Alphabe Thursday

I had to cheat! Last week my head was spinning from all the trials of my days at the office. Busy!  Too busy to put up my "U" post for Ms. Jenny and the gang! So I have taken time to combine my "U" post with my "V" post this week! I was thinking I was feeling very  clever but my mind was in Boston. I was feeling sad, shocked, angry! I hate living in an age when fear and trials surround us. As a young woman my father often said little catch phrases to me and I thought he was a really smart man. Oh he was, no doubt, very smart and very well read for a gentleman who attended formal school through the sixth grade! But not until I read the Holy Bible for myself did I realize where all his wisdom came from! My father quoted the Book of James! When I read it for myself I smiled. I started to live it. I started to use those very same phrases. Today I rely on the Book of James as well as the entire bible to get me through the day!

I found this google image and thought it would fit into my post here today. It is the Book of James 4:10. The verse makes sense considering another tragedy we face here in the USA.  So I took the word "united" and another word "villain" and combined them for my post!

Now anyone who knows me can attest that I love running! I am not really great at it, I tend to walk the straights and run the curves on a track but I want all this snow to go away so I can get into my favorite outdoor past time of walking/running at the new rec center outdoor facilities near our home. Anyone who knows me also knows that our youngest Nick is a runner and a good one, since he is currently running on a scholarship in Kansas! So yesterdays bombing at the Boston Marathon really shook me. I know these things happen, part of the world we live in, but I don't like it! What I see when tragedy occurs is that we become "united".We all come together for a common purpose because we share a common feeling. We all want the same thing, we want the villain or villains caught and properly punished! We mourn for the dead, we pray for the survivors.  We all think the same thought, "Who would be so vile and hateful to commit such an act. Attacking those who are undeserving of such terror and horror?

Here is one of two Runner's Prayer I am sharing with you. I thought they would be very appropriate considering the sadness we are feeling for Boston. I don't mean to sound rude but people that run in the big races like the Boston Marathon, The Bolder Boulder, the New York Marathon, they train, they train hard and spend countless hours preparing their bodies and their minds for racing. It is so sad to see how many had their dreams dashed because of hatefulness yesterday. When the New York Marathon was cancelled due to the events of Hurricane Sandy, we all understood. Nature is unpredictable and can not to contained. But this was an act of terror. What makes me so sad is that we see this so often and we come to prepare our minds for it. We get use to this behavior and for a while we all act a little kinder and more gentle. Then we turn our hearts away from the tragedy and we go back to our lives. So many take for granted  all the little things. We lose our tempers, we get impatient in traffic or in long lines at the grocery store. I have a way of dealing with these tragedies and never forgetting. I run the names of the victims through my mind. I think and pray for their families, wondering what they could use to just have a moment or two of peace. I remember these tragic dates and as the anniversary of them draws near I pray harder for those left behind. I know people somehow have to get on with their lives but I often think "how do they deal with it"? So I pray for them.

I think of my own phamily. I think about how much I love them and how sad I would be without them. I trust God,  I depend on Him. I rely on Him. I know He will always be there and no matter how much tragedy I hear about  in my lifetime I know He is always there, waiting with open arms for anyone who wishes to come to Him.

Matthew 11:28-30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁸ “Come to Me, all ^[a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is ^[b]easy and My burden is light.”

My prayers are centered on Boston and the people who live there. I send love and hope and a smiling heart to all who lost loved ones and to those who are recovering from their injuries. I offer them my own faith as a testimony that walking hand in hand with Our Lord will protect you. No matter what comes through your life if you hand it to Him and trust Him no matter what happens He will be there for you.

I will close this evening with my Book of James 1,2,3 plan for you!

James 1:2-3

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various ^[a]trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[b]endurance.