Repost…27 Million

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Did you know there are 27 MILLION people enslaved right now? Maybe you know but do you believe it? Maybe you know and believe but what are you doing about it?
27 million is not just a number they are people- men, women, children. They are someone's son, daughter, sister, mom, cousin, friend, etc. What are we, as Christ's church doing about it?

Are we as the church of Christ blocking out their cries with our endless projects, worship, and busyness?
These are not bad but are they…

Too Loud?

I just watched The Diary of Anne Frank last night. I "enjoyed" the movie but the history behind it churned my stomach. How anyone could be so overcome with evil and greed to do such atrocities is just unfathomable. But it is not just Hitler and the Nazis that made me sick, it was those that could have done something and didn't- especially the Christians.
I once read that Jews, when they were being transported to the concentration camps, would yell for help especially when they saw a church along the railroads. The Christians in the church heard them, but instead of finding away to help they sang their hymns all the louder.
I began thinking, as I was drifting to sleep- What is it that we as Christian do “louder” to drown out the cries of those in need?
There are orphans all across the world; at least 143 million children have no family. There are slaves everywhere but we, in our comfortable lives barely get exposed to that reality. The poor surround us but we expect others, or the government, to take care of them.
So what do we do? We turn up our Christian music, we bury our heads in work, school, leisure. We make ourselves feel better by say a quick “prayer”…James 2:15-17 says, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (NKJV)
We are to be the body of Christ; His hands and feet. But what are we doing? I am learning this too, and just as there were some who chose to risk all to help the Jews; there are those who choose to serve those in need…in whatever capacity they are able.

Please Pray for Pakistan

I am a little behind on this but I just got a newsletter (sent a month ago, found in piles of stuff in Mama’s room :P) from the Global Response Network.  It included this special report which brought me to tears.  We have it so good here!  God has blessed us in so many ways and it makes me sick to think of how selfish we are, how selfish I am!  Please, please pray for Pakistan, specially these families mentioned in the report and remember- 

Intercessory prayer is the sweetest prayer God ever hears.... The more your prayer is like Christ's, the sweeter it will be.... Intercessory prayer exceedingly prevails. What wonders it has wrought! It has stopped plagues,...healed diseases,...raised the dead.... There is nothing that intercessory prayer cannot do. Believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand - use it well, use it constantly, use it now with faith, and you shall surely prevail.... Never give up anyone for spiritually dead until they are dead naturally...
~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Through Christ,

  Lady Helen

Miracle in my heart

This is a song that has really been my prayer, the cry of my heart for the past few days. I hope it blesses you as it blessed me!
Here is a link to youtube if you would like to listen to it. I, personally, like it better on the Revival at Belfast II CD.

Miracle in my heart
by Brian Houston

We are called to be prophets to this nation,
To be the word of God in every situation;
Change my heart, change my heart today.
Who'll be the salt
If the salt should lose its flavour?
Who'll be the salt
If the salt should lose its flavour?
Change my heart, change my heart today.

Lord, Loose the chains of opression;
Lord, set the captives free.
Lord, fill my heart with Your compassion:
shine Your light, shine Your light,
shine Your light through me.

Work a miracle in my heart,
work a miracle in my heart,
work a miracle in my heart, O Lord, today.

Lord, take all of my lies, and all of my greed;
Let me be a sacrifice
For those who are in need.
Change my heart, change my heart today.
Lord, without Your power
It's all just good intentions;
Lord, without Your grace
Who could find redemption?
Change my heart, change my heart today.

God will move. Will we?

I met a lady at the beginning of this semester and the first thing I thought after talking with her was "She is the one I am here to reach" or something along those lines. It turned out she was in one of my classes, and I could have had many times to invite her to church. Over Easter I really felt like God wanted me to invite her to our Easter program but I did not. We just had friend day at our curch and again I felt that I should really invite her to church. I even talked to her after class but did not invite her. Well today as we were leaving class she asked me if I went to church anywhere! I was excited but then I found out she has been looking for somewhere to go to church with her daughter. All this semester I was to busy with myself or the thought of being uncomfortable, and she was seeking. I am so thankful God was patient and still able to use me but so sad that it took so long. My desire is to be a door-holder, but how can I be if I am too busy on the inside?

Too Loud?

I just watched The Diary of Anne Frank last night. I "enjoyed" the movie but the history behind it churned my stomach. How anyone could be so overcome with evil and greed to do such atrocities is just unfathomable. But it is not just Hitler and the Nazis that made me sick, it was those that could have done something and didn't- especially the Christians.
I once read that Jews, when they were being transported to the concentration camps, would yell for help especially when they saw a church along the railroads. The Christians in the church heard them, but instead of finding away to help they sang their hymns all the louder.
I began thinking, as I was drifting to sleep- What is it that we as Christian do “louder” to drown out the cries of those in need?
There are orphans all across the world; at least 143 million children have no family. There are slaves everywhere but we, in our comfortable lives barely get exposed to that reality. The poor surround us but we expect others, or the government, to take care of them.
So what do we do? We turn up our Christian music, we bury our heads in work, school, leisure. We make ourselves feel better by say a quick “prayer”…James 2:15-17 says, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (NKJV)
We are to be the body of Christ; His hands and feet. But what are we doing? I am learning this too, and just as there were some who chose to risk all to help the Jews; there are those who choose to serve those in need…in whatever capacity they are able.