When I first heard this song, I just loved it, and so I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy–and prayerfully– Be Encouraged!! 🙂
‘Hand It Over’ by Keb’ Mo’
Category: Access
The Ballot Booth
It was 1980. My very first election and it was a Presidential election. President Jimmy Carter was running for a second term, against Ronald Reagan. I was at college studying political science. I was not a democrat. I was not a republican. I was a very new and young believer in the Lord.
I had studied both candidates. I knew what they were proposing. I found myself in the ballot booth—praying. “Dear Lord—I do not know who to vote for. Jimmy Carter seems to be a very good man, and a Christian. Ronald Reagan inspires hope. Who do You want me to vote for?”
I heard that still small voice, “Vote for the one who values life.” I knew that was Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter did not take a stand on life, Ronald Reagan did.
In our state, there are 4 bills pending to legalize assisted suicide. If one of those bills passes, instead of the medical community working to save our loved ones’ lives—- our people could be encouraged and provided with the means to take their lives. Those who are depressed or disabled would be most at risk.
I ask all of you to listen to that still, small voice of God—praying before you vote! Consider prayerfully the candidates who value life!!
(To find these candidates, do a search for pro-life candidates for your state— or candidates endorsed by Right-to-Life for your state.)
May We Be Encouraged!!
Accessing Power
Access—to the powers that be—very few of us have it–or do we?
When my husband and I were first married, I observed that whenever he would call his dad, (his dad owned his own law firm in Boston, MA), his calls were put right through—-every single time.
However, when we visited the law office, I heard his assistants take message after message, and very few people got right through to my father-in-law.
So what is my point here? My point is that in the same way that my husband had immediate access to his dad, —whoever is a child of God–has access to Him as well.
One of the passages of scripture that has been resonating with me lately is Psalms 37: 1-5: Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Psalm 37: 23-25: The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Or his descendants begging bread.
These verses are powerful weapons for me in fighting against the feelings of anger, anxiety and powerlessness. Life is really, really hard. Circumstances are really, really hard, and frightening and overwhelming.
I need help remembering that I have access to God–the Creator of Heaven and Earth as my Father. He holds my hand, and I will not be hurled headlong in this world. He will walk me through. He will walk you through.
Please pray with me–that the next time I’m tempted to fret, I will remember that God wants me to delight myself in Him–(don’t you love the mental image of–“delighting” in the Lord), and He will place the desires He wants me to have in my heart. This is how He will order my path and establish my steps. I will be praying for you too!!
May We Be Encouraged!!
Access
Access
Access—to the powers that be—very few of us have it–or do we?
When my husband and I were first married, I observed that whenever he would call his dad, (his dad owned his own law firm in Boston, MA), his calls were put right through—-every single time.
However, when we visited the law office, I heard his assistants take message after message, and very few people got right through to my father-in-law.
My mom is a pretty popular gal–and she has many friends, and so much family. This past year, she has been battling cancer. I have noticed that whenever one of my siblings or myself wants to spend time with her—she has all the time in the world for us—-we are a part of her inner circle. However, she tires easily, and so limits her time spent with others.
So what is my point here? My point is that in the same way that my husband had immediate access to his dad, and I have access to my mom, because we are their children—whoever is a child of God–has access to Him as well.
Scripture tells us—that whoever receives Jesus–to them He gives the right to become children of God. Scripture also tells us that God adopts us as His children, and He goes further than that–placing His Spirit into our very beings–making us new creatures in Him. We now are partakers in His very nature!
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16.
We are God’s kids!! We have access to Him. If we call out to Him–we get right through. He is never too busy for us.
Aren’t those amazing thoughts to dwell upon? He will never stop fighting for us, even when we can’t fight for ourselves. God is our Dad!!! Think about that!! The One who created the heavens and the earth, has created new lives within us, and calls us His Own!!
May those thoughts encourage us today!!
Riley Clemmons – Fighting For Me (Piano Version)
Encouragement for you!! 