Election Day Bonus

A young lady whom I know and respect wrote something that I think is outstanding regarding today's election. It's just a little reminder I thought I'd pass on to you.

God bless.........and go vote!


(Thanks, Laura!)

This election reminds me of a card trick I used to do. I would lay out a grid of cards face up and ask you to choose one but keep it to yourself--just tell me what row it's in. After another such move I'd already know which card you've chosen but, it's a card trick-- gotta make it showy. So I lay the cards face down in four piles, carefully remembering where I've laid your card and the show begins.

First I ask you to point to two piles--then do what I have to do. From the remaining two piles I ask you to point to one and again do what I need to do. There are now only four cards remaining and I ask you to point to two. Finally there are only two cards left on the table and I ask you to choose. The final card sits there and I ask you to flip it over and see if it's your card. Amazingly, it is. Well, not so amazing to me. I can make that happen every time because I am in control.

The whole time you've been making choices. I have not forced any choice upon you. I let you choose the card. I did not force you to choose one pile over another or one card over another. But I'm using your choices towards my outcome. You chose the piles but I chose whether they stay or go. You chose the cards but I determine what happens to them. Until, finally, what I wanted to have happen from the beginning is revealed. You took the steps but I determined how it was going to end. Usually to smiles and "how did you do that!"

Proverbs 16:9 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." (NIV) and in Proverbs 16:33 "We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall." (NLT)

Election day you will get to go to the poles and make your choices. They are yours (and everyone else's) to make and not even God is making you choose one or another but never make the mistake of thinking that your choices (or anyone else's) are outside of God's plans. He will determine which card turns up in the end and He's had it planned that way from the beginning. And when it's all said and done we'll be smiling and saying "God, how did you do that!"