Skip to main content

God Doesn't Need My Vote

Sitting in church, I listened intently.  My ears were hearing words from the pulpit, but I was pondering the ones in my head.  The passage spoken about came from the writing of the Apostle Paul as he was encouraging the church in town of Philippi.  He closes his letter by reminding the people to focus on things that matter: being true, virtuous, and honorable in word and deed.  In practicing these things, "the God of peace shall be with you."  Yet even more importantly, Paul said that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he had faced (Philippians 4: 8-11).  No matter what, contentment ruled his heart . . . 

So I wondered, where was all this fear and projected negativity coming from? Words formed as a plea to make a point of voting "Biblical Values" this year.  Yet, to me it was ironic to preach on the Biblical value of contentment and still voice such discontentment with our present circumstances.  To me it seems that walking by faith has somehow been juxtaposed into walking by a political party platform.  I couldn't help but think of Daniel's response with a government that was totally opposite of what he believed and certainly did not have regard for his God.  Daniel writes, "And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him," (Daniel 11:1).  Wow, what an awesome response to your leader who took your people captive!  When you truly believe that in all things, God is at work, contentment rules.  That is what frees you up to even serve and encourage your "enemy" or "political foe."  

As I rode up the hill today, I looked up and saw the soaring hawk.  It has such a wide wing span, it can almost fool you into thinking it's a small plane hovering. But I know its yellow brown circles of insignia that lie on the underside of each long wing.  Peacefully, it soared, not evening flapping a wing for more than a few seconds in between each circle it made in the breeze.  The hawk didn't buck the wind, he chose to glide with what was placed before him.  He wasn't squawking that it wasn't in the exact direction he wanted to go.  He just soared on, taking advantage of the strength he gained with that particular wind.  . . 

With purpose I am taking a different road.  I won't be shoved into the crowd that is so myopic that it has lost its way.  I am choosing contentment, regardless of my circumstances.  And for those of you who wonder, God doesn't need my vote!


"Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing?  The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: . . . He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them."  
(Psalm 2: 1-4)    


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easter Production

Driving down the freeway, the large billboard caught my eye.  "Join us for our Easter Production,"  it beckoned with splashy brown and orange colors.  It made me think, yes, that's what the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been reduced to. . . a man made production.  Even this very day we celebrate, the headlines are all about the celebrities that attract the biggest Easter crowd.  E.G. "Tim Tebow draws thousands to Texas Easter service."  Once again, I had to think . . . who is Easter really about?  What happened to "Jesus draws a crowd?" I have grown tired of celebrity worship.  Yet, it seems in America that is what most Christians are interested in. We flock to mega churches, we drink in videos and studies all geared to keep us simple minded and complacent.  No longer is theology a priority to be taught.  No, it's better to read through the Bible in a year by reading only 5 minutes a day.  Never mind, contemplating or discuss...
Post a Comment
Read more

Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind

   " Put yourself in the path that God will work." (Pastor Martin Smith, 1/2024)  On a crisp, clear Saturday morning, I started up the hill with Gypsy Rose eagerly leading the way.  I was more caught up in the fresh air feeling that was invigorating, than paying attention to the few cars that passed us by.  But there up ahead, a small red truck had slowed to the curb to flag me down.  "Could I help him find his son's house?" He was an older gentleman with his phone in hand.  He couldn't reach his son because the calls only went to voicemail, and he didn't have his address, only that it was somewhere here in Rancho.  I googled his son for him, but unfortunately, it only brought up an older address which was the current address now for this man.  There was no updated address for Rancho Cucamonga.  I told him the bad news, but he was so very gracious.  He did everything to show me that he was for real, pulling out  his driver lice...
Post a Comment
Read more

Awe

  The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise.  The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window.  I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets.  Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky.  But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me.  The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme.  I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear.  Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect.  It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....
Post a Comment
Read more