Ok, ok...I know it's been FOR-EV-ER since I've been on here. This place (blogland) is addictive! But life just pulls me far too much away from here. I think of many of you & continue to pray for those of you I know are struggling with something. And Paula, God help me, I got your e-mail today that you left on 8-18. I don't even check my e-mail very often. Being a single parent is tough. Then getting down to see my dad after his stroke in March every weekend for several months took its toll too. Then I tried to get landscaping work done outside before it got too hot. Then I was a painting fool getting several rooms in the house done. Then getting my son in football. Then he got injured the 1st week of practice so on to dr's appts. & now he's in his 4th week of physical therapy. Getting the kids ready to get back in school....now it's homework, etc. I've been swamped at work. My income decreased by $500/month, so trying to find another job. And just....just....(well, you get the picture)
At any rate, I watched an rerun once of Law & Order SVU. Not my usual thing, but I'm guessing God wanted me to see this particular episode. To make a long story short, this one woman escaped Congo after being brutally raped by soldiers. She described how those who raped her also raped her 5 year old daughter. I sobbed my eyes out listening to her describe that, and how many days it took her daughter to die. Every time I think of that episode, I cry.
So....as I'm praying this morning for those persecuted, this episode comes to mind & I find myself crying openly. And ranting at God as to how He could allow such a thing....and yes, blah, blah, blah, this is Satan's domain, etc. And then this indignation rises up in me & I say, "But YOU, Lord God, are the righteousness! YOU opened the sea & held back the waters for your people to pass through. YOU rained down manna for your people to eat in the desert. YOU placed every star in the sky. YOU know how many hairs are on each of our heads. YOU love each of us more than a sparrow. YOU can hear my prayer and my prayer is that you will place someone to intervene on behalf of those who are neglected, abused, malnourished, persecuted. YOU, Lord God, love them. YOU, will hear my prayer for them. So I will keep coming to you each day for them. I will stand in the gap just as Moses did for his rebellious people. Yes, there is much horrific evil in this world, but YOU will indeed be the light in that darkness. I believe that YOU will indeed open doors for people to help those in need. And I thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer and weeping with me!"
I realized that I don't feel that there is much I can physically do to help those people, but I can bow down on their behalf every single day of my life. And I will do just that. I will never know those who have been spared, or even saved. But I don't need to, I just need to do what I can & what I know is right.
Join me, my BB's, in interceding for those who have lost their will to live because of that which they must endure.
Photo Credits~
(owl:donaldthompson95 on flickr, luna:BillLepidoptera/harkphoto.com on flickr, willow/fence:trensamiro on flickr, all remaining: Merana Leigh)
Psalm 25:4-5
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (NIV)
Drench yourself in words unspoken, Live your life with arms wide open,
Today is where your book begins, The rest is still unwritten. ("Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield)
It matters not how long we live, but how!
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (NIV)
Drench yourself in words unspoken, Live your life with arms wide open,
Today is where your book begins, The rest is still unwritten. ("Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield)
It matters not how long we live, but how!
Welcome back! You are doing so much by standing in prayer for these wounded ones. I'll join you.
ReplyDeleteHi Merana - you have been missed. However, you are doing a great service by standing in the gap for those who are hurting.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joan
Welcome back. We have missed you. Sounds like you have had an awful lot to deal with since your last link. There are so many things in this world that we just absolutely cannot understand but some day we will. God sees the big picture and we can only see what is in front of us. Thank you for sharing your concerns and for your prayers.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte
I am joining in prayer with you and for you today. Caring for elderly parents, particularly long distance, while raising children or babysitting grandchildren (the Sandwich Generation :) ) is never easy. And it sounds like you have some extra challenges as well. Praying for you today!
ReplyDeleteMissed you Merana....I love the way you write...it comes right from your heart to mine. You said it right on...there 's so much I don't understand and why bad things happen....but I trust Him and can pray too
ReplyDeleteRandy Alcorn wrote a beautiful book -- Safely Home -- on the persecution in China. A touching book that urges one to pray for those sweet Christians who will not deny their God.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to blogland! May you be blessed as you read others posts. Thanks for sharing with such heart-felt honesty and care. God bless.
ReplyDeleteOh Merana, I'm soooo glad to "hear" from you. And I absolutely hear your heart in this post. It's impossible not to mourn for these people and wonder how God (who loves them so much more than we ever could) can restrain Himself in the face of such terrible atrocities.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, I will be in agreement with you in prayer - remembering that even if there WAS something we could physically do to help them, it would never compare to the powerful effect we have when we drop to our knees on their behalf.
Yes, there is much power in prayer.
ReplyDeleteHi Merana, welcome back! :)
ReplyDelete