Luke 1:67-79, Psalm 119:165
Most of us in Pennsylvania can remember back to October 2, 2006, when Charlie Roberts burst into a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania and ordered a teacher, a teacher’s aide and the boys to leave, then bound 10 young schoolgirls and lined them up against the blackboard. He boarded the windows, apparently preparing for a long siege; but as police surrounded the schoolhouse, Roberts shot all 10 girls before killing himself. Five girls died; the others were severely wounded. What happened afterwards startled the world; the victim’s family members offered forgiveness and mercy and even took over a million dollars that was donated to them by caring people, and gave it to the murderer’s widow and children. This is an awesome story of love and forgiveness; but in an interview with one of the victims’ family members, she was asked what got and continues to get her through this tragedy and she simply stated: “The peace of God”. This is the spiritual peace that Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:7 and is beyond our understanding; a spiritual peace that can only come from our Lord and Savior. If the whole world would receive this peace, then there truly could be peace on earth this Christmas season. God Loves Ya;)
