Thank You!

 

THANK YOU!

 

 

I want to send out a thank you to the 17 people who read my posts on Human Trafficking, These posts tend to have the fewest readers. It really saddens me because it either means people don't want to know the atrocities that occur around the world to children women and immigrants or either they just don't care. But to you who read, THANK YOU! I know that sometimes what I post is difficult to read an comprehend but your willingness to educate yourself and play a role in the work to end human trafficking keeps me going and empowers me to be a voice to the voiceless.

 

 

This post I will leave the harsh statistics aside for next month and today share the good side of rescue.

 

 

 



                      
A Long Line of Freedom. {A Thank You To Our Community} from The Exodus Road on Vimeo.
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250

lives were rescued in 2013 thanks to supporters of The Exodus Road. So what will 2014 bring? Hopefully with your help 250+ lives can know freedom this year.

 

 

 

Carpe Diem

Last night I learned that another friend from High School passed away. He was 40 and died from a stroke. I say another because in the 22 years since I graduated high school somewhere between 10 and 15, (I have lost count) have died to soon and to young. I just can't get use to it. Death has never been an easy thing for me. I want everyone to have a long, full and happy life, but that is just not the case. I could let the loss of so many friends get me down and stay in a rut or I could honor their lives by living fully, by seizing the day, Carpe Diem.

Reflecting on their lives I always thank God for my life. I may complain about the pains of growing old but I will never complain about growing old. Every birthday is a day to celebrate another year of life, another gift from God. In fact, everyday is a gift from God. We are never promised more than the day we have right now. What better reason to live fully into that day, live with no regrets, acknowledging that it could be my last day here on earth.

Today I will live and reflect, giving thanks for my friendship with Ben and giving thanks for the breath God has given me. How will you live fully today? Will you give God thanks for the gift of today? I hope you do.

Time Dispatch in Richmond, VA.

A new season, a new name

 

 



Just like every calendar year we have 4 seasons we have seasons in your life. I don't know about you but I would always associate any given season I was in to a story in the bible. It always helped me to know that what I was going through was not a foreign thing.


On January 8, 2014 I will begin a season of education. After 11+ years since completing graduate school I am returning. This time to pursue a Masters in Professional Counseling. My work at HopeTree Family Services has shown be the need for Faith Based Counseling. I continue to love my ministry there and want to better myself by furthering my educating so I can provide even more support to the youth and adults I work with.


I must say that I never had any intention of going back to school so as I enter this season it is with a bit of reluctance. With all the anxiety I am excited. I have learned that when I step outside my comfort zone (school is one of those) God is always faithful, steadfast and present.


So, are you entering a new season in 2014? Have you been in one for awhile and eagerly await a new one? Here is a prayer from a devotion this week that will speak to you whatever season you find yourself in.

 

 

"God has something special to give us in every season. If we try to skip ahead to the next thing, we miss out on being present where God is. As this new year begins, whatever season you are in, resolve not to wish away the time but be fully present and ready to receive the gifts that God has for you in this season, right now." - Sarah Councell Turner

 

 

 

Happy New Year everyone!

What Christmas means to me (and others)!

I am guest blogging again at We Occupy Jesus. Today me and other writers are writing about what Christmas means to us. The titles are below and are hyper linked. Just click on the title and you will be taken to the page.

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS - PEACE ON EARTH

On Ducks and the Bible

I am guest blogging today on We Occupy Jesus

There is no shortage of opinions out there on the Duck Dynasty Saga and Phil Robertson's thoughts on sin, race and faith and yours truly needed to weigh in. I know some of my co-workers are nodding there head yes to this. I decided to post my response at We Occupy Jesus as well as a fellow blogger. We come at it with different approaches but I think we can all learn something from each post. The excerpts below are hyperlinked so just click on them and you will be taken to the full posts. Leave your thoughts on the posts and let's have a conversation. 

From Biblical Principles

What happened next is so deafening I am astonished that Christians forget it. Every last scribe and Pharisee that brought the woman to Jesus, 
(To be condemned) walked away empty handed and the woman still alive.

From the Duck Dynasty Fiasco

I’ve been reading up on what Phil Robertson said concerning homosexuality, sin, and other things. I had a discussion with several people about it and even started a mini facebook war between people with a status asking the difference between Frank Schaefer and Mr. Robertson. (Mr. Schaefer was defrocked today for officiating over his son’s wedding, for those who did not know.) I listened to everyone’s opinions, and I kept my own to myself, before deciding to weigh in.

Shameless Plug

a 1,000 word picture

Art and Photography by Adele Henderson

In April of this year I launched my personal business and it has been a slow go. I am really bad at self promotion so I am stepping outside my comfort zone and promoting it here on my blog. You can look to the right under Pages and click on the name of my business and it will take you to my business' facebook page. There you will find images that I have taken and some variety of edits. You will also find what little of my artwork there is.  I have pinned a post that includes my prices on the page. Below is a sample of my photography. In addition to checking out the facebook page I would appreciate you sharing this post with your family and friends. Thank you and may you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The BIG Love of God

In two days we will all remember the 20 young lives lost at Sandy Hook. The most important thing we can remember as we honor the lives lost is that evil did not win. We remember this by waiting in anticipation of the Christ child.

God chose a very interesting and maybe strange way to show us the love of our creator. God chose to come down to earth as a human. God came in the form of a little baby that Mary and Joseph named Jesus. Other names that are given to Jesus are Prince of Peace, Lord of Creation, Emmanuel.

Emmanuel is my favorite name for Jesus, it means "God with us". Though only a small baby God is with us in all circumstances, even in difficult times like the shooting at Sandy Hook last year. Before Jesus was born God could see the evil in the world but through her love for us God already had a plan to overcome the evil of this world. It would be accomplished through the birth of a baby. A baby that would grow into adulthood then willingly laid down his life for us.

While evil things still happen, evil has not won, for God has overcome and brought peace to us.

 

 

John 16:33, NIV

 

 

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

 

 

 

May the peace of God be with you this Christmas season and in the New Year.