Wednesday prayer & verses (07 01 2009)

Thought for the day

"Many years ago, at Stanford Hospital, there was a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, 'Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza.'

"As the transfusion progressed, he lay in a bed next to his sister and smiled, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away?'

"Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.

"What a beautiful example of love! We can easily measure our love for others by how much we are willing to do for them. There are some people I love enough to drive across town and run an errand for them. There are other people I love enough to be awakened at 3:00 in the morning if they need someone to talk to.

But there are very few people I love enough to give my very life."Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13-14)I'm not asking you to die for anyone today. But I do want you to ask yourself this question: "How much am I willing to do for those whom I say that I love?"

Verses

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out).

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!

Proverbs 22:4

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.

1 Timothy 6:17

Continue charging the rich of this world to stop being haughty and not to fix their hope on a thing so uncertain as riches, but on God who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment;

Prayer
Father, along with the Psalmist David, we pray for relief from our distress. We pray that the light of Your face would shine upon us, for You have filled our hearts with greater joy than when grain and new wine abound. You give us a sense of security when we lie down so that we can sleep in peace; for You alone, O Lord, make us dwell in safety. We lie down and sleep and we wake again, because You sustain us. We will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against us on every side. From You, O God, comes deliverance and You shower Your blessings upon Your people. Thank You for caring for us, for sustaining us, and for providing for us. Amen.