Tragedy--where to look

I woke up this morning and was immediately burdened again after sleep with what transpired in Newtown, CT yesterday. I think of the families who lost a loved one...a precious child or an innocent adult. Their hearts have only just begun to ache as the reality of the loss sets in. I think of the children who survived who witnessed such a terrifying evil act of murder of innocence. The fear they have has only just begun to settle in over them. I think of the first responders....what they had to witness and deal with and how they're now just beginning to put the pieces together. BUT! It is not enough to "think" of them. It's not enough to keep them in our "thoughts" or to emptily say they're in our prayers. I must....we must....cry out to God for mercy and grace. He so richly provides it. I pray for God to bring comfort to the families. I pray that they will feel a closeness to Him and a peace from Him that is beyond any human explanation...He WILL do that! I pray for the precious children who survived that they will discover an everlasting Heavenly Father who is the ultimate protector. I pray for all the families that they will seek God in new ways like never before. The Light is there wanting to respond. Because of Jesus Christ, we have hope. This broken world is not all their is and not what He wants for us. In the Bible, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are full of Jesus words about His redemption. That redemption most demonstrated through His death and resurrection. He has overcome death! In John 16:33 He says "In this world you will have trouble. but take heart! I have overcome the world." That is where peace and redemption and security lies. It lies with Him...in a personal relationship with Him. We can not look to government and politicians for the answers or the solution. This is not about weapons. This is about the condition of the heart. Broken. Shattered. Evil. Legislation/Regulation can't solve that. Only a loving God who longs for relationship with us through His Son Jesus can solve this. The answers aren't found in gun laws, the answers aren't found in legislation, or false security that a secular government will attempt to offer its citizens. The answers lie in a loving God who loves our broken world and sent His Son to redeem it. All we have to do is embrace Him. My prayer for these families in CT is that they'll do just that. I pray for the Godly men and women in their midst, that they'll come along side those hurting and minister to them. I pray for the first responders that they'll be able to put the pieces together to allow for closure for these families. But the real closure comes in Eternity. An Eternity promised by a loving and just God.

fearfully and wonderfully made

Last week at the church I've been visiting, the pastor mentioned Psalm 139:14 about praising God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. This mention of the verse was not even a main point of his sermon, but I was so struck by it. God spoke to me and reminded me that I AM fearfully and wonderfully made. Move over insecurity and self doubt!! Julie is fearfully and wonderfully made by the Most High God!
Portions of Psalm 139 say:
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.,,,,,,,
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
the whole passage can be found here http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20139&version=31
There is great freedom from insecurity to be had in the dwelling of this truth. God knit me together. He formed my inmost being. I am who I am because He made me. Note: this isn't an easy excuse to all my sins and faults and shortcomings. But yet, when I look in the mirror, when I think about my personality, my sense of humor, my character, instead of being insecure about being accepted or worthy to those around me, I must remember that I am uniquely made by God. All the things that are inherent in who I am are because God made me to be those things. Unique but yet in His image.
When I'm full of self doubt about my talents, my looks, my attractiveness to a man, my ability to make and keep friends, I am reminded that God made me. And He made me for Him. He made me to bring glory to Him. Now, what can I do with that information to be kinder to those around me, put myself out there more to make friends, give extra attention to someone who needs it, not have to experience the negativeness of rejection and/or just being all that He made me to be?!
What will you do different if you live in the truth that God knit your inmost being and that He's ordained all of your days?