Binding up the brokenhearted
Psalm 68:6 NLT
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
Isaiah 58:6 SMG
“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.”
Proverbs 24:11 NLT
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done.
James 2:8 NLT
Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
I would like to support ministries that touch the heart of God as described in the passages above; bringing hope and rescue to those who are enslaved or unjustly imprisoned, sentenced to death, trapped and hurting. The International Justice Mission, New Day for Children (home for girls rescued from sex trafficking), Whatcom County Pregnancy Center and Agape Home for women and children.
Asking God
Things to ask God about:
Do You have any more children planned for us?
Should I commit the time and resources to develop my business?
Which path should DH pursue for short-term income? Should he continue with his long-term plan of game design, or do You have something else for him?
What steps should we be taking with our children right now?
Storm
A heavy clap of thunder seemed to originate from just across the street, and rumbled through the walls of our house. Our first indication of an August storm in progress. Two-year-old Anika and I were finishing up a plate of stir-fry beef and broccoli while sitting in the play room reading The Shy Little Kitten. Having napped earlier in the evening, she felt no need to be asleep at midnight.
We relocated to the living room couch and sat in darkness, staring at the sky. Absolute whiteness bleached my entire field of vision. As sketches of gray seeped back into my eyes, my startled mind caught up with that instant – “Am I blind?!”
Anika clung to my neck, her back toward the sky, and said she didn’t like it. I told her how I used to love thunder storms when I was a little girl. The electricity would always go out and we would light candles. “I like candles,” she agreed warmly. The next flash and boom clinched her little arms around me again. I suggested the lightning looked like fireworks, but even this did not encourage her. “Listen!” I enthused. “It sounds like music!” Instantly her posture relaxed and she turned toward the glass with interest. “Yes,” she agreed, “It is!”
Eventually she wilted in my lap. Almost suddenly, in the two minutes between one flash and another. Little head drooped backwards, her hands still strongly gripped around my neck. I continued to gaze meditatively into the storm, while gradually her arms relaxed and slid down. The hubby’s car finally pulled up to the curb. I watched him against the fading lightning, striding across the weedy grass. As he stepped inside, Anika abruptly sat upright. “Daddy! Hi Daddy!” Just as quickly, she leaned back into the cushions and continued her sleep. He knelt beside us and together we sat in awe of the flickering remnants in the sky.