A Crazy Beginning for a New Year...

I was laying in bed last night as the New Year rolled in.  As soon as the clock hit 12am shots began being fired in the air.  For over half an hour it felt like our neighborhood was a war zone as shots continued, some extremely close to our house.  This is a pretty normal tradition here in the city, but in my twelve and a half years in Chester I don't think that I have heard as much shooting on New Year's as I did last night.

It was a reminder to pray for the peace of this city.  In my scripture reading the other day I read Isaiah 62:6b-7 which says, "You who put the LORD in remembrance take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise on the earth."  Isaiah here is talking about praying for the new Jerusalem.  As I was reading this God brought to my mind that I should also be praying in the same way for Chester, I should not stop praying intensely for this city until he makes it a praise on the earth.  

It's easy in the midst of chaotic times and even daily life to forget to be on my knees praying for God to move mightily here.  Continue to pray and believe with us that God has an amazing future for this city and that he is doing great things through our daily interactions with neighbors and friends.  A few minutes of crazy shooting does not have to define this year as one of violence and chaos.