The frequency of suicide and murder-suicides have been in the headlines now more than ever. For that reason, it makes you pose the question, ‘What are people thinking?’ Let’s keep in mind, our thoughts are important to our everyday living.
Whatever we meditate on, most often affects our movement through life. In other words, we shouldn’t allow negative thinking to take over our lives. Because continual negative thoughts can lead to negative behaviors.
When you walk—it matters who takes the journey with you. When walking in the Wisdom of God, you avoid certain pitfalls that would otherwise entrap you.
For further evaluation, in reading 1 Kings 3 & 4, Solomon realized that Wisdom was so essential to achieving success in every God-given assignment. Solomon had a vast number of people to lead and could not do it without God’s help. Therefore, he asked God for a God-listening heart (1 Kings 3:9, MSG).
He asked and received because—Solomon believed God! He became famously known as the wisest king of his day. Therefore, his walk with God mattered!
Wisdom is the state of being wise. It is knowledge of what is right coupled with good judgment and discernment or insight. And a God-listening heart will assure wise decisions. When we use wisdom, it helps us avoid reckless decisions. Lady V and I believe everyone needs wisdom to live skillfully. And a God-listening heart will greatly help one in that process.
So, let’s look at why wisdom is important to our lives as a whole. For instance, the Word of God [The Holy Bible] is filled with wisdom. Therefore, when we read the Word of God, we learn golden nuggets. More specifically, those golden nuggets will light the way and keep us on the right path.
I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry. He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path. A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him!
Do you feel like your life is in shambles? Ever wanted a new start? It would be so easy just to hit the reset button and begin again. However, it takes more than just the push of a button to start life over.
Our life is like unto a storybook. In essence, God is the author of our story, but he places the pen and paper in our hands. He allows us to make decisions whether right or wrong, and is there to pick us back up again when we make mistakes which turn into utter chaos.
In episode 3 part 1 we obtained a better understanding of ‘human trafficking.’ For instance, we learned the definition of ‘human trafficking,’ with clarity from The State.gov Policy Issues for Human Trafficking. In other words, modern-day slavery and trafficking in persons are common terms the International Labor Organization, activists, and independent researchers use when referring to both forced labor and sex trafficking.
Sex Trafficking and the Adult Entertainment Industry
Strip club Photo by Mateuhsz Turbinski on Pexels
Presently most people just aren’t aware of the clear meaning of ‘human trafficking.’ So they have not connected the dots between it and the sex industry. As a result, the misconception is that all adult entertainment workers [in pornographic content, strip clubs, and brothels] are willing participants. The most common belief is that all of the people in porn videos, brothels, and strip clubs are consenting adults who actually choose to work in the sex industry.
In fact, traffickers use tactics such as coercion, force, or threats of physical violence towards sex workers or their families just to make a profit. The traffickers also use current victims to recruit new unsuspecting targets.
I stand silently to listen for the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for the Lord to rescue me. For God alone has become my Savior. He alone is my safe place; his wrap-around presence always protects me. For he is my champion defender; there’s no risk of failure with God. So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me?
Imagine… you find the love of your life after waiting patiently for years for this to happen. It seems almost too good to be true, but it isn’t. You ask yourself, “Will he want me as I am—flawed and broken?” And, you find out the answer to your question. The answer is—YES!
Joy erupts inside like a never-ending celebration. Now, you realize that you can trust this love with all your heart and you’ll never have to wonder whether or not the love is real. His thoughts of you are always—love. Your relationship is on a firm foundation, and you know this love will never fall apart. He protects, He provides, and He professes His love for you. His love will never fade! Glory to God!
When one hears the words ‘human trafficking,’ people often think of criminal organizations selling and shipping women and children out of the U.S. Although we are not wrong in thinking the previous thought is true, sadly that is just part of a much larger picture. According to The State.gov Policy Issues for Human Trafficking, trafficking in persons and modern slavery are umbrella terms that are used to refer to both sex trafficking and compelled labor.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.
When one defines love it often gets labeled, “it’s complicated.” However, loving someone takes a conscious decision to make the effort to share something within you that makes a statement to the other person that—you matter.
Imagine how relationships with others would flourish if only we treated each other as—you matter.Every life has value. But, when we lose sight of love, the lens is blurred on how precious life really is. So, let’s imitate God’s love.
A homeless person pushing a cart Photo by Fares Hamouche on Unsplash
The face of homelessness in America has dramatically changed over the years. Most people would agree, the representation of homeless persons in the thoughts of many Americans are negative. The following examples describe some of those stereotypes:
a drunk, filthy, smelly man riffling through a dumpster
a bag lady pushing a cart filled with [what appears to be] a lot of junk
the con-artist pretending to be homeless to get money
Beloved, do you know that as we go about representing Jesus Christ, our motivation should always be that of LOVE? No matter who we meet or what they believe, we as the church are to show the love of Christ.
You might say, “Why is that so important?” I’m glad you asked! It is important because Jesus came to the earth and sacrificed everything, all in the name of LOVE. “For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.” (John 3:16, TPT)
