September 11th

Psalm 85:9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land...

Tomorrow is a very important day for us to remember...

Our country is so blessed to have so much materialistic things, but our hearts are far from God.

I will never forget where I was and what I was doing the day the towers fell...

It was my first year teaching at TCS and it was a hot, sunny day. I was in the front of the classroom reading a novel to the class during our free time when Mrs. Martin, our Elementary principal, knocked on my door and waved for me to come out to the hallway. I thought nothing of it since it was only the second week of school and we were all still adjusting to the routine, I just figured she had forms for me to pass out or a message to give to a student. But that was not it. She said very bluntly, Kristi, the towers in NY have been attacked, they believe it to be terrorists, some parents may be coming to pick up students early.

Whoa...this was not news I could share with third graders, and my mind kept racing to think about John. John worked in the financial district in the city...was that near the towers? I didn't know but I was very worried. I couldn't wait for lunch break to begin so that I could call him on my cell phone.

At lunch time I tried John's cell but it was not in service. I started to panic. I really felt our Superintendent should've just cancelled school that day. Many of our students were picked up well before 3:05...everyone just wanted their family close, and I didn't blame them. Once I got home I was able to reach John's parents. They said he and Laurie (John's sister Laurie was a trader at that time and worked rather close to John's office) met up and had to walk over the Brooklyn bridge to get out of the city...that was the only way, and that was a long walk, they stayed with their grandparents that night. It wasn't until the next day that I finally got to talk to John.

He was so shaken up about it. It was so scary he said. People were crying and panicking. There were many who walked over the bridge that day since transportation was pretty much halted, and fighter planes were flying overhead and John was so nervous that more buildings would be attacked.

Little did I know that God was using this time to woo John closer to Himself. I didn't know that John would soon give his heart and life over to Jesus come January. I didn't know that that June he would then propose to me. God used something as horrible as 9/11 to rock John's foundation and show him that it was a deep relationship with His Son Jesus was all that he needed and what was missing. I didn't know that John would then leave his job in NY and open up a martial arts school in Old Bridge....God is just so amazing...he can make a horrible situation and use it for His glory. God is in the business of making all things new.

A few months after 9/11 my whole family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins came over to my parents house for a New Year' s celebration and John was invited. He was amazed to see that everyone brought their Bibles and that all of us, young and old were just sitting around and sharing what God was teaching us and doing in our lives. It was my uncle Mark who led our Bible study that night and he said, "You are awfully quiet John, what has God been teaching you?" Leave it to good old Uncle Mark (my favorite uncle, and the reason why we named our son after him) to put John on the spot.

To my surprise John began sharing how 9/11 really opened his eyes and his heart towards God...9/11 began his journey and walk with the Lord.

God thank you for using crumbled buildings to restore a relationship with your people. Thank you for flooding our church that Sunday with people searching, and broken, and open for you.

Lord help us never to forget the men and women who lost their lives saving others in those towers. Help us to never forget the men and women who died on 9/11 who were fathers, and mothers, and sisters, and sons...going about their day not knowing it would be their last. And Lord help us to always remember how you gave your life for us so that we could be saved. Help us to honor you with each day you give us because we know that our days too are numbered.

Revelation 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new..."