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Way back when (mid-90's, maybe?), Freshfire, the praise and worship band Cheryl and I were a part of, were leading worship for a series of meetings at the Christian Ministry Center in Willmar. Each night, the speaker would have us play the song 'I Walk By Faith'. The lyrics are pretty simple - "
I walk by faith, each step I take, I walk by faith, I put my trust in you". We'd play and sing and he'd have everybody else...walk. Walk to the left, walk to the right, stand up, sit down, fight, fight, fight. These meetings lasted nearly a month and every night we'd play 'I Walk by Faith', sometimes more than once! Not sure how many miles we'd walked by the time the meetings ended, but I was pretty sure I didn't ever want to play that song again. Lately tho', those lyrics have been playing in my head a lot. They come from 2 Cor. 5:7 - "
For we walk by faith, not by sight." The NIV says we live by faith, The Message translates it this way - "
It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going." I think that what God has been showing me these past few months is that, just like the song says, every step we take, whether it feels like it or not, is a step of faith, an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in Him.
It's that 'walk of faith' that's lead us to what we feel is the next chapter in the life of our family. One of the newer departments here at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City is the Children's Justice Initiative. CJI is dedicated to prayer for justice and local acts of service with the vision of helping orphans and the fatherless in their time of need. (See James 1:27) At a recent CJI meeting, Cheryl and I heard about a program called Safe Families for Children. Safe Families was started in Chicago a couple of years ago and is beginning to spread to other cities in the US, including Kansas City. Safe Families is an alternative to foster care that provides a loving sanctuary where parents can safely and voluntarily place their children in times of need. Safe Families partners with local churches and ministries (like IHOP-KC) and has grown to a network of over 1000 volunteer families that served as many as 1000 children and families lat year alone. It's often the last place a parent or family in crisis can go before they have to give up their children. (I really encourage you to check out the website - CBS News did a story on Safe Families that gives a great overview of the program. The video is posted on the site.) After praying and talking it over with the kids, we decided to sign up to become a Safe Family. We figured we'd fill out the application, have a home visit and an interview, then wait for the program to get established here in KC. Could be weeks or months, right? We forgot one thing - when you say 'Yes' to something the Lord has placed on your heart, He takes you up on it. Literally within days of filling out our application, we received a phone call from one of the leaders in CJI. They had learned of a young mother who was in crisis. She had given her life to the Lord and was trying to get herself cleaned up. She wanted to go into drug rehab, but needed a place for her 2 and 3yr old to stay while she got help. Would we consider taking these two into our home? After the initial shock wore off, we couldn't say anything by 'yes' - yes to providing love, stability and support to two of God's precious children while giving their mother the opportunity to get her life straightened out. 'Yes' to putting feet to our faith and being Jesus to this little boy and girl. All thing considered, it was a pretty easy 'yes.'
OK, that gets us caught up to where we are today. Right now, we're awaiting the arrival of just-turned-2 year old and his 3-year old sister. They could come as early as next week or it might be two weeks from now. Their mom is waiting to be accepted into a drug rehab program. We're planning on adding walls in our basement to make a bedroom for Josiah and trying to remember where we stashed the toys our own kids had outgrown. Speaking of our kids, they are super excited that we're doing this. They can't wait to welcome these little ones into the family.
I see so many scriptures that apply here, that help answer the question 'Why are you doing this?' Deuteronomy 10:18: "
He (God) defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing." Psalm 10:14 - "
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless." Psalm 68:5 - "
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless." Isaiah 1:17 - "
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." Matthew 25:40 - "
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me", and Matthew 22: 37-39 - "
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Please pray for us - for our hearts to be open and sensitive to the needs of these children, for their mom to be strengthened in the love and grace of the Lord to kick her habit, for the material needs we're sure will come (diapers, clothes, etc.) and for the thousands of fatherless boys and girls who need a home. We'll keep you updated on where this journey leads.
