It was three years ago that the monstrous details of the Sandy Hook shooting left a first grade classroom in Connecticut and poured into our homes. The age of the victims, the fact that I had just given birth and buried a close friend just put me over the edge. I remember crying as I drove to church that Sunday; unable to pull myself together. It was then that I decided that I needed to put limits on my knowledge of current events, so the TV stayed off after that.
“Do not fret because of
those who are evil…
Do not fret – it only causes
harm.”
Psalm 37:1,8
“And
do not fear those who kill the body,
but
cannot kill the soul…”
Matthew
28:10
"The
most loving human to ever walk the
planet
didn't say yes to everyone
and
at times had to leave the crowds behind.
And
do you think that Jesus didn't have a lot to do?
You
try being the Savior of the world. Oh, wait!
That's
part of the problem, isn't it?
Some
of us are trying to be a savior,
and
that is why we are so busy.
We
are trying to be someone we are not."
-Doug Fields
 |
| Putting a ribbon on the tree for #sandyhook . So every year we remember to pray for the families & community of #newtown . |
My friend Mindy felt led to make a reminder to keep the
Sandy Hook tragedy in prayer each year by making a special ornament for her
Christmas tree. She inspirers me with
her servant’s heart.
We move on after these tragedies, but prayers are still needed years later. Do you pray for the families forever impacted beyond the day you hear about them?
The scene of the Amish Schoolhouse shooting is just down the road from where I live. My errands and journeys take me through Nickel Mines at least once a week. While the world may forget what happened there, the people of my community will always remember.
I recently had the opportunity to hear Marie Monville speak at a Ladies Christmas Brunch. The name is likely not familiar to you; but she is the widow of the man responsible for the evil of that October day. The date of the brunch fell on my birthday and I hesitated to go for fear of reliving the details of nine years ago. But I felt the Lord wanted me there, so I signed up to attend.
I couldn't put into words why it was good to stand in the light of this forgotten woman, until I was driving home and saw this church sign.
Food to feed our doubts is easily accessible. However, the nourishment that our faith is starving for mush be eagerly sought after if we are to thrive in this sin cursed world.
Many have a soapbox and an agenda after a mass shooting. Fingers are pointed, laws are proposed and hatred seems to multiply. Everyone has an opinion but few can see the whole picture and see the hand of God in it all.
Five years after her world was turned upside down, Marie realized the importance of sharing her story with the world. She is letting her light shine after Satan seemed to do everything to blow it out.
-Marie Monville
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We move on after these tragedies, but prayers are still needed years later. Do you pray for the families forever impacted beyond the day you hear about them?
The scene of the Amish Schoolhouse shooting is just down the road from where I live. My errands and journeys take me through Nickel Mines at least once a week. While the world may forget what happened there, the people of my community will always remember.
I recently had the opportunity to hear Marie Monville speak at a Ladies Christmas Brunch. The name is likely not familiar to you; but she is the widow of the man responsible for the evil of that October day. The date of the brunch fell on my birthday and I hesitated to go for fear of reliving the details of nine years ago. But I felt the Lord wanted me there, so I signed up to attend.
I couldn't put into words why it was good to stand in the light of this forgotten woman, until I was driving home and saw this church sign.
Food to feed our doubts is easily accessible. However, the nourishment that our faith is starving for mush be eagerly sought after if we are to thrive in this sin cursed world.
Many have a soapbox and an agenda after a mass shooting. Fingers are pointed, laws are proposed and hatred seems to multiply. Everyone has an opinion but few can see the whole picture and see the hand of God in it all.
Five years after her world was turned upside down, Marie realized the importance of sharing her story with the world. She is letting her light shine after Satan seemed to do everything to blow it out.
"No
matter how tragic your circumstances,
your
life is not a tragedy.
It
is a love story.
And
in your love story,
when
you think all the lights have gone out,
one
light still shines."
-Marie Monville
 |
| Despite all that has happened to Marie she never blames the weapon found in the hand but the evil found in the heart. The promise of redemption is the theme of her life. |
Not only does she speak publically but has written a book
entitled “One Light Still Shines”. I
picked up a copy for myself and already have several sentences of encouragement
underlined. This woman has many reasons
to be forever broken and defeated yet her God is there to freely give
redemption and restoration that only He can provide.
Marie shares how she has found “grace in the wilderness”
(Jeremiah 31:2). Her circumstances have
given her the eyes to see losses in the lives of others and the capacity to speak life
and joy. The promise of
redemption is now her theme as she moves forward with the plans the Lord has
for her (Jeremiah 29:11) .
I am challenged to continue my walk with the Lord and the
plans he has for me after learning more about the last chapters of this story that first unfolded nine years ago. May my path be lit by the lamp of God's Word and not by the glow of the of a TV screen with news from around the world.
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