Hello World,

It has almost been a full week since 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer unleashed deadly bullets in his writing class at Umpqua Community College in Oregon where he killed nine people and wounded others. Not only did he target the writing class, he added an additional qualifier as he shot those who professed to be Christians in the head, reportedly saying, “Good, because you’re a Christian, you’re going to see God in just about one second,” according to CNN. Those who did not were shot in other parts of their bodies, according to People magazine. Almost seven days later, the actions of Harper-Mercer, who also turned the gun on himself, don’t make any sense. Actually, they make less sense considering what been discovered in the days since this horrific mass shooting. This troubled young man had SIX guns on him but had access to EIGHT more guns at his apartment where he lived with his mother, according to CBS News.  ALL of the guns were legally bought, The Huffington Post has reported.

Why would any one person have 14 guns? How does that even make sense? It is not right for any one person to be able to stockpile weaponry. How many mass shootings will it take before our leaders put partisan politics aside and respect the sanctity of life and death and make gun laws that at least curb if not stop mass shootings altogether?

While I cannot make sense of it all, from the gun laws, to mass shootings, to our politicians’ lack of action, I am thankful that we can turn to the Bible for comfort…Below are seven scriptures that I hope will comfort all who have been affected by these senseless mass shootings…

1. “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.  Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.” Psalm 6:6-9…There are times when all we can do is cry and pray, but the Lord promises to answer our prayers…

2. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4…God also promises that those who mourn will be comforted and not only will be they be comforted, they are even blessed…

3.“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3…Our broken hearts can be healed if we give them to God…

4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4…We all have dark days, days that we are living in the shadows of death (not actual death itself), but God has promised that He is leading us all the time and all the way….

5. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14….And when it is actually our time to die, He promises to guide us…

6. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39…Nothing, not even death, separates from the love of God…We will always feel and know His love…

7. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4...God promises there will be a when He kills death and tears are unnecessary…I cannot even imagine, but this is what is promised in the Bible…

Let’s pray for all of those directly impacted by this latest mass shooting…

Any thoughts?

The post Seven Scriptures to Reflect On When Life, Death, Gun Laws & Mass Shootings Don’t Make Sense… appeared first on After the Altar Call.

It’s time to get back in the Word again…I live in metro Atlanta…yes, that’s right…Ground Zero for Ebola treatment in the entire United States of America…

I have started carrying hand sanitizer and every time someone sneezes or sniffles near by me, my mind starts spinning all kinds of dramatic scenarios…What if she has Ebola? What if he has been in contact with someone who has Ebola? What if she is a family member of the nurse who has been transported to Atlanta for care?

I have even considered walking around like this…

ok what MT @AlexPappas: Photo of passenger at Dulles waiting for flight — wearing Hazmat suit http://t.co/urLycHlqZe pic.twitter.com/7iHAkK3k2D

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) October 15, 2014

So when my F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) of anything starts getting bigger than my faith in Jesus…It’s time to get back in the Word and dispel it…Below are a few verses to help me and you when we are tempted to make our own hazmat suits, avoid the area of town where the CDC and Emory are located or stay home altogether…

1. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4…
2. The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
3. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
5. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
   
6. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
7. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “”Abba,” Father.” Romans 8:15

These verses help me to realize that my life and times are in God’s hands alone…God had an appointed time to bring me here and even though I don’t like to think about it, God has an appointed time for me to leave here…In the mean time, I will trust God and carry hand sanitizer…In other words, I trust God and I use the common sense that He gave me, but outside of that, that is all any of us can do…at least individually…

But here is something we can do collectively…let’s pray for those in West Africa who are suffering from Ebola, pray for those in the healthcare industry all over the world (my husband is in the healthcare industry), pray for those nurses here in the U.S. who are sick with Ebola and pray for the family of Thomas Eric Duncan (Read a touching article about his funeral in The New York Times )and all families who have lost members of their family due to the deadly virus…and sending some money to worthy and reputable organizations who are combating Ebola wouldn’t hurt either…

Any thoughts?

The post Seven Scriptures to Dispel F.E.A.R. About Ebola… appeared first on After the Altar Call.

We are officially in the last days of 2010.  This means that if you had any goals, resolutions or dreams for the year, you now have just over three weeks including today to get moving on making them a reality…

One of my goals was to pay off my sole credit card, and I did with the help of a financial coach and God in May! There is another important goal and dream that I realized as well, but I’m not ready yet to share that here on my blog. Stay tuned in 2011 though because big things will be poppin’ and little things will be stoppin’. (Thanks T.I. )

As the days of the year slip by, I also think it’s an appropriate time to reflect on the highlights and even the sad moments of the year. Although I relish sharing my life with you on this blog, I must confess that as I write, I feel reticent about sharing some of the deeper questions I have grappled with this year…but I will say this, I have begun to pray scriptures…As I get more mature (not perfect) in my Christian walk, I learn more ways of communicating with our heavenly Father. I never knew how powerful it can be to actually pray Bible verses back to God. In His word, God has told us that His word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), and so now, I take every opportunity to remind Him of what He said…Now, I’m not saying that I can tell God what to do by quoting scripture as He is sovereign, but I do think quoting scripture reminds us of His love and power and it demonstrates to God that we really business…

Below are some of the scriptures I have used this year, as I went through ups and downs of life…

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.   Joshua 1:7

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Matthew 10:29-30

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8

And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.   Mark 16:15

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.  Deuteronomy 30:19

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  II Thessalonians 3:10

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

So what verses helped you to navigate 2010? What goals, resolutions or dreams have become a reality this year? How will you spend the remaining days of this year?

Any thoughts?

P.S. Because it’s the Christmas season, the proverbial “most wonderful time of the year (As a Jamerican, I actually prefer summer),” I plan post videos of my favorite Christmas songs on my blog posts this month…

The post The Home Stretch (2010 is nearly ova) appeared first on After the Altar Call.