Prayer for Governing Authorities

Our pastor did a sermon a few weeks ago entitled A Message to World Leaders. Last night for our Wed night prayer service, he used the same scriptures and outline as a guide for us to pray for our country's new leadership. He reminded us that as Christians we are to submit to governing authority in obedience to Him. I needed to hear it and wanted to share the outline.
1. Governing authorities are to be yielded to-Romans 13:1 a. Father, help us to be obedient civil citizens so that people around us will notice a difference in our attitude. May you shine through us as we follow You in our days on this earth.
2. Governing authorities are appointed by God-Romans 13:1b-Father, help us to remember that You are in control.
3. Governing authorities must praise good and punish bad-Romans 13:2-7. Father, show our great nation's leaders wrong from right so they can lead by example.
4. Governing authorities need wise counsel-Proverbs 31:1-2. Father, surround our decision makers with men and women of God so that Your will is sought.
5. Governing authorities must avoid immorality-Proverbs 31:3. Father, protect the eyes, hearts, and thoughts of our leaders. Keep them from stumbling so that they may set a good example for others.
6. Governing authorities must be sober in all things-Proverbs 31:4-7. Father, may our leaders understand the importance of their decisions. May their minds be clear and sober at all times so they do not fall prey to plots and schemes.
7. Governing authorities must defend the defenseless-Proverbs 31:8-9. Father, show our leaders needs in our country and give them wisdom to help.
8. Governing authorities are to be prayed for-1 Timothy 2:1-2. Father, keep our country and it's leaders fresh on our hearts and minds, so they we do not fail to pray for them.
9. Governing authorities need to be led to Jesus-1 Timothy 2:3-5. Father, give us the courage and wisdom of Esther and Daniel so that we may speak Truth to everyone around us especially those in a position of influence.
10. Governing authorities can have power taken away-Daniel 4:1-37. Father, protect the attitudes of our authorities. May they not boast in anything but You for You have given and can take away. For to whom much is given much is expected.
Regardless of who you voted for, I encourage you to pray for our president of this great nation, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, as well as their children Sasha and Malia. Pray for the vice-president, Joe Biden and his wife Jill. Pray also for our House and Senate and the President's cabinet of advisers.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name will 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."

A Date with my Daddy

My daddy and I are going to the UT football game on Saturday! I have watched him watch the games on TV for years, and he is so animated on the couch so I can't wait to see how he will react in the stadium. EJ will be out of town Friday night and Saturday so my daddy is spending the weekend with me, and I am so excited!

A Good Sport

I thought I would share some pictures from the game last Saturday. We had a great time and EJ was a gracious winner. He didn't rub it in my face too bad. And everything worked out okay for me because my loss was soothed with HOT KK donuts!!! mmmm...they make everything better.

BIG game!

EJ and I are going to the UT vs Alabama game tomorrow night, which regardless of the outcome will be a fun day. EJ and I grew up on rival teams and so it only seems fitting that we should continue the rivalry after high school and throughout our marriage. This is the first UT vs Alabama game we have been to together, and I am so excited! It will be like old times poking fun at each other during the build up to game time, but the car ride home will be a long and lonely ride for the losing team. I just hope it is not me, because I am a terrible loser, but at least I can sleep on the ride home if we lose ;)

Stupid People Should NOT Be Allowed To Vote

If you do not have a legitimate reason to vote for a candidate then you should not be able to vote! Even if you are voting for Barack Obama because he is black, so be it (although this is not a good reason, it is a reason). Even if you are only voting for John McCain to prevent Obama from being elected the next president, so be it (although this is not a good reason either, it is at least better than the previously stated reason).
Now, I know that all Americans have a right to vote (and evidently people that aren't Americans can vote too as long as they are brought in on a bus with a translator to tell them which candidate to vote for, right? ok, maybe not, except in this election) but we also have a responsibility to educate ourselves on the issues. I also know that many Americans feel they have a right to everything with a responsibility to nothing, but anywhooo!
The scariest part of the radio clip is that the people are so confident in what they are saying when everything they are saying is absolutely ridiculous!! (hmmm...sound familiar?)
Now, listen to these idiots talk about the candidate they are going to vote for in the election.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyvqhdllXgU&feature=related
(The picture of Stern is because he sent out a reporter to do the interviews.)

Love is a Verb

The following is an excerpt from a book I am reading right now (7 Habits of Highly Effective People):

"Love is a verb. Love - the feeling - is a fruit of love, the verb. So love. Serve. Sacrifice. Listen. Empathize. Appreciate..."

The story the author was telling was about a husband and wife relationship, but it really struck me in regards to my everyday life. It was a good reminder to do love actions for my husband, but that is easier for me than the confession I am about to make.

I was convicted reading that story because I say that I love people and I pray that God would fill me with His love so I can better love His people, but do my actions show that I truly love people? I am reminded of a situation a couple of weeks ago when I was in a restaurant and a mother was struggling to carry her tray, her purse, and her infant while keeping an eye on her toddler. I offered to carry this woman's tray to her table...I didn't think of it at the time as a love action, but that was God in me. She was easy to love (because she was like me).

So here is the confession...today I watched in disgust as a gay couple struggled to get their stroller and their toddler in the car while being rained on. Did I offer help? Did I look at them and say a prayer for their salvation? Did I offer them the salvation that God graciously offered to me? No, I judged them for their lifestyle and raised my head up high, glad that I wasn't like them. Father, forgive me and help me to be more like Your Son. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that Your love can be shown to all people because I can't do it on my own.

John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Tagged!

I have been tagged by Ondrea, my sister-in-law, who got me hooked on the world of blogging, so now I am supposed to list six random facts about me. Random they will be, interesting they are not.

1. I have the privilege and blessing of only truly loving one man my whole life. I married my high school sweetheart and he is the love of my life.


2. My secret wish growing up was to be an actress. Growing up in RURAL Tennessee didn't provide many opportunities to try out the spotlight, except my lead role in our high school play, "Help, I'm Trapped In My High School" and the lead role in our children's Christmas musical "365 days of Christmas" when I was five years old.

3. I listen to Christmas music year round (maybe this can be attributed to my role in our children's musical, who knows?). November 1st is the first day of non-stop Christmas music in my car. The radio stations start the day after Thanksgiving, and that just isn't good enough for me.


4. My daddy led me to the Lord on my bed in Redmond, WA and then baptized me a few weeks later...what a treasure!

5. While packing when my parents were moving after I graduated high school I found a journal entry from my 6th grade English class journal entitled "Where I want to be in 5 years". I wrote that I wanted to have my driver's license and be working in the pharmacy at Wal-Mart. I had completely forgotten about that journal and that wish/desire/want or whatever, but I wrote that entry in early October, and my hire date at Wal-Mart was October 2000 (5 years later). That first job as a cashier at Wal-Mart pharmacy led me to my career as a pharmacist today.


6. I have never considered myself a "pet person", but after getting my first dog a year and a half ago I have been converted!! I now love my puppies so much!! and if anything ever happens to them I will cry like a baby with no shame!

So here are the rules if I tag you..
1. Link to the person that tagged you.

2. Post the rules on the blog.

3. Write six random facts about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post.

5. Let each person know they have been tagged.

6. Let the taggers know when your entry is up.

I am tagging...

Emily, Misty, Elizabeth Ann, Laura, E.J., Kristen