Maranatha

Come Lord Jesus

Sometimes that is all you can say in the face of the world and all its problems.

This morning as the 4KIDS staff gathered once again around the conference room table, we were weary. This particular morning carrying the burdens of the world—our world—was not easy and was not light.

Come Lord Jesus

In a devotional led by the pastor from one of our partner churches, we contemplated Romans 1:7 and Jesus began speaking a similar message to all of us. He shared with us that we could have grace and peace because we were loved by God and that we would live from a place of grace and peace as we obeyed God.

Come Lord Jesus

In the world of social work and foster care it is easy to take control of situations, to pick up the burden of the world instead of the burden of Jesus. God’s yoke is easy and his burden is light—a promise to the weary—but He never promised that the world’s burden is light. He didn’t create us to shoulder the world’s yoke. He created us to shoulder His yoke so when we try to take the world on our shoulder instead of the cross, lies start to seem like truths; our inadequacies loom before us and we begin to believe that we are the changers of hearts, the movers of people.

Come Lord Jesus

Our program director, John Wilhelm, reminds us time and again that 4KIDS is not a placement agency, it is a ministry. Today, one of our staff members shared with us how God had revealed to her that this work we are doing is God’s work, but in His love and for His glory He invites us to participate in it.

In an effort to embrace the freedom of trusting God and turning things over to Him, we all turned off our phones for two minutes, got comfortable in our seats, closed our eyes, and contemplated the phrase, “Maranatha,” Lord Jesus Come. Within those sweet, two minutes came the freedom of trusting God to do His work, in His time.

God really spoke to us this morning. In His love He reminded us that when He says we can trust Him, He really means it. He reminded us that we are called to pick up His yoke, not that of the world and to simply love the people right in front of us, trusting the outcome of all the home visits, appeals, and conversations to the Lord.

Come Lord Jesus

Maranatha

As always, we want to share some praises and requests with you so that you can join us in thanksgiving and prayer:

The completion of the Network for Nurture training means that we are one step closer to having a larger group of respite care providers available for all our families.  We also have had so many new families opening their homes to children and partnering with us.  Thank you God for your provision!

We ask the Lord for health and well-being of our foster families, and also ask that the children who have just been placed with 4KIDS families will begin to heal and process.