A long time ago, a man looked around and saw bad people doing bad things. He saw violence, wickedness, and perverted justice. He knew that this was not how the world should be. Habakkuk was a prophet in ancient Israel; he knew that his God was a holy and righteous God. So he cried out to the Lord:

LORD, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you "Violence!"
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted.
(Hab. 1:2-4, ESV)


It is easy to see the bad things in this world and wonder where God is. It is easy for us to question why everything seems broken and the One who can help is neither seen nor heard.

Let us look at the Lord's response to Habakkuk:

Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.
(Hab. 1:5, ESV)


Habakkuk's complaints were focused on his surroundings and situations. God's response was much larger, "Look among the nations."
God is not idly sitting by; he is not ignoring the violence and evil deeds. He is working on a level we can't fully comprehend. His plans include us but are so much more than us. The world is full of people suffering; God's plans are even larger than this world! His plans are for the eternal redemption and reconciliation of the nations. His Son came to the earth, lived a perfect life, suffered, and died to atone for the sin that causes us to ask, "Where is God?" Through the life and death of Christ, we know that God is working for our redemption.

The death of Jesus gives us redemption but that is not where the story ends. He was raised from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God Almighty. More than just redemption, his resurrection and ascension gives us hope. He will redeem us and give us eternal life! His invitation is extended to everyone, regardless of their past deeds and actions. The struggle between life and death, hope and hopelessness, and righteousness and unrighteousness have been permanently destroyed. Christ's death and resurrection give us life, hope, and righteousness.

This is vitally important to me because I had been complaining to God. I looked out and saw the injustice of abortion. I was completely overwhelmed by the crisis and cried out to God. I saw the violence, wickedness, and perversion of justice. I began to ask God what he was doing about this large and increasing problem. He showed me that his plans are larger than I could imagine. He showed me that it is easy to ask why God isn't there. He urged me to ask the harder question, "How can YOU use me, God? How can I join the work you are already doing?" After all, Paul reminds us that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10, ESV)

So, throughout our hardships and struggles, we must look to God and know that he has plans bigger than our struggles!

If you or someone you know has had an abortion, I want to say that the message of God is forgiveness, redemption, and hope. Too often, people who campaign against abortion completely forget that we must show love and give hope.

If you happen to be considering an abortion, there are many options other than the loss of a life. Please seek out these options!

God has taken my heart captive. He has set before me a crisis that I had never before seen. Truly, I was blind but now I see!

Abortion kills more than 50 million lives each and every year. Those lives in the womb are silenced before they can speak, before they can see, before than can choose. This message is very sad but amongst the sorrow, there is hope, redemption, and restoration. One drop of Jesus' blood is enough to atone for the innocent blood that is on our hands and in our minds.

My heart weeps over this issue and God has shown me the grief he feels for these lives. I pray that the church will wake up and see this crisis, that the church will see what I now see. Please, Lord, wake up your church!


Choose Life Photo Album

I deactivated my facebook account today. I need some time away from the masses. I just want a few less distractions.

I have, throughout my life, heard the phrase, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." I had not really put much thought into it.. until today. Why, I wondered, do they say that?

I enjoy having a clean living area, so I know something about cleanliness. I have been around other people who weren't that clean. It then dawned on me, cleanliness is not a once in a while sort of thing, it is a decision you make everyday, whenever you do something. You dirty dishes, you clean them. You make a mess, you clean it. You get out of bed, you make your bed. You dirty clothes, you put them in the hamper to wash. It is a continual process. If you stop in any area, that area almost immediately becomes dirty.

Then it dawned on me again, this is just like Godliness! If you are not going towards God, you are moving away. If you do not make the continual decision to look more like Jesus, you end up looking like filthy rags!

Cleanliness really is next to Godliness.

From sin's low valleys to God's Holy mountain: the Lord is good to lead. He found me, clothed in rags, lost, filthy, and crumbling. His hand caught mine and I was lifted up. He brought me out of the distant land and clothed me in His majesty.
When I run away from Him, He searches for me. He finds me, cleans my cuts, washes away my dirt, and brings me back to His side.

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How lovely, oh Lord, is your dwelling place. How beautiful is your law. May I meditate on it day and night. Lead me to your heart, may I reflect your light into the dark places. May I burn with passion when You burn with passion. Let my eyes see with Your eyes. May Your Spirit have Your way with me.