Still Saturday::more than the wide sea's sand...

GRACIOUS LORD

Thy name is love,     
in love receive my prayer.

My sins are more than the wide sea's sand,     
but where sin abounds, there is grace more abundant.

Look to the cross of they beloved Son,     
and view the preciousness of his atoning blood;

Listen to his never-failing intercession,     
and whisper to my heart,
"Thy sins are forgiven,
be of good cheer, lie down in peace."

Grace cataracts from heaven and flows for ever,     
and mercy never wearies in bestowing benefits.

Grant me more and more to prize the privilege of prayer;

to come to thee as a sin-soiled sinner, 

to find pardon in thee, 

to converse with thee; to know thee in prayer as

the path in which my feet tread, 

the latch upon the door of my lips, 

the light that shines through my eyes, 

the music of my ears,

the marrow of my understanding, 

the strength of my will, 

the power of my affection, 

the sweetness of my memory.

May the matter of my prayer be always wise, humble, submissive,

     obedient, scriptural, Christ-like.

Give me unwavering faith that supplications are never in vain,

that if I seem not to obtain my petitions

I shall have larger, richer answers,

surpassing all that I ask or think.

Unsought, thou has given me the greatest gift,     

the person of thy Son,   

and in him thou wilt give me all I need.

From "The Prayer of Love," Valley of the Vision, p. 147

The price of freedom is visible here...

Multiple parking spaces close to the front door were reserved for patients with spinal cord injuries and dozens of empty wheelchairs were lined up in rows outside the entrance. Just inside the doors, security guards checked photo IDs before we could enter.

Passing security, we stepped into a large atrium crowded with visitors and veterans of all ages. Amputees on crutches or in motorized wheelchairs weaved through the crowds and down the hospital halls – bringing to life the words engraved on the black marble slab at the entrance to the hospital grounds:

The Price of Freedom is Visible Here

Not war-wounded, but clinging to life with a liver damaged by a soul-sick addiction, our friend Nick in the ICU was treated with extraordinary respect and compassion. "If a member of the hospital staff enters my brother’s room and meets him for the first time, they greet him with affection and thank him for his service to our country,” his sister explained. 

I was impressed. In all the years I practiced nursing, I can't remember a single time that I was physically affectionate in greeting a new patient.

The price of freedom was indeed visible in the broken hearts and bodies in every hallway, elevator, and waiting room, but so was gratitude for the sacrifice - expressed in the love, respect and compassion the hospital staff showed toward those who sacrificed for the freedoms we celebrate today.  

It was but a glimpse of how I should live every day - the price of freedom in Christ visible in this place - in how I love and live with gratitude and affection for the sacrifice.

 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV

{Edited from an archived guest post at (in)courage}