God created me with a mind to think and discern. God created me with convictions and a desire to worship and serve Him. With these things He has given me, I will be the first to admit that I have not used them many times in a manner that is worshipful or pleasing to Him. Even so, when I repent for my sinful actions, I know He will forgive me. Why do I have such faith? Because His Word tells me that God cannot lie and that his Word is truth.

God has graciously allowed me to live in a country that was founded on Judeo/Christian values. He gifted our founding fathers with great insight and foresight when they drafted and approved the Constitution of the United States of America. Men and women have fought for and died so that I might enjoy the freedoms granted by our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Unfortunately, our country has not only strayed from our Constitution and Bill of Rights, but more importantly, we have strayed from God and the Judeo/Christian values that made the United States of America the greatest nation on earth. Time and time again, we read in the Bible that when Israel strayed from God, judgment came upon that nation. Many times, their downfall was due to prosperity, pride, envy and the lust for what other nations had to offer. We as a nation have done the same exact thing, and we're still a very young nation. We are beginning to reap what we have sown. There was always a way for Israel to return to God, repent. I will not quote it here as many of you know it, but that is exactly what II Chronicles 7:14 tells us.

In Psalm 118:8, what is considered the middle verse in the Bible, it says, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man." It is followed by verse 9 which says, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in princes." We should not put our faith in Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton, or Bernie Sanders to be the savior of the USA. God is our Savior. As citizens of this great country, we have the right to vote for our national leaders (we have to remember that a President cannot do anything on his/her own; there's a Congress behind them that we Americans also place in office). And to that, we need to remember what Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 13:1, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is NO authority except from God, and those which exist are ESTABLISHED by God." We are allowed to vote, and I believe one must vote his/her convictions. God granted us with those convictions and as I stated in my opening paragraph, He gave us minds to think and be discerning with. A vote is a vote for the person voted for. It in no way is a vote for the opponent as Straycat has alluded to in a couple of different posts in these political threads.

I am what I would consider a Constitutional conservative. That does not mean I am a Republican and it doesn't mean I'm a Democrat. To me, it does mean that I will vote for the people who most impress me that they believe in and will enforce the Constitution of the USA; those whom I believe would be willing to give their lives for this great country. Does that person necessarily have to be a Christian? My answer is no. It's definitely gravy if they are a follower of God. But just because one is or claims to be a Christian does that make him/her a great leader and presidential or congressional material. We've had many that call themselves Christians in these positions of leadership, and they have failed miserably both at leading the country and convincing us of their Christian faith. I want someone as POTUS, who loves our country, loves our Constitution, and will lead with the character and integrity that proves so.

Just by the numbers that are voting for Hillary, Bernie, and other moderates and liberals, I know I'm probably part of a minority of Americans (or either they are a very quiet bunch). Our country grows more liberal with each passing day and becomes more driven toward socialism with each passing day. Yes, this concerns me. I will always do my duty as a citizen of this great country and VOTE. I do not sit at home and whine about who is chosen as the nominee for either party. I will VOTE and I will vote based on my convictions and my God given discernment. Up until it is time to VOTE for POTUS, I will pray for greater discernment and that God will put in place the leader that will begin the charge to make the USA a great nation again. If it be His will to put a leader in office that will take us further into His judgment upon our nation, then I will trust Him. That's what His Word tells me to do and I want to be more obedient and faithful. I haven't done such a good job in the past, but today is a new day.

With that said, I'm not going to throw degrading words out about Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kascich, etc. I will weigh the presented evidence, continue to listen to each candidate, and do a lot of praying. I will vote and I will trust my Lord. He is the One I will one day bow down to and say,"Jesus is Lord." And my hearts desire is to hear Him say, "Well done my good and faithful servant." That's what truly matters.

"Said I never had much use for one; never said I didn't know how to use it".
-Matthew Quigley in "Quigley Down Under"