A Biblical Mandate.

This month our Prayer Circle is praying with Psalm 68 as our guiding scripture.

“ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." ~Psalm 68:5

The first thing that comes to mind, on a personal level, is the provision and protection I can look back on in my own life, when my mom was a single mother and I was a vulnerable child. And then I think about all the kids and families we are serving as we respond to CarePortal Requests... all the families, just like mine, that we endeavor to stabilize . I find myself clinging to the fact that God is a Father who is ever present- He has been a Father to me, and he will be a father to families we serve. I take comfort in the fact that God is a defender and provider and protector. And I'm inspired to be a picture of God’s love and provision in as many lives as Holy Spirit will lead me toward. Yet, I'm simultaneously relieved and thankful that God did not make me responsible for fixing every wrong in society, instead He sits in his holy dwelling place, firmly in control, and supplies me with the power to participate in HIS solutions.

This week, I watched several local churches form emergency task forces for vulnerable families. Government shut down has threatened so many vital resources for families. Cincinnati Public Schools recently opened several school parking lots for students and families experiencing homelessness to use overnight while the police department patrols and keeps things as safe as possible. Our community is suffering, our kids are struggling but, the beautiful thing about a "time such as this" is that the Church is responding to the immediate needs. Local churches are partnering with schools in their neighborhood- using CarePortal to communicate the needs of students and their families- empowering congregants and neighbors to serve and help. If you want to join a serve team or form one of your own- Reach out to me (renae.denbow@careportla.org) and I'll make that happen.

“Awesome is God from his sanctuary, the God of Israel. He is the one who gives power and strength to his people.” ~Psalm 68:35

God, we pray for struggling families, single parents, widows, orphans and those navigating

treacherous situations. Draw them to you. Be their defender. Show them your love even if you show them through me. Display your care and compassion toward them and use me as the display case. Protect them even if I am somehow the protection you send. Provide for their lives, even if I am the provision. Lord, set the lonley in families- even if I am the family. 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.~James 1:27

God, May your church be a picture of your love for the fatherless and the widow, and the lonely and the trapped. Make us an example of your protection and your provision and your compassion for them. In our lives, our families, in our churches, and in our communities, may we grow in love and care for the vulnerable in a way that reflects your heart for them. By your Spirit, and by the power of your word, would you call even more individuals, more leaders, more families and more churches and raise them up into acceptable religion. Put us on mission and give us the strength to follow through. In Jesus’ name . Amen.