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DO IT AGAIN, LORD America Prays Sept. 15, 2001 Dear
Lord, We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a
sleepy eye and think, "What a horrible dream."
But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a
dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our
fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we
are sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor
who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is
minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and
Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in
those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our
innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we
should have known better. But we didn't.
And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg
you for it.
We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, "Do it again, Lord. Do it again." Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You
can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.
Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their
children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it
again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard
them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The
women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of
Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it
again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's
counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an
apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading
armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We
need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we
saw here last Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence
slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil
dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your
Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was
pierced.
And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind
a rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver.
After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and
turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again,
Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity.
Disaster has done what discussions could not. Doctrinal fences have
fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have
been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours
of unity.
And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy
sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however,
that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can
do.
Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and
their families.
Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe. And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years
you've used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.Bob
Simons For I know the plans I have for you," declares the
LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11 [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
