[Membersandfriends] Friday, September 24, 2004

Thu Sep 23 22:02:06 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Friday, September 24, 2004

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The Upper Room Living Prayer Center

The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by Christian volunteers. Submit prayer requests online or call and speak to one of our volunteers at 1-800-251-2468 (U.S. and Canada) or 615-327-4673 (International).
http://www.upperroom.org/prayer_center
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PROTECT THE CHILDREN
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Jeremiah 31:15-17 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD:
A voice is heard in Ramah,
     lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
     she refuses to be comforted for her children,
     because they are no more.
Thus says the LORD:
Keep your voice from weeping,
     and your eyes from tears;
for there is a reward for your work,
          says the LORD:
     they shall come back from the land of the enemy;
there is hope for your future,
          says the LORD:
     your children shall come back to their own country.

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The tongue of the infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives them anything.
-- Lamentations 4:4 (NRSV)
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EVELYN Trostle was a college professor who became a missionary.  In 1920, she was sent to help victims of genocide in Armenia.  Trostle witnessed terrible massacres, but she trusted God for protection and did not desert the orphans under her care.

Over decades and centuries, one war has followed another.  Many innocent children of the world have suffered and died.  Yet God inspires individuals such as Evelyn Trostle to save the children.  Saving the children has meant hiding, smuggling, doctoring, teaching, feeding, adopting, and sponsoring them.  Good people have whisked children around the globe, advocated for them, lobbied for them, written about them, and physically stood between them and harm's way.  God's people have been ready, often at great personal risk and cost, to protect the children of the world from violence.

The story in today's scripture reading from Jeremiah takes place against a backdrop of violence, with children the innocent victims then as now.  But God gives us hope that through our prayers and our actions, the wailing of mothers can give way to shouts of gladness.

Prayer:  God, we commend to your care the children of the world.  We accept your challenge to join you in preserving their lives.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What can I do where I am to help children?

-- Frank Ramirez (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Children threatened by violence

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RELATED READING ...

A perfect gift for children, THE UPPER ROOM CHILDREN'S BIBLE STORIES AND FASCINATING FACTS features 365 familiar stories, along with little known facts about biblical times. This beautifully illustrated, hardcover book will delight any child.  Scripture references are also included.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12702

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.