Titus 3:5
He saved us because
of his mercy,
and not because
of any good things
that we have done.
God washed us by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
He gave us new birth
and a fresh beginning.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“That
which tears open our souls, those holes that splatter our sight, may
actually become the thin, open places to see through the mess of this
place to the heart-aching beauty beyond. To Him. To the God whom we
endlessly crave.” – Ann Voskamp ~ One Thousand Gifts*
Today,
we remember the horror and heartache of a tragic event that occurred
thirteen years ago. It’s probably safe to say that all of our lives were
altered forever in some way because of what happened in New York,
Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, during those early morning hours of
September 11, 2001. Through a series of events that can only be
explained as a “God thing,” I became friends with a woman in Massapequa,
New York, whose husband, Keith Glascoe, perished that day while serving
as a firefighter for Ladder Co. 21 of the Fire Department New York
(FDNY). Veronica Glascoe Squef was the mother of two boys, 2-year-old
Nolan and 1-year-old Owen. Baby Keith was, as she puts it, “a little
peanut in my belly.” He would enter this world in April 2002.
If
you are old enough to remember “9-11”, you recall how incredibly
“dirty” everything was. Not only were lives lost...they were buried
beneath tons of dust and rubble. The bodies of many – including Keith
Glascoe - were never recovered. Rescue crews dug for days...cleanup
teams worked for months and years...and we all wondered if the area was
ever going to be “presentable” again. Would we ever “see through the
mess of this place” to heart-aching beauty beyond? Would we ever find
God in this tragedy? Would He be able to truly restore us and
decontaminate our hearts from this event?
Last week, Veronica
posted a photo of her boys on their first day back to school...Nolan now
a high school junior; Owen beginning high school as a freshman; and
Keith starting to middle school. All three boys are healthy, thriving,
and always smiling. Veronica posted a tribute to Keith on her Facebook
wall that said in part...” We love you, we miss you, we think of you
every day, and we will never forget.”
It is important that we
remember what happened...that we are vulnerable... and yes, that bad
things can – and will – happen. But more importantly, we must focus on
the incredible grace, mercy and cleansing power of God Almighty. We
must recognize His presence in the form of the Holy Spirit...guiding us
and “cleaning up the mess” so that we can see the beauty beyond –
because it does exist!
God did not leave us on September 11,
2001...He has not left us today. Whatever you are facing...wherever you
are “sifting through rubble and debris” and wondering if your life will
ever be neat and tidy again...know that God is with you. He is doing the
heavy lifting...the Holy Spirit can mend your broken heart and
strengthen you for the days to come...and the beauty of a brighter day
lies just beyond the “window” of your present struggle. Veronica Squef
and countless others understand the concept of “heart-aching beauty
beyond”. They face it every day in the smiles of children left
behind...of putting one foot in front of the other and rebuilding their
lives – different, but filled with potential.
What God does – and
has done – for those who suffer so much as a result of the events of
9-11, He will surely do for each of us. His desire is to wash away
whatever keeps us from a deep, abiding relationship with Him and a
continual communion with the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter who you
are...where you are...what you have – or don’t...or what you have or
haven’t done...God wants to do this for you. You may not realize it, but
God’s presence and grace may truly be “the very thing that you
endlessly crave.” Are you ready to find out? Will this be the day that
you turn to Him and begin to trust in His cleansing power? Don’t you
think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label finding and sharing God in tragedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding and sharing God in tragedy. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 29, 2014
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On April 27, 2014, the Center Hill, Arkansas, home of David and Karla Stracener was destroyed by a killer tornado. The couple huddled in a master bedroom closet with Karla’s elderly parents. When the storm passed, rescue workers dug the family from beneath the rubble that had moments earlier been a home built in 1945 by David Stracener’s grandfather. The Straceners stayed with David’s mother in the nearby town of Searcy until recently, when they moved into a temporary camper on the site of their former home.
If the story ended here, we would shake our heads and say, “That’s terrible. What an awful and devastating experience for this family.” But 13 days after the tornado struck, something even more tragic happened to the Straceners. Their son, Ben, had left his job in South Carolina as a fire truck safety feature inspector to return to Arkansas and help his parents in their recovery efforts. He and his girlfriend, Samantha Fowler, met with a pastor to receive pre-marital counseling. After they left this meeting, both Ben and Samantha were killed in a motorcycle accident. The pastor said that the couple were celebrating their future…which seemed full of promise. They were buried in the same grave a few days later.
David and Karla Stracener are in the process of rebuilding their home – and their lives. They note that when you lose everything – your home, your possessions, your vehicles…and most especially, your child – it’s hard to get going again. But they are determined to do this. They know that God is striding ahead of them and paving the way. Like other families who lost loved ones in this horrific storm…and those who have had to go on after the loss of a loved one – whether due to a dreadful accident or a lengthy illness - they can rest in the knowledge that God will never leave them.
Many of us face challenges and “storms”...experiences with the potential for devastation and loss, pain and heartache, or simply a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But we can all take courage in the confidence that we are not tackling these things alone. God is with us…taking the lead and providing strength, courage, wisdom and comfort. He picks up the slack and carries the heavier load when we think we can’t take another step. When we are spent, He allows us to rest in Him.
I pray that you never face the difficulties that have befallen David and Karla Stracener. We will never know why God allowed so much to happen to one family. But we can be assured that He is with them…that He numbers their steps and gives them all that they need to make it through this trial and conquer all that lies before them. Whatever you encounter today, God is right there with you. Do you feel His presence? Are you able to let go and trust Him…to rest in His capable hands and allow Him to do the heavy lifting? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On April 27, 2014, the Center Hill, Arkansas, home of David and Karla Stracener was destroyed by a killer tornado. The couple huddled in a master bedroom closet with Karla’s elderly parents. When the storm passed, rescue workers dug the family from beneath the rubble that had moments earlier been a home built in 1945 by David Stracener’s grandfather. The Straceners stayed with David’s mother in the nearby town of Searcy until recently, when they moved into a temporary camper on the site of their former home.
If the story ended here, we would shake our heads and say, “That’s terrible. What an awful and devastating experience for this family.” But 13 days after the tornado struck, something even more tragic happened to the Straceners. Their son, Ben, had left his job in South Carolina as a fire truck safety feature inspector to return to Arkansas and help his parents in their recovery efforts. He and his girlfriend, Samantha Fowler, met with a pastor to receive pre-marital counseling. After they left this meeting, both Ben and Samantha were killed in a motorcycle accident. The pastor said that the couple were celebrating their future…which seemed full of promise. They were buried in the same grave a few days later.
David and Karla Stracener are in the process of rebuilding their home – and their lives. They note that when you lose everything – your home, your possessions, your vehicles…and most especially, your child – it’s hard to get going again. But they are determined to do this. They know that God is striding ahead of them and paving the way. Like other families who lost loved ones in this horrific storm…and those who have had to go on after the loss of a loved one – whether due to a dreadful accident or a lengthy illness - they can rest in the knowledge that God will never leave them.
Many of us face challenges and “storms”...experiences with the potential for devastation and loss, pain and heartache, or simply a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But we can all take courage in the confidence that we are not tackling these things alone. God is with us…taking the lead and providing strength, courage, wisdom and comfort. He picks up the slack and carries the heavier load when we think we can’t take another step. When we are spent, He allows us to rest in Him.
I pray that you never face the difficulties that have befallen David and Karla Stracener. We will never know why God allowed so much to happen to one family. But we can be assured that He is with them…that He numbers their steps and gives them all that they need to make it through this trial and conquer all that lies before them. Whatever you encounter today, God is right there with you. Do you feel His presence? Are you able to let go and trust Him…to rest in His capable hands and allow Him to do the heavy lifting? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 30, 2014
Hebrews 11:6
You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I know that some of you are getting tired of reading about the tornado that devastated central Arkansas on Sunday, April 27th. But please bear with me. Yesterday, Greg and I drove Grandma “E” to a doctor’s appointment in Little Rock. The route we took to get there carried us directly through the tornado’s path in El Paso, Arkansas, where a woman perished. We returned via I-40 through Mayflower, and I cannot put into words what the tornado damage looks like there. Pictures have not adequately portrayed how horrific it is…and Grandma “E” remarked, “Surely someone must have died right here in this.” It didn’t seem possible that any living thing that was unfortunate enough to be in this area and above ground at the time could have possibly survived…although we know that many did.
My Facebook wall is still covered in posts regarding the tornado, and I know that the impact will keep these posts coming for quite some time. By far, the most poignant post I’ve seen is from the blog of a young mother named Jessica Sowards, who lives in Vilonia, Arkansas. Her dear friends and nearby neighbors, April and Daniel Smith, lost two sons in the tornado…8-year-old Cameron and his 7-year-old brother, Tyler. If you don’t do another thing all day long, please read this blog post:
If you have asked God “Why?” – about this tornado and/or any situation, ever – you need to read this post and hear the words of April Smith. April is not okay with God allowing her two sons to be taken…but at the same time, she trusts that God is still in charge and has a bigger, more complicated – and perfect – plan than we can begin to see. And so April trusts…she believes…and she waits for God to carry her through this.
If you want to fully understand the words of Hebrews 11:6, read this post. Hear the words of this woman and try to wrap your brain about the level of faith in Jesus that the mother of little Cameron and Tyler has. I wish I could say that I am as trusting…but honestly, I am not sure that I could be so faithful and filled with peace, were I in her shoes.
Believe me…I want to serve God at this level…because I know that this is where “the good stuff” really resides. I know that to be so confident and filled with faith will equip me to handle anything and everything that the devil throws at me…and I so need that – don’t you? Will this be the day that we begin to truly, fully walk in faith and depend on God – for everything? Don’t you think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I know that some of you are getting tired of reading about the tornado that devastated central Arkansas on Sunday, April 27th. But please bear with me. Yesterday, Greg and I drove Grandma “E” to a doctor’s appointment in Little Rock. The route we took to get there carried us directly through the tornado’s path in El Paso, Arkansas, where a woman perished. We returned via I-40 through Mayflower, and I cannot put into words what the tornado damage looks like there. Pictures have not adequately portrayed how horrific it is…and Grandma “E” remarked, “Surely someone must have died right here in this.” It didn’t seem possible that any living thing that was unfortunate enough to be in this area and above ground at the time could have possibly survived…although we know that many did.
My Facebook wall is still covered in posts regarding the tornado, and I know that the impact will keep these posts coming for quite some time. By far, the most poignant post I’ve seen is from the blog of a young mother named Jessica Sowards, who lives in Vilonia, Arkansas. Her dear friends and nearby neighbors, April and Daniel Smith, lost two sons in the tornado…8-year-old Cameron and his 7-year-old brother, Tyler. If you don’t do another thing all day long, please read this blog post:
http://thehodgepodgedarling.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-cheerleader.html?m=1
If you have asked God “Why?” – about this tornado and/or any situation, ever – you need to read this post and hear the words of April Smith. April is not okay with God allowing her two sons to be taken…but at the same time, she trusts that God is still in charge and has a bigger, more complicated – and perfect – plan than we can begin to see. And so April trusts…she believes…and she waits for God to carry her through this.
If you want to fully understand the words of Hebrews 11:6, read this post. Hear the words of this woman and try to wrap your brain about the level of faith in Jesus that the mother of little Cameron and Tyler has. I wish I could say that I am as trusting…but honestly, I am not sure that I could be so faithful and filled with peace, were I in her shoes.
Believe me…I want to serve God at this level…because I know that this is where “the good stuff” really resides. I know that to be so confident and filled with faith will equip me to handle anything and everything that the devil throws at me…and I so need that – don’t you? Will this be the day that we begin to truly, fully walk in faith and depend on God – for everything? Don’t you think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2014
Hebrews 10:24-25
In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good.
Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In the wake of the devastating tornado that ravaged several communities in Central Arkansas on Sunday, we are hearing countless news reports of “Good Samaritans” who have rushed to the aid of those in need…from law enforcement officers and rescue workers to medical personnel to church groups who are organizing shelters, meals and supplies…to area businesses that are feeding and supporting victims and workers alike. It’s a beautiful thing, and God’s handiwork is evident even in the midst of the horrific destruction and piles of rubble that are all that is left of neighborhoods, schools, church buildings and businesses.
I cannot count the reports I have heard in the last 24 hours in which victims claim that “the grace of God saved us.” Does this mean that those who were killed and injured were not covered by this same grace? Will people in these decimated communities turn their backs on God and blame Him for the destruction? I don’t think so. As one woman explained today…”God has a plan.” If ever many of us had a reason to walk away from God, this might be it. And let’s be honest…when troubles and tragedy befall us, we often ask God, “Why?” We wonder “Why me? Why my family? Why this? What have I done to make God so angry?” The people of Vilonia, Arkansas, are asking, “Why two times in three years?” as they crawl out of the rubble of homes that they rebuilt after the 2011 tornado…only to lose them again on Sunday.
I don’t have good answers for why these things have happened. I don’t know why God allowed some to be injured or wiped out…or killed – and others were allowed to live. I do know it was not to punish them. And I do agree with the survivor who said that “God has a plan.” He will not waste these events. God will continually work in and through these days/weeks/years to bring about amazing results that further His Kingdom.
Come Sunday, I suspect that any church building in the area surrounding the communities affected by these tornadoes will be filled to brimming with worshippers. Those who lost their church facilities in the storm will find a place and a time to stop the cleanup efforts and come together to praise God for His love and care…and to seek His guidance as they move forward, rebuild and recover. And if people in this situation can gather to encourage each other and glorify God…surely those of us who are safe, warm, dry, fed, clothed, housed and comfortable can take a few hours out of our week to pray, sing, study, fellowship and feed on the word of God.
Here is yet another example of how God is working through a tragedy to demonstrate His love and care. He is using these tornado victims to encourage and uplift even those of us who are observing from afar. God is inspiring people across the nation to roll up their sleeves, open their wallets, and come together in His name and for His glory…to show the world at large that nothing can separate us from His love – that we will serve Him with whatever we have and however we can.
A tornado may take our home, our business…even our loved ones. But God is still with us. And in the days ahead, we will gather to help those in need…and to worship Him. Will you be among them? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good.
Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In the wake of the devastating tornado that ravaged several communities in Central Arkansas on Sunday, we are hearing countless news reports of “Good Samaritans” who have rushed to the aid of those in need…from law enforcement officers and rescue workers to medical personnel to church groups who are organizing shelters, meals and supplies…to area businesses that are feeding and supporting victims and workers alike. It’s a beautiful thing, and God’s handiwork is evident even in the midst of the horrific destruction and piles of rubble that are all that is left of neighborhoods, schools, church buildings and businesses.
I cannot count the reports I have heard in the last 24 hours in which victims claim that “the grace of God saved us.” Does this mean that those who were killed and injured were not covered by this same grace? Will people in these decimated communities turn their backs on God and blame Him for the destruction? I don’t think so. As one woman explained today…”God has a plan.” If ever many of us had a reason to walk away from God, this might be it. And let’s be honest…when troubles and tragedy befall us, we often ask God, “Why?” We wonder “Why me? Why my family? Why this? What have I done to make God so angry?” The people of Vilonia, Arkansas, are asking, “Why two times in three years?” as they crawl out of the rubble of homes that they rebuilt after the 2011 tornado…only to lose them again on Sunday.
I don’t have good answers for why these things have happened. I don’t know why God allowed some to be injured or wiped out…or killed – and others were allowed to live. I do know it was not to punish them. And I do agree with the survivor who said that “God has a plan.” He will not waste these events. God will continually work in and through these days/weeks/years to bring about amazing results that further His Kingdom.
Come Sunday, I suspect that any church building in the area surrounding the communities affected by these tornadoes will be filled to brimming with worshippers. Those who lost their church facilities in the storm will find a place and a time to stop the cleanup efforts and come together to praise God for His love and care…and to seek His guidance as they move forward, rebuild and recover. And if people in this situation can gather to encourage each other and glorify God…surely those of us who are safe, warm, dry, fed, clothed, housed and comfortable can take a few hours out of our week to pray, sing, study, fellowship and feed on the word of God.
Here is yet another example of how God is working through a tragedy to demonstrate His love and care. He is using these tornado victims to encourage and uplift even those of us who are observing from afar. God is inspiring people across the nation to roll up their sleeves, open their wallets, and come together in His name and for His glory…to show the world at large that nothing can separate us from His love – that we will serve Him with whatever we have and however we can.
A tornado may take our home, our business…even our loved ones. But God is still with us. And in the days ahead, we will gather to help those in need…and to worship Him. Will you be among them? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2014
Ephesians 5:8-10
You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We were warned for days. Every forecaster talked about the serious tornado threat for our area – up to a week beforehand. The danger from impending tornadoes was the lead story on the national news broadcasts on Saturday evening…even though the storms were not expected for another 24 hours or so. I sat in church Sunday morning and prayed for safety for everyone in Arkansas. A line of thunderstorms with hail had come through earlier, and a soft rain fell. I asked, “LORD…who won’t be here this evening? What structures will be missing? Will our area be hit? Is this, quite literally, the ‘calm before the storm’?” It seemed surreal…and nebulous. “Maybe the storms will miss us,” we commented hopefully.
The storms did miss our community…but not those 40-50 miles to our south, with the cities of Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas, being hit the worst. Storm debris, photos and papers from these areas have even been found near my neighborhood. Lives have been taken. Homes are destroyed. The devastation defies description in a swath as much as a mile wide and spanning some 90 miles in distance. This massive, violent storm was on the ground for a long, long time. And worse yet, the tornado’s path was the same as one that emaciated much of this very area only three years ago. Some people lost their homes – or suffered thousands of dollars in damage – in 2011…and now those refurbished or reconstructed homes are gone once again. The death toll is 16…and climbing…as family and friends search for missing loved ones.
So today, as the sun tries to peek through the clouds and we step up out of our safe rooms and “hidey holes”…as we pull ourselves out of the murk and the darkness into the bright light of day and the truth of this horrific scene, we are left to ask a lot of questions…”WHY, LORD? And…WHY the same area once again? Why were two cities who have endured much hardship in recent years – including natural disasters and a man-made one – revisited with tragedy and incredible hardships? What on earth do we do now? Where do we turn?”
A couple of years ago, I watched incredible cable news footage of a tornado destroying homes in rural Oklahoma. A photographer aboard a nearby helicopter captured the horrific scene, and the news station aired it live. Once the storm passed, people began to emerge from underneath the rubble. Where only the foundations of houses remained, doors to “safe rooms” in the ground opened, and entire families stepped up and out into the light of day. They wandered…and stumbled…and appeared to be understandably dazed and confused. And many are in that same condition today.
I watched an interview this morning with one young father whose house is gone – for the second time in three years. He told the reporter, “We are still here by the grace of God.” I know it is easy for me to say this from a safe distance…but the hand of God is evident in this tragic event – even now. People are sharing harrowing stories of survival. Many who lost everything they own are thanking God for keeping them physically safe. Rescue and recovery efforts are organizing all over the state and nation. People are praying. And even in circumstances where loved ones have lost their lives, God is at work. These deaths will not be in vain. We cannot see it, but God is orchestrating the events of this storm – and its clean-up. He is touching the hearts and lives of all who observe this devastation, and people are pulling together in restoration efforts.
People are figuring out what to do to please Christ…even as they grieve and struggle. They are turning to Him for guidance as they stumble…because honestly, they don’t have a clue what to do of their own accord. And Jesus is answering. As we look to Him for wisdom and direction, He is walking with us. If we will prayerfully move forward, He will guide our steps. Our Heavenly Father will make sense of all of this for us in the daylight hours. He will show us what is good…right…true…and equip us to do these things!
Where is God in this tragedy? He is here…right smack dab in the middle of it! He is holding our hand, picking up a shovel and scooping debris, and orchestrating rescue and restoration efforts. He is soothing the broken hearts of the grieving, healing the injured, and touching the hearts and minds of His people. He is saying, “Step into the light of Christ. Walk with Him…and when you can’t put one foot in front of another, let Him carry you. We will get through this!”
Christ’s bright light is making the way plain. Have you come out of the darkness and found God? This is the day to get busy doing what is good, right, and true – even in the midst of this horrific, devastating storm…to figure out what will please Christ, and then do it! Are you with me?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We were warned for days. Every forecaster talked about the serious tornado threat for our area – up to a week beforehand. The danger from impending tornadoes was the lead story on the national news broadcasts on Saturday evening…even though the storms were not expected for another 24 hours or so. I sat in church Sunday morning and prayed for safety for everyone in Arkansas. A line of thunderstorms with hail had come through earlier, and a soft rain fell. I asked, “LORD…who won’t be here this evening? What structures will be missing? Will our area be hit? Is this, quite literally, the ‘calm before the storm’?” It seemed surreal…and nebulous. “Maybe the storms will miss us,” we commented hopefully.
The storms did miss our community…but not those 40-50 miles to our south, with the cities of Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas, being hit the worst. Storm debris, photos and papers from these areas have even been found near my neighborhood. Lives have been taken. Homes are destroyed. The devastation defies description in a swath as much as a mile wide and spanning some 90 miles in distance. This massive, violent storm was on the ground for a long, long time. And worse yet, the tornado’s path was the same as one that emaciated much of this very area only three years ago. Some people lost their homes – or suffered thousands of dollars in damage – in 2011…and now those refurbished or reconstructed homes are gone once again. The death toll is 16…and climbing…as family and friends search for missing loved ones.
So today, as the sun tries to peek through the clouds and we step up out of our safe rooms and “hidey holes”…as we pull ourselves out of the murk and the darkness into the bright light of day and the truth of this horrific scene, we are left to ask a lot of questions…”WHY, LORD? And…WHY the same area once again? Why were two cities who have endured much hardship in recent years – including natural disasters and a man-made one – revisited with tragedy and incredible hardships? What on earth do we do now? Where do we turn?”
A couple of years ago, I watched incredible cable news footage of a tornado destroying homes in rural Oklahoma. A photographer aboard a nearby helicopter captured the horrific scene, and the news station aired it live. Once the storm passed, people began to emerge from underneath the rubble. Where only the foundations of houses remained, doors to “safe rooms” in the ground opened, and entire families stepped up and out into the light of day. They wandered…and stumbled…and appeared to be understandably dazed and confused. And many are in that same condition today.
I watched an interview this morning with one young father whose house is gone – for the second time in three years. He told the reporter, “We are still here by the grace of God.” I know it is easy for me to say this from a safe distance…but the hand of God is evident in this tragic event – even now. People are sharing harrowing stories of survival. Many who lost everything they own are thanking God for keeping them physically safe. Rescue and recovery efforts are organizing all over the state and nation. People are praying. And even in circumstances where loved ones have lost their lives, God is at work. These deaths will not be in vain. We cannot see it, but God is orchestrating the events of this storm – and its clean-up. He is touching the hearts and lives of all who observe this devastation, and people are pulling together in restoration efforts.
People are figuring out what to do to please Christ…even as they grieve and struggle. They are turning to Him for guidance as they stumble…because honestly, they don’t have a clue what to do of their own accord. And Jesus is answering. As we look to Him for wisdom and direction, He is walking with us. If we will prayerfully move forward, He will guide our steps. Our Heavenly Father will make sense of all of this for us in the daylight hours. He will show us what is good…right…true…and equip us to do these things!
Where is God in this tragedy? He is here…right smack dab in the middle of it! He is holding our hand, picking up a shovel and scooping debris, and orchestrating rescue and restoration efforts. He is soothing the broken hearts of the grieving, healing the injured, and touching the hearts and minds of His people. He is saying, “Step into the light of Christ. Walk with Him…and when you can’t put one foot in front of another, let Him carry you. We will get through this!”
Christ’s bright light is making the way plain. Have you come out of the darkness and found God? This is the day to get busy doing what is good, right, and true – even in the midst of this horrific, devastating storm…to figure out what will please Christ, and then do it! Are you with me?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 28, 2014
Romans 12:9-13
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On a recent airing of the talk show “Katie”, host Katie Couric interviewed Marie Monville, the former wife of Charles Carl Roberts IV, who shot ten girls between the ages of 6 and 13 in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania,* on October 2, 2006. Five of these girls died before Roberts turned a gun on himself. Monville, who has remarried, wrote a book about the events surrounding this horrific day, and she spoke with Katie Couric about the tragedy and how people in her community reacted.
Marie and Charles Roberts lost their first child shortly after her birth, and Marie believes that “Charlie” never overcame this loss. On the day of the massacre, Charles Roberts left his wife a note (which she found later) and told her that he was sorry for what he was doing to her and their children. She saw no signs that Charlie might do something so heinous. She says that she had no warnings or clues prior to this terrible day.
This is a story that belies rational thinking. It’s hard to think about how a father could walk into a classroom and line little girls up against a chalkboard, bind them, and then systematically shoot them. It is unfathomable to imagine the grief that these girls’ families have endured…or the grief and shame of Charles Roberts’ own wife and children. And yet, something remarkable happened. The very day that this tragedy occurred, parents of some of the victims went to the home of Marie Roberts Monville’s parents - where she had taken refuge – and reached out to her.
They visited with Marie’s father…hugged him…cried with him. And they told him, “We forgive you…we support you…and we are here for you.” Within hours of the massacre, Marie Monville says that she stood in her parents’ kitchen looking out the window …and watched as her dad went out to meet with the Amish men who approached the house. She watched as they extended their arms and placed their hands on his shoulders. She said, “Their gestures told me everything that my heart wanted to hear…but never dreamt that we would – especially not so quickly afterward.
Monville said that the Amish men told her father that they forgave Charlie…that they were extending grace to all of the family… and they asked about Marie and the children. Monville noted that, “It was just shocking that they would be thinking of us in this time of tragedy in their lives.” Additionally, Monville recounted how these Amish families – including parents and family members of some of the victims - attended Charles Roberts’ funeral and formed a human shield between her family and the news media. Marie Monville and her family were able to enter the church without being photographed or questioned. It is against the religious beliefs of the Amish to be photographed, so these families created a “wall” of solidarity - with their backs to the barrage of media representatives - and guarded Marie Monville and her family. Marie said for these families to attend the funeral and put themselves in a place of protecting her and her family was more than she could comprehend.
Why did these families do such a compassionate and merciful thing? They told Marie Monville that when they went home at night, they had each other for solace. They knew that Marie had no one. Monville said, “It was startling to me that they were able to see into a very private place of real pain in my life in the midst of all of the pain that they were going through in their lives. I had never experienced love like that before. To experience the love that they truly have…and the compassion they are so quick to share…and the richness of the grace they offered…really changed my world.”
Can you imagine yourself being able to offer this sort of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to someone who directly – or by association – wounded you so deeply? What is our capacity for loving others…for offering them “the richness of grace” in Christ Jesus? Because you see, these people did not do this out of their own strength and resolve. They clearly operated out of the depths of their love for Jesus…out of His demonstrations of love for them and the forgiveness He offered each of us, even as He hung on a cross. This group of people exhibited Jesus Christ in action, as they set aside their own pain and suffering - or channeled these emotions into something positive and uplifting for someone else. And in doing so, they honored God…they gave witness to His tremendous capacity to love and forgive us…and they sent this message into the world at large.
Katie Couric told Marie Monville that she was truly moved by this story and the gestures of love and compassion that were exhibited in the face of such horrific tragedy. And it is a moving story. But the “take-away” for us should be that what these people did in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, is a powerful example of what we should do in our own little corner of the world – each and every day. I pray that you have not experienced a human tragedy of any kind…and certainly nothing that remotely compares to this horrific event! But each of us has “gone through stuff”…we have our own baggage – our own hurts, insults, challenges – and our own people to forgive and offer grace, mercy and compassion. If the folks of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, could do it…so can we.
Search your heart. See where you need to truly love others more deeply…to offer the richness of God’s grace and mercy…to show genuine compassion and sympathy to others’ plight. Learn to set aside your own feelings in order to meet the needs of God’s people…to help them to experience His healing and peace. Ask God to equip you with His strength, wisdom, generosity of spirit…and peace. I assure you, God will meet your own needs in the process.
In ways great and small, we are called on a daily basis to be God’s “human shield” of love, grace, and compassion for others. Are you listening…and will you answer?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://katiecouric.com/videos/the-amish-communitys-forgiveness-in-the-face-of-tragedy/
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On a recent airing of the talk show “Katie”, host Katie Couric interviewed Marie Monville, the former wife of Charles Carl Roberts IV, who shot ten girls between the ages of 6 and 13 in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania,* on October 2, 2006. Five of these girls died before Roberts turned a gun on himself. Monville, who has remarried, wrote a book about the events surrounding this horrific day, and she spoke with Katie Couric about the tragedy and how people in her community reacted.
Marie and Charles Roberts lost their first child shortly after her birth, and Marie believes that “Charlie” never overcame this loss. On the day of the massacre, Charles Roberts left his wife a note (which she found later) and told her that he was sorry for what he was doing to her and their children. She saw no signs that Charlie might do something so heinous. She says that she had no warnings or clues prior to this terrible day.
This is a story that belies rational thinking. It’s hard to think about how a father could walk into a classroom and line little girls up against a chalkboard, bind them, and then systematically shoot them. It is unfathomable to imagine the grief that these girls’ families have endured…or the grief and shame of Charles Roberts’ own wife and children. And yet, something remarkable happened. The very day that this tragedy occurred, parents of some of the victims went to the home of Marie Roberts Monville’s parents - where she had taken refuge – and reached out to her.
They visited with Marie’s father…hugged him…cried with him. And they told him, “We forgive you…we support you…and we are here for you.” Within hours of the massacre, Marie Monville says that she stood in her parents’ kitchen looking out the window …and watched as her dad went out to meet with the Amish men who approached the house. She watched as they extended their arms and placed their hands on his shoulders. She said, “Their gestures told me everything that my heart wanted to hear…but never dreamt that we would – especially not so quickly afterward.
Monville said that the Amish men told her father that they forgave Charlie…that they were extending grace to all of the family… and they asked about Marie and the children. Monville noted that, “It was just shocking that they would be thinking of us in this time of tragedy in their lives.” Additionally, Monville recounted how these Amish families – including parents and family members of some of the victims - attended Charles Roberts’ funeral and formed a human shield between her family and the news media. Marie Monville and her family were able to enter the church without being photographed or questioned. It is against the religious beliefs of the Amish to be photographed, so these families created a “wall” of solidarity - with their backs to the barrage of media representatives - and guarded Marie Monville and her family. Marie said for these families to attend the funeral and put themselves in a place of protecting her and her family was more than she could comprehend.
Why did these families do such a compassionate and merciful thing? They told Marie Monville that when they went home at night, they had each other for solace. They knew that Marie had no one. Monville said, “It was startling to me that they were able to see into a very private place of real pain in my life in the midst of all of the pain that they were going through in their lives. I had never experienced love like that before. To experience the love that they truly have…and the compassion they are so quick to share…and the richness of the grace they offered…really changed my world.”
Can you imagine yourself being able to offer this sort of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to someone who directly – or by association – wounded you so deeply? What is our capacity for loving others…for offering them “the richness of grace” in Christ Jesus? Because you see, these people did not do this out of their own strength and resolve. They clearly operated out of the depths of their love for Jesus…out of His demonstrations of love for them and the forgiveness He offered each of us, even as He hung on a cross. This group of people exhibited Jesus Christ in action, as they set aside their own pain and suffering - or channeled these emotions into something positive and uplifting for someone else. And in doing so, they honored God…they gave witness to His tremendous capacity to love and forgive us…and they sent this message into the world at large.
Katie Couric told Marie Monville that she was truly moved by this story and the gestures of love and compassion that were exhibited in the face of such horrific tragedy. And it is a moving story. But the “take-away” for us should be that what these people did in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, is a powerful example of what we should do in our own little corner of the world – each and every day. I pray that you have not experienced a human tragedy of any kind…and certainly nothing that remotely compares to this horrific event! But each of us has “gone through stuff”…we have our own baggage – our own hurts, insults, challenges – and our own people to forgive and offer grace, mercy and compassion. If the folks of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, could do it…so can we.
Search your heart. See where you need to truly love others more deeply…to offer the richness of God’s grace and mercy…to show genuine compassion and sympathy to others’ plight. Learn to set aside your own feelings in order to meet the needs of God’s people…to help them to experience His healing and peace. Ask God to equip you with His strength, wisdom, generosity of spirit…and peace. I assure you, God will meet your own needs in the process.
In ways great and small, we are called on a daily basis to be God’s “human shield” of love, grace, and compassion for others. Are you listening…and will you answer?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://katiecouric.com/videos/the-amish-communitys-forgiveness-in-the-face-of-tragedy/
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