We were just settling down, finishing our breakfast and making some plans for today, when the phone rings.  A fellow employee had to take her sick dog into the Vet, can Carla come in?  Yep.

It should be a short shift and then she can come home and relax a bit.  The body shop called and told me they found our water leakage problem, it is going to take a contortionist to get it fixed, but they can do it.

I was hoping to have it out this week, it needs a good trip to blow out any residual carbon from making short runs.  We could take the Toyota, but prefer the other.  Carla wants to run into Portland to the Hallmark shop to pick up some things.  It will still be done, but might have to wait until after Thanksgiving.

Fog seems to be coming in, wasn’t all that clear this morning, but it seems the hills are getting harder to see through it.

John 17:13-17  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

¹⁴ I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

And vs 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

We look around us and see nothing but God’s beauty.  They look at each other and something happens.

As Christians, we need to look at people the way God looks at people.  If they are sinners, they have an opportunity to repent and accept Him.

However, here lately, in America, citizens are looking at each other as the enemy – and some Christians have taken that up.

Are there enemies of God all around us, yes, Jesus knew there would be, He prayed for us, He wanted us left in this world so that we can demonstrate His love and we can preach His Gospel.

Battle lines have been drawn but they are the wrong kind.  It is almost brother against brother, parents against children, and there are those that are loving every minute of it. 

And God is being left out of the equation.

They want that turmoil.  They want us to so focus on why we disagree with the other person’s frame of mind, political view and life style that we forget to bring God into OUR outlook.

I have no idea where all this is heading.  I must be honest, I look at all this and I want to pray, “Jesus, just take me home – or come for your church now.”

It can be very discouraging.  It can be heart breaking as we see even supposed leaders of our nation condoning violence to get their point across.  Violence from one American on another American.

Satan is loving this, he has his dark minions working hard to offend everyone.  America and its basic values have been a thorn in His side for centuries.  Now he has a real toe hold on the nation.  He isn’t on one side or the other, he is just wanting this nation brought down and is using the hate and anger on both sides to do just that.

It doesn’t have to happen.

It is easy to focus on want is happening and forgetting that God knows it all.  He is allowing this to happen, possibly so we are brought down to our knees and realize that only HE can be the final arbiter of this world.

Psalm 96:14     Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

We do not know when this will happen, but as Jesus stated, thy word is truth then we know the truth, it is in Him - in HIS Word, and God will judge the world with HIS truth. 

Our duty is not to judge and condemn, as difficult as that may be, it is to turn to God and ask HIM to intervene on behalf of our country.

The last century, but particularly the last decade has been leading up to this, there is frustration and anger on both sides and both sides think their way is the only way.

At this point we need leadership that will help heal, not continue to destroy our people.  It starts with Christians, admitting our own sins, admitting the sins of our nation and asking for God to forgive us and heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.

¹⁵ Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.

Later, Art (-: