Thoughts from Max Lucado
Posted by: stampinbookworm <stampinbookworm@...>
To: RUBBERSTAMPERS@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM <RUBBERSTAMPERS@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM>
Subject: Re: [RS] TAN: FW: Religious thoughts on 09/11 tragedy
Date: Friday, September 21, 2001 10:16 AM
Nicki said it so well in her opening yesterday that I repeat this in her
words for what I'm sending.
This was forwarded to me from my sister. It was written by Max Lucado who
has written several religous books. I'm passing it on, but reading it did
bring me a little hope, and tears to my eyes.
Please do not continue reading if you are offended by material containing
references to God.
Do It Again, Lord
(By Max Lucado, Sept. 15, 2001, http://www.injoy.com)
"Dear Lord,
We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a
sleepy eye and think, "What a horrible dream."
But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes DID
gouge towers. Flames DID consume our fortress. People DID perish. It
was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who
will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is
minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and
Dana, Dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in
those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is
buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known
better. But we didn't.
And so we come to You. We don't ask You for help; we beg You for it.
We don't request it; we implore it. We know what You can do. We've
read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, "Do it
again, Lord. Do it again."
Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for
us. Do it again, Lord.
Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the
angel of death. We have children too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his
fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their
hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do
it again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took
Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of You,
David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord,
for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders.
Do it again, Dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what You did at Calvary. What we saw here last
Tuesday, You saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness
murdered. Mothers weeping. evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed
our morning, so the darkness fell on Your Son. Just as our towers were
shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
But You did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in
a dark hole, You rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the
darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us
a September Easter.
We thank You, Dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are
praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin
colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you
for these hours of unity.
And we thank You for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring
us to our knees and succeeded. he had no idea, however, that we would
kneel before You. And he has no idea what You can do.
Let Your Mercy be upon our President, Vice-President, and their
families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and
experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the
wounded who remain. Give us Grace that we might forgive and faith that
we might believe.
And look kindly upon Your Church. For two thousand years You've Used
her to heal a hurting world.
Please, Do it again, O Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen."
Max Lucado, Sept. 15, 2001
Thought you'd all enjoy this one. I received this from another christian on one of my stamping lists. It brought tears to my eyes.
Vaughnde Edwards
Missoula, Montana
Praise the Lord, He is Risen Indeed!!