called to rescue

I get the feeling that too many proclaiming Christians in America today think that the best thing to do when undercover videos explaining how babies are being ripped apart and sold for parts or how money can be earmarked for abortions of specific races is to stay silent. We don’t want to ruffle any feathers, so we sit in the background. Some “feel bad” for the babies or think, “we should do something to help,” but sit idly by. Just in case those people need a wake up call, here it is. Straight from the Word of God.

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” ~Proverbs 24:11-12

No more excuses. No more sitting by and saying things are wrong but not having any actions. It says so clearly to “rescue those who are being taken away to death.” Down the street from our churches, around the corner from our homes, babies are being taken to the slaughter. Mothers are taking their babies into slaughterhouses and murdering them. We have to rescue them! These babies lives need to be saved! These mothers need to know who Jesus is NOW and how the gospel can save them!

Don’t tell me not to call it murder. Don’t tell me to be more PC and less biblical. Christians, we should be looking at the Bible first. Then dealing with people’s opinions. Let’s get our thoughts in line with the Word of God.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ~Galatians 1:10

Stop trying to please people. Why? Because then we are not servants of God. Who do we serve?!?!?! There is no such thing as neutral. Either we are servants of God, or we aren’t. Either we’re aiming to please God or man. If your aim is to please yourself…then it’s not God.

Monday night an all out attack took place on Twitter. #shoutyourabortion was trending. I don’t suggest this, but if you must, grab a box of tissue, search the hashtag, and read the tweets. You’ll see a few that will encourage you to speak out, because you won’t be the first. Otherwise, total depravity doesn’t even begin to explain what happens. People celebrating the murder of their unborn children. They are arguing that it’s not only okay, but good. Our silence as they take over is the same as supporting their position.

No more. No. More. NO MORE! Put on your armor. Get ready for war. Let’s save some babies and love some mothers by speaking the truth and sharing the gospel.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” ~Romans 12:9

God is good. Say it aloud.

Most days, in my life anyway, things don’t go as I planned. More often than I’d like to admit, I allow this uncertainty, inconsistency, and lack of control to send me into an emotional whirlwind. Part of that might be that I’m a mama to eight month old twins and haven’t regained control of my emotions, but I think it’s more than that.

I enjoy predictability and the illusion of control. So when everything feels like it’s falling apart, when I can’t hold together the pieces or fix the people, my faith is shaken. It’s never demolished or ruined – because God is holding tightly to me. But I can feel myself not trusting. I can feel myself not wanting to glorify Him, but to blame Him. I feel myself being unsure of who He has said that He is, even though I know that He does not lie. All the things that I know in my head need to be transferred to my heart and my emotions need to follow suit. Sometimes…I need to look up every verse that I can find that talks about the goodness of God.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

Lord, thank you for being good even when I don’t understand what you’re doing. Thank you for loving me when I’m inconsistent and when I question your goodness. Thank you for being perfect and good every day.

“You sent Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.” Nehemiah 9:20

Father, Your good Spirit is here to help me. He instructs me and reminds me of Your perfect goodness. Thank you for filling me with Your good Spirit. Thank you for not withholding good from me.

“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” Psalm 86:5

Lord, You are good. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for loving me lavishly. You overwhelm me with goodness. You forgave me and forgive me and when I sin with my disbelief, you continue to tell me who I am in you. You continue loving me and being good toward me.

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

Lord, You’ve given me everything that is required for life and godliness! Your Son has changed me. Your Son has made it so that I can be with You! Praise be to you for who you are! Thank you for Your goodness. Thank you for your abounding, perfect goodness. Remind me of Your goodness. Help me to believe what I know is true about You.

Where do we go for the truth? The Word of God. Who can we trust to tell the truth? The Lord whose Word we are given. Praying the scriptures and reading them aloud can change me. The Lord doesn’t need to be changed. He is perfect holiness and righteousness and goodness. It’s me. I’m the one who needs to be reminded and transformed. I’m the one who needs to be more like Him.

How do you remind yourself of the Truth when it’s difficult to remember the Truth?

let me (re?)introduce myself

 

If we were sitting at a table together with a fun centerpiece and a white tablecloth, I’d ask you to tell me about yourself. I’d ask how long you’ve been married, if ever. I’d ask where you grew up and the names of your parents and siblings and children and nieces and nephews. I’d want to know your favorite food and color and how you take your coffee. Your birth story couldn’t be too long and I’d laugh and cry with you through the pregnancy stories. I’d want to hear all the things that friends know about one another. I’d want to share in the fullness of your life if only for moments at a time. Because even if we had just met, I’d want to know you. Be your friend. Hear your story. Then I’d answer your questions. Tell you about myself.

I don’t know if I’ve ever introduced myself here. Probably have. Seems like a “first post” type of thing. Of course, the girl from three years ago who was newly married (not that I’m some kind of marriage veteran now) and had no kids is not the woman who sits here typing today. So…

Hello, there! I’m JaQuinn. Wife of my hunky hubby. Mama of adorable twin foxes. Daughter of the King of Kings.

I am a recovering perfectionist with the testimony of the prodigal daughter. My Papa loved me out of a pit of destruction and although I sometimes look back, I never want to go back. I’m a black girl with natural hair. My fro doesn’t define me, but it’s hard to miss. I watch dance videos, listen to podcasts, and love slam poetry that glorifies my Savior. Soli Deo Gloria is my soul cry. My deepest desire is to know Him, love Him, and share Him.

My tear ducts leak at random times. I’m often overwhelmed by goodness. God perpetually blows my mind with His faithfulness. My hope for you is to be encouraged. I pray that this would be a place where I proclaim the Lord boldly while edifying His children.

All that to say, Welcome! Grab a cup of coffee (or tea or apple juice or wine) and stay a while. Let’s chat and get to know Jesus. And one another.

i have a voice

Has someone ever told you something that made you sit back in your chair and think about yourself in a new way? What if two people who don’t know each other and know you from completely different perspectives both said the same thing? That’s what happened to me.

Twice this summer I was told, specifically, that I have a voice. I’ve gone over it in my mind trying to figure out what exactly that means for me. What does it mean that two women who influence my life decided that it was worth telling me that I have a voice? My first thought was that it doesn’t really matter. Everyone has a voice. Every person who can speak or has a laptop and a little free time has something to say. Many of those people share on blogs or in books or on facebook. Then I realized that wasn’t what they meant.

They were telling me that I have something to say and that I should use my voice. Not only do I have one, but that I should say things. That thought made me do a double take. Is that what they meant? Am I reading something into their words that aren’t there? After some time and prayer and thought, I realized that I wasn’t. They were encouraging me to go say what God has put on my heart. Stop being afraid. Stop worrying about people’s opinions. Go and say what He has given me. Share those posts that I’ve written and kept hidden.

So here I am. Listening to God. Listening to a couple wise women. Not being afraid of what you’ll think. Or being afraid and saying it anyway.