Called To Intercede

  Is there ever a time when someone comes to your mind who you haven't thought of in awhile, and you're not sure why you are thinking of them then? I kind of wonder if that isn't the Holy Spirit prompting us to pray for that particular person, at that particular time.

  Working with girls on the streets has caused me to rely on God in a different way than I've had to before. In a way that I imagine Moses' mother must have had to trust that God had a plan for her son, and she trusted Him enough to let her infant take a ride down a river in hopes that he would be safe. She ultimately entrusted him to God, not knowing what would happen to her baby. 

  There are certain areas of certain streets that will trigger a memory of a girl we've seen/talked to/prayed for, and whenever I pass those places, I pray for those girls, entrusting them to Jesus, taking comfort in the fact that He is pursuing them when I can't, He loves them more than I ever could, and He is the only one who can ultimately rescue them. I am grateful for knowing those girls exist because I know I am called to intercede for them.

Choices

  To preface this post: this was hard to write. 

  Working on the streets with those involved in prostitution, I can't help but be grieved by the decisions some of them make. I struggle with the tension we are compelled by - knowing the "choices" they are making, yet recognizing the darkness they are trapped in.

  There are so, so many complexities that contribute to how one ends up in prostitution*. Abuse and neglect (usually at a very young age) are just some of the heartbreaking stories that hide behind those who walk the "track." It's no wonder that a distorted view of love, family, and safety can produce such a devastating lifestyle. Not to mention a pimp who controls and watches their every move, and the constant fear they live in. But then there are times when I think, "she could leave if she wanted to. We're offering her a new life! Why wouldn't she take it?" It always baffles me when a stranger's car is perceived as a better option. The truth is, when you are living in darkness, the decisions you make are not clearly seen. But as one girl who had been in the life for 16 years told me, "You don't leave the life until you're ready. Nobody convinces you to do it. Something happens, or you're just ready to leave. You have to be ready." My thought always is: hopefully, that moment won't come all too late.

  I am continually learning how to love and serve these women we come into contact to, and strive to be a person of trust and safety for them, in a world that has not been trustworthy or remotely safe. My goal is for them to meet Jesus, find new life in Him, and walk in the light.





*While there are undoubtedly cases of kidnapping for the purpose of sex trafficking, a majority of those we meet are runaways, or come from abusive/neglectful/broken homes, are domestically trafficked, and were recruited through a local mall, school, or even their own neighborhood.

Redeeming Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day, ladies and gentlemen! (As if you didn't already know. I mean, I knew Whitney died within minutes of it being announced just because of Facebook. I'm going to assume that, if you 1) have a Facebook, and 2) don't live under a rock, you are well aware that it is Valentine's Day.)

  I have never liked Valentine's Day. For the record, I have been: single, in a relationship, had my heart broken, started a relationship, and broken someone's heart all on past Valentine's Days (yes, the actual day.) It's difficult sometimes in our society to look at it as "just another day," but I do. First of all, I dislike the marketing scheme behind V-Day, and the imposed guilt: "You'd better get that 'someone special' a gift or they'll think you don't love them!"  WHAT?! Since when has that been an accurate definition of expressing your love for someone? (and I'm not even talking about a romantic relationship, but relationships in general.) While I do understand that for some of us, our love language is receiving gifts. But even that doesn't mean materialism, but rather the thought and love expressed in a gift. (It really is the thought that counts!)

  Growing up, every year on Valentine's Day, my dad would come home with a card & flowers for all of his girls (including my mom), told us how special we were to him, and that he loved us. Was it because it was Valentine's Day? Maybe he took that opportunity to show his love for us in a more obvious way, but I never felt loved or special because of what he did or gave me on that day. My dad, as much as humanly possible, expressed his love to us regularly. And ya know, it wouldn't matter if he skipped a year, because my feeling of security in his love for me was not contingent on what he did for me on Valentine's Day!

  I can't help but think of our heavenly Father, and all the great gifts He gives us! One in particular, being the greatest sacrifice ever made - His Son Jesus. In Him, we have eternal life, and quite frankly, none of us will ever be able to measure up to that! But what an amazing model we have of a perfect Father who gives good and perfect gifts!

  So, it's Valentine's Day. If you have that "someone special," give them a gift today. (Or if you do live under a rock and were unaware that it was Valentine's Day, write them a note.) And tomorrow... do it again. And next week, and the week after...

Sign Your Name. Stand For Freedom.

  January was National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Now that the month is over, does that mean we stop being aware? Once you are aware of a problem, it's impossible to deny responsibility. We may wish we never knew that sex slavery, slave labor, and human trafficking do not exist in the world, but once we know, we must do something about it. Even if it's using one of the many social networking sites out there to spread the word. Even if it's simply clicking a button. Even if it's just signing your name. You have a voice, and not only that, the option to use it. Speak for those who cannot. Fight for those who are enslaved. Get involved to help end modern-day slavery. While it begins with awareness, it must end in action.