Psalm 72:1-2, 4, 12-14

 ¹ Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
      and righteousness to the king’s son.
 ² Help him judge your people in the right way;
      let the poor always be treated fairly.
 ⁴ Help him to defend the poor,
      to rescue the children of the needy,
      and to crush their oppressors. 
 ¹² He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
      he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
 ¹³ He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
      and he will rescue them.
 ¹⁴ He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
      for their lives are precious to him.

Tomorrow (January 11) is Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day. A few years ago, I didn't realize that going on all around me--in America and around the world--there are millions of men, women, and children in slavery. Now, several books and movies and articles and conferences later, I'm all too aware of this injustice. Do you know about it?  


I'm probably going to flood my twitter and facebook with updates tomorrow because I'm very passionate about raising awareness on this issue.  I also want to be involved in the fight to end slavery as much as possible; however, along the way I'm going to be very outspoken about it so that others will learn about this tragedy and be moved into action like I was.  

In all honesty, I'm not surprised how many people don't know that men in their state are forced into slave labor, women in every country are seduced into the sex industry, and children of all ages and genders are daily abused by pimps, family members, and brothel owners.  It's easy to not open up your eyes or ears to this information because of the heartache that ultimately follows.  But, somewhat unfortunately, I don't know the verse in the bible that says life should be sheltered and wrong should be ignored.  I only know the verses like those I included above that say God loves justice and wants us to defend and rescue the poor and needy.  The bible says God restores and redeems, and I know He wants me to help with this fight.  

I don't know that I will see an end to slavery and human trafficking in my lifetime, although that is my prayer.  But I don't want the vastness of the issue to defeat me.  I'm supremely confident that my God is bigger and stronger than the evil that feeds injustices, and His side is the side that will win in the end. 


For more information from other organizations, check out the page above.  Or follow my "Anti Human Trafficking" list on Twitter.

Obedience

I'm thoroughly enjoying the two-week daily Bible reading plan that I started using You Version on my phone.  Should you wish to view this plan, or others offered by You Version, check out: http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/obedience

I don't think obedience is something I consider much these days when I'm making decisions.  This week I really tried to think about what actions of mine were going to be obedient or disobedient to what God wants me to do with the time and resources and personaility that He's given me.  It was kinda like asking myself "What Would Jesus Do" and taking a moment to think before making decisions.  It was a revealing week and certainly one of growth.

If you're also realizing that you lack the concept of obedience to God on a daily basis, I encourage you to read the verses in the reading plan mentioned above.  It's hard to deny the importance of obedience when you remember that scripture is full of instructions like this:

1 John 2:3-6:
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Five Question Friday (FQF): Saving

1. When dining out, do you usually save room for dessert?

No, but an exception would be if I'm with a group and we decide to split a dessert.  Typically, I only allow myself to buy a meal and maybe a drink when I go out...and since when did some restaurant portions get so LARGE? How can I have room for dessert if I eat my meal?!

2. How do you feel about saving places in line or saving seats in theaters?

Unless someone is already there but had to leave to go pee, I hate saving places in line. First, it makes me feel like I have invisible friends and everyone thinks I'm crazy (think about it, I'm motioning my hands around an empty area and telling people "Sorry, but my friends are actually here."). Second, it's annoying to me when other people save places so why should I do it?

3. What’s one thing you did to save money this past year?

I sewed all my own clothes and started a garden.  Okay, maybe not.  But I did work a part-time job for four months to cover events, trips, and purchases that I knew were coming up.

4. Besides money, what’s something you’re saving for later?

There's a smoked turkey in my freezer that I'm waiting to eat. Seriously, a whole turkey. It's actually taking up a lot of room in there...so "later" might need to be soon.

5. In what way did you recently save the best for last?

At Christmas, I made a video for my family that I presented the day AFTER Christmas. I think it was the best, and it was certainly last.

Happy Friday everyone!

Job 42:1-6, The Message

Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything.
   Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water,
   ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
   made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking.
   Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
   now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise!
   I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor." 


 I want to thank my friend Diana for showing me this passage last night. Something about the phrase "I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor" hit me so hard that I felt as though my New Year didn't actually start until I heard those words. It's as if that verse was the closing sentence of one chapter and the beginning of another -- like the scene in Gone With the Wind before the intermission when Scarlett O'Hara chooses to fight..."As God is my witness, I'll never go hungry again."

So look out folks, cause I'm choosing to fight. I don't want to babble about God anymore or simply make small talk. I don't want to confuse anyone or second-guess what God is doing. I'm going to practice obedience and pursue God so that the words I speak about Him come from my heart and not rehearsed answers or speculation. 

That's what I'm going to do with 2011, and it's the only plan I need.  It'll be an adventure!