The Days We Are Given

It has never been clearer to me more so than now that, like the song "We Live" says ... the days we are given are gifts from above." The past few weeks have been filled with sad news: Sedora's death, Paul's battle to live, good friends facing surgery, others facing major heartbreaks. Being so sick and feeling so poorly this last week, has helped me to realize that through it all, each day truly is a gift from God and that we are "to live and to love" and we are "to forgive and never give up." My prayer for today is that my family and friends know that they are God's most precious blessings in my life and that life is worth living because of Jesus and because of what each of them means to me.
I don't know what the future holds, or how many more days God will give me on this earth; but I do know that I "trust in the Lord with all of my heart." John and I face major decisions about our future -- selling our home, where to move, future employment, medical issues. I miss my kids so much and, more than anything, want to see them more frequently. I spend endless time reading and viewing Kim's blog so that I can watch Nathanael grow from being a little (I mean big) baby into a little boy; but watching and reading does not make a relationship. When David and Mary find the woman and man that God has set aside for them, I want to be there to get to know them. I look forward to the days when I can spend more time with the people that mean the most to me in the whole world. Until then, I'm going to "get out and do what I was meant to do" ... to live and to love.

I'm Hoping That Jesus Comes Tomorrow

I don't want to wake up on Wednesday and find that the President of the United States is not John McCain, so I'm praying really hard that Jesus will come tomorrow and take all of His children home with Him. This presidential election has given me more gray hair (which has been nicely hidden by my wonderful hairstylist, Megan), shorter nails (due to nail biting), weight gain (due to eating my way thru frustration) and an overwhelming sense of dread. I have continued to pray for the candidates and their families throughout the last few months. I have been praying for our country. I have been praying that all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, will turn their hearts towards God and base their votes solely on what they find in His Word.
For the first time ever, I'm scared about what the future holds for our country. My mind cannot comprehend what is in store for us if Obama becomes our next president. The future of our country is truly at stake and I worry about what kind of place this will be for my children and grandchildren. Will the sacrament of marriage survive? Will more babies be murdered thru abortion? Will judges decide who lives and who dies because of a government-run healthcare system? Will I be able to afford to keep my small business?
In talking about the election at lunch with friends on Sunday after church, I said that "I hope God gives us what we need and not what we deserve." Mitch, a good friend, replied "but what if what we need is the person who will make us understand that we got what we deserved." It could be that God will give us the person who will make it clear how far our country has travelled from Him. Is God looking down from His throne saying "What will it take to get your attention?" Probably ... but I sure hope that God's plan is for the rapture to happen tomorrow or that He has a bit more patience and allows McCain to try his hand at governing this country.