Praying for First Baptist in Texas

I will be the first to admit that normally I am a little numb to these mass shootings. Maybe that just shows my selfishness - out of sight out of mind. But what happened yesterday brought me to tears. It is too close to home. This morning I found the website for First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. You can listen to their services online. We only post the sermon on this site, but they post the whole service and I listened to the October 8 service in its entirety. It is so much like what you would hear if we were to post all of our service. I can tell these are faithful, Bible believing, orthodox Christian brothers and sisters. They love and trust Jesus. They want others to know Him. What was almost prophetic was the Scriptures that one of their deacons read on October 8. He read Proverbs 6:16 - 19: There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family. He spoke a little bit about each one including "hands that kill the innocent." The October 8 service was the first service after the mass shooting in Las Vegas. He mentioned that as he walked through the Scriptures. He brought out the fact that each of the things in this Scripture is an issue of the heart and that our problem as humans is our need for a new heart from Jesus Christ. Knowing what had happened there yesterday as I listened it was mind boggling. One of the worship songs they sang - "Oh no, you'll never let go, never let go of me." Hanover Church, will you join me in lifting up our brothers and sisters in Christ in Sutherland Springs? I can tell from listening to their service that these are folks of solid, deep faith in Christ. How do you explain something like yesterday? Sinful actions of a sinful person in a Fallen and Sinful world. It is tragic. It breaks my heart that Pastor Pomeroy not only lost his 14 year old daughter, but so many of the congregation. It breaks my heart to think how that church body is grieving. God says through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:26 "If one part of the body suffers, then all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part is honored, then all the other parts share its honor." Part of the body of Christ is suffering and we suffer with them. Please join me in praying for them: Lord Jesus, we lift up our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ who are hurting beyond comprehension. Lord, we don't understand the depths of peril that the human heart is capable of. We witness this tragedy and we cry for those who are grieving. Please truly give them the peace that passes understanding and can only come from you. Please remind them that you have promised as you gather two or more in your name that you are present. Please remind them of your promises to never leave of forsake us. Lord, those brothers and sisters need you so much. They are desperate for You. Hold them. Hold their tears. Bring them together and let them know that the body of Christ is lifting them up. We need you Jesus. Our Country needs you. By the power of Your Holy Spirit please turn hearts to You. We love you, trust you even when we don't understand, and boldy proclaim even in the face of the most horrific tragedy that you are good all the time and all the time you are good. In Jesus name we pray, Amen." I pray for First Baptist and for you that the opening of Peter's letter would be so true for them and for you: "Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." Rejoicing in Christ, Pastor Jefferson