praying for london...and the world

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thanks to the great michigan NPR station, we get the bbc news hour from 9am-10am each day...
it's a great way to keep up with the world while away at the beach!
this week one would really like to run and hide and really "vacate" rather than keep up with current events..but we have too many friends in the uk to do that and there really is too much going on not to take time to pray for all that is happening!
i am thanking god today for protecting folks from the bombs planned for yesterday! and thanking god for the amazing way the folks of britain carry on and show the world what god is always saying
"be not afraid".
i am also very aware that i am quick to pray for protection for my friends in the uk, while i am rather slow to pray for folks in iraq and israel where bombs explode on much too regular a basis.
i heard on the radio that something like 17 suicide bombing took place over this past weekend in iraq!!! 17...
this has motivated me to pray for life...for folks to take the lives of others seriously, even if they see their own deaths as martyrdom...that they'd have compassion on the innocents and refrain.
i have also been praying a lot for enemies...folks that let hate control them rather than compassion and love. and praying that the destructive plans of terrorists will be foiled and found out before they can take place...

jesus shine your light into dark places today.
help each of us to share your love and your compassion with those around us...with ALL of our
neighbors regardless of their beliefs, regardless of their politics, help us to love one another.

help us to act with compassion
help us to act in faith not in fear
help us to know that you are still in control even when things look out of control.
protect us from our stupidity, from our anger and from the anger and stupidity of others.

and thank you for being with us, even in dark places....even in pain, even in uncertainty.
thank you for you compassion and for your love for me and for each of us. amen.

Comments

[Caroline]

You're so right in what you say about bombs in London and Iraq.

4 bombs in London and silences are kept all around the world. 17 bombs in Iraq and ...

We live in scary times and the second cycle of bombs may well change much here in UK, but we must start to grieve on a wider field and let our grief turn to action ..

[Kathryn]

An American friend in London commented that it was so weird to have his sister, who lives in Jerusalem, phone to ask if he and his wife were OK...we take our safety for granted here, and that must not be...
Thanks for your thoughts, and the beautiful prayer, Lilly.
Hugs