Random thoughts

**The sunset last night was gorgeous. Andrew would have loved it. He frequently will run outside to get a picture of the beauty outside our window, but he's in Mexico City right now, praying for people and sharing the Gospel. We miss him very much and pray that God uses him in powerful ways to touch the people in Mexico. The kids tell me every day how much they miss Andrew. Not having a teenager at home decreases the intensity of the home environment by at least 50%, which is restful and boring at the same time. I can't wait for Andrew to come back.

**I know God is not surprised by the election results. I know the hearts of our leaders are in His hands. I know that God can surround our President Elect with Godly men and women who will give him Godly advice. I know that now, more than ever, we need to pray for our leaders and our country. I do wonder, though, if things would have been different if the major network media were not so biased. How many times did you hear how bad the economy was and how low the President's approval rating was? How long can you hear those things before you start thinking "we need a change?" And I wonder, too, if it's just a matter of the person with the most money being able to buy their way to the White House with air time and mailings and paid door to door people.

**Colossians 3:14 says,

"And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

Love is like superglue. And it works because love keeps no record of wrongs. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love is patient, kind and humble. Love forgives and hopes. Love puts other's interests ahead of our own. It is the perfect thing to keep us together. Cue music, "Love will keep us together..." Who sang that song? Cher? Captain and Tenille? It's been running through my head for two days now. Anyway....When there is love even on one end of a relationship, it will always bring you back together in spite of hurt or anger. And there can always be love. Because it has nothing to do with feelings...we choose to love. Isn't it interesting that we can put on love? Like it's a garment we can wear? What does a garment do? It covers vulnerable areas of the body, protects us from the elements and bugs and injuries, decorates and beautifies our body, identifies, (like a uniform on a policeman, or matching t-shirts on a family or group). "They will know we are Christians by our love." Our garment of love gives us identity and strengthens us with unity (a cord of many strands is not easily broken, 1 can route a thousand, 2 can route 10,000, etc.)

And that's all.