Compelled

It’s been a long time, a really long time since I put words to paper and posted on this blog. A dear, sweet friend gave me a note recently reminding me that writing is important to me and encouraged me to do it again. It’s hard though, really hard. It’s hard because I wonder what impact my simple words will have – a good impact, a bad one, or possibly an offensive one? I pray that what I write here will encourage and spur each of you on towards love and kindness. Anything I write is from my heart. It’s from the deep desire that God has put in me to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and the hope that He brings. That is all - nothing more and nothing less. It is not meant to anger anyone, to fuel political views or to cause division. Only love. Only Good News. Only encouragement.

I am a simple lady who loves Jesus, hungers for more of God’s Word in my life, who loves people, loves encouraging others and loves sharing words that just might grab someone’s heart and lead them to the only One who can change their hearts and lives forever. And boy, do I need heart changes!

Recently, we have been watching a video series and reading a book at church called Counter Culture, by David Platt. It is rocking my world. Or at least I sure hope it is. We are talking about really tough subjects like abortion, sex trafficking, wealth/poverty and other similar and challenging conversations. Last night, we talked about abortion. I left feeling a bit sick to my stomach. Not because I hate anyone, or because I am judging anyone (who am I to judge?), but because I am so deeply saddened by what I heard and saw about the number of unborn babies who die every year due to abortion. It breaks my heart to watch the news, to see posts on social media and to hear people talk about their own heart wrenching stories.

I am discovering that we all have very strong opinions about these issues and it seems that they are dividing us more and more as a nation and even in the Church. That also makes me sad because these are not political issues, nor issues that should divide us, but issues that should bring us together, issues that should compel us to work together to change things. This is my deep prayer – that we would come together and make a lasting change, regardless of our political views or personal opinions. No more babies dying because of choice or inconvenience. No more sex trafficking of young people to fulfill the sinful desires of lust. No more hungry children or homeless families. No more broken families. No more. No. more.

I know this all sounds so negative and depressing. It is depressing. But, we need to talk about it and do something. We can each stand up for these precious lives. We can volunteer at a local pregnancy care organization, collect food for the hungry, write our representatives about laws that go against the very fiber of God’s Word and we can pray. Pray for these dear babies, children, women and men - and then put hands and feet to our prayers. I’m not sure yet how this is going to look in my own life, but I do know one thing - I will no longer sit on my hands and wonder how one person can make a difference. I will do something. I will pray and I will act. Together we can change the world. Together we can save lives. Together we point to Christ.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35-40