Happy Thanksgiving

We will return from Illinois with pictures. We trust you all have a wonderful time with with your loved ones. Love to you all

Happy Tuesday Everybody

We went to my mother's over the weekend. My cousin's daughter was married Saturday. The pastor did a wonderful job challenging the newlyweds to follow God's design for marriage. Yesterday was spent catching up on laundry and unpacking. Today this grandma is enjoying 2 of her 7 grandchildren. So that includes walking Zachary to kindergarten. Then going back to pick him up at 11:00. We fixed lunch. Then I supervised Abigail as she home schooled. With the little white snow flurries that have popped up the last few days (not to mention the picture our son texted us of their new Christmas tree) I have developed a mild case of Christmas Spirit. So Zachary and I have been rearranging furniture. I think 3 computers doesn't help anything in a small living room. I have my PC, Phil has his laptop, and Naomi and the children have a computer just for their games. See all very necessary. LOL I really must get busy wrapping presents since we will be having Thanksgiving with our son's family in Illinois which is half way between Kansas and Michigan. So it won't be a homemade turkey dinner but we will be with family.Now we just have to pray some restaurant will be serving something like a Thanksgiving dinner.We won't be able to get together for Christmas so we will have Christmas with them at Thanksgiving time. Plus Luke's birthday is on Thanksgiving Day and his mommy's is the Day after. So I really must get back to work. Oh dear.....I have baking to do too!!! So much to do so little time when will I have time to put up the tree?

Our Civic Duty

Romans 13:1-7

1LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God's appointment.(A)

2Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].

3For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.

4For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

5Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.

6For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.

7Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

I thought the Amplified Bible spoke so plainly about our duties as citizens. Is it easy to submit to a ruler who opposes what we believe ? No, not easy but it is possible when we consider that it is ONLY with God's sanction and permission that this person rules. So as much as we are able we must give what is due to those over us. If we can not respect the man we must respect the position he holds.

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Paul in his letter to Titus put it this way:

Titus 3:1-2
The Message
Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.

The electoral outcome was a sad day in America's history. To be honest it has been easier to read other peoples blogs today and share their feelings than to write my own feelings about the out come of the elections. I know the Bible says God will put into authority whom He chooses, but when I look at the values of the man chosen as president it breaks my heart when I think how his decisions will effect the future of America and our Churches. As never before we need to pray for our country. But as I write that I am also aware that these same feelings were within the persecuted Church throughout history. It is a fact that the persecuted Church was a growing Church. May we be strengthened by God's Grace for the days ahead.

IN GOD WE TRUST

(may it ever be so)

PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY

Remember to VOTE!