Twenty-four years ago this week God changed my life. I don't forget the day. I can't because well the change was dramatic. It was a pivotal point in my life. I am not going to go through all the gory details. Yes, they are gory. I can say I am so thankful for all He has done.
Being a Christian isn't always easy, we have many factors that influence our life. Men will hurt us. pastors will fall. Preacher makes this quote often "God doesn't promise us an easy life if we follow Him, He does promise us a victorious Christian life if we do" Men may hurt us, people disappoint us. But trusting in Him will never.
This year my church will celebrate it's 40 anniversary. I have invited my infusion nurse Manny out and his family. I also invited a couple I met a few weeks back. Rachel has invited 5 ladies from her cake decorating class, they said they would come. Sami her neighbor friend, who can't come but wants too. Why would we invite so many out? To change lives. Salvation doesn't just save you, it changes you. Just like it did me.
I celebrate my anniversary because i want to remember what the Lord did for me, how it changed me. I am not sure if others do. I am not sure if it is right, I don't want to brag. But I am so thankful.
How can a perfect Holy God love a dirty rotten 14 year old sinner like me? How could He change my life so completely by His sacrifice. Why would he want to die for me? I am worthless and useless, now somewhat disabled. I found out today, my position at work has been filled. I am not too heartbroken as I am sad. As far as I know I am still on Short term disability, not sure how long that will last. Not sure what I will do when it runs outs. Due to the pain and swelling in my hands, not sure what I can do? This isn't a woe is me, it is a fact that I am perfectly useless, to Saviour, Who gave His life for me.
The church I attended 24 years ago no longer exists. It fell under the vise of a wicked man. He could ruin a church, but not the people. Many are still serving Christ. One is a Pastor in Utah, another a Missionary to Australia, One that is a pastor's wife, a few that are assistant pastor's wives. Many that are bus workers, Sunday School teachers. Mothers, fathers raising their children for the Lord.
I am so proud of Freedom Baptist church, because although Satan tried to destroy it, He did the building. He didn't the church, the people, the Christians. Oh we left with scars, some were wounded, some died, but the wounded grew stronger. The battle was fought, but not won by him.
I love my church now. I love hearing about it's history. I love hearing how Satan arose and fought, but failed. I love knowing and seeing that bad doesn't always win. the Good can conquer and thrive. It gives me hope.
This is a bunch of rambling, I know, thanks to the Tylenol with Codeine.
I just want to post my gratitude.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Where was God on 9/11/2001
Where was God in all this?
I know where my God was the morning of September 11, 2001! He was very busy!
First of all, God was trying to discourage anyone from taking this flight. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there was only 266 aboard.
God was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who was called by a loved one on one of the high-jacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background.
On one of the flights God was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the highjackers.
God was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings hold over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the WTC told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays?
God was there when the planes struck at 9 a.m., rather 10 a.m. when most of the buildings would have been occupied.
God was holding up 2-110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers could get out. It was so amazing that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted.
God was there when people in the second building felt the urges to get out before the second plane struck.
God was in the rescue workers who were running into the buildings as most people were running out.
God was in the flight attendant who called her husband as her plane was being hijacked to tell him that she loved him.
He was there when the passengers on the Pennsylvania plane decided to overtake the hijackers. This could possibly have prevented more destruction.
God was in the two men who carried a wheelchair-bound woman down 70 flights of stairs to safety.
He was there when one man descended from the 82nd floor and escaped with only a broken leg when the building collapsed.
God was in the people who stood bleeding, in line to give blood.
God was in the strangers in cars, picking up strangers stranded in the city and taking them home to their families.
God is in the people who are begging to volunteer, to do anything to help.
God was there in every church, synagogue and place of worship when his Children asked for healing and prayed for the victims.
God is in the thousands, if not millions who are flooding blood banks thousands of miles away to help people they have never met.
God is in the people who are comforting someone even when they don't know what to say.
He was there to welcome into the Light those who perished, and He found places for them where there is no more suffering, hurt or agony.
God is in the people who watched and cried for people who may remain anonymous in namebut never in their sacrifice.
God was there when a woman and her feared-dead husband were reunited on a New York street corner amidst the chaos, crumbling buildings and scrambling people.
God was there for the teacher on Long Island, who received a bouquet of flowers the day after the explosion. They were from her missing son, saying thank you for helping him move into the city. Could it have been his soul's way of letting her know he was OK?
God is in my neighborhood where I see flags waving from every home.
He was there when this national tragedy reshaped America from a "me" society to a "we" society.
God was there to inspire the candle light vigils, the prayer services, the emotional support services to help those traumatized, and to see His children returning to him in his Houses across the country.
God was there when authorities found leads on suspects and curbed further possible problems when our airports reopened.
God is in the men and women, looking at 110 stories of rubble, and seeing only the opportunity to find survivors.
God is with the heroes, most of whom will never be on the news, whose stories will only be told to their closest friends and family; but who saved someone's mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, husband, wife, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousin, lover, colleague, acquaintance, teacher, mentor or friend with a single act of kindness, compassion and bravery.
God was not in the hearts of the people that caused these inhumane events. However, God was indeed there, where he was needed the most.
Although this is without a doubt the worst thing, God's miracles can be seen in every bit of it. Can you imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in God. Life would be hopeless. There is good in the world. And unfortunately, there is evil. That's part of the Free Will given by the Creator. But never think for a moment that He would not be here with us through it all. No matter how separated one may feel from God, He never separates himself from us.
Author Unknown
I know where my God was the morning of September 11, 2001! He was very busy!
First of all, God was trying to discourage anyone from taking this flight. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there was only 266 aboard.
God was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who was called by a loved one on one of the high-jacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background.
On one of the flights God was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the highjackers.
God was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings hold over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the WTC told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays?
God was there when the planes struck at 9 a.m., rather 10 a.m. when most of the buildings would have been occupied.
God was holding up 2-110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers could get out. It was so amazing that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted.
God was there when people in the second building felt the urges to get out before the second plane struck.
God was in the rescue workers who were running into the buildings as most people were running out.
God was in the flight attendant who called her husband as her plane was being hijacked to tell him that she loved him.
He was there when the passengers on the Pennsylvania plane decided to overtake the hijackers. This could possibly have prevented more destruction.
God was in the two men who carried a wheelchair-bound woman down 70 flights of stairs to safety.
He was there when one man descended from the 82nd floor and escaped with only a broken leg when the building collapsed.
God was in the people who stood bleeding, in line to give blood.
God was in the strangers in cars, picking up strangers stranded in the city and taking them home to their families.
God is in the people who are begging to volunteer, to do anything to help.
God was there in every church, synagogue and place of worship when his Children asked for healing and prayed for the victims.
God is in the thousands, if not millions who are flooding blood banks thousands of miles away to help people they have never met.
God is in the people who are comforting someone even when they don't know what to say.
He was there to welcome into the Light those who perished, and He found places for them where there is no more suffering, hurt or agony.
God is in the people who watched and cried for people who may remain anonymous in namebut never in their sacrifice.
God was there when a woman and her feared-dead husband were reunited on a New York street corner amidst the chaos, crumbling buildings and scrambling people.
God was there for the teacher on Long Island, who received a bouquet of flowers the day after the explosion. They were from her missing son, saying thank you for helping him move into the city. Could it have been his soul's way of letting her know he was OK?
God is in my neighborhood where I see flags waving from every home.
He was there when this national tragedy reshaped America from a "me" society to a "we" society.
God was there to inspire the candle light vigils, the prayer services, the emotional support services to help those traumatized, and to see His children returning to him in his Houses across the country.
God was there when authorities found leads on suspects and curbed further possible problems when our airports reopened.
God is in the men and women, looking at 110 stories of rubble, and seeing only the opportunity to find survivors.
God is with the heroes, most of whom will never be on the news, whose stories will only be told to their closest friends and family; but who saved someone's mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, husband, wife, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousin, lover, colleague, acquaintance, teacher, mentor or friend with a single act of kindness, compassion and bravery.
God was not in the hearts of the people that caused these inhumane events. However, God was indeed there, where he was needed the most.
Although this is without a doubt the worst thing, God's miracles can be seen in every bit of it. Can you imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in God. Life would be hopeless. There is good in the world. And unfortunately, there is evil. That's part of the Free Will given by the Creator. But never think for a moment that He would not be here with us through it all. No matter how separated one may feel from God, He never separates himself from us.
Author Unknown
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