Quite honestly, I expected to be very bummed out today.  My candidate did not win.  However, I have felt rather encouraged after considering a few of the following:

1.  We live in a fantastic country  -  As many have remarked on television, it was only 40 years ago that the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed.  Now, we have our first black president.  We can argue about his bi-racial genetics or that his father was Kenyan, but nevertheless, he does represent a significant milestone in U.S. history.  I will pray for him and hope the best. 

Moreover, our country is filled with good, giving, hard-working people.  My mind keeps going to the problems:  illegal immigration, debt, international challenges.  But, America is still filled with people that pray, give to charity, help the needy, wave to a neighbor, and so on.  I have decided to appreciate what our country has to offer right now.  Baseball, fishing, church, movies, and much more make living here a pleasure.

2.  God is still in control  -  I believe that God is sovereign, that God is in control.  I am not one of those that considers our new president to be evil.  I just think that he has been influenced by some very negative people.  Our country is bigger and greater than any president or congress.  However, those with power can make life far more difficult, discourage real estate, punish achievement, and diminish investment.  God has a plan, and it is for good.  Let's believe that.

3.  In TN, the Republican party took over majority control of the State Senate for the first time since the Civil War  -  Wow!!!!  In a time when all has looked lost for the Republican party, this was a major victory.  Now, I am not saying that the Republican are the answer to all the worlds problems, but I do believe that they represent the kind of pro-business, pro-growth, pro-values approach we need.

4.  The U.S. Senate has only 54 or 55 Democratic Senators, rather than 60  -  So, it wasn't a total loss yesterday.  A filibuster can still stop any crazy, radical legislation.

So, anyway, just a few thoughts I've had.  Let's look to a brighter day.