It was a year ago this morning that I was sitting in the video production room with another dude working and listening to his rescue squad radio. Strange calls were going out. It was on a frequency or channel that we would not regularly hear from. Before long we saw on the news that something terrible was taking place just 60 miles from where we were sitting. What unfolded that morning has left scars on many, many lives.
The phone began to ring and e-mails started being sent. We had several friends and family members on the campus at Virginia Tech where over 30 people had been killed. The nation was drawn to that campus and the blood shed that one student caused. Things would never be the same. (I will post a video or a link to a video on my blog today @ http://www.e-devotion.blogspot.com/)
Proverbs 3:25 (nlt) --- Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
Bad things are going to happen. They have happened all my life. Some come through accident or by nature, but those that hurt us the most are often those caused by someone taking lives in a harsh and dreadful way.
One of the stories that rocked my world is about church planter Doug Short. He had been called months before to plant a church near or on the university campus. God planned this bigger than Doug or others could have. After the sale of his home in Maryland, Doug arrived the same day as the shooting and began ministry. His words, "God has a plan...and He is a God of hope." The ministry that came out of the horror of that day is awesome.
Are we ready to minister to people around us or around the world when tragedy hits? It could be the horror of a hurricane, of a home burning or of death, many or just a few. What we will do? God is at work.
I challenge you as you remember Virginia Tech and the events of April 16, 2007 that you pray for all who were in involved: families of those killed, students and staff who were on the campus, emergency workers who responded (like my friend Deputy Patrick Hobbs) and others.
Colossians 1:11 (nlt) --- We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
Psalm 86:16 (nlt) --- Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant;save me, the son of your servant.
2 Corinthians 1:4 (nlt) --- He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
Even in times like that, God is at work. Lets learn to minister, to pray and to expect God to use the good and bad to change lives, forever changed for Him!
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