Let us pray!

Thirteen years ago a gunman walked into my church on a Wednesday night during the See You at the Pole rally.  He shot and killed seven, physically wounded seven and emotionally and spiritually wounded hundreds.  I remember that next Sunday, as we were determined to gather at church, fear overcame me.  I remember shaking as I sat in my pew with my 1 month old daughter.  All the questions of why, how and what now went through my mind.  My eyes were opened to the evil in the world and my faith was being tested.  The questions about gun control came up.  Even the discussion on whether to lock down the church and have security to get in and out.  Really?  At church?  It just didn't seem right.  To tell you the truth, it wouldn't stop anyone that was crazy enough to fill their jackets with bullets and carry several guns anyway.  So we didn't lock down the church but we did become vigilant and more aware.  Then you have the questions about mental illness.  Yes, he was mentally ill.  His story is sad and the details don't bring any answers that would tell us how to prevent such an act.  Parents do the best they can sometimes.  His family grieves as well.  Lastly, and what gets less press is the question of the need for more of God.


I imagine those are similar feelings for many parents this week in the Newtown area and nationwide.  I have read Facebook postings from friends that hugged their children extra on Monday mornings and had a hard time sending them to school.  It was because of fear.  Their eyes have once again opened and it's frightening.  We want something, anything to be done quickly.  The media screams for gun control and more help for the mentally ill and asks for pastors and ministers to come in and do damage control.  They ask God to help us, comfort us and heal us, yet after a few weeks is past, God will be swept under the rug and it's back to a political debate.  

It has been said that God has been removed from the schools and therefore we shouldn't be surprised by the turn of our culture and I get where some people are coming from.  I do think that even though our kids can not openly pray in school, doesn't mean we as parents shouldn't teach them to pray on their own.  I am sure that many children and adults prayed in that Newtown school last week.  God was available to them to cry out.  He is available to us to comfort.


John 10:10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy.  I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance.

Psalm 121:1-2 I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Let us pray for the children and families in Newtown.  Let us pray for our children.  Let us pray for our schools.  Let us pray for our nation.

Please join me and thousands of moms tomorrow at 9:45am (CST) for the MOPS National Call to Prayer.  Let's lift up the families who have been devastated and pray that they will feel God's arms around them during these difficult days.