Praying for Orlando (And All of Us)

Good morning!  It is good to look out my window (it's a bit chilly this morning for the deck) and see the sunshine and every living thing...to remember that there is life abundant and it is good, that every storm will pass.

Yesterday brought heartache to our country again when a single man walked into a nightclub in Orlando and started shooting. Once again the debate over the root of the problem (heart/mental vs. gun) is flaring hot and the comments from all trains of thought are more often than not; angry, argumentative, judgmental, lacking basis in fact, and causing further division and harm.  I think, we as a society, need a bit of what we give to our kids when they misbehave....a timeout!  We need time to process our shock and grief, to think through all the information being thrown at us, to CALM DOWN.  Then, maybe, we can share our thoughts and opinions without flinging poison, toxic words at each other.

We, who profess our faith in God, we need to remember Ephesians 6:12:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

When we are tempted to rail against our fellow man, we must remember to pull back the curtain and see what and who is behind it.  It is not our fellow man that is our enemy, but the ruler of this world, the one who came to steal, kill and destroy, the one who whispers lies.  He is our enemy. 

Love one another.  Pray for one another.  Pray against the real enemy.  And keep your focus on the truth.  

God is in control!