Rebuilding Love, Hope and Faith 15 Years Later
“Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things easy. Hope makes all things work.” -Unknown!This has been a huge weekend for New York as thousands of people gather together at the 9/11 memorial site to remember the friends and loved ones that they lost 15 years ago. I don't know what it is about this particular day but it always brings immense sadness to my heart. The sad part is that the world has not become a better place since 9/11, if anything, it has gotten worse. There are no words to describe the number of attacks that have been carried out on innocent people worldwide. So many families have been affected by terrorist attacks not just here in the US but globally. It poses the question: how do you rebuild love, hope and faith in a world that is constantly under attack, making healing impossible?I don't think there's any easy way to answer that quetion but one thing I do know is that it starts with me and it starts with you. Hate is something that has to be cultivated in one's heart and that hate has to be replaced with love - for where there is love, there is peace. In 1 Corinthians 13: 13 it says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Everything begins with love and our response to hate has to always be with love. What good is it to fight back hate with hate? You can read my previous posts on 9/11 here and here.
My prayer is that God will mend the hearts of every single person that is broken, that He may bring healing where there is pain and brokenness. I also pray that you guys may know God for who he really is. May you walk with him everwhere you go. I wanted to share one of my favorite prayers found at the end of my all time favorite song, 'With Everything,' by Hillsong. I've copied the prayer and the link to the song below. I hope it blesses your hearts as much as it does mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N5nxeqvXRc
"Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is, and is to come. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive honor and glory and power. For you created all things and by your will, they were created and have their being. You are worthy because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on earth. Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power, and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and praise.
To him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever and ever!! Now keep your hands towards heaven and open them high to receive heaven's blessings to fulfil this task, this divine mandate on earth - to bring justice where there is injustice and hope where there is hopelessness, peace where there is anxiety, love where there is fear, salvation where there is brokenness. And now may this God, our God - the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ - that great shephered of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will. And may he work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ. To him be glory, forever and ever. And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!
Go and change the world!
“May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance, and intolerance.”
-9/11 Memorial Mission Statement