Held Hostage: The Martin & Gracia Burnham Story

pic from mannaexpress.com

I'm patriotic. It kind of comes with the whole Army Wife/Life deal. For God and Country, yes, but I have to admit, push come to shove, it's God who I'm siding with. 

Nations come and go, but God's kingdom lasts forever. I'd fight along side my husband any day to defend our land and the morals of this Great Nation , but I know that it's God's Kingdom/Nation that counts eternally. I want to live my life in a way that will positively influence people living now, and even those that will be living centuries from now. Outlandish? Nope.

How do I do this? By loving those around me. How do I love those around me? By Investing myself, my time, resources, and energy to my family, friends and strangers. Those things have eternal value. Those things have generational and eternal impact. Living this way is God's plan for my life, and for those that follow Christ.

Martin and Gracia Burnham, missionaries in the Philipines, knew this to be true as well. They risked it all to invest themselves in the people around them, and were kidnapped and held hostage by a Muslim terrorist group, while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary. Wow. 

Their story is heart wrenching and inspiring. I would love for you take the next five minutes or so and listen to Gracia share her experience. It puts a spin on Freedom that I can't quite put words to.

SHOUT OUT (Whoop Whoop, lol): Thank God for the military who risked their lives to save those held captive, and for the missionaries who risk their lives everyday to show others how much Jesus loves the people around them. 

Freedom Has Fangs: When We Use Our Freedom to Bite

Freedom is worth having, worth fighting for, and definitely worth dying for. Though it is a blessing, it can also be quite dangerous if misused.  It has fangs. Fangs that can protect, provide, and unfortunately, harm others when chosen.

Some crazy person decided to use their Freedom Fangs to wrongfully attacked this week, and once again, our young nation has endured tragedy. The bombings in Boston, and now the explosion in Waco, TX. The bombings are being called an act of terror--true, but that's not entirely true. In my opinion, the bombings were an act of cowardice. These people or persons, have misused their freedom and will be brought to justice.

In times like these, I find myself asking 'Why?'

Why do bad things happen?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

The answer isn't fun, it isn't comforting, it's simply that this world, and all mankind are sinful. We are sinful people given free will, and sometimes sinful people do sinful things with their freedom/free will. Pastor Andy Stanley from North Point Community Church, in Alpharetta, GA gives the most thought out, easy to grasp explanation of why bad things happen, in his Starting Point audio study. I would encourage anyone to check it out.

This is what I know: When bad things happen, it's an opportunity to increase our Faith and Trust in God, because He's bigger and smarter than we are. He's an expert at giving purpose to pain, bringing good out of bad situations, and so I pray that He's busy doing that right now. I'm also going to pray that the people of Boston stay strong, are encouraged, and only become stronger because of this horrific tragedy.

These terrorists picked the wrong city to mess with! Boston has bigger Freedom Fangs than those cowardly terrorists!

It's a Great Weekend to Free Slaves: Spotlight on The International Justice Mission

Our Nation May be the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, but Slavery Still Exists Around the World.

Sex trafficking or the sex slave trade is a growing pandemic around the world. In a letter to our President, the International Justice Mission states, "an estimated 27 million people are enslaved around the world today, including within our own borders."

Over 73,000 people teamed up with the IJM (International Justice Mission) to stand against modern day slavery. We are Americans. Fighting for Freedom, and the Freedom of others is in our blood.

Christian's have been the leading force in ending slavery in America during the Civil War time period. They have marched and lead the battle for the right for women to vote, to enact child labor laws, and civil rights. It's time we stand up again, and do what we have been commanded: "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with [our] God." `Micah 6:8.

 Now that you know slavery still exists, it's your turn to help end it. How? Here's a few suggestions.

• Check out the IJM website and contact info. They are great at responding to emails and give wonderful suggestions on how to raise support
• Click here to ask the President to make freedom real for all
• Participate or Donate to Calvary Baptist Church's 4th Annual Run for Justice on Saturday, April 20th, 2013.

Must Read: Though My Heart is Torn

Second in the Cadence of Grace Series, Though My Heart is Torn, made its debut just days ago, and is climbing the charts!

Author, Joanne Bischof has wowed her readers again! Last I heard it was #12 in the Christian Romance world of books. No. 12 is nothing to sneeze at--What an ACCOMPLISHMENT!! :) However, right now, Though My Heart is Torn, is definitely No. 1 on Hannah Conway's chart, and we all know, that's what really matters. :) lol :)

We rejoin Gideon and Lonnie O'Reilly, and celebrate that they are finally happily married and enjoying the joys of parenthood. Their Happily Ever After soon turns into the possibility of a Never Ever After when Gideon gets word that he isn't officially divorced from his first wife that Lonnie knew nothing about! GASP!! The law states Gideon has to return to his first wife who now refuses to divorce! BIGGER GASP! Lonnie is forced to take their child and live apart from Gideon as he tries to settle in his new married life with a woman he believes he can never love.

This pickle of a predicament leaves Lonnie and Gideon's hearts torn. It seems that their life together is over, and another life is being forced upon them. How can they move on?

This book keeps you invested. The characters come to life and you struggle with them in their journey. A MUST READ!

I know you're grabbing your purse and racing out the door to get your copy now, BUT hold your horses! Before you dive into Joanne Bischof's latest masterpiece, you HAVE to read the first in the series, Be Still My Soul.

Okay. Now you can go buy both!

Click to Purchase Though My Heart is Torn

Click to Purchase Be Still My Soul