August 20, 2009

“Strangers - Slaves?”

Blessings Folk!!!

Well, well...our most recent time together precipitated some interesting conversation.

As you will remember, we recounted a couple of stories of ‘strangers’ amongst us… ladies selling some rather expensive children’s books.

Here is one of my favorite responses...hope it is ok to forward Happy Happy

One of these sweet ladies came to our house.  My husband mentioned we had a birthday celebration for our son the day before.  When we were discussing the fact that she gets college credit for showing these things, she mentioned the birthday.  She said, “Do you have any cake left?”.  I told her we sure did and asked if she would like a piece of cake.  She said yes – and we still talked while she ate the cake.  I explained to her that we are on a fixed income and would not buy the things she was selling, since we have no little ones.  She was very gracious and said she understood.  When she got ready to leave, she asked if maybe she could have another piece of cake.  I asked if she would like to take it with her and she said, “I’ll eat I here if that’s o.k.”  Bottom line: I thoroughly enjoyed her visit and hope she does well with her project.

A precious encounter.

But, there may be a darker side to all this than we knew.

Someone I trust without reservation, who is in a realm of endeavor that leads to such knowledge, forwarded the following…

It really sounds like they are part of what is called modern day slavery. This is an issue we are really trying to help change. Thousands of women are trafficked each year to different countries being promised a better life and only find out that when they get there they are forced to work laborious jobs if not sex jobs and then only given minimal food, clothing and supplies. There's a group in Birmingham that works to rescue women and children in this slavery. They are called Rescue and Restore Alabama and they are on FB (Facebook). If someone there is willing, bring these ladies in and try to gain their confidence. Give them a meal, offer them help contacting folks back home...anything. But first get in touch with this organization. Perhaps you will be rescuing a woman who was trafficked from her country to America only to find she was lied to. I'll be home in 3 weeks, so if they are still around, I'll talk with them, but they move a lot...I am going to forward this to Laura Mitchell who now lives in B'ham. She's all over this issue.

Well now…

We know not what the Lord may be doing.

We may simply be providing a cup of water that is needed.

We may used to “set the captive free.”

Luke 4:18-19
18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
NASU

John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
NASU

Listen to that “twinge” within your spirit. We are so easily distracted by the “cares and concerns of the world” that we do not see that something far more significant is taking place before our very eyes.

Mark 4:18-19
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
KJV

May we see with the eyes of the Lord.
May we speak with the Words of the Lord.
May our hands and hearts execute the deeds of the Lord.

Share of the resources with which the Lord has blessed us.
Impart the Life of the Most High God - proclaim the Good News of salvation in the Lord Jesus.

Move only in the Spirit of the Lord and watch what He does!

Fear not, the Lord our God is with you.

The Lord is setting the captive free - in the spirit and in the natural.


Heb 12:12-13
12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
NASU

Blessings!

Today’s reading from the “So That’s Why” Bibles consists of pp. 1279-1284.