Tragedy
"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me" (Psalm 86:15-17).
Shocked. Baffled. Sickened. Overwhelmed. Horrified. Saddened. We are all grieving over the Virginia Tech massacre - not only the worst campus shooting, but THE worst shooting in United States history.
We have been on our faces crying out to God over today's events. We, along with all of you, are praying for everyone affected. May Jesus Himself be their peace and comfort. Lord, have mercy.
posted by Amanda @ 2:45 PM
48 Comments
48 Comments:
I'm heart sick and numb and I'm praying along with you. Can't put much else into words.
Redeemed
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.
come, Lord Jesus.
Beth & Amanda,
Thank you for keeping VA Tech in your prayers. Although I graduated from the "rival" university, my heart is broken over this horrendous act. Our state will be in deep mourning. I'm thankful to say that all of the students from my town of the state are present and accounted for. Praise God for that. I know He can work through this, and am looking for His Glory to shine.
I can only imagine the pain for so many families today. I don't want to imagine it, as my own son is openly contemplating suicide. I have spent much of the day with him, or on the phone speaking Scripture and life over him. As I pray for all those who were wounded or killed, I pray too for the shooter. He is also someone's child.
Father God, I cry out with the lifeway team for Your mercy, for Your comfort for everyone who will be affected by this crime. Their lives will be forever defined in part by what they were like before this tragedy, and what they will be like now. Lord, I know it won't be quick (to us), but please bring them beauty for these ashes, and joy to replace this mourning. In the midst of this tragedy, may You be high and lifted up! Reveal Yourself, O God. Be Big in Virginia. And please Father, be Big in my son's life today, too.
It is in the name of my King, Jesus, that I even dare approach You. Peace, Father, send peace.
My heart breaks for all involved. My prayers have been going up since I've heard.
My heart and prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.
May God wrap His loving and comforting arms around you at Virgina Tech and your families.
Kim
Sovereign Lord. My Deliverer and Keeper. Have mercy oh Lord. God of all comfort, soothe our hearts with the healing touch of your nail-scarred hand. You yourself are our Peace and Stronghold in times of trouble. We ask wisdom for those officials in this situation. Thank you that our cries are not silent before you. Our El Roi...and our unchanging One. You remain faithful and good. Comfort those students and families. Jesus...my dear Jesus. Thank you that you are near.
Our prayers are up.
kdymI was shocked when I heard about the shootings. May God bring comfort to all the families who lost loved ones and to all who attend Virginia Tech. May the Light be ever present during their great time of darkness. May our Rock and Fortress give them the strength they need!!
an example of God's mercy and grace... I recently received an email from my cousins's fiance. My cousin is an Engineering major at VT. She said she had called him to wake him up, but he went back to sleep. He had class in Norris hall and she said that according to friends, it was one of the classroom's affected. But he was sleeping.
O God. You are my God. Thank you for sparing one of my dearest friends!
catherinethelesser@yahoo.com
It has been a long day with more such days to come, I'm sure. I keep praying to God that I know He is in control. My oldest son is there and has been for 7 years. First as a student then gradstudent now on staff- in the engneering dept. He is safe but he doesn't know about many of his friends. He does know one way or the other- they know Christ as their savior. We do have a student at our local Christian school whos brother was shot in the arm while in one of the classrooms. The gunman came in shot the professor in the face then turned on the class. Please pray for those kids and what they saw and are feeling. Pray for the fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Hard to believe that one person can do so much damage. Pray that Christ will be glorified and that the many faithful Christain groups will come along and help those who will need help- the kind only God can provide. That campus has several faithful Christian groups of students that really love God. Sorry if I have rambled on but I just needed to pass on what I have been seeing and know. God is alive at VT and satan isn't happy about it and maybe is doing this for harm but God can use it for good. thanks
Thank you for putting VT into your prayers and mentioning it on the blog--my husband and his entire family graduated from there (fortunately his cousin who is a current student is fine), my husband an engineer (thus having classes in Norris Hall) and I just gave a talk in Norris Hall last November (we live 45 minutes away). Truly a massive tragedy. It has been a strange and sad day here in Southwest VA. The prayers of everyone are wonderful and I pray for healing.
This is so awful! I can't even imagine. Father God please hover over all of those families. Thank you that you are on Your Throne. God please show yourself Mighty through this tragedy.
I read about this tragedy just as I was leaving for work, and it has been in my heart and prayers all day. I pray for those wounded, I pray for those affected and their families...my heart aches for them.
Being from Canada we have had several university shootings in the province of Quebec, one as recently as this year at Dawson College. My heart aches and breaks for all involved.
I keep thinking of the scripture that if God's people will humble themselves and pray that He will come and heal our lands. Lord Jesus, we desperately need You...we desperately need healing in our lands...lands where people see it as acceptable to take lives at will.
We come before You on our faces and cry out to You...we stand in the gap for those who do not even know to pray...and we ask You for healing in our lands and in our hearts and minds.
We are desperate for You Lord...
I don't know if anyone realized but the Columbine Anniversary is friday the 20th.
Its sad that there are still unhealthy minds out there.
There was a bomb threat at a local middle school here, and the child was arrested.
I know a girl that spent a great amount of time with Rachel Scott, her name is Val, and she knows God because of Rachel, if you have a moment read the story, it is amazing.(http://www.lfcnews.com/news2.htm)
so even in this tragedy, please keep her in your prayers, it is always tough for her, and Rachels family during this time.You don't have a clue what it was like until you spend time with those it happened to.
Thanks:-)
Angie
The Lord is our strength and our salvation and we know that He can turn what Satan meant for evil into good. My heart weeps with the Virginia Tech families, students and faculty/staff.
Father God, we ask for Your perfect peace to be placed over and in all who are involved in this horrific tragedy. Pour Your healing love through their hearts and may your strength be made perfect in their weaknesses. We don't understand this Lord. Comfort all of us and heal our land, Lord. Heal our nation. We cry out to You for signs and wonders, Lord, for Your hand to perform them that You would be glorified. We lift our hands in praise to You, Lord. We thank You for Your love and mercy. In the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Healed by His Amazing Grace
Amanda,
I join you in prayer for all those affected by today's events. Oh Lord, we lift these dear ones up to you today. Please bring comfort and healing. Wrap Your loving arms around each broken heart and hold them close tonight. Please comfort each one with Your tender touch.
Lord Jesus, only You can bring healing and comfort.
Psalm 73:25-26. "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
God is the strength of our hearts...He is near to our broken hearts.
I am overwhelmed. The grief is unimaginable. The horror, the heartache, the senselessness of it all.
We all have to run to God, for He and He alone is our help and our shield.
Father, hold the families and use this tragedy for Your glory...let believers unite in support and ministry and testify of Your love...let light shut out the darkness!
Thanks for your prayers for our friends at VT. I post occasionally on this blog with my tongue-in-cheek moniker: Hokiebabe. I live in SW VA and the school is near and dear to me. I'm an early-80s grad and actually lived in West AJ, so I can well imagine the scene.
Please pray for my young friend Brittany who is a senior. Her roommate was in one of the classes the gunman entered, but was unharmed. She was able to escape thru the window, which was a total God-thing as Norris Hall is an older building and most of the windows have been painted shut.
Brittany and her roommate are hosting a gathering tonight of the students who have been treated and released. Britt is a Christian who is at a loss for what to say or do.
Britt shared some of the details of the shootings that have not yet been released to the press, and they are shocking and heinous. You can't believe a person could actually conceive a plan like this, let along carry it out.
Please be prayerful for the Christian organizations on and around campus as they minister to the students.
And please be prayerful for the school administrators and law enforcement personnel who are coming under fire. Those of us in SW VA have complete confidence that they acted in the best way they could given the information they had at the time. The press is being brutal with their accusations, and blame is always easy to place AFTER the fact.
please pray for my VT friend....i still haven't heard anything from him...
Lord, bring comfort to the hurting, peace to the fearful and salvation to the lost.
For all those affected by this terrible tragedy...I am so sorry. My prayer is that you have God's peace that passes all understanding and that you feel His arms around you.
Kristen
Goose bumps...hair standing up on the back of my neck....tears weling in my eyes.... My first physical reactions, followed by an overwhelming need to pray. This was all unfolding while I was at work. We had a late sales rep. appointment, and she was uncharacteristically late. When this sales rep did arrive, she apologized and told us she was late because of a phone call from her mother. Her mother called with news of a dear friend, a professor at VA Tech, having been killed today in this tragedy.
I am praying fervently for the families of the victims and the entire campus community. Actually, in the wake of such a terrible act, I think we all need to pray for each other.
Unfortunately I know all too well what these kids are going through and what is to come. I was in a school shooting when I was 15 years old and was with my best friend when she was shot and killed next to me. Our school shooting was in Paducah,Ky and we were attending a prayer group that was always held a few minutes before the bell rang. One minute we were praying to God and the next minute my friend was meeting God. Thank you for praying for these kids....they need now, but the days to come when the media frenzy is gone is when they will need it the most. It is a hard road to have to travel down and one that I am still trying to find my way down. Along the way I have had many fights with God, but I am getting to know an incredible side of God that I might ever have known.....sometimes all that gets me through is focusing on the God I have come to know while traveling this road. 9 years later....and it still feels like yesterday. Days later when it's no longer on TV please don't forget them...they need your prayers.
"trblmkrtess said...as my own son is openly contemplating suicide. I have spent much of the day with him, or on the phone speaking Scripture and life over him."
Trblmkrtess, I have just prayed for your son as I have prayed for those at VT. I pray that your son will feel the peace that only our Jehovah-shalom can provide in the midst of the turmoil in his life.
Father, Abba Daddy, You are in our midst as we gather united in prayer over this tragedy. Please pour out Your peace, comfort, and healing into the lives of those touched by this tragedy. Father, pull Trblmkrtess' son under Your Banner and help him to feel Your peace in his mind and his life right now. Help him to see Your light in his tunnel. Father, be HUGE in the life of this one and the thousands touched by the shootings at VT. Amen and Amen!!
HUPOMENO!!
As a person involved in ministering to youth my heart longs to do something. I wish I could be there to encourage the grieving. My prayers are going up and my heart is going out. Thanks for you sistas that have posted more specific requests...I will certainly pray for them.
I live in the Shenandoah Valley in VA, and we have many VT students and alumni in the area. My brother is a VT alumnus. To say that my family is heartbroken is an understatement. I have been quietly asking the Lord today for a word of knowledge and comfort in the midst of this horror and shock. I am not at all surprised that I've found it here, among sistas and fellow believers. This is the first time today that I can finally cry and allow Him to begin the healing process within me. To those of you sistas out there that are hurting, I pray that you will find comfort in His loving embrace.
Dear Beth & Amanda,
My dad works at VA Tech. (It's been a long day.) Here at UVA, the "rival school," we are praying that the hearts and thoughts of all within reach will turn toward eternal life -- and the One who can give it. As you've reminded me so often through your studies, may God bring life out of death... and through His people, comfort those who mourn. Praying with you.
~amy
Come quickly, Lord.
Praying for ALL
"Why am I so discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Savior and my God!" Psalm 43:5 "Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Psalm 27:13 -14
Oh my Lord so scary for our children and to think it was over getting into a fight with His girlfriend. I just pray for those people and the parents. Jesus is our strong tower in times of trouble.
Father in Jesus name I plead your precious blood over these families bless them Lord and protect all of our school age children.
God Bless you all!
Love your Sis
Sue-La
I talked to Val last night, and in all honesty even though all of this major tragedy has just happened...just like Columbine God's light will shine through, there will be someone like Rachel Scott, or Cassie Bernall whose story will be heard, that God is ready for the world to hear.
I told her that I know its hard to think of it, but I wondered of the stories, the legacies that people left when they died yesterday, who they were, and I am sure that it will in turn bring us as a country together once more.
Vals words:
" Ang, everything is the same right down to the President addressing the nation, and I almost feel like I can't let this make me think back, because this time it didn't happen to me, far worse then what happened. But it is all just so eeirly the same. "
I wonder if everyone out there in Colorado feels the same way.
Be Blessed:-)Angie
Still praying today - Beth on the way into work I listened to the Joy CD in Living Beyond Yourself. I needed that day - I needed to know that in the midst of this tradgedy Joy Cometh!! Come Lord Jesus Come!!!
Come today Lord and bring relief to the hurting - let them look up and see you full in the face - open their eyes to who you are the help you can bring through this tradegy - We NEED you Lord - we trust your Father - come be merciful to all today in Jesus Name
(1Thessalonians 5:17) "pray without ceasing"
The song "I Can Only Imagine" is used to describe a lot of situations. In the song, it is telling us a story of when we face our Abba. We really face Abba each day though. Like yesterday when the world was shook by the tragedy of the Virginia Tech Massacre.
The truth is, I can't imagine. I can't even go there. The pain is too overwhelming. Thinking back to the Holocaust, the Vietnam War, and other such seemingly senseless brutalities of the human soul; the magnitude of devastation is too overwhelming to comprehend. Lives will be changed forever. What was God thinking? Hmm. But then He watched His own Son die the most brutal death. Was this even God's fault? After all, it was our choice to sin in the Garden.
These types of unthinkable devastating blows to the nature of our core belief will continue throughout our life. They get closer and closer to home, our home. We are left with but a resemblance of a shell called life where we have been forced to move out and onto somewhere else.
I am left today with that of a broken soul and spirit, one that cries out to you Abba, "Why?"
On my knees, I pray.
Connie
Thank you for your tribute to these families
What can one say? All we can do is drop to our knees seeking His comfort to be shed abundantly on those who are suffering, His peace to be granted to those who are confusd and fearful, and His grace to be outpoured on those needing salvation. This violent tragedy reveals how the world acts without Jesus as Lord. O Father, we can only turn our horrified faces to You and ask that You use this tragic event in the lives of all involved for the furtherance of Your glorious kingdom. O that multitudes would give their hearts
to the Lord Jesus!!!!
Beth - On a different note, I was front row and center at the Columbia conference, you even stopped by my seat and looked me straight in the eye as you taught. As I told the sweet lady on the phone at LPM this morning, many of us are still swaying in the arms of Jesus in full praise of Him today. Thank you so much for your willingnes to study and be who you are for Him -- a pliable vessel, humbled before His awesome presence, and willing to be USED for His purposes. We learned, we worshipped, and we met with Him in that place. . . and I am renewed and focused on sharing Him with everyone He places in my path. After 18 years teaching English (recently retired!)-- I am ready and delightedly excited about teh oportunities ahead of me to serve Him, our precious Lord.
I'm touched at all the people that are praying for this tragedy. It sickens my heart that this has happened and I can't help but think constantly of those families, friends, etc. that it directly affects. My heart and prayers go out to all of them! GOD is in CONTROL even when it doesn't look or feel like it!
Dear sisters, if I may, would you please allow me to direct your attention to a blog that I feel gives us a fitting word in light of the tragedy at VT. Go to www.crosspointman.blogspot.com. This guy is a dear friend of mine and strong in the Word. Pray...yes, we must pray for and minister to the precious hurting people who are left decimated in the wake of such evil, but we must not be surprised and question the One who told us such things would come (2 Tim. 3:1-5). May we rise up and be the mighty warriors we are called to be!
Joining you in prayer today, that our mighty GOD will descend his spirit upon Va. Tech and lay a peace that passes all understanding upon that campus. We also need to lift those involved in campus ministry up; that GOD will provide them strength and Wisdom during this time. I know that the campus minsitries are strong there, esepcially Campus Crusade. This is just more evidence of the boken world we live in and our need for a Savior.
Many many prayers are being said. My heart pours out for everyone affected by this tragic event.
We just received word that a one of the murdered students @ VA Tech, is a daughter of a family at our church. Her younger brother(and only sibling ) hangs out w/ my kids. They are a wonderul Christain family...Our pastoral staff is there w/them now. Please pray for them and all those ministring to the families and friends.
May the God of all comfort hold them so close during this very difficult time.
I just recently moved to a new state away from my wonderful home church. One of the women in my Bible study group there sent me the addy for this blog. Thank God for how he works in our lives with small miracles everyday. We have not yet found a church here yet, but God has spoken to me today through this blog and reminded me that He is still here beside me and guiding my life. When my heart feels so heavy, I am encouraged by the wonderful words of my sistas in the Lord. I pray for all the families and students affected by the awful tragedy. I am also praying for trblmkrtess and her son. May God touch your son's heart and may His healing touch give your son hope for a brighter tomorrow. I will continue to keep him in my prayers. I pray that God's loving hand of protection and care and unending love surround your son and your family and those families of this tragedy. Sorry this is so long, but my heart is so full. Thanks for listening.
Having relatives attend Va Tech and friends who work there, I am at a loss for waht happened. I attened college jsut down te hroad form TEch and I now reside about 45 minutes away. I never thougth something like this could happen in my back yard. Knowing many faculty I ask you to keep them in your prayers, as they have not had time to grieve, as they are working hard for memorial events as well as trying to assit grieving students and families. And also the faculty is having to meet the media daily. I know they have not had time to grieve, pray for God's protection over them as well as the friends and families of the victims.
God is our stregnth, our Hope, our shelter. Our Godis still good, He still sits on the throne.
May the families and students at TEch feel his loving arms wrapped around them.
Oh, Father...where else can we go for comfort and solace? You alone have the answers for life's issues. May all those impacted by the horrors in Virginia see their need of You.
O Heavenly Father, You are Jehovah Jireh, our provider, You are El Shaddai, our all-sufficient Heavenly Father, our Abba Daddy, You are everything we need. We ask you to wrap Your Loving Arms around the family and friends of everyone connected to the Virginia Tech tragedy. You are close to the brokenhearted and You save those who are crushed in spirit. You are surely so close to them in this time. Lord Jesus, help them to sense Your presence in their lives. They need You more than they need their next breath. We know You respond to our sighs, our tears and our murmurs. We know You are near to all who call upon You; so near that You can feel breath when no voice can be heard for faintness. Send forth Your Word and heal them. You are our Great Physician, our Jehovah Raphe, Thank You, Lord Jesus, that Your Word is a panpharmacon—a salve for every wound. You are Jehovah Ra’ah, You are our Shepherd, we lack nothing. You make us lie down in green pastures, You lead us beside the still waters. You restore our souls. You lead us in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for You are with us. You are Emmanuel, God with us. Your rod and Your Staff, your Holy Spirit and Your Word, they comfort us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. You anoint our heads with oil, overflowing with blessings. Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Amanda, There is a portion in your mom's study on Daniel where she talks to a woman that went thru terrible things because of Hurricane Katrina. Beth's reaction was that only Jesus can heal wounds that deep. May I quote her? (I had to search to find it). "Jesus alone gets a soul through something like this."
Love, Su from CO
I know I am a little late responding.
I work for the Town of Blacksburg where VT is located. My husband and I both graduated from VT and he works in one of the buildings next to Norris. We have a friend who also works in Norris and was late to work because of a sinus infection. Thank God for that illness! But he and his wife are not believers. Please pray for them!
Also, no offense Beth, but I did not follow the leader's guide for our "Believing God" Bible study that night. However, the week's homework was on the tongue. We talked about what may have happened if some of the kids he grew up with had tamed their tongue. And I said that I had issues with the tongue that week because of the media and their treatment of administration and being in the faces of the students trying to mourn.
Please keep us still in prayers. All last week the Scientologists have been approaching those at Tech and in the Town who are in mourning. Other religions have been respectfully standing aside, but have been available, but the Scientologists have been pushing their agenda.
Thank you for praying for us!
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