If you are like me, you sometimes say, “What can I do to even make a dent in abolishing the crime of the sex slave trade?” “Little ole’ me?” “The problem is so huge. There’s nothing I can do.”
Exodus Cry is a great organization that is very active in exposing the evils of the sex slave trade. I recently came across this list on their website of 10 things everyone can do to stop this horrible cancer that is spreading across the globe.
I sit here in Jerusalem, 2000 miles from Brussels and Antwerp, unable to go into the red light districts and show the women (and men) the love of Abba God. Yet I can pray. It is in the place of intercession where the battles are won on the ground in those dark places. Without prayer we have no hope of lives being affected and the atmosphere changing.
I am stirred. I love those women.
This is my view from my bedroom window as I wake up for the next two weeks. The southwestern slope of Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.
As we were walking to the Old City today I took this shot. It never gets old.
Gary and I are presently in Israel re-connecting with Succat Hallel and deepening friendships that were formed in 2009. We have writing projects and other things we are working on, but mostly we are being refreshed. It sounds unusual that we would be refreshed in such a spiritual and political hotbed such as Jerusalem, but God’s presence is here in a very powerful way. You can’t help but be refreshed as you walk the streets, pray at the Wall, and visit the Temple Mount! As I sit in the prayer room overlooking Mt. Zion, I am reminded over and over again of God’s plan for this earth. He is sovereign. Nothing will thwart His purposes for this Land or the nations of the earth. Our job is to hasten His coming by interceding for the Jewish people so that all Israel will be saved. (more…)
My version of New Year’s resolutions is a list of goals and desires that I want to see accomplished in the new year. Not resolutions and promises, but desires that I hope to see accomplished by God’s grace. I spend time in prayer and ask Him to show me what He wants. Internally where no one sees and externally which affect my family and ministry. This year is no exception. There are specific goals that I will attempt to accomplish by His grace. A few can’t be written for all the world to see, but here are most of them (not necessarily in the order of importance):
1. Read & study the weekly Torah readings.
2. Read through the New Testament once a month for a total of 12 times this year. This is the plan I am using: YouVersion.com.
3. Write a blog post at least once a week, preferably twice a week.
4. Continue studying French and Hebrew.
5. Learn to knit.
6. Begin to do prayer walks around the Brussels red light district.
7. Purchase a camera and learn to take quality photos. (Anyone have a good, inexpensive camera suggestion?)
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One of my favorite websites and one of the leading organizations affecting sex trafficking all over the world is Exodus Cry. Every month they choose a city to highlight and to raise awareness of the sex trafficking epidemic in that particular area. The city in focus this month is Jerusalem. This subject is close to my heart, not only because of the horror of sex trafficking, but because of my intense love for Jerusalem. Brothel owning and pimping is illegal in Israel, but prostitution is legal. The population of Israel is over 7.5 million and every month there are 1 million purchases of illicit sex in the nation. Those are huge numbers. Over 80% of women in prostitution in Israel are trafficking victims. They can be bought with no penalties or prosecution.
Orit Zuaretz, a member of the Knesset in Jerusalem, has been used of God to spotlight this problem within the Knesset and also the United Nations. This month the Israeli Minister of Justice, Ya’akov Ne’eman, is considering sending a bill written by MK Zuaretz to the Knesset to be voted on. If it is passed, clients would be penalized for purchasing victims as well as educated about what they are actually participating in globally. It would be a huge blow against sex trafficking in Israel. MK Zuaretz is actively trying to raise awareness in Israel concerning this problem in her country. Recently, in a Tel Aviv shopping mall, shoppers were faced with a living reminder of what it all means. Here is the story in the HaAretz newspaper. (HaAretz is one of the two main news organizations in Israel).
If this is an issue you feel strongly about, go to this website where you can voice your support of this bill to cabinet members. And please pray for the Members of the Knesset that they would understand the importance of this bill, and that they would choose God’s law making holiness a standard in their government. Pray that the awareness of sex trafficking in Israel would increase greatly not just in Israel but globally.
This is about real people who are trapped into being bought and traded for sex, children included. This breaks my heart. I can’t imagine what it does to God’s heart.
Last year we celebrated Hanukkah in Jerusalem. (You can see the lights of the city past the candles in the window.) Hanukkah is a beautiful time in Jerusalem. Hanukkiot (special Hanukkah menorahs) can be seen in windows and on rooftops all over the city. It is so fun and festive. Jews celebrating the miraculous preservation of their race. Jews and believing Gentiles thanking Hashem for his faithfulness and love. You can feel the excitement in the air.
This year we are celebrating Hanukkah in Brussels, Belgium. I don’t have to tell you how different it is. I can literally feel the anti-semitic spirit in Europe. Jewish life is not popular or even on anyone’s radar. Still this household and missions base is celebrating God’s faithfulness and provision to the Jewish people for the next eight days. As we add a new candle every night we will thank Abba and intercede for His chosen people.
Derek Leman at Messianic Jewish Musings in his recent post wrote such an eloquent description of Hanukkah:
The miracle of Hanukkah is the preservation of Israel’s people and the continuation of the covenant promises that God will heal and deliver Israel. The one who heals the people of Israel is Yeshua, the man who said at Hanukkah he was one with the Father, the one who said he is the good shepherd of Israel who leads his people to circumcised hearts and eternal life.
When a new Antiochus will arise, as foretold in Daniel, and will greatly trouble Israel again, it will be Yeshua who comes to deliver his people. In the meantime, we are the Hasidei Yeshua, the pious ones of Yeshua, who stand firm in faithfulness to God’s ways and who do not compromise. Great movements of salvation do not usually look impressive, but when the times get difficult, the ones who shine are revealed.
Tonight, the first night of this eight-day festival, we will celebrate the fact that the Jewish people have been preserved and that God’s promise has not expired or disappeared. Actually the Jews are the second hand on God’s prophetic timepiece for the Last Days. If you don’t understand the centrality of Israel and the Jewish people to the End Times, then you are missing a huge part of the Bible.
Yeshua, let the light of the knowledge of who You are shine on Your people during this season!
