I bet when you hear the word "missions" you immediately think overseas trip. Would you believe that I am doing a mission right here in Wisconsin through my home, daily, as a foster parent? Missions doesn't have to happen on the other side of the world, it could be right in your home with that extra seat at the dinner table or an empty bed. So I sat down and thought, do Christians know that we have a responsibility to take care of others without a thought?
Luke 10:27
He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'."
God has called us to love Him first, then your neighbor as yourself. So if that neighbor is in need of someone to take care of their children and mentor them, we Christians should be the first to stand up and say, "we can help!".
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This reflects to me that no matter the circumstance, we are closer to God when we do what is on His heart.
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.
Children in foster care may still have their birth parents involved in their lives. It is our job as foster parents to help them see what their best potential through God could be.
Mark 9:37
"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my
name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the
one who sent me."
Thinking back to the song, "Jesus loves the little children", just how each child matters to God!
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
It is great to have head knowledge of the Bible, but even better to go out and be a blessing to others through serving.
Matthew 25:34-40
“Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the
kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry
and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
We are serving God himself when we take in these children and their past. Just think how blessed we are to have a roof over our head, running water, an abundance of food! We need to be good stewards of these things and one way is to be a foster parent.
Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
We can help these children learn to live a better life for when they either return home, become adopted or age out of the system.
James 2:17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
This just reiterates what James 1:22 has to say.
Do you know that you may feel as though you are not impacting that child's life when they are in your home, but you really are. They may go home or grow up somewhere else and reflect back on how they become who they are and remember you, the foster parent who taught them biblical and moral principals so that they may have eternal life with God in heaven!
All scriptures are in NIV. The views expressed are solely my own opinions and I consulted the Bible for help. :) Want to know more about foster parenting, contact me and I'll do my best to help!
1 comment:
I am a foster carer in Australia but started a little later in life, at 52, when my own four were mostly grown. I believe my home is my "mission field" and even though I only have long term two foster daughters, I know this is God's plan for me, them and indeed all my family and friends. It's not always an easy road, but so rewarding in so many ways. I have had my older daughter for three and a half years, since she was fourteen. Sadly, her mother passed away three months after she came to live here, after a long illness. It has been a steep learning curve, but one that I would not change. We both grew up! Then a year ago we welcomed an eight year old moderately disabled little girl into our family. More challenges, more growing up to be done )by me!!) and so many wonderful rewards, challenges and adjustments to be made. So here I am, almost 56, with two bio children aged 18 and 29 (both girls) at home with my foster daughters, chosen by the Lord for my family, now aged 17 and 10. I have a married 31 year old son with three children and a married 27 year old daughter with one child.
Thanks for your blog, I agree wholeheartedly and wish you every blessing!
Post a Comment