Archive for May 2016

Home Archive for May 2016

I have a heavy heart because I know I'm part of the problem. And the problem is huge and daunting and seemingly impossible. And the problem is grievous and horrific. And you are part of the problem, too.

And the problem is sex trafficking.

This is ugly. It shouldn't exist, but it is like an oil spill in the ocean; it seems to permeate the world yet remain inextricable.

How can people be so evil to think they can sell other human beings to a life of torture, pain and hopelessness? Well, I think we all know the answer to that question.

But you know what? Justice is coming. God has heard the cries of the innocent, and He is coming, and He is here. He is already working, and He intends to use you and me.

The problem of sex trafficking has always broken my heart, but I never felt like I could do anything about it. I didn't feel strong enough to educate myself about what was really going on, and I didn't feel like I had any way to minister to rescued victims because I haven't experienced any pain remotely similar to theirs. Yet the Lord continues to burn their pain on my heart and give me visions of what I can do.

Short of signing up to work in the field to locate and raid brothels, here are five things that you and I can do to seek justice for victims of sex trafficking:

1) Quit viewing pornography. The pornography industry is a huge contributor to the demand for trafficked women and men... and children. And you may think, oh, I'm not watching that kind of stuff. But you are. It's all the same, and it all exploits people who need hope and abundant life. Just stop. Get help - counseling, accountability, Covenant Eyes, whatever you need. You're not the only person who has a problem, so don't let shame keep you from seeking freedom. And yes, women, you, too.

2) Purchase your clothes second-hand or from fair trade sources. Thousands of men and women are trafficked into near slave labor sewing the clothes we wear everyday. And I realize it's cheap and easy to buy clothes off the rack from a big brand store, but is cheap and easy most important? Take a little time to shop consignment or thrift stores. You'll save money and reduce the demand for cheap clothing. Trafficking is an intertwined system, so just because we're talking about who sews our clothes doesn't mean we're not addressing sexual slavery.

3) Get involved with an organization that fights human trafficking. Three great organizations to look into are Women at Risk (WAR), International Justice Mission (IJM) and A21. You can do everything from volunteer to donate to host a jewelry party that supports women who have been rescued from trafficking. Now that sounds like a home party I would want to attend!

4) Educate yourself. Know how this works. Be aware of the signs and who to call if you see suspicious activity. Sex trafficking isn't just out there. It's right next door. A couple of really good books are Open Your White Umbrella by Mary Frances Bowley and Sold by Patricia McCormick.

5) Pray. Why do I always put this last, when it is the most powerful thing? Yes, we should get involved hands on - God wants us to be His agents of justice - but prayer unleashes His power, and yeah, I don't think we can hold a matchstick to that. If you don't know where to start, try using one of these prayer resources.

Now you can't say you don't know what to do about it. So go do something!

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

I didn’t have many friends in college.

Was it because I wasn’t a very nice person?

I pondered.

Was it because I wasn’t very “cool” or “trendy”?

I was well aware of this.

Was it because I wasn’t friendly?

That is why I regret 15% of my life.

People argue whether college should be considered as much of a social education as it is. Should we encourage our graduating high school students to “have fun” in college? Is that its purpose?

Back in the day, college was a very prestigious, limited opportunity. It was an honor to be able to pursue an occupation that required college, an honor to be accepted into a college, and an honor to come from a family able to afford a college education.

Therefore, it was an honor to attend college.

Over time, an interesting thing has happened, however.

As college education became more expensive, it also became more accessible and in higher demand. A degree of some sort is required for nearly any job above minimum wage, so young people are compelled to pursue higher education.

It seems that a desire to compensate for the obligatory studies has led organically to a need for “release” through increasingly student-focused social activities. There have always been college parties, but never has it been so widely assumed that every collegiate would participate in such festivities.

But, see, I was better than the average college student. I held to the old-fashioned notion that college was an honor, and academics held priority over every area of my life.

I left with a 3.9 GPA, a division award and the satisfaction that I had indeed been a teacher’s pet.

What more could I ask for the last four years of my life?

And the 15%? I'm 24. So it's more like 16.67% of my life.

Students: college, now more than ever, is no joke. It is an incredibly expensive investment, one on which your future success depends greatly.

Don’t slack off in your classes. Don’t go to lecture in your pajamas. Don’t skip an evening class to attend a social event.

Also…

Don’t stuff your need for friendships. Scripture places just as much emphasis (if not more) on cultivating godly relationships as it does diligence and hard work.

Don’t avoid the social gatherings. If you’re like me, you may struggle with wondering whether anyone would want to hang out with an uncool person such as yourself. Stop it. That’s insecurity - and insecurity is pride. Go to a party.

Don’t neglect your professors. Depending on the size of your university, your professors may or may not have time to develop a personal mentoring relationship with you. If you are privileged to attend a small school like I did, make sure you recognize the value of that relationship and continue to communicate that to your professor even after college. Not only will this make you a nicer, more other-centered person, it will help greatly with networking and finding internship, job and graduate school opportunities.

I can only hope that most people aren’t like me in pursuing academic success at the expense of relational successes. I write this not to make you feel bad for me, but as a warning to those who follow behind: if you do what I did, you will regret those four years. You will dwell on how you have no close friendships left from college because you ignored everyone as a defense mechanism against possible rejection.

By the grace of God, my friendship-building skills have improved dramatically since college, and I am grateful to say I have many friends who don’t just tolerate me, but (I’m fairly certain) enjoy me.

This message is not just for the collegiate, but for everyone who is in a season of life where valuable time must be divided and choices must be made. Do your work, whatever it is, and do it well, but never sacrifice friends for grades or people for pay.

Love God first, and love others as yourself. As you seek His kingdom, all this will be added.

"His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’"
Matthew 25:23

We spend our days searching for significance, looking for a way to leave our legacy. We want to know and be known, and we want to be known for something good.

Sometimes I plan my funeral. Yes, maybe a weird thing for a 24-year-old, but I want my funeral to be similar to one I attended a few years ago. One of my mom's best friends died of cancer. She had attended a mega-church, and at her funeral, the church was packed. People she had touched with her kindness, wisdom and passion for the Lord flooded the room to testify to the legacy she left.

Since then, I have often thought, I want to be the kind of person that packs a crowd at my funeral. I want to be that kind, generous, wise person that people want to remember and celebrate.

After reflecting more on this woman's funeral, though, I realized that, more than a celebration of her life, it was a celebration of Christ. She loved the Lord, and she poured His love into others in such a way that they turned their eyes upward.

How do I live that kind of life? How do I live to leave a legacy? How do I live so that the love of Christ I've invested lives on and takes root in the lives of people?

The best motto I've found to help me focus on this is JOY. Jesus. Others. You.

Jesus. Is Christ the most important One to me? Do I speak His name with love and joy? Do I devote my time and energy to knowing Him and making Him known?

Others. Do I put others before myself? Do I serve without grumbling? Give cheerfully? Love unconditionally? Forgive quickly?

You. Do I see my time as mine or as a gift from God to be invested? Do I care for my soul and invest my talents, financial and otherwise, so that I am able to serve the Lord with my all?

I fall so very far short, but I know He will help me live this kind of life if I continue to ask Him for guidance and strength. And no matter what people think of me at the end of my life, my greatest desire is that He say, "Well done."

What about you? Do you ever think about your funeral? Have you chosen a motto for your life?

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9

I'd like it to be said of me that I loved the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

So I'm learning Tagalog.

You see, my exotic hubby hails from the tropical islands of the Philippines.

He's a package. "Love me, love my language."

I love language, people. I'm a sure crier when we sing Revelation Song in multiple languages.

Genesis tells us that language was a curse, and Revelation tells us that God has redeemed language to be a blessing.

I give up easily when things get hard, though. So I've done lesson one about ten times since this tri-lingual man and I tied the knot. (Yes, he speaks Chinese, too.)

Sometimes we narrow the definition of loving God with our minds to using Bible dictionaries and reading commentaries and studying theology.

Update on the case: Theology is the study of God, and God created... you guessed it - language!!

By learning a new language, I'm loving God with my heart because I'm serving and loving my husband, his family and our Filipino friends.

I'm loving God with my soul because understanding God through the lens of another language and culture deepens my knowing of Him.

I'm loving God with my mind because, well, brain power.

I'm loving God with my strength because He asks me to persevere, to run the race with endurance.

So I'm renewing my focus today. Every day is a fresh start. Praise God that both He and my husband are long-suffering with me.

Magandang umaga! Beautiful morning!

What exercise has God called you to as you love Him with your mind? Are you learning a new language? New skill? Reading a challenging book? Any encouragement/motivation you can give me if you're on the other side or at least past lesson one?

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