Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)
My prayer is that you (and I) choose, today, to abide in His everlasting love. Choose, today, to recognize that He knows everything about you and despite, He loves you the same. Choose, today, to know that He desires to be in relationship with and lavish on you.
He loves you, whether you like it or not. Always has. Always will. There is no greater love.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Yesterday, and the weeks leading up to Election Day, Americans chose to rock the vote in record numbers. Many (dare I say, all of us) were glued to the television and the Internet last night, in anticipation of which candidate would receive those coveted 270 electoral votes.
Now, we know that President Barack Obama has been reelected to lead this Nation for the next four years. As Mr. President joyfully presented his victory speech, he accepted the continued privilege of leadership and proclaimed that “We’ve got more work to do,” and “the best is yet to come”.
While my husband and I stood in line to vote yesterday, our neighbor asked “Where were you 4 years ago? How much has changed?”. In a state of reflection, we were astounded by our answer. We uttered “We did not know one another 4 years ago; we lived and voted in Maryland 4 years ago;” and introspectively recalled how amazingly God has moved in our lives.
Regardless of who you voted for; and regardless of how you feel about President Obama, the fact that Democrats hold the power of the Senate or that Republicans hold the power of the House of Representatives, we all have the responsibility to move forward. We have the benefit to walk into a season where “the best is yet to come”, and will be able to reflect on how amazingly God continues to move in our lives and in the USA over the next 1, 2, 3, 4+ years.
Just as we exercised our right responsibility to vote and chose our President in this 2012 Election, let us acknowledge the favor and power that we have, in our relationship with the Lord, to cover our President in prayer. In the reality of it all, President Barack Obama has been called to be a leader of millions, and God clarifies that he has not been called to do so in his own human power or will.
Jesus is not a Republican. Jesus is not a Democrat. Jesus isn’t even an American. Yet, Jesus is All, a Mighty Counselor and He knows the plans He has for us and the United States of America.
As the difference in this world, please join SH. and I in continually praying for our President, his family and his course of actions in leading this Country with a heart directed by the Lord. Mitt Romney’s praying for President Obama. Why shouldn’t we?
Jesus, be a Presidential Advisor.
SM.
Today is SH’s birthday…and I’m so excited! I’m over here doing the snake, bankhead bounce and I’m spinning & twirling. (I think these dances date me…but whatevs.)
SH (when you return from that beautiful island and read this), please know that I pray that you receive and experience all of the joy and favor you can stand — on this day and every day of your life. My birthday wish for you, is that you are able to celebrate with no inhibitions, realize God’s astounding and unconditional love for you and know that you are loved abundantly by the people that surround you.
Basically, God just confirmed His desire for you to enjoy and celebrate your day too! Do it!
Everyone, please join me in sending SH mucho love and birthday wishes. She deserves nothing less than the best.
Happy birthday boo.
SM.
P.S. It’s her birthday, so read her amazing blog too: Style Atelier.
Here, Solomon instructed the Israelites to turn themselves over completely to God, to pursue His will as a way of life and to obey His commands. He desired for them to be constantly thinking of and their hearts be interested in and concerned with, God. King Solomon even prayed and asked that God “turn [their] hearts to Him” (1 Kings 8:58). He pretty much solicited and roused an obsession to live a life absorbed in obedience, worship, devotion and love.
What is your current obsession? What matter is absorbing your thoughts and your actions? To whom or what are you devoted to?
Today, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit reveals our obsessions to us and helps us each devote and entrust more of ourselves to Him — by spending more time with Him in prayer, doing what He tells us to do, reading and studying His Word and loving on His people.
Be obsessed.
SM.
P.S. As a direct result of this post, one of my many future immediate to-dos will be cooperating with the Helper to release my iPhone iron grip during additional moments in my day. #clarity
