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the events before us


Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

As I write this the verdict is still out on the impact of Hurricane Sandy.  Our community is under a wind warning having already been hit by some rain and the cold.  East of us there have been lives changed already.  Homes have collapsed as have community buildings and more.

It is hard to understand but reality how a storm can bring such disaster on property and so much more.  But the thing that really matters is lives.  Homes can be replaced, the shoreline will be fixed, and things can be rebuilt.  Lives are gone once they are gone.  That reminds me how much importance we must put on what puts importance on.  God cherishes lives.  You and me and others.

That is why this morning I began praying for the people I know who live in the past of the storm.  Through the day other people have come to mind as I watched TV or heard reports or saw people commenting on Facebook or twitter.  Lives are important.

I am convinced that God desires to change the things that bring fear into our lives.  Yes, we cannot map the entire impact of the storm, but we can prepare our lives the storms that might come our way.

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

The election is one week away, and I am not intending to use this post to tell you to vote for.  But I will take this a step forward.  All those who are in authority over us have been put there by God (see Romans 13).  God put these people in place even though we might not agree with them.  I learned a long time ago that I need to pray for people twice as much as we talk or complain. 

What I will encourage you to do is to vote the values that God has given us in Scripture.  The same thing about the current hurricane and disaster is true about the election.  God prizes life.  He gave us, and He is in charge or all life.  I believe that budgets and foreign policy are important, but where the convergence of life and the importance of life meets is where we have to make sure that what we value and treasure is what God values.

"A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying." -- Pope John Paul II

That same quote came from Ghandi and Churchill and others.  God actually said it first.  Literally it is the truth of God that when we treasure and treat well the people who are the most vulnerable and the hurting as important that God will honor us.  If we honor life, God will honor us. 

May we be people who are known for caring and how we share that we care.

James 1:27
NLT
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

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