Another gunman…
So there was another gunman…
This time close to home. I reflect on the comments I saw on Facebook the day of the Sandy Hook murders and the same day more murders in China. Some comments were suggesting the unthinkable.
The unthinkable, because as a mom, (even though some of their motives may have been in the right place), some of the thoughts and reasons expressed were not words I would want to hear at this time as a grieving parent. And as a Christian, they were flat out wrong. Words of blame, reasons why God had allowed this to happen. There is ONE reason only.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
My children came home from school two days ago, and as they sat on the couch in my room, we discussed the thought process of some regarding these tragedies. Many on FB said that since we had removed prayer from school, this wicked event happened. Some suggested choices that others had made that were sinful. Some the weapons. I would beg respectfully and lovingly to disagree in all. I’ll only address one. Prayer in school for us was very generic, and I knew the difference between my prayers, prayers in the church I went to, and prayers in school.
I explained to my children, that WE His Children, take prayer wherever we go, and even places we do not go as we pray for people across the world. That when they went to school, I wanted them to remember that and always do the same.
God is everywhere, they have not taken God out of school. We never removed prayer from school, prayer continues in school, prayer is wherever a believer goes, and also where a non-believer finds HIM as they cry out for Him.
The next day I awoke in the middle of the night. So I prayed. I was still awake when the first woke up early. (Usually at or around 6). I told her I had something to tell my 13 year old son. As she stood their waiting, for the life of me, I could not remember what it was. So I just reminded them about their prayers, as I also prayed for them, in peace, not even thinking about these events at that moment.
Breaking News…
I fell asleep again, and when I woke I opened my computer and began to catch up on my email. Then I saw the breaking news, which was that my 13 year old son’s middle school had a gunman with a trench coat on their campus, and that they had been evacuated to the church next door then to the high school. I thanked the Lord that I still had my son, and that something unspeakable, may have been averted.
They have not found the gunman.
And so they have police on the campus as I type this. So we pray, and we do not know God’s plans, yet we trust, and lean on Him. He will work all things together for good, even when it looks dire, the one thing we as believers can lean on, is that the Lord loves us, and He gave His own life in our place. The foolish message that we are being saved by, and a lost and dying world needs to hear.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear… I Peter 3:15
Jesus is the Only Answer
So facebook friends, as you speculate about all the many reasons why, there is only one reason why these things happen. Don’t get distracted by worldly answers and conjectures, tell them how they too can have the hope we have. These who murder, why do you think they have hate in their heart? And why do some that even profess to be believers seem to have that same hate? Maybe they have not truly recognized that they are in need of the Great Physician as they trust in their own righteousness, or as the god of this age has them all blinded, from their loving Savior who had such a great love that He gave His life for them. (Jn 15:13)
How do we treat the world? We do not judge the world. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, so preach the Word in and out of season, tell them the good news. Please remember the spiritual battle, this is not about flesh and blood. People are dying.
Every day people when they die, go through a door they cannot walk back out of. What horror I don’t even want to imagine, as they die, thinking they were good people, or that they knew Jesus because their church claimed His name, and yet, they had never trusted on the simple message, that Christ died in their place as sinners. (As the Scriptures foretold) That He was God and also fully man, who paid the penalty on that cross… the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. If only they would believe on Him as their Savior. He was buried and He rose again, (as both the Scriptures foretold, and Jesus said He would), showing us that He has power over death. Those of us who are His, will rise again to life everlasting, but those of you who have not believed will be resurrected, to shame, and everlasting contempt. WHY? Because you have NOT believed on the One who gave His life for you on that cross, and you face the Father on judgment day. Everything seemingly good people have ever known in life will be gone. Every terror, wickedness, evil, darkness, fear… everything that is not of God, will be present. Yet every good thing God gives to man, Light, Love, Joy, Peace, Happiness, Children, Provision, Rain, Sunshine, Warmth, Companionship… even free will (so much more not even here), it will be gone.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36
I sat by a fire a couple weeks ago, and as I leaned forward and felt the warmth, after a bit, the warmth was too hot, and I leaned back. But I was able… How horrible to be cast forth into a fire that cannot be quenched, and never be able to recover yourself from it.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
JESUS IS THE ONLY ANSWER
Don’t wait, as we see, life can end abruptly no matter our age or health or wealth, none of it can save you if you do not know Him.
Please reference other links on my page if you want to know more.
WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN YOU DIE?
The Good News? Jesus is God the Messiah…
Or my friend Jack Weaver, http://expreacherman.com/eternal-life-for-you/
PRESS ON by Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bg2cJ5bw2k&feature=share&list=AL94UKMTqg-9BLUAY4fa7XItwSp0P6lycp
Thank you, Holly.
So very glad your son is safe.. I respectfully disagree with you however about the cause not being the removal of God in public schools. What they are referring to is teacher led prayer and Bible during opening exercises was not allowed anymore in 62-63. I graduated in 62 so I am familiar with what went on then, and am not getting my info from history books. There is another factor involved then which greatly impacted the moral decline which is also contributing to what we are seeing today and that was the feds cranked funding to schools for more science and thus The Big Lie also known as Darwinian evolution was expanded on is schools. Eventually posting the 10 commandments was banned.
So if kids who never went to church, never heard about God and His plan of salvation, are taught 5 days a week about macro-evolution and their parents were taught the same thing we end up with the sins of the fathers being passed down from generation to generation.
Another area where schools are lying to our young is American History and not informing about the truth about who the majority of our Founding Fathers were Christians or at least Theist. They built our education system specifically so that kids would learn how to read the Bible. The Bible was also used to teach creationism.
Please Google “moral decline since 1962” and you should find a ppt presentation e http://www.ourgodlyamericanheritage.com/AmericasGodlyHeritage-Frame...
Gary, it is my opinion that whether these things may have helped, I was a very little girl when prayer was removed, (started school at 4) and although I agree that society has declined and our schools in a big way, there is nothing new under the sun. For instance, Cain murdered Abel, and he didn’t have any of the above issues. I do agree that those things can help, but I believe this time has been foretold.
I guess all I am trying to say, is we cannot just state this is why this happened, we do not know. And whether our founding fathers served our God or not, I truly do not know, because there are dominionists and ecumenists like Dave Barton who are telling also a skewed story.
From the beginning we are told what the problem is, “yea hath God said?” And we are also told we are without excuse in Romans 1, because all the things regarding the invisible God are clearly seen. The heavens declare His glory. So, the answer is Christ, regardless of how far someone has gone, we can point to a lot of things, but for me, I want to point them to CHRIST alone…
Here is a link to a video done by Bill Salus which talks about the USA possibly in end time prophecy and the reasons wy we have become a fallen nation.
I would also suggest Googling moral decline since 1962 and look for a PPT which is what David Barton put together from stats which are verifiable. One of the factors in the Sandy Hook scenario was the mother was very domineering and was divorced. Sons which are raised in fatherless homes are more likely to committ crimes because the priest isn’t in the home teaching him. It’s also considered a reason why the was a dramatic increase in the gay community. If a son doesn’t feel the love of their father and there isn’t spiritual connection between the two, they are more likely to find it from another male thinking it can be a fix for the son’s emptiness they feel.
holly, do you really think that the sandy hook shooting is real?
Yes Daniel, I have no reason to believe it was not real, and don’t take time for the Conspiracies although I’ve heard plenty. I think it’s not wise to speculate on things like that, especially at the potential hurt of victim’s families. There is plenty of blatant evil, I’d rather stay innocent unto what is evil and wise to that which is good. In other words, I just don’t spend time on stuff like that.