For those of you who don’t know… I am back in America!
Since being back Stateside, I have eaten an enormous amount
of Mexican food, seen lots of friends and family, hit the gym, painted walls,
completely fallen into the Christmas spirit and spoken at church and classes
about my travels, to name a few activities. Oh and my mom took me for a much
needed pedicure.
But more important than feeling the comforts of a fluffy
towel and drinking water from the tap, I have been in some way trying to
process all that’s happened these past eleven months. I have been searching for
a way to take those experiences and shape them into a lifestyle back home. No,
not the squatting and lack of utensils, I mean the walking in the Spirit,
giving what I have, preferring others to myself, living as a daughter of God,
bringing kingdom encounters. See this blog
post from October for more insight.
Part of this journey has included a church of new beginnings
called Bayou City Fellowship. My
cousins, Evan and Annalee McCord, were part of the small group that helped
plant the church. They also played a role in getting me on the field. The
pastor, Curtis Jones, also happened to be an intern at my church that summer at
church camp when I realized what a relationship with God really was and what it
wasn’t.
Although I’ve been to the church only twice, I immediately
accepted the pastor’s challenge for a church-wide fast. Fast every lunch every
day this week. And pray. Pray. Pray. Pray.
For each day of prayer and fasting, I wrote a scripture verse or declaration for a certain people, thing, or organization on a paper globe (a globe drawn on a piece of paper) with specific prayer points written on the back. I then hung each paper globe from a Christmas garland hanging around my window. This reminded me of the Buddhist prayer flags that I saw flying all over countries like India and Nepal.
Buddhists print prayers on multi-colored flags using wood blocks and string them like
pennants over and around their homes, cities, from mountaintops, and temples.
Some believe the wind catches the prayers written on the flags and takes them
up to the spirits who will answer their prayers, others believe the wind catches the good will of these prayers and spreads it throughout the land. These flags really disturbed
me because I thought they were so cool and creative before I knew what they
actually meant. And that’s how so much false teaching fools us. It is beautiful
and appealing, but leads you nowhere. I am confident that the maker of heaven
and earth hears my prayers, they aren’t deflected by the ceiling- and they
don’t need the wind to carry them to the heavens. So I guess you could say I’ve
made my own prayer flags… or paper globe prayers. Not because God needs a
reminder, but I do.
Here’s a little insight into my week. I hope you will join
me in praying- stay tuned for days 2-6!
Day One:
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our
God. ” Psalm 40:3
I have a heavy burden for victims of human trafficking, the fastest growing criminal industry in the world
today. I studied it before the Race, learned more at training camp, saw the red
lights of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia first hand, played with young girls who have a
high probability of meeting this fate in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and
India, and watched a documentary on sex trafficking in the U.S. just last week.
It’s on my heart, my mind.
Immediately, this verse from Psalms came to mind for these
young women and girls who have been victims of this modern day slavery.
He will put a new song in their mouths- not one of shame,
rejection, exploitation, abuse, or pain, but one of hope, joy, redemption,
healing, purity, LOVE.
Specific prayers:
-All needs met for organizations (like As Our Own) to fulfill their purpose and
mission as they fight human trafficking around the world
-FREEDOM for enslaved girls and the sight to see the
abundant life in the LORD, not buying the lie that this is their only option
-Compassion and forgiveness for the pimps and johns, release
from the bondage that they, too, are being controlled by
-Power of prevention: stop trafficking before it starts,
educate girls at a young age about the dangers of this trade
*Feel free to leave comments if you have more prayer points regarding this issue
