Ephesians 1

I don't really have anything good to post right now, but I'm trying to stay on target with this thing, so bear with me. I'd also like to point out that I am NOT political.

At Girls' Group last night, we went over Ephesians 1. A few months ago, we decided to go through books of the bible, chapter by chapter. We've gone through two books so far, and it's amazing what you pick up and retain by focusing on the single chapter verses the entire book, or section. Eph 1 carries a strong them of redemption and hope and, as we are one day away from inaugurating a new president with an economy in trouble, I can't help by find it more divine order than coincidence.

It's so easy to think negatively about what's going on with our economy. Last week, Goody's & Circuit City announced they were liquidating and closing their doors. Locally, the main COG bookstore closed their doors as well (Pathway -- for you folks out of town). We see that there are companies going under financially left and right. And then you have people who are ignorant who think that Obama is either going to 1) tank our economy, or 2) be our financial savior.

Here's a simple reminder: Obama is just a man. What happens to our economy is a set of actions that got us to where we are. Making him the enemy or savior is not just unfair, it's foolish.

Today as we prepare for a huge day in our history, would you take a day to pray for him? It's so easy to criticize the president, but can you imagine what kind of overwhelming burden it must be to carry the weight of an entire country? Most of us can't balance our checkbook, but we can criticize leadership for not balancing the national budget. Can you imagine the incredible pressure that it must be to lay your head down at night and know that you, in one form or fashion, control the response to terror threats? To have the daunting task of protecting, governing, and leading 303 MILLION people?

Ephesians 1 concludes with a prayer that is poignant for today:

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1: 18-23