I Remember

What were you doing 6 years ago today? I was on maternity leave with a 3 week old baby boy. I was trying not to watch television that morning, thinking I should be resting, trying to master breast feeding or doing my bible study. I happened to switch on the T.V. after breastfeeding didn't go so well & Dan Rather was fumbling through an explanation as to why this plane just hit the World Trade Center. I thought it was a movie trailer, seriously I did. On our big screen it looked fake, like a digital movie effect or something. As I watched on holding lil' j boy reality washed over me in waves. Then the 2nd plane crashed into the 2nd tower. It was at that point I freaked. I tried to call big j & could not get through. Once I did he had not heard anything. I screamed into the phone for him to come home. All I knew is I wanted him home for the ending of our world. 'Cause that's what I thought, this was "it", you know that "it"...the end for our world as we knew it. I cried. I prayed. I sat glued to my television for the next 5 days.
I felt so isolated from my family as we lived at the southern most coast from home states. I just wanted to be with them, see them again. It was an awful time for me, however I kept seeing/hearing about the people in the building & the families that lost someone that day. I realized their pain was a million times worse & would never be gone. A few of my unbelieving friends wanted to debate me about the Lord & how He could allow this happen.
Believing friends had similar thoughts as well. I went through a similar situation after the bombing in OKC. I lived in TX at the time & I actually had a parent of one of my student's who was scheduled to be at the building that was bombed that day?! His scheduled was changed during his drive to OKC that morning which leads me to the following letter...

WHERE WAS GOD?
How many of us have heard that question, "Where was your God when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked?" Well, I know where my God was the morning of September 11, 2001, and He was very busy.
He was trying to discourage anyone from taking these flights. Those four flights held over 1000 passengers and there were only 266 aboard. On one of the flights he was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the hijackers.
He was on four commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who were called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background.
On one of the flights he was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the hijackers.
He was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all, only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings held over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the World Trade Center told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays.
He was holding up two 110 story buildings so that two-thirds of the workers could get out. I was so amazed that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted. And when they did fall, they fell inward. God didn't allow them to topple over, as many more lives would have been lost.
And when the buildings went down, my God picked up almost 6,000 of his children and carried them home with him. Reassuring his frightened children that the worst was over and the best was yet to come.
He sat down and cried that 19 of his children could have so much hate in their hearts. That they didn't choose him, and now they are lost forever.
He sent his children that are best trained for this disaster and had them save the few that were still alive, but unable to help themselves. And then sent many others to help in any way they were needed.
He still isn't finished though, He held the loved ones that were left behind in His arms. He comforts them daily. His other children are given the strength to reach out to them and help them in any way they can.
And I believe He will continue to help us in what is to come. He will give the people in charge of this great nation the strength and the wisdom to do the right thing. He would never leave us in our time of need.
So, when anyone asks, "Where was your God on September 11th?", you can say "Everywhere!" And yes, although this is without a doubt the worst thing I have seen in my life, I see God's miracles in every bit of it.

Fear—it seems to be everywhere. We were warned that in the last days, people’s hearts will fail them because of fear. But God’s people are to be courageous because we have not been given the spirit of fear but of a sound mind. On this anniversary of 9/11 fear not. He’s watching. You are valuable to Him. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
Jesus assures us that nothing happens without God’s permission and awareness. Although very insignificant, no sparrow cheeps its last, no hair follicle quits producing, until God gives His personal okay. No need to fear today, tomorrow, trouble, or trauma. God who counts sparrows and hair, paid a great price for you. He keeps an eye on everything, but especially His investments and He has a lot invested in you.

And you? How much are you worth to God? What price did He pay for you? His Life.
For more, see Matthew 10