I read an article in the news this morning about child sexual abuse.  This particular article dealt with rape of an 18-month-old baby.   A BABY.  Left in the care of a parent who is supposed to provide safety, security, and love.  A baby.

My heart broke.  I am a survivor of child sexual abuse.  My daughter is a survivor.  My granddaughter is a survivor.  But NOTHING that we endured even comes close to the depravity, the evil that the small baby endured.  And if MY heart is breaking, imagine what the Lord is feeling about these little ones that He considers to be blessings in our lives!

IT HAS TO STOP!  A video of that small baby’s rape was circulated on social media.  The depth of evil is almost more than I can comprehend.  And certainly greater than people are willing to talk about.

Stop It Now! is a world-wide organization in the fight against this horrendous crime.  I pulled the following from their website:

The impact of sexual abuse does not end when the abuse ends. Survivors of sexual abuse are at significantly greater risks for severe and chronic mental health issues, including alcoholism, depression, anxiety, PTSD and high risk behaviors.

• One in 10 children will experience contact sexual abuse in the U.S. before age 18[iii]
• More than 50% of sex abuse survivors were sexually abused before the age of 12.[iv]
• One in 25 children (10-17) will receive an online sexual solicitation[v]
• Of substantiated reports of child maltreatment in the US, 9% were unique survivors of sexual abuse[vi]
• The average age for a minor to enter the sex trade is 12 – 14.[vii]
• Globally, prevalence rates show that a range of 7-36% of women and 3-29% of men experience sexual abuse in childhood.[viii]
• More than one-third (35.2%) of the women who reported a completed rape before the age of 18 also experienced a completed rape as an adult, Thus, the percentage of women who were raped as children or adolescents and also raped as adults was more than two times higher than the percentage among women without an early rape history. [ix]
• 42.2% girls experiencing their first completed rape did so before the age of 18 (29.9% between 11-17 years old and 12.3% at or before age 10) [x]
• Over one-quarter of male victims of completed rape experienced their first rape at or before the age of 10. [viii]
• Children with disabilities are 2.9 times more likely than children without disabilities to be sexually abused.[xi]
• Children with intellectual and mental health disabilities appear to be the most at risk, with 4.6 times the risk of sexual abuse as their peers without disabilities.[xii]
• At least 31% of girls and 7% of boys involved in the juvenile justice system have been sexually abused.[xiii]

The Situation:

• In as many as 93 percent of child sexual cases, the child knows the person that commits the abuse. [xiv]
• Males made up almost 88% of perpetrators [xv]
• 60% of children who are sexually abused do not disclose[xvi] [xvii] [xviii]
• Up to  50% of child sexual abuse cases are perpetrated by someone younger than 18 years old[xix]
• 12 – 24% of sex offenders are known re-offenders [xx]
• Most are acquaintances but as many as 47% are family or extended family.[xxi]
• Juveniles make up 20% of those arrested for sex offenses [xxii]
• The 5-year sexual recidivism rate for high-risk sex offenders is 22% from the time of release, and decreases for this risk level to 4.2% for those who have remained offense-free in the community for 10 years. The recidivism rates of the low-risk offenders are consistently low (1%-5%) for all time periods. [xxiii]

Today I am crying out for mercy for every child.  Protection for every child.  And for an ARMY to rise up against this evil and take it down!

Matthew 18:6    But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

If you are a victim or know a victim who needs help, or want more information, or want to volunteer / donate to help stop this evil curse around the world, I’ve listed some web sites below.  Some localities also have local organizations that have stepped into the fray.

In the USA:

Stop It Now!   https://www.stopitnow.org/

Voices for Children  https://voicesforchildren.org/

In the UK:

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation  https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/

Stop It Now!  https://www.stopitnow.org.uk

In Canada:

Red Cross  https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/violence-bullying-and-abuse-prevention/youth/sexual-abuse

Europe:

Council of Europe  https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-channel/stop-child-sexual-abuse-in-sport

Worldwide:

Stop It Now!  https://www.stopitnow.org

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation  https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/

Life is a balancing act.  Between home, work, school, family, kids, spouses, friends, and church there has to be some pretty strategic planning and on-hands management happening to make everything work smoothly — forget smoothly, I’ll settle for just getting things all headed in the right direction!

I know I am not unique in this, but I’m going to say it anyway — I’M SELFISH!  I WANT ME-TIME!

In the days of small children and career, I actually never got “me-time” unless you count the ride on the subway 🙂    I used to try to take a bath and call that “me-time” but with the kids, one and then another, banging on the door, I soon switched to showers.  After I retired I thought “NOW my time is my own!”  And it was — for about three months.  Then the family began to close in with new needs and I discovered an entire world of people who need help and encouragement, and I jumped back in the fray.

I have come to realize that my personality type is a helper type.  If someone needs help — with anything! — and I have the ability to help, I’ll do it.  Consequently my days are relatively full and my nights, well, who needs more than 7 hours sleep, anyway?

How many people have told YOU to make room for yourself?  Perhaps even as you read this you said to yourself “It isn’t selfish to want time to myself.”  Maybe someone counseled you with words like “you can’t help others if you don’t take care of yourself first”.  Or perhaps “all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy”.  (I guess that depends on who Johnny’s friends are!)

These adages, and others like them, sound great to our natural selfish desires.  In fact, secular counselors push putting yourself first, taking care of yourself, getting your needs met, etc. etc. etc.  The ‘me-first’ generation.  And they exist in every generation.  Unfortunately for us, those adages do not mirror Christ or His Holy Word.  The Holy Scripture calls for sacrifice, laying aside our selfish desires to follow the One who saved us.  He expects us to live a lifestyle of constantly pouring out — our time, our treasure, and our talents — to further His Kingdom.  And as we pour out, He pours in, filling us to overflowing with His love, peace and joy, and strengthening us and providing for us so that we can keep going on the path He has chosen for us.

Don’t get me wrong — even Jesus took a night off from the disciples to go commune with Father God.  But then He got right back at it.  Which is just what we need to do.  Every day.  Set aside time to be with Father before we set about our day and see how much farther our energy and strength take us — and how much more peace in which we dwell.  When we start the day with Father, He gives us wisdom for completing everything we have before us and understanding for dealing with the people and unexpected circumstances we encounter.

How about joining me in climbing off of that tightrope and into the arms of the Father?  It’s a great place to dwell.

Isaiah 26:3  “You [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

I received a text message that said a close friend needed prayer.  She didn’t say why, just pray.  I receive prayer requests frequently, via text and email and telephone call.  Sometimes they tell me what for, and sometimes, with tear-filled voices, the caller will simply say “Please pray”.  Sometimes I pray right then, on the telephone with the caller.  Sometimes I send a prayer back via text or email.  And sometimes, like this morning, I take it to the Lord privately.  Just Jesus and me, interceding for the need.  My prayer list is so long, I no longer write the requests down.  I pray right now.  Because if I write it down it might wait until the next morning during my quiet time, and that might be too late.

This morning I awoke knowing someone was in dire need.  I could barely lift my head, and it took quite a few seconds to actually get my body out of bed.  The sheer magnitude of the fatigue was almost overwhelming.  And then I dissolved into tears, crying over the fatigue, the tiredness, and the desire to just quit.  By the time I got to my prayer chair I knew the need was was desperate, and someone was in horrible circumstances.  And I began to pray.  Eventually, the feeling passed and I was right-as-rain again.  But it still nags at me. Someone so debilitated this morning that they wanted to give up.  And again, I pray.

This is the life of someone gifted by God with a spirit of intercession.  Most times I do not have any idea who I am praying for, but I do know the need and so I lift that “one” to the throne, in prayer and supplication.  It isn’t an easy life though others looking in would think so.  Even after so many years of intercession, there are still times when it might take me 3 or 4 hours to remember to pray for someone else — that the sickness, the pain, the emotions I am experiencing are not mine — they belong to someone else in the body of Christ.  And as I pray for others, those things leave me.

So I just want to encourage you today, if you are feeling ‘not well’ in any area of your life, pray for someone else.  It doesn’t take much, usually.  Sometimes I have to pray for several hours before the impression leaves me, but usually just a couple of minutes or less.  Something simple, like, “Father, I lift to you whoever is feeling these symptoms of a head cold, and I ask for your healing touch upon them, in Jesus holy name. Amen.”

Let’s pray for others, rather than carry these burdens around unnecessarily.

James 5:16 — Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

A close friend asked me once, “don’t you ever get lonely?”  I responded without even thinking about it–  “No, I don’t”.  Then, with her disbelieving look, I decided to reconsider and think about my answer.  Do I get lonely?  I searched in my recent memory and finally confirmed my previous answer —no, I don’t.

It’s true that I am alone.  It doesn’t necessarily follow that I am lonely.  I enjoy my alone time — what there is of it — and I enjoy my own company.  I’m a busy person.  Someone once said if you want something done, give it to a busy person.  I like being busy and ministering the love of Christ to others.  I like being out and about interacting with others, and I like helping people.  And believe me, there are plenty of people around who need a helping hand!

I have chosen this solitary walk with Jesus.  The pain and destruction of my past make being alone the most enjoyable of experiences. Even when I am alone, I am not alone–I get to commune with Jesus, resting in His presence and recharging my batteries for the next day’s adventures.  It isn’t a lonely road — it’s a solitary walk.  Occasionally someone will come alongside for a time, and we will walk and minister together.  I enjoy those times, but no more than I enjoy walking and ministering beside Jesus.

Jesus said “Take up your cross and follow me,” (Matthew 16:24) not “form a posse and camp where you are.”  I know that works for some people.  I’ve observed people who must have an audience, and others who have to belong with a group.  I’ve prayed with those who insist they need a mate —  a life-partner to complete them and catapult their ministry (whatever it may be).  I’ve listened to the “it is not good for man to be alone” and “two can keep warm” and “share one another’s burdens” messages.  All really good stuff.  Just not for me.  Not now.  I am not alone, I have Jesus.  His presence keeps me warm and safe, and He carries my burdens for me.  I belong to a group called the Body of Christ, and I assemble weekly in a place called church, often multiple times a week.  I have a few very close friends and many acquaintances.  For me, it is enough.

So I’ve said all of this to hopefully break through to someone who thinks they are incomplete without another person in their life.  You are complete in Jesus Christ.  And if you are searching for a mate to complete you or if you tell yourself that once you find a mate, then you’ll be happy, trust me when I tell you NO, you won’t.  If you want to be happy with a mate, you must first learn to be happy in yourself and by yourself — content with your own company and completely at ease being alone.  Find something that you love to do, and DO IT.  Find friends that you can trust and enjoy their company.  Get involved in something bigger than you are and find fulfillment in serving others.  And perhaps, when you aren’t looking, that perfect mate will be standing right in front of you.  But don’t live your life for that moment — live your life in a way that puts a smile on Jesus’ face!

Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

There are none so intolerant as those who want to silence others’ voices.  The haters who shout down their opposition.  The haters who insist we all go along with their ideas or be labeled, bullied, and branded.  The haters who quote non-existent statistics, “facts” and research to bolster their position, all the while denegrating others.  (If you’ve been around a few months, you’ve heard the “ok, boomer” references — a good example of what I am talking about.)

Haters — those who want what others have and will use any verbal weapon at their disposal to get it.

Haters — those who are so blind, or ignorant, or stubborn, that they can’t (or won’t) try to see any point of view but their own.

Haters — those who will destroy reputations and property to silence the object of their hate.

No matter the reason, they all have one thing in common — haters hate.  They hate you.  They hate me.  They hate themselves.  Their own low self-esteem, inferiority complexes, megalomaniacal tendencies, and/or social adjustment issues have left them ill-equipped to deal with a world in which they are not the center of the universe — and in which temper tantrums seem to work.

Medical intervention, government, social structures, education, peer pressure, and other man-made solutions are not going to change haters.  Only Jesus can do that.  What is required is a heart change.  And that is just what Jesus Christ specializes in — changing hearts — taking that old, cold, stony heart of hate and changing it into a warm, vibrant, heart of compassion and love. A heart that wants to help, not hurt.  A heart that strives for compromise and peace instead of supremacy and war.

Today is the day.  Our lease on this earth is running out, so let’s use our God-given grace to reach others with the good news — that haters CAN change.  We know the change-agent, and we’d be happy to introduce them!

Ezekiel 36:26  — I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Romans 2:5 — In accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

Greetings and salutations, beloved of the Lord!

It’s been a while — QUITE a while, but I’m back!  Praise Jesus!

I’m sure you all know that it is impossible to be in ministry for the Lord and not encounter spiritual attacks.  Some are relatively minor, some are not so minor, and others, like the one I encountered, set me back on my keester for a couple of years — okay, more than a couple.  But GOD!  God is so faithful, He saw me through the entire thing, and I have emerged victorious on the other side of the battle.  What a mighty, loving, gracious Father we have.

I certainly won’t tell you it has been an easy road.  It has not.  I spent many, many months in the depths of the pit, only to emerge into a snare.  And just recently He pulled me out of the miry clay and I am once again standing on solid ground.  I am stronger spiritually, wiser, gentler, and shining like gold.  At least, that’s how I feel.

If I could leave you with one thought today, it would be this:  Jesus loves us just the way we are, and he loves us too much to leave us this way.  When you ask Jesus to change you to be more like him, be prepared!  He will do it — HIS WAY!

Here’s praying I get back on track with daily posts!  Happy Thursday!

What a beautiful winter morning!  Cold, breezy, clear, blue skies and high, white puffy clouds.  Gorgeous!  It fills me with delight just to look out the window.  But then, I was already filled this morning.

I just have to share this. If I don’t share it I will burst. My Bible reading this morning led me to John 20. This is an account of the morning following the Sabbath when Christ’s faithful were returning to finish the burial process they had started on Sabbath-eve.

As I read those scriptures they came alive before me.   I could see Mary Magdalene as she went to the tomb.  I could see her there (and still see her), when she got to the tomb and found the stone rolled away.  I see her first running to tell the others the tomb is opened and the body is gone.  I see the desperation in her face, the tears glistening in her eyes, her pleading manner as she hopes-against-hope that one of the others can help — perhaps they know where He is.

And then I see her as she was after the others had come to the tomb and verified that he was indeed gone.  They didn’t stick around to ponder where he had been taken.  They left hurriedly — perhaps to share the news, perhaps to escape what they perceived was a coming purge.  But not Mary Magdalene — she is standing there weeping as the others leave the empty tomb.

She is alone. She is desolate. Not only have they killed her Lord, now they have taken away his body. The body she was set to prepare for burial is gone. There is no other way she can serve her Lord. She has lost him. She is grieving. She is bereft. She was without a comforter because the Holy Spirit wasn’t given yet. Her one peace, Jesus Christ, is gone. Her heart is broken and she doesn’t know what to do or where to turn. She is lost without him.  (Just as we all are.)  I see her weeping. I feel her grief and her pain. I can sense her anguish and her hopelessness. My own heart is breaking. Her one desire was to perform that one last service for him, but he can’t be found. Such anguish of the Soul. Heartbroken Mary Magdalene. I feel such empathy and such compassion.

And then, he is there! She sees him! She talks to him! And he tells her what to do — go, Mary, and tell the others I am risen.  And obediently she does it. This is recorded in John 20 verse 17 and 18.

What I saw this morning is what is not recorded in verse 18 — the overwhelming joy that swept through her.  He lives! He lives! He lives! She runs to the others to tell them. She’s laughing. She’s crying. She’s dancing. As she recounts her encounter with the risen Christ, she grabs their lapels and laughs and cries and tells them HE LIVES! She’s nose-to-nose with each one, sharing the only message that matters —  HE LIVES!

As I read through these passages I recalled my own moment of salvation and the incredible joy I felt because He lives, and how many people I would just overflow into as I told them Jesus Lives. That was my message then and that is the message today. Jesus Lives. Hallelujah!!

Well, this is day six of cloudy, overcast, misty days.  Unusual weather, unusual times.

Days like this used to make me sad; depressed, even.  I would look out the window, see the clouds and a black cloud would cover my head.  I let the weather dictate my mood!  Ridiculous.  I was soo good at letting the weather dictate how I felt that the doctor actually diagnosed me with a disease called “Seasonal Affective Disorder”.  Imagine that.  It is a very real thing.  Some people, it seems, without sunshine do not produce the appropriate level of dopamine to stimulate serotonin and thus enhance their moods.  And doctors have a solution….pills!

I was on those for a while — two years, in fact.  And then one morning I woke up and sang a new tune to myself.  I don’t like medication so I decided I wasn’t going to be sad any longer.  I chose a new direction.  But in order to do that I had to do a lot of research and I found out that exposure to daylight and/or exercise would have the same effect as the medication.

I began to force myself outside for at least 20 minutes a day — no matter what the weather was like.  And as long as I was out there, I decided to take a walk.  So I got 20 minutes of daylight AND 20 minutes of exercise at the same time.  At the same time, I began weaning myself off of the medication.  Guess what?  It worked!

That was more than fifteen years ago and I have not had one day of S.A.D. since that time.  I have discovered that I like the weather — no matter what it is!  Some days are too hot to play outside for long, but that’s okay too.  I like the rain, I like the sun, I like the cold, I like the hot, I like it all!

I wouldn’t say that I am always happy.  Happiness is a fleeting thing — sparkly little moments in time.  I would say I am content and peaceful, enjoying each day as it comes without the aid of medication.

So today, as I look at the window of day SIX of clouds and misty rain, I rejoice in the cool weather, the fall colors, and the beauty that can be seen because I’m not squinting into the sunshine!

Isn’t God good??

HE has engraved each one of us upon the palms of HIS hands ……

So many years I read over this verse with some arrogance.  A know-it-all, you know.  After all, everyone knows that it means the scars in HIS hands.  The scars from the nails when HE was nailed to the cross.  I always just assumed that when HE noticed the scars then HE would look at me differently – with a bit more compassion and tolerance, understanding that HE had suffered greatly for me and therefore would put up with a bit more.  In fact, I’ve thought that for years – many, many years.

This morning all of that changed.  My understanding changed from a me-focus to a HIM focus.

HE has engraved me on the palms of HIS hands…….

The engraving on HIS palm is not one of the broken, sinful, falling, shuffling, disobedient, rebellious, grudgingly obedient, sullen me.  It is an engraving of how HE created me to be….the finished product HE envisioned when HE first thought of me.  The engraving is a picture created in love, covered in grace and hope, lavished with mercy and lovingkindness.

HE sees me as I will never be in this lifetime and HE loves me as if I have ALREADY BECOME the wondrous creature displayed on HIS palm.

HE calls to me….beloved, my darling, precious, lover, friend, baby girl.

HE woos me with songs, and dreams, and visions, and caresses, and words of unfailing love and devotion.

HE opens HIS heart to me and allows me glimpses into HIS personality, HIS desires, HIS pleasures.

HE trusts me to be HIS and HIS alone.

HE gives me insights and trusts me to share those with HIS other children, knowing I will make every attempt to convey the message of HIS love as I have received it.

HE forgives me for not trusting HIM with the same fervency and faithfulness.

So many times in the past I have said ‘I love the Lord’.  This morning I received a glimpse of the depth of HIS love for ME, and that glimpse has created within me an urgent desire to love HIM as HE deserves to be loved, as HE longs to be loved, as HE has asked to be loved.

My prayer for you is that you will come to understand the depth of HIS love for you and find a way to return it to HIM.

Isaiah 49:16   See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands ……