The Lord reigneth- not Pelosi and Obama

A friend of mine wrote a quick but true and comforting reminder on her blog. I encourage you to click over and read it. Be sure to leave her a comment, too. (If you're feelin frisky- leave me one as well, ;-)

Sarah Palin, her faith

I mentioned in this post that when asked, Sarah Palin professed to be a Christian, attending a non denominational church. There has been a lot of buzz around the Christian community about her vice presidential nomination. Some of it I have been quite surprised with. The biggest one is assuming we know what the will of God is for someone else. I'm reminded that as humans how well we are at deciding what is best for someone else's family, when we do not know what all of the details are. How we can become the example of godliness when we see another family have something happen that we have not encountered- how we have that instant knowledge of how it would not happen in our own families because we wouldn't have done the things the other family did- such as the mother work outside of the home. I'm reminded that we are SUCH sinful, prideful people! YES! I'm talking about Christians!

I expect such reactions from the lost, for example the parts of the Democratic party that has now found a sudden case of "family values". The idea that Bristol being pregnant at 17 is a reason that Sarah should not be the VP nominee is ridiculous. There's NOTHING Sarah can do now at home that is going to make her any less pregnant! The presumption that Bristol becoming pregnant reflects on Sarah's absence in the home due to being Governor is ... you know, my mind is stirring so much over that I cannot even come up with a word for it right now. Can someone help me? HOW DARE YOU assume you know what was behind Bristol's pregnancy!!

I will never forget my high school math teacher explaining to us what "assume" really means- it makes an 'a.s.s. [out of] u. [and] m.e.' . Yes, that's strong and might not had been appropriate for a 14 year old to hear in school but boy did it stick with me. That's why I try my BEST not to assume I know what's behind a situation unless I am really there. I believe the reactions by Christian women asserting that had Sarah been home and not working as Governor of Alaska, Bristol would not had been pregnant, are not presenting a godly, gracious, merciful reflection of what Christ is really like. It's more so reflecting that attitude of the Pharisees in Jesus' time IMO!! "If you do this, and this, because this is to be this way ... you will be OK". YOU MIGHT NOT BE OK!!

Life is a journey, and Christian life is a battle in that journey to heaven. We are NEVER guaranteed that things will work out EVEN IF we do the best we can. All we ARE guaranteed is that God will give us the grace to get through the trials we are faced with. Bristol's pregnancy did NOT surprise God at all. You know who I bet it did surprise? Sarah and Todd. Better yet- Bristol! I'm seeing a lot of Christians ASSUME that Sarah was not doing an effective job in teaching abstinence to her children, because of this. The fact is, we can do everything "just right", and we still might not get the results we were striving for. Fact is, we can teach and teach and lead and lead our children, but when they become teenagers, their faith has to be their faith, and our convictions are no longer their convictions, it has to be their own.

If your teen does not get pregnant before she gets married, PTL for you. That did not surprise God. If your teen does get pregnant before they get married, bless you. I will not think any less of you as a mother and a Christian (like people are against Sarah), because due to your profession as a God loving, fearing Christan mother, I know you done the best you could and understand that once our children become teens, they are responsible for their own actions, and have to answer to God for their own sin; and you know what? THAT DID NOT SURPRISE GOD. Furthermore, no one knows whether the conception was a "one shot wonder" or not, so to assume that Sarah's kids are out running around without morals because their mother is "out of the home pursuing a career", is silly- borderline gossippy in my mind. So lets not act like we have those facts and give grace where grace is due. God gives US grace, why are Christians not showing her the same amount that is shown to them?

It is clear that Sarah has taught her child to accept the responsibility for her own sin, because she is making things right. She is having the baby, and she is getting married. Okay and for those who question whether or not Bristol and Levi's marriage will "make it" because they are so young- THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING!! How self righteous can we be?! There have been a number of young couples in my own church that have gotten married as teens, the girls being the younger teen (17 even!!) and the boys being a year or so older. These have to be the godliest examples of marriage I have ever seen- to the point I wish MY marriage had the start theirs did. Bristol is going to live the rest of her life with the knowledge she sinned, that one decision impacted everything she has probably been dreaming of in regards to falling in love, getting married, then having kids ... she does not need a nation of sinners condemning her mother for her own sins by way of not supporting her mom with their vote when she is obviously the best choice available.

Our duty, as citizens in this upcoming election, is to elect the best person for the positions they are running for. To look at who is most qualified, and to look at who shares the values we share. It is so utterly clear that Sarah Palin holds our values, yet we are ready to not vote for her ticket because we are going to judge her personal life? Let me share with you a story.

Young mother, assistant manager of a convenience store. She's qualified for a promotion. She's a hard worker, dedicated, independent, responsible, very good at what she does. There's no other person more qualified than her for the current promotion to store manager available. Yet the district manager discounts her, because the store available is five miles further to drive than the store she is currently working at. Not because she's not qualified, or that there was a person more qualified than her for the job, but because of where she lives, the district manager doesn't think driving an additional five miles would be acceptable considering current gas prices. HA!! We're talking about a company that makes money from gas sales!!

Is that a professional, acceptable decision? OF COURSE NOT!! It's shotty! and I fail to see where there's a difference between that and Christian women not supporting Sarah on the ticket.

I say, let Sarah determine whether it is God's will for her life for her to run as VP and possibly become our first female president (Lord willing IMO!). We CANNOT know what God's will is for her. We DO know that God's will for our country is to become more righteous, and NOT supporting the McCain - Palin ticket is definitely a step in the OPPOSITE direction. I voted for Mike Huckabee by principle, but we need to realize this presidential race is between Obama and McCain. There might be other people running, but now is the time to realize that if we have any hope for godliness to be restored to our nation, McCain is the hope we have. It might not be the same hope we would have if Mike Huckabee was running, but it's more hope than what we as bible believing Christians would have in Obama. I could write Mike Huckabee in this November, but even he has the wisdom to tell his supporters to vote for McCain this November and have our votes actually going towards a cause.

No one is perfect, not one of us. We have all sinned, and if we are born again, we are all forgiven. I believe it's high time for a lot of Christians in our country to practice what is preached, and show grace when grace is due. Quit being grace hoggers because you get it every day. I implore you to research the issues and make an educated decision on what God would have you vote for in this election for our country, instead of trying to decide what is best for Sarah Palin and her family. I'm going to leave their family decisions up to the head of that family, Todd Palin.

As a matter of fact, it might serve well to make note from this article:

"Then there’s the motherhood question. How could a full-time mother of five,
including a disabled infant, possibly serve as Vice President? Won’t she be forced to neglect her children? This shouldn’t be much of a problem for Palin. She’s received rave reviews for her performance in a far more difficult job, running the government of Alaska, while also being a hands-on mom. Besides, no elected office in the land is better suited for a full-time mother than the vice presidency. Unlike governors, vice presidents spend most of the day looking for something to do."

So if you can't get past the idea of her working, think of voting for her for VP as putting their family in a better situation than what they've been in for the past year and a half. ;o)

SO.

In speaking about Sarah Palin's faith, I want to ask my sisters (and brothers) this:

If you believed with your whole heart God was leading you to a job position- would you want a nation of sinners second guessing that?

I've made a big decision recently in which I believed 100% it is God's will for my family, and I cannot tell you how HURTFUL and potentially discouraging it is to see people second guess my decision. Do we really want to elevate ourselves to that level of spirituality to assume we know what God is telling someone else? Or do we want to vote in November what would be best for our nation, and vote for someone who would strive to leave this nation in a BETTER condition for our children when they grow up?

For anyone interested, this is a video of Governor Palin speaking at the Wasilla Assembly of God Church in Wasilla, Alaska. Yes, I am IFB and no I do not agree with a lot of AoG doctrine, but that does not mean I question her salvation- especially when her character in my opinion is a strong result of her salvation. She practices what the bible preaches, unlike the opposition. In my opinion if you do not vote for the McCain - Palin ticket, you are welcoming the Obama - Biden ticket into the White House.

Whose values mean more to you?

Feeling better about school

I got a note from a friend yesterday that just left me in tears. She's always had such a way with words, but what she said just organized a few of the thoughts I have had over the past week since making the decision for the kids to enter the public school system; she also encouraged me regarding God's will for our life. I asked her if it was okay for me to share it here, in case there might be another person reading my blog that might be going through the same thing. It also gives a very different perspective regarding how a Christian "should" educate their children.

I am so blessed to be able to call this woman my friend, and thank God so much for having her in my life! She is going through insurmountable trials right now, yet was sensitive enough to the needs of her sister to send encouragement. God knew what I needed, and he sent it. PTL!! Along the same note, I'm waiting for the admissions director to call me back about Hannah's enrollment. Please continue to pray things move quickly and we'll know SOON that she's indeed "in" and they don't have to go to different schools.

Hey! Loved the blog from your bday and I wanted to be the first to say
"Welcome to the Mission Field!!!" I'm sorry, I'm one of the weird ones
that just wants to do the happy dance everytime I hear of a Christian family
infiltrating public education. It's a mission field, I'm telling you,
right in your back yard! (or up the street).

You are going
to be such a blessing to that school. J.D. is going to a charter middle
school this year. They sell Dr. Dobson books in the school office.
I'm not a fan of Dobson, but he is my brother and I couldn't help think, "that's
cool!"

Also, I just want to throw this out there and you can
totally reject it, but you said that you couldn't help think that your children
having to attend public school was a consequence for the financial folly at
home. You also said that you always said you would never send your kids to
public school. I don't know if this is true in your life, but sometimes I
find that whatever I say I'll never do is precisely what God calls me to
do. And when I read that part about financial folly, I couldn't help think
that maybe it's the other way around. Maybe the financial issues are a
result of refusing to send the kids to public school. Maybe they're part
of the wooing, God bringing you to this place of desperation to get you where he
wants you to go. Now I'm not saying that's a for sure truth at all, just
something to think about. Our Dad owns that cattle on a thousand hills and
we're in the will, chick. I can't explain it, but I am just convinced that
there is a family at that !
school
that your family is going to bless
beyond measure. I know that he won't waste his workers.

I
also know that, when called to go places we're not sure about, it's easier to
say, "here I am, Lord, send me" than "here they are, Lord, send my kids".
But I want to tell you what you already know: he loves them more than you
do. He will go with them. God is in the public school.
"Whether (they) turn to the right of to the left, (they) will hear a voice
behind (them) saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'." He will guide
them. And I don't know your kids, but when you speak of Jackson it just
sounds like he has such passion for the Lord. I am so excited to see the
impact for the Lord he will have. Yes, our kids can be missionaries
too!

If you were sent to Africa as a missionary I'm sure you would
encourage your kids to befriend the children of the families you were sent to
minister to. I'm sure you'd expect them to carry the word of God to them
as their friend. Missionaries do this all the time. You are a
missionary and so are your kids. You've not been sent to Africa, you've
been sent to the charter school. God loves the kids that go there just as
much as the kids in Africa. Your calling is no less real than that of a
missionary to Africa.

I encourage you, as a family, to start each school
day by saying in your hearts, "here we are, Lord, send us". And I
encourage you, my fellow worker, to look for the opportunities that he is
preparing in advance for you to do in that school. I will pray that doors
fly open. I will pray that God direct you to families to minister
to. He's preparing them in advance. He will show you, just listen
for the voice that says, "This is the way, walk in it".

I don't
believe every Christian is called to Africa. I don't believe every
Christian is called to public school. But for those of us who are called,
He provides the grace, strength and guidance to do the work he's prepared for
us. Welcome to the P.S. I Love You Mission Field, (Public Schools, I love
you). Your family will be in my prayers.