Unwanted...But Wanted

I am teaching at the New England Christian Writer's Retreat and so I have asked Emily Wickham to share her heart with us this week. This topic is one that causes my heart to beat too--leading me to be involved in our local crisis pregnancy center, Women's Center of Northeast Connecticut. I believe the Lord weeps over these little ones...I know I do.

"Will we stand for life wherever God places us?"
                                      ~  Emily Wickham

"... blood is on their hands ... when they had slaughtered their children for their idols...” Ezekiel 23:37, 39

Wooden stakes laced with plastic orange netting decorated the beach. Early morning caretakers diligently visited these areas where sea turtle eggs awaited hatching. An exciting time, the arrival of these creatures clearly classified as an eagerly anticipated event.

" ... It is illegal to harm ... sea turtle eggs...”

I stared at the sign. Processing the stern warning that included potential prosecution, I contemplated this law of protection for sea turtles. Inescapably I thought of this irony: it's illegal to harm a sea turtle egg ... but perfectly legal to destroy human life within a mother's womb. Oh, how this must break God's heart.

God eternally exists as Creator of life. Before mankind, He designed exquisite angelic beings. In the garden, He formed man from dust and fashioned woman from man's side. Almighty God excels in intricate detail and skillful construction obviously delights Him. Originating in His immense mind, all things living--including sea turtles to humans--express His creative genius. Yet we have irreverently, rebelliously, selfishly interfered.

Oh, how abortion must break God's heart. Watching these little ones, whom He's uniquely shaped into His image, heartlessly destroyed invokes intense grief. Surely He weeps. Just as death's foul odor pervaded Lazarus' tomb, death's stench presides over these graveyards in the womb. A travesty of epic proportions, abortion annihilates whom God wants--a child--because for various reasons, a human heart deems that child unwanted.

Aborted children: wanted by God ... unwanted by mankind.

We as the church remain accountable for our response to this disease of legalized death. It's not about a woman's right to choose--the living God, the Creator Himself already has chosen to initiate life.  Will we idly stand by and look the other way? Or will we stand in the gap--even on the sidewalk--lovingly reaching out to women and their unborn children? Will we stand for life wherever God places us?

Dear family in Christ, God has graciously given us the " ... ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us..." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

It's hard. I've only participated in sidewalk ministry once. But I'm planning to return. Not as a goody two-shoes Christian, but as a sinner saved by God's incredible grace. Though my presence there is unwanted by the world, I go because it’s wanted by God.

God doesn't call every Christian to stand for life in the same way. Enormously creative, He's gifted each of us to impart His truth distinctly.

How is He leading you?

 

Emily Wickham, founder of Proclaiming Him to Women Ministries, maintains a passion for teaching God’s Word. Her PHtW blog, Mothers Like Me blog, Sophie Woman’s Magazine column, and Daily Dose of Encouragement devotions allow her to reach many with God’s truth. As a published author, conference organizer, and speaker, she appreciates every opportunity to encourage and equip women by exalting Christ. Emily welcomes contact and connection via Facebook at www.facebook.com/emilywickham.author

 Most importantly, Emily cherishes her relationship with God and treasures her family as gifts from His hand. Residing in western NC with her husband and their children, she considers each day a blessing.

A note from Jeanne: If you or someone you know have experienced an abortion--please know that there is forgiveness in Christ. Often, we keep this secret buried but when we bring it to the Light of Christ, He can bring healing. There is hope in the cross. There is counsel available so that you can be freed from unresolved feelings that arise after this experience. Contact your local Christian crisis pregnancy center for post abortion help. You are loved and prayed for....

 This resource is available in both e-book and paperback format:

photo credit: kudaker via photopin cc

Cracking a Counterfeit

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

A local Connecticut news story reports, “State police…cracked a counterfeiting operation.”  I thought this only happened in spy movies. Suddenly, I am more aware of money that passes through my hands, looking carefully at the serial numbers.  The last thing I want is to be fooled into taking fake bills, and even more, I don’t want to use one myself by mistake.

People who are trained to identify counterfeit money need to know the real thing. But, instead of studying the counterfeit, they analyze the real currency.

God’s Word says that Satan is a fake; he is anti-Christ. And, though he presents himself as an angel of light, if you know the Light of the World, the enemy’s attempts at counterfeiting it will stand out. 

Satan tries to counterfeit so he can dupe us into trading God’s way into one that leads us astray. 

Some discoveries I have made include:

• Jesus is the Truth; Satan is the father of lies.
• Jesus is the Lion of Judah; Satan is the roaring lion who seeks to devour.
• Jesus gives life. Satan is the harbinger of death.
• Jesus opens the eyes of those who believe; Satan blinds the unbelieving so they won’t see the Truth.

God’s Word is full of these black and white examples for us to see the truth about the enemy’s desire to trick us. 

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

God offers love in what Jesus did for us on Calvary. 

The enemy dangles a worldly love that never satisfies and most often destroys. 

Jesus promised the filling and presence of the Holy Spirit, the one who comforts and gives us spiritual understanding. 

The enemy offers misunderstanding, spirituality and false comfort through cults, mystic and new age practices.

God knows our future and tells us we can trust Him to know what is best and for Him to be with us, yet the enemy will entice us to seek answers through mediums, astrology, tarot and other means.

To know the difference between what is good from God and what is meant to distract us away from Him, we need to become so familiar with who God is in Scripture—His character. And, we need to trust that He is working in us, for our best. 

To embrace the counterfeit will leave us wanting, hungry and thirsty but never satisfied.

So, the best way to crack a counterfeit is to know the Real Thing. Don't be duped! Dig into God's Word to discover Who He is, so when faced with the enemy's lie you can stare him down and choose the Truth.

How have you identified the counterfeit? In what way have you come to know what is true about God so that you are more aware of the enemy's lie?

Jeanne