An enemy might defeat one person,

    but two people together can defend themselves;

a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NCV)

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The disturbing image captured my attention. A three-year-old boy’s lifeless body washed up on the beach in Turkey. His red shirt and blue shorts are printed indelibly on my memory. How did this happen? Where is his family?

The war in Syria rages and many are fleeing from the ISIS Army. This boy, Alyan, his brother, and parents escaped on a boat, hoping for a better life. But he didn’t make it—only his father survived the trip. That one picture has circled the globe reminding us that a picture is worth a thousand words. This war is real and the crisis of families in search of peace and safety is both dangerous and severe.

As believers, we know that when one part of the body is hurting, we all hurt. My heart aches for these families but what can one person do?

Pray. I don’t know the future but God does. He sees when these little ones struggle even as when a sparrow falls. He is not blind to these atrocities but the relief and end to all of this is in His time.

Give. Most of these stories come from half-way across the world. But the needs are real for these families fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs and no place to go. Support a ministry that gives aid and relief such as Samaritan’s Purse.

Remember. Our world is in such distress from wars and rumors of wars that the end may be near. We are called to share the Good News of the gospel as Jesus instructed His disciples … until He comes again.

As we stand together in support of these our brethren, we become that strand that is not easily broken. Help them, Jesus.