Thankful Thursdays - Service

Please accept my apologies ahead of time...I am a bit wordy this week but it's been a big week for me.

I know I have written about this subject before but after recent events, it stands repeating. I am very thankful - and a bit nervous about - the work God has planned for me.

Human trafficking is an ugly, horrific crime being perpetuated against millions of people on a daily basis. Some of the facts make me, simply, physically ill. For instance, in India, it is cheaper and easier to buy another person than it is to purchase a cow. Traffickers have various "favorite" ways to subdue their captive - starvation, drugs, gang rape, beatings or any combination of those (and more). There are approximately 27 million people enslaved globally and approximately half of them are children.

And that is the tip of the iceberg...

When I first learned about this issue, I begged God to show me what I could do about it. He set me to work studying and let me tell you - for a "dive in, get my hands dirty, plow through like a bull in a china shop" kind of gal - it was tough to sit. And study. That was five years of praying EVERY day, asking God to show me what He wanted me to do. And He said study and showed us where we could donate to help those who were already in the battle. That was fine for a while but I would still get whiny - "God... what can I DOOOO?????"

Then, just over a year ago He put me in motion. He put me on the Board of a Ministry I have loved for years - a ministry that serves the homeless and battered women and children in our area. He started to bring people into my life - people who live close to me - who have a passion to fight this evil. He has also started to open doors in my workplace for me to share this issue with my co-workers and related offices.

As He has started to get me moving, I have been oh so incredibly thankful for a few things.

First, that He has decided to get me moving.

Second, that there are people in this world rescuing those trapped as slaves even as I type. I pray for them, for God's protection and blessing upon them. That He keep them strong, keep them fighting and they do not lose hope. I also pray for slaves not yet rescued - that they know God is with them, that He weeps for their pain and that He, too, is angry this evil exists. I pray also for those rescued from slavery - that Christ gently remind them they are so incredibly loved and that they matter. He knows their name, their pain, their fears, their hopes and they matter. Finally, I pray for those using those trafficked and those doing the trafficking - that they see the horror of what they're doing and they stop. That they find and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, the only One who has any rights "over" human beings.

Third, that I didn't try to and I'm doing everything I can to keep from running ahead of Him in His purpose for my life.

Fourth, that this evil is starting to get the attention it needs. Do I believe we can eradicate slavery? I believe God can do - and will do - whatever He plans to do. I know He absolutely abhors the oppression of the poor and weak. My life verse attests to that.

This week, I am ultimately thankful that God has a purpose for each and every one of us and that He allows us to be a part of His plan.

For more information on human trafficking (it is mostly Seattle area information but there are other resources on the blog, too), please check out my blog: Fight4Freedom. (and it proclaims my life verse...)

For more Thankful Thursday posts, check out Grace Alone... Iris is talking about special friends this week. See what she and others have to say about thankfulness.

Have a blessed Thursday!