by donyadunlap | Jul 4, 2012 | Making a Difference, Modern Day Slavery
Today is the birthday of America. A great country that I am proud to be a citizen of during my existence on this planet. Today we celebrate freedom, but the cost of this freedom weighs heavy on my chest in a way that it never has before.
Freedom for the American and for the Christian was purchased through blood. Blood of the innocent. Blood shed willingly for those who were willing to die so that others may live in comfort and security. And yet, the tyrant of evil still reigns in this great country of ours and even in our churches, yet we turn a blind eye to its destruction and go back to our cookouts and sparklers.
I was once this way. I didn’t want to know about the sin and death around me. I felt helpless to stop it and incapable of making a difference so I didn’t watch the news, I ignored the headlines, I thought of the terrible wickedness portrayed through stories on tv, film and books as fairy tales. Oh, I’m sure those things do happen in the world somewhere, but it isn’t my concern.
But one day God made it my concern.
God opened my eyes to the terrible wickedness of human trafficking. He shocked me out of my complacency. How? By revealing to me that not only was this evil real, but that it happens in my communities, my neighborhoods, to people that I encounter every day and to children as young as my nieces and nephews, and even younger still.
No longer was rape part of a story line in a novel that finished with a nice story of redemption and rescue at the end so that I could sleep well at night. No. It was real. And the victims were the faces of those I loved. Young women who should be loved, protected and sheltered from such evil were being sold for drug money by those who should have been willing to die for them. No longer could I turn my eyes from the truth.
At that moment there was no going back.
Stories are told of Christians gathering during the World Wars as the trains of prisoners traveled past their little churches, crying out for someone to help them. Someone to care. Did they rise up? Did they rescue those poor souls on the way to their deaths? Did they pray for courage to fight back? No. They just sang louder.
Today I look around at my lovely home, my family and friends who are safe and happy and my many blessings and I am truly grateful. But no longer can I merely enjoy my comfortable life and sing until the screaming stops. Maybe I can’t single-handedly stop this moving train of abuse, kidnapping, forced-labor, rape and pornography by myself, but I can do something.
I can pray. I can get involved in petitions and law changing efforts that will help bring healing to the abused and justice to the perpetrators. I can learn how to reach out and help those who are trying to put their lives back together. I can use my words to raise awareness to those who haven’t yet chosen to look into the face of the evil and see the truth of the world around them. I can research ways to buy slave-free goods and write letters to companies to encourage them to use fair labor. I can sacrifice some of my comfortable life to donate to organizations that are actively fighting against the evil and helping to restore victims to wholesome lives once again.
On several occasions I have shared similar thoughts with other Christians and on more than one occasion have gotten a response back along the lines of “I can’t think about those kinds of things. It’s too much. I have to push those thoughts from my mind or I’ll never sleep at night.” I wonder what Jesus would say to that? Do you think He came to die for us and for every soul trapped in their personal hells on this earth so that Christians can live in luxury and security and turn a blind eye to the world around them? NO!
Moments before being arrested Jesus prayed for us. He prayed that we would bring the Father glory as we were sent into the world to fight against the evil. He didn’t expect it to be easy. He told His disciples that they would suffer like He was about to suffer. I ask you—are you willing to rise up out of your comfort zone and bring the glory of Christ into this world of darkness? Are you willing to accept the truth of the evil that surrounds us and determine to do something about it?
I beg of you to take off your blinders this Independence Day and rise up for FREEDOM. Freedom for the helpless. Freedom for the needy. Fight for the freedom of those that Christ died to set free. Let us not just enjoy the freedom that has been given to us by others. Let us blaze a trail for freedom for those still bound in the chains of sin and death all around us.
Let us once again make America the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!
*Photo Credit: Robert Linder
by donyadunlap | Jun 29, 2012 | Guest Posts
Author Mary DeMuth is a godly woman and author that encourages her readers to live uncaged from fear, doubt, worry, past regrets and more. I have been following her writing for some time now, but today she has given me the honor of guest posting on her website on “Escaping the Cage of Opinion.”
I would be so grateful if you would stop by and read today’s post, but I know you would be even more blessed to stay a while and read some of her posts as well. Maybe even purchase one of her books!
Click here to read my guest post on MaryDeMuth.com.
Author Mary DeMuth
by donyadunlap | Jun 25, 2012 | The Spiritual Life
“Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . .Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!”
Perhaps not one of the most well-known songs from the Phantom of the Opera, but when someone brings up this musical favorite of mine, “Masquerade” is invariably the first song to come to my mind. The artist in me loves the swirling colors of the costumes and masks in the scene, the musician in me loves the energy and spirit of the song, but the writer in me is rather fascinated by the underlying message of the lyrics.
It seems as though society encourages, and almost demands, that we all wear a mask to hide our true selves.
“How are you?” “Fine. Thank you. And you? I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”
As my grandmother would say, “Hogwash!” On many days, that reply is nothing more than a polite lie.
Recently a friend shared that there was no one in her church that she could be real with and pour her heart out to without being judged, or without that person turning around and sharing her secret feelings with anyone that would listen. What a shame! Sometimes things are just too personal to share, but I have to wonder…
How many people would be willing to share if they knew that there was someone that could be trusted to help them, pray with them, or just listen to them in confidence?
It has been said that church is for sinners, but do we church-going people really believe that? We modern American churches have dressed ourselves up in our Sunday dresses and our suits and ties, painted our faces with our Sunday-go-to-meeting masks and convinced ourselves that we are better than those around us. Shame on us!
1 Peter 5:5 says,
All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Rather than walking around with our Christian facades firmly in place, we are to be clothed with humility.
We are to submit ourselves to each other, just as Christ showed us by example when He washed the disciples feet.
Only one time in my life have I witnessed a pastor not only preach on this passage, but physically demonstrate it by choosing a complete stranger from the crowd and kneeling before him with a towel and a basin of water, remove the strangers shoes and wash his feet while speaking over him the love of Christ. It was a powerful moment and many eyes in the room that day were moist with tears of understanding how Christ truly loves and serves us despite of our sinfulness.
I can’t imagine humbling myself enough to bow before a person that I loved, much less a total stranger, and take their foot in my hand to cleanse it. But that is exactly what Christ has called us to do. He wants each of us to submit ourselves to each other, and in humility realize that unlike Christ, we are no better than the person before standing before us.
The second part of that verse is equally as powerful as the first, if not more so. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, that word “resist” is incredibly sobering. It means He “sets Himself against” those that are proud. He wants nothing to do with our pious, church facades. God gives grace to the humble.
Those that are willing to look at someone of a different social class or education status or religion right in the eyes, take them by the hand and show them the love of Christ receive a “well done” from our Lord. Maybe they aren’t dressed very nice, maybe they don’t smell that good and maybe they just got out of jail…these are the ones Christ walked with day by day as He ministered on this earth. What makes us any better than Him?
When you pass someone in the hall that has an obvious look of pain or grief on their face, do you stop and talk to them? Do you even notice them? Jesus left the comforts of Heaven to spend 33 years on this sin-ridden planet to get torn to shreds and nailed on a cross for us. The least we can do is show a little of that love to one of His beloved. Don’t you agree?
I’m preaching to myself as much as to any of you that are gracious enough to read my spoutings. My favorite excuse is “I don’t know what to say.” I am the queen of awkward social moments. Truly. But my introverted awkwardness is not an excuse to look the other way when someone is in need. To do that is to invite the wrath of God upon my life, and that terrifies me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. – Matthew 25:37-40
This was personal to Jesus and it should be personal to us too. What one thing can you do today or this week to extend Christ’s love to someone in need?
Photo Credit: Venetian Mask photo taken by Sorina Bindea, Romania
Masquerade lyrics source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/p/thephantomoftheoperalyrics/masqueradelyrics.html
by donyadunlap | Jun 22, 2012 | Making a Difference, Modern Day Slavery, The Spiritual Life
I am a closet super hero. And by that I don’t mean that I have a cape, a belt full of super-secret weapons, and a bat cave. Bats are cute and all, but I’m not all that excited about the idea of shacking up with them. Nor am I a fan of tights.
Photo Credit: GregW (creative commons – http://www.flickr.com/people/gregw)
What I mean is that by day I am a church secretary and by night I work towards and dream about being the kind of person that helps people change their lives and connect with God. My secret identity involves writing best-selling books, speaking at women’s conferences, helping single women find love and security in Jesus, and helping sex trafficking victims escape the life and build a new one in the freedom and safety of God’s grace. I want so badly to make a difference in this evil world and to bring God glory by my actions. But like the dashing Clark Kent, I spend the majority of my time “pushing paper.” Not that church bulletins and prayer sheets aren’t important, but they aren’t the things that get my heart racing and my mind spinning with possibilities. Those things are tucked safely in the depths of my heart and soul. The thing is…it’s getting stuffy in there.
Dreams are scary things. I’m not talking about the pizza induced nightmares that wake you up at 4am. I’m talking about the passion that rattles around in your chest and makes it hard for you to breathe sometimes. When God starts to shake you out of your comfort zone and stir up a passion in your heart for His glory it can be terrifying. It is for me. When I think of what I envision for my future, my insecurities and fears come at me like a tidal wave. What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? What if no one buys my book? What if I try to help someone and I say the wrong thing? Where will I get the money I need? What if I can’t get these ideas off the ground? What if no one supports this? When will I have the time to do everything that needs to be done? Why would anyone want to listen to what I have to say? What if, what if, what if?
These are the thoughts that make me want to hide in my closet and never come out. The best way to ensure that you won’t fail is not to try, right? But then I remember 1 Thessalonians 5:24. I can’t help but remember it because I have it written on a sticky note on the bottom of my computer screen.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Just like Moses and David and Peter and everyone else in the Bible that God used to do great things, my dreams have very little to do with me. God placed them into my heart, God stirs them up when I try to hide from them, God gives me the courage to pray about them and God will bring them about in His way and in His time. All I have to do is baby-step-it in the right direction. Sometimes that looks like a desperate prayer for wisdom and direction. Sometimes that looks like an email seeking information. Sometimes it looks like late-night research. Sometimes it looks like getting up, going to work and doing what God has given me to do for that day.
Maybe someday I will find myself on a stage in front of 2,000 single ladies or hugging the shoulders of a women that I’ve helped get out from under the control of her pimp…but today is not that day. Today I have to do my best where God has me and take whatever baby step He prompts my heart to take.
Sometimes just doing the everyday stuff is overwhelming. When you wake up with this giant, chest-pounding, adrenaline pumping vision in your mind and you have to set that aside to work on a spreadsheet and answer a phone you can get pretty discouraged. The Enemy knows that and uses it against me to get me to believe that I’m never going to be “successful,” I’m never going to make a difference and my dreams are never going to happen. But then the Holy Spirit whispers into my soul the truth of 1 Thessalonians 5:24. It isn’t up to me. It’s up to God.
Several weeks ago author Jon Acuff wrote a statement that has found its home on a sticky note adjacent to the one I mentioned previously. It says,
“The success of God’s plans are not dependent on my ability to execute them. He will not be handcuffed by my failures or unleashed by my accomplishments. He is bigger than that.”
That statement was such an encouragement to me. God is bigger than my to-do list. God is bigger than my shortcomings. God is bigger than my fears. And whether or not all the visions of my heart come true, He will still be glorified as long as I remain obedient to Him in the little things.
Do you have a passion stirring in your heart? Do you have a special quote or verse that gets you through your doubt-filled days? I’d love to hear from you!
by donyadunlap | May 22, 2012 | The Spiritual Life
Have you ever prayed a prayer that was “too big for your britches?” Some time ago I asked God to allow me to live a life that was so far beyond my natural abilities that others would look at me and know without a doubt that it was all of God. This sounded rather Christ-honoring and noble and all together super-Christian-hero-like in my mind until God started to answer my request.
God began to prod me in certain directions, answer prayers, and stir up things in my life that needed to be removed so that He might have His way with me. That is when reality walked off the classroom chalkboard of my mind and slapped me upside the head. Reality said, “Get real, Donya. That life you imagine is NEVER going to happen. Those goals you want to accomplish are too big for someone like you. Who do you think you are?” My dreams were big, but I quickly found that my faith was very, very small. Thankfully, I have found that God can work with that.
In Matthew 17 the disciples had a reality check similar to mine. They had attempted to cast out a demon from a boy and were unable to do so. The boy’s father brought him to Jesus who healed the child. Afterwards the disciples pulled Jesus aside and asked why they weren’t able to heal the child. Jesus responded,
Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
This was quite a rebuke! All the disciples needed was just a teeny tiny bit of faith, no bigger than a mustard seed, and they could have done what seemed impossible to them. “Tsk, tsk” we say to the disciples, but what about us?
If we are to live the kind of lives God is pleased with, we must walk by faith. Of the nine times the word “impossible” is mentioned in Scripture, five passages tell us that we can do anything through the power of God, one says that without faith it is impossible to please Him and one says that it is impossible for Him to lie. When you add all of that up, we are left without any excuse at all to remain in our comfort zones and hide from God’s calling. Is it scary to walk by faith? Absolutely. Terrifying. Eleanor Roosevelt once said,
We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.
It isn’t Scripture, but what she says is true. God grows our faith by putting us in situations that we don’t understand and have no idea how to handle so that we have to go to Him for the answers. We have to walk in the Spirit, because without Him we couldn’t get out of bed. But through His power, His courage and His strength, we can face our fears and overcome them. Through the Holy Spirit working in us we can accomplish our impossible dreams.
Right now I am looking at situations that I cannot imagine overcoming, but God didn’t say I have to have it all figured out. He just said that I have to keep walking towards the goal and to keep trusting Him to take care of everything.
My idea of the impossible dream was for God to enable me to do great things. God’s idea for my impossible dream was for me to allow Him to do great things through me. In my own strength, my dreams will never happen. In God’s strength, nothing can stop me because nothing can stop Him. So even though most of my prayers start with “God, I don’t see how…” I have to believe that He is going to grow my mustard seed size faith into a beautiful, fruit bearing tree. I have to believe, because He promised He would…and it is impossible for Him to lie.
So what about you? What impossible dream are you dreaming today? Are you loafing in your fear or are you baby-stepping it in faith? Tell me about the journey God has called you to. I’d love to hear from you.
For with God nothing shall be impossible. – Luke 1:37
Photo Credit: Debbie Borrmann – Graphic Embellishments
