We thank Pastor Richard Mansfield of New Beginnings Church in ABQ and of NM Prays for leading us in prayer……..
Our Father, we are crying out to You once again as we hear of yet another shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas. We don’t understand what is taking place in the minds of people across America that feel a need to shoot and kill innocent people in our communities. We pray that You pour out Your Holy Spirit upon all the students, teachers, staff, parents and first responders as they try to process the anguish they feel. Comfort this hurting and broken community as well as the rest of those that mourn and hurt with them. Strengthen them as they lay their loved ones to rest and begin the healing process of their loss. Reassure them of Your love, grace and mercy. Help them as they release they damaged emotions to You. Give them the strength to release their bitterness and anger towards the gun man, others and even You as they try to make sense of it all. Give them comfort, hope and stamina for the weeks ahead. Might Your Holy Spirit dwell among the residents of Santa Fe, Texas and all those affected by this horrible and senseless act of violence. Give us wisdom as a people of God as to how we can pray and respond to such an act. We pray peace and blessings over this community in Jesus name, Amen!
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Wikipedia’s History of School Shootings in America:
From the founding of our nation in 1776 until 1963 a total of 187 years there were 116 school shootings. In the last 55 years from 1963 until todays present nightmare in Santa Fe, TX there have been 487 school shootings. That’s almost a 500% increase in ¼ the amount of time. Analyst, psychologist, and politicians have all weighed in on the cause and answers to these tragedies. Their solutions range from evaluating mental health, violent video games, safer schools, and tighter gun control. Yet from tragedy to tragedy nothing has changed, and our ears have grown weary with the endless hours of rhetoric, debate, accusations from both Democrats and Republicans. So, what is the answer? Consider this as one possibility. In 1962 and 1963 both prayer and the BIBLE were removed from our schools and universities.
The Bible says that the attributes of God are Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, and Kindness. In contrast the Bible says that the Devil has come to Steal, Kill and Destroy.
In this most recent tragedy the shooter wore a “Born to Kill” t-shirt and had a Facebook posting with a satanic symbol. Given the above attributes of both God and Satan who do you think this young man identified with.
God is a gentleman and He will not stay where he is not wanted (Mark 5:17). However, when God leaves his attributes leave with him allowing the enemy comes in like a flood. (Isaiah 59:13)
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, and God-haters, Romans 1
I’m deeply saddened by the loss of life, grief and sorrow these families will endure. Their lives will never be the same. It’s time for a change. Maybe we should consider the word of God as spoken in Zechariah 1:3 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’
