#CloseToHomeTour

I have the gift of adaptability, but the curse of resistance to change. This is what I've come to believe about change: it's good, in the way that childbirth is good, and heartbreak is good, and failure is good. By that, I mean it's incredibly painful, exponentially moreso if you fight it, and also that is has the potential to open you up, to open life up, to deliver you right into the palm of God's hand, which is where you wanted to be all along, except you were too busy pushing and pulling your life into exactly what you thought it should be.

I've learned the hard way that change is one of God's greatest gifts, and most useful tools. Change can push us, pull us, rebuke and remake us. It can show us who we've become, in the worst ways, and also in the best ways. I've learned that it's not something to run away from, as though we could, and that in many cases, change is the function of God's graciousness, not life's cruelty. Finding patience in the process. I am in awe with the art of Story. And the way the Master Storyteller weaves us together in all of these specific ways.

Every 2 minutes a girl is trafficked for the purposes of sex exploitation. Her average age is 13.  

The purpose of the #CloseToHomeTour that I’ve joined, is to challenge the Church to rise to its potential in the fight to end global sex trafficking. The tour hasn’t even begun yet and I’m already on the verge of tears at how faithful God is to my heart. In the brief time I’ve spent with the team, and hearing David speak about the vision for this non-profit and campaign, my own horizons have already been broadened.

Sexual exploitation doesn’t begin with an accidental click of a button. It doesn’t begin with assault. Once we recognize that we exploit the opposite sex with our thoughts, our pursuits, our attemps to fill empty voids, we are able to take responsibility and Jesus is able to rid our hearts of these chains that HE has already loosened us from – the only thing keeping us enslaved is our own hold on those chains. We exploit  others by making another person our idol, our god. We exploit by manipulating them with our words and our actions. We exploit by using their bodies to appease our selfish desires. The issue of sexual exploitation is close to home… it’s in each one of our hearts. We are also the ones that need to be rescued, and in serving, we can actually be liberated and help others to be liberated.

The exploitation of people will only cease to exist once we, as a Body, recognize how we have given ourselves over to our addiction to sexual immorality. I have a hope that we, as humans, would stop looking for someone to fill us, and instead be filled by The One who knows our hearts best. I have a dream that ministries can meet and hearts’ desires can combine and powerful relationships can be raised up in the name of the Kingdom. That prayers be like breaths, and worship be uncontainable.

I believe in a Kingdom to come and a Kingdom that is already being revealed, here and now. 

I'm coming to understand the scripture: 'so Abraham went out, not knowing where he was going' a little more. Laying down everything in my hands and my heart - trusting in the One who can do abundantly more than all I can ask or imagine into the unknown. "Through example births leadership". I asked God specifically not to make me a leader. I'm not wise or deep or eloquent -- in fact, I'm quite broken and awkward and flawed. But I can walk in a manner worthy of the calling that I've received, and acknowledge my own desperate need for a Savior. And in doing so, allow others the freedom to do the same.