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be hope


Psalm 33:20  NLT
We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.

I grieve for those who are going through terror and loss.  We can make political statements forever about guns, evil in the world and laws, but the best thing we can do is to intercede and pray as well as offer hope and help.

Last night as our back2school planning meeting began word came through news outlets of a shooting on a college campus in North Carolina only a few hours from us. My heart seemed to fall, but we moved forward.  When I got home, I started reading reports and seeing the posts of those who live in area. Again, my heart fell and prayers continued.

There are few answers for such horrific happenings.  Lives were lost and others are in need of healing from the senseless act of one person.  Yesterday I opened the newsletter from my missionary friend who is now in Sri Lanka serving in the wake of the Easter Bombings.  He shared some pictures and stories of hope in the middle of great sorrow for the church and all those touched by the pain.

Proverbs 3:25-26  NASB
Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will beyour confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.

Don’t be surprised and do not fear, God says. That is tough.  When someone I love is close by, why not be afraid?  We must pray for all those hit by the evil in this world and especially for those in the military and other places where bad things seem to happen.

God says that He will be our confidence. Even when I am touched by grief and pain, God is still with us and is our confidence.

How will we respond?  Point people to God.  He is our “hope and shield”.  Hope speaks to what stands the tallest when life is at it’s ugliest and when answers are far away.  Shield speaks of protection and providing for our needs.

That is God.  Walk in to life and share hope.  Walk and know that God is your shield.  He will continue to give us confidence when we need it AND before we need it.

Be hope for those you meet.  Pray that God meets needs and allows you to see hope come alive in others!
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