Katie101's Blog

Growing up in a Pentecostal church, there were all kinds of songs. Most of them usually sounded the same (i.e. had the same melodies), but they had different words. To me, there is one that stands out among the rest and it went like this:

"Let Jesus lead you....let Jesus lead you....let Jesus lead you all the way......all the way from earth to Heaven....let Jesus lead you all the way."

As the election approaches, I am forced to lean to my faith and my Christianity to help me make a decision on whom to vote for. My decision will be based on my convictions...on the perceived direction that I am trusting Jesus to lead me in. If I let Jesus lead me, I cannot go wrong because Jesus cannot lead me wrong. Since 1992, Jesus has been leading me and has led me to the wonderful place I am now. I know that He won't stop leading me....He will lead me to Heaven, but I must also let Him lead me on earth in EVERYTHING that I do.

Well it's summer which means I have a lot more time on my hands now that school is out. I come here often to see what's going on, to see who's griping about what, to see who's calling who a fool, to see what mess the JeffCo commission or Bham City Council is making with their own collective geniuses at the helm.....to see how high gas prices are (as if I don't already know) yada yada yada....however, I am reminded of a very troubled man in the Bible who, although made many mistakes, also wrote Psalms from which I take my strength from daily.........

People worrying about gas prices. I'm not inclined to do so. Why? David said in Psalms 37:25- "...I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread...." Hmmmm....so why worry?

People worrying about who the next president will or WON'T be......Why? David said in Psalms 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower"....Hmmmmm x 2.....so does it really MATTER who becomes president? Has it really MATTERED to Christians before? We're still here, right?

People worrying about those of alternative lifestyles....well, in my Bible...Genesis 1:28 to be exact, it says "Be fruitful and multiply..." With that being said, I like men and I think men are supposed to like me. Soooooooooo, gather from that what you will. (Hint: But it's kinda hard to multiply when the tools don't fit together.....)

Seriously though: People should be worried about people's souls. On every block, there is a church. On every corner, there is a church. We are distracted. People's souls are going to hell and in the meantime, we concern ourselves with minute issues that amount to nothing in the sight of God. Jesus himself told us in Matthew to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Wasn't the greatest commandment of them all to love?

I lost a friend yesterday- a young man who was a great person and who still had a lot of life to live. It is not a time to be bitter, people. It is not a time to be pointing fingers and calling names whether in malice or in jest. It is time to be the Christians that the world bets we cannot be: Christians who really stirve to be Christ-like. I say all of this in love and with that being said, Katie is headed to the beach!!!!!!!

There are a lot of things that I can find to gripe about- gas prices, illegal immigration, the fact that education funding is treated like a red-headed step-child, the consistent demoralization of my culture and society, the devaluing of my faith by those who don't understand, inept political leaders....yes, many things that I can gripe about.....but there is also somthing that I can shout about and that's grace.

While listening to Joyce Meyer yesterday morning talk about her book Grace, Grace, and More Grace, she gave the most profound definition of grace that I've ever heard. You know, we always talk about God's grace and mercy keeping us, but after yesterday, grace has taken on a whole new meaning from me. I would like to paraphrase what she said:

"Grace is an unmerited gift from God that gives us the ability every day to do the things and face the issues that we couldn't possibly do and face alone. It is not based on works, but merely God's love."

When I passed by the gas station this morning, I saw that gas was $3.69. When I turned on the news this morning, I heard about more human suffering, more idiots not valuing the sanctity of life. But even after all of that, I am so thankful, so grateful for grace because no matter what is going on in the world, God loves me. Psalms 37:25..."I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread."  God will take care of me no matter what happens. It is His will that I walk and endure in His favor. It is all because of His saving grace.

Mercy keeps me. Grace sustains me.