And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
It began with an early morning phone call asking if I was “in town.” With Jack serving in northeast Georgia and me traveling all over the place presenting workshops on trafficking, most people can’t keep up with us – sometimes, we’re not sure where we are!
“Yes,” I responded, “but I’m not dressed for the public yet.” That was my way of preparing people for the face that God gave me without the touchups.
“Well, we’re on our way out of town and have a few things we wanted to drop off and one of them I’d rather not leave on the porch; we’ll be there in a few minutes,” through the phone came the reply.
The mysterious “rather not leave on the porch” comment piqued my curiosity and I agreed to come to the door as long as they wouldn’t tell others just how bad it was.
In the time it took for me to brush my hair (like it made much difference), brush my teeth (it’s the right thing to do) and ensure my huge fleece robe entirely covered my comfortable, yet rather ragged night clothes, the doorbell rang.
There stood two of God’s earthly angels, arms full of bags of groceries. Stepping inside and sitting them down on the floor, they quickly headed back toward the door. I felt certain that my appearance made them wonder if I were actually preparing for Halloween.
“What’s all this?” the question fell out of my mouth which had dropped open as I gazed over bag after bag of what can only be called “manna.”
“Oh, I just bought too many groceries, and God told me I should share them,” she said, eyes moist with emotion.
My eyes were filling up with utter gratitude yet I couldn’t help chuckling inside at the fib --surely no one ever “buys too many groceries.” Everything can be stored until needed. It was clear that God was using her to meet our needs. But He wasn’t finished.
“Here.” She grabbed my hand and pressed some thick folded paper into it. Now there was no holding back the tears as I shoved the thick folded paper into my robe pocket.
“Thank you! This will really help with the medical bills that have started coming in.” I gave her an update, and we stood in the foyer, and this impeccably dressed woman prayed for the not-dressed-for-the-public missionary. Then she and her husband left.
I took the bags into the kitchen and began opening each one. Each and every item was something we could use. Most of them were things that were on my shopping list. Why should I be surprised – God can read.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
God Is Mobilizing!
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Psalm 94:16
As I was preparing for my 51st presentation on sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, I paused (translated “procrastinated”) to check my email. There, nestled amid the junk mail, was an incredible treasure – an email from a courageous woman whom God is mobilizing to join the fight.
Amy had attended one of my workshops in Michigan on trafficking and God used it to show her how she could shine light on sexual exploitation. Using the talent He gave her, she wrote and recorded “Lost,” a song about how Christ can be the cornerstone, can heal, and can restore those who have been lost to exploitation.
As I thought about the last year and all the places I’d been, the faces of God’s army began to appear.
o A woman in Florida wants to reach out to other mothers who never knew their daughters were being molested by a family member. She wants to teach young moms the warning signs.
o A church in West Virginia wants to reach pimps for Christ.
o Another church is going to start a Celebrate Recovery group for those in their congregation who are addicted to pornography.
o A woman wants to minister to wives whose husbands are arrested—she knows what it’s like to have everyone fall away, even friends from church.
And now, Amy will increase awareness of sexual exploitation of children by speaking out and sharing her musical gift. Through the internet, her message can reach the millions who have suffered in the silence that permeates our churches. She will shine light in the darkness and take a stand against this evil.
God is mobilizing His servants.
Go God! Go Amy!
As I was preparing for my 51st presentation on sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, I paused (translated “procrastinated”) to check my email. There, nestled amid the junk mail, was an incredible treasure – an email from a courageous woman whom God is mobilizing to join the fight.
Amy had attended one of my workshops in Michigan on trafficking and God used it to show her how she could shine light on sexual exploitation. Using the talent He gave her, she wrote and recorded “Lost,” a song about how Christ can be the cornerstone, can heal, and can restore those who have been lost to exploitation.
As I thought about the last year and all the places I’d been, the faces of God’s army began to appear.
o A woman in Florida wants to reach out to other mothers who never knew their daughters were being molested by a family member. She wants to teach young moms the warning signs.
o A church in West Virginia wants to reach pimps for Christ.
o Another church is going to start a Celebrate Recovery group for those in their congregation who are addicted to pornography.
o A woman wants to minister to wives whose husbands are arrested—she knows what it’s like to have everyone fall away, even friends from church.
And now, Amy will increase awareness of sexual exploitation of children by speaking out and sharing her musical gift. Through the internet, her message can reach the millions who have suffered in the silence that permeates our churches. She will shine light in the darkness and take a stand against this evil.
God is mobilizing His servants.
Go God! Go Amy!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Unlikely Messenger
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. Job 12:22
As I stood in the pulpit of a small country Baptist church with the bright Sunday morning sunshine beaming through the stained glass windows, it hit me. How much more unlikely a messenger could you find? A short round woman with a hyphenated last name speaking in a southern Baptist church. Only God could make that happen.
Here I was delivering a message about sex trafficking of children and the slippery slope of pornography into child pornography. I talked about how the offenders are in our churches and how God was tired of those who call themselves by His name destroying the lives of children. I talked about how it was His time to shine light on this issue and how He was going to start in His own House!
I shared the story of a pastor we know—a pastor with a wife and two children --who was arrested for child pornography. I wondered aloud what would happen to his family. I wondered what his church could have done to minister to him when he first became involved, before he slipped down that slippery slope. I wondered what could happen if we as a Church started talking about pornography. How many more of him are there?
Unfortunately, I knew the answer. There are thousands. In my research I learned this was not an isolated case. Although that thought sickened the human side of me, the missionary side recognized the need to minister to the offenders. God still loves them; He will hold them accountable but He still loves them. We must hold them accountable and we must love them.
God must really be ready to shine light on this evil if He's using such an unlikely messenger. We must be ready for what He brings into the light.
As I stood in the pulpit of a small country Baptist church with the bright Sunday morning sunshine beaming through the stained glass windows, it hit me. How much more unlikely a messenger could you find? A short round woman with a hyphenated last name speaking in a southern Baptist church. Only God could make that happen.
Here I was delivering a message about sex trafficking of children and the slippery slope of pornography into child pornography. I talked about how the offenders are in our churches and how God was tired of those who call themselves by His name destroying the lives of children. I talked about how it was His time to shine light on this issue and how He was going to start in His own House!
I shared the story of a pastor we know—a pastor with a wife and two children --who was arrested for child pornography. I wondered aloud what would happen to his family. I wondered what his church could have done to minister to him when he first became involved, before he slipped down that slippery slope. I wondered what could happen if we as a Church started talking about pornography. How many more of him are there?
Unfortunately, I knew the answer. There are thousands. In my research I learned this was not an isolated case. Although that thought sickened the human side of me, the missionary side recognized the need to minister to the offenders. God still loves them; He will hold them accountable but He still loves them. We must hold them accountable and we must love them.
God must really be ready to shine light on this evil if He's using such an unlikely messenger. We must be ready for what He brings into the light.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Ruth Fields October 24, 1920 – December 30, 2010
While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
This past week we celebrated Christmas yet it was not the joyous time it should be. We wanted to celebrate the birth of our Savior but it was just too hard; we were caught in our own pain, avoiding the holiday and its ever-so-empty seat at the table once occupied by Dad. All those with experience say that you just "get through" the first holiday.
Last Christmas we were waiting for Dad’s imminent departure. Every activity was bittersweet knowing that it was our last with him. We spent day after day waiting –then on January 11, one day after his 90th birthday, Dad decided to go on to his Heavenly home.
This week we were in that place again—waiting—this time for Mom. We waited; although we knew where she was going and who she’d be with, it was still hard. We told her we loved her, that she’d soon see Dad, and that she’d soon be whole again. They were words we meant but our hearts struggled to say them.
Mom joined her husband of 68 years this morning and is now in the presence of her Savior.
It can’t get much better than that—except for all of us to be together. For that we must wait. We wait for His glorious appearing. Come quickly, Lord.
This past week we celebrated Christmas yet it was not the joyous time it should be. We wanted to celebrate the birth of our Savior but it was just too hard; we were caught in our own pain, avoiding the holiday and its ever-so-empty seat at the table once occupied by Dad. All those with experience say that you just "get through" the first holiday.
Last Christmas we were waiting for Dad’s imminent departure. Every activity was bittersweet knowing that it was our last with him. We spent day after day waiting –then on January 11, one day after his 90th birthday, Dad decided to go on to his Heavenly home.
This week we were in that place again—waiting—this time for Mom. We waited; although we knew where she was going and who she’d be with, it was still hard. We told her we loved her, that she’d soon see Dad, and that she’d soon be whole again. They were words we meant but our hearts struggled to say them.
Mom joined her husband of 68 years this morning and is now in the presence of her Savior.
It can’t get much better than that—except for all of us to be together. For that we must wait. We wait for His glorious appearing. Come quickly, Lord.
Friday, November 19, 2010
You’ll Put Your Eye Out
I couldn’t help but laugh and remember the recurring line from the wonderful holiday movie A Christmas Story. Set in the 1940s, nine year-old Ralphie had only one thing on his list—a Red Ryder BB rifle—but he’s told over and over how dangerous they are and how he could shoot his eye out. Despite the danger, he continues to make his voice heard.
With the line “you’ll put your eye out” running through my head and my right eye closed-yet-fluttering in pain, I put my plate down, got up and ran to the sink to flush my eye with water. The foreign object – the croissant flake -- was dislodged in moments.
Yes, as I bit down into my homemade breakfast sandwich, a hard, sharp flake of the overly-toasted croissant flew upward and lodged in my right eye. In all the years since the invention of croissants, have you ever heard of anyone being injured by a flake? It just sounded like something satan would do when he knew I needed to do a lot of reading that day.
Apparently I haven’t been doing much that bothered him until now. Throughout our ministry there have been times that activities didn’t go as planned and we knew satan wasn’t overly thrilled with the fact that we were swiping people from his claws and leading them to the One who would give them Eternal Life. But he never really seemed to spend much time on us.
Sure do miss those days! Since I’ve learned that Atlanta is a hub for exploiting American children, God has given me opportunities to speak in churches across the nation on sex trafficking--encouraging them to get involved by ministering to the victims and reaching out to the offenders within their congregations. We must shine light on the darkness that satan has hidden there. No wonder he has kicked discouragement into high gear.
God has begun to bring those who victimize our children to judgment. Despite the danger, we must open our eyes and continue to make our voices heard.
Do you fix your eye on such a one? Will you bring him before you for judgment? - Job 14:3
With the line “you’ll put your eye out” running through my head and my right eye closed-yet-fluttering in pain, I put my plate down, got up and ran to the sink to flush my eye with water. The foreign object – the croissant flake -- was dislodged in moments.
Yes, as I bit down into my homemade breakfast sandwich, a hard, sharp flake of the overly-toasted croissant flew upward and lodged in my right eye. In all the years since the invention of croissants, have you ever heard of anyone being injured by a flake? It just sounded like something satan would do when he knew I needed to do a lot of reading that day.
Apparently I haven’t been doing much that bothered him until now. Throughout our ministry there have been times that activities didn’t go as planned and we knew satan wasn’t overly thrilled with the fact that we were swiping people from his claws and leading them to the One who would give them Eternal Life. But he never really seemed to spend much time on us.
Sure do miss those days! Since I’ve learned that Atlanta is a hub for exploiting American children, God has given me opportunities to speak in churches across the nation on sex trafficking--encouraging them to get involved by ministering to the victims and reaching out to the offenders within their congregations. We must shine light on the darkness that satan has hidden there. No wonder he has kicked discouragement into high gear.
God has begun to bring those who victimize our children to judgment. Despite the danger, we must open our eyes and continue to make our voices heard.
Do you fix your eye on such a one? Will you bring him before you for judgment? - Job 14:3
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Can I Go With You?
How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone telling them? Romans 10:14
I dreamed of Dad last night—actually him and Mom both. It has been so long since I’d been able to talk to them; Dad, because he died seven months ago and Mom because her alzheimer’s took her memory and her ability to communicate quite a while back.
In the months leading to Dad’s death, he had become almost housebound due to the difficulty in maneuvering him into a vehicle. As the clock ticked closer, Dad would say “Can I go with you?” every time someone was going anywhere.
I’d try to take him somewhere every time I was in town and at Thanksgiving I rented a wheelchair-accessible van for three days. We went somewhere twice a day “just to get out.” Despite his pain and exhaustion, his smile beamed through as we drove around looking at Christmas lights or just went to the store to pick up medication.
Last night we were talking about church and Dad kept asking, “Can I go with you?” over and over. "Can I go with you this Sunday?” In my dream I had a sense that time was limited, that he may not make it until Sunday or that it might be his last Sunday in church.
How often we encounter people every day who by something in their actions are saying “Can I go with you this Sunday?” but we never actually invite them because they never actually ask. What if the “Can I go with you?” is a desire to have eternal life but we never share the way.
What if their time is limited and they never make it to Sunday?
I dreamed of Dad last night—actually him and Mom both. It has been so long since I’d been able to talk to them; Dad, because he died seven months ago and Mom because her alzheimer’s took her memory and her ability to communicate quite a while back.
In the months leading to Dad’s death, he had become almost housebound due to the difficulty in maneuvering him into a vehicle. As the clock ticked closer, Dad would say “Can I go with you?” every time someone was going anywhere.
I’d try to take him somewhere every time I was in town and at Thanksgiving I rented a wheelchair-accessible van for three days. We went somewhere twice a day “just to get out.” Despite his pain and exhaustion, his smile beamed through as we drove around looking at Christmas lights or just went to the store to pick up medication.
Last night we were talking about church and Dad kept asking, “Can I go with you?” over and over. "Can I go with you this Sunday?” In my dream I had a sense that time was limited, that he may not make it until Sunday or that it might be his last Sunday in church.
How often we encounter people every day who by something in their actions are saying “Can I go with you this Sunday?” but we never actually invite them because they never actually ask. What if the “Can I go with you?” is a desire to have eternal life but we never share the way.
What if their time is limited and they never make it to Sunday?
Monday, June 7, 2010
Take 5 Minutes
I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter. Ecclesiastes 4:1b
It was definitely a God thing. I was sitting in the living room of the future therapeutic, restorative home for girls who are victims of sex trafficking. The home wouldn't open for many months yet. I was visiting with the Founder of Living Water for Girls when my cell phone rang. It was someone from the North American Mission Board. They knew I served in the Atlanta area as a Mission Service Corps Missionary and wondered if I knew anyone who was working in human trafficking.
I laughed. As I began to talk about the issue and the home, I was consciously aware that God had arranged this moment. He began arranging other opportunities for me to share this burden with people who apparently had no idea it existed in the US, much less in their own backyard of Atlanta.
The more I learned the more of a sense of urgency I felt. When I learned that every minute 2 children are sold, I felt overwhelmed at the size of the problem. But I felt certain that as God makes people aware of the horrendous crimes being committed, they will want to do something. They will let Him use them to end this oppression, to be the comforter for these children.
One of the best ways to increase your awareness is to watch the video clip of the documentary film, The Playground. It's less than 5 minutes. Surely you can take 5 minutes to watch it.
By the way, during those 5 minutes, ten children have been sold.
It was definitely a God thing. I was sitting in the living room of the future therapeutic, restorative home for girls who are victims of sex trafficking. The home wouldn't open for many months yet. I was visiting with the Founder of Living Water for Girls when my cell phone rang. It was someone from the North American Mission Board. They knew I served in the Atlanta area as a Mission Service Corps Missionary and wondered if I knew anyone who was working in human trafficking.
I laughed. As I began to talk about the issue and the home, I was consciously aware that God had arranged this moment. He began arranging other opportunities for me to share this burden with people who apparently had no idea it existed in the US, much less in their own backyard of Atlanta.
The more I learned the more of a sense of urgency I felt. When I learned that every minute 2 children are sold, I felt overwhelmed at the size of the problem. But I felt certain that as God makes people aware of the horrendous crimes being committed, they will want to do something. They will let Him use them to end this oppression, to be the comforter for these children.
One of the best ways to increase your awareness is to watch the video clip of the documentary film, The Playground. It's less than 5 minutes. Surely you can take 5 minutes to watch it.
By the way, during those 5 minutes, ten children have been sold.
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