I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
Yesterday during our ifast call I prayed about GREY! I begged God to stoke our hope!
Do not see “Grey” as a shade descending into black, but as a color that’s on it’s way to becoming light.
As we battle in the throne room we face harsh realities like LITTLE VIRGINS BEING RAPED! That there are those in authority over them that PLOT for this to happen!
if you follow the link you'll see:
Last, and most importantly, you need a good supply of virgins. For that you have an arrangement with the local boarding school for girls. Potential customers browse through your photo book of potential child sex victims. Once they make their choice, you bring the girls
to your brothel to be raped for profit.
Sadly, this true story is unfolding right now in India.
Instead of letting anxiety or doubt paint the darkest possible conclusion to our problems, we need to stoke our hope, to let it advance against the shadows until darkness recedes.
HOPE of ISRAEL
MIQWEH YISRAEL
The NAME:
Hope is the great stabilizer. It steadies us in times of fear and difficulty, not because we know that everything will turn out as we want, but because we know that God is trustworthy. Hope is what helps us stay on course regardless of circumstances. Biblical hope finds its roots in God and in his goodness, mercy and power. We exercise our hope when we endure patiently. We nurture our hope when we read God’s word. Though we hope for earthly blessings, our greatest hope is aimed at the life to come, when God will not only wipe away our tears but invite us to share his joy forever. When you pray to Miqweh Yisrael, the Hope of Israel, you are praying to the One who saves all those who trust in him.
Do not see “Grey” as a shade descending into black, but as a color that’s on it’s way to becoming light.
Instead of letting anxiety or doubt paint the darkest possible conclusion to our problems, we need to stoke our hope, to let it advance against the shadows until darkness recedes. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
Praying the Names of God By Ann Spangler (taken from pp267-272)
Other people who are talking about this:
Orphan Care
Water Crisis
Life & Death
Sex Trade
RESCUE!
and why God's people (self included) don't care more!
Why we don't cry louder.
...I sometimes feel like I MUST post something...or you 2 readers will forget about me.
And with so much HURTING in my heart, and not knowing HOW to put that hurt into words...how do I share it with you.
...I found out by "coincidence" {insert eye roll here-don't believe in those} that one of my favorite artists will be in my town for FREE tonight! Thank you Jesus!
I was looking for a song to share with you...and it found me (by coincidence meeting both needs)
GRACE!!!
I need eyes to be my guide I need a voice that’s louder than mine
I need hope I need You
Cause I can’t do this alone
Lyrics to Grace by Phil Wickham :
The sky is grey and the light is far
The sea is a rage within my heart
I turn my sight to the crashing waves
I cry in the night just to be saved
I need eyes to be my guide
I need a voice that’s louder than mine
I need hope I need You
Cause I can’t do this alone
Grace I call Your name
Oh won’t Your smile fall over me
I’m cracked and dry on hands and knees
Oh sweet grace rain down on me I need You grace
I pray for dawn a new day to live
I pray for mercy only Jesus gives
Though darkness falls and a million cry
I believe over all there’s a greater light shining for us
Come down and save me
[ Grace Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
I have purchased a mini-trampoline, an ice machine, two baby cribs, a dog (from a very sketchy character), a crate for said dog, and sold a video game system (to someone, who coincidentally was a former neighbor of all things) ...but I did not know you could BUY & SELL Sex until this week.
Maybe I live in a bubble or something ...under a rock in somewhere, Florida. I don't know.
Thankfully I have people SHOUTING to me living under said ROCK telling me come out! and fight! There is a war going on people. ...and it isn't about Craigslist.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(Ephesians 6:11-13, New King James Version)
I am now Boycotting. WHAT?!? Ugh! I know! Very inconvenient since my husband really wants to buy P90X and the first place we would look would be Craigs List. In fact he already did so right in front of me knowing I was boycotting. Nice!
Will me BOYCOTTING make a difference? Will it CHANGE the world? Maybe not THE world but MY world. So, if you see #BoycottCraigslist in my posts this POST explains the reason (a little).
Wednesday is my ifast58 day. I spend my day fasting & praying; battling in prayer for the hungry, the orphan & widow, the oppressed. Fighting for justice on my knees.
Yesterday was spent on those involved in the sex-trade. Specifically, yesterday CRAIGSLIST (CL).
So, if you have never heard about it let's start here:
Mostly I share this "first" because you "recognize" the Today Show:
WARNING: Graphic images of women (no nudity-but nearly)
By clicking on the links below, I release craigslist from any liability that may arise from my use of this site.
I will tell you what I saw broke my heart! I didn't "see" any children. Who knows though. I know it goes on. I wept. I prayed. My son (who wasn't around while I was exploring) wanted to know if I was okay. I wasn't but I couldn't explain to him why.
Today, I am still shaken. Thinking about those woman (and girls, boys, and men) that are giving themselves away by choice (some by force) are LOVED by God! are LOVED by me.
If CL shuts down their adult services section (which is ultimately what I have to fight for!) they will find another way to peddle their wares. There will always be prostitution.
In the comments section--it gets REAL good. By good I mean-each side has valid points! and it's GOOD!
I repeated the sentiment yesterday in my response to Anne's post:
Like Brandi said I would not stay in a hotel that got 1/3 of their income from prostitution…would Jesus be there…most likely…but not me. Does that mean I am not a respectable believer? Tough question…
Anne, wrote to me in her comments section; she wanted to know "articles" that explain the "facts" of some of the claims about finances and children for sale. I posted. I will put the links below for you to explore if you desire. I explained that I went on CL and looked at the adds...and prayed over the women giving themselves away. She agreed that PRAYER was the right action.
Today, Tom Davis(you have heard me speak of him before if you have been following for anytime-he wrote Red Letters: Living a Faith the Bleeds which is the book Hunter read that he started Heart 4 Homeless Ministry), wrote this post: Praying for the Victims of Sex Trafficking it sums it up.
We need to PRAY!!!
TODAY is the NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER! Join my in praying that CraigsList would be forced to take down their Adult Services Section to eliminate illegal prostitution and child-sex-trafficking.
Kids also get sold at hotels, gas stations, truck stops, and cafes. Should we also boycott these places?
Geesh!...but link the two together...Melanie & Anne's comments---IF I KNEW! Yes! ...and so I KNOW! So, I am Boycotting.
It's great because in my house we have me, boycotting.
and my hubby who thinks boycotting is utterly ridiculous. (and he makes VERY good points)
Our attempt at looking like we are fighting :)
It makes for great debate. Hubby loves it! He hasn't had time to look at all these links and ultimately I don't care if I win him (or you) over because THAT is NOT the point.
10If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
(Isaiah 58:10, New King James Version)
So, I know my time is not wasted. My light will shine as bright as the noonday sun! I will fight! and shout! and most importantly PRAY! and the "least important" thing I will do is not use the service of an organization that facilitates illegal prostitution and child-sex-trade.
____UPDATE___
A friend on FaceBook just sent me a link to this video. While it does not specifically refer to CL it is about child exploitation in AMERICA!
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
*****ADDITION***** I just read this article about a 7 years old in NJ that was sold for sex by her sister. I know I am new to this: I was thinking this only happened in other countries. SO sad!!!!! http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EPUI781&show_article=1
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, who changed my life; and continues daily in this process.
I love my husband and am grateful to have a life partner to journey with.
I am honored to mother 2 beautiful children and delighted He gave me 2 more teenagers to mentor, who became as a daughter and son. I now relative-foster a sweet boy who is showing us joy in new ways. We have A LOT of baby grands! We are blessed.
As I journey I am figuring out ministry, mission and life. It is never a boring path; and ever-changing for sure! The comforting thing for me is "He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.(Job 23:10)" All because of HIM!!
