A New Life Begins
Mystery was in the air. It was a strange Sunday morning in LaFayette, a town hidden away in Northwest Georgia between picturesque mountains. Our dad was Pastor of the Church of God, and he would never miss church especially now when the townspeople were in shock. Even we children were caught up in the events, saluting our flag and singing our National Anthem with gusto. Just the month before in December 1941 the United States had entered World War II, which is known as the largest armed war in history. That first Sunday in 1942 my brother, sister and I were dressed for church, and soon bundled into the sleek, black car of a church member. “Why isn’t Mother going with us? Is she sick?” we asked. I didn’t mind that daddy was staying home because we were going to lunch after the worship service with the nice couple who picked us up. Later that day our Dad came to get us, and when we got home we tiptoed into our parents’ bedroom where Mother was sleeping. Opening her eyes, she called us to the bedside where she introduced us to the newest member of our family, Donald Brock Griffin. We were in awe and asked if this was the reason she and daddy stayed home from church. A mystery was solved. A new life, a new journey had begun in a small town safe from the conflict raging across the seas.
Prayer of Intercession:
Father, each newborn child is an open book that you watch grow from conception to birth; all the stages of each life is spread out before you, the days of life all prepared before he even lives even one day. Holy Spirit, help me pray for my brother according to the will of God. Even though the journey has been long, Your son expects to complete his journey here on planet Earth and reap a crown of life. Even though he forged rivers that could have overwhelmed him, the waters did not overflow him. He walked through fires that did not burn him, through the valleys and climbed many mountains, but You did not leave him or forsake him. You have brought him a long way and I thank You for giving him the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting his teeth but the glory-strength only You can give. Thank You for giving him Your strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy. You made him strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that You have for him in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Scripture References:
Psalm 138 (The Message)
Colossians 1:11-12Meditation:
Psalm 139