Republicans for reelecting Obama

I don't know him. I didn't vote for him. I do know Barack Obama is in the position he is only because God gave him the authority he now has. David was anointed the next king of Israel while Saul and successory son Jonathan were still alive.  Even though David knew the Lord delivered Saul into his hand in a cave, David dared not take the life of God's anointed and cut off only a corner of Saul's robe to prove to Saul he meant no harm to Saul's throne. I am a Republican, but I can't understand why other Republicans were already campaigning against Obama for 2012 when he had just won the 2008 election.

When I examine Obama's presidency, how he is able to maintain his composure in the face of a crumbling capitalistic system by which the economic status of his country was downgraded despite his efforts and bipartisan encouragement, I can only thank God for him. When I examine Obama walking through the disaster-swept areas of this nation with his tie off and sleeves rolled up, looking ready to lend a hand chance he be asked to do so by a struggling homeowner examining what was once the site of his home, I can only praise God for him.

If Obama had done something terribly wrong in his presidency, I may have had another opinion of him, but in his words and actions I can find no wrong.  The old adage says, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Why not reelect Barack Obama and see what more he can do to help this nation?  I don't know him, but I do pray for him.  I didn't vote for him, but I will!

Forgetting what lies behind

In Philippians 3, Paul encourages us:  "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13b-14, ESV).

Forgetting what lies behind, for me, does not come naturally.  I have invested a lot of energy into dwelling on the past, good or bad.  But I am all but free.  I have been enslaved inside of me by dwelling on the choices I made, good or bad.  But I long for this upward call that Paul mentions.

Paul's past is exemplary, for the most part.  He attests, and rightly so, that he has "reason for confidence in the flesh"(Philippians 3:4, ESV).  "If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh," Paul explains, "I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless."

Paul had all these things to claim about himself.  "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:7-11, ESV).

I had a difficult life.  I have suffered greatly.  But some of my suffering was based on the bad choices I made.  I marvel at how Jesus has been able to work in my life through my sufferings, and so, I find it difficult to forget what was done by him in case I may need to learn again from past mistakes.  However, Paul encourages us to forget about the past.  If I ignore his encouragement, and continue to hold on to my past, good or bad, how am I to be able to deny myself, and take up my cross daily, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23, ESV)?  How am I to suffer for Christ, if I can't let go of the sufferings of my past that came as a result of disobedience?

I choose now to let go of my past.  I started this blog as a way to reflect on my past, partly to rant about it and partly to share what God has done.  However, I choose to look to what God has for me in the future.  I will write only about what God is doing in my life.  May I constantly be looking for his work in my life and the effects thereof.  May I "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14, ESV).

Who is Jesus?

I ask this question a lot:  Who is Jesus?

I hear many answers back.

Many say Jesus was a wise man.  Many say he was a good teacher.  Some say he was God's son.  Few, though, say that he is God.

I am learning that not everyone who believes in Jesus believes the same thing about him.  To me, he was, is, and will always be God.  My pastor retold something he heard:  God is the only God who will ever be.  Jesus is he only God you will ever see.  The Holy Spirit is the only God you will ever feel.

So how does Jesus be God the Father while being God's son on earth?  This, I still, at times, struggle with.  I'm glad Jesus doesn't.  I may never fully understand it, but I know all he requires of me is my faith.  He'll fill in the understanding.

The first time I asked someone, "Who is Jesus?" I had just come out of my second floor condo, and saw a lady passing by.  "Who is Jesus," I yelled down to her.  "He's my Lord and Savior."  Mine, too.

Who is Jesus, to you?

Philip Prayer

Dear Jesus,

This prayer is based on Acts 8:26-40.

 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went.

Philip obeyed, immediately, an angel of the Lord.  Scripture says, “And he rose and went.”  Lord, may I grow to be able to immediately obey you. May I be able to do so without concern.  May my whole life focus be on you, and may I not have any other concerns, but to be able to go where you want me to go and do what it is you want me to do.

27b And here was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure.  He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Lord, may even my travels be focused on you.  As I ride the bus or the lite rail, may my reading be of your word.  May my conversation be such that it points others to you.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

When I see others reading your word or speaking your word or of your word, help me to respond with boldness to question the level of their understanding.

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

If I am asked for help in understanding, help me to be able to do so without concern of being late to my destination, but to be able to take the time to sit with them and discuss your word.

 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before is shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.  33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.  Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

Philip, beginning with the very Scripture read, was able to tell the good news about Jesus. Help me to be able to do the same, from any Scripture in your word.

36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

It is evident from the eunuch’s response that the good news about Jesus included baptism.  Please help me to be able to know how to tell about your good news in a way that incorporates baptism. 

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

There was enough water for Philip and the eunuch to “come up out of.”   This is 

evidence that the eunuch’s baptism was by submersion.   Please help me to be able to relate to people the necessity for baptism by submersion (flood).

The Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away after he had finished with the eunuch, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.  Lord, if this happens to me, please send someone to care for my cats!

40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Lord, please give me the words to say and the stamina to do as Philip did, to 

preach the gospel without ceasing.

Thank you for hearing my prayer.

Cari.