Day 361 What's New?

It seems sometimes like there is nothing new in the world.  Go back 4000+ years to almost the beginning of mankind in the book of Genesis and there is Abraham with his family.  His first son, Ishmael, that he had with a maidservant and who was abolished after Abraham's son Isaac was born, had twelve sons who became the twelve Arab states.  Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau.  Jacob had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel.  Esau became the head of the Edomites.  They have all been engaged in battle of one sort or another against each other since that time.

So, today we see that two young men, supposed of muslim faith and therefore descendents of Ishmael, are the two that struck the blow against us on Monday in Boston.  Is it so difficult to believe that such evil and brutality continues from that time to today?  I guess here in our sort of protected environment, it is hard to believe.   However, since 2001, our environment hasn't been so protected.

As the Israelites turned from God over and over throughout the Old Testament, they were attacked and defeated and every time they turned back to Him, He accepted them, loved them and protected them.  There is so much to learn from the Bible about the history of the world that is still relevant to what is happening globally today.  It is a history book and it's a personal guide to how to live and how not to live.  I've heard it referred to as Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.  That is exactly what it is. 

I go to the Bible daily and it never fails to reveal to me exactly what I need to get through the day, to get through the disappointments of a diagnosis, to look forward to what I know is going to be another day in which to praise the Lord..... another day in which to slow down and just love Him.

Today I am asking for prayer for our friend Gracie who follows this journal and prays with us daily.  She has been in lots of pain for quite a long time and has a doctor's appointment today that she's nervous about. 

Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
We come to you today as a group asking for discernment in the doctors that Gracie is seeing today and for a diagnosis with healing in its description.  Just please wrap her in the comfort of Your loving arms so that she knows that You are with her every step of the way.  She loves You, Father, as I do and happily counts herself as one of Your children.  Love her, bless her, heal her. 
These things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above pain.
Amen