All
of the violence in our neighborhoods, towns, and world is sometimes
too awful to think about. When we hear of the violence, we want
to do something. Many times the response is more violence because we
believe that this will solve our problem. As Christians, this cannot
be our response because violence doesn’t create peace. God
doesn’t call us to throw punches at the problem, God calls us to
show peace and understanding. The majority of the time violence we
want to use as a response stems from wanting to protect ourselves and
our families. The One who can and will protect you and your
family, already is. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, “We are hard pressed
on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted , but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
and in Psalm 23:1-2 it reads, “ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside
still water; he restores my soul. He leads me in right path for his
name’s sake.” God will keep you safe because you are God’s
beloved child. God wants us to stand together, to pray together, and
to work together toward peace. Even when we wake up and another
tragedy has happened, we can know that God is with us.
Dear
God, Thank you for being
with us through all of the violence in our world. Keep us safe, as
you always do. Amen.
*****
Kate
Summers is a senior at Mount Carmel
High School. She lives in Illinois with her parents, who are
both pastors, and her brother who attends the University of Illinois.
Serving as the Vice Moderator for the General Youth Council,
she is excited to serve as the Moderator next year. She is also a
part of her Regional Youth Council, is a section leader for the
Marching Aces, is treasurer for Interact, and serves on band council,
the Youth Advisory Board, National Honor Society, and Aces for
Christ. Kate takes Honors classes, voice lessons, and sings in
3 choirs. In church, Kate serves as a junior deacon, is an active
member of CYF, and has been going on mission trips since she was 4
years old. She plans to study Religion and English in college with
hopes of going on to seminary to become a minister.
*****
Our 2016 prayer vigil theme is Helping Our Children Heal from Violence. For more resources visit disciplesjustice4children.org and docfamiliesandchildren.org.
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