Really, I don't go looking for fights.....

I know most people probably read my blog and Facebook posts and think I walk around looking for fights to jump into!  Really, I promise, I don't!  Maybe in my younger days when my passions were still needing MUCH sanctification, but not now that I am older and really have learned to dislike conflict I would just as soon go about my day minding my own business as to get into a fight.  BUT...because God has made me with this passion...and with this inability to let injustice go unnoticed, I find myself...like today...fighting when all I wanted to do was get my exercise!

I never walk in the afternoon, so the timing now has me shaking my head at God.  I had some work I wanted to make sure got done, and my days tend to get away from me quickly, or some emergency pops up that has to be handled.  So I got my work done before my walk which put me leaving about 1:30.  I started not to go..rain showers this morning meant it was way muggy...but determined to get this weight off and having NO KIDS at home today, I decided a walk would be good!

I was at about the first mile marker.  I was minding my own business...listening to my Bethel sermon as Bill Johnson was starting to pray for people to have torment removed from their life when I see quite a ways down a couple.  I couldn't tell if they were teens or young adults.  But it was obvious by the dancing they were doing that they were in a fight. So I slowed my pace and removed my ear-buds so I could watch and listen.  She took off, he called her back.  He jumped up and down some more. She walked off...he stood there a minute, then took off at a full run towards her. I cleared the area from behind the fence just in time to see her turn toward him where he ripped the sunglasses off her face and threw them on the ground shattering them.  So I hollered, 'Hey! You!  Get away from her!"  He runs back to me at full speed....I'm thinking, now what?!  But at the same time totally calm.  Amazing what knowing you are walking in the power and protection of the Holy Spirit will do!

He starts talking 90 to nothing..."I didn't mean it...it's not what you think...I bought those glasses....my dad beat my mom....just stand here and talk to me..." I kept trying to give my response to each of those, but he just kept talking....when he said that I stopped and said, "I will stand her and talk to you all day long, but you lay one more finger on that girl and I will call the police."  She hears that and comes running over, "no don't call anyone.  He didn't mean it.  It runs in his family. He bought me the glasses."

I finally got her to go home after telling her it's NEVER ok for a man to be aggressive with you while he asked me to help him look for the ring she had evidently thrown in the grass that he had just given her.  He said he would call his mom so I could talk to her if I didn't call the police.  I stood there...then he took off.  So I posted it on our neighborhood FB page. No details.  Just a description and the glasses being ripped off part so that hopefully the parents of at least the girl can contact me and I can share with them what I saw so they can know what is going on.

I know some would say I might should've stayed out of it.  Well, let me tell you, when you have a daughter who you know is getting the living daylights beat out of her on a regular basis, you tend to look at situations like that and not have the ability to walk away. I think I would have intervened on that level even before having an abused daughter, but now, any young man...or man....who wants to act in an aggressive or abusive way in front of me to any female, better get ready!  You can ask my boys, if they hit one of their sisters, they get the wrath of their mother and they have a consequence and they get the lecture...I know we're not supposed to lecture...they get the lecture of how a man should ALWAYS treat a lady! Maybe nothing would've happened beyond what did.  But I know there were other people closer than me just watching it happen. I wasn't ok with that.  Why?  Because when my daughter was being drug through a parking lot by her hair, I wish someone would have knocked the living daylights out of that jerk! When he had his hands around her throat cutting off her air supply while she was pregnant, I wish someone would have stopped him!  I still wish someone would intervene!

That teen was someone's daughter.  I don't know if they think that is acceptable behavior for her boyfriend or not, but it's not in my books, and I was the one who was there.  So I stepped in...to the fight....all I was doing was going for a walk!

The Lord, He is God!

"The Lord, He is God!" This is what the people cried after Elijah prayed for and God provided fire to fall down on the alter that was drenched and surrounded by water! That is what the people of Liberia will pray when they hear of what God has done through the faithful servants working with our ministry!

We have a team of 11 people in country right now...$25,000 in plane tickets (that doesn't include shots, visas, etc for all 11 people). Most of the team are just faithful servants of God on mission to make His glory known. They are not adopting...they have no agenda other than to server the "least of these" in Liberia.

But once again, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Deputy Minister Joseph Geebro to be exact, is putting a stop to it. We need a letter from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to write a letter of clearance for our container to leave port. Without the letter, we will have to pay $5800 in duties. $5800 that could serve the people of Liberia, but instead will go to duties that will probably pad some officials pocket instead of educating these faces!

The injustice is too much to just sit on! The intent of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare must be known! Elijah took on 450 prophets of Baal because he knew his God is Lord! I know that too! I never make a move with out thoroughly praying through it, and that includes posts to my blog...for all those naysayers who think I should be silent about these injustices! It is because too many people have been too silent for too long that these injustices are allowed to continue!

We now have the Liberian government, Senators, Dr. McClain (Chief of Staff/Minister of State) standing by while humanitarian aid to the Liberian people is blocked! Yet, we, US tax payers, are going to allow our government to send millions on top of the billion already sent to this government? For real?????

Please pray for our team over there! They are great! They are keeping their eyes on God...there are moments when they think they are going to sink, but then they refocus, and they are doing an amazing job at seeking God at each wall they hit and seeking the direction He woudl have them go! As I type they are trying to figure out how to pay that $5800 and still make the home and school all that God called them to. We know God can do it! He reminded me this morning that paying the $5800 now doesn't mean He will not provide for all that is needed later! Pray that encouragement for the team also! Pray for our poor country director and Pastor who have to deal with this daily! I don't know how they do it! Pray for the people of Margibi county who are already using ou water well because theirs is broken, and now know that their own government is stopping a container of necessities that would benefit them!

Pray for me...I hate to sound selfish, but all this wears me out! I am geared up and in the Spirit right now, but it will take all of 10 minutes after the kids wake up for me to lose focus and get in the flesh! Then the depression and despair hit and I want to quit it all. But that is not what God is telling me...but sometimes it just seems easier to walk away than to walk with God...I know that is a lie from the pit of hell, but so easy to believe in my weak times!

I promised transparent steps as I walk this journey! So there ya go! :)

Oh, did I mention that by 7 am this morning I had already drank a whole pot of coffee...somethins I don't usually do all day?!