Because Slavery Sucks
Waiting Expectantly For God Isaiah 30:18

Mar
09

Just Pray

1 Comment
Welders making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tenn. (LOC)

Welders, WWII

Being a prayer warrior is loving Jesus. And here’s the secret: You are a prayer warrior in the making. Intimacy with God is something you can have, today. People often ask me how I pray. I say, just talk to God like you’d talk to me. I talk to God all throughout the day about pretty much anything and everything. I get text prayers and I’m always excited, like, who can I pray for today? If I put you on my echoprayer.com list, and your prayer comes up a couple days in a row, you might get a text from me to see if everything is ok. But usually I just pray, ask God to touch the situation and move on throughout the day.

I pray with people online at Internet.LifeChurch.tv during worship services. I love that. God always shows up. Life Church bought up a bunch of sexually explicit URLS so many times I get just “sex” as the question. I usually say, “Jesus loves you!” Then give them xxxchurch.com. Most of the time, they quickly leave, but I like to think some stay and listen to the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes it’s a quick prayer and many times, the person is not only looking for prayer, but support and someone to chat with. I find one common factor from Pakistan to India to the Sudan to the UK to Kansas, there’s not alot of support out there, not enough discipleship. Lord, bring the harvesters!

I also tune into xxxchurch.com to pray with people. This is the safe place for people to discuss and pray for each other struggling with sexual addiction and other addictions. I just pray and give encouragement where the Spirit leads.

But no matter, I think that everyone is a prayer warrior in the making. Honestly, I used to think I might be kind of special, you know? Have the spiritual gift of praying. But that’s not one of the spiritual gifts. It’s the PRIVILEGE of every follower of Christ.

If you need prayer, feel free to email me at blueprintbaby at gmail dot com.

Categorized in Following Jesus, God the Father and Holy Spirit
Tags: , , ,

Mar
08

Do Not Be Afraid

1 Comment

Light In DarknessI can’t say that I haven’t felt fear. I’ve gone from fear to tingling excitement and back to fear and then both, tingling excitement and fear at the same time. I’m reading Starving Jesus and all I hear is, “Go! Do! Go! Do!” I’m reading Jesus Loves You this I know and all I hear is “Love the gutter; be the light.” I know it; I believe it. I just don’t know what it looks like for me. And here’s the Holy Spirit truth, I just don’t have to. When Jesus sent the disciples out, two by two, he gave them only a little instruction “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.” Luke 6:7-11

That’s what it looks like. We go into the gutter and if we’re not welcomed, well, we can’t very well force ourselves in. God must go before us and pour out His favor. He’s in total charge. Then, my biggest fear: What if we get captured and become sex trafficking statistics? What if we die? What if . . . no one ever tells these pregnant strippers that Jesus loves them? What if this continues down each generation until Grandma, Daughter and Granddaughter disappear into the statistics of another gutter that Christians wouldn’t tell about Jesus? (true story, my friend said before she embraced Christ, she found herself in a strip club in Bible Belt USA. After the one stripper was done, she came to flirt and carouse. She said, “You’re gonna love this next dancer, she’s my daughter!” She came out pregnant. Oh, dear Lord, hear our prayer, the cry of your people crying out in the desert!)

I already knew that I wasn’t going to be able to do this alone and God drops Katie in my life. Katie’s a doer; she loves Jesus and believes everyone can be free. I have no doubt that when we step out and share the love of Jesus, those women will walk alongside us, too. My pride gets in the way when I think that maybe no one will hear us. But that’s not our problem. God is the one they will hear or not hear. God is preparing their hearts even now to come to Him. How freakin’ exciting! We get to be a part of that! Me, a nobody, a saved one who still sins. God is good. Jesus is real and the Holy Spirit is our guide. We can only go wrong by NOT acting.

PRAISE BE TO GOD! He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power! For you created all things and by your will all things were created and have their being! Revelations 4

Categorized in Following Jesus, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus and WRATH Campaign
Tags: , ,

Mar
07

Company

Leave a Comment

My new Christ following friend and I hung out with Jimmy yesterday. Our plan was to pass out water and fruit and then ask the homeless what they really needed. What could we bring to them next time that would be helpful, good, worthwhile? Jimmy had an answer for us. He said, “Sometimes I just go hungry because I want to eat what I want to eat, not what someone else wants me to eat. Me, I’m lonely. I need company.”

Well, we’d asked and we couldn’t just be like, ok, well, that’s nice see ya. So we plunkered down on his piece of the world with our 5 kids in tow, literally messin’ in his stuff and makin’ themselves right at home. We talked with Jimmy, found out alot about him. Found out that he used to be a Chemical Engineer. He used to be married, has 6 kids. He’s 59 years old and never thought he’d be in this situation. We asked him what brought him back to Arkansas. He said, “Stupidity.”

He knows Jesus, too. He was reading his Bible when we walked up to him. But he said something that I believe most Christians think, “Well, I don’t have nothing to give. I have enough to worry about for myself. If I start helping other people, I forget about helping me and that’s what I need to focus on right now. Getting established.”

Ouch. I wanted to yell, “NO! If we all did that, no one would ever get any help! No! That’s not what Jesus says to do!” God helps those who help themselves is quite literally bullsh–. Excuse me, but there is not another word for it. You will not find that in the words of the Bible, in scripture, in Jesus, the word of God. That is watered-down, Oprahism. God commands us to carry each other’s burdens. To cast our cares on HIM!

I said this to Jimmy in a gentle way. I said, “Jimmy, I see where you’re coming from, but what if everyone felt that way. What a sad world.” I just sat and imagined what Jesus could accomplish through Jimmy if Jimmy asked the Holy Spirit to show him who and how he could help. Jimmy said he didn’t talk to anyone. How sad and no wonder he’s lonely.

Jimmy actually has a car and he’s coming to The City Church tomorrow. Lord, blow up Jimmy’s faith. Show Him your power. I pray against any spirit of confusion that binds him to himself and keeps him from reaching out. Lord, I pray against the spirit of fear in the church that keeps your people from living out the gospel. Lord, you did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of LOVE, POWER and SELF-CONTROL (OR SOUND MIND). It’s by and through the power of Jesus that we can come to you in prayer. Thank you, you are so awesome! Amen.

Ah, scripture to back up that I’m not crazy for wanting to show my love for Jesus in radical ways.

Photo Courtesty: Glamlife-StudentPortal (thanks!)

Categorized in Following Jesus, God the Father and Holy Spirit

Mar
06

Wrecking Ball

Leave a Comment

Not been posting lately because I’ve been reading and growing and getting wrecked. . . in a good way. Like I said, God is blowing it up with x-hookers and strippers and porn stars, wrecking our idea of what a “Christian” looks like, acts like and says. I’ve heard the example that Jesus wouldn’t be welcome in most of our churches. People kind of throw that around, but how sad, really really sad is that. I say bring on the wrecking ball. If I wanted to stay in my pretty little life, I couldn’t anyway. I would self-destruct; I almost did.

I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord;
my life was an open wound that wouldn’t heal.
When friends said, “Everything will turn out all right,”
I didn’t believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head.
I bow my head—then wring my hands.
I’m awake all night—not a wink of sleep;
I can’t even say what’s bothering me.
I go over the days one by one,
I ponder the years gone by.
I strum my lute all through the night,
wondering how to get my life together. Psalm 77:2-6 The Message

Thank you, Jesus! He doesn’t leave us hanging. He never will leave us or forsake us. Why can’t we get this through our God-given, free willin’ brain! He spurs his people that do get this to write amazing, gut-wrenching books that would quite literally punch you in face, if a book could do that.

Such Books I just read, am reading and plan to read next:

Crazy Love by Francis Chan, this totally got me off my butt in the first place. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS BOOK GO TO HELP SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS (does anybody see a trend here?????)

Esther Bible Study by Beth Moore, It’s Tough Being a Woman. Shook me out of my poor-me attitude.

Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore, ok, I’m coming out now, I don’t want to be here anymore.

The Gutter by Craig Gross, if you’re just tuning in, go back a few posts, that book started me on this blog journey against slavery.

Forgotten God by Francis Chan, WE HAVE THE INDWELLING GOD IN US! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead! How can we still stay so stagnant? “Thinking, questioning, and talking can take the place of letting the Spirit affect our immediate actions in radical ways.” -Francis Chan

So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. Hello, my whole life lived insecure, but now I know I AM CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY. And really own what the Psalmist says, paraphrased, “God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me?” (Psalm 118:6, The Message)

Starving Jesus by Craig Gross and JR Mahon. Oh, yeah, just started this and can’t wait for the wrecking ball.

And then I have Jesus Loves You this I know by Craig Gross and Jason Harper!

I just love God so much! Thank you, Jesus, for being radical and thank you, Holy Spirit, that I’ll never ever be alone and I never have to be afraid!

Categorized in Following Jesus, God the Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Feb
23

God is Blowing It Up

1 Comment

What is IT?

Our prepackaged faith

Our brick and mortar church buildings

Our idea of what a Christian looks like as evidenced in Hookers for Jesus, Holy Hotties and The Pussycat Preacher. Yeah, you didn’t read that wrong. Hookers for Jesus is very clever, engaging and that word, relevant. On her website, X-Hooker Annie is candid and gracious. She doesn’t sugar coat anything, but she is fervent in her desire to see Jesus saves others caught up in the sex industry and human trafficking. Wow. What a special calling!

Fruit, Church! Who’s producing fruit? If a hooker or stripper walked into the doors of your church building, would you judge them or would you love them? That is the question.

Categorized in Following Jesus, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Hookers for Jesus and Jesus
Tags: , ,

Feb
23

Bowlfest – No. 83

Leave a Comment

The 83rd reason to support Fireproof Ministries: Addiction. Fireproof Ministries started Heart Support. What is heart support? From the website, “heartsupport is community based online help for those struggling with different types of addiction. We focus on addictions to money, sex, internet, substances and food. heartsupport believes that everyone has a life story and that his or her story is unique. We also believe in strength in numbers. To know that everyone is not alone in life’s struggles and to know that someone else has been through what we are dealing with can be the greatest gift and relief.”

Everyone knows someone who is suffering or who has suffered at the hands of an addiction. Often times the most comforting help is knowing that you are not alone.

God says over and over and over in His word, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Genesis 15:1, 26:24; Exodus 14:13; Deuteronomy 1:21; Joshua 10:8; Isaiah 12:2; Haggai 2:5; Matthew 10:26; Acts 18:9; Revelation 2:10. Like I said, over and over and that’s just a smattering of places He comforts His people with these words. This is the same God that we serve! He is available. He is here. Don’t go it alone.

Categorized in Fireproof Ministries, Following Jesus, God the Father and Holy Spirit
Tags:

Feb
22

Bowlfest – No. 96

Leave a Comment

The 96th reason for you to support Fireproof Ministries is the most selfish reason, but as I am human, I’ll share. We need this. My husband and I do not have the opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip overseas or to South America or even for a week and definitely not two weeks. We’ve got little kids; he’s got a good job with a little vacation, but not that much. Bowlfest (the fundraising weekend where we bowl in Las Vegas and you pledge some funds to support Fireproof) is perfect for us. We leave late Friday, come back Sunday. It’ll be whirlwind, but I know God is going to bless our obedience and yours. So, I’m not begging, but please give. We’ve got quite a ways to go to raise our $5,000. We’ve actually raised $500 so far! So if 100 of our friends gave anything, that would help alot.

The cool thing is you can just pledge today and then after April 25 sometime, you can pay up. Just one time, not monthly or anything. Cool deal, eh?

Click this link or this link or just email us with your pledge and we’ll get you down. Much advance thanks!

Categorized in Fireproof Ministries
Tags: , ,

Feb
21

This Is The Day

Leave a Comment

My friend’s status on Facebook today: This is the Day. Very appropriate for what has been brewing in my head and heart. God is pursuing us! God! The Living God, Creator of the Universes, Almighty One, Life Giver. He wants what’s best for us. In a conversation with another friend, I told her what I needed to hear: “Staying where you are is good and might even be great, but God wants the BEST for us. You are settling. I am settling. We’ve been settling so long that we don’t even know we’ve settled for second (or third or fourth) best.”

Before that I’d read the scriptures that totally address this:

So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! Romans 8:12-14 The Message

and

Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself. 1 Peter 4:1-5 The Message

That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? This is the day, now it’s time to be done with it for good. And here’s the finishing touch on His faithfulness:

But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right—everything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones. Isaiah 30:18

We ARE the lucky ones.

Categorized in God the Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus
Tags: , , , ,

Feb
17

Bowlfest – No. 66

Leave a Comment

TEENS! In my parent’s church, the third teenage girl this school year just had a baby. Something is amiss, Church. If we are talking to our teens about sex, we’re not using the right language; it’s not getting through. Or we’re not being honest. Now, I don’t have teenagers so I have to rely on my experience as a teenager. I grew up in a very similar church and the only talks about sex involved condemnation and predictions. Granted, I know it’s not an easy topic and parents don’t want their kids to know about their experiences or it’s just too hard to talk about out of sheer embarrassment. You’re supposed to be a godly person, right? I mean, you’re at the church building every time the doors are open. How can you be honest about having sex before marriage to your teen? To anyone for that matter?

Here’s the God’s Honest Truth: They’re going to find out anyway or they’re going to make up something. Wouldn’t you rather they knew the truth from you? And Church, don’t teenagers deserve honesty? Find someone like my cousin to talk with your teens about sex. She won’t mince words. She has experienced the pain of abortion and the joy of redemption. No offense to the Sally Sue’s of the world, but Sally Sue, who kissed her husband at their wedding is just not getting through to teens already having sex. How do I know? This is the third teenage pregnancy in the church.

Or support Fireproof Ministries who ministers to these teens. The guys who started XXXChurch.com were youth ministers, painfully aware that teens had no where to go and no one to talk to about sex. And it is going on. I don’t want to think about my nephews going through it and you don’t want to think about your teens going through it, but ignoring it is downright stupid.

Categorized in Fireproof Ministries and Following Jesus
Tags: , , , ,

Feb
15

Bowlfest – No. 54

Leave a Comment

The 54th reason to support Fireproof Ministries: Hanging out with, listening to and loving on prostitutes. When the woman was caught in adultery, Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground. I’ve heard many people speculate as to what he might have been writing. Some say the names and sins of the men standing around, ready with rocks to stone this woman. Some say, the passage in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient; Love is kind; Love keeps no record of wrongs. . .”

I don’t know. I think He is amazing in His responses, totally unexpected and loving. God is constantly surprising us with His love. Today, many women and men get trapped in prostitution. Jesus’ response is probably different than what we would expect.

Fireproof Ministries, through The Strip Church and the online prayer wall at XXXChurch.com cares about these children of God. You can, too, or you can donate to Fireproof Ministries. Pledge now and pay later by emailing us at blueprintbaby [at] gmail [dot] com. Or pledge now and pay now online. All donations tax deductible.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottfx/ / CC BY 2.0

Categorized in Fireproof Ministries, Following Jesus, God the Father and Holy Spirit
Tags: , ,

« Previous Entries