Fiona, a blogging friend living in New Zealand, posted this morning: "Please keep New Zealand in your thoughts and prayers. A massive earthquake hit the Christchurch region today. There have been many aftershocks and earthquakes since the first big one in September last year but this is the most dreadful yet. Sadly people have lost their lives and the damage seems to be far worse.
Thank you so much to readers who emailed to see if I was ok. I live in the North Island so am not near the earthquake area. As far as I know, family I have down there are not hurt. Many others aren't so lucky though and it is heartbreaking to think of the lives of many that have been ripped apart, again, today.
Thank you so much to readers who emailed to see if I was ok. I live in the North Island so am not near the earthquake area. As far as I know, family I have down there are not hurt. Many others aren't so lucky though and it is heartbreaking to think of the lives of many that have been ripped apart, again, today.
It changes ones view from insular to global very quickly."
That last line got me to thinking! Given the Mid East crises, the Wisconsin upheaval, earthquakes, recent sadness in our community, and personal "stuff", I rearranged the wording and closed my comment to her post THIS way: Certainly a time for all of us to move from "insular" to "global" and from global to "ETERNAL"!
ABIDE WITH ME
- Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. - Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me. - I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. - I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. - Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
I haven't had the news on and didn't know of this newest earthquake. It must be terrifying to be in one or have loved ones near where it occurred. My prayers are for all affected. May HE shine through the gloom today.
ReplyDeleteI think blogging has expanded my world to global and as I see the Body of Christ all over the world I can't help but move to the eternal.
ReplyDeleteI saw this about New Zealand...just months ago the flooding in Australia. Thanks for the post to call us to prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Even so Lord Jesus ~AMEN!
ReplyDeleteMy prayers go out to the people of New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all of the words to that hymn, I am sure that we've sung it in church.
Love Di ♥
Yes and amen.
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful part is that we don't even need to ask Him to "abide with me." He does. Even when we can't feel it and see it, we can know it. I am His and He is mine.
I have been watching this on the news, so very sad. I have been praying for all the wordly issues, we need to grow closer to God. Am praying for your friend......:-)Hugs
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for New Zealand. What a comfort to know that Jesus Christ is the one sure thing in our lives, when all else is unsure!!! Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
ReplyDeleteAmen Rebecca..............
ReplyDeleteCome Lord Jesus!!
Have been and will continue to pray for those in New Zealand......it is like the world has gone mad, but we who know HIM, knew it was coming,
It seems we get a lil closer to His coming every day, doesn't it!!
Thanks for coming by the last few days, appreciated your comments hon as always.
Blessings, Nellie
I love your blog and am going to look at your other ones. I am following you now but if I did it wrong, I am sorry and please just take it off. I wasn't sure what I was doing and it don't look like the others who are following you.
ReplyDeleteI know of a missionary family in New Zealand. They are all well but lost their home.So, I am praying for those in New Zealand and praying that through this, many will come to know the Lord as Saviour. connie
It's quite a word picture. What a small world this is; and how quickly we are impacted by news (good and bad) from once far-off places.
ReplyDeleteAs the world shrinks, our hearts expand. There is peace & joy & hope in God's plans. Can't you just hear His footsteps :) ?
Blessings,
Kathleen