"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."
1 Timothy 4:10

There were many emotions running through my heart last night. Anger, disappointment, sadness, frustration, and more hopelessness... But the Word always brings balance. While the election may be over, our fight of faith is not. We have fixed our hope on Christ--and only Him.

The media claims this election is historic... for racial reasons. I believe this election is historic... for moral reasons. And though I strongly encourage you to vote, and to vote based on morality, I want to insert a little bit of balance of the passionate discussion of politics.

It is tempting to view this election in black-and-white (and no, that is not a racial reference). I know that my personal tendency is to alternate between hope and hopelessness. I.e. "If Obama wins, America is lost forever" being the tamest of sentiments.

The fact of the matter is the America is already lost! The majority of Americans, though religious, have never experienced the saving power of Christ and the miracle of the Gospel. And that is the direct result of sin--not politics. America is rocketing towards destruction as time draws ever nearer to the return of the Lord. But it's not about politics. I think, more than anything, politics may be a thermometer of the moral temperature of our culture. In the midst of this craziness, our perspective must be determined by the King. We must remember that we are aliens and strangers in this land! Just here for a little while... and here for the preaching of the Gospel. Our happiness does not rise and fall with the election results.

I exhort you: Pray that God will stay the tide of wickedness in our generation, for the purpose of bringing Himself glory. Vote for candidates the most reflect Christ's characters (i.e. wouldn't support murdering innocents). And keep an eternal perspective.

I need to be Superwoman... Give me a cape and the ability to fly, and life would be so much simpler. Or maybe just super-human powers. I think that's what grace is supposed to be like. As God works in our lives, He gives us power to do things that we couldn't do by ourselves. Lately my thoughts have tended towards "too much to do, too little time" or "something hard to do, too little ability" or my personal favorite... "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" As much as my flesh hates difficult situations, my spirit likes them... because I am forced to cling to Jesus. That sounds so wrong---as if I need to be outwardly compelled to trust in the Lord. But honestly, sometimes I do. And the Lord is faithful to deliver me from my "Superwoman" complex.

So that was the lesson of the weekend. And here's the long-awaited Weekend in Review:

Friday. The Chatty Girl and I went around on Penn State campus for some portraits. She lived up to her name, and we chatted, joked and laughed the entire time! I said again "Look! A cool door!" which is quickly becoming my byline. She walked barefoot in the grass and even dipped her toes in freezing water--all for the photos. And I smacked an unsuspecting squirrel. And eavesdropped on some Willard preacher clones. Then, fun high school football game. HILARIOUS times in the church van with The Crazy Kid bellowing to unsuspecting passerbyers "You kicked my dog! YOU DID IT!" Hey now, with all those people dressed up in Halloween freakiness, they needed a little good, clean humor. :) Youth group football afterparty, which meant good food and a ridiculously fun game of charades.

Saturday. Editing photos, house-cleaning, grocery shopping, menu planning, and then a late afternoon/early evening photo shoot with The Sis & Bro-in-Law. It was my first attempt taking photos of a couple, and I loved it!! Somewhat because they're related to me and that makes it hilarious... and because they love each other so much, and that makes it adorably awesome... and because I could tell they are parents to little ones when I told them to make an angry face, and they both did-without a moment's hesitation!! There was even an answer to prayer. As I left my house, the sky was completely covered in clouds. I prayed (and unbeknownst to me, The Sis prayed, too). And by the time we were heading to the location, there was lovely sunlight!! How that happened so quickly, I do not know but it was amazing! Anyway, then it was back to my house for hours upon hours of sorting through photos. I did roast a pumpkin at the same time. And watch a movie. And broke my blender. Now THAT is multi-tasking.

Sunday
I was glad to be in the house of the Lord, among the saints who are also just glad to be together. Lots of testimonies and exhortation and encouragement. And I am really, really enjoying the expository preaching. That's preaching done verse-by-verse, rather than topically. Right now, The Pastor is teaching through the pastoral epistles: 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Expository preaching seems to bring so much more to light. I get to scribble Greek word meanings in the margins of my Bible for future reference! Woot. After church, a group of people road-tripped to a nearby town to see the now-open-kind-of-in-our-area Fireproof movie!! I HIGHLY recommend it! And as we were killin' time before the movie at a nearby thrift store, I found (what else?!) books and pretty tea cups. Then, home with the roomie, a little Darcy time and book cataloging. Good times.