The Enemy at Work

There are not degrees of sin—sin is sin. I know that. But sometimes, when sin looks like pure evil…well, that’s harder to swallow.

Last week, I wrote about a presentation I attended on human trafficking. I watched as the speaker, a senior criminal investigator, paced while answering questions and I heard his attempt to temper his words. When a woman spoke up about the evil going on, he stopped, paused, and said there were times he felt he was looking right into the face of the devil himself.

I can’t imagine the horror he’s seen and I wonder how he’s able to sleep at night. I want to cheer for him and thank him for fighting for what’s right and for helping those who can’t help themselves.

It’s not new this evil. Satan has been at work since the beginning…tempting and enticing us, luring us with promises of wealth, fame, satisfaction—and lying to us.

To continue reading, please join me at 5 Minutes for Faith...

In Christ,
Laura 

Note:

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center is a national toll-free hotline, available to answer calls and texts from anywhere in the country 24/7, every day of the year.

Call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733) to report a tip, connect with anti-trafficking services in your area, or request information and training assistance.

I have posted a companion post Human Trafficking in the United States, with a little bit of what I learned about human trafficking, including what anyone and everyone can do and links to resources.

Linking up with Faith Filled Friday, Counting My Blessings

Letting Go of Normal

I haven’t written much about my One Word for this year. It’s Let Go. I know, that’s two words. But that’s what God gave me before 2014 started. Believe me, I double and triple checked with Him. I didn’t like what Let Go might mean, so I wanted to give Him a chance to change His mind. Obviously, He didn’t.

In a way, I think now I’m glad for the warning because it has been a year of letting go…and adjusting to change.

It’s been letting go of schedules—well, mine anyway, for God’s. Have you noticed that God’s schedule rarely coincides with yours? Yep, it’s an adjustment.

It’s been a year of not knowing for sure if we’ll be at school or work, how many doctors we’ll see, or when healing will come.

His schedule, not mine.

It’s been letting go of normal. I didn’t quite realize how much I appreciated a normal day until they were gone. Normal seems boring until you miss it.

Normal was grocery shopping and not having to read every single label. Every. Single. One.

Normal was not having a clue what maltodextrin is and wondering if it’s safe or not.

Normal was not knowing that wheat-free is not the same thing as gluten-free.

Normal was not understanding that gluten intolerance is different than celiac disease.

But now I know…and we have a new normal—a celiac, gluten free normal.

I’d always thought it would be the worst thing ever, but it’s really not. There are so many more gluten free options than I thought there would be, and I’ve had friends help who are already on this gluten free road.

It is, however, quite an adjustment. It’s not just buying different food. It’s making sure there is no contact with anything containing gluten, because with celiac any exposure can cause illness. Exposure only takes moments, but healing can take days.

I’ve let go of not thinking about this at all, because now I’m thinking about it all the time. It’s our new normal.

Let Go has really been the word for this year so far. Only 6 more months to go…

In Christ,

Laura 

Photo credit: Stock photo: dandelion in the wind

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Sharing His Beauty, Give Me Grace, Trusting Tuesdays, Unforced Rhythms. #TellHisStory, Winsome Wednesday, Thought-Provoking Thursday

Human Trafficking in the United States

I recently attended a disturbing presentation on human trafficking in the United States. Disturbing isn’t the best word here because it’s way too mild. I’d already been hearing some of the statistics, so I wasn’t completely shocked—but what I felt was sick and sad…for the victims and because of the evil in our world.

I knew what I was walking into. Before I left, my husband asked me why I was going when I knew it would upset me. I said I had to go—I didn’t want to go, and at the same time I knew I couldn’t not go. That’s the best I could explain it.

We hear so much about human trafficking in other countries, but friends, it is here too—where we live, where we raise our children, and where we value our freedom.

In this post today, I want to share a little of what I learned—not to upset you, but to bring the same awareness I needed. (Click on the links for more information.)    

- Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. More people are enslaved in the United States today than any other time in history. Victims can be male, female, minors, or adults. Female minors are most often primary targets for exploitation and trafficking.

- Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 states of the U.S.

- Worldwide, human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries. (The drug trade is still first.)

- The National Human Trafficking Resource Center is a national toll-free hotline, available to answer calls and texts from anywhere in the country 24/7, every day of the year. 

The hotline is operated by Polaris Project (www.polarisproject.org), a non-profit, non-governmental organization working exclusively on the issue of human trafficking. (Click on the link to find so much more information.)

Call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733) to report a tip, connect with anti-trafficking services in your area, or request training assistance, general information, or specific anti-trafficking resources.

What we can do:

- Pray for the victims, the police, task forces, and all who are trained to rescue the victims and apprehend the traffickers. And even…for the traffickers—that they might come to know God. Our God is the God of miracles, and we need miracles to stop this evil.

Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. Psalm 82:4 NLT 

- If you see something that does not look right, say something! Call the police. (Don’t worry about being wrong.)

- Do not approach or attempt to intervene. Call for help.

- After calling 911, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.

- Report what you see, not what you think is happening.

- Find out where your state stands on human trafficking laws. Contact your legislatures to support efforts to end human trafficking in your state.

For more information, visit Polaris Project. For state specific information and resources, visit the State Map page at Polaris Project, and click on your state.

In Christ,

Laura 

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Give Me Grace, WholeHearted Wednesday

Enduring Faith

Have you ever felt like the thing you don’t want to do is the thing God is drawing you to? For me, that was the Book of Job.

Years ago when I first started to read Job, I didn’t get very far. To be specific, I didn’t get past the beginning when God tells Satan he can test Job. I didn’t like that part. At all. So, I stopped reading.

And then over the years, there were times I felt drawn to Job. I underlined a verse or two, read a chapter here and there…and I started to see Job’s enduring faith in the midst of the unrelenting storm.

I saw his strength and faithfulness to God when his wife urged Job to curse God for all that was happening to him. Job refused. 

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job 2:9-10 NIV

Not only was Job losing everything, but Satan was wearing him down, using his own wife to convince him to blame God.

I often wonder if I could stand up under the pressure like Job did.

Sometimes we get the opportunity to find out…

This past year has tested me in various ways. Exhausting I-can’t-do-this-anymore ways. And sometimes I want to tell God I quit. I quit trying to keep up with everything in life. I quit trying to love others when that’s the last thing I feel at the time. I quit trying to stay faithful to Him. 

But when God leads us somewhere, it’s for a reason. One night I realized why, despite my protests and digging in my heels, He led me to Job.

Because I was being worn down…to the point of thinking that if I quit being faithful to God, the enemy would let up.

But God intervened, as He often does. At the moment I was thinking of quitting, I remembered Job and how he was tested—and how he didn’t quit.

I imagine Job felt frustrated and angry, maybe worn-out tired. He complained, he cried out to God, and he questioned his suffering.

And then God showed up. Not to condemn Job, but to remind him of His omnipotence.

Job learned that suffering is indeed a part of life…but God was there with him.

Just like He was there with me that night.

Life is hard. But God is with us through the good days—and the bad—giving us strength when we have none…cheering us on when we’re worn down and the enemy is prowling…refining us for His purpose.

Through it all, Job endured. So will I. And so will you.

In Christ,
Laura

[This post can also be read in its entirety at Gloria Dei / Stock photo: Worship at Sunset] 

Linking up with #TellHisStory, Coffee for Your Heart, Everyday Jesus, Winsome Wednesday, Recommendation Saturday