Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Obama takes over UNDER GOD

What a whirlwind of emotions I am feeling this morning and really ever since the election results comfirmed Barack Omaba as our future president. Now as I sit and wait for the "Inaguration Celebration" to come on wandering if I am a bad mom for not joining Jodi at Janine's house and forcing my kids to sit down and watch as our next president is sworn into office. Yes it is a momentous occasion, but no more than any other. It seems to be huge but why, because his skin is a different color than any past president? But we are not supposed to see color, right? As they say, color only runs skin deep. 
I also wonder if he is too young to possess the wisdom and understanding to lead our country. But what it comes down to is GOD IS IN CONTROL. He brings people to power and also takes them from their thrones.
Job 12:
12 Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding in length of days.
13 “With God are wisdom and might;
he has counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears down, none can rebuild;
if he shuts a man in, none can open.
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 With him are strength and sound wisdom;
the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leads counselors away stripped,
and judges he makes fools.
18 He looses the bonds of kings
and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
19 He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted
and takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes
and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness
and brings deep darkness to light.
23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them;
he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

I think President Obama is a smart, smooth talker who promised a lot to those who have the majority of the vote. But then again that is what polititians these days do. He is nothing more than a man and sadly a lot of people are placing their hope in him to save them: their jobs, their family from the war, their planet, their all. He is being placed on a platform and worshiped. This is what our country has come to. People hurting and looking for someone to save them, turning to a man, a mere man, instead of to the only one with saving powers, God. 
Psalms 146:3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
Proverbs3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
I am curious to see what Rick Warren has to say as he prays for our new leader so I will turn it on and pray for him also. But I do not watch with a spirit of celebration as many do. I watch with fear and sadness. Fear for our nation and Christians in it. Sadness for those who are placing all their hope in a man. So my role is to pray. I found a way to remember to pray, and a resource to know how and what to pray for. Visit this link and join me in this. We don't have to like the results of the election but we are commanded to pray for those God has placed in authority over us.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

you are so right joy! let's put our hope in god. be it a democrat or a republican in office, God is the only one who can change lives and offer peace. :)trusting him is a sure thing.

pam/mom said...

What a wise young woman you are! The only thing we need to do as a nation and as individuals is to trust in God. He alone deserves our allegiance and praise! He alone can save us.

JPB said...

Though this can only be faithfully lived out if you have no attachments to the country in which you live and its direction, right?

Or are you simply saying that this is a little too much?

I for one was most struck by the thought ... what would it be like to be one of those elderly African-Americans who had been assaulted, kicked out of Woolworth's, not allowed to vote, etc. etc. etc.

What a day!

Paul & Beth said...

I for one am trying to leave race out of this. But I am consistently assaulted by the media portrayal of American life being given "new breath" or a chance to "finally prosper" and these comments are all made by black people who are being interviewed.
Racial issues are not relegated strictly to a black white issue, just as the Grace of God covers us all, FORGET the RACE CARD. It is crazy. Let’s just rejoice that regardless of whom you vote for and who actually was placed in office, God is sovereign over all and those in power are the ones that he chooses!
I am very blessed that our extended family has such great racial diversity through adoption and I look forward to them just being “people” and not racially identified. If they get tagged with anything, let’s pray that the people of this world look at our children and comment “there go committed children of the most High God!” That would make my life complete, short of hearing “well done my good and faithful servant” from God himself when I stand before him
You guys make my life rich!! - Paul

Sheri said...

Good post, Joy. He is just a man and not the god that some have made him out to be. I actually feel sorry for him, it will be a lot to live up to and the fall from the pedestal is hard.

Anonymous said...

Joy, I agree with your thoughts on putting him on a pedestal, praising him, and relying on him. He is, indeed, just a man. But there is something very special about a black man being elected to the office of President. It was only about 40 years ago that whites and blacks were separated simply because of the color of their skin. The color of skin was a determinant to the worth of a person. This great change in the thinking of America has come in ONLY 40 years. That is fast. It would be wonderful if all of mankind could be colorblind but that will never happen. I am raising a son that will be judged by what he looks like, not by everybody, hopefully not many, but there will be some. So with that in mind I rejoice in the inauguration because it seems (appears) that a majority of America, not only those that voted for him but also many that voted against him, could look past his skin color. This gives me hope for my children. Though I have a lot more to say I will leave it for another day.

Josh

Aaron and Joy Edewards said...

I agree with you Josh, 100%, that this is a very special moment in history. I hope also that it is the beginning of a more accepting country when it comes to race. I think more so as the older generations who lived with the horrific racial divisions are no longer around. And don't take this the wrong way anyone because I respect the elderly and their wisdom and understanding. I remember just a few short years ago hearing Grandpa Balsbaugh say to a cousin that if they ever brought a black man into his house he would disown them. Harsh words from a rather harsh man. It baffled me to hear someone say this and was really my first encounter with racism. IT brought up a lot of discussion with mom. We are losing that generation that was raised in the heat of the moment when slavery and color were a daily part of their lives, on tv, in discussion and for so many right in front of their faces. As they die, the issue slowly becomes a part of history. Maybe, as the first black man takes office, it will begin to fade even faster. I can look back and thank Dad and Mom and praise God that they didn't put feelings in our minds and hearts that people should be known by the color of their skin. I pray that Obama can put color behind even more people.