Would you please consider taking a moment to pray about something very important?  I’ve just been cleaning up after a lovely Christmas party, with very welcome background music – a new worship song Michael’s been working on, thinking about how blessed I am to be celebrating this sweet season with friends and family. Christmas lights twinkling on the tree and mantle, dishwasher humming in the background, food in the pantry, cars in the garage, happy memories of the evening…I guess I’ve been enjoying counting my blessings.

But reality hit just now.  I’ve been hearing all day and several days before about the horrible possibility that the president of Syria might use chemical weapons on his own people (or who knows where).  Armed and ready, bombs loaded with sarin gas which could kill thousands, are at his command.  My thoughts shifted to the uncertainty in that part of the world and how desperately we need God to intervene.

Who else knows the mind and heart of this man, Assad?  He’s already killed 40,000 of his own people and especially the suffering of the children under his rule is just horrendous.  My own beautiful grandchildren (7 of them!) are enjoying the wonders of Christmas and loving life in freedom, while children their ages, no less beautiful and special, are being subjected to fear, uncertainty, maiming and killing.  My heart just breaks for the parents who have no where to take their families for protection. And what of the orphans who’ve been created by this madman?

But God breaks into my racing thoughts and reminds me He’s here.  Right where the confusion and worry for strangers in bombed-out buildings on the other side of the world collide with the thoughts of “what fun and laughter and great food and fellowship we had tonight!”  And He, ONLY He, can make any sense of this troubling conundrum.  The worship song is the perfect theme for my burdened heart to cling to – All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name – of course!  I can call on the power of the Name that is the only name that causes both angels and demons to fall before it!  That every human being that has ever lived will bow to one day!  President Assad and other power-mad world leaders only think they call the shots.  God alone is Lord over all and all will – now or later - hail His power.

If you will, stop and pray right now that the plotting, evil-minded and dark-hearted schemers of the earth will be restrained by God’s love and mercy.  Pray that their plans fail and even pray for their salvation and that God’s will, as it is in heaven, will be done. 

Thank you, and Michael and I pray for you this Christmas season, that you and those you love will find great joy in celebrating the King who has come and who reigns forever!

We love and appreciate you all!

Debbie