Finding Family in Faith: Refugees and Community Support

God sets the solitary in families;

Psalm 68:6a (NKJV)

This past Easter Sunday, two U.S. Army soldiers visited together after the worship service. It’s a common sight, at a military chapel, but this meeting was far from ordinary. *Bob and Henry were both born in another country, one that is not an ally of the U.S. When they each became United States citizens, their home country revoked their citizenship; they can’t return there, at least for the foreseeable future.

When Nancy and I walked by, there were Bob and his wife, plus Bob’s mom, who is still a citizen of her home country, and Henry, a single soldier, who was holding the couple’s two year-old son. The group was circled up, talking in their native language. My immediate thought was, “This is family and the family of God.”

Next, I thought of my friend Matt, from Jesusluvsall, who serves as a home missionary in his native Nebraska. He helps refugees who’ve come to the U.S. seeking asylum. Many of them fled war-torn countries, with little more than the clothes on their backs, not knowing when, or even if they can ever return home.

My heart is especially with a group of Christians from the Ukraine who have started a church in their new home city. According to Matt, the congregation called New Breath, is growing. This is despite the fact that these brothers and sisters in Christ only have temporary sanctuary in the United States.

But God is their first refuge and resource.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

Kind reader, as the devotional book, Streams in the Desert, pointed out this morning, “We can be of little use to others without a cost to ourselves.” Will you join me in praying for our brothers and sisters from other countries who are now living here in America? God may also lead you to support them in other ways, as my wife and I have.

Thank you for reading. ๐Ÿ™โค๏ธ prayers and love.

* not their real names.


The Stigma Stops Here.๐Ÿ›‘

#mentalhealthmatters



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24 responses to “Finding Family in Faith: Refugees and Community Support”

  1. peggywritesblog Avatar

    Thanks, David, for your kind support!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I’m not surprised you are a teacher, Peggy. It comes through in your writing.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. peggywritesblog Avatar

    Exactly, David. I was a special ed teacher and a first grade teacher. Kids are special to me so I write one for adults and another for children. Thank you for your kind words and support.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Peggy. Your are an inspiration, as well! I love how you wrote two posts on the same subject, but for adult and youth readers. At least I think thatโ€™s what youโ€™re doing. ๐Ÿค—

    Liked by 1 person

  5. peggywritesblog Avatar

    Blessings to you and Nancy! You are both an inspiration.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Peggy. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. peggywritesblog Avatar

    A wonderful story, David! Prayers for all those families and people in our country! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

    Liked by 1 person

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Congrats, on your graduation, Barb!

    Like

  9. God Still Speaks Avatar

    The year Colorado became a state! Thank you brother! You are too kind to me!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar

    Due to snow/cold days our district doesn’t get out until 6/2.

    However, I graduate on 5/17. ๐ŸŽ“

    Liked by 1 person

  11. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, brother. I appreciate your reading and commenting. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. The Devotional Guyโ„ข Avatar

    What an enriching post, brother. To be a foreigner in a foreign landโ€ฆwe forget as believers, this is not our home. Weโ€™re just visiting, tasked with the mission to share the Good News far and wide to anyone willing to hear it.

    I read Streams in the Desert years ago at the urging of my Christian Spiritual Formation professor. You reminded me that itโ€™s worth a revisit.

    Praying you and Nancy have a great day and a wonderful week.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you. Yes, the believers I mentioned most likely know little of the casual Christianity that often passes for the genuine article here in the U. S. Itโ€™s hard to imagine not being able to return to my home country. Thank you for stopping by, Sister Super-C. 1876 points to you. Can you figure out why I chose this number?
    Hint: it has something to do with Colorado. ๐Ÿ”๏ธ

    Liked by 1 person

  14. God Still Speaks Avatar

    I’m sure that’s why we are told to count the cost. What great stories!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Youโ€™re welcome, brother Matt. I like your idea! Both of the guys speak great English. Bobโ€™s mom and his wife, not so much. Thank you for being faithful in ministry. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. pastorpete51 Avatar

    Yes you have a great memory. Sixteen years total in the Brazilian church, 14 on staff. We do miss our beloved amigos brasileiros. It is a real treat once a year when we go up North to visit our family and spend time with our Brazilian family as well.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. jesusluvsall Avatar

    Thank you for the mention Brother David. I always think of how Jesus was a refugee during his childhood while on earth and then think about how refugees must have a place in his heart. A fun adventure for you might be to invite the two men and their family to have dinner or lunch with you and Nancy some time. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  18. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks for stopping by, Pastor Pete. As I recall, you and your wife served with Portuguese speakers in Brazil? Their Bible translation of Psalm 23, you mentioned, says,โ€The Lord sets a table for me while my enemies watch.โ€ God honors genuine faith in Christโ€”no matter our ethnicity or cultural background. Amen!
    God Bless.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. pastorpete51 Avatar

    Oh yes David. These are as truly God’s family and ours as well. Thank you for this heartfelt post. We served for 14 years in a church where English was not the language spoken. We also became friends with many refugees from Nepal who had come to our city. God’s citizenship is the only one that counts and all of us have only temporary residency in this place we call home.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Iโ€™ve read through Streams in the Desert for several years running, but the phrase especially stuck out this morning. The sight of those two soldiers talking stuck with me all week. Thank you for reading and commenting, Barb. God Bless.
    We are down to the last 20 days of school here.

    Liked by 2 people

  21. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar

    So true … , โ€œWe can be of little use to others without a cost to ourselves.”

    Liked by 2 people

  22. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you for making a great point, brother Alan. Those who trust in Jesus Christ are forgiven and born again as future heavenly citizens. This is a promise of God and a reality for all who call on His holy name.
    Blessings to you, as well! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Alan Kearns Avatar

    May our Father God guide and bless those brethren in Christ who seek refuge in our Western countries ๐Ÿ™

    We may hold our worldly citizenship of our nation in high regard, and even guard it jealously from immigrants…but if they are children of God their true citizenship is in Heaven as is ours – we are heirs of the same Kingdom!

    God bless you and Nancy today brother David ๐Ÿ™ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ

    Liked by 1 person

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