2016- what a time to be alive!

Do you not watch the news? Is what someone said to me this morning. I was quiet because my answer is not simple. This is my answer: No, I do not watch the news. I for sure know that this answer makes people quickly say 
Well, do you not care about how this affects you?

Do you live under a rock?

Actually, I don’t have to watch the news to know what’s going on. I don’t live under a rock and you have no idea how much this election affects me and those whom I love. I decided not to watch the election coverage last night. It was my choice. Because we do have choices people and we have voices. 

Our choices matter a great deal. Our voices matter and are heard every day. 

None of us live under a rock even if today, we wished we did. We all have interaction with others whether it is our family, friends, coworkers, classmates. We all go somewhere or stay at home but wherever we are, we are interacting with others. 

And this is where our choices matter, and where our voices are heard the loudest. 

What you decide to do with your life is your ultimate choice. 

Do you choose to love or do you choose to hate?

Do you choose to smile or do you choose to live in anger?

Do you choose to submerge yourself in truth or do you choose to submerge yourself in lies and fabricated information?

Do you choose to debate or do you choose to simply listen?

 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” James‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Friends, I feel all of you! 

Because this morning when I checked my e-mail at work and I saw the unexpected outcome I too, felt that. That which is what you are feeling now. 

What this election has done so far is bring an ugly side to a lot of people. And as I scrolled through my feed I couldn’t believe how many of my acquaintances actually took a side. As a Hispanic immigrant woman, I am directly affected by the threats and promises that were made to this country. But this is where I live, this is my HOME and it is to many many other minorities who might feel they are not being represented right now.

My human flesh felt betrayed as I read some of those posts but as I sought comfort in the word of God, I was reminded that this is exactly what the enemy came to do. To steal, kill and destroy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ‭John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬ To steal my joy and peace as I was being overcome by fear. To kill my dreams and hopes for the future God has for me and for this country as a whole. And to destroy our relationships as we get caught in differences of opinions about things that matter. So I say this in response: not today Satan. 

And I choose to stand tall in the midst of the confusion. 

I choose to be brave in the face of fear. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭

I choose to be a light in darkness. 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭

And I choose to remain anchored in the one True God. 

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,” Hebrews‬ ‭6:19‬ 

I choose to live the abundant life Christ gave me to live. That even though I don’t deserve it, he has given to me by dying for me on the cross. That is what I choose to do! 

I choose to see every conversation about the election as an opportunity to bring the joy, hope, and peace that I found in the Lord. 

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE! 

What a great time this is. The time to evangelize!!!!

“The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.” Proverbs‬ ‭15:30‬ ‭

The time where possibly in every conversation I have with others I can bring hope. People are watching, now more than ever. And they will wonder: why is this woman still smiling? Why does this woman turn the other cheek? Why isn’t she scared? Why does she still turn to her God? 

And that, friends, is what the gospel is about. To live a life that no matter what the circumstances are, you remain anchored in the Lord. That you are able to rejoice in the midst of uncertainty. Because we trust in God. We trust in someone that is so much higher than any president. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Psalms‬ ‭118:8‬ ‭

So remember, whatever you do, whatever you say, do it to glorify the Lord. Bring the peace of the Lord to every conversation you have today and on. Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Phil 1:27) Because no people, we are NOT screwed. And NO, hate did not win. Grace and love will always ALWAYS win.