8 Nov, 2006
Did you vote?
America chooses new leaders
Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years Tuesday night and made strong gains in the Senate, according to NBC News projections. Democrats cast the results as a sharp rebuke to President Bush and promised big changes in Washington.
In tightly contested races being watched closely for their indication of the national mood, Democrats were all but running the board. Projections by The Associated Press at 11 p.m. ET showed the Democrats’ picking up 19 seats in the House, more than the 15 they needed to regain control and install Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California as the nation’s first female speaker.
After voting with his wife, Laura, and an “I voted” sticker on his jacket lapel, President Bush said, “No matter what your party affiliation or if you don’t have a party affiliation, do your duty, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard.”
With Bush’s approval ratings low and the Iraq war unpopular, Republicans conceded in advance that Democrats would gain at least some seats in Congress, as well as in statehouses across the country.
photo & story courtesy msnbc.news.com, 11/07/06
Joshua 24:13-24
13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’
Choose Whom You Will Serve
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” (ESV)
What are some lessons in today's scripture that should bring us to the point of choosing to obey and serve God every day?
There's a bunch to think about, but let's keep it simple and ask God to:
- help us remember His faithfulness and love to us - we can trust Him.
- convict us of the "idols" in our lives - He alone is worthy of our worship!
- give us the strength to be leaders - by taking a stand for His Truth!
- forgive our nation - because we have turned against Him.
- empower us to choose to obey and serve Him alone - for He is the Lord God!
Today, whether you are a young teenager and were not able to vote yet, or if you did vote, remember that we have an even more important choice to make every day. WE MUST CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD GOD AND OBEY HIM ALONE!
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
Thank God that He is in control of all events. The results of the election do not surprise Him. Thank God for His scriptural Truth which instructs you to obey Him and serve Him.
Confess any way in which you have been choosing to serve yourself rather than the Lord. Confess any way in which you have been ignoring God's faithfulness in your life. Let Him know right now that today you are choosing to obey Him and Him alone. Ask Jesus to remind you to make the same choice tomorrow, the next day....
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
Yesterday, America chose many elected officials. Pray that those who were elected will apply the truths of today's passage, no matter their political views.
every time you hear an update on the election today, let it remind you to choose Christ in every part of your life.
remember that you will be more effective in connecting your story and God's Story to others by being an example of Christ's love and scriptural Truth rather than arguing some political view.
- July 2008 [17]
- June 2008 [13]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [19]
- November 2007 [17]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [18]
- July 2007 [13]
- June 2007 [11]
- May 2007 [14]
- April 2007 [11]
- March 2007 [12]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [5]
- November 2006 [14]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [11]
- June 2006 [4]
