Brown's Daily Word 9-11-09

Good morning,
Today is the 8th anniversary of 9/11. Many of us have very vivid memories of that beautiful morning with a clear-as-crystal sky. Most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when the first news of the horrific attacks came to us. That day, demonic minds conspired to carry out the diabolic attack on innocent people, causing so much tragedy and destruction. The pictures coming out of lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center used to be, brought home a vivid picture from the pages of Scripture. The pictures, which vividly brought to mind the total devastation of a war zone, caused my mind to flash to Ezekiel's valley of dry bones.
Many commentators believe Ezekiel's valley of dry bones to have been the site of a great battle, where many died. It was probably the site of a great defeat for the armies of Israel, and a sign of great devastation and loss. It was a place the Israelites would know and remember. Who among us could look at a valley of dry bones and not be moved? Who among us could look at a war zone and not be moved? Who among us could look at the destruction in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania and not be moved? These are the sites of one of the greatest acts of cowardice and evil that the world has ever known. When Ezekiel looked across the valley of dry bones God spoke to him, "Mortal can these bones live?" Ezekiel, knowing the power of God, replied, "If you say so." God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. When he did, the bones started to come together. Then they became covered with muscle and skin. When Ezekiel prophesied to the breath, to the Spirit, to make the bones come alive, and they did. The bones lived. God took a huge pile of old dried bones and brought them to life.
God, speaking to Ezekiel in this vision, was saying to Israel, "The devastation may be all around you, but I hear your cries. I know your pain. I know what you are feeling. Yet, I know this Israel will live again. I will breathe the breath of life back into Israel and you will know that I am God and I live among you."
I believe that God says the same thing to us today. I believe that God sees the devastation that is around us. I believe God hears our cries and knows our pain. God knows how we feel. I believe God cries with us and God hurts with us. God is alive. God is here among us. God is in New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, and wherever there are people who are hurting from this great tragedy. God is at work in so many ways in this great tragedy, working in all our lives to bring hope, healing, and wholeness.
Ezekiel's valley of dry bones was the story of hope for Israel. Yet, some three thousand years later, I see in this story hope once again, this time hope for a hurting land, coming out from under a tragedy of terror and destruction. I see Jesus the Risen Christ, the Prince of Peace at work. I see the Love of Jesus, around us. I know that wherever Jesus is at work and wherever His love can be found, we can also find hope.
"How could this happen?" seems to be the question of the day. The most simple and best answer is that the hearts of men are evil. Evil will not go away as long as people are on the earth. As long as people inhabit the earth they will find ways to bring terror and destruction on others, whether they find it in the pages of a great novel or the creativity of their own minds. Evil will always exist this side of heaven, but as long as the Risen Saviour at work here on the earth filling us with love and grace, there will be hope for us.. He turns our mourning in to dancing.
He calls us to Him. He draws His own in to His everlasting arms.
In Him,
Brown
Psalm 46: 1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jEXDPzqo2g

"We wanted to pass along an update regarding my dad and ask for your prayers for our family. If you have access to any prayer chains, we would also appreciate it if you would add my dad, Ron Thomas, to that list. He has been battling prostate cancer for 3 years and without a miracle he is nearing the end of his earthly life. He is accepting of God's plan but it has been a very difficult past few months, weeks, and days. I flew to be with them today and will be here as long as necessary. Your prayers are very much appreciated. " Lisa.