I had the privilege of leading our middle and upper school faculty in devotion this morning at school.\u00a0 I shared with them that I have always enjoyed politics and remember all of the presidential elections growing up for a variety of reasons.\u00a0 I was born in 1978 when Jimmy Carter was president.\u00a0 He was followed by President Reagan who served two terms in the 1980\u2019s.\u00a0 The first presidential election I remember taking a real interest in was 1988 when George H.W. Bush ran against Michael Dukakis.\u00a0 In our 5th grade classroom, there were two boxes at the front of the room.\u00a0 One said \u201cBush\u201d and one said \u201cDukakis\u201d.\u00a0 I am thoroughly convinced that this was illegal, but as a 5th grader, it can be difficult to address injustice when you still really aren\u2019t sure how to explain election fraud.\u00a0 I voted for Michael Dukakis in that election.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Good question.\u00a0 I noticed that all of the other kids in the 5th grade seemed to be voting for Bush and I didn\u2019t really think that was fair.\u00a0 The Dukakis guy seemed nice and he sure did try hard.\u00a0 So\u2026with my one vote, I proudly dropped it in his box.\u00a0 I also remember the other students laughing when they announced the totals.\u00a0 Bush had won the 5th grade at Willow Oaks Elementary in Memphis, TN by a landslide.\u00a0 Dukakis had only gotten one vote!<\/p>\n
The first election I voted in as a \u201cgrown up\u201d was in 1996.\u00a0 I had turned 18 just a few weeks prior to the election and proudly made my way to the polls.\u00a0 Bill Clinton was running against Bob Dole and I had some very definite opinions about that!\u00a0 I also voted in 2000 when George W. Bush ran against Al Gore.\u00a0 That year I was student teaching at Germantown High School and Secretary Dick Cheney came and spoke at our school along the campaign trail.\u00a0 As a coach, I got to meet with the Secret Service because they used our coaches office as their staging location.\u00a0 It was a blast to see how they function.\u00a0 I still have a \u201cBush\/Cheney Secret Service\u201d poster at home from that visit.<\/p>\n
I also voted in 2004 when President Bush ran for reelection against Senator John Kerry.\u00a0 And that brings us to today, November 4, 2008, when we are voting for the 44th President of the United States.\u00a0 We are choosing between Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.\u00a0 At the end of the early voting, already 35% of the registered voters in the state of Georgia had cast their ballots.<\/p>\n
Over the past week or so, the most popular question has been, \u201cHave you voted yet?\u201d quickly followed by, \u201cHow long did you have to wait?\u201d\u00a0 I was thinking about that last night.\u00a0 I voted last Tuesday and only had to wait about an hour.\u00a0 It was cold outside, but I didn\u2019t fear for my life or anything like that.\u00a0 All over the world, people face all sorts of certain harassment by going to vote.\u00a0 In our country, no matter how long you wait, they give you a sticker at the end!\u00a0 On top of that, there are places all over town today that offer you free things if you voted.<\/p>\n
I know that we will all be glued to the news and the internet tonight watching as things unfold in all of the elections.\u00a0 Chances are that tomorrow morning we will wake up knowing who the next President of the United States will be.\u00a0 Some people will be happy, some will be disappointed, and some will just be glad it\u2019s over for a little while at least!<\/p>\n
I will sleep well tonight knowing that regardless of who is elected, God will still be on His throne and will still be in charge of what happens from here.<\/p>\n
Here are a few verses I shared this morning and hope they will be an encouragement as we navigate this election and more importantly, start praying for whoever the next President will be.<\/p>\n
I Peter 2:13-15
\n13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.<\/p>\n
Romans 13:1-7
\n1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.<\/p>\n
I Timothy 2:1-5
\n1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone\u2014 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,<\/p>\n
Philippians 2:14-15
\n14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe<\/p>\n
We closed our devotions this morning with a guided prayer time for our country and her leaders.\u00a0 I found this guide on the National Day of Prayer website.<\/p>\n
* First, we must repent for the personal and corporate sins that grieve our Heavenly Father. 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.”<\/p>\n
* Secondly, we must ask that God would raise up righteous leaders, who will seek His guidance and protection for our nation in the years to come. Ephesians 4:1-2 “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”<\/p>\n
* Finally, we must submit to God’s sovereignty, trusting in His will. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”<\/p>\n
I hope that you will vote today and that you will recognize that God has tremendously blessed us by allowing us to live in this free country and to have the opportunity to make our voices heard!\u00a0 God Bless America!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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