“I just love God.” Though these were the only four words in a message from a sweet friend early this morning, I can hear it as if she said it right in my ear.
And her reason on this particular day?
Hope.
Pure. Simple. Genuine.
I got up and sat at the kitchen counter to drink my morning tea, and the words of Jeremiah 23:24 took up residence in my heart.
"'Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?' declares the Lord. 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord."
Even as the sun was just beginning to rise this morning, and life still waited in slumber... hope surrounded.
For it is not an impersonal God that waits for me each morning, One who holds Himself aloof. distant. remote. locked away in some mystery-held box.
No, my God~ He calls. He woos. He captures my heart. He holds ME, even as He holds the entire world.
And there I find space to rest.
My God who made the one-way street a very personal, intimate two-way street, so we could meet each other.
I can almost see His arms stretch out wide, toward me... and there is the hope.
For I am never out of His reach.
and I found that this morning...this dark, before-the-kids-get-up, quiet morning... I was whispering,
"I just love you too, God."
Friday, October 14, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Who He is To Me.
I was talking with one of my best friends last Monday. Not a rare occurrence, as it is usually the best part of my week... yet this particular Monday, the conversation went a little differently. We did the normal catching up about school, family, friends, and love, followed by prayer and talk of what we see God doing in our lives. We were just about to say goodbye, my heart full and so thankful for the beautiful women God has placed in my life... when my sweet friend says to me, "Who is Jesus to you, Lyss?" I was speechless. For multiple reasons. The first of which is who am I that God would bless me with friends that challenge, convict, and love me all in the name of Christ? I will be forever grateful. The second reason being that no one has ever posed this question to me before. I love Jesus, with everything I am. But THIS question is loaded. It carries so much weight. After a couple minutes of silence, both of us just thinking, we decided to re-convene on the question a week later.
It's a week later.
... and while I have no mind-blowing, life-changing, wondrous answer, I do serve a mind-blowing, life-changing, wondrous God. So I'll share what I've come up with for no other reason that to glorify His name, praying that my passion will bring Him fame.
Who is Jesus to me?
I am absolutely overcome when I think about who Jesus is. In a world enamored with physical beauty, electronics, and GPA... it is so easy for my God to be placed in the backseat, overlooked and taken for granted. But Jesus is so much more than a man who died on a cross.
I can't believe what He did for me. Utterly blameless and without sin, He bore all my shame, all my sin, every evil thought, every ugly thing I have ever done or ever will do. He was the pure and spotless Lamb of God, yet He was beaten and tortured as though He were responsible for all the sin of the world across the entire span of time, from beginning to end. Just thinking of what He suffered due to my sin alone brings me to tears and brokenness.
His precious blood was poured out for me on a cruel cross, and by His wounds I am healed. Justified. Redeemed. When He looks at me He sees me as spot-free and without blemish. I can't even fathom how this is possible because I know me. I know all the ugliness in my heart. I know my ungodly thoughts and actions. Yet through His sacrifice He has purified me, restored innocence, and made me clean. I am so unworthy.
He fills up every possible void in my heart. When I hear a beautiful love song that makes me want to cry, He fills that empty place in my dreams that I pray will one day be filled by a man who I might've sung it to. When I get one of those ridiculous personal survey emails and read the "Who is the love of your life?" question in the subject box, Jesus is my answer. He's the One whose unfailing love brings healing to my broken heart. Gentle and lowly, He is the true picture of genuine humility. Jesus lovingly encourages me to take His yoke and hand Him my burdens. He yearns for me to cry out to Him, and He faithfully keeps my dreams and thoughts and desires safe.
Jesus is the One by whom I have all authority over the enemy. He defeated all the powers of hell through His death and resurrection, and His every victory also belongs to me through the shedding of His blood on the cross. The mere mention of His name brings healing, peace, comfort, wisdom, direction, and rest. He performs miracles right in front of my face, and makes known His presence all throughout my day. He is right there with me in the furnace and through every fire, and He goes to battle for me without fail. Jesus is the One whose arms are around me when storm clouds rear their ugly heads. I am in Him, and when enemies hurt and attack, He shields and protects and brings joy.
Jesus is the One I want others to see when they see me. He is the One I want others to hear when I speak. I want to know Him more, and I want to love others with His love. I'm humbly grateful that God sent His precious Son to this cruel world so that I might have abundant life. I am a nanny (for children I have known for six months), and I know how much it hurts me when they suffer even a tiny little scratch. How painful it must have been for my Father in heaven to watch all His Son endured. And all for the likes of me. I don't deserve it.
I haven't the vocabulary to articulate all that Jesus is to me, so let me just say that Jesus astounds me every single day with His amazing love. He is worthy of all my praise. I fail Him every day, but He never, ever fails me. His grace and mercy flows abundantly into every part of my life every time I fall short, covering me, cleansing me, and making me new. He overwhelms me.
Who is Jesus to me?
He is my Everything.
It's a week later.
... and while I have no mind-blowing, life-changing, wondrous answer, I do serve a mind-blowing, life-changing, wondrous God. So I'll share what I've come up with for no other reason that to glorify His name, praying that my passion will bring Him fame.
Who is Jesus to me?
I am absolutely overcome when I think about who Jesus is. In a world enamored with physical beauty, electronics, and GPA... it is so easy for my God to be placed in the backseat, overlooked and taken for granted. But Jesus is so much more than a man who died on a cross.
I can't believe what He did for me. Utterly blameless and without sin, He bore all my shame, all my sin, every evil thought, every ugly thing I have ever done or ever will do. He was the pure and spotless Lamb of God, yet He was beaten and tortured as though He were responsible for all the sin of the world across the entire span of time, from beginning to end. Just thinking of what He suffered due to my sin alone brings me to tears and brokenness.
His precious blood was poured out for me on a cruel cross, and by His wounds I am healed. Justified. Redeemed. When He looks at me He sees me as spot-free and without blemish. I can't even fathom how this is possible because I know me. I know all the ugliness in my heart. I know my ungodly thoughts and actions. Yet through His sacrifice He has purified me, restored innocence, and made me clean. I am so unworthy.
He fills up every possible void in my heart. When I hear a beautiful love song that makes me want to cry, He fills that empty place in my dreams that I pray will one day be filled by a man who I might've sung it to. When I get one of those ridiculous personal survey emails and read the "Who is the love of your life?" question in the subject box, Jesus is my answer. He's the One whose unfailing love brings healing to my broken heart. Gentle and lowly, He is the true picture of genuine humility. Jesus lovingly encourages me to take His yoke and hand Him my burdens. He yearns for me to cry out to Him, and He faithfully keeps my dreams and thoughts and desires safe.
Jesus is the One by whom I have all authority over the enemy. He defeated all the powers of hell through His death and resurrection, and His every victory also belongs to me through the shedding of His blood on the cross. The mere mention of His name brings healing, peace, comfort, wisdom, direction, and rest. He performs miracles right in front of my face, and makes known His presence all throughout my day. He is right there with me in the furnace and through every fire, and He goes to battle for me without fail. Jesus is the One whose arms are around me when storm clouds rear their ugly heads. I am in Him, and when enemies hurt and attack, He shields and protects and brings joy.
Jesus is the One I want others to see when they see me. He is the One I want others to hear when I speak. I want to know Him more, and I want to love others with His love. I'm humbly grateful that God sent His precious Son to this cruel world so that I might have abundant life. I am a nanny (for children I have known for six months), and I know how much it hurts me when they suffer even a tiny little scratch. How painful it must have been for my Father in heaven to watch all His Son endured. And all for the likes of me. I don't deserve it.
I haven't the vocabulary to articulate all that Jesus is to me, so let me just say that Jesus astounds me every single day with His amazing love. He is worthy of all my praise. I fail Him every day, but He never, ever fails me. His grace and mercy flows abundantly into every part of my life every time I fall short, covering me, cleansing me, and making me new. He overwhelms me.
Who is Jesus to me?
He is my Everything.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Manna in the Morning.
I came to Jesus and His Word this morning with questions. I partook, but I didn’t understand it all. It was my manna, which in Hebrew means, “What is it?” Sometimes I come to Him, like a little girl climbing into His lap with only questions. How do I feel joyful when I’m not? How can I be joyful when life is painful? Is joy a feeling? Or is it an action to be obeyed? It is merely given by the spirit, or grown in me? Does it come after the morning, or does the morning come when I choose joy? Sure, I can act joyful, but to be joyful, He’d know when I’m faking. I’m reading, thinking, learning…
And sometimes it’s the questions that bring me close. If I had the answers I would be tempted to run off and play. But the questions keep bringing me back. How Lord? Why Lord? They are not demanding questions, or ungrateful questions, just questions. Some have answers. And the hard ones: children starving to death, being abused, being held as sex slaves, babies with cancer… those don’t. I know there will be a day when I will receive all the answers, face to face with my Father.
"Lissy Lou, what do moth’s eat?” “Can I ride my bike in the house?” “What’s for breakfast?”…and that’s just the beginning of my day. But questions are good. It’s the questions that bring us true knowledge. It’s the seeking, the curiosity that invites learning. I want a life of seeking, of asking. If I seek, He is always there to be found.
I love to search out the answers, when they can be found... I am constantly seeking to be bathed in truth. And when unanswered questions face me, I find myself thankful. I am grateful to worship a God who is much, much smarter than I am. Simple, but true.
My neighbor down the street just started his next semester in engineering. After Calculus 3, he is now taking Discrete Math. I think they have to call it this because the authors knew that to people like me, people that have no idea what it’s talking about, it is discrete. He’s learning things that my brain could never understand. I do not exaggerate the word never. The thing is, I’m okay with that. I respect his work more because I know it’s something I could never do.
God never chides me for not knowing, for asking. I’m pretty sure David asked God about almost everything, and God never seemed put out about it. There are a lot of "why’s?" in his book of the Bible. Today, I am seeing God’s love in manna~ His provision, His sustenance, His heaven-sent food. And even if I’m asking, “what is it?”, it’s sweet to my tongue, filling to my soul, and growing food for my mind.
Lord, help me to not seek empty calorie answers, but seek Your whole truth. Help me to invite the boys, my friends, my family in to an atmosphere of learning and curiosity. Help me to continually be more than happy to relinquish control and hand everything over to Your strong hands. Help me to see this life through a child’s eyes, with curiosity and fresh hope. Don’t let dust settle on my mind, on my theology. Help me look always to the Author of the book where the questions come from... let me look to You.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the LORD your God,
and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jeremiah 29:13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings...
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Thankful,
Lyss :)
And sometimes it’s the questions that bring me close. If I had the answers I would be tempted to run off and play. But the questions keep bringing me back. How Lord? Why Lord? They are not demanding questions, or ungrateful questions, just questions. Some have answers. And the hard ones: children starving to death, being abused, being held as sex slaves, babies with cancer… those don’t. I know there will be a day when I will receive all the answers, face to face with my Father.
"Lissy Lou, what do moth’s eat?” “Can I ride my bike in the house?” “What’s for breakfast?”…and that’s just the beginning of my day. But questions are good. It’s the questions that bring us true knowledge. It’s the seeking, the curiosity that invites learning. I want a life of seeking, of asking. If I seek, He is always there to be found.
I love to search out the answers, when they can be found... I am constantly seeking to be bathed in truth. And when unanswered questions face me, I find myself thankful. I am grateful to worship a God who is much, much smarter than I am. Simple, but true.
My neighbor down the street just started his next semester in engineering. After Calculus 3, he is now taking Discrete Math. I think they have to call it this because the authors knew that to people like me, people that have no idea what it’s talking about, it is discrete. He’s learning things that my brain could never understand. I do not exaggerate the word never. The thing is, I’m okay with that. I respect his work more because I know it’s something I could never do.
God never chides me for not knowing, for asking. I’m pretty sure David asked God about almost everything, and God never seemed put out about it. There are a lot of "why’s?" in his book of the Bible. Today, I am seeing God’s love in manna~ His provision, His sustenance, His heaven-sent food. And even if I’m asking, “what is it?”, it’s sweet to my tongue, filling to my soul, and growing food for my mind.
Lord, help me to not seek empty calorie answers, but seek Your whole truth. Help me to invite the boys, my friends, my family in to an atmosphere of learning and curiosity. Help me to continually be more than happy to relinquish control and hand everything over to Your strong hands. Help me to see this life through a child’s eyes, with curiosity and fresh hope. Don’t let dust settle on my mind, on my theology. Help me look always to the Author of the book where the questions come from... let me look to You.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the LORD your God,
and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jeremiah 29:13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings...
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Thankful,
Lyss :)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
This One's for the Kids.
Dear Jesus,
I'm thinking about the home that I want to cultivate alongside my husband someday... the home that welcomes Your little ones, and delights in their souls.
You did not forbid them. They were welcomed. You embraced them, knew them by name. You genuinely loved them. They never inconvenienced You.
Does my heart embrace? Are children welcome past the entry way? Children with their mess-making abilities, sticky fingers, and knack for breakables? I love to picture how You would've set up Your home, Jesus. Children would be welcome to sit on the "good furniture." They would be more than welcome to put their hands on the windows to peer outside at Your creation.
My heart... and I mean the deep, passionate pieces of my heart... longs to invite little ones to an atmosphere of grace. May they know they are wanted in my life, loved in my life. Eyes that can’t yet see over the counter, doors too heavy, knobs too tall- May I use stepping stools, Jesus.
Help me not to hold them back, but let them grow, explore, create, have space to breathe. May they have a place to play, where toys can come out without frustration, have a place to belong.
May there be space for laughter, a place on the wall for their pictures, cups they can reach if they are thirsty, books at their fingertips to grow on.
May they have a comforting, soft and clean place to sleep, inviting them to the blessing of rest. May they have boundaries which protect, but not so many that quench their spirit. May I let them help stir up dinner, roll the color on their bedroom wall and pour the soap in the washing machine. Help me slow down when they are following and listen to their conversation with both ears. May they not just have fingerprints on the window, but fingerprints in the atmosphere. May I help them see where they belong, and Who they belong to.
Above all, may this home have an attitude of grace. May accidental spills, and I-didn’t-mean-to messes, and I'm-so-sorry breaks be easily forgiven. May they hear “yes” from my lips more then they hear, “no” when asking for outside adventures, finger painting, and imaginative dress up. May discipline be handled with love, given for their best, not my state of happiness. May I have a heart to enjoy the moments shared, and a home to embrace them. May the children always know I love them...always.forever.no matter what. May I treasure their presence always, for You did not forbid them.
Matthew 19:13-15
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
And He laid His hands on them…
So thankful for children today, Jesus. Thank you for placing a passion in my heart for their souls and their lives. Use me, Jesus. Let them know I love them.
Oh so much.
Love,
Lyss
I'm thinking about the home that I want to cultivate alongside my husband someday... the home that welcomes Your little ones, and delights in their souls.
You did not forbid them. They were welcomed. You embraced them, knew them by name. You genuinely loved them. They never inconvenienced You.
Does my heart embrace? Are children welcome past the entry way? Children with their mess-making abilities, sticky fingers, and knack for breakables? I love to picture how You would've set up Your home, Jesus. Children would be welcome to sit on the "good furniture." They would be more than welcome to put their hands on the windows to peer outside at Your creation.
My heart... and I mean the deep, passionate pieces of my heart... longs to invite little ones to an atmosphere of grace. May they know they are wanted in my life, loved in my life. Eyes that can’t yet see over the counter, doors too heavy, knobs too tall- May I use stepping stools, Jesus.
Help me not to hold them back, but let them grow, explore, create, have space to breathe. May they have a place to play, where toys can come out without frustration, have a place to belong.
May there be space for laughter, a place on the wall for their pictures, cups they can reach if they are thirsty, books at their fingertips to grow on.
May they have a comforting, soft and clean place to sleep, inviting them to the blessing of rest. May they have boundaries which protect, but not so many that quench their spirit. May I let them help stir up dinner, roll the color on their bedroom wall and pour the soap in the washing machine. Help me slow down when they are following and listen to their conversation with both ears. May they not just have fingerprints on the window, but fingerprints in the atmosphere. May I help them see where they belong, and Who they belong to.
Above all, may this home have an attitude of grace. May accidental spills, and I-didn’t-mean-to messes, and I'm-so-sorry breaks be easily forgiven. May they hear “yes” from my lips more then they hear, “no” when asking for outside adventures, finger painting, and imaginative dress up. May discipline be handled with love, given for their best, not my state of happiness. May I have a heart to enjoy the moments shared, and a home to embrace them. May the children always know I love them...always.forever.no matter what. May I treasure their presence always, for You did not forbid them.
Matthew 19:13-15
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
And He laid His hands on them…
So thankful for children today, Jesus. Thank you for placing a passion in my heart for their souls and their lives. Use me, Jesus. Let them know I love them.
Oh so much.
Love,
Lyss
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Victory.
I often think about what it must have been like for the Israelites, as they traveled around the desert for forty years.
A generation that was once full of hope, chosen and set apart, with a promise from almighty God, had seen miracle after miracle occur as they were delivered from slavery. But this same generation was never able to experience the fullness of life God intended for them to have in the Promised Land; they were still filled with doubt and unbelief.
Their journey through the desert should have taken only a few weeks, but ended up lasting for 40 years. God always provided for them, and was always there in their midst leading them cloud by day and fire by night. Yet the people chose to remain in doubt of God’s faithfulness, and an entire generation that had once been marked by God for greatness, died with an unfulfilled promise in the desert.
How many times have I allowed my circumstances, feelings, hurts, and pains replace the promises of God’s Word in my life? How many times have I chosen to settle and be comfortable in my current state, instead of trusting God and stepping out in faith, believing that victory is found on the other side of my obedience?
I'm not giving up. I will not give up on the promises of God. I am choosing to trust that God will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5), and I'm believing that He is a good God, who has good plans for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). I'm deciding today to be a part of a generation that is full of faith, and take possession of the “Promised Land” God has already given to me~ health, wholeness, promise, blessing, favor, and breakthrough.
When I (and you, too!) trust in Him, you and I WILL walk in victory and no weapon that is formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
I hope you feel extra loved today.
~Lyss
A generation that was once full of hope, chosen and set apart, with a promise from almighty God, had seen miracle after miracle occur as they were delivered from slavery. But this same generation was never able to experience the fullness of life God intended for them to have in the Promised Land; they were still filled with doubt and unbelief.
Their journey through the desert should have taken only a few weeks, but ended up lasting for 40 years. God always provided for them, and was always there in their midst leading them cloud by day and fire by night. Yet the people chose to remain in doubt of God’s faithfulness, and an entire generation that had once been marked by God for greatness, died with an unfulfilled promise in the desert.
How many times have I allowed my circumstances, feelings, hurts, and pains replace the promises of God’s Word in my life? How many times have I chosen to settle and be comfortable in my current state, instead of trusting God and stepping out in faith, believing that victory is found on the other side of my obedience?
I'm not giving up. I will not give up on the promises of God. I am choosing to trust that God will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5), and I'm believing that He is a good God, who has good plans for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). I'm deciding today to be a part of a generation that is full of faith, and take possession of the “Promised Land” God has already given to me~ health, wholeness, promise, blessing, favor, and breakthrough.
When I (and you, too!) trust in Him, you and I WILL walk in victory and no weapon that is formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
I hope you feel extra loved today.
~Lyss
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Big.
I read a quote today which I loved.
"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." ~Lewis Carroll.
I stopped and mulled this one around in my head for a little while. I love it. I thought of one of my favorite verses in the whole world- Ephesians 3:20. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."
My God is able to exceed my wildest expectations in every area. I have determined that I'm going to live in the high expectation zone when it comes to my amazing God.
God is a BIG God.
He is big in favor.
He is big in grace.
He is big in love.
He is big in mercy.
He is big in forgiveness.
He is big in goodness.
He is big into doing the impossible.
He is big into using the unlikely.
He is big into doing the unimaginable.
There is no problem He cannot solve.
There is no sickness He cannot heal.
There is no heart He cannot mend.
There is no need He cannot meet.
There is no mountain He cannot move.
There is nothing my cannot do~ That's true!
I'm not going to shrink God in my life. I'm not going to expect less than what He wants to do in me and through me.
Whatever it is I think God wants me to do, I'm going to remember that He able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond anything I can ask for, hope for, or think.
So.
Think big.
Dream big.
Expect big.
Hope big.
Ask big.
Pray big.
Because we serve a BIG God.
Whoa. What a life.
"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." ~Lewis Carroll.
I stopped and mulled this one around in my head for a little while. I love it. I thought of one of my favorite verses in the whole world- Ephesians 3:20. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."
My God is able to exceed my wildest expectations in every area. I have determined that I'm going to live in the high expectation zone when it comes to my amazing God.
God is a BIG God.
He is big in favor.
He is big in grace.
He is big in love.
He is big in mercy.
He is big in forgiveness.
He is big in goodness.
He is big into doing the impossible.
He is big into using the unlikely.
He is big into doing the unimaginable.
There is no problem He cannot solve.
There is no sickness He cannot heal.
There is no heart He cannot mend.
There is no need He cannot meet.
There is no mountain He cannot move.
There is nothing my cannot do~ That's true!
I'm not going to shrink God in my life. I'm not going to expect less than what He wants to do in me and through me.
Whatever it is I think God wants me to do, I'm going to remember that He able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond anything I can ask for, hope for, or think.
So.
Think big.
Dream big.
Expect big.
Hope big.
Ask big.
Pray big.
Because we serve a BIG God.
Whoa. What a life.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Voices.
Sex trafficking and child slavery is happening all over the world, including in the United States. It is a clear and present reality and danger for women and children, and it hurts my heart.
Today, in an anthropology class, as the topic was being discussed and statistics were thrown around... a hand was raised at the back of the classroom and a question was asked. "Why should I care?"
My blood was quickly boiling, but then I got to thinking. Why DO I care so much? Why has this cruelty affected the way I view my world and the people in it? Why do my eyes well up just thinking about it? Why?
So, as I prayed for the bruised and tattered, broken and lonely girls who are enslaved today... I got some answers.
Here's why I care. Here's why I care deeply and passionately about these sweet girls living in bondage.
1. Because... 300,000 is not merely a statistic. Each one is a person with a name and a face, a soul, a heart, and raw emotions.
2. Because... God commands us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
3. Because... I have been given freedom to speak, so I will use my voice to be hers.
4. Because... less than 1% of sex slaves are rescued.
5. Because... everyone is valuable, knitted and formed by the hand of God.
6. Because... whatever is costs to make a difference cannot be greater than that of a life.
7. Because... she isn't just a victim, she is loved by God.
8. Because... now that I have seen and I have heard, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.
9. Because... God uses the ordinary but willing people to bring hope and freedom.
10. Because... I can plan and hope and dream about tomorrow, but she can't.
11. Because... my purpose for being on earth goes way beyond me.
12. Because... He came to set the captives free. We are His body. I am called to do great things in His name.
13. Because... my heart breaks for her broken heart.
14. Because... I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
15. Because... as long as there is ONE victim of sex trafficking, freedom has not fully been achieved.
16. Because... Godly men don't treat women like objects. Godly men don't buy girls.
17. Because... if she was my daughter, I would beg someone to care.
18. Because... everyone deserves a childhood.
19. Because... people are not a commodity.
20. Because... seeing ONE girl's life changed is worth it all.
21. Because... even if I pretend slavery isn't happening... it IS.
22. Because... each and every girl was created in the image of God.
23. Because... so often worth and value is determined from words spoken, whether the words are true or false. I want to be a voice of truth.
24. Because... my legacy is being written by the life I am living. What will I remembered for?
25. Because... God makes beautiful things. Out of dust. Out of us.
THIS is why I care. THIS is why I desire to love extravagantly and be daily dying to myself.
Our lives are essentially the story of whatever voices we choose to listen to and trust the most.
I spent many years of my life listening to my own voice and the voices of fear, doubt, and negativity from others. As a result, I was more often than not defeated before I had even started my day.
I seemed to always feel less than, not quite enough, inadequate, unable, and insufficient. And because I felt that way about myself, I acted and allowed myself to be treated accordingly.
It was not until I made a conscious decision to listen to and believe God's voice above all others that I found freedom.
Daily, I must choose to trust the voice of the One who knows me best, to believe the One who says I am "fearfully and wonderfully made," and to put my faith in the One who "knows the plans He has for me, plans for good and not evil, plans to prosper and not harm me."
What is the loudest voice speaking into your life?
Who are you listening to?
Are those listening to you hearing truth about who God has called them to be?
Perhaps today is a good day to change the dial to a new frequency...
The voice of hope.
The voice of life.
The voice of courage.
The voice of love.
The voice of grace.
The voice of compassion.
The voice of purpose.
The voice of God.
It starts with me. and you. let's go.
Today, in an anthropology class, as the topic was being discussed and statistics were thrown around... a hand was raised at the back of the classroom and a question was asked. "Why should I care?"
My blood was quickly boiling, but then I got to thinking. Why DO I care so much? Why has this cruelty affected the way I view my world and the people in it? Why do my eyes well up just thinking about it? Why?
So, as I prayed for the bruised and tattered, broken and lonely girls who are enslaved today... I got some answers.
Here's why I care. Here's why I care deeply and passionately about these sweet girls living in bondage.
1. Because... 300,000 is not merely a statistic. Each one is a person with a name and a face, a soul, a heart, and raw emotions.
2. Because... God commands us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
3. Because... I have been given freedom to speak, so I will use my voice to be hers.
4. Because... less than 1% of sex slaves are rescued.
5. Because... everyone is valuable, knitted and formed by the hand of God.
6. Because... whatever is costs to make a difference cannot be greater than that of a life.
7. Because... she isn't just a victim, she is loved by God.
8. Because... now that I have seen and I have heard, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.
9. Because... God uses the ordinary but willing people to bring hope and freedom.
10. Because... I can plan and hope and dream about tomorrow, but she can't.
11. Because... my purpose for being on earth goes way beyond me.
12. Because... He came to set the captives free. We are His body. I am called to do great things in His name.
13. Because... my heart breaks for her broken heart.
14. Because... I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
15. Because... as long as there is ONE victim of sex trafficking, freedom has not fully been achieved.
16. Because... Godly men don't treat women like objects. Godly men don't buy girls.
17. Because... if she was my daughter, I would beg someone to care.
18. Because... everyone deserves a childhood.
19. Because... people are not a commodity.
20. Because... seeing ONE girl's life changed is worth it all.
21. Because... even if I pretend slavery isn't happening... it IS.
22. Because... each and every girl was created in the image of God.
23. Because... so often worth and value is determined from words spoken, whether the words are true or false. I want to be a voice of truth.
24. Because... my legacy is being written by the life I am living. What will I remembered for?
25. Because... God makes beautiful things. Out of dust. Out of us.
THIS is why I care. THIS is why I desire to love extravagantly and be daily dying to myself.
Our lives are essentially the story of whatever voices we choose to listen to and trust the most.
I spent many years of my life listening to my own voice and the voices of fear, doubt, and negativity from others. As a result, I was more often than not defeated before I had even started my day.
I seemed to always feel less than, not quite enough, inadequate, unable, and insufficient. And because I felt that way about myself, I acted and allowed myself to be treated accordingly.
It was not until I made a conscious decision to listen to and believe God's voice above all others that I found freedom.
Daily, I must choose to trust the voice of the One who knows me best, to believe the One who says I am "fearfully and wonderfully made," and to put my faith in the One who "knows the plans He has for me, plans for good and not evil, plans to prosper and not harm me."
What is the loudest voice speaking into your life?
Who are you listening to?
Are those listening to you hearing truth about who God has called them to be?
Perhaps today is a good day to change the dial to a new frequency...
The voice of hope.
The voice of life.
The voice of courage.
The voice of love.
The voice of grace.
The voice of compassion.
The voice of purpose.
The voice of God.
It starts with me. and you. let's go.
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