{"id":24675,"date":"2020-03-25T14:35:59","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T18:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=24675"},"modified":"2020-03-25T14:44:37","modified_gmt":"2020-03-25T18:44:37","slug":"worship-wednesday-even-in-the-madness-there-is-peace-you-are-writing-a-symphony-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=24675","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Even in the Madness, There Is Peace – You Are Writing a Symphony – Switch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Piqsels<\/a><\/p>\n

[Two nights ago I was on a Zoom meeting call with Virginia’s Kids Belong<\/a> representatives and several others from churches and other community organizations. All meeting for the purpose of brain-storming for how we can best support foster kids, birth moms, and foster families. During this season of the Coronavirus and subsequent school closures and limited contact. Then last night Dave and I watched a movie – Instant Family<\/a> – not meant for everyone, but definitely it moved my heart all the more – in terms of reaching out to these kids.]<\/em><\/p>\n

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>– James 1:27<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children–and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>– 1 John 3:1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.<\/em> – <\/strong>Psalm 68:5<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I’d wanted to watch Instant Family <\/em>since first seeing the trailer<\/a>. Finally, as one result of “social distancing”, Dave and I watched it last night in our living room. It is NOT a family film. Strong language and adult themes throughout. However, it is one at least some adults should see – it is real (if not perfect – see excellent review below) in its depiction of foster parenting and foster care. Not recommending for everyone to watch the film, but do catch this one scene<\/a> of the painful failed reunification with the children’s birth mom. So beautiful in the raw work required of adults reaching into the lives of seemingly fatherless children.<\/p>\n

Instant Family – What Mark Wahlberg’s New Movie Gets Right and Wrong about Foster Care<\/em> – Christy Tennant Krispin<\/a><\/p>\n

Coronavirus Leaves Foster Children With Nowhere to Go<\/em> – Eli Hager<\/a><\/p>\n

In aligning with other churches and community agencies to serve this vulnerable population, we do a work that must please the Lord. To the point, even, that it is an act of worship. Right now foster children, and their birth and foster families, are more isolated than ever. The pressure in their hearts and homes must be hard for all involved. When in school, foster children have teachers who watch out for them. Teachers are a safety for these children because they care, they provide structure, and they sound the alarm when the children appear to be at risk for neglect or abuse.<\/p>\n

I don’t have answers here, but there are folks in our communities who are working toward answers. Ears wide open.<\/p>\n

Who knows how long we will be in this situation of “keeping distance”? However we are not out of hearing or direction from the Lord who loves these children and the adults in their lives. My hope is through listening to God, these agencies closest to the kids at risk, and through our churches, we can extend love, even in these days… in the power of the Lord.<\/p>\n

In preparing for this piece today, I went looking for songs that reflect God’s love and provision in such situations, and there are many.<\/p>\n

Songs for Foster Parents<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n