When we rely on the promises of God.
It's been a blessed and busy week! Our church served 14 different families this week using the CarePortal (CarePortal.org)Platform to connect us with the need in our community. We met some incredible people, and at each meetup we asked "how can we pray for you". Without hesitation, each family had a prayer request on their lips... I wish I could share each story. As I collected prayer requests from our neighbors (listening to similar stories unfold) I was reminded, once again, that the most valuable and effective tool we have is prayer.
If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ~2Chronicles 7:14
It is an incredible feeling to be able to provide exactly what a family needs, at just the right time to prevent the disruption or removal of a child from their home. But can I tell you that the longer I serve the more aware I become of the deeper need that exists in our community. Humans need to feel loved, we need to belong, we need more than "stuff" delivered to our doorsteps... we need radical restoration... And that comes from the hand of a Father through connection with him.
On Sunday, I printed out the prayer requests we'd collected over the past 2 weeks and I passed them out during corporate prayer time. Most weeks I just forward them on to our prayer team, but this time the stack was so big and the requests were so intense, that I wanted to give my entire church the opportunity to PRAY and seek God's face on behalf of our families in crisis. I'm going to leave that prayer list right here and encourage YOU to pray for these families as well (names are changed for confidentiality, but God knows who they are):
Jenny is a mom of 5 who recently lost her own mother. Her children were removed when she started to struggle with depression.
She asked us to pray for healing and the strength to parent well.
Jaqueline is a mom of 2 children with special needs.
She asked us to pray for help managing the kids' behavior, medications and education.
Rosemary cares for 4 children and recently fell behind on bills.
She asked us to pray for her finances and ability to provide for the kids.
Angelica is a mother of 4 currently living in a homeless shelter.
She asked us to pray for new housing opportunities and a good job to help stabilize the family.
Nelly is a mom of 5 working on her degree.
She asked us to pray for the strength to finish school and get a better job to support her children.
Sheila is a mom of 3 young children, struggling with health concerns and holding down a
job while in treatment.
She asked us to pray for healing and financial stability.
Sandra is a grandma of 3 who took in her grandchildren when her daughter abandoned them.
She asked us to pray for her daughter's mental health and the reunification of her family.
Derek is a single dad of 2 struggling to make ends meet.
He asked us to pray for better employment and strengthened faith.
Tonya is a mom of 3. Her children were at risk of removal when she recently fell behind
on bills.
She asked us to pray for finances and better home life for her family.
Joanne is a mom of 2 young children.
Her children were removed when she lost her job. She now has a great job, and the
Kids are home!
She asked us to pray for steady, safe and reliable daycare so she can maintain her current situation.
Tasha is a grandma of 4 who took in her grandchildren in her retirement years.
She asked us to pray for energy and strength to keep up with the kids.
Keith is a single dad of 2 teenage boys.
He asked us to pray for better employment and strength to raise his sons well.
Rashida is a grandma of 5 who has been caring for her grandchildren since her
daughter abandoned them.
she asked us to pray for her her grand kids who are split up from siblings living
with other relatives.
Pat is a grandma caring for 3 young children. They are facing eviction when the land lord renovates to rent to a higher paying tenant.
She asked us to pray for the ability to stay in her neighborhood, connected to her current support system.
I challenge you (and myself) this week to HUMBLE OURSELVES and PRAY! Let's turn toward God, seeking his face, and turn away from everything that opposes him. Let's watch God HEAL OUR LAND in ways that no amount of programming or technology could accomplish.
May the Lord speak new hope into our hearts, fresh anointing on our service, and may He mend what's been broken in our communities. ~amen
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