Modern Day Slavery

It's been said that ignorance is bliss, but today I hope to challenge that idea. Perhaps you've been guilty, as I have, of living in a bubble that for the most part is untouched by what's happening in rest of the world. Recently, I've discovered, however, that when God gets a hold of a person's heart, their world begins to shake and it isn't as easy to remain unaffected by the world around us. That's a good thing because apathy and indifference has no place in the lives of Christians.

I'm primarily speaking of myself and what God has been doing in my own heart. If you'd be wiling to give me a few minutes of your time, I'd be honored to have the privilege of sharing with you something that I've more recently had my eyes opened to and my heart extremely burdened for. In fact, I feel so burdened by what I've learned that I feel I must share this information with the people around me in case there are others who are unaware of the atrocity I'm about to speak of.

Are you aware that slavery still exists in our world? In fact, it is happening right here in our own country! It is called human trafficking and approximately 27 million people have been victims of modern day slavery across the world. The United States, which we refer to as "the land of the free", is not exempt from this horrible practice. The statistics are heart-wrenching. Although anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, 80% are women and most of these women are exploited for sex slavery. There are innocent children being sold into slavery as well. Many of these children are forced into prostitution or involuntary servitude. Parents in dire circumstances sell their daughters believing the lie that their children will be taken care of and given a better life but instead they become victims of sex trafficking. Stop a second and think: What if that was your situation? What if that was your precious daughter? Do you find it difficult to imagine? So do I! And it breaks my heart and angers me to know that human trafficking and sex slavery is happening every day...possibly in some of our own backyards!!

Here's something else to think about: Did you know that most of the chocolate that is produced involves human trafficking? Every time we buy a candy bar or some other chocolate product we are very likely supporting child labor. Does this information upset you as much as it upsets me? It should! These are very disturbing facts! As Christians we need to be aware of what is happening and ask the question: "What would Jesus have us do?"

What can we do to make a difference? All of us can pray! We can be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves! We can support ministries and organizations that are seeking to help these victims. There are many, many people (many of them innocent children!) victimized by human trafficking. They need to know someone cares! They need to know someone will fight for them and offer the hope and compassion of Jesus!

If you would like to find out more about what I've shared here, please view the following links. I encourage you to pass this on to other people. The Church needs to be educated and aware of what is happening around the world. I hope that you will join me in being a voice for those who are bound by the chains of human trafficking and by doing what you can to make a difference.

In Christ's love,
Jennifer


https://www.thehomefoundation.net/the-sobering-facts/

http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/RescueProject/stats.pdf

http://hubpages.com/hub/Traffik_Free_Chocolate-_Do_You_Support_Child_Labor

Matthew West - Family Tree

Living with an "Attitude of Gratitude"

There are many reasons to love the season of Thanksgiving. Beyond the turkey, family get togethers, and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving is all about counting our blessings and being thankful. As much as I appreciate a special season which helps us to focus on all that we are and should be thankful for, the truth is, as believers in Christ, we need to be living in a place of gratitude every day of the year!
Scripture is filled with reminders to live in thankfulness all of the time, not just during the the season of Thanksgiving. The Psalmist instructs us over and over to "Give thanks to the Lord". We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Giving thanks isn't always our first response when we find ourselves in circumstances that are painful or difficult. It's easy to express our thanks to God when life is comfortable and things are going our way. But when we are facing trials of various kinds, it can be far more challenging to be thankful for the place that God has us in!
As believers, part of living in obedience to Christ means practicing thankfulness...every day! Colossians 2:6-7 tells us that living in Christ and overflowing thankfulness go hand in hand. "So then, just as you received Christ as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Overflowing with gratitude is part of what it means to live with an "attitude of gratitude". It's not just being intentional about being thankful (although it sometimes begins there). It's coming to a place where thankfulness is as natural to us as breathing is. It's having thankfulness pour from our hearts and lips in all situations...even the ones we'd rather not have to face. When we operate out of such a place, we learn to live out the commands found in Ephesians 5:19-20: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." What a beautiful way to live!
As we count our many blessings this season, let's ask God to help us be people who are "overflowing with thankfulness". Every moment of every day throughout the year, may thanksgiving be a way of life for us as we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of our great God!

He gently leads those with young...

I've been thinking lately about this Scripture verse:

Isaiah 40:11 (King James Version)

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young".

As a mother of young children, and especially now as I'm once again a mother of a newborn, this verse has special meaning to me. I love the imagery that it portrays...that of a gentle, patient, loving shepherd caring for his flock. It encourages me that although I am sleep-deprived and often struggling to find the time or energy to accomplish all that I feel I should be doing in a day, God is with me and is gently leading me along. He knows the season of life that I am in and that this season won't last forever. As I nurse or soothe my fussing baby, I find peace knowing I am doing something incredibly precious and important. Although it may seem unproductive or insignificant to much of the world, in God's eyes I am caring for that which He has given me. When I become weary in the process, I find comfort knowing the Lord gathers me close as one of His own and gives me what I need to continue on. What a beautiful picture of a gentle and loving Shepherd.

Letting Go

I remember when I was very pregnant with my first child. A dear friend of mine said something to me that I will never forget. She told me to enjoy the last days/weeks of my pregnancy because after the baby is born, it's all about letting go. Although her words struck a chord in my heart, I had no way of knowing then what the "letting go" of parenting would entail. Fourteen years and five babies later, I've now had many opportunities to experience letting go. From the first time I left my baby with a sitter...to the end of a season of babyhood...to the first day of school...there have been many big and small ways that I've been forced to learn what it means to let go. The hard thing about letting go is that most every situation that involves letting go is forced upon us. In order to survive the moment and in order to embrace the moments that lie ahead, we need to know how to successfuly let go. When it comes to being a mom, it seems that letting go for me is just one long process. It's one long learning experience that involves repeated stretching and struggling of the heart. Perhaps all of the "lesser" events are meant to prepare us for the day when our children leave our home and are no longer under our protective wings. Maybe in order for a mother's heart to survive a letting go such as that, we need these many years of letting go in other ways. Because I am a mom who longs to stop the clock and keep my newborn forever tiny...to keep my five year old from that fateful first day of kindergarten...to keep my oldest from beginning high school this fall...I struggle with all of the changes and "good byes" that motherhood brings. It is only by God's grace that He enables me to let go and embrace the many seasons that having children brings. My prayer is that at the end of my mothering days I will have not only navigated these waters well, but that I also will have taught my children and prepared them to know how to let go in life as well.

Heart Expansion

One of the most amazing things about being a parent is experiencing the capacity to fully love more than one child. I remember being afraid when I was pregnant with my second baby that I would not be able to love another child as much as I loved my first. After she was born, however, I was completely amazed at how my heart not only made room for a second child, but how it seemed to have doubled in size. Now that I have five children, I have experienced this "heart expansion" with the birth of every child. Not only does my love for each of my children not decrease with the arrival of another, but my heart just continues to grow and expand with love.

Perhaps being a parent allows us to better comprehend the love that our heavenly Father has for us. Maybe He wired us with hearts that are able to love and embrace each child equally so that we could more fully experience His own heart for us. God has an amazing capacity to love each and every one of us passionately and without reserve. Even though I love my children to the best of my human ability, I know that compared to my Father's love, my love is imperfect and imcomplete. When my faith is weak and I am struggling to believe that God could possibly love me as much as he loves His other children, I only have to look at my own children and the love I have for each of them and remember that God's love is even far more complete, unconditional, and perfect. One child or five, the love doesn't lessen or change. The same is true with God. He loves each of His children as if we were His one and only. What a special place we each have in our Father God's heart!

A Poem of Dedication...

Our Sweet Baby Joshua is 8 days old today. What a precious gift from God he is...

Lord, we want to thank You
For this precious one so new
As You've given him to us
Lord, we give him back to You
We place him in Your hands
And entrust him now to You
May he learn to love and follow
You his whole life through
Help us, Lord, to guide him
And lead him in Your ways
We ask he'd know Your blessing
Throughout all of his days
Make and use him as he grows
For what You've created him to be
May his life reflect You, Jesus
For all the world to see

J.A.P.

New Beginnings

There's something about turning the page on the calendar (or beginning a new calendar all together)that offers us anticipation and hope. What was is now behind us and today is an opportunity to make a brand new beginning. I believe God created seasons and time to be measured in twelve month increments because He knew just how many new beginnings we would need! He is ever aware that we are prone to fall and to fail and of our need to start over again and again...

Just as we turn the page on our calendars, a new year is a wondeful time to turn the page on those things in our lives that need to be left behind. God stands before each of us with a precious gift...the gift of a new beginning. He is ready to do something new in each of our lives as we give Him complete reign. "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See! I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:18-19). There is good news for all of us! There is great hope for those of us who know what it's like to spend time in the desert or wastelands of life. God has something more! He is able and wanting to lead us out of where we've been and offer us refreshment and new life. Our Living God is able to make a way for us. He's ready to offer second chances and new beginnings in all areas of life!

As we come to Him and lay the past at His feet, He invites us to trust Him whole heartedly with today and every tomorrow. We can believe for a better and different day because of His mercy and grace and goodness towards us. His wisdom and power are more than sufficient to redeem, restore and renew us and our lives. What great hope we have as we begin a new year!




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