Example of our leaders matters
II Chronicles 14:2, 4-6a GW Asa did what the LORD his God considered good and right. ... He told the people of Judah to dedicate their lives to serving the LORD God of their ancestors and follow his teachings and commands.
He got rid of the illegal places of worship and the altars for incense in all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at peace during his reign. He built fortified cities in Judah because the land had peace. ...

The example and guidance of our leaders is critical in the direction of a nation. Good leaders lead the people and nations to blessing and peace, evil leaders lead to destruction.

Asa set an example of serving God and God blessed him and the nation. But Asa knew peace doesn't last and realized the need for a strong defense as well. When the enemy attacked they were held back back by a strong defense and defeated by a people who depended on God for ultimate defense.

Who we elect as leaders is vitally imported to the well being of individuals and the nation. We need leaders who don't just mouth a few religious platitudes about getting along, but who encourage Christians, who lift up the name of Jesus and who don't consider Christians as dangerous and prayer as unseemly in public.

My vote counts. Will it lift up Jesus?

Not By Military Might
II Chronicles 13:17-18 GW So Abijah and his men defeated them decisively, and 500,000 of the best men of Israel were killed. So the Israelites were humbled at that time, and the men of Judah won because they trusted the LORD God of their ancestors.

We think our military wins because of plans and might and numbers, but America's military has won because of a foundation of faith in God. When that is no longer true, and that time may be now, our military might will be as broken as our government that seems bent on eliminating Christian expression, eliminating freedom and independence and substituting oppresive big government for God, faith and freedom.

Judah won the battle because God faught for a people who served Him. Israel was routed because they'd turned their backs on God.

The question is--am I salt and light, holding the torch of faith no matter what, or do I hide my light? Help me, have the courage to "Let My Little Light Shine" for You. Amen.

Psalm 94:14 The LORD will never desert his people or abandon those who belong to him.

When Leaders Turn From God
II Chronicles 12:1-2 GW When Rehoboam had established his kingdom and made himself strong, he and all Israel abandoned the LORD'S teachings. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This happened because all Israel was not loyal to the LORD.

Rehoboam began to think he was "all that" and didn't need God. What happened? God removed His blessing and protection, opening Judah up for invasion.

But the pending invasion woke Rehoboam to the truth and to His need of God.

V. 6-7a Then the commanders of Israel and the king humbled themselves. "The LORD is right!" they said. When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, he spoke his word to Shemaiah: "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them. ...

Too bad terrorism on our shores didn't, for long, wake up our leaders to the need for God. Unless we repent, as did Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, America will perish.

We've been a nation set apart because of God's blessing and protection. We've had that because we trusted in Him and allowed freedom to worship Him.

That is no longer true. Christianity is being surpressed, even outlawed, at every level. Can we expect God's protection or blessing when we no longer serve Him?

And I grieve.

We need to live for Christ, no matter what, and pray diligently for our leaders to turn to Him.

Good Days and Dad
Psalm 92:1 GW It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to make music to praise your name, O Most High.

Good Days & Bad

Thank You, Jesus,
For good days and bad,
For music that brings remembrace of things joyous and sad.

Thank You, Jesus,
For experiences that teach
Lessons in living that help me
Other hurting people to reach.

Thank You, Jesus,
For family and friends by my side
Thank You most of all, Jesus,
For being my loving Savior, friend, and guide. Amen.

Life of Gratitude
When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you. -Psalm 91:15-16 GW

THANKS

When I pray to You, Jesus,
Thank You that You promise to answer me.
Thank You that when I'm in trouble, You are with me.
Thank You that when I am sad, You comfort me.
Thank You for being my Friend as well as my Savior and Lord.
Thank You for Your blessings and for Your promise of life.
Help me, in turn, to honor You.
And live a life of gratitude. Amen.

Praying the Bible
Psalm 91:15-16 GW When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you.

This can be personalized into a prayer.

When I pray to You, Jesus, thank You that You promise to answer me.

Thank You that when I'm in trouble, You are with me.

Thank You for being my Savior and Lord.

Thank You for Your blessings and for Your promise of life.

Help me, in turn, to honor You. Amen.

Apart From God
Psalm 90:2 GW Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God. You are God from everlasting to everlasting.

God is God. He was God before I was born, before humankind existed, even before our solar system came to be. He will be God long after we are dust.

In running our own lives we forget who He is--eternal God, and who we are--His creation. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, everything we do will end in failure, emptiness, disaster.

But when we acknowledge God as God and center in Him all we think, say and do, we can make choices that bring peace, life and hope. What I do does make a difference.

V. 12 Teach us to number each of our days so that we may grow in wisdom.

Eyes to See
Psalm 89:1 Mkjv I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Do I spend my time complaining about life, family, relationships, work, the economy and who-knows-what all? Or do I do my best, love those in my life, and thank God for the many blessings in my life?

Do I search for the bad to complain, or have eyes of faith to see all the good in my life and praise God---even when I see nothing at all?

It's a heart attitude. It's a matter of trust. Am I trusting Jesus--or something else?

National Consequences
II Chronicles 7:22 GW "They will answer themselves, 'They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt. They adopted other gods, worshiped, and served them. That is why he brought this disaster on them.'"

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Truth or consequences. When we don't accept truth--and God is truth--we accept a lie. We do things our way and try to believe that's good enough. It isn't. All my good works, all my righteousness pales in the light of the darkness of my heart. Only submitting to the Lordship of our Savior will we know a positive outcome--life.

So it is with nations. Nations that turn away from God, from truth, with those who ridicule faith, call down upon theme the consequences of their actions.

America as a nation has turned it's back on the very One who has so blessed this nation.

We're seeing the consequences in people blinded by lies, by unrest, by degredation, by failing families, churches that don't honor God, and a hostility toward Christianity and all that is good, honorable and holy.

We have a nation de-constrcting. Can our nation be resurrected? There is only one way. As individuals and as a nation we must reurn to our foundations in Jesus

V. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

II Chronicles 7:14 GW However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.

Harvest We Sow
II Chronicles 6:9, 10a, 15a GW But you must not build the temple. Instead, your own son will build the temple for my name.' The LORD has kept the promise he made. I've taken my father David's place, and .... I've built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. ...You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

God keeps His promises. He promises provision, protection and peace for those who honor, serve and follow Him. He promises blessing for those who honor Him and the opposite for those who don't.

What we choose to do has consequences. Evil choices brings evil upon us. Good choices bring blessing--though not always in the way we think. God put principles in play when He created our universe. Do we really think we can spurn His will and His way and build a life of peace and blessing?

God keeps His promises.
We reap what we sow.

Lord Jesus, help me sow seeds of righteousness, faith in You and compassion for others. Amen.

Husker Defeat

The Nebraska Huskers did so well and held on so long yesterday in their football game. But in the end they didn't hold the line. They plucked defeat out of victory.

How often do we stand up, stand firm and hold the line in our lives until the end when we're exhausted and discouraged? At some point it seems easier just to let down, just a bit, compromise our beliefs, go along to get along, hide our witness, because we're tired and frustrated.

While the Huskers didn't mean to allow a touchdown in the final seconds of the game, they, nonetheless, didn't hold the line.

The difference with us is that we don't have to hold the line alone. For when we're weak, He is strong. We can go to Jesus and He will comfort and strengthen and His Word bring encouragement.

Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ`s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. --2 Corinthians 12:10

Lord Jesus, help me not give up or give in when I get discouraged, but instead to draw closer to You and find strength in You. Amen.

Not Giving Up
Cutie Cat's tenacity to cling to life puts me to shame. How quickly I give up on dreams, on faith, on life. She teaches me that even when pain and problems come, as they will, to hang on. As God takes care of Cutie so He gives us strength to endure and triumph as we depend on Him.

Ephesians 6:10 Mkjv Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

May you find strength in Him.

One Way
Romans 8:9 GW But if God's Spirit lives in you, you are under the control of your spiritual nature, not your corrupt nature. Whoever doesn't have the Spirit of Christ doesn't belong to him.

The idea persists, even in certain "Christian" circles, that everyone will go to Heaven, that living a good life is good enough. If that were true, Jesus didn't need to come because we as humankind could save ourselves.

But we can't. Without Jesus' death and resurrection no one can have eternal life. But that life doesn't come automatically, each of us much choose whether to believe, accept the gift Jesus offers because of His death, and follow Him or turn our back on His gift of life in Him.

Heaven and life is a choice. It is not about being good, but accepting that goodness comes only by asking Jesus to live in and through us. Those who don't, do not know life now or ever.

V. 13-14 If you live by your corrupt nature, you are going to die. But if you use your spiritual nature to put to death the evil activities of the body, you will live. Certainly, all who are guided by God's Spirit are God's children.

Do I Choose Rescue?
Romans 7:23 GW However, I see a different standard at work throughout my body. It is at war with the standards my mind sets and tries to take me captive to sin's standards which still exist throughout my body.

Humankind is not naturally good. That is a belief that refuses to acknowledge that true evil exists, or a manevolent being behind evil--Satan. We are not good. That is what the whole fruit and Eve is all about. Her & Adam's choice to disobey God introduced the element of evil.

We now are a battle ground between Good & Evil. Jesus changed the playing field by dying for our disobedience and conquering Evil by rising again. While we can't win the battle on our own--we tend to play with fire, like walking the wild side and toying with sin--we can win when we allow Jesus to fight for us.

But it takes choice. It takes feeding what is good, not what is evil and not rationalizing. It takes choosing Jesus, maintaining a close relationship with Him.

V. 25a I thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ rescues me!

Where's My Focus?
Romans 6:11-13 GW So consider yourselves dead to sin's power but living for God in the power Christ Jesus gives you. Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires. Never offer any part of your body to sin's power. ...

When we accept Christ into our lives, He wipes away our sin and gives us a whole new start. Our part is to focus on learning from and following Christ, letting Him guide.

But, though we have a new future to write with God's help, we can mess it up by choosing to turn away from the One who died to give us a second chance. We can choose old habits, old friends, old ways. God doesn't take away choice. But we need to remember we become slaves to what we follow. Will that be friends and habits that leave us empty, hurt and hopeless or Christ who is love and who offers hope and life?

My choice. Yours.

V. 16 Don't you know that if you offer to be someone's slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God's approval.

V. 23 The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.