Saturday, August 7, 2010

Bible Blessings

It has been reported by several news channels that a medical team connected to the International Assistance Mission, which is made up of several Christian groups, were killed yesterday in Afghanistan. Ten people wanting to provide medical help to others were killed by the Taliban. The Taliban said that they found Bibles in their belongs so they killed them because they were thought to be spies spreading Christianity. One of the Asst. Directors for the group stated that they are a Christian organization, but do not carry Bibles when they work in these countries. We probably will never have the complete truth of how the workers, among them 6 Americans, died, but one thing we do know, they were persecuted and died for living out their beliefs~ reaching out and helping others in a war torn country.

On Thursday I wrote a post about books, and how grateful I am for being able to look at my book shelf and see 5 different translations of the Bible. I am free to read them to my heart's content, and share my beliefs without facing persecution. I must confess, I looked at my Bible a little different after hearing the news this morning. How grateful I am to live in a country where I can express my faith in Jesus openly and fully.
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I am sure Jesus welcomed home His faithful servants today with open arms. Nothing surprises God, and nothing is beyond His reach. He was there with them in their darkest hour. Especially today I am thanking you Lord for the many gifts you have given me ~ including more Bibles than I need, and a safe place to read them and share my faith.
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Be sure and visit Charlotte and GInger over at Spiritual Sundays to read or link up with inspriational posts.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had not yet heard this news. It makes us stop and think how very blessed we are to live and worship the way we choose. A wonderfully written and thought provoking post. Thank you.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

this is so sad..I always wonder why a human being would want to hurt another human being for any reason. I don't understand that. I too am very grateful for the freedom and rights we have in our country. Have a great weekend. I think you have a really caring heart.

Mevely317 said...

I needed to read this! Not just the facts, but your "slant."
How sad, that journalists must stick to "how/what/where/why" - and presume their readers appreciate their blessings, reading between the lines.

Anonymous said...

Yes, this is very sad news. There is so much we take for granted in our country... we are free to read, write, speak, dress and worship the way we want to. Yet as much as our country professes to be a Christian nation, there are signs that we are turning away. We must continue to pray about this.

Daughter of the KING said...

This sabbath we will mourn the lost of these Christians but we should rise our voices of praise even louder. Praise the Lord, we are free to worship while freedom is still ours. Praise the Lord, for all (including my love ones) that fought and died that we might live in a free America.

Thank you for your caring post...

Blessings,
Linda J

Elizabeth Dianne said...

Renee, thanks for sharing this. I had not heard this news.

And I am so glad that you received some peace after visiting my blog. We all have our "knarly days," don't we?

Think I'll go read one of those many version of the Bible I have in a safe place. So much we take for granted! Thank you.

Apron Senorita said...

Yes I heard the news and was sadden by it. There are people who talk about making a difference and then there are those that do. Their brave walk into an unsafe area to share the word of God is how God wants us to live our life. We don't have to carry a bible everywhere by we do have to carry the word of God on our tongues and speak it to those that are brokenhearted. Giving someone the gift of a bible is giving them hope.

Merana Leigh said...

So glad to have found you thru Spiritual Sundays! Wonderful post! I, too, am thankful every morning when I pick up my Bible & readily thank Him for the privilege of being born here in this wonderful country where I can openly worship Him, without having to hide my Bible, but display it proudly on the coffee table!

I look forward to following you & invite you to my blog & to follow as well! I also welcome any comments you'd care to share.

We are kindred souls...well, to a degree (I think I would have slit my wrists with SEVEN kids!!! My 2 are handful enough for me! CONGRATS in that accomplishment!) No, I refer to the love of all things autumn. Every time I drive up & over the mountain, I inhale DEEPLY so I can smell the mossy, forested creation. Why can't someone duplicate that in a candle, I ask?!

Blessing ~ Merana

Virginia said...

I am so glad you posted about this. I heard it on the news yesterday.My heart was overwhelmed with sadness thinking about their families.
When you hear things like that I always question WHY? But that is the mystery of life.
Sometime something good comes out of tragedy. Lest pray it does.
Thank you for this post….
Sweet Blessings,
Virginia

Musings of A Minister said...

Very interesting,tragic and enlightening. Thank you.

Charlotte said...

I was so sad to hear that report as well. We are so blessed in this country to be able to openly proclaim the gospel. Not quite as openly as in the past, but still compared to other places, we are definitely blessed. I pray this blessing will never be taken from us.
Charlotte

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

This brought tears to my eyes. I have not heard this new until now. Yes we are so blessed to be able to read our bibles and have as many as we want/need.
God Bless,
Ginger

Joan Hall said...

I heard about this - so sad. We do have so many freedoms in this country - we should never take them for granted.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these victims.

Blessings,
Joan

Saleslady371 said...

Good point...how fortunate we are to own our Bibles and read them at leisure. I never want to take it for granted either.

☺lani☺ said...

That's sad! As others said, they died for what they believed.
Thanks for visiting my site! Have a great week ahead of you!

Mya said...

Todays news had pictures of each victim and told a little about each one. One dentist, I believe, had given up his practice to devote his time to helping people in proverty, and each person had a sincere desire to help others. The people of that area were to have a memorial service for the ones that had only wanted to help them.
Glad you dropped by and thank you for leaving a note.

Rhodema A. Cargill said...

This event with the missionaries is on my heart this weekend. They were serving the least of these as Christ commands. God comfort their families and ministries.

Thanks for the perspective.

Jan Lyn said...

Thank you for taking the time to write on this subject. It is a terrible injustice and we need to continue to hold this in the Light of Christ. I pray that hearts will be filled with the Living Word It made me glance at my bookshelf as well, filled with all sorts of books and Bibles and it truly is a blessing that can so easily get taken for granted.

Lisa said...

I had not heard this! How tragic...and sad.