"911" - The 7th Anniversary

Today is the 7th anniversary of the life and world changing event called "911". This event impacted everyone in some way.

It doesn't matter if you were an American or not, the world as we knew it, changed. Our transportation changed, our security changed, the world's economy changed and the lives of American missionaries overseas changed.

Months before “911”, I had already purchased my airline tickets to fly from Phoenix, Arizona to Bonn, Germany and then continue to Moscow, Russia to minister in both cities. The question after "911" became - was I going to make the trip as scheduled.

The months following “911” everyone was nervous about everything and especially overseas flights. Our world had been shaken. Friends and family freely expressed their opinion and concerns about my trip. Honestly, I had questions and doubts too. No one knew what to expect next. No one expected 911.

Hearing Him
As a Christian, this is one of those times that you really have to dig down, pray up and ask the Holy Spirit for specific direction. What was He telling you to do or not to do?

As followers of Jesus, we should always be living that level of relationship with Our Heavenly Father and hearing His Holy Spirit. But we don't always, do we.

Sometimes it is only in crisis that we go to God and ask for direction. When in reality, He wants to provide direction all the time, if we only ask. It's that simple.

Relationship
Why do we have to ask? Why doesn't He just tell us? It's called relationship and freewill. It is the very reason He created us. He wanted a relationship with us but gave us freewill to choose that relationship.

Sometimes the problem isn't that we can't hear Him. It's that we don't ask or aren't in a position of relationship to hear Him speak to us. If that's you, take time right now to correct and confess the thing or things that might be interfering with your relationship and ability to hear Him.

Reconnecting
Search your soul, search your heart and ask Him to forgive you. Based on God's Word, the Bible, it is an instant restoration of relationship and it’s worth it.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ASV)

All of God's blessings to you and your family,
Rev. Lawrence Blakeslee
Missionary to Europe

P.S. You can read my “Day of 911" experience in the "Archive" section of this blog. Just go down the right side of my blog near the bottom, click on "2007" and "September". Scroll down and you'll find the title "911- My Story"