The Redeemer

Today marks a day in our history that we will never forget.  My heart is heavy for every single person who lost someone on 9/11, whether it was an acquaintance , friend, or relative.  My heart grieves for you and with you.  Nothing leaves a scar quite like death.  It is a loss that is indescribable and almost unbearable.

I did not personally lose anyone on 9/11 but I have lost someone to a tragic unexpected death.  So I know that feelings of confusion, frustration, and the humming stillness that comes from that person's absence.  And one thing is for certain...you never forget that day!  It's seared into your mind as if it was yesterday and time moves equally fast and slow simultaneously.

But even in the great sadness our country experienced on this day, either by personally losing someone or watching these events transpire, I am thankful for each person who willingly sacrificed their life to help serve and save as many others as they could.  I am thankful for every man and woman who continues to wake up each morning and give up everything he/she has so we can keep everything we have!

Whether knowingly or unknowingly these very men and women are a reflection of Christ's own sacrifice and courage.  I am deeply grateful to God for how He uses people and situations to remind us all how we are called to live daily in sacrifice and humility, counting others better than ourselves; serving to the fullest even if it requires our own life.  And it gives me a deep conviction by the Spirit that I should be reaching out to everyone and sharing Christ with them regardless of my own circumstances because we NEVER know if we will be afforded another day!

While remembering these times of loss, trial, and grieving today I hope fellow believers are all reminded and encouraged of the hope, healing, and peace that comes from the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  I hope that it moves you to share even more boldly than before where your hope comes from.

Be reminded that God knows, understands, and cares deeply about every single thing we are going through.  God, Himself, experienced the loss of His one and only Son.  His hands and feet, nailed.  His side, pierced.  Jesus...spit on, mocked, beaten, and left alone to die the most shameful death on a cross when He had done nothing to deserve it.  Even something as horrific as this, God used it and turned it into the most beautiful gift of all!!!  How awesome is that?  It's proof that He is faithful and will continue to restore and redeem everything to His good and pleasing purposes.

Upon reflecting on the events of 9/11 my heart is spurred to live even more sacrificially, to give even more sacrificially, to LOVE even more sacrificially, and to follow even more intimately the footsteps of Christ!

I pray for everyone today that your lives would be touched, moved, and marked by God's great love, comfort, sacrifice, and understanding.  He knows you and He loves you more than you could ever imagine!  He knows what we've lost, suffered, and what is in the depths our hearts and He can handle it!  He gave up His only Son just so that we could all freely come to Him in our brokenness and be healed and experience the fullness of His love.  Even when we can't seem to make sense of things He is always right there faithfully patiently drawing us nearer to Him and promises that we are NEVER alone!

9/11 was devastating, but we all saw and experienced God pulling the people of our nation together in a time of great need, forgetting about stigmas and stereotypes.  God enabled people to come forward and courageously serve, share resources, and even give their own lives.  God's love WAS demonstrated on this day!  Let's remember this and be encouraged to live boldly in the truth that He IS the Redeemer of all creation and will continue to restore all creation until His glorious return!