Voice

When I was a child I used to dream of growing up and being the richest of all my siblings. I'm sure I talked about it a great deal. I was going to be a Doctor, because I was going to prove I was the smartest. I was going to have several kids, a giant house, several cars, and lots of land with a barn and horses. Pretty much I wanted to have everything I grew up with, but even bigger. I remember when I thought my hardest decision would be whether or not I should buy a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Obviously I was just a child. But, greed and selfishness was a big struggle for me yet I was so blind to it. I had a hard time giving away my toys and clothes to kids that needed them because they were mine - it didn't matter that I never planned to play with them or wear them again, they were mine. My parents even took my siblings and I on trips to 3rd world countries to visit missionaries. I saw first hand the poverty, I knew that they deserved to have people donate their toys and clothes - I just didn't want them to be my things. While I truly cared about the people, especially Peruvians since I went their twice, I justified my selfishness by rationalizing that they were happy people, they always had a smile - they didn't need my things. But, the truth of the matter is I didn't need my things. As I have grown up I have grown more aware of my selfish ambitions and am grateful that God has truly changed my heart. I no longer want a big house, cars, and an over abundance of things. I want God to use me to help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the abused, abandoned, and trafficked. This calling came to me even stronger last night as I began to read a new book.

Undaunted by Christine Caine, I only read through half of the first chapter but the power in her writing was immense. Actually it isn't even her writing, but the stories of girls that she shared. She shared some heartbreaking stories of women who were tricked into paying their own fare into sex slavery. While many people choose to ignore the topic because it is just too difficult to swallow or they do not want their children to learn about such evils, it is time that we face the truth - This is real, sex slavery is really happening, it's not a bad movie - in fact those movies do not even show how terrible it really is.

Her first chapter she calls the 'Schindler's List Moment' when Schindler, played by Liam Neeson realizes that if he had just sold his car he could have saved 10 more people, or his gold pen 2 more people. The Holocaust was a terrible time in human history - some people think it was the worst, but they have no idea what is happening right now. What Hitler organized was so terrible, but sadly the war wasn't started to save the victims - No, war was started to keep the Germans from taking over Europe. How sad is it to think that if Hitler only stayed in Germany that the Holocaust may never have ended? How many of you think that you would want to take a stance against such horrifying acts? That you would have been willing to fight or financially support efforts against the Holocaust to save those victims? You have a chance to do that today in 2014. You can make a difference.

How? You can financially support groups who are working to end sex slavery, whether on the large scale or small scale. You can be a voice - share what is going on, encourage those around you to pay attention, to care about people. Pray for those who have an abundance of money that they might be moved to spend it on helping save women and children from their abusers rather than on something affluent they don't really want or need. Like pages on Facebook that are fighting trafficking.



Here are some places that you can consider getting involved with:
Large scale:
 http://www.thea21campaign.org/
http://enditmovement.com/
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org

Smaller scale:
www.abundantlifeforperu.com
https://www.facebook.com/capturedbyadream


Be encouraged to stand up, your small effort combined with everyone's small effort will create a large effort! Christ came to seek and save the lost, go and live your life in the same manner!

This was Captured by a Dream: Voice. Stay tuned for more from Captured by a Dream.

Psalm 151

Yes, I know that Psalm ends with 150, and that there is technically not a chapter 151. Not, that I would equate my psalm with that of David or the other psalmists of the Bible, but here is a prayer of mine that I thought I might share because it might be a prayer of yours too.

Psalm 151

I ache and I grumble on the inside, but on the outside I just go on.

Days begin and end and all I do is press on. 

I feel as though I am just surviving, no where near thriving, I just keep moving on. 

Satan keeps making me distracted, trying to tear me down, but by God's strength I carry on. 

I am lonely, but not alone, for You, O LORD, are never gone. 

But, please I beg, You, I need more of Your strength to continue on. 

I am starting to doubt hope and replacing it with fear of new beginnings and so on. 

If I stay here what happens, if I go there what happens, what if I don't go anywhere - what shall I rely on?

If's are just worries, they have no ground for trust, it is just You, O LORD, that makes me strong. 

Fill my heart with laughter, teach me Your everlasting joy, for it is You I want to base my life upon. 

Comfort my heart all day long through the night and to the dawn. 

Pour Your grace upon me, give me purpose in Your Heavenly Kingdom. 

My Jesus, let me let go of worries and live in each moment so that Your glory can shine on, 

on me and Your people that we may bring Your name fame to those in the dark that need Your light to be turned on, 

on in their hearts, so that they will sing You an everlasting praise song. 

Bring power to Your servant so that my life will point to You and Your Kingdom. 

Jesus, I love you forever and forever and so on.

This was Inspirations: Psalm 151. Please stay tuned for more from Inspirations.