Editor’s Note: The follow is a prayer presented by Kenda Bartlett, Concerned Women for America’s Executive Director, in the United States Capitol building for the Washington: A Man of Prayer event on May 8, 2013. To watch CBN’s coverage of this special Congressional event, click here.   

Our Heavenly Father,

With humble heart we thank you for our country, for our Constitution based on the blueprints provided to us in your Scriptures, for our strong military, and for our political representatives.

Too often, Lord, we elect our leaders and then we neglect them. But You call on us to pray for our national leaders. For Paul, inspired by You, in I Timothy 2:1-4, tells us, “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth.”

Our national leaders need prayer. Because no matter what side of the political aisle they might align themselves, our representatives alone are incapable of settling conflict on a world stage, preventing the deterioration of the family, saving the lives of the innocent unborn, turning around a downturned economy, providing jobs for the unemployed, being a comforter to the grieving who have lost loved ones in recent national atrocities and tragedies. Lord, only with Your help can those in authority accomplish these things. May they never forget that.

The presidency of the United States is one of the most difficult and important jobs on earth. So we take time to pray specifically for President Barack Obama. Please give President Obama the wisdom he needs to confront the complex daily challenges within domestic and foreign political affairs. Please grant him endurance to manage the daily pressures within his executive duties. But above all, we pray that President Obama may know You in an intimate way. And in every responsibility, we pray that he will make decisions that are pleasing in the eyes of You, and not the eyes of men.

We pray for the first family. We pray that the physical demands of long hours and extensive travel do not put a strain on his family, but instead strengthen the Obamas’ love, commitment, and support of one another. Bless each member of his household. For the president’s wife, first lady Michelle Obama, we pray that You would build a wall of protection around their marriage. May their strong marriage help them to recognize the sacredness of marriage as You defined it. We ask that You bless the president and first lady’s family. Please give them wisdom and guidance as they raise their two young daughters, Malia and Sasha, and protect the Obama family from hostile threats.

We pray also that you would surround President Obama with Godly counsel. So also for each of President Obama’s cabinet. Lord, for each one of these cabinet members, we ask that you strengthen them through Your Word and grant them the wisdom to cast down every law, policy, and personal example which weakens marriage, families, the sanctity of human life, and Your moral code.

As our nine Supreme Court Justices make complex decisions on laws that impact the entire nation, we pray that You give them wisdom and courage to uphold our Constitution, which establishes a republic based on Your absolute laws and not a nation based on the changing opinions of man’s own reasoning. For Isaiah reminds us that, “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.”  May they realize that all authority comes from You and understand that one day they will stand before You to give an account of the authority You have given to them.

For our local and state leaders, God, we ask that you grant them wisdom, discernment, and hearts that are open to Your leading.

We lift up leaders in the United States House of Representatives, in the Senate, and in the military. We know you have chosen these leaders for such a time as this. We pray that our government houses profess your authority and acknowledge Your will, so that every citizen, every leader, and every country knows that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Not only do we pray for our national leaders in authority, but we pray for those Christ followers who work on staff in the Obama Administration. Please embolden every Christian working in the White House, clerking in the Supreme Court, or providing staff support to every government agency and member of Congress. Please provide them opportunities on a daily basis to act as a witness for Your Truths. Lift the veils on every non-believer around them, so that they might recognize their need for Your goodness, mercy, and saving grace. Please do not let the devil get a foothold in these men and women’s lives. Prune every believer of everything that does not align with Your absolute truths. As they represent You, may they be blessed with favor from their superiors, dignity, courage, and strength.

Father, may You continue to be glorified in the our Capitol, 50 states, and world throughout the ages. In the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen.

According to the Seattle PI, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit against Arlene’s Flowers & Gifts after owner Barronelle Stutzman declined to supply flowers to a homosexual couple’s wedding. Now, while the radical Left is screaming “discrimination,” “bigotry,” and “hatred,” it is important to note that Stutzman never denied service due to discrimination based on Richard Ingersoll and Curt Freed’s “sexual orientation.” In fact, the two men were pleased with Stutzman’s services, as they were repeat customers for nearly ten years.

No screaming matches or harassing phone calls or e-mails transpired when Stutzman declined to service Ingersoll and Freed’s event. Reportedly, Stutzman recalled, “He (Ingersoll) said he decided to get married, and before he got through, I grabbed his hand and said, ‘I am sorry. I can’t do your wedding because of my relationship with Jesus Christ.’ We hugged each other and he left, and I assumed it was the end of the story.”

Peace, love, and civility, as it should be. Live and let live, as it should be. In the example of Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz, “It’s a free country.” What’s the problem? You can buy flowers somewhere else, right? But the options — or opinions — of the Looney Left aren’t available to conservatives, apparently.

Ironically, the same liberal thinkers who infused my college experience with the important lesson of small business owners unquestionably rallied behind Starbucks, a multi-billion dollar “greedy” corporation, when its CEO implemented a company policy based on his ultraliberal worldview. But I guarantee they will not support this small business woman for simply choosing to respect the sanctity of marriage. Nor have they supported Oregon’s Sweet Cakes owners, a young couple with three small children who declined to fill a wedding cake order for a homosexual wedding. In retaliation, these “progressives” marched with hostile picket signs in front of this bakery every Saturday to picket and harass the owners, their customers, and their partnering businesses.

And it is not just small businesses. Remember when Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy merely mentioned his personal — not corporate — policy on same-sex “marriage?” Goodness knows we had city mayors threatening to ban Chick-fil-A stores from Chicago and Boston. (And we all know how successful that plan was.)

So, once again, let us all put our money where our mouths are. Buy your values. This time for the sake and sustainability of small business owners.

Goodbye pumpkin spice latte. Forever.  

Last year during this exact week, I wrote a blog titled, “Starbucks Disrespects Values Voters,” calling out Starbucks’ CEO, Howard Schultz, for supporting a liberal political agenda that totally disregards the traditional values of many customers and staff members.

Another year gone by and Schultz has become even more extreme and intolerant. At Starbucks’ annual shareholders meeting, Schultz sent a clear message that he does not want the business of anyone who believes that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, pointedly telling one such shareholder, “You can sell your shares in Starbucks and buy shares in another company.” This outburst reportedly came right after Schultz stated he wanted to “embrace diversity of all kinds.”

He doesn’t want our business. Schultz statement isn’t tolerant. It is prejudicial and bigoted. So where are the newspaper headlines reading, “Starbucks CEO Refuses Pro-Marriage Supporters Service,” which is exactly the message his statement conveys?

What’s next, Starbucks? Two separate drinking fountains for liberals and conservatives or “now hiring” signs reading, “Heterosexuals Need Not Apply”?

Considering that there are twice as many conservatives as there are liberals, Schultz should have heeded my warning a year ago. In fact, during this year’s meeting, conservative shareholder Tom Strobhar admitted that after the company voiced its support for same-sex “marriage” in Washington state, the company saw a drop in profits.

So in the end, Schultz is only tolerant of approximately 2 percent of America’s 300 million citizens who live homosexual lifestyles. I do not hold an MBA, but I do remember that 4^th grade arithmetic teaches us that the profits made from 2 percent are less than the profits from 98 percent.

I’ve already dumped Starbucks. I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts, anyway.

Looking ahead to Tuesday — when the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could determine the future of marriage — President Obama recently “explained the legal argument for same-sex marriage” claiming that the Constitution does support a fundamental right to same-sex “marriage.”

Obama argued at an impromptu press conference his legal argument for same-sex marriage when asked a question about the Supreme Court’s review of California’s Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage. ABC News reported that the President said,

“[T]he Supreme Court needs to ask the state why it’s doing it, and if the state doesn’t have a good reason it should be struck down. … Whenever a particular group is being discriminated against, the court asks the question, what’s the rationale for this, and it better be a good reason, and if you don’t have a good reason we’re going to strike it down.”

It is funny how the President says, “We’re going to strike it down,” as if he is the Chief Justice rather than the President of the United States.  President Obama should work on improving his execution of the job he was elected to before moving onto another position. If he took the time to brush up on the judicial case law of this country – in which he sits not as a judge, but as president –  not only would he clearly see the reason not precedent for staying in the Oval Office and out of the courtroom, his erroneous legal views on marriage would also be exposed.

Sadly, it appears the president’s understanding of our nation’s Constitution and case law is similar to his understanding of economics…or should I say, lack of it?

It appears the president is also forgetting one of the leading cases regarding same-sex marriage, Barker v Nelson, which reasoned, “The Constitution does not protect a fundamental right for same-sex couples to get married.”

Furthermore, the most common case cited by same-sex marriage advocates is the Supreme Court case, Loving v Virginia. The issue in Loving v Virginia was the validity of “Virginia’s anti-miscegenation statutes, the central features of which are the absolute prohibition of a white person marrying any person other than a white person.” Although the case focused on racial discrimination in light of the 14^th Amendment and not same-sex unions, Chief Justice Warren stated, “Marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man, fundamental to existence and survival.” The court mentioned nothing of a civil right for same-sex marriage.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) later this month.  It wouldn’t be a surprise if this group of Justices again ignores the parameters of the Constitution and forever changes history.

Concerned Women for America encourages those who wish to protect the U.S. Constitution and the definition of marriage to come to D.C. for the Marriage March set for the morning of March 26, 2013, the day the Supreme Court is set to begin hearing oral arguments on these important cases.

Today’s guest blogger is Alex Swoyer, Chapter President of Young Women for America for Ave Maria School of Law.

Wife and warrior Naghmeh Abidini testified at a Congressional hearing last Friday to raise national awareness for her husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, and to urge the State Department and President Obama’s Administration to take long-overdue action. Saeed is an Iranian-born U.S. citizen who was arrested in Iran last July and imprisoned in the notoriously brutal Evin prison.  The Islamic Regime of Iran claims that Pastor Saeed is a national security threat, and yet, even they have stated that the real reason for his imprisonment is his Christian faith.  Saeed converted from Islam to Christianity in 2000 and subsequently started an underground church movement.  He and his wife have been living in America as U.S. citizens and have traveled back to Iran many times.  This past July, Saeed made another trip to Iran in order to gain final approval for the orphanage he is building.  This project had the full approval of the Iranian government, and he has complied with all of their past demands with regards to his activities in the country.  However, he was arrested in July 2012 and, at the beginning of this year, he was sentenced to eight years in Evin prison.

The U.S. State Department and the Obama Administration have been glaringly absent in this case.  In fact, they have done more in the past for non-U.S. citizens imprisoned in Iran than they have been willing to do on behalf of Pastor Saeed.  They were notified about the hearing, but their response was that they had no one available to attend. Quoting Dietrich Bonhoeffer during the hearing, Naghmeh said, “Silence in the face of evil, in itself is evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak; not to act is to act.”  The State Department’s shameful lack of acknowledgement of this issue, especially their refusal to send a representative to the hearing, is absolutely appalling.  Congress has acted on this issue, but it is the State Department and the Obama Administration’s responsibility to lead this case and demand Saeed’s release.  While White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has made mild comments in response to media questioning on this issue, President Obama has remained entirely silent. Likewise, the only comments that have been made by the State Department have been in response to questions from the media or from Members of Congress.

During the recent U.N. meetings, the E.U. spoke out specifically on behalf of Pastor Saeed, and yet, when it came time for the U.S. delegation to speak, they made no mention of his name.  “Imagine you’re a U.S. citizen detained for your faith abroad, and the E.U. is speaking out, but your own country is remaining silent,” said Jordan Sekulow, attorney with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and Nagmeh’s legal counsel.

However, thanks to the tireless efforts of Naghmeh, the relentless work of the ACLJ, the extensive and regular coverage by Fox News, the over 100 Congressmen who signed a letter to the State Department, especially the specific leadership of Congressman Trent Franks (R-Arizona) on the Hill with this issue, Congressman Frank Wolf’s (R-Virginia) leading of the Congressional hearing, and the 538,000 Americans who have signed the petition and called their representatives, a State Department representative did finally agree to meet with Naghmeh to discuss her husband’s imprisonment and torture.

Congress has done what it needs to do. Americans are doing their part, as the petition for Saeed’s release increases by about 15,000 signatures a day; it is now at nearly 600,000.   Many public figures, including several Christian recording artists and politicians, have spread the news about this issue to their audiences. Now is the time for the State Department and the Obama Administration to get their act in gear or face the growing outrage of the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are following this case.  Naghmeh and her ACLJ attorney, Jordan Sekulow, appeared on Fox News this morning setting this Friday as a deadline for the State Department to make a clear statement demanding Saeed Abedini’s release.

Please join CWA and continue to pray for the immediate release of Pastor Saeed Abidini. If you were not able to watch the Congressional hearing and Naghmeh’s moving testimony, you can watch it here.

Chelsen Vicari, CWA’s Communications Strategist, contributed to this article.

Lifetime’s newest series, “Preachers’ Daughters” debuts tonight.  So all of you fellow P.K.’s (preacher’s kids) let out a sigh of relief; someone will finally understand what we went through!  But I also wonder if this is a shameless opportunity to paint religious dads and moms as aliens from outer space – you know, the “crazy Christian” stereotypes that Hollywood loves to spew.  Sound familiar?

I tuned in to GCB (Good Christian B**ches) for the same reason.  How does the world see us?  Or perhaps the better question is, “How does Hollywood want the world to see us?”  Society is fascinated by Christians and our faith.  The T.V. series “The Bible” serves as a case in point.  More than 27 million tuned into its first episode last week.

Tonight, we can all be the judge, like every reality “big brother” show leads us to be.  But I’m afraid what you’ll see here is what a TV camera would catch in most of our homes.  That is, not-so-perfect parenting executed with the best of intentions.  Whether it’s interrogating the boy that comes to pick up your daughter, finding pictures on Instagram you’re not so proud of, or finding out who your kids’ friends are, these are very real conversations happening in households everywhere.

Hopefully, “Preachers’ Daughters” will show how to have these hard conversations.  Or maybe they’ll show us exactly what not to do.  But it should point directly to the society in which we are raising our children. Not only are they more sexualized than ever, but they are exposed at every level to temptation and societal pressure.  Do I think it’s appropriate that these preachers agreed to have their daughters more exposed by allowing a camera to follow them around?  No.  I’m never a fan of profiting off of people figuring out their lives.  But since it’s in front of us, I pray these moms and dads use it as a way to reach out to the viewing audience and bring glory to God’s name through what may be their imperfect attempts at grace and love.

Parenting is hard.  And no one is perfect.  But more than a show, we have the Bible to show us how to love, how to discipline, and how to guide those around us to a life of obedience and success in God’s eyes.

To Hollywood, I say, continue trying to capture what’s mysterious about us.  It’s hard to see it on camera, because it lies in our hearts and our convictions.

To these girls, I say, figure out that your mom and dad are trying to help guard you from the hurt of the world.  No, your parents are not God, and you ‘don’t have to listen’ to them.  But we were blessed with parents who cared enough about us to want the best.  And not everyone can say that.

Love, from one preacher’s daughter to another.

Bring on that extra shot of espresso, because we just pulled an all-nighter.  America was glued to the most unlikely TV channel — C-SPAN — as it watched Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) filibuster for almost 13 hours.  You don’t have to be a political buff to know that Congress’s approval ratings have been dropping faster than Taylor Swift drops boyfriends.  Even so, Sen. Paul revived our disheartened spirit toward Congress by standing for Americans’ most safeguarded liberty — their life.

The fire behind this 13-hour filibuster (where senators gain control of the Senate floor and speak in an attempt to bring attention to a controversial issue or to block a measure from coming up for a vote) was sparked by the Obama Administration’s vague interpretation of authority to authorize a lethal strike … with a drone … against an American citizen … on American soil … without a trial.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Senators were filibustering to get the White House to acknowledge that it doesn’t have the power to blow up noncombatant Americans on U.S. soil.

“I will speak until I can no longer speak,” Paul began.  “I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being found to be guilty by a court.”

Who needs a bathroom break or food when your own hashtag, #StandWithRand, is trending worldwide?  This passion that had been lacking in Congress became a primetime favorite.  The Mr. Smith Goes to Washington moment unfolded in real life when 50,000 telegrams were brought to the senate floor by the modern-day, non-fictional reading of tweets by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), then add Sen. Mario Rubio (R-Florida) quoting modern-day poets like Jay-Z and Wiz Khalifa, alongside his mention of the classic movie The Godfather, “Let’s give them an offer they can’t refuse.”  Hopefully this new version of the GOP will hold, blending the old with the new, from the weak to the strong.

After almost 13 hours, Sen. Paul yielded his time and left the Senate floor.  And although the filibuster has ended, his actions, and the words of the elected officials who stood with him, will hopefully be present with us for days to come.  As Americans it’s our responsibility to make sure no elected official, no matter their title, can dispute the rights granted to us in the Constitution.  This is the type of passion and drive held by our Founding Fathers that births nations, alters history, and saves innocent lives.

While watching the Oscars last night, my jaw dropped — not at the gorgeous gowns, or the talented performance by Barbra Streisand, or by the actual Oscar winners, but rather when First Lady Michelle Obama made her appearance.  All I could think was, “Really?  What in the world?!”   Then, after calming my rising blood pressure, I realized this would only be expected with this administration.

It is reported by TODAY that Michelle Obama “had been attending the National Governors Association Dinner and stepped out to handle the award announcement.”  I suppose announcing the Best Picture of 2013 is more important than attending the National Governors Association Dinner alongside her husband, the president.  This is yet another example of how the Obama Administration has focused too much on the glam and fame of American culture, rather than 12.3 million unemployed Americans and the increasing American debt.

Michelle Obama should take a note from one of her predecessors, Eleanor Roosevelt, who in commenting on being the First Lady said, “Always be on time.  Do as little talking as humanly possible. Lean back in the parade car so everybody can see the president.”

But after all, from where do we think most of President Obama’s campaign money came? I’ll give you one guess, and it was not Hollywood, Florida.  After all, we have seen Hollywood stars endorse President Obama unlike any previous presidential candidate in history.

“Washington has been deeply involved in the best picture race this year.  President Barack Obama held a screening of Lincoln at the White House in November, while Vice President Joe Biden and several senators met with Silver Linings Playbook’s David O. Russell and Bradley Cooper to discuss mental health.  Argo held a screening at the CIA, while Zero Dark Thirty came under scrutiny for its producers’ relationship with certain members of the clandestine service.” — The Hollywood Reporter.

I instantly grabbed my iPhone to find out how many other First Lady’s have done the same.  However, I found nothing … well only blogs claiming Laura Bush presented an Oscar in 2002 … but no such proof, video, links or the like to back up such defense mechanisms for the poor choice by the Academy Awards.

“The Hollywood Reporter writes that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and Oscar producers worked the deal out with the first lady’s staff and managed to keep it secret.” — TODAY, by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper.  Hmm, and people wonder what happen to the quality of movies today?

Well, obviously with poor choices such as the one last night, we will never have geniuses able to meet or exceed the best pictures of the past such as Rocky, The Godfather, Driving Miss Daisy, etc. — nor will the 86th Academy Awards have the amount of viewers it previously had.

Today’s guest blogger is Alex Swoyer, Chapter President of Young Women for America for Ave Maria School of Law.

Editor’s Note: A version of this article was posted by the Christian Post. Click here to read it.

Dear Tim Tebow,

I’m conflicted. Now, I don’t have all the facts, I’ll give you that. But I pray you aren’t being “advised” to conform to this world. You have a privilege and a platform to boldly stand for Jesus Christ. Don’t let your fans — young Christians — down now.

On Wednesday night, Tebow, I read that you made a phone call to Pastor Robert Jeffress of Dallas’ First Baptist Church to say that, despite promising to speak at the church in April, you were going to sit this one out on the sidelines. The snarky side of me wants to write, “What’s new?” However, I’ll refrain and consider the facts.

According to your official Facebook page, which no doubt is maintained by your staff, the reasons are as follows:

“While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ’s unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought to my attention, I have decided to cancel my upcoming appearance. I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those needing a brighter day. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless!”

Your Facebook post sounds well-intentioned, but these are not the reasons you gave Pastor Jeffress, are they? Pastor Jeffress told the Daily Beast that, “He [Tebow] said that because of professional and personal reasons he needed to stay away from controversy right now, so he would not be able to come.”

We admire you for sharing Scripture verses on your cheeks during games. We’re proud of you for kneeling in thanks to God after every touchdown, a.k.a. “Tebowing.” (Beware though. One of my colleagues suggested Un-Tebowing as a viral movement after reading about your decision.)And we have you to thank for inspiring other young Christian athletes like Jeremy Lin, Robert Griffin III, and Lolo Jones to be outspoken about their faith.

But Tebow, what makes you different from other Christian athletes was your decision to do the speaking tour on the church circuit. I have friends counting on seeing you speak at Liberty University (LU) in March, but LU believes in marriage only as the union between one man and one woman. Will you show up? Now that you’ve seemingly caved to the homosexual activist community and liberal bloggers, will you be afraid to upset them again?

You want to lay low, I get that. You’re probably going to be cut from the Jets, and you need another NFL team to pick you up. The added controversy probably isn’t helping your slim chances of a trade. Understandable. But I urge you to consider the charge from Romans 12:2, 
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Look, Tim, I know it’s not easy to go against the grain of the world’s expectations. I’m 25, just like you, raised in the Bible Belt, and have been outspoken about my faith since the age of eight. Like you, God has given me a national platform with Concerned Women for America, a Christian non-profit, through which I advocate Biblical truths in public policy, and my career as a pro-life, pro-family advocate is controversial. My colleagues and I are called “bigots,”“bullies,” and a lot of other unprintable names, and we’re utterly harassed every single day for standing for purity, marriage as God intended it, and the sanctity of unborn life. We don’t get paid millions of dollars per year to do it, but I’m fine with that.

I wear the insults like a badge of honor, because I’m utilizing the platform God has given me to the fullest extent. It’s not about who I offend. It’s about sharing the Gospel.

So please, whatever you do, don’t sacrifice your platform to please your critics.

Sincerely,

Chelsen Vicari

“And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26

Many are encouraged by Dr. Ben Carson’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast last week. Did he not rebuke the winds of untruth and the seas of dishonesty, political spin and corruption? His demeanor was calm as he called out the truth. His tone carried a message of conviction. As a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, February 8, 2013, was certainly not the first time Dr. Carson has used an opportunity to correct the teaching of others.

Praise God for His work in Ben Carson’s life! A man who has become a successful American neurosurgeon and the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital nearly killed a friend in an argument.

Despite his academic successes, Ben Carson still had a raging temper that translated into violent behavior. One time he tried to hit his mother with a hammer because she disagreed with his choice of clothes. Another time, he inflicted a major head injury on a classmate in a dispute over a locker.

In a final incident, Ben nearly stabbed to death a friend after arguing over a choice of radio stations. The only thing that prevented a tragic occurrence was the knife blade broke on the friend’s belt buckle. Not knowing the extent of his friend’s injury, Ben ran home and locked himself in the bathroom with a Bible. Terrified by his own actions, he started praying, asking God to help him find a way to deal with his temper. He found salvation in the book of Proverbs in a passage that went, “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

To read more go to http://www.biography.com/people/ben-carson-475422?page=1

God’s touch on Ben Carson’s life is apparent. God Almighty took a violent young man and molded him. In an interview by Sean Hannity, Dr. Carson was asked how he dared speak that way in front of President Obama. Ben’s reply was something to the effect, “It didn’t matter who was sitting next to me. Before I speak, I pray and ask God to direct me.”

“Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people of His own, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose him, if God perhaps, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Our arguments for life are fought in the heavenly places. The battle is not ours to fight.

“For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15, 16

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, By whom also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,……Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God., angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” I Peter 3:18-19, 22

We go boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. Praise God for the opportunities to be His servant.

This week’s guest blogger is Linda Thorson, CWA of North Dakota’s State Records Correspondent.