Thursday's Thoughts: May They Rest In Your Presence

 

 

 "Then He had a little child stand among them.  Taking the child in His arms,
He said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name
welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me
but the One who sent Me."
(Mark 9:36-37)

African Children Praying
Image courtesy/stevedicks.blogspot.com/HubPages

 

 

 "Look upon my affliction and rescue me,

For I have not forgotten Your Law. 

Defend my cause and redeem me;

revive me according to Your Word. 

 

Salvation is far from the wicked

because they do not seek Your statutes.

Great are Your mercies, O LORD;

revive me according to Your ordinances. 

 

Though my persecutors and foes are many,

I have not turned from Your testimonies.

I look on the faithless with loathing 

because they do not keep Your Word.

 

Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD;

give me life according to Your loving devotion.

The entirety of Your Word is truth,

and all Your righteous judgments endure forever. 

 

Rulers persecute me without cause,

but my heart fears only Your word.

 I rejoice in Your promise

like one who finds great spoil.

I hate and abhor falsehood,

but Your law I love. 

 

Seven times a day I praise You

for Your righteous judgments.

Abundant peace belongs to those 

who love Your law;

nothing can make them stumble. 

 

I wait for Your salvation, O LORD,

and I carry out Your commandments.

I obey Your testimonies

and love them greatly. 

I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies,

for all my ways are before You. 

 

May my cry come before You, O LORD;

give me understanding according to Your Word.

May my plea come before You;

rescue me according to Your promise. 

My lips pour forth praise,

for You teach me Your statutes. 

 

My tongue sings of Your Word,

for all Your commandments are righteous.

May Your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen Your precepts. 

I long for Your salvation, O LORD,

and Your law is my delight.

Let me live to praise You; 

may Your judgments sustain me. 

I have strayed like a lost sheep; 

seek Your servant, for I have not

forgotten Your commandments."

 (Psalm 119: 161-176)

 

This post is in memory of my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord,
50 men and women and at least 9 little children who were viciously
massacred this past Sunday, July 27th, by Islamic militants as they
attended a Catholic worship service in the African nation of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to a report this morning in The Washington Stand, the
horror did not end there.  Homes in the quiet town of Komanda were
set on fire and several people were abducted by these merciless attackers.

 My heart grieves for these victims of such mindless evil.
Especially for those precious children. 

This recent massacre is only part of the terrible and increasing persecution
 suffered daily by Christians across central Africa.  According to a report
 from Open Doors Ministries, 70 Christians were found beheaded in
 a church in the territory of Lubero in the DRC in February.

 Just last month, at least 200 displaced Nigerians receiving aid from
 a Catholic mission were slaughtered, with some being literally burned
 alive in their sleep after the building they were housed in was
surrounded and set on fire by Islamic jihadists.

These criminals are said to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces,
a Ugandan Islamic rebel group based in western Uganda and the eastern DRC.
The ADF is linked with the multinational jihadist militant organization
 better known to the world as ISIS, or the Islamic State.

The ultimate goal of this group is the establish a worldwide Islamic Caliphate
to be ruled under Sharia (Islamic) Law.  Although the Trump Administration 
has condemned the ADF as an international terrorist organization, as Family
Research Council Director Arielle Del Turco told The Washington Stand:

"In situations like this, we turn to Christ as our hope. We can pray for safety
and protection for the Christians in the DRC and across the region to be able
to live out their faith in peace."   She further added: "This brutal, unthinkable attack
 exposes the urgent need for political leaders in the United States and across the world
 to condemn violence against Christians in Africa and call for the basic human right 
of religious freedom to be ensured and protected." 

The action taken by the world remains to be seen. 

 

May those whose lives were lost rest safely in the
mighty presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

In Your Presence, O God
(2002)
Paul Wilbur Ministries