Inauguration Day

A Letter from Max Lucado
Dear Friends,
I am a pastor, not a politician, so I can only speculate as to what awaits President-elect Barack Obama. The long-lasting benefits of good choices…the fearful consequences of poor ones…complicated social issues and relentless international problems.He needs our prayers. And it’s our privilege to pray for him.
The Bible says: Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God. (1 Timothy 2:2)

For that reason, I invite you to set aside a few minutes on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, and ask God to bless Barack Obama and his family. Join me and urge as many people as possible to speak to God on behalf on our incoming president. Good things happen when people pray.
A few years ago I attended a meeting in the White House. While standing in the State Dining Room, I noticed some words engraved on the fireplace: a message from John Adams to his wife Abigail. “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” Here’s hoping that same prayer is offered and answered again.
Max Lucado

Note from me... I don't see how God can bless a country who chooses for their leader a person who does not believe in the sanctity of life. We NEED to pray for Obama and our Country.

God help us all. Eternally His.... JMS

Sanctity of Life Sunday...

Our sermon this morning was from Ezekiel 22...

Ezekiel 22:30
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Sin makes a gap in the hedge of protection that is about a people at which good things run out from them and evil things pour in upon them, a gap by which God enters to destroy them.

There is a way of standing in the gap, and making up the breach against the judgments of God, by repentance, and prayer, and reformation. Moses stood in the gap when he made intercession for Israel to turn away the wrath of God, Ps. 106:23.

When God is coming forth against a sinful people to destroy them he expects some to intercede for them, and enquires if there be but one that does; so much is it his desire and delight to show mercy. If there be but a man that stands in the gap, as Abraham for Sodom, he will discover him and be well pleased with him.

It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained, so that not one is found that will either give them a good word or speak a good word for them.

When it is so, what can be expected but utter ruin?

Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them (v. 31), have given it full scope, that it may come upon them in a full stream; yet, whatever God’s wrath inflicts upon a people, it is their own way that is therein recompensed upon their heads, and God deals with them no worse, but even much better, than their iniquity deserves.

As Christians, we should be willing to 'stand in the gap'. Our pastor also gave all the statistics on abortion in America. It's staggering. At one point he shared this question... I know we've all received this email... Question: If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion? If you said yes, congratulations you just killed Beethoven.

Our Pastor urged us to think about the 40+ million babies that have died since legalizing abortion. One of them may have been the one to know the cure for cancer, or aids, or diabetes. One of them may have been the God fearing president that would start revival and turn America back to it's roots. We may be experiencing God's judgement right now.

Anyway, all of this of course got me to thinking about all the birth mom's. How grueling their choice must have been. How easy it would've been just to have an abortion. How hard it must have been to give birth, fall in love then give up their child. We wouldn't be adopting our daughter if her mother had chose abortion. We are so entirely grateful and will never forget her sacrifice or take it for granted. Eternally His... JMS

My Christmas Gift

My lovely husband bought me this picture to grace the wall of our home for my Christmas gift. I think it's entirely fitting for life right now. While waiting for our daughter, our son fixin' to go off to college, finding a church home that feels right, President Elect Obama's inaguration day approaching.... there are many things I have no control over. The best place for me is on my knees.

Eternally His... JMS

Honoring the Full Lincoln Legacy

In a few short days, President Obama will assume our nation's highest office. Amidst all the Inaugural Day festivities, Obama has chosen to pay fitting tribute to America's Great Emancipator.
On January 20, 2009, President Obama will re-trace part of the Lincoln Inaugural route by train, and then take the oath of office using the Lincoln Bible. But will the homage to Lincoln stop there?
We would invite the new President to consider the full Lincoln legacy as he swears to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence that provided its spirit.
If President Obama would indeed meet the test of Lincoln's principles, then his policies must affirm that unborn children are "stamped in the divine image and likeness". For if God has endowed us with unalienable rights, how can President Obama pursue policies that assume unborn children can "be trodden on"?

Lee Teter

I had told you way back in September that I bought a Lee Teter print to be framed with my birthday money. I realized after reading through my blog, that I never posted the promised finished product... So here it is! This is 'The Reminder'!

The bottom of it say's "There is no sweeter embrace than one with kisses laced...

Frigid!!!!

We have been blessed with pretty mild weather in the last few years... Nothing over 100 and nothing below 0. But today our thermometer read -11! That's cold!
A few years ago, I listened to the CD '23 minutes in Hell' and that really changed my perspective on cold weather. Cold used to make me down right grouchy. I hated being cold. Now I tell myself there are people burning in hell who would give anything for a cool breeze. I no longer complain about cold weather! Bring it on!
Eternally His... JMS