Boldness, the Forgotten Prayer Request

One of my favorite messages from TLC was a sermon on boldness, given by David Whiting. A few things really stuck out to me as being very essential in the boldness that we should exhibit as we live our lives.   He started with a criticism of the prayer of American Christians.  A lot of times, we pray for safety and health, which is kind of ironic considering the fact that America is one of the safest countries with some of the best medical advancements.  Imagine the kind of message that we are sending to nonbelievers when we pray for these things.  It would seem that the worst thing that could happen would be to die and go to heaven.  We need to start prioritizing our prayer.
In Ephesians 6, Paul is writing from prison.  Even though he was put there for proclaiming the name of Jesus, look at what he prays for: boldness.  He was imprisoned for being bold, but instead of praying for safety or that he would be released, he prays for even more boldness.
Being bold means deciding to say something when it would be easier to say nothing. Speaking up when your science teacher talks about the earth being millions of years old or when your friend mocks Christians.  Being bold means taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us on a day to day basis.  Not only that, but being bold means creating opportunities instead of sitting on our hands, waiting for something to happen.
Being bold also means staying calm.  It means not getting frustrated, or angry, or rude when presenting the Gospel.  It means giving God the ability to change people's hearts instead of trying to change them ourselves.  It means living so that we look like a walking example of Christ's love.
Imagine the impact that we could make if we started risking a grade, a job, or friend for Jesus' name.  Imagine the generation of Christ followers we would bring up if we started to speak out, but stay calm, and to practically live it out.  What if we started to create opportunities for ourselves, while we also took every opportunity that God gave to us.  What if we stopped thinking about the worst that could happen to us, and instead, remember what will happen to the lost people of this world if we are not bold; if we do not share the love that God has given us.  Imagine the impact that we could make if we started “praying for boldness instead of seeking acceptance".  Imagine that impact right now, and started living BOLD so that He could use us to set the world on fire.

My Other Struggle

As we were driving to the BBC campus for Teen Leadership Conference a few Monday's ago, I was praying a lot.  I prayed that for a week, God would let me lay aside everything in my life that would distract me and to show me what He wants me to see.  I didn't really expect to be shown a big area of my life that needed improvement, but it's funny how God works where you least expect Him too.
I certainly didn't think that I had any other major problems other than my doubt (see last blog post), but I guess that is a perfect example of my other struggle, pride. (Isn't it ironic that I was too prideful to didn't realize that pride was an issue?)
I first realized my struggle with pride when I walked into the first session on Monday night and I saw all of these other teens that were Christians.  I guess that for so long, I have lived in an area where I don't know very many Christians outside of church.  I have been used to being the only Christian among my friends at school.  I have embraced the "good girl" status and while I might not literally, metaphorically, I hold my head high.  I have developed the mindset that I am better than other people.  (Now that doesn't mean that I don't witness to people, I still do)
Anyway, this trip was a very humbling trip for me because it helped me to realize that I'm not the only "good Christian" in the world, that there are lots of teens who are on fire for God.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble there is wisdom.
I challenge you guys to open your hearts and ask God to show you where you might need work.  It may be obvious, my doubt, or not so obvious, like my pride.  Pray that He can help you to realize your "improvement area" and help you through it so that you can set the world on fire.

The Struggle is Real!!!!!

So I know that it has been FOREVER, but after a pretty awesome youth group lesson tonight (thanks Alex), I realized two things.  Thing one, that I miss writing.  I was listening to him read what he wrote and I was thinking the whole time "Wow, I cannot believe that I went 4 months without writing just to write".  Thing two that I realized was why I haven't written.  You see, I don't really struggle with anger too much.  I am the kind of person that gets over things very quickly.  I am not able to hold a grudge. (The only thing is that every so often I explode if I'm tired and angry.)  Anyway, at the end of the lesson, I started thinking about what the sin that I struggled the most was and after about two seconds of thinking, I came to the conclusion that my struggle is also why I haven't written in forever.

I struggle with doubt.  I know that might seem strange and you might be thinking that that isn't that big of a deal, but it is.  I have always doubted.  My brain needs concrete evidence and so having faith has always been a challenge for me.  Proverbs 3:5-8 says this though,

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh

 and refreshment to your bones.

Humans like being right.  We like being in charge and we tend to get very self confident.  I know personally that not knowing where God is going to take me honestly scares me and it is so much easier to doubt Him than to accept Him.  However, verse 6 says that if we turn everything over to Him, He will provide and guide us.  I am learning to just trust Him instead of doubt His presence.  I am learning to believe with child-like faith and give EVERYTHING to God, and by doing this, I'm praying that He will use me to set the world on fire.

Well Guess Who's Back!

I cannot believe that it was a month ago that I gave up social media!  It really flew by.  I have got to say that what I hoped to happen during this past month happened!
During the first two weeks, it was very hard to break the habit of just getting on Facebook whenever I was bored, but somehow I pulled through. Then in these last two weeks, God has really brought me closer to Him.  I have gotten an awesome opportunity to witness to a girl at my school and I can't remember the last day that I didn't read my Bible!  I am really praying that I don't slip back into my old habits, but I know that God is enough to sustain me.
I am really excited to see how God will be able to keep this renewed passion going in the days to come!  Anyway, I am praying that God will continue to use me and that He would help me set the world on fire.

Update on Facebook Fast

This ditching Facebook stuff is HARD!!  I have done it twice before, but never for a month.  It's really hard not to just jump on Facebook when I'm bored.  It also doesn't help that it comes preloaded on my phone so I can't delete the app.  So I am cramming my time with music (lots of music) instead of Facebook.  I think that the hardest part for me is that I didn't deactivate the account like my good friend Julie, so now I get weekly emails from Facebook telling me that I have 16 notifications, 2 messages, 2 friend requests, and that more than 6 friends have updated their status.  It is extremely tempting!  But, I am really getting work done quicker, I am posting on my blog again, and I am reading my Bible regularly so it is worth it.  Oh, and I beg you to join me, not because I am lonely (I'm not), but because it is really a good thing to do to grow closer to God and to set your priorities.

Walk On the Water

The message at church yesterday was JUST what I needed to hear.
I have really thought lately about why I just couldn't feel God working. I knew that He's there, but nothing was changing.  Of course, my questioning mind needed a reason why.  After thinking about it for a while, I think that I found the reason.  I was crashing after a major spiritual high, the missions trip this past summer.  I had experienced some extremely life-altering things and feelings and when I got back home, I kind of crashed.  I slipped back into a routine.  I didn't really want to, but when you are as close to God as you have ever been for a week, and then you fall back to where you were, it's a pretty steep fall.  I just went back to the way things were and then I got comfortable there, and God couldn't use me.
I think that a lot of times, we get this way.  We come to a point in our lives where the storm is raging around us, and the boat feels like the safest place.  But where would the adventure be if we just stayed inside and never braved the world.  I mean, are roller coasters comfortable, no, but they are sooooo much fun.  Is tubing comfortable, oh no, but we love to do it.  Was Nicaragua comfortable, no way, but I had the time of my life!  My point is that some of the best experiences in life aren't comfortable, and since God is so much better than the things of this world, than shouldn't being uncomfortable serving God be the best?
How much could we be missing out on from just being afraid to step out of the boat?  And even if you do fall, you will fall right in Jesus' arms.  So what are we waiting for?  Join me this week as I step out of the boat and with my eyes set on God, I can set the world on fire!


(BTW: Still Facebook FREE!!!!!)

Stepping Away From Social Media

Honestly, since this school year started, I haven't been as on fire for God as I was.  I also realized that the last time I gave up social media was on my trip to Nicaragua.  So in order to hopefully gain some inspiration for my blog and my writing, and draw closer to God, I am giving up social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) for a month.  Starting this Sunday, February 9th, I am going to be off all social media, until March 9th.

The reason why I posted this is to challenge you to give up social media also.  It doesn't have to be for a month.  It doesn't even have to be for a week, it could be for a day or two.  It just has to be a time for you to be close to God.  

So, I hope that you will join me in stepping away from social media and use the time you save to set the world on fire!

(By the way, thanks Julie for the inspiration to do this!)

My Creative Writing Final

The mountains rose on either side of me.  A warm breeze blew over the barren field I was standing on.  The sand wove its way through my toes.  I sidestepped to avoid the cactus.  The little girl in my arms grew heavier every second.  Her hair stung my face and I wished I could put my sunglasses on but she wouldn’t let me.  I wanted to put her down, but she clung tight to my neck.  A smoking volcano in the distance set a backdrop for her tiny village.  Her house, the size of my bedroom, stood among 200 others, painted with pride.  I couldn’t talk to her, she spoke Spanish, but I could tell that she needed hope.  Her eyes told me it all.  Her hug told me it all.  I could already feel the tears that I would cry later that night in the group at the hotel.  How could I just have overlooked an entire portion of the world?  How could I have not seen how much poverty really affects people?

            I heard someone say that we had 10 minutes left, an inevitable fact that ripped my mind into the harsh reality that I would have to leave.  The girl in my arms, Medina I believe her name was, slipped down from my arms and took off running.  The kids sitting on top of the bus scrambled down from their perch.  Our group gathered around for a photo, fitting in as many extra kids as possible.  Then we climbed on the bus for the long 45-minute ride back to the hotel. 

            Later I found out that I was right.  I did cry, a lot.  I think that the cause of this culture shock, as the group leader told us was how wrong and right I was.  You see, I thought that poverty and helplessness wouldn’t get the best of me.  Somewhere in me, possibly subconsciously, I had thought that it wouldn’t be as bad as they say.  That only in Africa is there malnourishment and severe hunger.  One of the hardest things was that you could visibly see it.  When you saw a blonde streak on someone’s hair, it didn’t mean that they got their hair highlighted, it meant that they didn’t get enough protein in their diet.  They only ate rice and beans after all.  The shacks that they called home wasn’t staged for a commercial, it is reality for so many people.  The jeans that they wore didn’t come ripped.  The shirts didn’t come splattered with paint and stained from endless hours on a dirt floor.  They didn’t just decide to not wear shoes, they didn’t have any.

            I can still remember the feeling of sweat pouring down my back and tons of eyes looking at my white skin.  If I close my eyes long enough, I am blown back, and I can feel the gentle warm breeze on my skin.  I can still picture the mountains that I only saw twice.  Those mountains were my solidity, a constant reminder that even in a crazy country nothing like my own, God still reigned.  I can still hear the Switchfoot song playing in my head: “This is home, now I am finally where I belong”.  Yeah, that was home.  Maybe not that village, or city, or even that country, but I was at home because I was where God wanted me.

          No matter what your dreams are, don't forget your Jerusalem and spread His love now to set the world on fire.

Raccoons, Cockroaches, and Jesus

 (Warning: Some details have been modified to keep this story shorter)

This weekend held the most eventful camping trip I have yet to take.  Picture this. 

You are stranded in the woods with 20 or so teens and adults in your youth group family.  You here a high-pitched noise ring through the trees.  You shine your flashlight on the woods in front of you and start to scan the scene.  To your dismay, you see many pairs of eyes looking back at you.

This is almost exactly what happened on Sunday.  We had arrived at the campsite around the time that a group of scouts was leaving.  They warned us of raccoons the size of dogs and cockroaches as big as our finger.  We just assumed that they were trying to scare us, and even the ranger said that if you don’t have food out in the open, you would be fine. 

So we started setting up our tents and moved our backpacks inside.  Then we ate.  As the sun was setting, we noticed a raccoon walking along the path a ways away.  Paying little attention to it, we started singing.  “Light of the world forever … EEEEEE EEEEE EEEEE” The raccoons were out.  It seemed as if they all were let from a cage because you would see them everywhere.  Right behind you, gathered around your tent; they were all over!  When we finally looked at them, we realized that they were trying to break into the tent.  Our youth pastor went to go scare them away, and came back saying that the raccoons had unzipped his tent, and had been walking around inside. 

Instead of leaving, we decided to go to the store to buy some ammonia to keep away the critters.  As one of the ladies reached into the tent for her purse, a raccoon reached for the zipper only inches away from her foot.  When we tried to scare it away, it wouldn’t move!  That was the final straw.  We decided to pack up and go home.  We had to take down a chain, pull the cars through the woods, and shine the headlights at the tents just to see our feet in the dark.

That was when we noticed the cockroaches.  They would scurry over your feet if you kept them still, so we stood on benches.  I have never seen a campsite go down that fast.  A tent it took an hour and a half to put up went down in under 20 minutes!  We quickly got out of there.

We ended up staying at our youth pastors house, or at least the boys that wanted to stay at the camp staying inside.  The girls slept outside in a collapsing tent.  I personally had fun, but I can’t say the same for everyone else. 

All in all though, whether it was fun or not, whether the camping was successful, we did get a lot out of the trip.  An eighth grader that has been coming to youth group since sixth grade accepted Christ as his Savior.  In that case, it doesn’t matter that we had to battle raccoon and cockroach problems, or broken tent poles, because the kingdom of Christ grew this weekend.  And I wouldn’t mind battling rain and snakes next time if it means that the angels in heaven are rejoicing salvation.  This weekend just shows that sometimes, trials can bring triumph.  So lets work to set the world on fire, one wrecked camping trip at a time!

You Move Me

Here's something I wrote in  Creative Writing.

You move me like the cool breeze of yesterday and the light of tomorrow.  A dawn of a new day, an end to all sorrow.  And with every day, I am forced into wonder, of a Savior, a Messiah, whose name brings the thunder. Or the quietest whisper in my ear, spoken so that only I will hear.
You move me like the light at the end of my hall, a constant reminder that you catch me when I fall.  You move me like the sun kisses the water at sunset, and how the moon disappears without a word, and I would be plunged into darkness if you would ever leave me, for only with you can I truly see.  And at night when no one it's near, I call out your name because I can't do it alone and you are the song I am singing.
You move me like the mountains you could, the rain on a sad goodbye, my favorite song, but look : I see the day coming when I can see your face and thank you for your endless love and grace. 
Lord I need you, oh I need you and I anxiously await the day of our rescue.  But until that day I will wait and see, Lord continue to move in me.

Keep the Fire Burning

This week at school and at youth group and with the comments from my blog post last week, I kind of felt God speaking to me.  It really wasn't insane or extraordinary, but it really has given me a new view and purpose for this upcoming school year.  Keep the fire burning.  Yep, that's it.  And I honestly think that my goal for this year, although simple, is pretty amazing. 
Last year, I tried to live by my blog title, set the world on fire.  And this year, the fire that God sparked in my heart will still remain.  I will keep the fire burning.  You all know about the burden that He has placed on my heart for missions; my goal is to keep that fire burning.  The one burning here in my Jerusalem, yep, I am going to keep that fire burning too.
So I will leave you with this.  Whether Christ has been your best friend for as long as you can remember, or you just met Him today.  Whether you have you have acknowledged His presence, or you are still finding your way back home.  Keep the fire burning, and maybe together, with the help of our Heavenly Father, we can set the world on fire.

One Moment

It is amazing how one moment in time can be life-changing. 
     For those of you that don't know, this summer, I took a week long trip to Nicaragua.  It was the best week of my life and I am still amazed at how much God changed me on that trip.  I still remember sitting on the plane in Fort Lauderdale and awaiting my next footstep into Nicaragua.  I vividly remember the first hotel we stayed in, and waiting for the bus to come that first day.  However, as distinctly as I remember everything, I am still so sad because I am forgetting what if felt like to be in Nicaragua. 
    One of the days I remember like yesterday was on the Tuesday that we were there.  It was the second day of VBS and we were at the village of Mateare.  I can recall how badly those kids needed love, and how we were so willing to give it.  One girl in particular stuck out to me.  I remember her being the one that didn't only want a hug, but she wanted me to hold her.  I held her for about 10 minutes when she wanted me to take her to her house.  I had to say no because I couldn't go unaccompanied.  I thought that I wouldn't see her again, but a few minutes later she was back and in my arms.  I can still see the people and feel that gentle breeze as I held her that day and gazed up at the mountains and thought about the song "This is Home" :

This is home

Now I'm finally

Where I belong

Where I belong

Yeah, this is home

I've been searching

For a place of my own

Now I've found it

Maybe this is home

Yeah, this is home
I thought about how maybe God was calling me to Nicaragua, or maybe it was to show me that I can do that in Florida, but I left that day knowing that God was calling me back.  Maybe not to Managua, maybe not even Nicaragua, or even South America, but I knew that God was calling me into missions.  So I decided that I would go where He wants me to, and right now, that means being a missionary to my Jerusalem, here in Land O Lakes, but I know that His plan is best, and I will follow Him where He wants so that I can set the world on fire!

"Dear Maddy" , My Guide to Middle School

This coming school year, my sister, Madelyn, will be going into middle school. I want her to get the most out of it, so I have decided to write her a middle school survival guide.

Dear Madelyn,
Welcome to the wonderful world of bells, 6 classes, and crazy personalities.  Middle school will be a big change from 5th grade.  Here are some tips I have for keeping your head on straight and having successful character.
1.  Make sure you are willing to break apart from the majority.  Don't worry about fitting in.  You might not be the picture perfect popular girl, but don't feel like you have to be.  Stand out.  Be different.  It will get you a lot further than fitting in.
2.  Keep a good relationship with Mom and Dad.  I cannot understand why my friends hate their parents or don't want to stay in touch with them.  They love you, so don't treat them like dirt.  Plus, keeping a good relationship means less yelling and more fun.
3.  Choose your friends wisely.  You reflect your friends, so be around the people that you want to be like.
4.  Don't let others words get to you.  You might get lots of negative comments from a lot of people (but I don't know why because you are an amazing girl), just don't let there words bring you down.  You are worth so much more than what other people think of you.
5.  Keep your eyes on God.  His opinion matters most.  Stick with Him and always know that He will be there to catch you if you fall.  Make sure He is the center of your years and they will turn out great!

Love you sissy,
Abby <3

My Fear of People (Well sort of)

I get scared sometimes.  Okay, I will admit; I get scared a lot.  I am afraid of things like snakes, lizards (don't even ask why), an over-attachment to Facebook (yes, that scares me).  But what scares me most, is that people that I walk by everyday won't be with me in heaven.  That they won't ever get the chance to hear the glorious news of Christ.  I am afraid for people I don't know.  And do you know the worst part?  I won't be able to tell all of them.  I could always stop people in the hallways, but there will be that person that walks to fast for me to catch.  How am I supposed to tell ALL of them?
That is where you all come in.  Not only is it my job to tell them, but it's your job too.  We are all called as children of God to be lights to the darkest corners.  We all need to share Christ instead of hogging Him.
So this week, I challenge you.  Be a light to ONE person (or more if your heart so does desire).  You don't even have to pick a stranger, it can be a friend.  Tell them about Christ, or even just invite them to church.  I want God to use us this week.  Help me get over my fear, and lets be the sparks to set the world on fire.

Psalm 69

I read this week during my devotions and really fell in love with it.  David really pours out his heart and begs for God to rescue him.  This really fit what I was going through.  Saturday, I felt like I couldn't feel God, and that I was just going through the motions.  But then, when I read this, I was encouraged to keep marching on.  Although I really like verses 1-19 (and really encourage you to look at them), my favorite part was verses 29-33:

²⁹ But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
    may your salvation, God, protect me.

³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song
    and glorify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please the Lord more than an ox,
    more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
³² The poor will see and be glad—
    you who seek God, may your hearts live!
³³ The Lord hears the needy
    and does not despise his captive people

I realized that the Lord does hear me, and that He does care, and even though we have hard times finding God, He will still use us to set the world on fire.

My Favorite Sound

"In death, in life, I am confident and covered by the power of Your great love.  My debt is paid, there is nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love."
Friday night I went to a For King and Country concert.  I had heard 2 of their songs before, but other than that, I was clueless. However, soon after they started playing, I knew that I liked them.  The first thing they did was explain their name and how it was a battle cry and how it related to how we should be for Christ.  What really got me though when we sang Jesus Culture's song, One Thing Remains.  I posted the words to the bridge up above.  But what made me get the chills was listening to everyone sing it.  Hearing hundreds of people singing praise to the Lord really sends a shiver down your spine.  " In death, in life I'm confident and covered by the power of Your great love."  And even though I usually don't like out of tune notes or weird rhythms, I have a new favorite sound: the off key, off beat sound of people singing praise to the God who covers us with His love.

Our Purpose

Most atheists will say that our purpose in life was to reproduce.

I have to believe that our purpose in life is more than reproducing; that we are called to do more than mate and have kids. If that was our purpose, then why do people take their jobs too seriously? Why do they go and drink away all of their problems?  Why do we buy the latest “I” products?  Why do people just want to have fun?  Why do we have feelings for the people we mate with?  Why do teenagers moan when they find they are pregnant?  Why have they created ways to inhibit and destroy reproduction all together?  If our purpose is to have children, then why do we pour our energy into reaching space, breaking the limits of Earth and her atmosphere?  Our advancements are so much greater than being thrust into the category of animals.  No other animal has built higher or flown to the heights, or invented what we have.  How can someone look at the complexity of the brain and the human genome and our body and say that we evolved from a single celled organism that somehow appeared during the Big Bang.  No, I must believe that we are created for a higher purpose, called to a higher goal, and that goal is to further the kingdom of Christ and to worship Him.

  Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^b the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Fulfill God's purpose for your life and set the world on fire.

Build Your House on the Rock

Funny how a children's song reminds you of where your priorities lie. 

The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down! The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man’s house stood firm!
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rain came tumbling down
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the foolish man’s house went SPLAT!

This song truly illustrates life.  We have a choice whether or not we want to build our house on the sands of this world.
  The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Galations 5)

Or we could chose to build our lives on the Rock, not Dwayne Johnson, but Christ, and heavenly things.
   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  (Galations 5)


I like the last part best because it puts it into practical terms for your life.

So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
And the blessings will come down
The blessings come down
As your prayer go up
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Build your life on the Rock and He will use you to set the world on fire!

The Computer Analogy

"I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark,"
~ Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking is regarded as one of the most intelligent people on the planet.  However, he has a hole in his life only able to be filled by God.  This statement was made in 2011.  I find however that Hawking has forgotten the parts of a computer.
I compare the hard drive of a computer to the soul.  It lasts even after the computer itself dies because the information can be recovered from this.  Like this, the soul lasts even after the "computer" dies.  What you choose to do with your "computer" also matters.  Accepting the gift of Christ is like getting a warranty for your computer.  You will be able to get a new computer with the same hard drive, even after the first one dies.  When you don't accept the warranty, after the computer dies, it is worthless.  Even though it has the hard drive, nothing can be done because you don't have anything to recover the hard drive with.
Putting your faith in Christ can be hard.  It is like performing an obstacle course blind folded.  But accepting Christ is like adding a person beside you to hold your hand.  You still can't see what lies ahead, but you have someone next to you who can. 
"Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Learn to rely on Christ even when you cannot see what lies in the next step or the next mile and He will help you to set the world on fire!

Faith in the Face of Tragedy

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When tragedy strikes, our natural defenses tend to kick in and we start to question our foundations.  We question God’s sovereignty, His grace, we question His mercy, and we even doubt His love.  With the Sandy Hook Massacre behind us, and as we look towards the future, we continue to question God’s purpose, His presence, and His nonexistent intervention.

It was a bright and sunny December 14.  Kids were filing into classrooms and getting settled in, excited for what the weekend might hold.  Out of the blue, the PA system turns on and gunshots, shouts, and cries float out.  Teachers scramble to hide their children from a seeming invisible gunman.  Twenty-six women and children were killed that day, but many more lives were changed.

Weeks after the second largest school massacre in US history, we continue to question the Lord’s presence.  The problem is, though, that He was asked to leave a while ago.  When people request Christ is taken out of schools, He will leave, but don’t anger over the fact that He wasn’t kicked out of schools.  I believe that He did show up that day of unthinkable tragedy.  He showed up in the hearts of teachers who laid down their life for their students.  He showed up in the minds of the first responders who ran onto the scene, not knowing if the steps they were taking would be their last.  He showed up in the hearts of parents who franticly searched for their babies.  And He showed up in the lives of those in Newtown, the ones mourning a great loss.

Another controversy that this brings up is God’s will.  People are constantly using this as an excuse to “show that God is not loving”.  But do we truly understand what God’s will means?  God’s will doesn’t mean that God wanted Adam Lanza to murder 26 people; it doesn’t mean that it was a good thing, or even right.  But God’s will means that God will use it.  That even though Adam Lanza meant it for evil, God meant it for good.  God will use this grief to bring praise and glory to Him, and to ultimately further His kingdom.  Just because we don’t see the change in our life doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. 

So as we ponder all of the possible questions, we need to remember one thing, to pray.  To pray for the families of those first graders, to pray for the students at Sandy Hook, to pray for the people of Newtown, to pray for the Lanza family.  Pray for God’s grace and love to cover them, and for them to find peace in this time of pain.  And be thankful for those who you can hug right now, because you never know what the future may hold.