(Submitted by Lara Cook)
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. Matthew 16:8
I have been thinking about September 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked America and such death and destruction were heaped on our country like burning coals. What exactly do I feel when I think about that day?
I remember being so scared and
worried about how our lives would change. I wasn’t really thinking about the
inconvenience of having more security and lots of rules and regulations at
airports. I wasn’t thinking about more
safety, I was thinking about less safety.
I was really afraid that this would be the beginning of constant attacks
on our freedom. I was the mother of a 1
year old, 3 year old, 5 year old and 7 year old at that time and I was
terrified for my children. I was terrified
for their freedom in the future but I was more afraid that they might be hurt
physically, that I would have to see them hurt or suffer. I didn’t want to go to the Thanksgiving parade
that year. I was afraid we would be
sitting ducks. It would be a perfect
opportunity – Houston, Tx, thousands of people downtown for the Thanksgiving
Day Parade. It was a terrorists
dream. I kept thinking of how many
thousands of people were there. As well
as the Ballpark in Arlington when we went to a Rangers game the following
summer, and Celebrate Freedom, especially
Celebrate Freedom. Freedom was what they
wanted to take away.
I thought of the people who lost
loved ones that day. I thought of the
people trapped, the people who jumped to their death. I concentrated on how they must have felt
knowing that death was inevitable. What
would I do in that situation? What would
I feel in that situation? I actually
terrorized myself just thinking of all that could result from these
events. And that was the goal of the
terrorists. They succeeded somewhat. I am sure I was not the only American feeling
this way.
But they did not completely
succeed. They did not get what they came
for – our freedom or our faith. They
could not take what we refused to give up.
I am so thankful for the first responders, the police, the medical
personnel, and the military that protect us and our freedom every day. They are the ones that keep our freedom
intact. They have made a commitment to
protect us at all cost. I have faith in
them. I trust them.
The Ultimate First Responder
Satan is the great terrorist, filling our hearts and minds with all kinds of thoughts and fears. He wants our freedom and he wants to destroy the church and take out all the Christians with it. But Jesus Christ is the ultimate first responder. He protects us and will destroy the enemy in the end. The church shall stand and the gates of hell will not prevail against it just as the scripture above says.
Satan is the great terrorist, filling our hearts and minds with all kinds of thoughts and fears. He wants our freedom and he wants to destroy the church and take out all the Christians with it. But Jesus Christ is the ultimate first responder. He protects us and will destroy the enemy in the end. The church shall stand and the gates of hell will not prevail against it just as the scripture above says.
See, in the end, no matter what
destruction precedes it, the Lord and His church will prevail. The enemy may shoot fiery darts and storm the
fortress but the Lord will win in the end.
I will have faith in Him and I will trust Him. I will also join His army and stand against
the enemy and his troops until my life or the battle is over, whichever comes
first. Just like the terrorists on
September 11, 2001, he will not get what he wants either. He cannot have our faith because we won’t
give it up and he will not gain power over us because we will not give in to
the fears he hounds us with. We are
protected under the banner of the Lord and here we will stand with our shields
of faith.
On this day we do remember the ones
who bravely gave their lives to save lives.
We remember the innocent lives lost and we will never forget what they
endured. They will forever remain in our
hearts and minds. We will remember the
bravery of those who came to their aid and we will remember a God that healed
our nation.
Scripture to Claim:
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3