I just got done reading about King Manassah in the old testament. He may have been the most outrageously horrible King Judah ever had. He sacrificed his first born son by burning him alive. He allowed prostitution and sorcery in Yahweh’s temple and it says that he filled the streets of Jerusalem with innocent blood. He was a true enemy to God and His people.

The word enemy to me has always been a more watered down version of the above description:) Like someone who cuts me off in traffic…or worse yet, someone who takes my parking spot. Today I could extend that title to a slimy, evil, spineless, coward (too much?? trust me I’m being nice) of a CEO whose recent decisions have affected some of the people I love most in the world. The bible is clear how we should treat our enemies…darn!

The entire time I was reading about Manassah I was hoping for God’s sweet justice in his life. As a good Christian woman I should have been praying that he would see the wrong in his ways and turn back to God…but I have to admit I wanted him to pay (such a shining example of love and grace I am :) ) Anyway, in the end Manasssah truly did repent and God forgave and restored him. God is so good.

Sin is sin – and I am a sinner…so many times food and security are my chosen idols, Jesus would call the hatred I’ve had in my heart for certain people throughout my life murder, and I’ve already confessed to turning my back on God (for a short time) when I felt he was treating me unfairly just this past year. What makes me so different from Manassah? What makes me so different from Mr. Slime-ball CEO who just devastated so many families out of greed and a sick need for power? The truth is nothing, their sin is no greater than mine…that’s why we all need a savior, a redeemer, a souvreign God who forgives.

It’s a week before Thanksgiving and the thing I am most grateful for in my life, right now, tonight…is JESUS. By now you should know that corny “christianese” cliches repulse me…so please don’t take this the wrong way. Jesus and His love and unending grace are the only things that have kept me from going off the deep end this year. And now as much as my guts don’t want to do this I am going to pray for Mr. Slime-ball CEO…Lord we all deserve your sweet justice in our lives…thank you so much for not giving it to us! I pray tonight that you will restore and forgive Mr. Slime-ball and his four spineless lackeys, even though I would love to see you humiliate them and make them feel the pain that they have just cause 12 families right before the Holidays (hey just being honest)… I pray that like Manassah, they will realize that ultimately all that matter’s in life is You and Your Kingdom and that you will change them for Your glory. Amen. Uuuggghh that was hard – and while my prayer may not have seemed heart felt I know for me the first step in changing my heart, my hatred, my bitterness is to act the way I wish I felt.