God Incarnate Chose Brown

Kittens tumble across the floor:
Black, white, gray, or orange
Born to a calico mother.
Cats see no difference because of color.
Why are we not more like these furry creatures
And see only our common humanity?
Why  focus on the skin tint

Developed for survival in different climes?

 
What color was Jesus,

God Incarnate?
Not the pale hue of northern climes,

No matter what our paintings show.
Born in a land scorched by the sun
The Christ was neither white nor black,

But brown as the pottery from which he ate.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But God could.
Why do we forget?

Choice and Faith

We are weeks from selecting
Our next President.
While I feel my choice is God's choice,
My neighbor feels likewise
But votes for someone else.
Jesus said to love your neighbor.
Did he mean whether
Republican or Democrat or Other?
Yes.
When we demonize our neighbor
Because their politics are not ours,
We break Christ's command.
God, please forgive my political passions;
Help me forgive the political passions of others.
Deliver our nation from evil of our own choosing
Let this nation's choice be worthy. 
Never forget that whoever wins

God abides.

Choice

We are in the midst of selecting
Our next President.
How do we know who to choose?
Study.
Pray.
While I may feel
My choice is God's choice,
My neighbor may feel likewise,
But vote for someone else.
Jesus said to love your neighbor:
Republican or Democrat.
When we demonize the other,
We break Christ's command.
Forgive us our political passions
As we forgive the political passions of others.
Deliver our nation from evil.
Let this nation's choice be yours.
Remember God can use anyone.

Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

The People

In the multitude of people is the king's honor; but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

These words from Proverbs speak
To the world of today.
We know that the fortunes of the ruler
Should be tied to the fortunes of the people.
The ruler needs people to support him.
Without people the ruler cannot exist.
Those that seek power today need the people.
But they should remember
That once they have power,
They still need the people.
Do those that run today's businesses
Respect those that work for them?
Do those that head our government
Respect the people that voted for them?
Not always.
We, the people, must choose wisely
When we vote.
We, the people, must demand that those that toil
Are rewarded justly.
Christ told us we will be judged
By how we treat
"The least of these my brethren."
We, the people, must remember.

Photo by scubadive67

What Does God Require?

What doth the Lord require of thee,
But to do justly, and to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with thy God?

These words come from Micah,

But still command us today.

I must remember to treat others

As I would be treated,

Better yet,

How God would treat them.

Our society is not geared toward mercy.

We are too eager for an eye for an eye.

Let me choose leaders that know mercy.

Let me show mercy.

Remember always that I am but a servant

In God's kingdom.

I owe all to God's mercy.

My talents are God's gifts.

Let me use my talents to honor God

And tell others that all is God's doing.

Deborah and Barak

I turn to Judges
And the story of Deborah and Barak.
She was the fourth Judge;
He was the fifth.
Together they saved their people
From the Canaanites.
Is there a message for today?
I do not know.
Clearly, a woman then a man
Led the nation.
So, today a woman or a man
Could lead our country.
Which would be best?
That answer does not lie in Judges.
We must pray that we choose wisely,
But remember that God can use
Anyone.

Deborah

Choosing our Leaders

As a roaring lion,

And a ranging bear,

So is a wicked ruler

over a poor people.

The prince that lacketh understanding

is also a great oppressor...

Proverbs 28: 15-16

Words to remember as we choose
The person to lead this nation.
Who is wicked?
Overt acts make for easy judgment.
Few who reach for power
Have made such blatant mistakes.
Evil disguises itself.
Our duty is to look deeper,
To know the soul of the power seeker.
How do they treat those around them?
Who are their friends?
Listen to their words,
But hear their meaning.
People of faith
Must pray for guidance.
Remember Christ's words:
"And ye shall know the truth,
And the truth shall make you free."
Pray to know the truth.

Prayer: God's Will in the Presidential Race

Author of all creation, I praise you in all your aspects,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I acknowledge you as supreme and
Hope that all will know your loving kindness.
Help me as I face the decisions of daily life.
Help me to choose wisely and with your Spirit in my heart.
Our nation must choose candidates for President.
I have only one vote,
But I want to cast it in light of your will.
Guide me to see these people as you see them
And to choose wisely.
I know that others will not vote as I do,
But feel just as I do that they voted in accordance with your will.
Help me to understand how that can be.
Help me not to let my emotions drive
My reactions to those who choose differently,
The temptation is so great.
Let me remember that in your creation
You can use whoever wins the Presidential race
To guide and protect this nation.
You are master of all,
The past, present, and future.
Always let it be thy will, not mine.

Amen.