Defeated

Well, my guy didn't win. Am I disappointed? Sure. Am I concerned about the future of our country? Definitely.

Am I still proud to be an American? Absolutely.

Although having Barack Obama as our next president scares the bejebbers out of me, last night when I finally clicked off the TV and rolled over to go to sleep, I thought about a few things.

No matter WHO is president...

> My pillow still feels the same.
> My husband still snores and twitches in his sleep.
> My children are still precious.
> My God still reigns.
> My price has been paid.
> My job is to pray.

Did I agree with everything George W. Bush did as president? Crap no! However, I made the choice to disagree with him in the most respectful way I could.

With Obama as our new president, I KNOW that I will not agree with all of his policies. However, I will do my best to be respectful in my disagreements. Nothing irrateted me more than when people said that George Bush was an idiot.

Really? An idiot? Hummm...that doesn't say a lot about the citizens of our country if you truly believe we elected an idiot.

Because I believe America is the best nation on the planet, I will CHOOSE to respect our new leader. Afterall, we elected him. I cast my vote, and it fell within the minority.

From this point forward, my job (among other things) is to pray for our country. My job is to pray for our new president, his wife and his family. My job is to continue to raise our children to love, fear and hope in the Lord.

Although I fear many things with Obama as our next president, my hope does not lie in politics. My hope lies in the One who paid my price, who endures all things and who knows all the days of this earth.

May He have mercy on our country.

Go VOTE!! (UPDATED)

Despite the fact that many Americans cannot agree who would be the best president for our country, the truth remains that we are incredibly blessed to live in a country where we have the opportunity to have our voices heard.

So today, instead of blogging, or having an extended lunch, instead of working late or anything else that might keep you from your polling place today...

stop what you are doing and GO VOTE.

And while you're doing so, praise God that we have been given this privilege, I know I will be.

UPDATE:

Got this in an email today. Hilarious!

Pray then VOTE...(UPDATED)

Nothing, absolutely nothing about this election can make my heart pound harder in my chest than this. Nothing...



----UPDATED----

And, can I just say (of course I can, it's my blog) that I used to be of the mindset that abortions should be illegal unless it is of great risk to the mother or unless the mother was raped. My thinking has changed.

As for great risk to the mother, click here to read an amazing story. As far as rape is concerned...why do we think that God is not in control when horrible things happen? We MUST place our faith in Him in the good and the bad. Who are we to decide if a baby, conceived out of rape, is allowed to live a life that God created? If such is the case, then Psalm 139:13-16 is a lie:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
(emphasis added)

Do those words suggest that because of a horrible crime, a baby's life was not ordained?

Five For Friday

What's the Point?

These thoughts are sparked when I think of The Thompsons and the people in Nairobi who live, day in and day out in the slums.

1. Is fashion really necessary? I mean, when we're dead, is God gonna stand there and say,

"Oh, you had matching shoes and purses for every outfit. Come on in!"

I mean, when it's all said and done, the cost of runway shows and $500 shoes could have been spent somewhere else. Somewhere where people don't have water or food or clothes or....

2. Why do we continue to freak out about the economy? Don't get me wrong, I know it's important to have a country that is economically stable, but we Americans freak out over every little thing. I think I'll start the freak out when our tap water is unsuitable to drink, or a radical group overturns the democracy. Yes, I think about and, on rare occasion, worry about the economy of our country. But freak out? Not so much. Yesterday, on our Christian Radio Station I heard someone talking about what you should do if your bank goes under. The speaker outlined steps to take to see if your bank is in trouble. Seriously?

3. What's the point of declaring a crisis, if it's not REALLY a crisis? Here in NC, gas prices shot over $4.50 in some places (I'm assuming that's true everywhere in the US today). People are FREAKING out. The lines at the pumps are a minimum of 10 cars deep. This is NOT a crisis. The hurricanes that will hit land and destroy homes, lives and possibly kill many people - THAT is a crisis. I find it hard to comprehend how we can stress about gas prices, but not respond after our neighbors loose everything.

4. Is it necessary to get excessively upset over differing political views? Once more, don't get me wrong, I think the election is important, and yes, I want my choice candidate to win. However, when November 5th rolls around, and a new president has been chosen, God will be the same. It won't make a difference if McCain or Obama is president, God will still be God. I sure wish that people (and politicians) could debate and campaign without slinging mud. It would sure make it easier for me to watch debates, speeches and forums.

5. What's the point of a bib? I mean, I see the simple use for it, but if you've ever actually used one on a child you know that their function is only for minor mishaps. None of my 4 children ever grasped the meaning of "minor." Usually, when the bib was removed, the ONLY clean spot was a semi-circle where the bib used to be. The shirt was still dirty and my child was still covered in his/her last meal. Spit up defies the laws of gravity and gets everywhere BUT on a bib. Who invented them anyway? Bet they were laughing all the way to the bank.

The purpose of this isn't to say that I am perfect or that I am not-guilty of doing/thinking/using any of these things. Lately, everything that I see in my life that others view as necessary (and I even think is necessary) I wonder about those people in Kibera. When I let the water run and get hot so that I can wash my hands or my face, I think about how much I just wasted and how many thirsty children I could have just hydrated. It all comes at me so much lately and I often wonder, What's the point?