10 DAYS & COUNTING - Until this election is finished
I think we are all sick and tired of this election process.....I know we are!!!!! During the next 10 days I am going to be posting some things about my views on the election.
I would remind anyone who comes to read, and I welcome you, who does not agree with me that I acknowledge your right to believe as you do, BUT I do ask that you be
respectful. This is my blog and no one is making you come here to read it, least of all me. My choices in this, as with every aspect of my life, are based on the fact that I am a Christian and Jesus the Christ is my Lord & Savior. My priorities are 1) Christ first - 2) Family second - 3) Country third.
In light of all this I want to post the following devotion. Even though this is geared for family and personal relationships I think it is very fitting to us here in Blogland, too.
"Watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:15
Healthy relationships aren't conflict free; they're conflict resolving. The problem is: we fight for victories instead of fighting for solutions. The result is: one wins, one loses, and the relationship suffers! Here are some practical insights for fighting so that the relationship wins.
(1) Differences are inevitable, normal, and potentially beneficial. They're inevitable, because relationships bring together very different people. They're normal, because all relationships, including great ones, experience them. They're potentially beneficial, because handled effectively, relationships grow through them.
(2) Here are three conflicting handling styles:
(a) The avoid style. These are the "don't want to rock the boat" and "let sleeping dogs lie" people. They fear confrontation, so they bury their feelings, not realizing they're buried alive and will rise again down the road. They go from clam-up, to build-up, inviting physical and emotional illness. Meanwhile offenses accumulate, unaddressed issues multiply, and unfinished business erodes the relationship.
(b) The attack style. These are the "get them before they get you" people; ruthless fighters who refuse to give in, they inflict terminal wounds on each other. The Bible says, "If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Attack begets counterattack, both sides "dig in" and nothing gets resolved.
(c) The approach-assert style: These are the "no price is too high for a good relationship" people. They're sensitive to the feelings of others, yet insist on dealing directly with important issues. They're sensitive to the feelings of others, yet insist on dealing directly with important issues. They avoid blaming, confront the issue, not the individual, and invite others to partner with them in solving the problem and saving the relationship!
From: The WORD For You TODAY
16 comments:
I will be praying that you all choose the right person!
Susan, our family has volunteered to go canvassing on Sunday afternoon...our oldest did this four years ago with her daddy when she was just five, so she's very excited to do this again! :)
Talk about the young Republicans! :)
looking forward to what you have to say Susan.. I urge anybody that has cable tv to watch Sean Hannity's America this Sunday at 9pm. He will be giving his top 10 reasons why Obama is not fit be president. I am thinking of posting a bunch of the best Youtube videos I have seen this week. People need to wake up and see this man for what he is. Something is just not right.
I am ready for it to be over too..
that program will be on Fox news channel at 9pm eastern by the way...
i love this devotional. these guidelines should be used in all relationships.
the problem i have with engaging in conversations on politics is not being able to respect others and their opinions, or expressing my own opinions. it's the fact that a certain degree of judgement makes it's way into the situation and once it's there, it's very hard (if not impossible) to erase.
i, too, can say that i am a christian and that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. my priorities are God first and family second. i am a registered republican. i have read a lot and watched every single debate. and i have decided to vote for obama.
that doesn't make me less of a christian and i shouldn't be judged because of it. but reality is, that just by stating my opinion here, i have already been judged.
i would enjoy a healthy open conversation about the candidates but i don't feel like that can really happen here without the judgement, so i probably won't be contributing. even your NObama graphic feels judgemental to me.
sorry, susan, that's just my opinion and feelings. i hope you know that i love you and respect you, your views and opinions.
Like you, I also have to vote the way I believe Jesus would. As a Christian there is no other way. My priorities are God led.
I'm looking forward to what you will be writing. I know we agree on these things but I like how you write it.
God Bless you and yours
You printed it, God said it!!! It can't be any clearer..
Dear Diana, I want you to know that I do not "judge" you, but at the same time I don't understand how a Christian could vote for this man. He is the most liberal democrat there is. If for no other reason, his position on abortions alone are enough to deny him my vote. He is in favor of no restrictions abortions, if elected you can bet that partial birth abortions will be allowed again, and he also voted no on a bill that would have allowed medical treatment to a baby that survived an abortion. In short, he voted to let that baby die.
Please watch this You Tube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo
Then there are all his questionable ties to radical people that seem to hate America and everything we stand for. These are people that Obama actually called his mentors.
I promise you Diana that I am not holding one single ugly thought towards you or anybody that would vote for him. I just can't understand WHY a Christian would vote for him in light of all this.
All that being said, who you vote for is an entirely personal decision and is between you and the Lord only. You don't have to answer to me or anyone else about the choice you make. God bless you.
I liked the part---solutions are the most important...not victories.
Yes...I'm tired of the election coverage, too. Especially here in California...the media is ruthlessly critical of one of the candidates.
Sunny and I were just discussing this today. Only the scripture was in James about 'the warring within your members'. We were talking about how if we keep 'warring' against ourselves we only weaken our nation and are then sitting ducks to those outside our borders. My sister made a good point on her blog when she said we can eventually get ourselves out of the financial mess we're in, as we have in the past, but terrorism costs LIVES. Which should be the most immediate concern, our economy or our lives?
Off the soapbox now!
God bless,
Brenda :)
Good thoughts on the last two posts - such an important time!!
I hope Mickey is doing better!
This is excellent!
I look forward to reading your thoughts on the election.
Katherine
I can't believe some people rely on Youtube videos and Fox news to make their voting decisions.
How about reading a major newspaper or magazine or a BOOK for a change?? I mean a book by a real author, an expert on economics or international relations.
Susan, I am sorry I haven't been over for a while, but I sure will be coming to see what you will be discussing. It's hard; I've been pretty subtle on my blog but wonder if I should be more direct about things. We have to trust that God will do what's right. I only hope he doesn't judge us for our sins quite yet.
Ok I have read it now.
MSJ
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