America... Holding on to Hope

To My Dearest Friends: I wanted to shoot a quick e-mail out this morning, expressing my feelings about our newly elected President, Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama…. But as I began to type it became rather lengthy… I did take my time to express my heart, so I hope you take the time to read through to the bottom…. Over the past few weeks I have been a bit ‘zealous’ and ‘hyped up’ over the McCain-Palin campaign, and have sent out various e-mails that expressed as much….however, they “lost” and Mr. Obama will take office January 1st, 2009. I do, however, have a few things I would like to share with you about my future. Last night as I watched as the polls closed, updating every few moments I had a wave of mixed emotions just flooding over my heart time and time again. Even as Mr. Obama’s EV’s peaked 270 I was grasping at the hope the numbers would change and Mr. McCain would pull ahead…. And as you all know, this did not happen. I began to think… Churches across America have been in prayer throughout this campaign. Even our church has called early morning focused prayer regarding the election – and during that time we focused on GOD’S WILL for America. We prayed: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 We prayed over each candidate running for office. We prayed that God strengthen them, give McCain favor of the people, and to soften Obama’s heart to the One True Living God, Jesus Christ. Either way, however it turned out to be God’s will, we prayed specific prayers for both potential leaders of this nation. I’ve heard over the past few weeks that if Mr. Obama got office, it was God repaying us for our sins. I don’t know if I necessarily agree with that – I know that God gave the country in the bible a King after they begged and begged for a King, and that King was practically their destruction – but I know our God is a merciful God. I do know that: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45 And I also read that: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:8, 10-12 So my response is – although America as a nation has gotten its morals so turned around, or priorities are not in order, we deem the view and plans for the Economy more important that a candidates view on Pro-Life/Pro-Choice issues… “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14 Regardless of the majority of America’s views CURRENTLY, we must stand fast in knowing that we serve an Almighty and Merciful God. Whatever God’s reasons for allowing America to elect such a liberal president, “To Every thing there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Putting aside the fact that my carnal instinct is to worry, panic and feel like America has thrown away all hope for religious freedom, saving unborn children, standing up for traditional marriages, economic rising…… I force myself to recall that - “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 We mustn’t stand paralyzed in fear that there is no hope. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:11-12 And the bible instructs us to “And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” Luke 12:22-24 I don’t know about you, but I KNOW my God values the life of a human being over the life of the fowls – Yet men can sit idly by why we rant and rave “Save the Whales!” “Protect the Bald Eagle!” and they DEMAND a woman can kill her baby in the 3rd term of her pregnancy and call it FREEDOM OF CHOICE?! I weep before God, at the obvious – our Nation is turning its heart away from the Foundation it’s been built upon by our Founding Fathers…. But there is a people – a Christian people, that REFUSE to let go – we refuse to give up. We cannot afford to just give up and let liberals rule and command America. We MUST be the ones to cry out to God just as Abraham pleaded over Sodom and Gomorrah “Lord, hold back your hand!” We must be the ones to take a stand and lead America to a repentant state of mind. We as Christians need to bow before the throne and follow His words - “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 DON’T lose hope! You know the Lord CANNOT lie – His Word is Yea and Amen. The Bible tells us both in the OLD Testament and the NEW Testament: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:17-21 The Churches across America need to stand up and believe that HE IS and HE WILL. We read that: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:” Isaiah 44:3 Read it for yourself! “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Joshua 23:14 So, devil – go on with your “bad” self. I’m here to tell you there’s nothing that can shake my faith in God!! “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” Psalm 16:8-9 God has given us every bit of reason to hold fast to HOPE. We must follow HIM if we are going to turn the tide in America. Become ACTIVE in what you believe in. We CANNOT sit idly by and watch the world “go to hell in a hand-basket”. SOMEONE has to be willing to take a stand. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am consoled and have hope through Grace. My heart is comforted, and I am ready to be eSTABLISHed in good Word and Work. I can honestly say that fear has no place in my life. “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” Psalm 34:4-5 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6 The LORD is my Protector. I will continue to BLESS the Lord, no matter what the circumstances around me are screaming. “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 I am going to lift up my brethren and sisters in the Lord. We MUST bind together and make our voices be heard! “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” Hebrews 3:13-14 We DO NOT HAVE TIME to become complacent. We need to hold fast to our confidence that we had in the beginning til the very end. And remember – We are to have respect for those who have charge over us. God allowed Mr. Obama to take the presidency and as all our previous Presidents, even if we do not agree with him on every point in his views and beliefs, we need to show respect for the position he will hold. Pray daily for your President. It IS true that only God knows the heart of man – the Bible does tell us out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…. So although we may not know the heart of Mr. Obama, we see the fruit and the actions of it. We must remember that God isn’t willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance – We need to pray that Mr. Obama comes to the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the only One True Living God, and this country NEEDS to desperately become once again a CHRISTIAN NATION. “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” I Timothy 2:4-6 I hope and pray that as I have bore my heart with you through this email, you are encouraged, maybe even enlightened that there is hope. There is a hope for our tomorrows, and I honestly believe that the Christians of America can pull together and ‘multiply’ and once again become a majority. Cling to the Words God penned us. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 And ALWAYS - “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” Lamentations 3:21-24 Keep the faith. Forever indebted to my Savior and Friend, Pamela R. Williamson 601.928.8572 pamwwilliamson@yahoo.com