Praying for the victims of the Parkland Mass shooting in Florida

When Death Comes...

DEATH    When it comes, we are reminded of another world; one we pay very little attention to – the spiritual world. It exists! The place to which our loved one departed. Now we’re all alone. People around us, yes, but we can’t help but feeling all alone. We miss you. How will we live without you? You were part of our world. Love you, hate you, can’t stand you, must have you…We miss you. Now you are gone. Where to? How can you do this to us? Why did you have to go like this? A range of emotions we feel at this time. We wish you were still here. We feel lost without you.

Whether by natural causes or sudden death, our loved one was taken away. We cannot touch you anymore. Can’t laugh with you, play with you, call you, text you, not even to argue with you. How we wish we could have one more minute together. There was something else we had to say to you..

Still, the sovereign God knows best. We must believe that. He saw fit that this moment be allowed. “It is appointed unto man to die once, then comes a judgment” (Hebrews 9:27), He says. Your time was up. Hope to see you...to spend more time with you, in eternal peace, not damnation. Heaven or hell? The life you lived and the life we are living on this side will determine that. God closes the books on a life as appointed and its length determined  by Him. Be merciful God. Give us the strength to deal with this mountain. What will our response be to the offender? 

Now, we look to God. Our help comes from Him (Psalm 121: 1-2). We look to God now for a safe space; You are our Refuge and Strength (Psalm 46:1) in this troubling time. When this our world is falling apart, we will laugh at the world with tears in our eyes knowing this is really happening. For even though the earth around us is giving way and though it seems like the waters of the sea are rising above our heads, as if we are about to go under… we will take comfort in knowing that You (God) shall help; You will speak, and this mountain will be moved. You are in our midst. We shall not be moved by this! We will be still, knowing that you are God and that you will be exalted (Psalm 46).

Wrap us up in your presence with your comforting words. Stretch out your strong arms over our grieving houses. Bless us with your presence. We give you thanks as this is your permissive will towards us. You are our God, and we are your people. Show yourself strong at this time. Give us your peace. Your kingdom come. Amen.

See a NYT's news story of today's mass shooting here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/us/parkland-school-shooting.html

Pastor Kevin A. Hall (02.14.18)

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