My Answered 9/11 Prayer

A heavy, heavy burden.

That's what I remember most about early in the morning on September 9, 2001.

I was desperate for my country to turn to the Lord and love Him for who He is, not for what He could do for them. I literally cried out for God to open their eyes whatever the cost. I prayed for Him to open my eyes to the love and devotion I should have for Him, and for how to share Him with a people who felt they could handle everything in their own power. I was so very new at trying to walk radically for Him, and had floundered so many times. Though I seldom get overly emotional in my prayers, it astonished me that I was weeping so hard for America to turn to God.
Please, God, give them the desire to turn to and lean on You!


As I left for work about half an hour later, I turned on the radio and heard what most Americans will never forget: A plane has just crashed into the Twin Towers...
Oh, God! Please help them!


Once again, in the mysterious way of our Sovereign Father, He used those who were against Him to draw others to Him. Did He cause it to happen? No. He allowed it to happen because of your and my free will. He is just, powerful, and compassionate enough to use what is meant to be against Him for His own good purpose.

The Old Testament is full of foreign kings and peoples who came against and conquered His people, the Israelites, when they had fallen away from Him in order to draw them back to Him. He allows this and uses them for our good. Is that easy to understand? No, it's not. But that's why He tells us through the prophet Isaiah, "⁸ "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
    and your ways are not My ways."
          [This is] the LORD's declaration.
    ⁹ "For as heaven is higher than earth,
    so My ways are higher than your ways,
    and My thoughts than your thoughts."   
     Isaiah 55:8-9

We are called to trust in only Him; to lean only on Him. And I have heard many stories of people who have placed their trust in Him because of the horrific acts on 9/11/2001.

Lord, I can not understand so many things about that day. But thank You for Your work in so many peoples lives that day and beyond. May we praise You forever for the time you give us. May we, as a nation, be drawn to You today.

"What If " Waivers

Is there anything that could make your faith in God waiver?

What if an innocent person you loved died?
What if you saw a ghost?
How about if another planet with life on it were discovered?
What if something you believed about God, but wasn't obvious in the Bible, were proven false?
What if a psychic could tell you very specific things that very few people knew?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths".  Proverbs 3:5


"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways not My ways.' This is the Lord's declaration."  Isaiah 55:8

Having faith in God is perhaps questioning Him as to Why? at times, but never questioning whether He even really exists.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!  Romans 8:38-39

Searching for Donkeys

Have you ever noticed that God seems to do His most amazing works in your life when you least expect it?

While reading 1 Samuel 9 last night, I tried to imagine myself in Saul's sandals. His father had a donkey that had wandered away, so Saul and a servant had been sent to search for it. Three days had passed and they couldn't find the donkey anywhere. Saul was ready to head home, realizing his father would start to worry about them going missing instead, when the servant told him that a respected man of God was in the city they were next to. They figured they had one silver coin left to give as an offering so that this seer could tell them in which direction to find the donkey. Long story short, they don't even recognize Samuel, the man of God, who tells them before they say a word about it, not to worry about the donkey and to come to a special banquet with him. Samuel then proceeds to seat Saul at the highest position of the table and place the choice portion of meat in front of him. Samuel tells Saul, so that all can hear, that this piece was specifically reserved for him to eat before all the people at this solemn event.

Can't you hear Saul now? “Excuse me, what?!? I was just looking for a donkey! I'm sorry you must be mistaken, I'm from a small clan within the Benjaminites. You know, the smallest tribe?” I can just imagine the confusion on his face as these important men stared at him while Samuel made those grand proclamations. If he had know about Candid Camera, he would have sworn he was being filmed.

I started thinking, how many times am I so obsessed with “looking for my donkey” that I leave the banquet? God doesn't work in the way we expect Him to. God says to us in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways... For as heaven is higher than earth, So My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” We need to keep our eyes open to what God is placing before us. Not why or how. Why do we often want to tell God no thank you because whatever it is just doesn't make sense?

Let's not worry about the donkey. God got him home too.