Let's not lose sight of the REAL Savior

So, congratulations Barack Obama, you've won the election and you are now the next President of the United States. True, I'm glad because I voted for you, but I beg of you - please don't let people put all their trust in YOU! Instead direct them towards the true savior and giver of hope and peace - Jesus Christ!

You see, I was psyched that the first time I got to use my privlege to vote was to put my voice into this historic election, where for the first time media's eye was on the young voters, the middle-class, and even the african-american population. Being black, and a college student, and having grown up in a middle-class household, I finally felt that my views were being heard! Finally some representation from someone who truly seemed to care about me [And not just Joe the Plumber either (ugh!)].

But all my joy did not rest in the belief that Barack Obama is going to be single-handedly responsible for saving the world and restoring hope and confidence to the American people in the government, but rather the fact that Jesus Christ is using President Elect Barack Obama, Vice-President Elect Joe Biden, and all other leaders in all levels of government to fulfill his purpose and complete the work he has begun on bringing the United States of America to where its destiny lies.

But most of all, I am filled with joy that God has always allowed things to happen for a reason. Even though I am glad with the news of history that was made with the election victory of Barack Obama, I am also glad that we had the experience of being led by President George W. Bush. Now some people have lost sight of the fact that we are to fully respect all of our leaders, but as Christians, we should live by the Word of God, and in his word he says "Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people". So with all due respect, I honor President Bush, after he truly gave his energy, time and thought, even amongst all the ridicule he received from people, media and even Christians, to see to it that America kept from going ary. And so should each of you.

So just as we are to respect President Bush in his last months as our nation's President, let us begin to bring Barack Obama, Joe Biden and all of his cabinet to the "throne of grace" and pray for his guidance and protection as he will lead us into our very unknown future. Whether you voted for Obama or not, it is your DUTY as a Christian to uphold our new leaders in prayer.

But even moreso, let us all realize that it is not Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden, or Sarah Palin who can give us the salvation we need like the blood that Jesus Christ shed for our sins. God just gives us hope through the leaders he places in charge, and we are to respect all of God's key choices.

Let us NEVER lose sight of the REAL Savior.

"For the Change We Need", all we need is Christ the Lord.

I'll Forever Be Chasing After You

I'm a newbie to blogger, but am glad to be here. This blog is just a tool for me to reach people with my own experiences and realizations as I continue in my walk after Christ. So here is my first installment:



So, for those of you who have been even remotely around me in the last few weeks, you could have bet that a note in some shape or form was coming. For so long I've been running.. and still confused. See, my pastor said that as Christians, we run a neverending race. But what I failed to realize is that I shouldn't be running FROM anything, but TOWARDS a tangible end. And who am I running TOWARDS? Jesus.Tye Tribbett & God's Anointed (G.A.) sings a song called "Chasing After You (The Morning Song)". And here are some of the lyrics (I won't kill your time with the whole song, go look it up on imeem.com; its like 7 minutes of pure worship long). Chasing After You - Tye Tribbett



Each and everyday I will seek your face

My soul is crying out for more,

I want more of you

I won't be satisfied nor content of where I am

So I will apprehend till I've captured by what I'm after



And I will go from faith to faith

From glory to glory

And I'll forever be chasing after you

I'll be chasing after you



I will press towards the mark for the prize and

I won't faint theres one thing

I desire and thats what I'm going for

I cant continue life day by day

growing dry I need to be with you (Jesus)

I'll seek where you are


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So now, what does that mean for me, Arielle M. Benjamin? That today I'm marking myself with this note, that you all who know me will not know me the same way. Sure, I've been a Christian my whole life, and true, I grew up in the Church. But now the tables have turned, and instead of running away from all the pains and heartaches and struggles, and weariness that has fought to bring me down, I am CHASING after God's own heart.After being too scared to just JUMP INto my purpose, and God just stepping in and reminding me where I need to be, I finally REALIZE it. This is my epiphany.



Relationships can wait. Money making can wait. But Christ is necessary now.



In Phillippians 3 it says:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."



So, of course I'm not all completely there yet. But now that I have direction, I can have hope that what I am going towards is what God has in store for my life. And now, I am putting aside the things that I thought could help me get through what I was running from, because everything behind me is under control.





I'll forever be chasing after You.