Good News

It's Christmas time (in case you didn't notice).  The stores are full of trees, decorations, lights, holiday music, sales, and crowds.  We are frantically finishing up school, wrapping packages, baking holiday treats, mailing goodies to loved ones, and dashing off Christmas cards to the Aunt and Uncle you always seem to forget on your list.  We are so consumed with "Christmas" that we forget about the "Christ" part of it.

So many unspeakable things have happened in our nation the past few days.  I cannot begin to fathom the pain and questions of the families in Newtown, CT.  I have cried and prayed and spent sleepless nights with my over-active imagination.  I have squeezed my sweet children and worried over dropping them off at their school only to protect other sweet students at mine.  I have prayed for their teachers as well as my collegues because basically, I didn't know what else to do but cry and hug and pray.  

There have been several verses that I have seen in various places over the past few days that have spoken to me immensely, not only about the tragedy in CT but also about my God that I love and serve everyday and the celebration of him leaving his throne to come into this world of sin and evil.  Today's verse delivered to me via email from KLOVE states: 

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. ~Romans 8:38

Isn't that good news?  The Angel of the Lord isn't the only one who can deliver awesome words to a people who are afraid!!   KLOVE can deliver good news too - LOL!  I don't know about you but I have needed good news over the past few days!  I needed to be reminded that no matter how much I mess up, NOTHING can separate me from God!  No matter how much I worry about my children or my students or where Christmas money will come from, NOTHING can separate me from the love of God!  No matter how many cards I send (or don't send), or what I get my grandmother for Christmas, or how my students end their first semester with me, NOTHING can separate me from the love of God!!

 PEOPLE, THAT'S GOOD NEWS!  God never leaves us, God is always with us, God takes care of us, God believes in us, GOD LOVES US!! 

I would ask that even now, if you are a praying type of person and a believer in the Lord, please pray this verse over the families of Newtown, CT.  For the families of the victims as well as the families of the survivors.  Pray that the Lord will allow them to see that He has not left them, that He has not been separated from them, that He loves them and cares for them, and longs to continue to be or to once and finally be the Lord over their lives.  Sin and evil started early and that's why God sent his son to be born of a virgin, to live and to die a horrible death, to save us from sin and evil.  Please pray that these families as well as others across the globe will remember that this Christmas season and for the many days to come.