I remember getting ready for work on the morning of September 11, 2001 and I received a call from my mom telling me to turn the TV on as there was an accident involving The World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City.
As I, like many, watched everything unfold in disbelief, we soon learned it was no accident as shortly after the first plane crashed into one tower, a second plane crashed into the second tower. We then heard about The Pentagon and another plane that crashed as a total of 4 planes were hijacked in a coordinated effort to destroy life using the planes as weapons.
Needless to say it was very difficult to work that day knowing what had transpired or was transpiring. I remember seeing the images of First Responders courageously running into the buildings to climb flight after flight of stairs running toward danger to try to stop the raging fires that resulted from the planes crashing. I also remember the images of people covered in dust, some bleeding from injuries running for their lives as as the towers eventually came crashing down succumbing to the fire that weakened what once held the towers strong and towering over the landscape. We all watched in horror and disbelief as the towers fell. The images are ingrained in my memory including the following days and weeks as coverage of the search and rescue efforts took place at the site where the towers once stood. It was heart wrenching to watch and read about and the memories still bring emotions to the surface at times because of the great tragedy we witness.
Some are of the opinion that we should just forget about it and move on while there are others who vacillate on one conspiracy theory or another and still others are pointing fingers at this or that person.
As for me, I would challenge us to never forget what took place on this horrible day in history. We should never let our guards down and no matter what country we live in, the potential for evil acts such as this still exist so we ought not take life, including the people in it, for granted. We should dwell on it in an unhealthy way but, let's never forget, and in the process of remembering, let us especially honor the memories of those who lost their lives, and may we love our neighbors as much as possible and stand ready to protect others as needed lest we forget and great evil is allowed to repeat itself.
Sincerely,
Randolph Koch
Dear Heavenly Father, You know my/our heart(s) well, I come before you now asking that You help me/us to daily see you in the mundane things of life.
I pray I/we never take You for granted as it's in even the mundane things that we can see You and experience Your grace and love and yet we often take these moments for granted when in actuality we can devote ourselves to You all the more in prayer and throw practical day-to-day worship through the gift called life you've given us.
I/We can see You and worship You while...
...we rise in the morning and get ready for the day ahead
...we see the sunrise and sunset You've created
...we hear the birds sing
...we work
...while we play or vacation
...we take the trash out
...we do the dishes
...we maintain the home You've given us.
...we seek to be stewards with the resources you've given us.
...we're stuck in traffic on the way to work or appointments.
...we exercise
...we meet with friends for coffee
...we pay our bills
...we have to make difficult decisions
...we deal with difficult people
...we work through family issues
...we grieve the loss of someone we love
...we battle through health or financial crisis
...we go to the dentist
...we go to the doctor
....and many many other things
You instruct us in Your word to do everything unto You for Your glory! (Colossians 3:23)
Please
help us do just this Lord...bring You glory and may we do so operating
in and by Your strength and for Your glory as it's in the mundane things
of life or even the less mundane things that I/we can encounter You and
seek to glorify You as You seek to shape and mold us for Your kingdom,
glory and our good!
Help us Father to remember You no matter the circumstance. Help us Father remember you in the mundane things of life.
I praise You Father for Who You are and all that You have done and continue to do in and through Your people and Your creation.
I praise You, thank You and wait expectantly for answers to prayer, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
-rlk
Where were you on
that day? I remember being woken up by a early morning call from my mom urging
me to turn on the TV as something was happening in NY City.
The events of the day unfolded and I remember being in shock at what took
place. It was almost surreal...how could this have happened?!
I remember how
some politicized it blaming this or that person and sadly people were also asking
"Why did God allow this to happen!?"
Even today, 11 years later people are asking and as the media replays the
tragic events of the day - I still stand convinced that God is still good no
matter what people say.
There are a lot of people still placing blame and conspiracy theorists adding
to the list of "who" was responsible.
For me I simply choose to pray for those impacted by what happened on
09/11/2001 and I urge you to stand with me in prayer for continued healing and
for good, even this many years later, to come from this!
God is good and He's still on His throne and He's there for you!
If you're struggling today with the events of that day or even the events of
today in your life, reach out to The Lord and those close to you as you're not
meant to do it alone.
Let us never forget those 3,000 people who lost their lives on that day and may
be never grow complacent in showing appreciation with our words and actions to
those in our family, as well as our friends, church family and those who God
has planted around us.
I received the following today and on this day of remembrance thought it was
fitting to share something to add a little calmness to your day.
Check out this
simple and beautiful time lapse of the Pacific Northwest coupled with music by
Ryan Farish when you have a moment:
http://www.wimp.com/pacificnorthwest/
It reminded me to take a deep breath today and rest in the beauty of His
creation which shows His finger prints - His reminders to us that He is there!
Blessings,
rlk
