listen to His love

... come and listen to what He's done ...

Today God has blessed me abundantly. Enough words, nor tears can express it.

This morning, it was night-fall in Southeast Asia. Some less than one hundred girls sat in a crowded basement, living a life owned by another. They were prostitutes, some had been for some time. This morning, they are free. God has moved in a group of people in a powerful and unexplainable way. They investigated, took action and now justice (from this point on) is had. There are now eighty, or so, girls broken, diseased, and who knows what other spiritual damage has had as evil has reigned over their lives ... who are free to live. Freedom rings so beautiful and true in these saved lives. And I am so excited to be working with it all.

(sigh)

This morning, one of my best friends sent me a long email, after knowing last night was a difficult one for me. She sent me some scriptures. A specific chapter was one that God clearly wanted me to hear loud and clear, as it was read again also today in prayer at work.

Psalm 37

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Take delight in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD's care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the LORD's enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.

23 The LORD makes firm the steps
of those who delight in him;

24 though they stumble, they will not fall,
for the LORD upholds them with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.

31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;

33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I have seen the wicked and ruthless
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36 but they soon passed away and were no more;
though I looked for them, they could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

(sigh)

My sister-in-law can see. She was blind, but now she sees, literally. How amazing is that?

(sigh)

Hope is freedom from bondage. There are millions living in a lifestyle, that I do not believe is what God hoped for them. Many are seeking freedom amidst it. This article that I received in the mail today, in their newsletter, was a blessing.

Exodus

(sigh)

There is healing, transformation and truth ... that comes when we chase after it. We set aside days to just sit and dwell with Christ. We pitch our tents and talk with Him, commune with Him, and we are changed. I get caught up in this life so often, in love, in work, in hobbies, in what the world claims is important. It is all a chasing after the wind, so it says. I am learning the truth about this world, what it means to live as a Christ-follower within it.

As I pray, "help my unbelief" ... I find it is helped. My foundation grows stronger and more intellectual realisations come into place. It astounds, amazes and blesses me ... to the point where my socks literally could fall off of my feet and I would not be surprised.

God will take a hold of us, if we ask. He will rescue, empower and transform us from the inside out.

(sigh)


[the photo above was taken by Joshua Longbrake]