Tuesdays we fight ... for justice

The Lord wakes me up with a verse this morning.  Wakes my heart before my eyes can hold open.  And I kind of love that He does that.  He knows I want to be up writing, but 1:00 a.m. is a late bed time, even for me, and 5:00 a.m. comes fast when you're a sound sleeper. So I grab my buzzing phone, snap off the alarm, climb back into the warm sheets, and beg for a few more minutes.  His answer to my plea - 

"Rejoice in our confident hope." -Romans 12:12a (NLT)

I only know it because my Guy and I resolved last year to teach vs. 9-21 to our kids, and isn't it in the teaching where we do our best learning?  And so I know it, but today my heart learns it over again, and it's not only written but engraved there now.  Because oh, how desperately I need hope right now. 

I've plunged into the passionate awareness of human trafficking once again, and once again I'm broken as I hit the bottom of this sludge.  It's everywhere I turn - on the web, and in my blog reading list, on the news, and in my email, in the new books on my kindle, and - I know God doesn't send me subtle messages this way.  He's shouting battle orders in my ear.  "Fight - for My precious ones!"  How could I ever go AWOL now?  The missionary tells my Guy over skype that the ladies will minister at a prostitute village. I'm not going with them this time, but my heart is.  I cry for a day and then two, and now a week.  "These tears are such powerful prayers," a dear friend reminds me from across the country over the phone.  I read the stories and study the statistics and see the faces with dead eyes, and oh how I reach and claw and scramble for just a thread of hope.

• Every 60 seconds, a child is sold for sex worldwide
• Human trafficking is the 3rd largest global industry, behind drugs and guns  
• The average age of entry into pornography and prostitution in the US is 13 years old.
• There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today… or about 1 in every 250 people.
• Sex trafficking cases have been reported in all 50 states and in more than 90 cities across the country.
• In the United States alone, it is estimated that there are 200,000 slaves.
• More than 1 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade each year.
• Today, the average price of an individual slave is $90.
• Approximately 800,000 – 900,000 victims are trafficked annually across the international borders worldwide.
• The US is the second highest destination area in the world for trafficked women.
• Last year, the slave industry made more money than Google, Nike, and Starbucks combined.
• There are more people in slavery today than at any other point in history… Including the 300 years of trans-Atlantic slaves trading from Africa.

Those are nauseating numbers, but I refuse to look the other way for even one more day.  If I vomit I vomit.  If I cry, then I cry.  Am I or am I not a follower of the One who picked up a cross and put down His blood?  Monkey see, monkey do, and I will become more undignified than this.  Lay down my life for just one of these ...

Oh, God - please ... stop this murder of innocence, this killing of innocents, dead long before they stop breathing. I can tell in their eyes.  No life remains.

But when you put the Word in your soul, God will bring it back to you at just the right moment, and what did we study a few months ago ... ?

"The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. ... They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.  Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “You alone know the answer to that.”

Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!  I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

... So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. ...Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. ... When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord.  I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

(from Ezekiel 37 - NLT)

I studied it and prayed it for the friend I send for just one.  It hits me again and it hits her too, on the same day.  She calls and we cry together, tears reaching through cell towers and satellites and around the world.  Tears that move mountains and bring bones back to life with His word.  Breath of Life. 

Today - this day - we have hope for the dead eyes.  Hope for the statistics.  Hope for the individuals.  Hope for this girl.  Hope for that woman.  Hope for our generation and our world.  Why?  Because we know the God who does things like this - He takes the deadest of the dead and - gives them BREATH. Will I go and send and speak for and give toward His resurrection work in these lives?  I don't have a choice - it is fire in my bones.  Will you?

Today, we "rejoice in this confident hope:" We love the God who does miracles like this.  He sends rescuers to break their chains.  He brings healing.  He changes the indifferent into the passionate.  He gives life, and then a breath.  It is hope.  It is confident.  And I rejoice.

Want to know how you can get involved in the war against human trafficking?  Click these links and refuse to bury your head in the sand another day.

The Exodus Road - funding undercover investigators, real rescues, changing this injustice once life at a time

F.R.E.E. International - stopping human trafficking here in the United States, with the love of Christ

Tune in here from the nest next Tuesday for even more hope in the face of injustice.  Together we fight for Him and the ones He loves!

book review monday: Trafficked by Sibel Hodge

Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave

by Sebel Hodge

If you know me at all, you realize this book is outside my usual genre of Christian Non-Fiction, but it's good to break out of the box sometimes.  This short novella (96 pages) is FICTION - which I'm glad I knew before I started - but based factual events and testimonials from real sex slaves/prostituted persons, and the author's research on human trafficking.  

As my husband and several dear friends travel to India in less than two weeks, this book was relevant to my life at this time.  Though painful to read because I know the reality of what she wrote is genuine, I also couldn't put it down.  This short fictional novella could be real.  Is real for girls and women all around the world, in more alarming statistics than you can wrap your brain around.  And in a couple weeks, our India team could have to opportunity to encounter young women just like the character in this book, Elena.  Reading this book helped me know how to pray a little better. 

Written in diary format, counting the days of her captivity,  22-year-old Elena recounts the horrors committed against her body, soul, and mind from the time she's conned, drugged, kidnapped, and sold by a "friend of a friend" who promised her honest work in Italy.  Hodge strikes a wise balance between giving shocking details and leaving certain graphic particulars for the reader to fill in.  You'll find a few realistic expletives in this book that I don't normally like to read or recommend, but I'll make an exception for this because ... at some point I need to look at what is really happening, stop hiding my eyes from evil, and fight it.  The novella continues as Elena is brutalized, raped repeatedly by her captors and their clients, and sold to different pimps under filthier circumstances when she tries to escape.  One day, barely holding onto the will to live, she comes up with a plan that just might give her some hope to see her daughter and freedom once more ...

Hope is precious.  You know that if you've ever run short of it.  For these girls (some of them as young as 9) and women, their only hope is someone who will go to them with compassionate love, fight for them, and share Christ with them.  He is the only Hope that will do.  His miracles the only way they'll ever escape the prison of their existence.  

I recommend this book for anyone who cares to plunge into the knowledge of good and evil, and when you finish it - you won't have a choice - you'll have to struggle to the surface of the sludge, pull yourself back ashore of your beautiful life, thank the Lord for His fortunate favor, and then do something about it.

For more information, awareness, and opportunities to fight this evil, please join me tomorrow for my first Exodus Road post.  I'm so excited!

Thursdays are for Thanks ...

Had a busy morning in my son's library class today, followed by a good cry with a friend over injustice, back to work, run to the store for jumper cables because my one of my kids (no one knows the blame - it's not important) left the door open in the car in the garage [but who can jump a car in a one-car garage?], cook dinner, clean up, take K to cheer, fold laundry, play legos with J ... and it's still Thursday, and I'm still thankful.  Even for all of that! All of it grace.  All of it full of gifts - hidden, obvious, comfortable, and difficult.  From the Father who gives lights and bread, never snakes or stones.  Because He loves me.  Just. That. Much.

Here are a few I've recorded.  (Still haven't started counting yours? ... Today's a great day to try, and what have you got to lose, when this or maybe even a camera [!] is what you could gain?)

- a fresh new day, gorgeous sunrise, and the healing power of sleep and Your love

-Your words and instructions - life and healing for my soul and body (Proverbs 4:20, 22)

- playing backgammon with my Guy, and a good talk together

- snuggles, hugs, and prayers with J.  I'll never get tired of this...

- news of a reuniting phone call between mother and son after over two years

-  "I would rather know the truth than be happy in ignorance.  If I cannot have both truth and happiness, give me truth.  We'll have a long time to be happy in heaven." -A.W. Tozer

-  my Guy's sermon [1/6/13] about Matthew 18, and reconciliation's definition of exchanging hostility for friendship

-  Psalm 91, and courage to face the world fearless

-  for being the father I need, and for coming to find me, even before I knew who You were

-  "When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way - words."  - Oswald Chambers

-  time to exercise, vacuum, and read

-  steam rising from Export Creek in the early sunlight, wafting over the snow-covered banks

-  secret letters in a notebook with my daughter

-  RJ's vote of confidence and faith:  "And you have me!" ... laughter is such wonderful medicine, Sweet Father.  Thank You, Oh Thank You.

-  two little brunettes at the library, and a tiny baby too

-  a feeling of productivity, even though I didn't accomplish everything on my to-do list.  Jesus, Your agenda is always better than mine.

-  encouraging verses from R, strength to keep my chin up  ^"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) -Ephesians 2:4-5


Lord - just ... thanks. You sustain my heart when I don't think it can break one more painful time.  When these tears threaten to dry into a calloused soul, Your living water fills me up again.  Your love amazes me and I love counting the ways because I feel like I'm somehow loving you back.  Didn't I once preach about that?  And this, a few years later - living it.  I'm so grateful for every ounce of Your love, and I want to hold onto it.  This gratitude is the strength of my grip on it.  If I thank You, how could it ever slip though my fingers, for I have a written record of the ways You've given me undeserved grace day after day.  You deserve every glory.  Once again, it is You alone who are worthy. 


thank you, National Geographic, for many of these photos of birds

Book Review Monday: The Cure

The Cure What if God isn't who you think He is and neither are you 

by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall

On the cover of this book is a snake.  He creeps between the R and the E in the title, and you might think it says CURSE if you glance.  

I don't remember how I stumbled across this title, but I do know that when it comes to books, a good stumble can lead to an amazing fall.

When a non-fiction starts with an engaging parable, I'm almost always sucked in.  The first few pages of  The Cure are reminiscent of The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson, following one journeyman along the path of life, pursuing the call of his heart.  What I really love about this character is --- he is really me.  And probably you too. He's on the road when he finds a fork. Trusting God lies on one side of the sign, and on the other reads Pleasing God.  Which will he choose?  Which would you?

The parable woven throughout follows him to the Room of Good Intentions, retracing his steps, and eventually to the Room of Grace, though he doesn't stay there either.  Breaking into the parable (in italics) with prose, the authors open our theology and traditions to explore just what the subtitle asks, following through exquisitely with the intrigue promised on the cover (which is more than I can say of other book stumbles I've taken).

We discover through both the parable and the narration that our understanding of God's identity and character may not be true-to-form.  "There are two gods: the one we see through our shame, and the One who actually is."  The other predominant theme throughout is that of our identity - the identity of the Christ-follower.  Who we are, as HE defines us, will revolutionize our lives when we receive the grace of this truth, and the truth of this grace.  It reminded me of another life-changing book I read just last year: Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson.  God's Grace defines me.  

Some of my favorite quotes from the book: (and really, I had a hard time narrowing this down.  I think I practically wore out the underline key on my kindle while reading this book!)

"I will—each of us will—be tempted to return to my mask each time I lose the confidence of my new identity."

"Only now, because it was about God, the stakes were higher. I represented something other than just me, and the pressure was greater. Much greater. Soon, I was back to trying to impress a God I imagined was growing more and more impatient with me.  I learned to bluff, manipulating and managing my persona to appear better than who I feared I was.  No one told me this two-faced life would severely stunt my growth."

“The goal is not to change me. I’m already changed. The goal is to mature. When I depend on the new creature I’ve been made into through the work of Jesus at the cross, I begin to live healthier, more free of sin, more free to love. I learn to believe all His power, love, truth, and goodness already exists in me, right now. Even on my worst day.”

"This life in Christ is not about what I can do to make myself worthy of His acceptance, but about daily trusting what He has done to make me worthy of His acceptance."

"We call it [the Control Cycle] because it is what happens when we believe we can control our lives. And control our sin."

This is what I was referring to when I wrote my response on Friday.  Really, I do nothing to earn acceptance or perform as a Christian.  It is all cooperation with God in and through me, because He is the Savior and I am His beloved rescued one.  I can't muster this.  I can't control it.  He is both the Author and the Finisher of my faith.

Also, a family member said he enjoyed The Cure a lot, and thought it was quite a bit to think about.  Though he was slightly more critical of the writing style and thought some of it was difficult to follow, we had a great conversation about it, and he might even read it again.  A friend who claims not to be "a reader" took my recommendation, likes it so far, and says this is one she wants to finish.  See what others are saying too.

My favorite chapter in the book was probably Two Healings (5), in which the authors illuminated THE MOST thorough, well-defined, and theologically sound explanation of healing-forgiveness I've read.  I'm not exaggerating when I say the globe would be different if humanity (or at least the Church) would love God and one another and ourselves this way. 

"At the core, we’re just learning to trust and depend on our new identity. We’re learning to live out of who God says we are on our worst day. So a statement like ‘It’s less important that anything gets fixed, but that nothing is hidden’ is an example of living out of our new identity. It’s a realization that sin finds its power when I hide. That nobody gets ‘fixed.’ That we’ve already been changed and now get to mature into who we already are. We’re starting to discover that this new power is released when we trust it—when I’m safe enough to tell the worst about myself to someone else. See, that's what we're learning to do here. We want to get close enough, be safe and trusted enough, that when that moment comes where God reveals something hard to face, we won't have to run and hide."

Happy reading, Friends.  I hope to have another good one for you next week!  What have you been reading lately?

Fridays are for writing ...

... so here we go!

Today's Writing Prompt is a two-part doosey,  inspired by a question my husband posed to me yesterday about a catchy phrase he heard from another pastor that made him stop and think hard.  About theology and scripture and preaching and self, I'm sure.  Sometimes that dear husband of mine will just email me a quote with the only tag: Thoughts? ... and I kind of love that he does that.  That he cares what I think and wants to know.  That's he's not a show-off, know-it-all type of guy.  Mostly because I think humility is one of the most beautiful and endearing attitudes anyone can put on.

Back to business ... We've all heard catchy phrases we want to stamp on our lives, and when we go back and actually try to, we realize they're harder to catch than once thought.  Some authors and speakers and preachers are so gifted at these One-Liners that it's the basis of how they do what they do.  And I'll admit it's often very effective.  People need user-friendly ways to remember what you're teaching them, and some rhymey, alliterated, phrase is often just the thing to do that.  But ... have you ever wondered if those one-liners can actually hold water?  I have.  My husband has.  I know you have too.  So many ideas are easy to say and either impossible to apply, or theologically left-of-center.

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." - James 1:22 (NLT)

I've chosen my Word for the Year already (I hope I'm hearing correctly from Him), and I understand [in part] the importance of  simple.   But I'll argue that over-simplification is not only possible, but dangerous.  After a lengthy discussion in the shower with Jesus yesterday about idle words [I always picture Him sitting on the toilet seat while the hot water washes my best thoughts and prayers into me], I'd like to offer a careful approach.  I've already written my response, which I'll post in the comments later today, but how about it?

Can you remember a catchy phrase you've heard recently?  Jot it down.  Take five minutes or less to analyze it and then freewrite for about 10 minutes about it.  How true is it?  Is it applicable to life, or does the enchantment fade when the princess words slip into ogre actions? After that, write your own catchy phrase (or a few).  Try to encapsulate big ideas into palatable, easy-to-remember words.  Think of as many as you can in five minutes, and then spend the rest of today thinking about whether or not they'll hold up under the test of doing.

One of my favorite authors writes, "The only words that really matter ... are the ones I live." -Ann Voskamp

"... [E]very really great writer tries to express his thoughts as purely, clearly, definitely and shortly as possible.  Simplicity has always been held to be a mark of truth; it is also a mark of genius.  Style receives its beauty from the thought it expresses; but with sham-thinkers the thoughts are supposed to be fine because of the style.  Style is nothing but the mere silhouette of thought; and an obscure or bad style means a dull or confused brain."  (Emphasis added) - Arthur Schopenhauer [The Art of Literature]

Ready ... Set ... Write!

p.s. Saturdays, Sundays, and any days ending in Y are good for writing too.  Keep writing.  Hone your skills for His glory!

Thankful on Thursdays

Where do I begin?

Perhaps by saying that each day lately has been attendance in the school of gratitude, and I feel like I'm sitting in the front row, furiously taking notes.  The theme for December's term was "Being Thankful in Trials 101."  Even in the hard times, God is still good, and He is still a giver.  I told my husband a couple weeks ago, "I find my joy is directly correlated to my gratitude."  Not what happens or what doesn't.  Not if I fail or fail really hard.  Not if people are happy with me or angry.  No - my strength to hold onto the joy He pours out every day into my hands is correlated to the measure of how thankful I am for each blessing, every gift.

I am entitled to none of them.  This very breath is grace.

So here are a few I've recorded lately.  Please feel free to keep track of yours too.  It's the closest thing I can make to a joy guarantee.


- healing for ____, and lessons learned - sin purged in physical pain and illness (1 Peter 4:1)

- time to organize my art mess, and a table ready for me to craft

- the privilege of teaching boys what is gentlemanly behavior

- blue sky and bright sun in my eyes

- birthday gifts from a friend - just what I like

- Your strength to laugh at myself when I could be drowning in shame

- an evening to catch up on my to-do's, and K's help with dinner

- Your comfort after a disturbing dream

- these lyrics "Whispering fingertips, leaving Your fingerprints all over everything" [Flyleaf]

- a baby's strong cry at the post office, followed by sweet, loud sucking on a pacifier

- a "furball of a bird" given to a friend as a sign of faith and peace

- Your strength to take another breath, another step, another beat.  I'm nothing without You.

- Britt Nicole, Jaime Grace, Brandon Heath, Chris August, Group 1 Crew, Toby Mac and more in concert. So much fun with C and the boys!

- a kiss from J, blown off the balcony to me

- privilege to pray with teachers

- Your beautiful hands that hold me, and give me confidence to be and do what You've created me for

- Psalm 37:7 and perfect comfort for such an imperfect tragedy.  "Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans." (HCSB)

Lord, I'm thankful.  My gratitude is not lost.  My praise is not silent.  Are You pleased, and do You get to shame the devil again today?  His attacks will never cause me to curse You, only praise and thank You all the more.  I hope I've passed this course in "Life and loving You."   You are so worthy, and there's nothing I wouldn't give You.  A thousand kingdoms and a million songs don't even do You justice ... but here is my worship of thanks again today. 

Fridays are for writing ...

... so let's get to it!

Sorry I've been MIA for a couple weeks - been fighting some germs here in the nest.  But God is still good, and He's still allowed to define what is good for me.  I've felt lonely and weary, but those are just feelings.  The truth is, I have the precious gifts of a loving family and caring friends, and the Lord has been my strength when I was weak ... He gets some of the best glory that way!

For your writing prompt (since it's been my preoccupation lately):

Write an article, short story, or poem about the most contagious thing on earth.

Begin with a 15-minute freewrite, and continue as you have time to edit and/or finish.  Please post it in the comments section here if you're feeling courage, because as Cynthia Ozick says,

"If we had to say what writing is, we would define it essentially as an act of courage."                       (in a FANTASTIC book I recently finished called Writing with Style by John R. Trimble)

"Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)