Human Trafficking Awareness

January 11 is national human trafficking awareness day. 

There are so many ways to learn how to recognize trafficking and even ways to joing the fight against it. One of my personal favorite organizations is The A21 Campaign. At http://www.thea21campaign.org, you can read about the atrocities against people around the globe. 

The 13th ammendment may have been intended to end slavery, but there are more slaves now than ever before in history. 

Make yourself aware of and help end it! 

Understanding...

This life is full of things that we do not understand. We study, we strive, we contemplate, we meditate and yet, there are so many things beyond our ability to grasp. 

That can be really hard to swallow. 

I love what Psalm 131 says. 

LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalms 131:1-2 NLT)

We face struggles and trials and beg to understand the reasons why and question the purpose it will have in our lives. Sometimes we figure it out. Sometimes we don't. 

I saw commercial for a TV show the other day...the main character is a young woman battling cancer. The segment I saw, the young woman said, "Maybe it's not about finding a reason. It's trusting that there is one."

That hit me. Hard. The truth in that statement is huge. It all comes down to faith. 

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

I simply want to trust Him more and more as I journey this life, confident in where His leading me and my family. Confident that He will accomplish what He plans and that I will not disappoint Him. 

It's Finally Happening!

Here we go...I am 34 years old, grew up in a home filled with faith and ministry minded parents who believe in missions. I have always had a tender heart towards missions. I love testimonies from missionaries! I love missions...and yet I have never been on a missions trip.

Never.

All of that is changing! I am so excited to be joining women from all over Illinois (and a few other places if I am not mistaken) in February to go and serve in Guatemala! I am scared and excited! I am nervous and so full of joy! Bottom line, I am being obedient to what I know God is clearly asking me to do.

Getting to Guatemala will take some work. I need so much prayer support, which is vital and crucial to this whole thing. I also need financial support. So, to get me started, I have created a gofundme account. To make a donation, just click on the link!

I can't wait for all God has in store!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

As a kid, St. Patrick's Day was just a day to wear green and color leprechaun's and enjoy chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil while imagining a big pot of gold at the bottom of a rainbow somewhere in Ireland. Oh, and a man who drove snakes from the same country.

Last fall, I read a 30 Day Journal/Devotional called The Live Dead Journal. It changed my life and as a youth group, we are reading it now.

One of the days that touched my heart the most was about the three martyrdoms:red, green and white. The devotion was written by a missionary and was preface by John 12:24(NLT),

²⁴ I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

The red martyrdom is, as I am sure you can tell, a total sacrifice of life for the sake of Jesus. 

The white martyrdom is the sacrifice to go...to go anywhere the Lord may call you to be a witness in the unreached areas of the world.

Then there is the green martyrdom...Around 350 AD, a young Romanized English boy was stolen from his country. Irish pirates smuggled him into Ireland and made him a slave. Year later, Patrick escaped and through a process of time, returned to Ireland as a missionary. Some believe at this time he would have been in his early 70's! He gave the rest of his life to evangelize the Irish, understanding and loving them like no other.

By the time Patrick died, much of Ireland was Christian. Patrick and his team did such an exceptional job of preaching the gospel that Christians were sad they couldn't die for Jesus anymore! There were so many Christians that red martyrdom was not an issue. 

The story goes on from there. His legacy led to innovative methods that brought revival to the country. 

St. Patrick's Day is so much more than wearing green, kissing the Blarney Stone, having a drink or marching in a parade. This day is a rich day for the Christian world!  

Fear of...

Reading in my text book about misconceptions of God- one is fear He will want you to do something you don't want to do..."The result of such fears is that we reject the excitement of God's nearness by keeping Him at arm's length. We avoid His embrace, choosing instead to communicate with God mainly so we can deliver our list of predictable prayer requests."

I have been struggling with feelings of inadequacy and a fear of failure or that I might disappoint my family, or worse, God.  I have been held back by these chains of fear for too long. And then I read this and God stopped me.

I mean...I can't even begin to count how many different people have made statements about me being in ministry as a mom, as a wife, as a woman. I don't think that the comments were necessarily meant the way they canme out but in so many ways, those comments have only fueled my feelings of inadequacy or failure. Reading this, I realize that I am not just holding myself back. I am holding God back from all He has for me and my family.

Wow! If you are not called into missions or ministry, please don't ask those of us who are why we would be a part of ministry when it can be so hard on the family. By choosing to be near Him enough to hear and respond to His call, we are fully giving Him our trust to provide, protect, bless, keep and sustain us and our spouses and children (if we are married). Sadly, I think too many reject the call because family and friends make them feel guilty about the call.

I am done feeling this way and am making a concerted effort to  living my life fully free from any chains! God has called me. He is equipping me. He is equipping my family for the work he has laid out for us to do and He will take care of every area of our lives.

I can't explain the weight that has been lifted from my heart and shoulders by just accepting the truth of trusting God.

I am so looking forward to what lies ahead!!

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18, 19 NLT)

Got wind?

While standing at the back of the class during my prayer and worship class this past weekend, listening to the voices if my classmates lifting up Jesus, I looked at my desk and God began to speak...I looked at my silly pen I got in Chicago that simply says, "Got Wind" and I felt in my spirit God saying:

To those who have felt the wind has been taken from their sales, He is saying, "I am the wind. I have never left and I have never forsaken and I NEVER WILL."

His wind comes to us to take us through the waters ahead, rough and choppy or smooth and calm. His wind guides us down the path He has laid out for us to travel.

If you feel the wind is gone, take courage! For it is here! He is as close as the air you breathe! HE IS THE AIR YOU BREATHE!

Breathe deep, Daughter! Breathe deep, Son! The wind is at your back pushing you on, the wind is at your front, clearing a way. The wind is at your side, protecting you.

Find Him again in the breeze the blows across your face today. Find Him again in His Word and in prayer. Come to Him today and rest in the presence of Almighty God, The Lord of Heaven's Armies who goes before you!

30 Days 1 Reason- 2013

In India, there is a family whose father was just laid off from his job. There are many children and the mom and dad are not sure how they are going to make it. The oldest daughter, around 13 years old decides she wants to help and begins looking for a job. Her aunt comes to her and tells her that she has found a great opportunity for her to make money to help her family. The girl goes and meets with the people who tell her of the amazing opportunities she will have to help. She goes with them and is forced to have sex with many men and is told she will never see her family again.

This story is an all too common story.

If ever there was a reason to sacrifice, I believe I have found it. For the month of November, I will be wearing the same shirt every day.

I am wearing this shirt to raise awareness of human trafficking in India. Just $15-20 is all it takes to rescue one girl from this terrible life. I know it seems so small...what is one life compared to the many, many lives all over the world? One life is a life. One life is someone's daughter. One life is one more rescued. And we can overcome this horrific cycle, one life at a time!

Please consider supporting me in this effort to bring hope to the lives of the hopeless through Project Rescue!!