Where we live

First, a Luciene update: She’s going home!! From Pittsburgh to Brazil TODAY (well, arriving tomorrow–it’s a long trip).

The doctor cleared her at a checkup Tuesday to begin putting her foot on the ground, which will help a whole lot with getting into and out of airplane seats. We’re still waiting on a response from the medical center re. their petition for mercy with the incredibly high costs of her surgery and care. I’ll let you know when we find out! Thanks to those who have wanted to help!!

But God will have mercy

Isaiah 13:13, 14:1, 3, 30 “I will shake the heavens” … But the Lord will have mercy … In that wonderful day the Lord will give his people rest from sorrow and fear.

We don’t have to imagine “sorrow and fear.” We see it described and displayed in the news every day. Isaiah 13 and 14 are passages I want to skip over, just like I want to bury my head and block my ears from the atrocities and waste of life and devastation and trauma going on all over the world. I’m sure you do too.

How interesting that in the middle of destruction and despair, Isaiah chose to relate the story of Lucifer’s fall—“the shining star, son of the morning,” he who destroyed the nations of the world and made them into a wasteland, thrown down to earth from heaven (Isaiah 14:12-17). Lucifer’s actions sound all too familiar.

But God says, “I will feed the poor in my pasture; the needy will lie down in peace.” How long, Lord, until we see you do this, in Ukraine, in Afghanistan and Sudan and Ethiopia and Niger, in Venezuela and all the other places pouring refugees into the world seeking safety, sustenance, refuge, healing from trauma?

Though I wrote “How long, Lord,” people around the world and in our own country, my own city, are feeding the poor and providing safe refuge for victims of Lucifer-followers. Our church, as just one example, “adopted” two refugee families this year, partnering with “Hello Neighbor.” https://www.helloneighbor.io/ We have missionaries-in-residence, the Behrens family, working fulltime to reach out to refugee communities in Pittsburgh. Daniel Behrens preached last Sunday, inviting us to name our fears to the One who calms the storm—you can listen to his wonderful sermon here.

And because our church is located in an international neighborhood, thanks to the universities and medical center, our ESL program has a long waiting list of people wanting English classes. Dozens of people in the church contribute time to conversation, outings, hospitality, and Bible studies with those who want deeper engagement with us than just learning English. Lawyers in the church are available to help with legal issues. Children are cared for with love.

It’s all part of the working out of a vision God gave the church several years ago, of light pouring from our building to bless those around us.

So, though we still long for that “wonderful day” of complete rest from sorrow and fear, of final peace, we can meanwhile, today, align with the Lord’s work of providing refuge to oppressed people (verse 32), wherever God has placed us.