Lessons from A to Z ~ I Have Not Come for the Well

Last month we geared up for another fancy Easter at our house. I got out our best china and laid out the kids’ fancy Easter clothes. All to celebrate what Christ came for…NOT the fancy. Not the people that “have it all together”. But for the sick, the lost, the people that have it all falling apart.  This has caused me to seriously re-think my approach.

So this Easter had special meaning when we got the opportunity to spread love and the Easter Message to the kids at Syringa—the low-income trailer park that Resonate has adopted. Here's how it happened this Easter:

I was out of town, speaking to women (about this very topic), when I received an email from one of our Syringa team members: “We had the wrong dates for the Easter Party at Syringa. It is TOMORROW and they need 30 baskets and an egg hunt!” It was too short of notice to do much, and I couldn’t start making calls in the middle of a conference. I said a quick prayer for helpers to rise up, and left it in God’s hands.

The next day, Chad texted me the following pictures. (No, I hadn't called him about this.)

 

Xavier & Zander help deliver baskets.

He had seen my email and took action! That morning he called people to sponsor baskets. Then he, the kids & the team met at Walmart and bought everything for 30 baskets. Then they went to Syringa, filled the baskets, had a party and played with our little friends there. I was so proud of my family! (And of Chad for knowing my heart for this! 1000 extra bonus husband points for Chad!)

30 baskets filled and ready for kids!

A close-up of each basket, filled with goodies and Easter info.

Egg Hunt on the lawn of newly re-opened community center.

We are learning as we go, folks. But this became the highlight of our Easter week by far! Easter is too good of news to keep it as a fancy church affair. It is news worth sharing, worth taking a basket to a child, a ham to a neighbor, or an egg hunt to a slum. It is worth taking the message of Christ to his prime audience: those who are not well yet.

Some of the team, our kids and Syringa kids.

And Jesus answered them, 

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 

I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance.”

~ Luke 5:31-32 ~

Waking Up to A Call

The other morning I woke up with a voice mail on my phone - left at 1:30am from a CPS Case Worker. Police had taken a 3 & 4 year old brother and sister into custody in the middle of the night. (You can imagine the circumstances.) The Case Worker was looking for an emergency foster family for them immediately, for a few days until long term placement could be found. We called back right away and left messages. We never heard back, hopefully they found a good emergency placement, and then another good foster home.

I share this for a few reasons.

#1 Its easy to forget that there is a hidden epidemic going on. Children, unprotected, waiting for a safe place in the middle of the night. This is a real thing. This is a need in all of our neighborhoods. And its growing. Maybe you are being "called" to step out and answer this need. Maybe you are called to help support someone else to do this. Maybe you are called to pray regularly.

#2 No, we are not looking to foster more kids! I'm at capacity, both in our house and in my life. BUT GOD. But God called us at 1:30am. But God gave us a home and a heart. But we have one more bed... its the one we were sleeping in when we got this call. Surely a couch is fine for Chad and I for a few nights while a couple precious kids sleep in our bed.

#3 Sometimes I'm a little afraid I'll turn into the crazy old lady down the street with 20 kids. I'm pretty sure I would be crazy. But our hearts still break over this.

So I share this not to upset or bother anyone. (Well maybe just a little.) I share this because its just the facts. And I have to squeak this wheel... and hope for a little grease. GOD has a plan for these children.  It is His church. (Us!)  Not sure how or who. But maybe someone else reading this will be prompted to "wake up" to a call.

James 1:27 ~ 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.

* Note: For more information on how to help be a resource to foster kids, follow this link: http://adoptuskids.org/for-families/state-adoption-and-foster-care-information.

* Please consider being a Respite Provider (get certified to watch foster kids every once in a while, providing a break for their foster families), or a certified Driver (driving foster kids to and from visitations).

* Below is a flyer with helpful information on other ways you can help.