Change...

In some parts of the country "change" can be seen so clearly. As I was walking this morning, I was struck by the beauty of the trees in my backyard here in O'Fallon, Illinois...such brilliant colors (reds, oranges, yellows, and golds)...absolutely gorgeous. I was struck by the "changing" of the season...Fall turning to Winter...soon to be Spring.
For years, I haven't been able to witness such beauty by our Heavenly Father...due to the dry climate of both West Texas and Colorado...and yet here the colors are so majestic. As I reflected, on last night's events with the Presidential race, a sense of peace filled my heart. Change can be good. It can be a beautiful thing...a natural process. My heart couldn't be happier for seeing blacks realize that they too could be president...or any minority group for that matter. I thought about the children I taught in school, and how they would reflect upon this election. Would this inspire them to achieve greatness? Would this give them renewed strength? Obama inspired people that had never voted before to take a chance...unprecedented numbers at the polls. In some ways, I wish McCain/Palin could have inspired us more. I prayed so hard that God would breathe on us yesterday, that the Holy Spirit would renew our hearts and God's will be done. Literally for 3 hours among different friends, we prayed diligently for our country...for compassion, for mercy....I fought down on my knees for the unborn. I went to the polls. I chose LIFE. I guess I thought, when McCain didn't become president, I would be hurt or upset, fearful, perhaps anger...but I don't feel any of those emotions. I awoke with one singular song on my heart.

Send Your Rain (Kelly Carpenter)

Send Your rain, oh Lord
Send Your rain, oh Lord
Send Your rain to your people (repeat)
Send Your rain bring Your Kingdom
Chorus:
Soften our hearts and pour out Your Spirit
Fill us anew, let Your rain come
Soften our hearts and pour out Your Spirit
Fill us anew, let Your rain come
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On the earth as it is in heaven
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On the earth, bring Your kingdom

Have no doubt that I want Obama's heart to change for the unborn. I wish he would fight passionately for them and their protection. Join me in praying that God softens his heart. My heart is heavy with the reality that the Democrats are the majority in the White House and both House/Senate. I worry about "Checks and Balances." I worry horrible legislation will quickly pass due to this majority. Here is the Scripture though that keeps coming to mind.
Philippians 2: 1-12
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Let us continue to remember Jesus + anything is less than Jesus) 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Get rid of agendas...be strong in Christ alone.) 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Stand strong, but in humility, be obedient to His Word, continue doing what Jesus calls us to do: feed the hungry, give hope to the hopeless, be compassionate, not giving into our sinful desires--endure persecution for this if need be.) Then because of Christ's obedience and humility, God exalted Him. 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (May I never be the reason someone doesn't come to Christ)
Change can be scary, but yesterday I asked God to CHANGE ME. In our churches, we have feared change. We have been afraid to do things differently then we've always done them...and that fear has paralyzed us...to where we are no longer effective...clinging to this idea that the church is merely a small remnant of God's people. Do you remember the Million Man March that Promise Keepers did almost 11 years ago? GOD'S LOVE...in its' purest form...could have brought way more people to Grant Park last night than Obama did. I don't care about being the majority. I don't care about being seen as different. But I know in my heart that if others TRULY could grasp God's love for them...there would be no stopping them. Shame on us for adding anything to Christ Jesus. We have added and watered down His message long enough. Jesus is ENOUGH!