That Awful Day

This September there is a white elephant in the room every time I see the date. 1 September 2011, 2 September 2011, 3 September 2011, the ten year anniversary (anniversary suggests something you want to remember, I'd like to make a new word for bad 'anniversaries') of the terrorist attacks in New York on 11 September 2001.
I am someone who struggles to remember what I did last weekend let alone ten years ago but everyone old enough to remember has what they were doing that day etched into their memories for life. I remember coming home to my Mum watching it on the TV and seeing the second tower fall. I think I watched the News for the rest of the day, shocked by what was transpiring in front of me.

This week there are stories from survivor and eyewitnesses on the day and it is very harrowing and tragedy like this happening to innocent victims makes me want to cry. I hope it never happens again.

Events like this are what make many people sit up and ask 'Where is God in this?' 'Where was He?'.
In the emotion of the occasion we forget that terrible things happen every day, and just because it is all over the news doesn't make it any worse than the thousands dying of starvation in Somalia or the man who murdered people in that Labour Party Camp in Sweden.

Bad things happen, different people have differing views on what is bad and only one opinion can truly carry authority, that of a true Higher Power. God. In the Bible, it is clear that bad things began to happen when sin came into the world, when Adam & Eve corrupted the world by disobeying God's only instruction in the Garden of Eden.

This world is broken and it wasn't God's fault. God went on to pay the price for sin and offer us a new life in Heaven when we die. No more tears, no more pain.

I am comforted by the book of Job, when God responds to Job basically telling him that he knows so little about the workings of this world. God is in control because He is the only One who knows the beginning from the end.

I am comforted by knowing that there IS justice. When those bombers hit the Towers and died, they didn't meet a God who wanted to congratulate them like Bin Laden told them they would (if it was so great, why didn't Osama do it?). They met a God who burns with anger at the sight of evil, that punishes all sin that isn't forgiven. God is Just and they got exactly what they deserved.

Thinking about where God was in this, I saw an touching article on the BBC the other day written by a man called Artie Van Why.

This is something he said in that article:- (which you can read here)

"I don't believe I had witnessed the wrath of anyone's God that morning. What I had been a witness to when I looked up at those burning towers was the ultimate evil that man is capable of. The evidence of just how deep hatred could run, how far it could go. But I had also been a witness to something else that day - down on the ground. I witnessed the ultimate goodness of man, the evidence of how strong courage could be, to what lengths it would go. I believe God was in the hands of everyone who reached out to someone else. He was in the arms of people on the streets as they embraced one another. He was in the tears of strangers who cried together. He was in all the lives that were given in the line of duty, in the acts of heroism. He was in the hearts of the people across the country who, as they watched the horror from afar, felt compassion."

I found this very comforting as well, that God is always at work in every situation. As Romans 8:28 boldy states -

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Look above

When times are good,
when times are bad,
when times are joyous
and when times are sad.

When crisis comes,
and crisis goes,
when you meet great people,
and when great people go,

God is Great,
God is Good,
God Knows best,
God is in control.

Sometimes I have times where I really wonder what God is up to, when is He going to act and change things that I don't like in my life or in the world...the answer is that He will. He will in His own time and in His own way. One day we shall look back and laugh at our doubts and wonder why we ever doubted. One day we'll be in Heaven, where history doesn't matter any more because our history is full of sin and mistakes and where we can enjoy everything as God created us to do so. To enjoy Him, to enjoy our brothers & sisters, to enjoy a perfect new world...forever.

God Bless everyone tonight.

Long time no write!

In the whirlwind of consistently writing the blog, I had never thought that I would go this long without writing but here I am, almost a month after my last post.

My excuse is exams! I thought I could keep writing but all of that revision caught up on me and I went a few days without posting. I then realised that I was probably better off saving the time that it takes to write the blog as I was getting very tired from revising and needed to focus my energy on that more and more as I approached the exams.

So the exams...started off brilliantly, first two exams whizzed through. The third was tough but I expected it and felt positive that I had done enough. Today's one...well the less said about it the better, the topics that were examined hit me for six but I may have done enough to pass although I feel a less confident than the third!

Now they are over I have my social life back and can begin preparing properly for the half marathon in September I have a few thank you's...

First of all to God, these exams were very hard and it is so much easier when you have God because when you doubt your ability, He reminds you that He made you. When you doubt whether it is possible, He reminds you that anything is possible. When you run out of energy and feel you cannot take no more, He gives you strength and asks you to lean on Him.

I have to admit I have been feeling pretty upset about the exam today, I worked quite hard for it and really wanted to do well and it didn't go to plan. But I know that God will comfort me (He has already begun this work to be honest!) and that any failures will only become part of His Greater Plan.

Secondly, to all of my friends and family and Church family who have prayed for me and encouraged me these last few weeks. It is much appreciated and you just don't know how much of an impact God has made. Thank you so much :)

Lastly, to a special friend of mine who knows who she is who has been extra supportive during this period, God did enough to get me through this but He used you especially and I am glad I didn't have to go through it without your support. Thank you amigo-enredado!

I guess the message of this post is to never give up, to give your best because God is right with you and He will make great things happen and will get you through it...pass or fail :)

John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”