Dr Michael J Mannia, D.Min

At 8:46am, September 11, 2001 evil men unleashed their grotesque and dastardly plan that took down the Twin Towers and part of the Pentagon, ending the lives of 2,996 innocent people.

The world watched in horror as unthinkable events unfolded. Even now our hearts ache for those who lost their lives and for the loved-ones left behind. Our grief will last a lifetime, we will never forget!

Evil’s striving against God was on full display on 9/11; yet to no avail, because immediately following those heinous acts love, grace and mercy rushed in. As people fled the towers hero’s of all sorts came to help those in need. The same stairs that were frantically descended were also hastily ascended by selfless souls coming to help their fellow citizens. Service members ran into the Pentagon to assist afflicted comrades with no regard for their own safety. Brave men and women stood their ground and rushed the cockpit of Flight 93, giving their lives so that others could live. These acts of love are of the highest order.

Love won on 9/11. Acknowledging this will not take away our grief, but it brings hope to our aching hearts. As we reflect back on the horrible acts of evil perpetrated on September 11th let us honor those who perished by choosing acts of love in their memory.

God bless you, and God bless America!

To memorialize is to preserve the memory of. Today our nation pauses to remember and honor those who gave all for the sake of our freedom. We will never forget your great sacrifice. We hold you in the highest esteem. Thank you.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”” Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Be quick to listen... (James 1:19). Here's an interesting exercise, select a day of the week where you intentionally work to listen as much as possible to others, while speaking the least you can. Jot a note about what you're learning each hour of the day. Then review your notes at the end of the day to assess all you've learned.

Struggling with an issue or challenging decision? Seek wisdom from the Lord. Pray and ask for Him to reveal what it is you are to do. Seek patience while waiting on the Lord, and ask Him for the courage and strength to do His will once it is revealed.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." (Luke 6:21). Be willing to grieve your losses so that you can live, laugh and love more deeply.

Ceasless activity is not God's plan for you (see Matthew 11.28-30). If you find that you simply cannot pause, or when you do you feel highly anxious, it may be you have unresolved pain or trauma from your past. This is where counseling can help. www.drmannia.com

Here is the hope that is available to us today, that Jesus Christ was both God and man, who lived a sinless life and died as a sacrifice for our sins. After three days in a tomb Jesus arose, spoke and ate with His disciples, and appeared to hundreds of others before ascending to His thrown in heaven where He now intercedes on behalf of believers. If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ today is the perfect day to make a commitment to follow Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you make this decision today, get plugged into a good Bible believing church.

We live in a time where peace can be challenging to find. But one sure way to discover more of peace is to ensure spirit rules over passion. Listen to the wise words of the apostle Paul, "To set the mind on the flesh [i.e., passion] is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6, emphasis added). Notice "Spirit" has a capital "S" meaning Holy Spirit. Regardless of your circumstances, as believers we can experience peace by focusing less on passion and more on promptings of God's Spirit.

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5). If you're struggling with accepting God's love then counseling can help. Reach out today: www.drmannia.com