Completely Captured Heart

Destiny Rescue.

This organization has completely captured my heart.
I had never heard of them before about a week and a half ago. I went with my mom to a jewelry party, fully expecting the typical expensive, pretty, oreder-tonight-and-host-gets-a-gift jewelry. I was completely blown away and touched.

Destiny Rescue is an organization that children and young people out of their horrible life. These children are lured or sold into the sex trade. Destiny Rescue then "provides a safe home, where care, love, counselling and hugs abound. These girls and young women receive an education and training, allowing them to rebuild their lives and have a hope for the future once again."


At the jewelry party, I joined Destiny Rescue and became a member in what is called the 26 Second Challange.
A brief summary of this challange:
-Why it's called the 26 Second Challange: Every 26 seconds a child is being lured or sold into the sex trade.
-How I became a member: a one-time gift of $40.
-I received a gorgeous 26 Second Challange necklace! (->)
-What I have committed to as a member: 1) praying for these children. 2) finding two other people to join me in the 26 Second Challange. 3) wearing my necklace for 26 or more days, and whenever asked about it, sharing the plight of these children.

(More about the 26 Second Challange here)

Won't you join me? Please, consider it. It's $40. We spend that much on a 17th pair of shoes, or an 8th pair of jeans. Or even more than that on coffee/ice cream/what ever through a month. When you join me, contact me and I'll give you my member ID so your tree can be part of mine. I know. I sound like...idk...Like a Pampered Chef saleswomen... I'm not just selling something. My heart bleeds for these children. Thoughts of them bring me to tears...

Think about this too: in the minute it took you to read this, two children were lured or sold into the sex trade. In the 26 seconds it takes you to decide if you can afford $40, another child is sold or lured into the sex trade.


I have a friend who is going to spend 2 or more months in Thailand serving with Destiny Rescue. Pray for him. (Taylor's blog) Praise God for his opportunity!




(oh, there's a guys' version of the necklace, too)

Rules

I will not be governed by fear. It will not subjugate me. Rules and laws are to bring freedom, not to be a product of fear.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

We are clearly told here that we are not to be fearful or live in fear. So, if a rule is set up by an authority [potentially] over you, but it is set up because of their fear... how does this work? I will not be governed by fear... Do I submit myself to the rules of this authority?

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men..." -1 Peter 2:13

So, again... How does one know what to do with this? Where is the ballance?

Rearview Mirror and Important Papers

Today I finished coffee school. I came home: Dead tired. Completely exhausted. Giddy at my accomplishment. Having worked my hardest, and done well at what I did. Amazed at what I learned. Sorry that it's over, yet relieved that it is. Hands permeated with the smell of coffee. Knowing what the NEXT step is, but completely unsure of what my future (even near future) holds. New friends having entered my life. Not knowing where I'll be living this fall...
I brought with me my important paper.
All of the sudden....


All I could see was a year ago: Graduation. Exhausted. Giddy. Hard work with accomplishment. Learning. Sorry yet relieved. Knowing only the very next step. Uncertainty. New friends. An important paper.... it was almost a year ago exactly. My life feels like it's made a complete lap around some sort of track.


As I look back over the last year, I am in complete and utter awe at what God has done in my life. I can see ways he's grown and shaped me. Looking at the pains and battles that I've fought, I can only see now looking in the rear view mirror the good that God had for me.

This past year, I've grown up. I've had incredible opportunities that many people much older than me couldn't even begin to have. I've accomplished a lot. I've worked hard. People have come into and have left my life. They've made impacts on me. I've had relationships of all different types. I've driven multiple hour drives by myself. I've gone to college classes and passed them. I've learned better how to get along with and love my family.
But more importantly, my walk with Christ has grown. I've learned (as in TRULY learned, not just head knowledge learned) that my testimony is important and that God doesn't see me as a "smaller trophy" that is less desirable to put on his shelf. God has shown me his love and his sovereignty over and over. He's given me strength. He's blessed me. He's given me friends to speak his truth into my life. He's given me friends and let me speak his truth into their lives.

Yes, this past year has been hard. There have been many nights of crying myself to sleep. There have been times of heartbreak for a friend. There have been times of elation and joy. There has been fun. There has been hard.
...there has been extreme hard...hard that I could see no good in...situations that seem impossible...
Sitting here, right now, alone in my room, the comforting click of the keys on my laptop... I look back. All I can say is that I'm completely overwhelmed and brought to tears at seeing God. I feel his love. I see his work. I know he cares.
I am closer to him and all I desire is to grow closer and closer and closer...

God is so gracious to give us rear view mirrors. They teach us about him. They make us more in love with him. They show us that he knew all along what he was doing.
He never left me. He never abandoned me or left me on my own. He never left me to figure out for myself what I was going to do. He loves me. He gives me strength to carry on.

Take a minute to look in your own rear view mirror, then thank and praise God for what you see of Him in your mirror.