am so happy for her.

I like the black and white dress that I bought for the wedding.

***

I hate to be a broken record, but in the mornings, as a part of my quiet times, I have been reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, and I always love what he says. Most of his insights have been relevant to my life right now:

"There may be any number of things dark to your understanding, but they do not come in between your heart and God. "And in that day you shall ask Me no question" (John 16:23)--you do not need to, you are so certain that God will bring things out in accordance with His will. "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1) This verse has become the real state of your heart, and there are no more questions to be asked. If anything is a mystery to you and it is coming in between you and God, never look for the explanation in your intellect, look for it in your disposition, it is that which is wrong. When once your disposition is willing to submit to the life of Jesus, the understanding will be perfectly clear, and you will get to the place where there is no distance between the Father and His child because the Lord has made you one, and "in that day you shall ask Me no question." "

L.s.R

Hurdles

Yesterday was my first day of my new job.

After the day was over, my head hurt from looking at computer screens and taking in all the new information.

I think I will like it though.

After work, I went to my hair appointment and was able to relax a little. My hairstylist gives killer head massages.

****

Been reading a lot of Oswald Chambers this past week:

"God is the Master Engineer, He allows the difficulties to come in order to see if you can vault over them properly--"By my God have I leaped over a wall." God will never shield you from any of the requirements of a son or daughter of His."

"Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer, He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered. Have we by the Spirit the unspeakable certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when God does not seem to have answered prayer.....God answers prayer in the best way, not sometimes, but every time, although the immediate manifestation of the answer in the domain in which we want it may not always follow."

"It is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost which changes men, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into men's lives by the Holy Ghost that changes them....The baptism of the Holy Ghost does no make you think of Time or Eternity, it is one amazing glorious NOW. "This is life eternal that they might know Thee." Begin to know Him now, and finish never."

L.s.R

Oceans and Suns

"The ability of God is beyond our prayers, beyond our largest prayers!

I have been thinking of some of the petitions that have entered into my supplication innumerable times.

What have I asked for?

I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains!

I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides!

My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving: it is beyond that we can ask."

--J. H. Jowett

I read this on a blog today.

God is so good, I am finding that out more and more everday.

L.s.R

All Grist for the Mill

Well, it has been awhile.
*

I am a college graduate.
I have a new job.
*

At the start of 2009, I had this gut instinct that this year was going to be big for me and I have not been disappointed! God has been so good!

*
I have gone through and am going through circumstances that I have never experienced before.

*
God is my constant through it all.

*
Life may be happy, I may be content, everything may fall into place, dreams may come true, and God is always there for me.

His love does not change.
Circumstances may change, people may let me down, expectations may falter, goals may not be reached, dreams may not come true, and God is always there for me.

His love does not change.

I am learning daily to always go to Christ, in the good and bad times, to surrender my will and expectations to Him. To accept His perfect will.

*
I have started to memorize scripture more. Awhile back I bought a yellow, index card holder from Target and have started to write down verses that pop out at me during my quiet time. I have slowly started to memorize them. Memorizing scripture has always been hard for me, I’ll commit it to memory but then completely draw a blank a week later. It is retaining that I have issues with, but practice makes perfect.

*

I am excited for summer, starting my new job, 4th of July (I really don't know why? Kind of random), a friend's wedding, coming of fall, Christmas, seeing Wicked, buying things for my cubical at work, visiting new places, meeting new people, being with my family, and having my hair grow longer (its seems to be stuck!).

L.s.R

Crossing it Off the List

Well, Dad and I did it!
We completed 26.2 miles in 5 hours, 36 minutes.
Here are some pictures of our journey, which started in January.

This morning, the day of the marathon!

The final last stretch before the finish line.

Finish line. Dad and I raced each other over it. I will never forget that feeling!

Getting our tracking chips removed from our shoes.

The End!

****

Training has taught me so much! It is no wondering that the Apostle Paul liked to use running as an analogy of how we journey through this hard world.

*
Running a race well takes determination, discipline and energy.

*

In all things, whether it is running a marathon, working at my job, or going through the mundane, daily activities of my life, I want to glorify Christ in how I accomplish and finish them.

*

I am very happy that I can check 'Walk a Marathon' off my list of goals to finish before I die. I am even more happy, because my dad pushed me one step further and helped me run half of it. Thanks Dad! I love you!

*

I wonder which goal will be crossed off next?

L.s.R

My Freedom-Giver. In every way.

***
Excerpts from Beth Moore's "Jesus, The One and Only"
(Pages 321-322)

Luke 23:50-24:12

"....If I may say with a chuckle the one possible reason God chose to reveal the Resurrection first to women is because He can trust us to get the word out! Telling what we've been told is our speciality!
***
However, nothing can deflate the spirits of an enthusiastic woman like an apprehensive audience.

Luke 24:11 records that the apostles "did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense."

Sisters, don't be insulted by this scene in Luke 24:11. Rather, be blessed that God was up to something awesome in this seemingly insignificant detail.

You see, "the witness of women was not acceptable in that day."

They couldn't testify as witnesses.

Now isn't it just like my Jesus?
He threatened the status quo in countless ways, not the least of which concerned women. He involved them into Bible class (Luke 10:39) after they had spent centuries learning what little Scripture they could from their husbands.

He honored their service during a time in which men were the only ones who ministered publicly (Mark 15:41).

He healed, forgave, delivered, and made whole the very ones society shunned.
Women of ill repute.

Appointing these women [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James] as the first to share the news of Jesus' Resurrection was a definite "custom shaker."
Jesus knew the apostles wouldn't believe them, but perhaps He felt that the pending discovery of their authenticity would breed a fresh respect.

After all, at the first roll-call in the post-ascension New Testament church you'll see women listed as apart of the first New Testament cell group (Acts 1: 13-14)
***
....Christ built His church on a foundation of mutual respect.

Don't misunderstand.

Christ wasn't prioritizing women over men. He simply took the ladder down to the basement where society had lowered women.

With His nail-scarred hands, He lifted them to a place of respect and credibility.

The last thing women should want to do in the body of Christ is to take men's places.

They have far too much responsibility for my taste!

But by all means, let's take our place!

We have also been called to be credible witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ."

I have been called to be a crediable witness for Jesus Christ.

He is Risen!

L.s.R

New Beginnings

Spring is one of my favorite seasons.
I like to think of it as a new beginning.
The trees and flowers have a fresh start to show their possible beauty.
The sky seems bluer. The air seems clearer.

Spring is a season full of battles. Summer one day, winter the next.
Only rarely is there a balance between the temperatures to create the perfect Spring day.

Easter, the celebration of Christ rising from His grave, is in Spring.
Christ, by dying on the cross and rising again, won the battle over death.

Spring is a new beginning for nature and for us.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

Dents and Rips

The one thing I want to portray on this blog is genuineness.
My life is far from perfect.
I do not have all the answers.
I do not have it all together.
***
As I mentioned in my last post I have my own personal battles.
One of them is worrying.
It was an epidemic with me when I was little.
I remember distinct memories of worrying about going blind from getting Windex in my eye, or a tornado sucking me up, or crashing in a plane over the water and being eaten by sharks, or dying at my friend's house and not being able to say good-bye to Mom.

I know, I was a morbid little girl.....and not terribly bright :)
***
But as I have become older, these fantastic worries have turned into more realistic ones.
Is my GPA going to be high enough (for what anyway?), will I be able to find the job I want, will I ever be able to do some of things I have planned for my life?

When I was eight, during one of my 'worry sessions,' I remember my dad looking at me and telling me worrying is a sin.
Worrying is telling God He is not strong enough,
powerful enough to work it out.
Worrying is telling the God who created the universe
He cannot handle it.
You have to trust God with your life, future and plans.
It seems so simple, but it is very, very hard for me.
I admit it.
***
Trusting Christ with my life is a day to day, hour by hour, minute by minute event for me.
It has to be or I get overwhelmed.
The past year was a huge stepping-stone in the worry department for me.
So far, it was one of the biggest years of my life, and there were many areas I had to give to the Lord and tell Him I could not do it.
He had to.
I had to give Him full control, and surrender every single thing to Him.
***
I still have my moments of forgetfulness and I fall back into the old pattern.
But the only thing I can do is strive to be closer and closer to Christ.
The more I know Christ, the more I think like Him and understand Him.

Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22

L.s.R

V-Day

No, this is not what you think.
This is not another 'woe-is-me' Valentine’s Day post.
It is a Victory post. Comparable to the VE-Day of WWII.
I can honestly write, with a free conscience, that I am happy that I am single.

As my dad says, Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday, like Mother’s and Father’s Day, that was started by Hallmark to raise revenue. Valentine’s Day is something that should happen everyday, not only once year.
I think that is romantic.
But lets get back to the single part. I believe every girl has her own personal battles that are unique to her. Being single is not one of mine. I have other woes that are very real, difficult and just as hard as the battle of singleness. But they are my battles.
My heart goes out to every girl that does not think she is worthy because she is single. Having a boyfriend or a husband does not meet your needs. If you are not happy with yourself or your life before marriage, you definitely won’t after marriage. Guys are human, and it is impossible for them to meet every need in our lives.
As women, we have to become strong in ourselves, through Christ. Nothing else.
God can meet us at any place in our lives and give us Victory.
My advice to those whose personal battle is singleness, get busy and do something with your life! You won’t meet someone standing still, and being lazy is very unattractive.

One of my personal heroes in my life, is my sister Hannah. Like myself, one day she would like to be married. But it does not consume her. She stays busy and follows the Lord’s will. She has gone on countless mission trips in the world, has lived in Moscow, Russia on her own, volunteered for organizations, has her degree, and is currently working two jobs. She is amazing. She has Victory through Christ.

Now, to the eye-rolling people that do not believe that I enjoy being single, and think I am putting on a front to hide my lonely feelings, let me put your doubts to rest. I know I am not ready to be married, because I enjoy my freedom to much. I enjoy (wisely) spending my money how I please. I enjoy planning my future just for me. I enjoy worrying about only myself. I do not think this is wrong, I think it is God’s way of naturally telling me that I am not ready for the wonderful step of marriage.
God is sovereign, and He alone will tell me when it is time. But for now I embrace my Victory in Christ to follow Him alone until He leads someone to walk the path with me.

So, I guess this turned out to be a Valentine’s post after all! But I hope uplifting.
So now I am going to put on my leopard-print, heart-shaped earrings and red pea-coat and party anyway!

With all my heart, Happy Valentine’s Day!
L.s.R

Kiss the Hand, Touch the Sky

During this icy night I am watching the second installment of the Lord of the Rings.

Someday I will visit New Zealand and go on the LOTR Tour.

I am not kidding, I will.

One of the best themes of LOTR is how to deal with difficult times. When your life becomes hard it does not mean it is right for you to give up. Every decision in your life means something, whether big or small. How will you deal with hard choices? Will you give up, do nothing, or make excuses because it is too scary to make the decisions? Or will you persevere, and try different options, other alternatives?

Will you at least try?

In 2008, I learned all good things in life take effort.
It is what I want to live out in 2009.
I had to make choices in 2008 that were very difficult, and some of them not popular with everyone in my life. Those decisions took a lot of effort physically, mentally and spiritually. But those hard times have led to exciting ones. God never promised that this life would always be in our 'comfort-zone.' He said it would be hard, but He would be with us every step of the way.


***
I think this will be my summer hair-color for 2009. No highlights, just a solid, sunny blond.
Yummy, summery hair!

***

I passed my final for Western Civilization today. I am so thankful to God for orchestrating it. It was only because of Him I was able to get an earlier appointment before the ice came, and that I passed with a very good score. I now am turning towards Western Civ. 2.

I think I have gotten senioritis.

My Capstone course is still going well. I am working on my first team project. Next week I will be leading my team on our next assignment. So far this class as been a lot of fun, interacting and collaborating with classmates.

***

I have started reading The Mayflower. It is the start to finishing one of my goals before I die. I want to read one book about every war America has been apart of, and this book covers a few early wars.

I love history!

Later tonight I will probably watch 24. Hannah, has gotten me hooked. LOST is still my favorite, but 24 is good. Funny, how every lead is named Jack. Why?

L.s.R

If I Had a Time Machine....

Has this ever happened to you? You are driving, walking, or simply sitting still, and you are suddenly transported back into your past. Maybe it was something about the shadows on the wall, or a scent, or a voice.

This happened to me today. I was driving home from work. The sun was setting behind me, as I drove down a back-road towards home. I was driving past a field, and suddenly I wasn't on Anders Road, but was sitting behind Dad in our old Audi. I was 6 years old. Dad was driving, Mom was sitting beside him. Hannah was sitting next to me, the foam armrest laying down between us, the one we always fought over when we got sleepy. We were driving home from Salina, Colorado.
The first couple of years we lived in Colorado, we made it a tradition of going to Salina for a day, a couple weeks before Christmas. We would leave early and drive all morning until we came into town, and ate at Grandma's Kitchen for lunch. I remember the rotating refrigerator with slices of pie. After lunch, I don't remember what we would do, but we would end the day by shopping at Wal-mart. Just for the record, I don't like today's Wal-marts. But I liked the old Wal-marts, the 'un-super' Wal-marts. Mom and Dad would send us to another part of the store, and they would buy our Christmas presents. They wouldn't let us look at the cart as we walked to the car, and made us look straight-ahead in our seats as they loaded everything in the trunk. I remember the drive home, and I think we went by a field with the sun setting on it, just like the field I pasted today.

I think it is amazing how our minds can be triggered like that. Psychologists would say it is a stimuli that makes our minds recall something in our long-term memory, but I know God created deja-vu moments for a reason. He brings them to remembrance at the perfect moment, when we need it the most. Whether it was pleasant or hard, I think there is a reason for a resurfacing memory. Maybe to praise Him for wonderful memories, or thank Him for what He taught you in a difficult time. Either way, I am thankful for the trip down memory lane. To remember vividly, the excitment of being little and with my family and only caring about that hour, that minute was great!

Now I sit in reality. Twenty-years-old and a college senior. I have my whole life a head of me, even though it feels like it is passing me by sometimes, I am excited. I was reminded while I was driving today, that I have to seize this moment, now. I have to let each moment count, to never be afraid of the future and the unknown, and to not live in the past.

How are we suppose to make memories if we are always living in one?

My prayer for me, and you, is that we ask the Lord fearlessly to use us in every possible way that He can. Even in ways that we did not think possible.
Right now in my life, I feel that I am caught in limbo. Like I am on the verge of something new and great, at least for me.

But I must be patient and walk in the Lord. Not behind, in front, or beside.

But IN Him.

L.s.R

The Day After

To say that I am disappointed, is the understatement of the year.
I won't deny that I have felt fear.
Fear of how this will affect my future.
Fear of how this will affect my children, the generation after me.

In my mind I saw the next 4 years and was terrified
of everything that could 'change' so quickly.

I have seen the effects of socialism, fascism, and communism.
I have seen what the effects of 'spreading the wealth' will do to a nation and its people.

In Italy, the government is a corrupt bureaucracy. Italians respect the Mafia more than then their president.
In Russia, the people are oppressed, bitter, sad and hopeless.
Throughout the rest of socialist Europe, the economies are so bad that the governments are reinstating certain capitalistic standards to bring their economies up to par.

But we have to understand that throughout history's most oppressive and darkest hours,
God's light shined the brightest.
Nero, Hitler and Stalin, some of the world's worst dictators, never succeeded in taking the power out of God's might and love.
In fact, during such times, Christ's Church as never been so strong.

Why would I think it would be any different this time?
Why do I think God has changed?
Why do I think that God's love is any weaker?

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I cannot fear what men can do to me.
My hope is not in the American people, but in God.

So I have decided, I will not look fearfully to the future.
I will take each day as it comes.
Below, is the Psalms that was for yesterday,
Election Day.

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

How long, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?

But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself

him who is godly;

The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

Be angry, and do not sin.

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the LORD.

There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?”

LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

You have put gladness in my heart,

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4

L.s.R

Psalm 43

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;

rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected me?

Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
Send forth your light and your truth,

let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

L.s.R

Equipped to Fulfill God's Calling

By Dr. Charles Stanley

Exodus 3:1-14

Our heavenly Father is looking for men and women who will dedicate themselves to His kingdom work. He seeks people willing to accept responsibility and carry out His "assignments" to completion.
The Lord commended Moses because he persevered in faith to fulfill the divine calling on his life. Chosen to lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egyptian bondage, Moses initially reacted by questioning, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh?" (Ex. 3:11). But God assured him, "Certainly I will be with you" (v. 12). His presence was a key part of Moses' equipping as a leader. And the Lord's response to us is the same. We can confidently accept the responsibility God gives us--whether it's for leadership or some other role--because He has promised to be with us always (Matt. 28:20).
However, Moses wondered whether the Hebrew people would listen to him. He had been away from Egypt for a long time, and his last interaction with the Israelites had been a negative one (Ex. 2:11-14). What kind of influence could he have? God revealed that the only credential Moses needed to give them was that he was sent by God--the I AM (Ex. 3:14). When the Lord gives us a task, He will bestow the spiritual authority we need to carry it out. In addition, God gave Moses a helper--his brother Aaron. Our heavenly Father will also provide us with the people necessary to fulfill His plan.
God has promised to equip us for His work.

What is your response when asked to serve?