Adoption

For a long time God has been speaking to me about how He wants me to have a loving impact on others. There are so many different ways that God has been teaching me how to do this. Most recently, and actually on a more consistent basis since 5 years ago, God is teaching me about the importance of adoption. There are so many different perspectives that one can take on this. I have been adopted into God's family and there He gives me unconditional love. With this in mind it causes me to reflect on how I view others and in turn how I treat them.

Since ministering to children is my life right now (as well as my husband's life), God has been revealing His heart for children during our most intimate moments together. His heart breaks when children are neglected, abused, forgotten, negatively yelled at, talked down to, and left behind. It is gut wrenching to see the affects of sin from adults upon children. My question to you is: what are you doing about it? Are you adding to the grief of children or are you helping them?

One of my favorite parts of what I do is being able to adopt kids every week for a short period of time as if they were my own. This is something that God has been teaching me. I long to have His heart and His heart is HUGE for kids! There are times when I long to get out on the streets of Rwanda, India, Indonesia, Thailand (the list goes on and on), and pick up orphan children and bring them home with me to a warm bed, clean clothes, food and water. Even with this longing, God has been showing me how to do this very thing in the lives of children every week on a spiritual level. I know that this is training for what God will be propelling my husband and I into later.

My soul cries in agony, it groans, for words cannot express the desire to save hurting, lost, and orphaned children. This desire has been planted and God has been watering it and showing me how I am saving kids already. As I look at the many faces of the kids I get to minister to each week, I see such huge hope in knowing that they will lead the church to save others. Their potential is so much bigger than most of us give them credit for. My husband and I adopt them, so to speak, for the short time that we have them, and it is beyond amazing to see them grow!

Adoption speaks so much more than just accepting someone into your family (or as your own like I mentioned above). It is treating them as your own flesh and blood. It is about loving them unconditionally and doing all in your power to give them the best. When any of us are put into an environment of people who treat us like this; like the most precious person in the world, we thrive and grow in ways that surprise us. It is my prayer that every child that God puts into my life would feel God touching their heart with His love; and that they would know their true value, priceless, beautiful, and worthy.

So, whenever I dream with God, I see Him planting wonderful seeds of hope and love in the hearts of kids everywhere. I know that wherever my feet walk, I will pick up kids and bring them home to care for them as if they were my own. It may be a large family, but it is worth every tear, sacrifice, and sorrow to bring children before the feet of Jesus. Someday soon, I will kiss away dirty tears, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and shelter the homeless. Until that day, I will faithfully do all I can to do the same for children spiritually.

If you ever have wondered why Jesus informed the people to "let the children come", take a look at this video below. I think that God desires children to be lifted up higher and higher to their full potential. Too often we limit them, whether by accident, religious codes, or because of abuse and neglect. I encourage you to take the time to watch this video. It shows how someone invested in them to train them up as spiritual leaders. In this process, they realized their identity in Christ. This is God's heart for children and for His people: that they would know how precious they are to Him and that there is no need to fear. He will use you to do great things. Now... take a look at the video and you will know what I am talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RyW6-pM0oE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Victory!

How do I begin when most often I am left speechless because of who God is? I can write today in praise and awe of the One who calls us beloved. He is our victorious King!

As the holidays are right before us, especially Thanksgiving this week, I have never been more thankful for all that God has done! So many dreams of mine have come true within the past year that I do not even have the words to describe my grateful heart. I cannot even begin to sum up all that God has done or is going to do. It would literally be a novel if I began to describe everything that has taken place.

I am beyond excited when God begins awakening hearts and revealing more of who He is to those that are very dear to my heart, as well as my husband's heart. Just this week, God revealed His marvelous Love and Spirit to dear friends of ours whom are family to us. New life and healing was a surprise for them this week and we could not be happier. In fact, I sing and dance in praise to God for His victory!

God also did very many victorious things for us this week. We are learning what it means to fight the enemy with the Holy Spirit leading our every step. To know the Spirit by His first name, Holy, is something that transforms my husband and I every day. We bow in surrender and deny ourselves in order for Christ to reign in us. Victory! There is only victory in Jesus.

I hold all these things close to my heart; the things that God has done and has promised us. As I do, these take root within me and I feel as if I could fly high on wings of eagles. Do I feel strong? Most of the time I feel so weak and unworthy. But God states, "my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). That is all that I need to know and my heart is content. 

During the rage of battle, we know that our King goes before us victorious! We are found in the arms of Love, safe, and thriving in ways that we never thought could ever be possible. This life is hard but living it is an adventure that brings such joy and love. I pray that not just my life, but also the life of my husband and I would only reveal who God is. And God brings freedom, joy, healing, love, peace, life, and victory! My heart sings praise to our Victorious King and will continue to all of the days of my life.

Thank you Lord for who you are! We will never stop serving you and loving you with everything within us. Thank you for your victory! Your blessings and gifts are more than we ever dreamed. We thank you with our lives.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Today as I reflect over the past week or so I am astonished at how quickly things are coming forth, bringing changes that are going to completely transform our lives. My husband and I had a discussion on this a couple of days ago. We talked about how we are going to have to make sure that we do not take our relationship for granted in the process of what is to come. What is to come you ask? A beautiful oak tree! God has been forming a firm foundation for my husband and I ever since our relationship started. Because of our hunger for purity, joy, righteousness, love and more and more of Jesus, God has been planting seeds within us so that we would become big oak trees of righteousness to give him glory (Isaiah 61:3). Firmly rooted together, we will shine forth Jesus and lead others to his feet. This includes bringing orphans into a family that they never thought they could ever belong to. What a great promise!

As the holidays are coming, I am learning to let go of so many things that I have been hurt from, as well as my husband. I find hope in the One who calls me beloved, that He will give me the strength that I need to stand for truth and not be manipulated to do otherwise. This is essential in our process of preparation for these new things that will be coming into our lives. It is essential because we need to be so firmly rooted in God, that any crack or hole must be filled up with God's love. We must not have a bend in our foundation so that it will be able to withstand the storms, and attacks from the enemy who wants to uproot all that God calls good.

Even though there are things ahead that I am not looking forward to, I trust that God turns all things into good for those those that love him (Romans 8:28). There are several things that I am so tired of. One of those things is cheap shots from the enemy. The enemy knows that he has already lost and in his anger he attempts to do what he can to injure those who are victorious on his way down. Truth is coming out and it will continue to be revealed in so many different ways. God's truth cannot be hidden, nor can the enemy fight and win against true Love.

Once all of the hurtful, unresolved things are cleared away, my husband and I stand together in great anticipation for all the good things God is doing. He continually performs miracles for our behalf almost every week. He has doors that have opened to us, without any effort on our part that we will be walking through in the months ahead. And at the present time, we are enjoying this roller coaster of joy and breakthrough that God has us on! We have never felt so blessed or alive in our entire lives and pray that He will use us to light the fires of Love in the hearts of everyone that we come across. 

Here we are Lord, with our hands and hearts wide open to you. We long for you everyday. We love you and will allow you to write our love story for the world to see. Our hearts are yours. Please show us how you want us to Love and handle the situations during the holidays this season. Amen.

Praise to you Oh Lord for your joy, love, and breakthrough! With you we can stand amidst the fire and not be burned. All praise and glory be given to you in all things!

Bigger and Greater

            To be known, to be understood, all my life this has been my desire. The one thing about this is the fact that I have to allow myself to open up; to be so real and honest that there would be no barriers between you and I. But this can be hard because as I open up there is the possibility of being hurt, and even in some cases betrayed. There has to be some form of trust, and I know that this trust is more in God than anyone else.

            God has shown me this past week that some of my deepest wounds are from the moments that I have opened myself up. I trusted God in some of my most vulnerable moments and opened up to those I was afraid would not understand. And God has helped me walk through the fire. It has been painful but the flames have never consumed me. Instead, God has been refining me, and perfecting me from the inside out. It is only through the work of God that I am who I am today.

            My soul cries out as this fire cleanses out every impurity and possible seed that would stunt the purification process of my growth. My heart and soul has been wounded and I need God to help remove the arrows. This is what my God is doing in me. He is healing the deepest parts of me and removing the arrows that have been shot in my heart and in my back. It is all right to feel betrayed. It is all right because my Savior knows all about betrayal. Peter denied him three times, and still to this day, individuals deny his very existence, his unconditional love and his unending grace. The person who has been betrayed in the most horrific way holds my heart and understands me completely.

            I let go of any bitterness and embrace forgiveness. In this, the one who holds my heart teaches me how to truly love someone. He gives me grace during the times when more shots are taken and they cause strife. He gives me strength and courage to remain standing instead of falling back to hide. He gives me the hope to use these arrows and hit the devil right back to show him that my God is bigger and greater than anything that would want to destroy all that God has called good.

            Now, I fully embrace these wounds, I pick up the arrows that God has helped to remove and I choose them as my weapons of warfare with Love leading every step. With my husband by my side, God reminds me that I do not fight this battle alone. I am grateful beyond words for this. And at the end of each day, as my husband puts his arms around me, I know just how much God loves me. At the beginning of each day, as my husband embraces me and gives me a tender kiss upon my lips and forehead, I know without a doubt that God is crazy about me and only desires the best for me.

Words can never describe the miraculous touch of God upon my heart and soul. I may walk through the fire but I know that the flames will never consume me (Isaiah 43:2). I hold these arrows intended to destroy me and fight back with all that I am. The one whose eyes are like blazing fire, whose hair is like white wool, whose voice is like the sound of rushing waters, and whose face shines like the sun goes before me with a double edged sword coming from His mouth (Revelation 1:14-16). He is teaching me how to fight back and use these arrows to win battles that are humanly impossible to achieve. In Him alone, I sing and dance my way into battle. He prepares a table before my enemies and anoints my head with oil (Psalm 23:5). Indeed, my God is bigger and greater than any other. Amen.

Psalm 113

God will provide. God will fulfill big dreams and passions. Praise His name!

Psalm 113

"Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?"

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord."

This is my verse for the year. It speaks of God doing so many humanly impossible things. He loves us! Praise His name!

No words can describe

As I sit here this afternoon with my slipper socks on, sweater, and coffee I am completely amazed at how God has been revealing himself to us this season in our lives. I sit in a room that is decorated for our precious little one. Love is in this room, grace, and mercy too. God has done so much for us and this room is special because it is a constant reminder of that fact.

Yesterday God's promises and dreams were further confirmed in our Cambodia service where the co-founder of Remember Nhu, Carl Ralston and Nhu herself were present. The story of this organization whose primary goal is "Preventing children from ever entering the sex-trade", is amazing (Please click on my title above and it will take you to the Remember Nhu website)! Carl shared how the organization began and I could feel God speaking life into my passion and desire to go to the nations helping girls get back into safety from the sex trafficking industry. God was showing me through Carl's story how He would bring to fruition in different ways the dream to help be a Mom to the orphan, a sister and friend to the abandoned, and counselor to the broken.

When Nhu began to share her story, my eyes started to swell with tears. Her story, like many others, is one filled with broken dreams, shattered innocence, and darkness, only for God to make himself known as He brought restoration to everything that she once thought was lost. As Nhu shared I felt this deep connection with her heart. She was my sister and our stories, although different in many ways, were very similar. Nhu was sold several times to men to pay off family debt. I was not sold, yet was used, abused, and taken advantage of before the age of 5. It disgusts me to know that the facts out there reveal how Men prefer younger girls. In Nhu's case, she was wanted more because she was a virgin girl. In my case, I was too young to defend myself and could be manipulated by threats to obey directions given to me.

Tears plummeted down my face as she continued to share her heart about all that had been done to her. She said, "God, why did you bring this pain into my life? I loved you. I served you. Please let me be the last girl this happens too." No words can describe what was going on inside of me when I heard her say the very same things that I said to God so many years ago. They are written in my journal multiple times. The realization hit me how powerful my story was because of the common thread that ties me to girls who have faced similar demons. I can relate to them, and I know that they can relate to me. I wept more because God confirmed deep in my heart that I would impact girls and touch hearts just like Nhu was touching mine. No words can describe how much I desire to do this. No words can describe how much I long to bring Jesus to so many who are hurting, wounded, hungry, naked, raped, and searching for someone to love them. This passion; this dream is so close that I can almost touch it. 

Yesterday God revealed his powerful work. Remember Nhu is evidence of how God turns impossible situations and dreams into realities. Our sacrificial love offering to help buy land and build some more homes in Cambodia for Remember Nhu also reveals how nothing is impossible with God. By the obedience of all of us, his servants, we practically doubled the $100,000 goal. The desire to serve and love others everywhere, and fulfill dreams and goals God has given my husband and I, will be coming to fruition. We will be going. We will go. God was speaking these things to us so blatantly yesterday. 

His presence and healing upon me was so heavy that I could not stop crying the rest of the service and as I think upon it more, tears still come to my eyes. No words can describe what God is doing. He is great! And we should praise him. We should praise him even before things come into fruition.

Thank you God for speaking life into dreams and for all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do! We will love you with our lives no matter the sacrifice.

"With. Reimagining The Way You Relate To God" by Skye Jethani

"With" is an extraordinary book that describes how individuals relate to God. Skye Jethani begins with the four ways that most tend to relate to God, which are "under, over, from, and for God”. These were nothing knew to me having grown up surrounded by individual's who in one form or another related to God in one of these ways. I once related and often struggled in one of these four groups at one point in my own life. 

What I enjoyed was how Jethani so bluntly but gently described the truth stating how these ways actually stem from our own fear and need to control our lives.  Instead Jethani writes that, "we need to start living in communion with God”. When we live in communion with God we see God for "who he truly is and begin to treasure God and not merely use him”. Jethani also brings up the important truth that without Jesus and his death and resurrection, living a life with God would not even be available to us. 

Jethani challenges readers to go further than just uniting their life with Christ and living under bondage of what ends out only being religion. When we live "with" God our lives will be filled with "faith, hope, and love”. Life with God is filled with the power of his Spirit, full of his love and, an extreme desire for a constant, growing relationship that will never end. I encourage everyone who is questioning his or her views on God, or anyone who desires a closer relationship with God to read this book. You will not be left disappointed.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dreams... Passions... Fulfilling them

It has been a couple of weeks since I have had the opportunity to write. The reasons that have slowed this process down have been all very good things and in fact several of these things are the first seeds sprouting up of dreams that my husband and I have. Life is all very exciting!

My Mom and I had fun walking September 17th for the Stop Child Trafficking Now 5k. I think there were times though that our pace was almost as quick as some of the runners. It was normal Oregon weather with wind, and slanting rain spattering down on our not so rain ready clothes. We walked faster than normal to finish quicker so we would not be out in the rain. Because of this we finished right behind the runners! I thoroughly cherished this walk with my Mom. She is one of my hero's and every moment with her is a precious gift. My Dad, too, is someone I feel the same about. Becoming a Stepmom only increases how I feel towards them. 

So this leads me to one of my biggest dreams and passions. Being a mother to the orphan. To some it may sound strange. To others it may seem impossible. To me, with God's reassuring words, I see this dream already coming to fulfillment that will continue to grow throughout my life. One rather late night on April 6th 2011, God was speaking life into this dream. He was stirring in my heart the love for the very children that SCTN helps as well as the many churches and non-profits that I too am involved with. Here is what I wrote (not edited) in response to what God was speaking to me:

Journal Entry April 6, 2011

Conviction or false guilt? For what? For something that I did? No. For lack of action. For not being able to help like I want. 

I see faces of those who have no name, for these are boys and girls stripped of everything and forced to sell themselves in ways that they never imagined. I hear their voices calling for help in the night. What can I do? How can I save them?

I see people crying, even begging for help while there are stagnant or dead people walking in their riches who, if they awoke, could be life-changers.

Do I dare to believe I can save but one life? And if so, how about 100? 1,000? Millions? One seed, once planted can indeed produce a crop.

And once God brings these children to safety who will show them their value? Who will say: "You have been forced to do these horrible things but you are not horrible. You are more valuable than pearls, more precious than diamonds and God loves you."

I want to be a voice of truth among the dark lies; to help bind up the enemy and set captives free; to pray in warriors to rise up in the night and fight for those faces of children with no name. Oh, Lord, use me. Strengthen me with your right hand to be daring enough to live the impossible. Show me how to live this way.

Love, 

Kara

SCTN 5K: A small endeavor with the hope of a huge impact!

Many of you already know that I am going to walk in the Stop Child Trafficking Now 5K. As much as I may volunteer for things that I am passionate about I have begun to feel a little discouraged. No matter how much I do, I feel as if I can never do enough. In some ways I feel as if doors will remain closed in certain areas of my life and in the life of my husband and I. There have been many doors that I have been knocking on for some time; only to either have them remain closed or slammed right in my face. Ouch! To say the least, there have been many "ouch" moments. Other moments have been a dull ache as I wait.

Then as I have tended the aches, the pains, and sat down to talk with God over things, I know that doors will open in time and miracles will take place. These moments have only drawn me closer to God, as well as with other people who see me for who I truly am. And it is in these moments that the fight inside of me goes further than just for myself. It draws me out from myself to bring a voice to those who have none. And this is why I am walking the SCTN 5K. It is one of the small things that I can do to help fight for the boys and girls being trafficked, many of them who are right in front of us.

What are you fighting for? 

What love letters are you writing?

Who will you impact?

How will you be remembered?

These are all questions I ask myself often as well as many more. When I have an answer that I do not like, after God reveals the good, the bad, and potentially even the ugly, then I ask God to help change it. In the process, God calls us beautiful, and helps transform us into magnificent masterpieces. I pray to be a masterpiece of his unconditional love, hope, and power! I pray that even in small endeavors such as a 5K to SCTN that it will have a huge impact. This is my hope. And my dreams, which God is still forming in me, are even bigger than that.

What are your dreams? What are your hopes?

If you feel led to help me with mine, please feel free to go to my personal page to donate or sign-up to walk with me.

http://events.sctnow.org/site/TR?px=1067814&pg=personal&fr_id=1109&et=3vPKPlLgUOXgH6rp621zbQ&s_tafId=1357

After all, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world"
Mother Teresa

Built tough. Made to Last. Camp 2011

Last week I had the privilege to be a camp counselor to seven girls from KidZTown at the Garage, which is the kids program at the church that my husband and I are volunteering for. There are still many things that I am processing from last week, many of which are things that I learned about myself. It was a week filled with many learning experiences that stretched me further than I thought it would. I came away feeling as if I had been blessed twofold. These kids are amazing and full of such passion, ambition, and hunger for God and his love.


I went to camp not really knowing what to expect and prayed fervently for God to use me in ways that these girls would never forget. It is my prayer that they came away feeling very loved by God. One of the messages that God placed on my heart to communicate to these girls was how valuable they are. Since these girls (ages 8-12) are in the stage where they are defining their identity based on what they see and hear from others, God wanted them to hear from him how beautiful they are. Girls these days are bombarded by so many more messages of how they should look skinny, sexy, beautiful, and attractive to men. All it takes is one to listen to the most popular songs, the latest movies, commercials, and sometimes-even Disney to see that outward beauty, and sexual attraction is what matters most.


The theme for our cabin was that each of them were beautiful princesses of God and that they are each his beloved, a beautiful diamond. God wants them to see themselves in this way so that when others (including different sources of media) tell them otherwise, they can remain steadfast in his love and truth for them. I can recall one day, one of my cabin girls got mad at me when I told her how valuable she was and just how beautiful God thinks she is. She ran from me and yelled that she was ugly. It broke my heart, but yet it was something that I could relate to. I remember feeling ugly at a young age not fully understanding why, and I was usually too eager to believe what surrounding voices filled with lies told me about myself. I pray that the seeds of truth God told me to plant into their hearts and minds will grow beautiful Japanese cherry blossom trees in full bloom.


Camp this year had the theme "Built tough. Made to Last" which talked about building a spiritual life with God that was growing strong everyday in everyway. It was amazing to worship God with these kids and see how the Holy Spirit was awakening new things within them. A different cabin girl was very hungry for more of God and his love. She sought him further every day and found her heart opening up in new ways to the Holy Spirit working in her life. This hunger and thirst was so encouraging to see in her! It is a prayer that all these kids would hunger such as this gal did and is continuing to do. Please be praying for them as they continue to hunger and thirst for more of God and how he would use them.


Throughout the week, I found myself amazed at how God was revealing himself and his will for my life (as well as my husband) throughout the different activities, cabin time, and chapel services. It was amazing because I was usually very busy keeping track of my cabin girls, "disciplining", directing, leading, singing, listening, and participating in the activities. I think I learned how to listen to the Holy Spirit's voice amidst what seemed like noisy, organized chaos. And it made my heart come alive more recognizing that even though I had come to camp to minister to these kids, that God was also ministering to me everyday. God's message for these girls was also for me. His love and heart for me, as well as others, continues to amaze me and make me speechless.


One of the other messages that God spoke to me about was having a mother's heart. In the process of preparing to be a Step Mom, I have been praying for God and his wisdom. I feel that this week of camp was a wonderful time of preparation for the beautiful stepdaughter that will soon be a part of my husband and my life. It was helpful to see God answering this prayer right in the middle of camp. It was encouraging to see how I was able to learn from each experience and see how the girls left camp somewhat or greatly changed. These girls taught me a lot and I hope that I in turn was able to teach them a lot about God and his love for them. I hope that I was able to write love letters from God upon their hearts that they will never forget.

Royal Family Kids Camp

Yesterday I had the privilege to help with camp registration for our local Royal Family Kids Camp program. I was not able to get it off of work to be able to be a camp counselor. This was something that both my husband and I struggled with because our hearts really go out to these kids. For those of you who do not know, RFKC is camp for foster kids. It is their one-week event of the year to get away from their hard lives and be shown how valuable they are. They get to enjoy what it is like to be a family as well as know just how much they are loved.


During registration I was given the role of helping hang out with the kids before the bus arrived to send them away to their secret camp destination. The two hours that I had did not seem long enough to shower them with all the love that I felt that they deserved or needed. But I knew that it only takes a second to plant a seed of love in someone’s heart and God can grow it into a beautiful cherry blossom tree!


Many of the girls were my shadows. Some of them knew me from the Church program and felt safe to tag along with me. Others seemed to just know that I was there to love and protect them for that time. It was encouraging to see how they responded to me. It brought me hope, amidst the heartbreaking things I saw in their eyes, when some of them began pouring out their hearts about how they felt about what was going on in their lives.



I still see their faces. Many of them revealing innocence stolen, shattered dreams, hope lost, and in place of love, fear like a big blackberry bush, which has taken over their ability to trust and live in freedom. I recall one whose eyes revealed such despair that it seemed as if someone had been feasting on her soul, stealing away all that God had made so beautiful and good.


My dreams for these kids are: that they would live in safe homes and have full stomachs of good food everyday. The broken parts of their hearts and lives would be mended through the years. Freedom instead of bondage; Love instead of hatred, bitterness, or rage... Oh that perfect love would come into their lives and cast out fear! Joy instead of shame; Peace instead of fear; Light instead of darkness; Truth instead of lies; Forgiveness instead of revenge; that they would come to see how amazing, how beautiful they are! My dream is that their broken lives would be made whole and instead of seeing themselves through the eyes of those who have abused and abandoned them, that they would see themselves through the eyes of God. They are his most favorites! I say this as a prayer and I know that this is a piece of the heart of God for each child.


My heart aches for what has been done to them! I have the hope that the seeds of love from RFKC will harvest a beautiful cherry blossom tree in full bloom to be able to destroy the blackberry bushes that are trying to take over their hearts today. Please pray for the abused, the neglected, and the stolen ones today so that they may find themselves in the arms of Love and be restored. Write a love letter upon their heart. Plant a cherry blossom tree that will bloom love, joy, forgiveness, peace, and freedom!

Dream Big: Stop Child Trafficking Now

One of my passions is to help the abused and neglected. Most recently I have been looking for opportunities to help organizations that are in the fight against sex trafficking. Stop Child Trafficking Now is a non-profit organization. They "target the source of child trafficking-- predators who supply the sex industry everywhere in the world, including in your local community." They hold 5k's to help raise funds to fulfill this vision. I am currently trying to decide whether I will walk/run this 5k or be a part of the volunteer staff for this event. Either way I will be creating awareness for this worldwide issue. It seems like something so little in the vast sea of sex trafficking victims, johns, and pimps. But one small seed, such as a 5k fundraiser, can produce a HUGE forest of hope, safety, and love and provide restoration for sex trafficking victims.



It is an issue that many do not want to face. It is an issue that will sadden your heart. You will see through the eyes of sex trafficking victims the depth of darkness and bondage that was forced upon them. Hope was taken; love was stolen; their names re-written; their voices silenced; innocence and purity ripped from their hearts. Instead of a normal life, maybe even a beautiful dream, they live and have lived in a nightmare. And who will help them?


You. Me. Friends. Family. We all can do our part in some small way or for those who desire to pursue this more, your impact can save many lives! I am not writing this to promote or sell anything. I am merely pointing out one way that we can help sex trafficking victims. There is hope. And we can choose to love by helping in whatever way we feel led to, even if it is staying on top of the current issues and not ignoring them.


On the Stop Child Trafficking Now website they give information about their vision, purpose, objective, partners and how you can help. I was drawn to many things on this site and will get involved. One tab on their site I encourage you to look at is the Red With Love tab. Go to the site and at least watch the "Red With Love" video. The message is clear. Each of us can help in the fight against sex trafficking.


Dream Big! Your impact is great! Lets go fight for these children, teens, and adults. Lets take back their life and give them new hopes, new dreams; let us help them find their voice again, and restore what was stolen and ripped from their very heart. A new beautiful life of love instead of a nightmare is my dream for them. It is God's dream for them. How will you be used to write a love letter in someone's life today? You may be their only hope. Dream Big. Save a life. Write a love letter. Grow a Cherry Blossom Tree blooming with fulfilled dreams.


We are their hope. Stop Sex Trafficking Now!

Just click on my Title- Dream Big: Stop Child Trafficking Now and you will be taken to:
http://www.sctnow.org