Knee Deep in Prayer

Hello to the world of internet users!

I hope and pray that all is going well for you wherever you may be; and I hope that you are coming to know, understand and experience the surpassing love our Father has for each of us. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. God is good Amen?

Well let me spill a little about what is going on in my life. As I said last time I am heading up the Luther Peer Support program and Christian club while at the same time I have had the opportunity to speak in the chapel services at the school. This past time I spoke about the love the Lord intended us to have and how we have distorted that perfect image. I talked about how love doesn't give just a little but rather it gives everything. My hope for Luther is that we as body of students, young adults as well older maturer adults may be able to join together in an uproar of transformation from contentment to extraordinary.

As I am typing these words its difficult to describe the rush of emotions; both excitement and heartache that I am experiencing with this school, particularly today. It was unlike any other day; I got to the high school around 8:30 am and proceeded in my morning bible study. I did some photo copying and thought nothing of what was to come next. I met a young grade 11 student in the morning who I was accompanying for music during chapel; after singing through the chosen song a few times we began to make our way down to the chapel. As students filed in and me and this student said a prayer to calm our nerves the unthinkable happened. Out of the blew a former student, who had been expelled the year prior, came rushing into the gymnasium waving a gun around and threatening all those who came near. He was very aggressive in his speech and only fool couldn't tell that this kid is and was hurting. After demanding one of the teachers to read a letter aloud, the school began to realize what was actually happening; we had become hostages within our own walls. It is without doubt that God had his hand in this place, my prayers are that the students will not come to blame God but will rather give Him the praise He deserves for protecting everyone. Needless to say the gunman was "captured" and every student and teacher made it out of the building safely, with nothing but the shakes and some traumatizing memories.

So please, I beg you, everyone reading this take a few minutes to pray specifically for the following:
1. That God would take this uneventful situation and use it to glorify Him, and to bring students to their knees in a humble dependence on God. Recognizing that we are unable to provide for ourselves.
2. That God would will it in the hearts of these students to forgive the young man who decided to put the well-being of others on the line.
3.That this young man would come to know the love of God, and find peace in Him and Him alone. May he burn his bridges and start a new. Would God show His grace and Mercy to this young man and would he be captivated by our loving Father.

As my computer dies, let me remind you with these thoughts. God loves us so desperately, there is nothing more that He wants then for us to humbling come before His throne in boldness and humble dependence. God is good, not just sometimes but ALL the time. Please continue to pray for me, for strength and wisdom, humility and joy in this journey I seem to be walking. I Him I will find my strength.

With much love and a anticipated heart,
Rockin the West Coast
Ben Raine

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.