Just like you, I remember exactly where I was on that beautiful Tuesday morning ten years ago today. Doing a little window shopping had me completely oblivious to what was happening in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. While I was browsing for some stuff to add to my already big enough pile of stuff, people's lives were being snuffed out and others were facing decisions I'll most likely never have to face. We all remember those brave words, "Let's roll." We all remember the tears. The scenes. The shock. The FEAR. We remember so well that I've chosen to not post any pictures in this post. Those images are permanently imprinted in our minds.
Stephen called me that morning on my cell to ask me if I had heard what was going on. He was at a Prayer Breakfast where the enormity of what was happening was barely sinking in to those in attendance--it was something we could never have imagined as we woke to such a beautiful morning. As I stood in the aisle of the store, it seemed as though the world stopped. I looked at the strangers around me so differently than I had when I walked into the store. I couldn't leave quickly enough. As soon as I hung up with him, I do what I always do in the moment of needing someone to talk to: I called my mom. She and I talked on the phone all the way to my house. She, like most Americans, was glued to her TV screen. I had not yet seen the images. Like other parents, I wanted to gather up my little chicks and keep them close to me, so I headed to the school. Amelia was only 7 and Macey was about to turn 5. And everything was different than it had ever been before.
This moment--this act--changed America forever.
That evening, we gathered for prayer at our home church, and our pastor, who was out of town and unable to get back home, called in with words of peace and comfort and, yes, hope. The world had changed, and we didn't know if the attacks were over or just beginning. Our sense of security as Americans on American soil had been ripped away from us in an instant. But something had not changed.
GOD.
For a short while, we were not divided as a people. We weren't democrats or republicans or independents. We weren't rich or poor or middle-class. We were Americans. United. Hopeful. And, for a little while, we turned our hearts toward Heaven...to the God we have prayed would "Bless America."
Fear changes a lot of things. But Hope? Hope changes everything! And when Hope is founded in the unchangeable God who rules and reigns over it all, that sometimes tiny glimmer of hope becomes a radiant source of strength, and courage and boldness!
A.W. Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." If we have a right understanding of God, who He is and what He does, we will be filled with Hope--hope for today and hope for tomorrow--regardless of what present circumstances indicate. We'll understand that today isn't all there is. We'll grasp that He is a loving creator, working from and for eternity. We'll know that the story... isn't... over... yet.
Hope Changes Everything! And as we reflect on what this past decade has meant for us as a nation made up of communities made up of families made up of individuals--may we each choose today to have and to offer HOPE!
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What does Hope mean to you?
How does Hope overcome fear?
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My friend, Dee Marshall, was there that day. Read her Hope Post here.
Shelley Hendrix ~Not a blogger, just a chick with a blog. Founder & Teacher of Church 4 Chicks.
Showing posts with label 9/11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 9/11. Show all posts
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Hope Changes Everything! by Dee Marshall #BlogParty2011 #GirlfriendsPray
"Hope Changes Everything!"
If you're just stopping by this blog for the first time, or if it has been a while, Welcome! It's by no coincidence that you stopped by today. I believe there's a message here and through these "Blog Party" posts by friends that we all need to hear. I hope you'll take some time to scroll through the other posts as each one has been beautifully written by amazing, authentic, and wonderful real-life people--sharing their Hope stories with us. Today's post is no exception--you're going to love it!
I first met Dee Marshall at a leadership retreat for "Cruise with a Cause 2011." I knew right away that I liked her. She exudes enthusiasm and excellence! Her energy is absolutely contagious and it came as no surprise to me that she has already accomplished so much in her life. But what most impressed me about Dee was her authentic love for the Lord and for the women she serves. You'll love her, too. And, if you haven't had your coffee yet today, you might just find that you won't need it after you read this!
I first met Dee Marshall at a leadership retreat for "Cruise with a Cause 2011." I knew right away that I liked her. She exudes enthusiasm and excellence! Her energy is absolutely contagious and it came as no surprise to me that she has already accomplished so much in her life. But what most impressed me about Dee was her authentic love for the Lord and for the women she serves. You'll love her, too. And, if you haven't had your coffee yet today, you might just find that you won't need it after you read this!
Meet Dee Marshall!
Hello Greatness, Fabulous, Woman of God, Girlfriend... Chick!
Can I share with you my story of how HOPE changed EVERYTHING for me? Well here goes… In some seasons HOPE kept me from falling. Hope kept me alive. Hope kept me believing when I couldn’t see through my tears; it kept me moving, kept me from giving up when I was tired. Hope kept me from quitting, giving up, etc. etc. etc. but can I tell you something? In this season and in this moment Hope is fueling my optimism and expectation that God's greatest work and move in my life is right in front of me. Something is about to JUMP off up in here (I know that’s not proper grammarJ). You ladies know Jeremiah 29:11 right?… “God’s plan is to prosper us and give us HOPE and a future” … well that’s where I am today almost 10 years to the day when God used a traumatic day in America to change the course of my life.
On September 11th I was the second one to the elevator and the door had closed in my face. (Why did I have the nerve to run back and get my bag? YUP I said it and I did it). Down 33 flights of stairs I landed in the midst of chaos and started running with four other co-workers and I didn’t stop running until about 4:30 pm that day… which is how long it took me to escape Wall Street on the day the US was attacked by terrorists and the Twin Towers came tumbling down right before my eyes.
So September 12th was the day I woke to learn – no, that was not a nightmare, but a defining moment indicative of the questions that were before me and the answers I was to give. The question that summed up the message was this “if I died yesterday would I have any regrets?” I didn’t have any regrets at the time but more so an "AHA!" that lead to an exploratory that resulted in my personal declaration…
"Lord why do we live?"
"Why am I here?"
"What is my purpose?"
I knew it has to be about more than my job and my big office, my luxury hot bam bam car, my house with the cathedral like ceilings and all my stuff… designer this bag and designer this hot shoe… WHATEVER, Dee Marshall. *side eye* I knew there had to be more, a reason, a deeper meaning to life and I was going to get to the bottom of it… See, September 11th was the defining moment that would lead me to declare from that day forward my journey would be to discover the meaning and purpose for my life so I would not die with regret. So that I would know...
WHO I AM,
WHOSE I AM,
WHY I'M HERE AND
WHERE I'M GOING.
I was interested in a quality, meaningful, purposeful life long before Rick Warren’s book “Purpose Driven Life”.
So in that season I hoped that God would reveal to me the meaning and purpose for my life … I hoped that God would use me….and He did all because I HOPED in Him. I went to the right source, ladies. Ten years now I have been sowing into the lives of women as result of the defining moment on September 11th. God has made a way for me to empower women all over the world across platforms and mediums and I truly believe that God gives me such a platform because He knows He can use me as His mouth piece to you all how I got ON! Now today I feel God moving literally TOOOOODAAAY and looking forward to the next season of my life because I trust Him.
So Beautiful, Greatness, Fabulous, Woman of God, Girlfriend Chick you betta HOPE as if your life depended on it and watch God show up in your life!
More about Dee...
Dee Marshall is the Founder of Girlfriends Pray Ministries.
"Girlfriends Pray is one of the fastest growing ministries for women of Faith. In less than three months we grew from thirty-three women to several hundreds of women praying together at weekday morning corporate prayer teleconference call and....over 20,000 followers from more than twelve countries.
The word of the Lord says, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. - James 5:16"
You will definitely want to connect with Dee and Girlfriends Pray!! Here are some great links to help you do just that!
Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17
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