February is Heart Month. What are you doing to keep your heart healthy?
FORGIVE?
“Studies have shown that bitter, angry people have higher blood pressure and heart rate and are more likely to die of heart disease and other illnesses.”
(read the article here)
We routinely pray, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. It is good for our souls, we know. Forgiveness is good for our bodies, too.
This Bible verse should be the kick-off to every debate:
1 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Wouldn’t it be great if a buzzer cut off the speakers whenever words of malice, deceit or hypocrisy passed over their lips?
Come to think of it, I could use a buzzer like that myself. 
I want people to like me. I hope others think I am doing a good job. But . . .
My kids thought I was a mean mom. My husband bristles when I nag. My coworkers don’t like it when I announce bad news. I’m really, really glad that my name isn’t included on the “who do you like” poll.
But my life isn’t about popularity. There’s really only one opinion that counts.
May my words and thoughts be acceptable to you, Lord.
(from Psalm 19)
My commute to work takes me past our county courthouse. As I drive, the courthouse comes into view just under a nearby church steeple. I wonder if the lawyers and judges who work in there ever look up and ponder the Supreme Court they will one day face.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
All of us–even our judges and Supreme Court justices–will one day face the Supreme Judge. And that’s a humbling thought.
OK, maybe he didn’t chop down the cherry tree. Maybe he did tell a lie or two. Still, George Washington spoke many wise words.
“There is a natural and necessary progression, from the extreme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny; and arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.”
Lord God, may we pursue liberty instead of anarchy or tyranny or licentiousness. May we be neither arbitrary nor abusive. May we stand not on ruins of our own making, but on your solid foundation. 
It’s Presidents Day. Woo hoo! Or is it boohoo?
Pictures of Presidents Washington and Lincoln graced the classroom of my childhood. On their respective birthdays, we reviewed their contributions to our history.
Will future generations gaze daily on the portrait of one of the present presidential candidates? I seriously doubt that any of their birthdays will become a national holiday.
Work your character into each of our candidates, Lord. Make them worthy of celebration.
“No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue.” Patrick Henry (1736-1799)
Lord God, may our presidential candidates be steeped in justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue. Amen.
For some of them, this could be a whole new hot-water experience.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Many Christians give up something for Lent.
Today is the day after the NH Primary. Maybe I should give up campaign news for Lent.
Some years I give up something. Some years I do something extra.
This is a do-extra year. I commit to praying daily over the Presidential campaign:
1 Timothy 2:2-3 (MSG)
Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
Imagine this scene played out in heaven:
Satan shouts out his accusations.
Revelation 12:10 (CEV)
Satan accused our people
in the presence of God
day and night.
Jesus intercedes.
Romans 8:33-34
If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us.
If Satan’s accusation is true, Christ says, “My blood covers that sin.”
We know what Satan says. We know what Christ says. The question is, what do you say?
