Remember Who You Are. Thank God For Obama.

I am thankful for many things. One being that Barack Obama is President of the United States. I did not vote for him, neither do I believe he was the best choice for leadership for our nation, but I am thankful just the same.  God word tells us to 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7.   To be honest, I've never trusted my political motives and for sure, I never trust those of others. What I do trust in, is the plan of a perfect, holy, sovereign God whose ways are above my capacity to understand. To be fair,  President Obama inherited a sinful nation of which he is neither cause or cure but rather a tool in the hand of the Almighty.  Make no mistake, for better or worse, Barack Obama's presidency is a divine appointment.See Daniel 4:17  So, I am thankful for anyway God will use our president, be it prosperity or discipline. Only time will tell, but if ever there was a time to guard our hearts and minds, tis now. So, let's be thankful for everything. Praying God will spare us our deserved roasting like the the President pardoned this turkey couldn't hurt either.  At least the race is over. Amen! Thank you Jesus!

  Now let me be clear, I 'd never intentionally roll up into God's sleeve my personal opinions though I find it impossible to believe unbiblical policies delight Him.  However, since both sides often stray far from the heart of God, I beat no political drum. American beliefs range from the messiah, god, or Satan on who our president might be, but equally unsettling to me, is the notion that Mitt Romney was ever to be our savior. Those who placed all their hopes on the presidency, now either paint a doomsday scenario for America that pales in comparison to the Mayan calendar or have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. The truth, may reside somewhere between the two, but God's word reminds us " Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation."Psalm 146:3.  God  is causing all things to work together for our good. His plan is to prosper and not to harm us. Never will He leave us or forsake us. I am thankful for who God is and for who God says we are. Still, some of us have spiritual amnesia. Sort of like this guy.

 Remember who we are. Children of the Most High God. Our lives should reflect who He is because He lives in us. Be thankful, He has given us a spirit of power and a sound mind. Do not be afraid. He had our future before we had our beginning.  He is Jehovah God.Check out the many names of God.  He is the one true king. Jesus reminds us His kingdom is not of this world in John 18:36  For us it is another reason to be thankful.  Because He is the king, he is unlike politicians. See God doesn't compromise, never changes His position, and keeps all His promises. Likewise, our priority should not be this life but the next.  Perhaps, the end is near or not. For sure, it's nearer. Why would that scare a Christain? He's our father, not a politician.  Each day is one more day closer to His return. Be ever ready.  Lord, make us ever mindful of these blessings and all others. Help us to never forget and to be eternally thankful.

I just don't know who I am anymore.

Who am I and how did I get here? No, I don't have amnesia. So, even though I answer to nearly everything from Glenn to Trent, I  still know my name. Only now, looking in the mirror back at me is a completely different person than just four years ago. Clint, I just don't know who you are anymore. And I am glad. Don't get me wrong, I'm still the nerdy, overweight guy with thinning, graying hair. I'm still a guy who's insecure, too sensitive, and over opinionated. I admit I am weak. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians12:9  No doubt, There's lots of room for improvement. Hopefully some that will come. New battles bring the opportunity for new victories or hard lessons. Victories can only be won by experience that come through the hard lessons.  Learning to listen to God is a difficult lesson to learn. I am convinced it isn't a skill, so you can't master it. If you think listening is hard, obeying is significantly harder. Understanding why God ask you to do something is nothing short of miraculous revelation and rare. Asking how He plans on you doing it will leave you lost in a mystery more often than not. Even after it seems to be over, you will still wonder how or, why did He do that? Sometimes you'll think you're nuts. So when God asked me to leave my church to attend another four years ago, I had no idea why. We had been invited to the Rock but I never gave it a second thought. I loved my home church. I was connected with the people, 36  years will do that. I loved the pastor. Why on earth would I visit another church?  I will spare you the details but I wasn't obedient right away. Eventually, I ended up at the Rock. I really love my church now, it has changed my life. I have learned lessons I would have never learned had I stayed in comfort.  For sure, it wasn't love at first sight.  I just didn't want to be there. One thing I have learned, God puts us where we need to be be not where we want to be. I need to be challenged not comfortable. Most of all, I need to be obedient. One of the most important lessons I have learned : God leaves nothing to chance. Not my life, not yours, not the sparrows'. Not the upcoming election.

   I would never pretend to understand everything God has been teaching America the last four years. What I do know is  He was securing Bob a home four years ago when He demanded I leave my church. I didn't know it would take four years of life changing teaching to prepare me and my family for it. The pastor didn't know, when he suggested I give Bob some work from time to time. Bob didn't know the  first day he put his bike in the back of my truck. But God knew. He is always in control. Always causing things to work together for our good. Only He knows His plans for us.  Jeremiah 29:11 The next four years are no exception. Regardless, the next president will be who God planned for us. I am voting for the man who I believe best represents the choice God would have me make. No choices are without consequences and either scenario presents problems for Christains.  I hope you don't disconnect your faith when it comes to politics.  But when I lift my eyes unto the hills  it ain't capital hill. My help comes from the Lord. The maker of heaven and earth.See Psalms 121. God is more interested in who we will be an eternity from now than how comfortable we will be four years from now.The very best thing we can do is learn the lessons He has for us.