One of the biggest takeaways I got throughout the day yesterday was the longing for the sense of community we felt on this day, 9/12, so many years ago. I spent quite a bit of time reflecting on what that really meant and what it would take to get back without having another tragedy. With each story I read, it kept coming back to one central theme - action. It was one random act of kindness. It was one random act of heroism. It was one random act of good - all together at once. No one waited for someone else to do it, each and every person took it upon themselves to rise. Yall, that’s the magic of 9/12. No matter what it is, whether we want better for ourselves, our community, our businesses or our family, the magic is action, without hesitation with kindness and courage. Only when we do this and take it upon ourselves to better our situation, will we truly get what we’ve been longing for. If I could ask for anything, I would encourage you today to take it upon yourself to be the magic!

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Isaiah 43:18 (NIV) Are circumstances or choices from your past prohibiting you from living life today? If you are not careful, your past attaches its sticky tentacles to your present, robbing you of forward momentum and the ability to make new and healthy decisions that promote both growth and healing. If you allow yourself to become entrenched, replaying past wounds and regrets, you will see nothing but discouragement, failure, and frustration when you lift your eyes to the future. But when you believe that God is sovereign—over your past, present, and future—your faith in God’s ability to redeem and restore all things acts as a divine knife, severing the clutch your past has over you. So, take your hurts, regrets, and past mistakes and leave them with God, who is willing and able to bear all things and create beauty from ashes. And choose—you get a choice in the matter—not to dwell on them. You cannot change the past. But with God, endless opportunities await you in your future. Change is possible! Pause to Ponder: If painful memories from the past attempt to flood your heart and mind today, ask God to reframe your perspective. Invite Him to remind you what He is capable of and ask Him to help you remember to forget.