Politics- Love it or Hate it

What I am going to write about today is surely going to rub some people the wrong way. So if you are easily offended please try to maintain an open mind.

I don’t normally write about politics in this type of forum nor do I usually engage in conversations centered on sensitive political views. However, I get frustrated when I hear people constantly complaining about the President, one party or the other, our government in general and the latest “Obamacare” which is not even the name of the plan.  When I have voiced my opinion I have been told I am naive, that I haven’t read the policy or candidates promises, I don’t know the repercussions of the policy (or the election’s outcome) and in general been made to feel a little dumb. However I am a little bit of a control freak so I do read the issues and do my best to make informed decisions.

I have been stuffing my emotions for a sometime on this subject, and while I am not going to come unglued about this I do want to make this point, no matter what – 

I still believe we live in the greatest county in the world.

Are there things I would like to see changed? Yes!  I hate it that Christian values are being pushed out to accommodate those that say they are offended by it.  I hate that every bill that is presented to congress for a vote has so much garbage attached to it that congress doesn’t know what they are voting on with out reading a 200 page document; then has to decide to vote against a good issue to stop a bad issue that is attached to the bill. I hate it that Candidates make promises that cannot be kept without the votes of congress. I hate that congress seems to take party loyalty more serious that the issues. I dislike the Electoral College way of voting. But I still believe~

 We live in the greatest country in the world.

“Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. 2 People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. 3 Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. 4 After all, they are God’s servants, and it is their duty to help you. Romans 13:1-4

I try not to complain about our government, I don’t know the solution to fix the problems But without  exception we should be adding more God & prayer and less ego & pride.  The Bible is clear about what we are supposed to do in Romans 13.  That doesn’t mean follow blindly.  The Bible also says put God first and if those that rule go against God- we don’t follow. Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. See, God will help you, if you stay loyal to him.

The three men replied, “Your Majesty, we don’t need to defend ourselves. 17 The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we still won’t worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 13:16-18

Our leaders are not perfect; they are human. Our system is not perfect, and as our country grows and more ethnicities come in to live here, there will be more opportunities for adjustments so get ready.

Time it buck up buttercup and enjoy the ride, consider it a great opportunity to teach about what God can do for us all if we can just agree to put Him first.

Are you in the right job?

Leaders, if you’re constantly frustrated with your team, the odds are, it’s not their fault. Chances are, it’s the limitations you’re putting on their work. 

God gives us each talents He intends for us to use to glorify Him. If you are in a job that is not a match for your gifts, or the leadership has changed the position; you may need to pray about a change.

I experienced this not long ago; my feelings for my job went from, “Oh God do they know I would do this for free?” to, “Oh God why won’t you free me from this job?” All because the position had changed and took me out of my gifts.  It was not that I could not do the job, but it was not my best work. 

People in leadership that value their employees will realize that if an employee is not doing their best work it could be do to something they have done. Perhaps changes made were needed for the success of the organization, but ask yourself, “how can I help this employee I value? Can I adapt the position or do I have another position that is a better fit?” 

Bill Hybels uses a 1-10 analogy. Where on the scale is the employee? If they are low on the scale; why are they there? Is it due to being over challenged or under challenged? How can you as a leader fix this?

Now I am not trying to point any fingers so don’t take this personally if this message strikes a nerve, it is a life leadership lesson I have learned along with my devotion today that sparked this blog. 

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!” Mathew 25:21 NIV

 You see one day God will ask, “What have you done with the gifts I have given you?”  I don’t want to reply, “I stayed in a job that never let me use them.”  God did finally release me from that job, He wanted me out of there too. He had been preparing me for a change almost a year before it finally happened. 

If you find yourself questioning the job situation, pray about whether you are in the position that God really wants for you. You may have gifts you never knew you had. Pray God will reveal them to you so in the end you too can hear "Well Done". 

“So here is my instruction to all the churches: each must live with the gifts the Lord Jesus grants you and with the call God offers you.”

1 Corinthians 7:17 The Voice