Remembering 9/11
What an appropriate time for revival - during PVUMC’s 60th anniversary of connecting hearts to Christ and one another and the 20th anniversary of 9/11. A time to remember what really matters and a time to reexamine our priorities! These last two years have been difficult and I do not know anyone who doesn’t need some encouragement. If you need encouragement and peace, come to revival! I get so excited for revival because I just watch God show off, reviving people! To be revived means to be restored to life or to be given new strength. And that is what I need right now! Ephesians 3: 20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.”
Eighteen years later, as you, I still remember where I was when the airplane hit the first twin tower. Mike was at work and my girls were at school. I was on the phone with a friend from church. While I was trying to tell them what had happened, I said, “oh no, another plane just hit the other tower!” My friend said that was just a replay. But, sadly, I was right. A second plane had hit the second tower. I remember just wanting my family all together. I just stared at the television. We all walked around stunned! That night the tears started worrying about the world my girl’s were going to grow up in. It kept me up at night. I did not feel safe and worried about my family’s safety. A dark blanket of grief and confusion fell on our country. I really struggled. As I often do, I struggled until I realized this was out of my control. I was going to have to turn to God and trust His Word. Even if we know and trust God, we can be shaken by world events. Today, again, we find ourselves feeling unsettled and not safe.
On the first anniversary of the attacks, Charles Stanley wrote, “...Sometimes we need to be shaken out of our forgetfulness and into reliance upon Jesus Christ.” We have definitely been shaken and we have to rely on God! As I write this I think of the tragedies in our world now and in our personal lives. The kind of things that make us ask, “how could this happen?” We have one question for God and that is “why”? There is so much we do not understand and may never understand. But the one thing I do know is that God is good. All the time! He does not plan evil. Jeremiah 29: 11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” As always, God brings good from bad situations. Romans 8: 28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I recall the country pulling together as one. Some of us realized that the nice homes, nice cars and dreams we had been chasing were not important. We were living out 1 John 2: 16-17, “For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” John came to understand that serving God was more important than his earthly desires.
Trust God with whatever is keeping you up at night. He is the one constant in our lives. He never changes. Hebrews 13: 8, “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We will never be alone and God will never leave us. Deuteronomy 31: 6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Let us be in prayer for God’s healing and peace for those affected then and those hurting now, both, from world events. Let’s stop and think about our life and our priorities. Let’s come together, knowing where our peace and joy comes from. Let us come before our Heavenly Father and worship Him with grateful hearts for what He has done, is doing and will do! It will be exceedingly abundantly above anything we can imagine!