Faith Without Deeds is Dead

This quickly became one of my favorite songs...
It motivates me to see beyond myself and look to the needs of those around me.

This is a song about an orphan girl that Brooke met in Rwanda while on a missions trip.

Albertine lost her mother in the genocide back in 1994. Brooke's life was never the same again after meeting Albertine. She dedicated and titled her album after the girl.

The world is so full of hurting people. How can I see the need and do nothing about it?

Just remember also; what we sow is what we reap. If we lend a hand to those that need help, God will lend us a hand when we are in need. How awesome is that?

BECAUSE

"Because 27 million people are still in slavery.
Because the average age of trafficked victim is 13.
Because someone should do something."

Human Trafficking is an organized criminal industry that affects every nation. Whilst the statistics can seem overwhelming, it is important to remember that every number represents the life of a victim.

Just Wait

~*`*~ A friend of mine shared this video with me and I just had to post it... ~*`*~

I ♥ spoken word and this girl is just awesome. The poem is about how us women need to wait for the man that God has for us. Let me expand a bit on the concept of waiting.

I've learned that waiting on the Lord is not easy. It does not even come naturally. It's a decision that we must make daily, but it is very much worth it.

I waited on God for 12 years; praying and fasting and never doubting in my heart. I would declare my family saved and serving Christ. After 12 years I can say that more than half of my family has Christ in their hearts and serve Him. But there is still more fasting and praying to do.

I waited on God for 10 years. After losing my grandfather, I was in need of a word from God. The weekend after my grandfather passed away, I went to a youth retreat and that is where I received my first prophecy about being a missionary. That was back in 2001. Now I am months away from going on my first missions trip.

Just wait on God... it is worth it.

Young Jesus Freaks

Anila and Perveen

(these names have been changed to protect

the individuals and their families)

17 and 18 years old

Pakistan

1997

Anila met Perveen at school. As their friendship grew, Anila gave Perveen a Bible and taught her Christian songs. Perveen quickly learned Christian songs and began to teach them to her younger sister when her parents weren’t home. Perveen’s parents soon learned of the songs. Being strict Muslims, they were not happy about them. But rather than confronting Perveen right away, they had her younger sister try to find out where she was getting this Christian influence.

Anila eventually invited Perveen to a Good Friday service. When the young Muslim heard the Gospel presentation, she immediately accepted Jesus. Perveen became very excited about her new relationship with Jesus and saw great changes take place in her life. She read her Bible and praised God boldly. Anila knew that, before long, her friend would encounter opposition from her family.

Perveen’s parents were furious when they learned of her conversion. They had previously arranged for her to marry a Muslim man. When Perveen again refused, she ran away.

When Perveen’s parents could not find her, they accused Anila and her pastor of kidnapping her. They had Anila arrested. Anila was slapped and beaten in front of her parents for over nine hours. Finally she was taken to prison.

Anila’s pastor and his family were taken to prison on the following day. Anila and her pastor experienced horrible tortures in jail. She was whipped sixteen times (five times would make a normal man pass out). When they were released, Anila could not sit for two months, and her pastor could barely walk from the bruises on his hips and thighs.

Perveen was later found by her family. In Muslim nations, children are often severely beaten for converting to Christianity. Others are killed by their own parents or siblings for apostasy, converting to another faith.

To restore the honor of his family, Perveen’s brother stabbed her to death. He then turned himself in to the local authorities. As is not uncommon in such situations, he was eventually released without incident.

Anila was then arrested on charges of kidnapping.

She was imprisoned, then released on bail a little more than a month later. She and her family went into hiding, as their lives were threatened by radical Muslims.

In May 1999, Anila was acquitted of all charges. Praise God for the prayers of faithful believers around the world! Continue to pray for her protection as she remains in hiding.

“I have seen the world,” Anila said, “and it has nothing good. Jesus is my only peace.”

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of other, similar stories that are never told of Christian children and teens being killed by their Muslim parents. Jesus said this would happen:

Brothers will give their own brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and have them put to death. All people will hate you because you follow me, but those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved.

Jesus (MATTHEW 10:21,22 NCV)

Pray for these young believers, that God will protect them and strengthen them. Pray for their parents, that they too will come to know Jesus as Lord. And most of all, forgive their persecutors and pray for the Muslim people to find the love of Jesus Christ and be saved.

Transformation

CAMP:TRANSFORMED... this was an incredible weekend of more than just fun and games. This was a weekend of transformation in many of our lives.

But I can still remember the months leading up to the camp. I can still remember God tugging at my heart and requiring a radical change in my life. I had felt stuck and helpless for so long. I had become numb and indifferent to God's touch in my life. The worst part was that I didn't know how to get out. But in His mercy, He kept on speaking to me and showing me His wonderful plan for my life.

As I was thinking about the camp, I had to ask myself, "was I truly transformed?" "what happened to that transformation?"

That transformation is still in progress. I want my family, my friends, and those around me to see a better "Jennifer." I want nothing more than to become the woman that God desires for me to become. Plain and simple; I want to be more like Jesus. I want to have the courage and boldness to give myself completely to the people that are desperately seeking for an answer. Like the song states; Jesus is the answer. Only He can bring true and lasting transformation.