Dear God, WWJD or WW “I” do???

Dear God,

 This morning while watching the daybreak news, I saw where there will be a  special about a news reporter who goes undercover to see how Americans will react under certain situations. They are calling it “What would you do?” How appropriate right? Are they taking a spin off of the well known quote, “What would Jesus do?” I watched a small promo for the show, and was actually shocked at how two Mexican day workers went into a small diner and wanted lunch, but were unable to speak English. While the first gentleman laid his money out on the counter and tried to point at the menu above to choose his lunch order, the cook and someone whom I assumed was the owner, quickly dismissed him. They were rude beyond belief, and then had someone come and insist that they leave the premises. They incited that because they were Mexican, that they must have come across the boarder illegally and they wanted no part of them in “their” country.  This prompted a response from a few of the current customers who had already been seated and were waiting on their orders as well. Some spoke up to the manager and voiced their distaste at the completely unnecessary behavior and walked out themselves. Others sat quietly and did nothing. I at least had to cheer for someone who would stand up for the underdog.

Are we living in such a formidable time that we feel such grievance that we can pick and choose who does, or does not belong in a country that we lay no true claim to. For everything is Yours alone. Our forefathers ventured here in search of a new land, one that would provide freedom from our oppressors. So who ordained the future generations, to decide that anyone who seeks that same freedom must be trespassing? I find it odd that our constitution can evoke such pride and be viewed to obtain such a consensus of wisdom to perpetuate human lives to live without oppression, but it is constantly being challenged by anyone who wants our country to change with the times. God, You alone are the creator of the entire world. We were all created to live here and serve You. Our presence isn’t some sort of time continuum that falls within the scientific world of the circle of life. Surely all life was  and will continue to be lived, and die in accordance with the laws of God, not by the laws that man writes and reiterates, and then changes to suit the majority rule. Life here in America, or any country for that matter, is a privilege. This planet belonged to God, before man came and destroyed what little we know of it or have inhabited of it. I am ashamed to think that there are those who truly do hold their heads up high, with the prestige that they believe it is owed to them. Surely mankind has made exceptional gains in the past couple of thousand years. Great innovations in technology and science are a remarkable feat, considering that we have advanced ourselves enough to have devised a way to blow everyone else up with a 3o second light show of nuclear empowerment. That alone should show just how small minded we truly are. We are not here to out do our predecessor’s. To find the true path to happiness, or to make our mark on society. We were created by a loving God. By You, for You, and to serve only You. While our time here is short, let us not think that we are to do nothing. That would be misconstrued also. We are to love one another, to accept our salvation through faith, and to share our faith and Your free grace and mercy with everyone that we come in contact with. I believe in making our world better. I believe in keeping our country safe, but to do this with hate and disdain is certainly not glorifying You!

If we could just grasp how vast You are in our tiny little world. That You know the height, width, the breadth, and the depth of our tiny little planet. How microbial do we seem now?  The truth remains that no matter who puts themselves as the greatest authority on earth, that even they will have to bow on bended knee when You descend from the heavens to take Your rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You alone are the all-knowing God of the Universe, and even the angels that reside in the heavenly realms give all praise and worship to You. Hallelujah!

I am proud for anyone who does the right thing, even if it is unpopular or frightening. To help someone who is being bullied, or beaten, takes fortitude and a desire to see right rule over wrong at any cost. I ask in prayer right now, that You grant me the wisdom to know when to intercede on the behalf of  another who is being treated unfairly. I ask that the angels that are guardians of mankind, be vigilant and overcome those who choose to bring evil and wrongdoing. I am thankful that I do live in America, where at least for now, I am provided religious freedom to choose You. I know that there are so many who love You, and that witness prejudice and hate crimes daily. I ask for their willingness to give a helping hand to those and remember that without You in our lives we have no hope for a better tomorrow. Without You, we would never be able to dream of one day living in total peace and harmony. That one day there will be no boundaries of land or sea that can restrain Your glory. That man can live together and love unconditionally, as You have taught us in Your holy word.  I love You Lord, and I always want to choose wisely.

Thankful for my earthly home & my heavenly one that awaits,

Gina

Dear God, A marriage made in heaven?

Dear God,

   Today is my 18th wedding anniversary. How appropriate that it would be my 18th letter to You. It seems like just yesterday that I met Nathan and we began our whirlwind courtship that culminated into marriage. We were introduced by mutual friends and set up on a blind date. The humorous part is that he thought that he was going out with someone else. What a surprise I must have been! Well, You must have known best, because many years later and a lifetime of ups and downs we remain together.

You designed the first man and woman to be joined together and to spend their entire lives with one another. I am reminded of Adam and Eve and how much easier they must have had it. No interfering mother-in-laws to deal with, and there weren’t past boyfriends and girlfriends for them to compare the other to. I am sure that their love must have been in the most purest form. A love that grew with each day that they could share every new discovery in the garden of Eden.  Even when temptation ultimately separated them from You, they continued to comfort one another and continued to love and have faith in their devotion.

The bible is full of examples of such relationships. Each facing their own levels of trials and trust issues. I think of Noah and his wife. If my husband had come to me and insisted that we build an ark to house two of every kind of animal on the earth, then asked us to take our children and reside in it because the earth was to be flooded, I would have checked his noggin for any sign of brain trauma and then laughed my own head off. Being that we already have a dog, a turtle and a calico cat that is MIA at the moment, I don’t want to think of dealing with any more furry critters or trying to live with them during the longest rainstorm in history.

What of Sampson and Delilah, the forbidden love that meant the demise of one man’s strength for giving into womanly wiles. Considering that she cut his hair and zapped his strength, it aptly resembles many relationships of today, where some women use their feminine wiles to zap their mates wallets or manhood to keep the upper hand. What a shame that they couldn’t understand how much mutual respect is required for any relationship to flourish.

When David allowed his desire for Bathsheba to turn him from Your will and then make the decision to have her husband murdered, so that he could have the desire of his heart, it almost destroyed him. But, even through the sin that occurred, he realized his error and repented to You. He ultimately lost his own child, but still learned that Your ways are higher than our ways.

I know that during the last eighteen years, our love has been tested and tried. I know that we have experienced our greatest moments of joy and been there during our greatest points of grief. I know that there are so many couples who cannot deal with these and they believe that divorce is the only solution. I truly believe that this is why every couple who chooses to marry, must love You with a far greater love than their betrothed. For we can’t truly love another until we love ourselves. And we can’t truly love ourselves, until we love You first.  You teach us the meaning of forgiveness and mercy. If our loved ones do anything that hurts or damages the marriage, then we have to follow Your example of the same forgiveness and mercy.  You also tell us that You are a jealous God, You will have no other God’s before You. Again, if we choose to stray from our spouse, in turn we ought to expect jealousy. We certainly don’t want anyone else to take our place in their lives.

You taught us to obey your commands and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. If we follow this same concept for marriage, then we will obey our wedding vows and we all know that we are born selfish, so if we stick to loving our spouse the way that we love ourselves, then surly they will always be placed on a pedestal.

I pray that I will always look to You for guidance in my marital decisions. That any decision we make will be made in accordance with Your word. I want my children to love and grow and eventually find mates of their own using these same guidelines for their commitment to their future families. Help me to forgive when asked, love as unto myself, give willingly, and always strive to be a better wife.

Loving You forever and eternity,

Gina