9/11

It's hard to believe that today is 9/11/14. 13 years have passed since the tragic day when our lives were changed forever. The America that I grew up in, was not the same. It was like an innocence was lost and brutal truth was standing in its place.

I have always known that we live in a cruel, evil world but, as a freshman in college, I was still naive and innocent to the real harshness of the world. I came from a happy, loving home - in America. Land of the free, home of the brave. We don't have to worry about our safety - nothing happens on our soil. But, it did happen on that day 13 years ago, and things were different! Even 13 years later, there is devastation. All around us, evil is waiting to strike again.

It's always been this way, from the beginning of time. Good verses Evil. The devil never sleeps. It's easy to get discouraged and feel weary of all the hatred and disgust in our world, but we need soldiers in Christ who can fight the battles!

Today, I see lots of flags, dedications and expressions of remembrance. We need this today! We need this every day. We need to remember to fight the battle against evil, every.single.day! Not just one day a year as a reminder, but every day as a hope for what can be. Stick up for someone who's being picked on. Pay for some one's lunch in the drive-thru behind you, hold the door for someone, help a Mom, juggling 3 fussy kids, put her groceries in her car, take time to be a good example for children, call your grandparents, spend time with those you love, SLOW DOWN and make time for people.

I am proud to be an American. We fly the red, white and blue outside our home and I smile when I see it waiving in the wind outside my window. I support our troops and cannot even begin to thank them (and their families) for the sacrifices made on my behalf. I am so blessed to be able to raise my child in a home where we can talk about Jesus and read and laugh and love without being ridiculed or punished. I'm thankful for a God who protects us, gives me hope and shows His love even when we are most undeserving.

Friends, I ask you to remember what happened on 09.11.01, and how America came together. There was no "black vs white", there was no "democrat vs republican", there was no "east side vs west side" - we were ONE. We stood together as a unit that was and is, America. Let's not forget how amazing we can be when we put our differences aside and LOVE, understand and pray for each other! That's what we need to remember, today and always.

Ephesians 6:10-18

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”