I've really got to stop writing posts like the last one! Seems that every time I do, I'm challenged on the truth I put into words. Later the same day that I had written the post, I received a letter in the mail that opened a firestorm of events in my life. Events that would bring a first for me. You know when you say on a phone call, "get this fixed or you will be speaking to my attorney?" Well, I had to make good on that for the first time in my life yesterday! Someday I will share details - but right now, please pray for me. I am up against a system in our society that I have learned this week is known for it's retaliation and blackballing of people who whistle blow. And anyone who knows me knows that nothing gets my blood boiling like injustice....and this system works with underprivileged people all the time! If they are doing this to me, I cannot even imagine what they are doing to those who do not have an understanding of the system or have the means to fight this giant! It is on their behalf that I will fight this! I wear a bracelet that says, "Be the Change!" Putting feet to that in this situation.
Then we get news about a family member that sent us to our knees in fear as well as concern and overwhelming sadness. The battle with the social system had me once again wanting to walk away from the work that I do. I know the enemy is out to get my ministry. It is evident. As I was in between phone calls on Monday dealing with the current issue, my phone rings and it is a reporter from the New Yorker calling to fact find on the piece I gave information for over a year ago (that honestly I thought had already gone to print and I just missed seeing it) about the corruption in adoption in Liberia when we worked there. I am going to have to find the post of when we brought Toben home and re-post...not even sure I ever really posted about it because it was such a traumatic event at the time. Google my name. You will find a news article that says I trafficked children. That was what we found when we got on US soil with our precious Toben after a 10 day fight! Working internationally and accused of child trafficking. Working domestically, and now this. It was as if God was sending me a message with the call from the New Yorker..."Remember what happened when the enemy did this? You spent a couple of weeks worrying if the FBI was going to show up on your doorstep and arrest you. Nothing came of that! You almost laugh at it now. You will do the same of this situation!" It was in that moment that God solidified once again the call He has on my life. I'm not special! He has a call on all our lives...you have one on yours too! And then He reminded me of the week I went to Austin and had some life transforming moments with Him.
I listened to Bill Johnson podcasts all the way to Austin that week. He spoke right to my soul! He taught on some things that God has used to literally transform my life, my thinking. The podcast that challenged me the most was "Being the Sacrifice Fire Falls On". Google it and listen to it, but beware! It is life changing! God reminded me yesterday that I had prayed the same prayer Bill Johnson prayed....more of you, God, no matter the cost! When Bill Johnson prayed that, he woke up paralyzed three nights in a row. It's an amazing testimony!
Within weeks of coming home from that trip where I prayed with all my being to experience more of God and to know Him at a different level than I ever have, a child left our family, my house was torn apart by a remodel, my marriage hit some bumps and my ministry is threatened! Every area of my identity has been rocked! The small voice came back, "Do you still mean it? Do you really mean whatever the cost?" And in the face of all the conflict, especially the threatening of my ministry, and in a moment that I truly believe God was saying, "You can walk away!", I knew I really did mean it! More of God, less of me, whatever the cost! Bill Johnson says it best:
"Doesn't matter what it costs. I died to that a long time ago. I'm not in this because of what I get, I'm in it because it's what I was born for. I was summoned. I was called by The Only One who has a right to rule my life. I was summoned, I was called by name. I would be a fool to say no to that summons, that call, that invitation. [I have a desire] to be the offering, that which attracts God."
Don't hear me say that God puts us through trials for kicks or for His own pompous need for us to need Him. Nothing could be further from the truth! He allows trials in our lives for our own need of Him. In our weakness is when He is strong. It is in our raw need that we see Him the most. It is in our desperate times that we learn to lean on Him...when we literally have nothing or no one else. And that is where these events have left me! Raw, vulnerable and totally open to the presence of God because He is the only One who can bring peace. I have learned to find contentment in any and all circumstances. I have learned to not be led by emotions. I have learned to trust Him and fight the enemy not believing the lies the enemy tries to throw at me. I have learned to live by faith - being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see - in a way I never have. I have been challenged to believe that without faith it is impossible to please God and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him! To believe any of that, I had to believe what I read in the Bible is truth and "reality" and not my circumstances!
And in the face of it all, I say, if I get a more intimate knowledge of God and relationship with God in the exchange, I say, YES!
Showing posts with label oppressed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oppressed. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Well behaved women rarely make history
"Well behaved women rarely make history" is a quote by Laural Thatcher Ulrich (I've also seen it attributed to Marylin Monroe) that Callie saw one time and brought to my attention. It was when I was fighting the battle in Liberia to have adoptions opened back up. She said, "Mom, this is you!" She even made it my screen saver on my phone at one time. I wasn't sure how to take that, but I've come to enjoy at as one of the biggest compliments she could give me.
It is no hidden secret that I have a strong personality. And I am well aware that in my earlier years that personality was wild, abrasive and unmerciful. I've heard many sermons over the years about the balance of grace and truth, and I most certainly needed more of the grace! But as I have fought hard battles over the years: adoptions in Liberia, fighting to bring Eden home, fighting the enemy's grip on my family at different times, I have learned to fight as God's daughter. I have come to understand that my strong personality is a gift. It was given to me for the purposes God has for me while here on this earth and He intends for me to use it for good. That means I have to stay in the Word and go to Him in prayer whenever the blood in me starts boiling over a matter. I have learned to fight no battle until God says I can. The battles are His. I don't move until He tells me He needs me to be hand and feet and to go forward.
Which brings me to my current battle. It is over bows and earrings. Yes, that's right. Bows. And. Earrings. Crazy? Yes! But as I have played a meeting I had yesterday over this issue back in my head time and time again, I think I see the battle I'm fighting....and it has nothing to do with bows and earrings!
Our local school district started a new way of serving the children identified as gifted and talented this year. I hate those terms. As a parent of an identified gifted and talented child and a special education child, let me just make it clear that all of my children are gifted and talented and need special education! So please understand I am only using the labels as the education system has them in place. There is definitely some arrogance at times in this circle of gifted and talented in education, but we have always been quick to remind Callie she has been gifted as God needs her to be for His work. And so has every other child placed on this planet! No need to get a big head! Since 2nd grade, Callie has attended a two day a week program where she was bussed to a different school and attended classes with children from other schools in the district. The classes were designed to challenge and stretch these children in ways they wouldn't be in their home school classroom. Last year, the district announced that they would be changing the system and the children would be attending this school every day. They would no longer be divided between two schools. Callie is in 6th grade which in our system is the last year of elementary school. We deliberated long and hard, prayed, talked to Callie countless hours before making the decision for Callie to attend this school. Then they announced that they were wearing uniforms and we revisited it all over again. Callie, as a very fashion conscious 11 year old, was very concerned about wearing uniforms. We assured her she would survive and encouraged her to make her decision on whether or not to attend Carver on something a little more substantial than the clothes she would have to wear. But we ultimately left the decision up to her. She chose to go.
As we went shopping for clothes for the coming school year, Callie was pretty bummed that all could buy were blue, gold and white polos and khaki pants. So in her creativity and out of the box thinking (remember, the thing they are supposed to be promoting at this school), she decided that she could express her fashion style in her bows and jewelry. Nothing outlandish, just a little zebra with the gold or lime green with the white. We pulled out the standard attire policy and combed through it to make sure she wasn't violating any rules before she spent her money. It really became quite interesting to watch how she spent her money and the ways she came up with to express her own individuality.
Fast forward to the second week of school. There was a meeting with some teachers and the students about the uniforms. The students were told that they could not wear bows or jewelry that were not in standard attire colors. Callie was ready to quit the school. I explained to her we were not going to quit the school after we had made a decision and commitment to our year there, but that we could discuss this issue with the principal. I made a phone call and was quite shocked at the response I received. After having the phone slammed in my ear, I had plans to call the administrative offices. I was explaining to Callie about my phone conversation and she asked me to wait to call. She wanted to try to fight this battle herself. She asked if she could create a petition to get signatures. Wow! I'm not sure exactly where she learned about a petition, but I was ready to support her. She wrote the petition herself. I helped edit a few grammar mistakes, but she wrote it. She asked me to wait to do anything else until she could present the petition to the principal, and I proudly agreed.
One of the teachers got wind of the petition and told Callie she wanted to take it to the principal. A week later, the teacher told her she couldn't do the petition without the approval of the principal. We looked up the policy, and that is not what it states at all, but the principal assured me the school district attorney says a petition has to be approved. I told her I totally disagreed with that, but it wasn't a big deal for Callie to bring the petition to her. Callie didn't want to do it alone as she was scared of retaliation by this principal. When the principal talked to me about the petition, she also asked to meet with me again. I told her I had no problem meeting with her, but that if it was going to be a conversation that was anything like our previous phone call, I was not interested in waisting my time. She assured me it would not be. Three weeks later, we finally met (long story in and of itself!).
When I walked into the conference room of what I though was going to be a meeting with me and her, there were two other women in the room. It quickly became apparent that the conversation wasn't going to be much different than the phone conversation. In fact, it was worse. At one point during the meeting, the principal left to get a copy of the standard attire policy. At that time, the teacher who was in the room said, "I want to talk to you as a mother. I have four grown children and you don't need to fight this battle. You need to teach your daughter that no means no. You've asked. She has said no. And that needs to be the end of it." Of course this was right after the principal told me I couldn't contact any other parents who shared my concerns with the lack of communication over the particulars for the dress code. I am reading "Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere, and let me just say, when the woman sitting beside me told me I didn't need to be fighting this for my daughter and needed to teach her that no means no, the lioness arose! I politely explained to her that I was not a mother who wanted her children to bow down to unjust or irrational authority. I explained that I was very proud of Callie for taking this cause on and fighting in the proper manner to have her voice and the voice of those around her who were too scared to speak for themselves heard. I further explained that I thought it was absolutely ludicrous that she was telling me I needed to teach my daughter that she can never question a decision that she feels is unjust or unfair. I told her that is probably what is wrong with our country right now is such a complacent attitude. I told her that I am teaching her that a no that is unfair or unjust is not a no until you get to the top. I further explained to her that when Callie wanted to present the petition to the superintendent when he visited their school a few weeks ago, I would not allow her to do that. I explained that you could not jump to the top with your concerns but that you needed to go through the proper channels. We had also told Callie and she has gladly followed the interpretation of the code as it stands now. We will not allow her to be rebellious or disrespectful of the principal as an authority...but to tell her we won't question through the proper channels? Really?! No daughter or son of mine will be taught to lay down and play dead!
Having said that, let me also say that I have wanted to lay this thing down many times over the past two months. Are bows really worth my time? No. But God keeps saying, you can't stop. I've been asking why, and I think that teacher who was trying to get me to stop gave me my answer. I'm raising an Esther! I don't know what God has planned for Callie, but whatever it is, I believe with all my heart it will be fighting for those without a voice in some way. I see Him doing way too many things in her life to not believe that. So God tells me to press on because she is watching. These stakes are low. Not getting to wear a bow that is lime green is not the end of the world. But what she will be fighting for later just might be for those on whose behalf she fights.
My meeting yesterday and the response of that teacher was just a reminder that bucking the system doesn't make you popular. Refusing to stay in the status quo can bring criticism. But even as I read the current chapter of Lioness Awakening, God reminded me why it is vital for His people to take up battles from time to time. Lisa Bevere actually uses the quote I started this post with in the chapter I am reading. She says about it: "In light of this charge, God does not need a band of domesticated daughters who spend their days baking and behaving well. Nothing wrong with baking, but if that is all we do, God won't use us to change history. I know this quote may challenge some of you. It challenged me when I first read it. This is not an admonition to be naughty but to realize that change often comes with the challenge of the status quo." Amen!!!
Lisa goes on to give examples like Rosa Parks. If she had not challenged the "no" of sitting in the white section of the bus, America as we know it today might look different. There is a whole list of women in the Bible who challenged the status quo. One of my favorites is Esther. If she had not taken a risk and gone to the king with her request to save her people...even without being summoned first, the Jews would have perished.
As I drove home from the meeting yesterday I kept asking God why. While I have a strong personality, and injustice makes my blood boil, I don't enjoy battles and I would rather walk away than fight. But God immediately brought to mind the puzzle that He so often uses with me. He shows me a great big puzzle with one missing piece. I am the missing piece. God uses that to remind me that when He asks me to do something, like fight for what appears to be a worthless cause like hair bows, there is a bigger picture I can't see. I have no idea what that bigger picture is, I only see my little piece. If it is just Callie learning to stand up for injustice while the stakes are low or if there is a larger reason, I must do my part or the bigger picture isn't complete. The more I interact in this situation, the more concerns I have. But I know if God has told me to continue the battle, I want to obey. I want my daughter to know its ok to stand up even when people are screaming at you to lay down. I want Callie to know there are battles worth being unpopular to fight. I want her to see Esther as her hero not as a problem causer.
As Lisa says, "when you are awakened, you can't help but respond." May I nor any of my children ever sleep through God's alarm awakening them to a change that needs to be made!
As far as the hair bow controversy, Callie has submitted her petition for approval. It has not been returned as of yet, but should be Monday and she still wants to present it and take it as far as we need to for her side to be heard. I could not be more proud of her! And I can't wait to see where God uses her...bows today, lives tomorrow...and I think I might just keep in touch with that teacher from the meeting yesterday so when Callie is changing the world I can remind her that in her opinion, I should have taught me daughter that no is no.
It is no hidden secret that I have a strong personality. And I am well aware that in my earlier years that personality was wild, abrasive and unmerciful. I've heard many sermons over the years about the balance of grace and truth, and I most certainly needed more of the grace! But as I have fought hard battles over the years: adoptions in Liberia, fighting to bring Eden home, fighting the enemy's grip on my family at different times, I have learned to fight as God's daughter. I have come to understand that my strong personality is a gift. It was given to me for the purposes God has for me while here on this earth and He intends for me to use it for good. That means I have to stay in the Word and go to Him in prayer whenever the blood in me starts boiling over a matter. I have learned to fight no battle until God says I can. The battles are His. I don't move until He tells me He needs me to be hand and feet and to go forward.
Which brings me to my current battle. It is over bows and earrings. Yes, that's right. Bows. And. Earrings. Crazy? Yes! But as I have played a meeting I had yesterday over this issue back in my head time and time again, I think I see the battle I'm fighting....and it has nothing to do with bows and earrings!
Our local school district started a new way of serving the children identified as gifted and talented this year. I hate those terms. As a parent of an identified gifted and talented child and a special education child, let me just make it clear that all of my children are gifted and talented and need special education! So please understand I am only using the labels as the education system has them in place. There is definitely some arrogance at times in this circle of gifted and talented in education, but we have always been quick to remind Callie she has been gifted as God needs her to be for His work. And so has every other child placed on this planet! No need to get a big head! Since 2nd grade, Callie has attended a two day a week program where she was bussed to a different school and attended classes with children from other schools in the district. The classes were designed to challenge and stretch these children in ways they wouldn't be in their home school classroom. Last year, the district announced that they would be changing the system and the children would be attending this school every day. They would no longer be divided between two schools. Callie is in 6th grade which in our system is the last year of elementary school. We deliberated long and hard, prayed, talked to Callie countless hours before making the decision for Callie to attend this school. Then they announced that they were wearing uniforms and we revisited it all over again. Callie, as a very fashion conscious 11 year old, was very concerned about wearing uniforms. We assured her she would survive and encouraged her to make her decision on whether or not to attend Carver on something a little more substantial than the clothes she would have to wear. But we ultimately left the decision up to her. She chose to go.
As we went shopping for clothes for the coming school year, Callie was pretty bummed that all could buy were blue, gold and white polos and khaki pants. So in her creativity and out of the box thinking (remember, the thing they are supposed to be promoting at this school), she decided that she could express her fashion style in her bows and jewelry. Nothing outlandish, just a little zebra with the gold or lime green with the white. We pulled out the standard attire policy and combed through it to make sure she wasn't violating any rules before she spent her money. It really became quite interesting to watch how she spent her money and the ways she came up with to express her own individuality.
Fast forward to the second week of school. There was a meeting with some teachers and the students about the uniforms. The students were told that they could not wear bows or jewelry that were not in standard attire colors. Callie was ready to quit the school. I explained to her we were not going to quit the school after we had made a decision and commitment to our year there, but that we could discuss this issue with the principal. I made a phone call and was quite shocked at the response I received. After having the phone slammed in my ear, I had plans to call the administrative offices. I was explaining to Callie about my phone conversation and she asked me to wait to call. She wanted to try to fight this battle herself. She asked if she could create a petition to get signatures. Wow! I'm not sure exactly where she learned about a petition, but I was ready to support her. She wrote the petition herself. I helped edit a few grammar mistakes, but she wrote it. She asked me to wait to do anything else until she could present the petition to the principal, and I proudly agreed.
One of the teachers got wind of the petition and told Callie she wanted to take it to the principal. A week later, the teacher told her she couldn't do the petition without the approval of the principal. We looked up the policy, and that is not what it states at all, but the principal assured me the school district attorney says a petition has to be approved. I told her I totally disagreed with that, but it wasn't a big deal for Callie to bring the petition to her. Callie didn't want to do it alone as she was scared of retaliation by this principal. When the principal talked to me about the petition, she also asked to meet with me again. I told her I had no problem meeting with her, but that if it was going to be a conversation that was anything like our previous phone call, I was not interested in waisting my time. She assured me it would not be. Three weeks later, we finally met (long story in and of itself!).
When I walked into the conference room of what I though was going to be a meeting with me and her, there were two other women in the room. It quickly became apparent that the conversation wasn't going to be much different than the phone conversation. In fact, it was worse. At one point during the meeting, the principal left to get a copy of the standard attire policy. At that time, the teacher who was in the room said, "I want to talk to you as a mother. I have four grown children and you don't need to fight this battle. You need to teach your daughter that no means no. You've asked. She has said no. And that needs to be the end of it." Of course this was right after the principal told me I couldn't contact any other parents who shared my concerns with the lack of communication over the particulars for the dress code. I am reading "Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere, and let me just say, when the woman sitting beside me told me I didn't need to be fighting this for my daughter and needed to teach her that no means no, the lioness arose! I politely explained to her that I was not a mother who wanted her children to bow down to unjust or irrational authority. I explained that I was very proud of Callie for taking this cause on and fighting in the proper manner to have her voice and the voice of those around her who were too scared to speak for themselves heard. I further explained that I thought it was absolutely ludicrous that she was telling me I needed to teach my daughter that she can never question a decision that she feels is unjust or unfair. I told her that is probably what is wrong with our country right now is such a complacent attitude. I told her that I am teaching her that a no that is unfair or unjust is not a no until you get to the top. I further explained to her that when Callie wanted to present the petition to the superintendent when he visited their school a few weeks ago, I would not allow her to do that. I explained that you could not jump to the top with your concerns but that you needed to go through the proper channels. We had also told Callie and she has gladly followed the interpretation of the code as it stands now. We will not allow her to be rebellious or disrespectful of the principal as an authority...but to tell her we won't question through the proper channels? Really?! No daughter or son of mine will be taught to lay down and play dead!
Having said that, let me also say that I have wanted to lay this thing down many times over the past two months. Are bows really worth my time? No. But God keeps saying, you can't stop. I've been asking why, and I think that teacher who was trying to get me to stop gave me my answer. I'm raising an Esther! I don't know what God has planned for Callie, but whatever it is, I believe with all my heart it will be fighting for those without a voice in some way. I see Him doing way too many things in her life to not believe that. So God tells me to press on because she is watching. These stakes are low. Not getting to wear a bow that is lime green is not the end of the world. But what she will be fighting for later just might be for those on whose behalf she fights.
My meeting yesterday and the response of that teacher was just a reminder that bucking the system doesn't make you popular. Refusing to stay in the status quo can bring criticism. But even as I read the current chapter of Lioness Awakening, God reminded me why it is vital for His people to take up battles from time to time. Lisa Bevere actually uses the quote I started this post with in the chapter I am reading. She says about it: "In light of this charge, God does not need a band of domesticated daughters who spend their days baking and behaving well. Nothing wrong with baking, but if that is all we do, God won't use us to change history. I know this quote may challenge some of you. It challenged me when I first read it. This is not an admonition to be naughty but to realize that change often comes with the challenge of the status quo." Amen!!!
Lisa goes on to give examples like Rosa Parks. If she had not challenged the "no" of sitting in the white section of the bus, America as we know it today might look different. There is a whole list of women in the Bible who challenged the status quo. One of my favorites is Esther. If she had not taken a risk and gone to the king with her request to save her people...even without being summoned first, the Jews would have perished.
As I drove home from the meeting yesterday I kept asking God why. While I have a strong personality, and injustice makes my blood boil, I don't enjoy battles and I would rather walk away than fight. But God immediately brought to mind the puzzle that He so often uses with me. He shows me a great big puzzle with one missing piece. I am the missing piece. God uses that to remind me that when He asks me to do something, like fight for what appears to be a worthless cause like hair bows, there is a bigger picture I can't see. I have no idea what that bigger picture is, I only see my little piece. If it is just Callie learning to stand up for injustice while the stakes are low or if there is a larger reason, I must do my part or the bigger picture isn't complete. The more I interact in this situation, the more concerns I have. But I know if God has told me to continue the battle, I want to obey. I want my daughter to know its ok to stand up even when people are screaming at you to lay down. I want Callie to know there are battles worth being unpopular to fight. I want her to see Esther as her hero not as a problem causer.
As Lisa says, "when you are awakened, you can't help but respond." May I nor any of my children ever sleep through God's alarm awakening them to a change that needs to be made!
As far as the hair bow controversy, Callie has submitted her petition for approval. It has not been returned as of yet, but should be Monday and she still wants to present it and take it as far as we need to for her side to be heard. I could not be more proud of her! And I can't wait to see where God uses her...bows today, lives tomorrow...and I think I might just keep in touch with that teacher from the meeting yesterday so when Callie is changing the world I can remind her that in her opinion, I should have taught me daughter that no is no.
Monday, July 19, 2010
From the Addy's Hope News Blog
I am cross-posting this from the Addy's Hope News Blog...thank you faithful prayer warriors! I believe we are seeing the first mortar fall from the wall we have been marching around for a year and a half now! I hear the sound of cracking brick and we will soon march over the ruins of wickedness and corruption that have kept us from heping the chidren! Praise God!!!
The meeting with the new Minister of Justice and other parties involved in the persecution of adoption it set for tomorrow morning. I have been in continual prayer for this meeting. I believe it was no irony that yesterday's sermon at my church was on spiritual warfare. But even before the message was delivered, during the worship time, I felt a strong sense of needing to pray for the battle waging for the children of Liberia. As such, I began praying for them. Immediately a peace flooded me. I believe this matter is settled. We will see great victory come from this meeting. Of course, my time is not God's time. I don't know that this victory will be evident immediately. My request to God is that we see immediate results, but I don't know that it will happen. I believe God was encouraging me to hang tight and not lose hope or question the outcome if immediate results are not evident. He will bring about that which has been settled in His timing...which is rarely the same as mine! Can anyone relate?!
This morning as I prayed again about the meeting, God took me to Psalm 33 and 34. I ask you to join me in proclaiming the Word over this meeting and the situation with adoption and children in Liberia. Let me remind everyone that this is much bigger than just adoption. We are talking about leaders in the Ministry of Health who have taken, from the last report I heard, over $300,000 (US, not Liberian dollars) from children who are in orphanages that have nothing to do with adoptions. This is the money the government was supposed to be giving those who care for the children to feed them. This money was literally stolen out of the mouths of the children by the very people set in authority by President Sirleaf and her people to care for the "health and social welfare" of these children. Anyone else see a serious problem?
So my prayer is not that adoptions open. Yes, that is part of it, but I am asking you to pray that these people be brought to justice and removed from their seats of authority so that Godly men and women can be put in authority and the well-being of the Liberian children can once again be at the forefront of what the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is doing.
Here is what God brought me to and I am asking you to agree with me in prayer:
Psalm 34:
7 ~ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
8-10 ~ O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him: O fear the Lord, You His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
15-22 ~ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken, evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Psalm 37
7-15
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laugh ts at him, for He sees his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy [orphans and those who care for them], to slay those who are upright in conduct [those of us who have spoken out publicly against the corruption in the Ministry of Health]. Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.
34~ Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I am dancing for joy at the truths in those verses! The authority is all God's! He will deal harshly with those who plot against His people and especially against His children! Praise Him! To Him be all the glory from the outcomes of this meeting!
Concerning what I believe to be God speaking victory over the wicked in power over the care of children and the battle waging for these children:
Psalm 33:9-12 ~ For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever. The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
Thank you for journeying with us and praying for the children of Liberia. I look forward to reporting to all of you prayer warriors the victories we will see in the days, weeks, months and years to come. I have always believed that God has big plans for Liberia and intends to make Liberia a power house nation....much like American. But He must have righteous leaders before that can happen. Your prayers are working to bring that about. Just one more time we as Christians are called to a very small part of a much larger picture! Thank you for your faithfulness and dedication. Words can't express the gratitude I have for those of you praying with us!
For the oppressed,
HollyAnn
The meeting with the new Minister of Justice and other parties involved in the persecution of adoption it set for tomorrow morning. I have been in continual prayer for this meeting. I believe it was no irony that yesterday's sermon at my church was on spiritual warfare. But even before the message was delivered, during the worship time, I felt a strong sense of needing to pray for the battle waging for the children of Liberia. As such, I began praying for them. Immediately a peace flooded me. I believe this matter is settled. We will see great victory come from this meeting. Of course, my time is not God's time. I don't know that this victory will be evident immediately. My request to God is that we see immediate results, but I don't know that it will happen. I believe God was encouraging me to hang tight and not lose hope or question the outcome if immediate results are not evident. He will bring about that which has been settled in His timing...which is rarely the same as mine! Can anyone relate?!
This morning as I prayed again about the meeting, God took me to Psalm 33 and 34. I ask you to join me in proclaiming the Word over this meeting and the situation with adoption and children in Liberia. Let me remind everyone that this is much bigger than just adoption. We are talking about leaders in the Ministry of Health who have taken, from the last report I heard, over $300,000 (US, not Liberian dollars) from children who are in orphanages that have nothing to do with adoptions. This is the money the government was supposed to be giving those who care for the children to feed them. This money was literally stolen out of the mouths of the children by the very people set in authority by President Sirleaf and her people to care for the "health and social welfare" of these children. Anyone else see a serious problem?
So my prayer is not that adoptions open. Yes, that is part of it, but I am asking you to pray that these people be brought to justice and removed from their seats of authority so that Godly men and women can be put in authority and the well-being of the Liberian children can once again be at the forefront of what the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is doing.
Here is what God brought me to and I am asking you to agree with me in prayer:
Psalm 34:
7 ~ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
8-10 ~ O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him: O fear the Lord, You His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
15-22 ~ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken, evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Psalm 37
7-15
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laugh ts at him, for He sees his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy [orphans and those who care for them], to slay those who are upright in conduct [those of us who have spoken out publicly against the corruption in the Ministry of Health]. Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.
34~ Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I am dancing for joy at the truths in those verses! The authority is all God's! He will deal harshly with those who plot against His people and especially against His children! Praise Him! To Him be all the glory from the outcomes of this meeting!
Concerning what I believe to be God speaking victory over the wicked in power over the care of children and the battle waging for these children:
Psalm 33:9-12 ~ For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever. The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
Thank you for journeying with us and praying for the children of Liberia. I look forward to reporting to all of you prayer warriors the victories we will see in the days, weeks, months and years to come. I have always believed that God has big plans for Liberia and intends to make Liberia a power house nation....much like American. But He must have righteous leaders before that can happen. Your prayers are working to bring that about. Just one more time we as Christians are called to a very small part of a much larger picture! Thank you for your faithfulness and dedication. Words can't express the gratitude I have for those of you praying with us!
For the oppressed,
HollyAnn
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Calling all prayer warriors!
We need all of you prayer warriors to hit your knees for the people of Liberia! The battle is fierce! I have never experienced anything like this in my life to even compare it to except through my work in Liberia. In my time with God this morning, He impressed on me the dire need for prayer in order to defeat the powers of darkness that are seeking to keep these people captive....not just captive here in this world, but more importantly, captive for eternity! I know it is hard to imagine in this day and age that there are people who have never heard the gospel, but I have learned of a county in Liberia where that is so! God has sent two men our direction who are working there, diving connections that only God could bring about. I pray we have the opportunity to work there.
This is what God gave me this morning that I would ask that you pray with me for the people of Liberia!
"How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind...He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked," Psalm 146 (emphasis mine)
Praise God! I have to say that after a couple of weeks of trying to pretend like I never heard of a little country called Liberia because I am just so weary of the battles, my spirit is soaring this morning! I am ready for the battle! But I need an army! I need prayer warriors! If you would pray for Addy's Hope, Kami and Jeremy who are there now on the front lines fighting the battle to get the new home and school up, Amos who is our country director and has to fight this battle every day on the front lines: a battle that really we can't even comprehend here in America, if you would pray for us, would you leave me a comment?...just so I can know in the bad times that there are people praying.
Headed to battle!
This is what God gave me this morning that I would ask that you pray with me for the people of Liberia!
"How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind...He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked," Psalm 146 (emphasis mine)
Praise God! I have to say that after a couple of weeks of trying to pretend like I never heard of a little country called Liberia because I am just so weary of the battles, my spirit is soaring this morning! I am ready for the battle! But I need an army! I need prayer warriors! If you would pray for Addy's Hope, Kami and Jeremy who are there now on the front lines fighting the battle to get the new home and school up, Amos who is our country director and has to fight this battle every day on the front lines: a battle that really we can't even comprehend here in America, if you would pray for us, would you leave me a comment?...just so I can know in the bad times that there are people praying.
Headed to battle!
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