how do we respond to tragedy?

How do we respond to tragedy? Be careful how you answer that because we are not always sure how we will respond.

In this e-devotion closing out the week I challenge us to look at how we respond to tragedy and horrific happenings that are close to us and those that are far from us, those that touch our lives and those that seem to be of no impact on us.

We are thousands of miles from Uvalde, Texas where a teenager with a gun killed so many elementary students and a few adults this week. We live thousands and thousands of miles from Ukraine where fighting continues.

Yet I was less than one mile from the hotel that recently exploded due to a gas leak in Cuba. I was close by when a friend’s daughter passed away a few months ago and one of the first people at their home.

And the list goes on and on. Some tragedies we are close to and some we are not. But wait… some people are close to all places where bad things happen. I mean close. That is where Jesus comes in. Remember this:

Matthew 14:14 NLT

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Like Jesus did, have compassion for and on the people who are close to and touched by the most difficult things that happen in life. Be careful when you are far off or when it feels like nothing can touch your life.

We really are only seconds from something happening right where we are. I pray that is not the case, but there is someone, someone you know, that is gong through something today or tomorrow that will change their lives. Be compassionate toward others.

Psalm 86:1 NLT

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.

Pray for those in need and pray much. Whatever happened, whether death is around or pain and heartache, prayer is always the right things to do. Prayer takes us to the one who can make a difference. Prayer often changes the ones who are praying. Prayer is our acknowledgement that we need God.

Deuteronomy 1:29-30 NLT

“But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! 30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.

Don’t be shocked by tragedy when it comes. All of us have been through things that we don’t expect, don’t want in our lives or really don’t know how to deal with. Don’t be shocked. Know that not only is God with you, but our faithful God has gone before us. he will get us through whatever is going on.

This week there has been several things that have come in to my life. The report on Southern Baptist sexual abuse hurt my heart. The death of a college friend’s daughter broke my heart. The horrible shooting at Rob Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas tore up my stomach and my heart. A couple who used to live in our area that lost a baby recently, are dealing with health issues and struggling financially hurts my heart as well.

All of those are tough. How will we respond when tragedy hits close to us or far from us?

Have compassion on people. Pray to God. Don’t shocked and live by faith. That seems to be a great response when tragedy happens.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation. We come to Friday. The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good? Jesus was treated as a criminal. He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him. His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure. That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the Passion of the Christ . Yet it is a good day. It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart. What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me: He is Redemption and Redeemer He too our Pain and Punishment He is our Righteousness and Reality He is the Savior and Life All of those happened from the cross. It was meant for the worst lawbreakers. It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law. It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus. Look

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba. Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve. Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba. There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met. No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more. These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana. On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours. We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours. We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good. We visited two partner churches. In the morning we were with one church that

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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