It's Not about Me

There's a book that has been sitting on my bathroom reading shelf, unopened, for a time. I was going to open it, but never truly did. To everything, however, there is a season. I needed something to read, and saw, "The Purpose Driven Life" by Pastor Rick Warren. So, I'm embarking upon a forty-day journey.

I got a notebook and my Bible and started reading. I liked the first day's reading; in a nutshell, this is what sums up what I've got to grasp and get a hold of: it's NOT about me -- BUT, it's ALL about God.

In the first day's reading, Rick Warren was talking about the Russian novelist, Andrei Bitov. Growing up in a communist country, Bitov never really gave God any thought -- until he became saddened with a sadness so deep it was incomprehensible while riding the subway. One phrase embedded itself in Bitov's mind: Without God life makes no sense. He emerged from the subway train, walked up the steps and into the light of day, as well as the true light of God's perfect will.

God is absolutely amazing!

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We've voted a president into office as a nation. Now, we are called as Christians to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us -- whether we agree with their political views or not. If you are a Christian, then I urge you -- I repeat -- I URGE you to pray that God turns the hearts of those in office to Him, in the name of Jesus, from your town mayors, to the Senate and members of Congress, to the President, to the Supreme Court. Instead of complaining, we need to pray for God's Divine Intervention.

I am reminded by the Word of God where the people said they wanted a change -- they didn't want the judges ruling over them, but rather a king. And God turned them over to their desires -- the people suffered for their choice, but God gives us all this wonderful gift called free will. He has given us all this wonderful gift called free will, and if we as a nation continually turn our backs on Him, then He will give us exactly what we asked for, as can be illustrated in Romans 1:20-32 (nkj):

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

May we fervently pray for our country and for the Lord's touch on this generation!