Where were you when Obama won the election? When he proclaimed that “change has come to America”? Because now the day has come for the Illinois Senator to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and become the first African-American to carry the title.

The long road to the White House will finally come to an end in a ceremony to be held at noon on the steps of the United States Capitol on January 20. But Obama is the first to acknowledge the road ahead is even longer.

“It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.”

Where will you be on Inauguration Day? What hopes come along with the Obama presidency for you?

image credit: mike_1630

Life changing events happen to all of us.

It’s the other events that haunt us … the life changing events that we are plunged into without choice or warning. Individual crisis that most everyone eventually gets a turn at. The call that a loved one is dying, an accident that changes life forever, a diagnose, a breakup, a job loss all change the course of life from that moment on and we find individuals forging on in places they have not stepped willingly.

This month we commemorate the 5^th anniversary of 9/11.

That day still feels so fresh. We can hardly believe it’s been five years. We distinctly remember where we were when the news came of that first airplane flying into the Twin Towers in New York. The shock, the disbelief coupled with the slow dawning realization that our world had changed that day forever.

Many individual stories filled the following days. Courage and heroism; panic and agony; kindness and sacrifice. Individual lives changed forever in a moment as we all witnessed and watched and felt our own hearts torn with the loss we could barely comprehend.

Learning from one another.

As we collectively mourn and remember this tragic day we also see some life lessons emerging. We see nuggets of wisdom and strength that we can take from this shared world-changing event, into our own quiet hardships and disasters.

The past 5 years have shown us the powerful strength of the human spirit. The 9/11 man-made tragedy followed in recent years by numerous natural disasters has shown us a resilience of the human spirit that is not only inspiring but comforting as well.

Courage and resolve to move forward.

As a city, New York has refused to be defined by this tragedy. She does not cower in fear and refuse to move on. This loss has somehow made this city stronger.

In a world that has seen more than enough tragic events we find a courage and resolve to keep moving.

The lessons we see on a collective world wide scale can be translated into lessons of strength as we push on in our own private world of difficult and unsought change.

Don’t let your tragedy define you.

If you are facing a hard and unwelcome change in your life that has been thrust upon you, be determined in inching forward beyond the pain. Don’t let the trouble determine who you become. Don’t let the tragedy become your definition.

Choose how you will be defined … by your loss or by your strength.

Walk forward with your eyes focused on the future.

When facing great loss there can be a sense that there is no future. Choose daily to walk with your eyes looking forward. Do something small each day to keep pressing on. Walking with your eyes cast backward is a sure way to trip and stumble.

We all need help in this journey of life.

No one is an island. We need the inspiration and encouragement of one another as we dust ourselves off from the deep pits of life and step out to move forward. Don’t isolate yourself in your pain. Be intentional about straining forward.

Reach for higher help.

• God himself has offered us life that is overflowing with hope and divine help.
• Active rebellion or simply passive indifference keeps us separated from Him just when we need Him the most.
• In His great love for us He has bridged the separation by sending Christ to die in our place and to be brought back to life again.
• Believing He sent Christ and inviting Him into your life brings you into a relationship with God that will change your life in amazing ways.

If you are facing your own life changing events today, whether through crisis or choice, invite Christ to walk with you through each day and to be your strength and your guide. You can enter this life changing relationship today by sincerely praying this prayer. It’s the best choice you will ever make.

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You today and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my rebellious and independent ways and for promising me eternal life. Take control of my life and guide me through the changes I face today. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.”

Who can forget the morning of September 11^th? It was a day that shattered a façade of predictability and security, and altered the way many thought. It was a day of profound loss for individuals, a nation and the world.

My personal 9/11

After the first reports of planes hitting the Twin Towers, I received a personal phone call. While not as unexpected, it too shook my inner world in ways I’d never dreamed a few years before. I heard, “Your divorce is final. We received the final paperwork this morning. You‘ll be receiving it soon.”

Stepping out of the office to deal with the flood of my emotions, I entered a break room where a group of employees was gathering, riveted to the corner TV. Suddenly, I heard gasps. As I turned, we saw live footage of the second tower collapsing.

The sense of loss that morning was overwhelming, both the shared loss and my personal loss.

When towers crumble and dreams give way, where can we turn? Our plans and sense of stability are shattered. The landmarks of our lives are in upheaval, and only what is eternal can help to anchor our souls.

A secure place to rest

As I began to process my own September 11^th, I was drawn back once again to my unchanging God, the One who loves me as no other, who counts each hair on my head. It is only in Him that I could find lasting security, for any other foundation was subject to change.

I’d often defined myself largely by the marriage relationship. I’m learning that even more importantly, I am a precious and loved child of the Almighty God. The identity we find in the labels of wife, mother, teacher, nurse, or friend may be altered by circumstance or choice. It is only as my heart finds its identity in relationship with my loving God that it finds a secure place to rest. Nothing, He says, can separate me from His love! Nothing can change His heart towards me. He calls me His own. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me.

Clearing the rubble and rebuilding

The losses of September 11th are real, and life will never return to “what was.” For me, though memories linger, my marriage is gone. God was not surprised by the death of my marriage. He understands the pain of rejection and betrayal, for He too has experienced rejection. He is no stranger to grief, and will not run away from my tears or my fears.

God is clearing away the destruction and beginning to fashion something new, something different, out of my life. The loneliness is giving way to a number of rich friendships. I’m grateful for the people God’s placed around me to remind me of His love and grace.

I don’t know what my future holds, but I know God’s not given up on me. “’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’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

My heavenly Father’s faithfulness in the past, in my own life and the lives of others, encourages me to trust Him for that future.

He is my strong tower.

What about you?

If you’re struggling to find your way through a painful time in your life, let me encourage you to turn your heart toward the Comforter whom Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit. The minute you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit took up residence in your life. He longs to fill you and to empower you. He can give you the hope and strength you need, minute by minute. I encourage you to trust Him with whatever difficulty you face, for He is faithful. He will walk with you through the darkest valley.

Below is a suggested prayer. As you pray, remember that God cares not so much about your words as the intent of your heart.

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, we would love to hear about it!

Life changing events happen to all of us…important events that change the course of life from that day forward.

It’s the other events that haunt us … the life changing events that we are plunged into without choice or warning. Individual crisis that most everyone eventually gets a turn at. The call that a loved one is dying, an accident that changes life forever, a diagnosis, a breakup, a job loss all change the course of life from that moment on and we find individuals forging on in places they have not stepped willingly.

This month we commemorate the 5^th anniversary of 9/11.

That day still feels so fresh. We can hardly believe it’s been five years. We distinctly remember where we were when the news came of that first airplane flying into the Twin Towers in New York. The shock, the disbelief coupled with the slow dawning realization that our world had changed that day forever.

Many individual stories filled the following days. Courage and heroism; panic and agony; kindness and sacrifice. Individual lives changed forever in a moment as we all witnessed and watched and felt our own hearts torn with the loss we could barely comprehend.

Learning from one another.

As we collectively mourn and remember this tragic day we also see some life lessons emerging. We see nuggets of wisdom and strength that we can take from this shared world-changing event, into our own quiet hardships and disasters.

The past 5 years have shown us the powerful strength of the human spirit. The 9/11 man-made tragedy, followed in recent years by numerous natural disasters, has shown us a resilience of the human spirit that is not only inspiring but comforting as well.

Courage and resolve to move forward.

As a city, New York has refused to be defined by this tragedy. She does not cower in fear and refuse to move on. This loss has somehow made this city stronger.

In a world that has seen more than enough tragic events we find a courage and resolve to keep moving.

The lessons we see on a collective world wide scale can be translated into lessons of strength as we push on in our own private world of difficult and unsought change.

Don’t let your tragedy define you.

If you are facing a hard and unwelcome change in your life that has been thrust upon you, be determined in inching forward beyond the pain. Don’t let the trouble determine who you become. Don’t let the tragedy become your definition.

Choose how you will be defined … by your loss or by your strength.

Walk forward with your eyes focused on the future.

When facing great loss there can be a sense that there is no future. Choose daily to walk with your eyes looking forward. Do something small each day to keep pressing on. Walking with your eyes cast backward is a sure way to trip and stumble.

We all need help in this journey of life.

No one is an island. We need the inspiration and encouragement of one another as we dust ourselves off from the deep pits of life and step out to move forward. Don’t isolate yourself in your pain. Be intentional about straining forward.

Reach for higher help

• God himself has offered us life that is overflowing with hope and divine help.
• Active rebellion or simply passive indifference keeps us separated from Him just when we need Him the most.
• As followers of Jesus we are equipped with the Holy Spirit to help and guide and comfort us in our journey.
• Asking for a fresh filling of His Spirit enables us to walk with confidence even in the midst of very trying times.

If you are facing your own life changing events today, whether through crisis or choice, remember that, as a believer in Jesus, you are equipped to be more than a conqueror through His power at work in you.

“”Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.” Romans 8:35-39

Step into your inheritance as a child of God and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit today. God never promised trouble free days but He did promise strength for the journey because of His undying love for you. Refresh your commitment today to walk in the power He has given to His children.

Dear God, I need You today. I acknowledge that I have lived independently of You by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven me through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I invite You now to take full control of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled and as You promised You would do if I asked in faith. Please direct my life today and fill me with Your strength and wisdom. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

On September 11, 2001 I said my first prayer. My son was a police officer with the New York Police Department. As I sat watching the Twin Towers burn, at first I thought that he was fine since he worked a desk job at One Police Plaza. But what if he went over to help?

“Please God,” I said, “if you’re listening… don’t let them go in there. You can take my car, my house, take anything you want, but don’t let them go in that building. He doesn’t even have a baby yet, God!”

Finally, I was able to reach his wife, Geraldine, who told me that a bunch of people from One Police Plaza went over to help. I hung up and turned back to the TV just in time to see the first tower fall. I thought the worst, of course.

It wasn’t until about 8:30 that evening that I heard from the police department that he was on his way home.

But that almost wasn’t the case.

My son was heading into the World Trade Center when his lieutenant said, “We need more equipment before we go in there.” They turned away from the others and went back to their van. They were spared! And nine months later he and his wife had a beautiful baby girl. Our miracle child!

I got my miracle, now what?

I believed there was a God and he answered my prayer on September 11, but what to do? The most logical thing was to go to church, so off I went. But people there seemed to be just going through the motions, like they felt they had to be there. I went less and less.

One day, I received the news that my estranged husband had died. He had written me once in a while from Arizona and let me know that he was “saved” (whatever that meant) and that he was praying for me and the kids. My inheritance was a Bible full of Arizona sand. I thought I may as well read it and give church another try. Still, not much changed. Something was missing and I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Channel surfing

Then one day I was watching a history show on TV. It was about the history of execution and towards the end, the narrator said, “Now for the most famous execution of all…” I had no idea what that could be. Well, I found out it was Jesus of Nazareth. Watching this segment, I was overcome by an awful feeling of guilt. The other stories didn’t bother me, why his? Listening to the account of Jesus’ death, I found myself asking, Why did he have to do that?”

Suddenly, I realized for the first time that Jesus was God! No wonder people talked about him. I knew from that day on things were going to be different.. I owed him big time. But what now…? Where do I go?

Watching the Passion

A few weeks later the Passion of the Christ movie came out and I went five times! I was fascinated by it and what Jesus had done. I needed some more info, so I hit the internet and just happened to come across this wonderful web site, Thelife.com. I checked out different articles and finally saw a button that said, “Discuss Jesus” That was my first introduction to a chat room.

Here were the people that I had been looking for, people excited about their relationship with God and not afraid to answer my questions. After about four months they were talking about how we could know for sure that we were going to go to heaven when we died. I asked, “How?” Right there in chat they explained that it was simply by inviting Jesus into my life… so I did it right there and then.

Rosie, one of the people in the chat room who was like a mentor to me, just happened to have a friend that was the pastor of a church that she thought, would have just what I needed. And it was.

I’m learning to forgive others and myself. I’m learning to be thankful and I’m learning what true happiness is. Best of all, I’m getting to know and love the Person who heard and answered my first prayer on that fiery September 11 five years ago.

A lot has changed since 9/11. Not the least of all me.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

Who can forget the morning of September 11^th? It was a day that shattered a façade of predictability and security, and altered the way many thought. It was a day of profound loss for individuals, a nation and the world.

My personal 9/11

After the first reports of planes hitting the Twin Towers, I received a personal phone call. While not as unexpected, it too shook my inner world in ways I’d never dreamed a few years before. I heard, “Your divorce is final. We received the final paperwork this morning. You‘ll be receiving it soon.”

Stepping out of the office to deal with the flood of my emotions, I entered a break room where a group of employees was gathering, riveted to the corner TV. Suddenly, I heard gasps. As I turned, we saw live footage of the second tower collapsing.

The sense of loss that morning was overwhelming, both the shared loss and my personal loss.

When towers crumble and dreams give way, where can we turn? Our plans and sense of stability are shattered. The landmarks of our lives are in upheaval, and only what is eternal can help to anchor our souls.

A secure place to rest

As I began to process my own September 11^th, I was drawn back once again to my unchanging God, the One who loves me as no other, who counts each hair on my head. It is only in Him that I could find lasting security, for any other foundation was subject to change.

I’d often defined myself largely by the marriage relationship. I’m learning that even more importantly, I am a precious and loved child of the Almighty God. The identity we find in the labels of wife, mother, teacher, nurse, or friend may be altered by circumstance or choice. It is only as my heart finds its identity in relationship with my loving God that it finds a secure place to rest. Nothing, He says, can separate me from His love! Nothing can change His heart towards me. He calls me His own. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me.

Clearing the rubble and rebuilding

The losses of September 11th are real, and life will never return to “what was.” For me, though memories linger, my marriage is gone. God was not surprised by the death of my marriage. He understands the pain of rejection and betrayal, for He too has experienced rejection. He is no stranger to grief, and will not run away from my tears or my fears.

God is clearing away the destruction and beginning to fashion something new, something different, out of my life. The loneliness is giving way to a number of rich friendships. I’m grateful for the people God’s placed around me to remind me of His love and grace.

I don’t know what my future holds, but I know God’s not given up on me. “’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’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

My heavenly Father’s faithfulness in the past, in my own life and the lives of others, encourages me to trust Him for that future.

He is my strong tower.

Is this the life for me?

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised. Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

Life changing events happen to all of us.

It’s the other events that haunt us … the life changing events that we are plunged into without choice or warning. Individual crisis that most everyone eventually gets a turn at. The call that a loved one is dying, an accident that changes life forever, a diagnose, a breakup, a job loss all change the course of life from that moment on and we find individuals forging on in places they have not stepped willingly.

This month we commemorate the 5^th anniversary of 9/11.

That day still feels so fresh. We can hardly believe it’s been five years. We distinctly remember where we were when the news came of that first airplane flying into the Twin Towers in New York. The shock, the disbelief coupled with the slow dawning realization that our world had changed that day forever.

Many individual stories filled the following days. Courage and heroism; panic and agony; kindness and sacrifice. Individual lives changed forever in a moment as we all witnessed and watched and felt our own hearts torn with the loss we could barely comprehend.

Learning from one another.

As we collectively mourn and remember this tragic day we also see some life lessons emerging. We see nuggets of wisdom and strength that we can take from this shared world-changing event, into our own quiet hardships and disasters.

The past 5 years have shown us the powerful strength of the human spirit. The 9/11 man-made tragedy followed in recent years by numerous natural disasters has shown us a resilience of the human spirit that is not only inspiring but comforting as well.

Courage and resolve to move forward.

As a city, New York has refused to be defined by this tragedy. She does not cower in fear and refuse to move on. This loss has somehow made this city stronger.

In a world that has seen more than enough tragic events we find a courage and resolve to keep moving.

The lessons we see on a collective world wide scale can be translated into lessons of strength as we push on in our own private world of difficult and unsought change.

Don’t let your tragedy define you.

If you are facing a hard and unwelcome change in your life that has been thrust upon you, be determined in inching forward beyond the pain. Don’t let the trouble determine who you become. Don’t let the tragedy become your definition.

Choose how you will be defined … by your loss or by your strength

Walk forward with your eyes focused on the future.

When facing great loss there can be a sense that there is no future. Choose daily to walk with your eyes looking forward. Do something small each day to keep pressing on. Walking with your eyes cast backward is a sure way to trip and stumble.

We all need help in this journey of life.

No one is an island. We need the inspiration and encouragement of one another as we dust ourselves off from the deep pits of life and step out to move forward. Don’t isolate yourself in your pain. Be intentional about straining forward.

Reach for higher help.

1. God himself has offered us life that is overflowing with hope and divine help.
2. Active rebellion or simply passive indifference keeps us separated from Him just when we need Him the most.
3. In His great love for us He has bridged the separation by sending Christ to die in our place and to be brought back to life again.
4. Believing He sent Christ and inviting Him into your life brings you into a relationship with God that will change your life in amazing ways.

If you are facing your own life changing events today, whether through crisis or choice, invite Christ to walk with you through each day and to be your strength and your guide. You can enter this life changing relationship today by sincerely praying this prayer. It’s the best choice you will ever make.

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You today and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my rebellious and independent ways and for promising me eternal life. Take control of my life and guide me through the changes I face today. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.

That day still feels so fresh. We can hardly believe it’s been 10 years. We distinctly remember where we were when the news came of that first airplane flying into the Twin Towers in New York. The shock, the disbelief coupled with the slowly dawning realization that our world had changed that day forever.

Many individual stories filled the following days. Courage and heroism; panic and agony; kindness and sacrifice. Individual lives changed forever in a moment as we all witnessed and watched and felt our own hearts torn with the loss we could barely comprehend.

As we collectively mourn and remember this tragic day we also see some life lessons emerging. We see nuggets of wisdom and strength that we can take from this shared world-changing event, into our own quiet hardships and disasters.

** Don’t let your tragedy define you.
As a city, New York has refused to be defined by this tragedy. She does not cower in fear and refuse to move on. This loss has somehow made this city stronger.

If you are facing a hard and unwelcome change in your life that has been thrust upon you, be determined in inching forward beyond the pain. Don’t let the trouble determine who you become. Don’t let the tragedy become your definition. Choose how you will be defined… by your loss or by your strength.

** Walk forward with your eyes focused on the future.
When facing great loss there can be a sense that there is no future. Choose daily to walk with your eyes looking forward. Do something small each day to keep pressing on. Walking with your eyes cast backward is a sure way to trip and stumble.

** We all need help in this journey of life.
No one is an island. We need the inspiration and encouragement of one another as we dust ourselves off from the deep pits of life and step out to move forward. Don’t isolate yourself in your pain. Be intentional about straining forward.

** Reach for higher help.
* God Himself has offered us life that is overflowing with hope and divine help.
* Active rebellion or simply passive indifference keeps us separated from Him just when we need Him the most.
* As followers of Jesus we are equipped with the Holy Spirit to help and guide and comfort us in our journey.
* Asking for a fresh filling of His Spirit enables us to walk with confidence even in the midst of very trying times.

If you are facing your own life-changing events today, whether through crisis or choice, remember that, as a believer in Jesus, you are equipped to be more than a conqueror through His power at work in you.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us??? (Romans 8:35-39).

Step into your inheritance as a child of God and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit today. God never promised trouble- free days but He did promise strength for the journey because of His undying love for you. Refresh your commitment today to walk in the power He has given to His children.

~ Dear God, I need You today. I acknowledge that I have lived independently of You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven me through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I invite You now to take full control of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled and as You promised You would do if I asked in faith. Please direct my life today and fill me with Your strength and wisdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

If you prayed this prayer, we would love to hear from you: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/landing/prayerhs.html

Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: How is your world different since 9/11? This devotional talks about moving forward in the wake of great loss and doing so in the power of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to “walk in the power of the Holy Spirit???? How does this fortify you for life’s unexpected losses?
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific:  http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Related article: “My own September 11th” http://www.christianwomentoday.com/lifestories/shoshy.html