Sept. 11th Memories in Song and Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvj6zdWLUuk

Where was I on Sept 11 when my world was forever changed?

My husband was watching TV, I was busy doing something else. I heard him call me, and I joined him in the living room. He said "An airplane just crashed into a high rise building!" I sat down and began to watch, and soon saw the second plane approaching, then saw it crash into the building. Unbelievable! What is happening?!! We spent the day watching TV then as the other events of the day were unfolding.

We were eyewitness to the first truly evil thing we had ever seen happening. It was not like looking at old war pictures of past atrocities against human beings; this was going on right before our eyes! We were filled with fear as we thought of airplanes filled with unsuspecting commuters being carried to their horrible death and no one could do an thing to help them! We experienced a helpless and hopeless feeling as we watched images on the TV screen of people leaning out windows and falling to their death. Shock is the best word I can find to describe it. I had heard some of the news about terrorists hijacking planes and murdering innocent people before, but had never realized how truly evil this terror was. I told my husband and daughter "Life as we know it is forever changed. In Jesus is the only safe place to be." The Lord used this horrible event to wake many from their spiritual slumber and into a deeper walk with him. I was one of those many. I began to seriously seek deeper into the truths of good and evil! Jesus taught us where evil originates:

Spoken to men who professed to know God but hated others.

John 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 10:8,10

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I learned that the thief and liar Jesus warned us about was satan. I learned that evil is planted in the hearts and lives of men by his lies and deceptions. That it manifests itself through human beings. From childhood we who are ignorant of God's truth are helpless to defend ourselves against it. Evil in men in it's first stages can begin as family strife and abuse and in it's fullness men become demonized and with no remorse enjoy the destruction of other human beings. In it's most vicious form, it presents itself as holy and righteous and convinces many that murderous acts of violence are the will of God carried out for the good of man. These acts of evil are often known as "holy wars".

Jesus calls and commissions men to go to war against the work of the devil. He tells us to arise and to have our eyes opened, and he offers us the more abundant life!

Acts 26:15-18

"And he said, I am Jesus who you are persecuting . But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you; Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

I'm grateful to my God for the military response and for the ongoing victory of our brave soldiers over world terror. . I hope and pray fervently that we never see evil as this again in this nation.

We as individuals can choose to become agents of change through our surrender to the commands of Jesus Christ. God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him could live in peace and with victory over evil, in this life and then eternally. There is no greater love!

We begin this process of change in our own families, and then go out to communities, cities and nations. We can rise up and apprehend the safe place Jesus offers and enjoy the abundant life he brings with him. The promise is for this life and for the one to come!