remembering 9/11

My pastor sends out an email weekly called the Shepherd's Heart. Today he sent and extra one in memory of 9/11. Here is what it said:

Could not have said it better! Read this from my friend Dr. Mike Hamlet, Pastor of First Baptist Church, North Spartanburg.

9/11

Today is the 6th anniversary of one of the worst days in American history. This is one of those times that you can always remember where you were when you first heard about the crash at the World Trade Center. In so many ways life changed for us on that day. There are so many things that we no longer view in the same way.

9/11 taught us a lot of things but there are a couple that stand out in my mind.

-The first is that we are completely dependent on the Lord. Terrorism is real and it feeds on fear. But we serve a God that is greater. II Timothy1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind." We do not have to live in fear because we serve arisen Savior.

-Secondly, we live in a world that needs to hear the gospel. The world is desperately looking for an answer and that answer is Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the father but by me." We have the answer!

As believers we must not focus on our fear but focus on our faith. We have a greater opportunity to share the gospel than any people in history.

Today the media will probably focus on that which is bad. They will continually remind us of the fact that it is a dangerous world. They will encourage us to live with our heads down. But we have a story to tell! We have every reason to look up. When we are focused on Him, we live with a confidence and an expectation of what the Lord is going to do next.

Mike Hamlet

Along with this I would like to leave you with this scripture from God's Word and tell you what I learned from 9/11.

Psalm 31:14-15 (NKJV) But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.

A lot of people lost their life that day, but many were spared also. When I read that verse I have to ask, "Why me Lord?". Among all of the feelings I felt that day, I would have to say that was the most predominate. Why am I given another day or even the next breath? Every second is a gift from the Master. He is sovereign and my times are in His hands. My prayer is that I won't miss His purpose for my life. And that "fear won't be my focus" but instead my faith will.

What did 9/11 teach you?