March 4, 2008

“You are the everlasting God; You will not faint, You won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles.”

Dear Lord, thank You for not giving up on me, even at times when I have given up on myself. Thank You for holding me in Your arms, for carrying me through difficult times, and for never getting tired of demonstrating to me how present, and precious, You are in my life. I feel sometimes that life is too difficult, too painful, too stressful, too …. much – and I forget that You are there to help me keep going. Without You, Lord, I know that I would not be here. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, mercy, and blessings, and especially for the life You continue to give me. Amen.

 

Only 400? Faster, Texas – faster!!

From cnn.com:

Texas, which leads the nation in carrying out the death penalty, has executed the 400th person since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982. Johnny Ray Conner, 32, who was convicted in the shooting death of a convenience store owner in Houston in 1998, was on Wednesday the 21st man put to death by lethal injection in Texas this year.

“It’s a pretty sad day for the progression — or lack thereof — for human rights in this state,” said Rick Halperin, president of the non-profit Texas Coalition To Abolish the Death Penalty. He called the state-ordered executions “barbaric and outdated.”

What a selfish, rude, ridiculous, arrogant statement. Mr. Halperin, you should be ashamed. What about the human rights of the man Mr. Conner killed? What about the rights of Mr. Conner’s family? What about the laws in Texas and the United States? Do any of those matter? Apparently not. Let’s just let convicted killers run free, right? Better yet, let’s do away with trials altogether – all killers can camp out with Mr. Halperin!

I have no doubt that Mr. Halperin leans to the left politically. That’s another reason why liberals – for the most part – suck.

The death penalty, if used more frequently – would be a deterrent. I think we should start televising executions. That would get people thinking! Also, people convicted of murder should be executed the same way their victims died – in this case, someone would shoot Mr. Conner a few times in the head, the same way he gunned down that innocent clerk.

‘Barbaric and outdated’? No, Mr. Halperin – what your late friend Mr. Conner did is barbaric. And now he is outdated.

 

August 22, 2007

“And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.”

Dear Lord, these words serve as a reminder that no matter how great or significant my problems are, they pale in comparison to what You went through. While I rejoice in Your presence, Your blessings, and all the gifts You continue to give, I think of the sacrifice You made, and I am humbled. I will never fully appreciate, comprehend, or understand what You did, but I need to remind myself of it constantly. Your pain and suffering gives me the life I have, and the promise of salvation – and for that, I will never be thankful enough. Lord, I pray for the strength to accept the trials in my life, to put them in perspective against what You suffered, and to be ever grateful for what You have given me. Amen.

 

August 8, 2007

“I’d rather be in the palm of Your hand, though rich or poor I may be.
Faith can see right through the circumstance, sees the forest in spite of the trees.
Your grace provides for me.”

Dear Lord, what better place to spend eternity than in the palm of Your hand? In no other place would I be able to feel the peace, relief, comfort, and joy of eternal life, of forgiveness, and of wonder and joy. And the command to get there is simple: To accept Your grace. By living as You would have me live, I can enjoy a life with You long after my earthly days have passed. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your blessings, for Your incredible sacrifice, and despite me being a sinner, thank You for the invitation to dwell with You forever. May I prove myself worthy of such an invitation. Amen.