The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. Psalm 92:12
Paul and Priscilla Johnson (1952)
“Bless Them, Lord”
In April 1952 Paul and Priscilla, missionaries from America working in Thailand, were holding church services in Ban Dong Mafai village, where several people had become Christians. One Friday, seven children prayed to receive Christ. During the evening, the couple were singing hymns when gunshots rang out. Priscilla was hit in the chest; she ran for shelter but collapsed and died. Paul was shot in the abdomen.
He was taken to hospital in Bangkok, where he was operated on. He sang a prayer for his fellow workers and the Thai Christians whom he left behind, “Bless Them, Lord and Make Them a Blessing”. A few minutes later he lost consciousness and then died.
God is more anxious to bestow his blessings on us than we are to receive them.
Augustine of Hippo (354-430)