Yesterday, devastating news was reported that a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed at Joppatowne High School which is not only my alma-mater, but an institution of learning that parents trust to send their children to each day. That morning I cried out to the Lord about the four lives taken at Apalachee High School, asking for peace for their loved ones. Now, I'm crying out for that peace again for everyone involved at JHS as well as freedom of fear for all.
But, as God prompted me to journal my dream as He often does, I heard Him say, step up!
There have been so many senseless school shootings, and I think we feel sad for that community and go on living our lives. When someone loses their life in the halls you spent four years, there is an opening for the devil to instill fear. I even had a dream about it and a former version of myself would have pushed that dream as far from my memory as possible in hopes to forget it. But, as God prompted me to journal my dream as He often does, I heard Him say, step up!
I'm always asking God what He is saying especially when He allows something to happen of this magnitude and I believe He is saying that I need to do more. We, as believers, are called to be the arms, legs, feet, hands, and the mouthpiece of God here on earth. When people encounter us, they should encounter Jesus. What work am I doing to make sure people, especially the youth, but people of all ages are experiencing God? Am I showing them that they should love themselves and others way too much to succumb to the anger and hate that leads to this type of outcome?
As hard as it is, I hope that rather than pointing fingers of blame, that we all rise up and take accountability for the times we let anything that opposes love to win.
I'm blessed to work with youth for a living and it's becoming even more clear that God has me there to present Him, even if it's just by my presence and behavior. But, every day we have opportunities to show people God's love so that maybe they make a better decision than the young man did yesterday at my high school. As hard as it is, I hope that rather than pointing fingers of blame, that we all rise up and take accountability for the times we let anything that opposes love to win.
I pray that we who know Christ represent Him, to our children, at our jobs, in the grocery store, on the highway in rush hour traffic, with our spouses, every one. I pray that we choose love and represent it to those who are watching us so that before they make a decision that will wreck their life and the life of an innocent family, they would choose love.
I am constantly praying for every one who endures this level of heartache. There are no words that can express how the loved ones, especially the mothers of these young men are feeling. I ask God to radically take hold of their minds and provide a peace that makes no sense; a peace only He can provide.
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