I love to acknowledge that I can walk. Among other blessings, I like to know I can feel. 

Tapping along the stable pavement, hair strands in a tizzy trying to feel every inch of my serene face, hands resting gently at my sides, and I ease into a stroll... I mistake auburn 

leaves bouncing in the breeze for your footsteps to my left. I'm startled enough to lift my hand to my face, but I continue on, thinking on the world and on dreams as determined and able as the thick brow above your ever-seeing eyes. 

p i t t e r  p a t t e r  s k i t t e r  s k a t t e r, I'm dancing with your footsteps as I think of your hand leading me onward.  

I smile. The world around me - ever-swaying trees, crisp sun, everly clouds, small birds - is quite welcoming of this fancy. As you do, they encourage their participation within my stream of broken thoughts. But unlike them, you suggest that they are indeed not broken. They are simply notions in need of a nod, dreams awaiting assent. 

End It Movement

*more information below

     This winter I attended the very famous *Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, with 70,000 others.  It has been going since '97, and *Louie Giglio is a leading founder.  Because of the prayers of thousands leading up to the annual event and the supernatural intercession of the Holy Spirit, year after year thousands of high school seniors, college students, and adults of all ages experience greatness and clarity in the short amount of time.  What occurred this year at Passion is simply indescribable, and God spoke to me about several things in my life.  One key issue that has been emphasized over the past couple of years is the knowledge of the existence of the continuation of slavery even today.  Thousands of students have dedicated their lives to ending slavery because of the truth shared about slavery via the Passion Conference and its partnering organizations and because of the tugging of their hearts by the Holy Spirit.  It is said that there are up to 27 million slaves worldwide who are caught in wide-ranging forms of slavery.  Slavery remains in this world, and millions of men, women, and children are forced into this terrible pattern which many of us turn our eyes from.  I had no clue that slavery was still taking place as of approximately a year ago, and many are in the same boat that I was in.  I didn't doubt for a second the testimonies of those who spoke at the Passion Conference, but after talking with several friends who carried on conversations with a freed woman and after later hearing another horrifying and powerful story of rescue from sex slavery, I realized that there is no excuse for those who have heard and remain in doubt. Sadly, some refuse to recognize that this is a reality that not only the church must stop but the world and its leaders must, as well.  Christians must pray to God, asking what they can and should do.  The rest of the world must wake up as well and get serious about caring about the lives of people.  Martin Luther King Jr. said, "We must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society."
     Awareness alone is a key factor in putting a stop to slavery.  Studies have shown that awareness truly does make a difference for important causes.  The *End It Movement, founded and funded by a few groups involved with the Passion Conference, is a campaign that will be taking place over the next few months and is simply a movement with the purpose of spreading awareness about modern-day slavery.  Our world must unite to end this disgusting element of society once and for all, and many organizations involved with the Passion Conference and the End It Movement believe that this generation of young adults has the ability and the ambition it takes.  I have an obligation to do what I can where I am at this point in my life, and I want to make it known to as many as I can what's going on.  If you feel led to donate to the End It Movement and its **partnering organizations, you can go to the following link to do so: https://secure.enditmovement.com/give/.  No matter what your position is geographically, spiritually, or financially, it is important that we put an end to slavery.  Donating is a way to help to do this.  The key is to help spread awareness.  That's what the End It Movement is here to do.  A fabulous and easy way to spread awareness right where you are is by going to http://enditmovement.com/ and downloading the free digital tool kit at the bottom of the page, which includes things such as social skins and helpful educational tools.  Also if you have the extra money and want to spread awareness further on your school campus, across your city, in your church, or anywhere you think of you may also purchase the action kit online as well, which includes stuff like buttons, stickers, and posters. April 9 is coming around the corner and is the official Shine a Light on Slavery Day.  Slavery will not end on its own and telling those around is the first step in putting an end to it. 

*The Passion Conference was started in Austin, Texas, by Louie Giglio and Jeff Lewis in 1997 and continues to take place in the home of the Georgia Falcons in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.  Passion is also known as the 268 Generation, which roots from Isaiah 26:8 from the Bible, which reads, "Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls."  Books, CDs, and other 268 merchandise is available at http://268store.com/store/, and more information about the 268 Generation can be found at http://www.268generation.com/3.0/. 

*Louie Giglio is a well-known author, speaker, and pastor at the Passion City Church (http://www.passioncitychurch.com/2.0/#/) in Atlanta, Georgia.  He and his wife, Shelley Giglio, also head up sixstepsrecords (http://www.sixstepsrecords.com/), which is the small record label of famous artists such as Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, and Christy Knockels.  

*The End It Movement is a campaign with the sole purpose of shining a light on slavery.  More information about the End It Movement (and its partnering organizations [**see below]) can be found at its website http://enditmovement.com/ or also by searching the web and social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (#enditmovement).  

**The End It Movement has several partnering organizations which are involved in spreading awareness of modern day slavery, getting producers and consumers involved in helping to put an end to slavery today, rescuing thousands of men, women, and children from slavery by partnering with police stings worldwide, recovery and therapy for women and children around the world who have been victims of sex-trafficking, and much more.  
--Polaris Project "One of the leading organizations in the fight against modern-day slavery, they transform the way the world responds to human trafficking." 

--Made in a Free World "Provides businesses and consumers solutions to remove slavery from supply chains.  Using the free market to free people." 

--Free the Slaves "Helping slaves break free and stay free in global trafficking hotspots, while changing systems that allow slavery to exist." 

--The 21 Campaign "Prevents trafficking through awareness and education, protects those who have been trafficked, and prosecutes traffickers." 

--International Justice Mission (IJM) "Lawyers, investigators, and aftercare professionals work with local officials to rescue victims, prosecute perpetrators, and protect the poor." 

--Love 146 "Works to abolish child trafficking and exploitation through prevention and aftercare while contributing to a growing abolition movement." 

--Not for Sale "Using work on the ground and in mainstream supply chains, they target the root causes of slavery while equipping the movement for freedom." 

          If flowers could talk and the lame could walk, I think the world would consistently smile. We'd dance more and learn more and on no account focus exclusively upon ourselves.

          When I was smaller than I am now, I wished my dolls could speak. I wanted them to convey what they thought of me and to twirl around with me because worries are so silly. One day I woke up and comprehended that not all things can be so light, and I began to mimic my mother's fears. I did not yet know why I should be afraid, but I wanted to worry because that was the thing to do. I do not blame my mother or my father or my teachers or my peers; I just wanted to be like them, and to be liked by them, and for some reason I got it in my head that no one wants a child as a friend. So I tried to grow up, and when I tried to grow up I got caught in that odd mix of desiring after innocent things and craving the things I did not understand. After some time, though, I began to understand those things. It was bound to happen, but I really have spent a lot of my life since speculating how situations may have been different if I had just let myself figure stuff out on my own. Life gets fast and there's nothing we can do about it. 

          Anyway, I believe sometimes it is healthy to dream. Not to worry or lust or envy or even strive, but to just sit and think. I don't want to spend time thinking of how matters may have gone differently, but I want to be a child again some; hence, some afternoons I like to sit in my room and literally stare at my wall. I'll get a pen and my notebook and write about things you'd expect from an eight year old. My childhood was cut off early, but do not pity me. It is so in these times that most everyone's is, and we learn to learn and that is that. 

       
          I've always enjoyed thinking, and the older I've gotten probably the less I do it and the more I want to. I also want as I grow to make other people think, and it's sort of become a hobby and a cycle. 

          When I was about five years old, I truly believed with my whole heart that the world would be a better place if everything was a cartoon. People would not be, obviously (humorously), but my bed would be! The trees would have leaves you could use as fleece coverings, and my bed would be the brightest pink a person could ever experience! It's the bounciest bed of all, and my parents let me jump on it routinely before I lie down to rest at night. When I sleep I have dreams that come true, but only when I want them so. I can read minds and everyone enjoys me. We have many somethings syrupy throughout the day and I climb trees the size of mountains with skill and quickness. I run at speeds people can hardly comprehend, and I can be by myself whenever I want to be. But when I want a buddy, I don't even snap my fingers before he or she is planning fun for the two of us right next to me. I'm never wrong, I'm never disappointed, and some days I live in the ocean. All the boys in the world are handsome and witty but don't make me feel embarrassed at all. They're impressed when I beat them in sword fights or run faster than them, and the other girls are not jealous: they have their own boys who are less cute than the ones I surround myself with- and they're content. I don't get nervous that much and I'm allowed to dance all the time. I can also talk as much as I want when I want, but the world doesn't revolve around me. 

          Several of the reveries listed are things I no longer want. I have new dreams to replace them. My dreams are less selfish now, yet my actions are not. The way that time affects us is the strangest thing I've ever come into contact with. 

Our God is Greater

     Saying that my God is greater also means that He has conquered sin. He's defeated death, and He constantly loves and raises us sinners into a new life. He cares for us eternally and He changes us for His glory. He is bigger than other "religions." A religion is a way to live one's life, summed up. It's just one of the many things we try to do and to be with and for our lives. We all want meaning, and Christians, Agnostics, Catholics, Buddhists, Mormons, Jews, Atheists, Muslims, Hindus, everyone is looking for that. My God is bigger than the gods people try to justify. My God is bigger than our limitations and our weak, sick bodies. We pervert His goodness and He forgives us with those open arms and big eyes if we change our lives for Him. But the greater wonder of that is that He changes our lives. He's bigger than our idols; He's bigger than the seemingly huge things we turn into our gods. So yes, He is greater. He is The Greatest. But saying that implies so much more than what is said. My prayer is that you see that; my constant prayer is that He would make you see that.

     I posted this as a note on my Facebook page a while back because the song "Our God," had been brought up in a discussion I had with a friend of mine. He visited the church service I attend on Wednesday nights one evening and our praise band led the group in worship through this song. He didn't really understand what the words were supposed to mean and took it as chauvinistic. The lyrics read, "Water You turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind. There's no one like You. There's none like You. Into the darkness You shine, out of the ashes we rise. Oh, our God is greater, our God is stronger. God, You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power. If our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, what can stand against?"

     Once he told me what he thought, I tried to take into consideration all the things that should be considered in my opinion. I considered his home life, I considered his peers, but above all, I considered the condition of his soul. He isn't expected to understand the words to that song, and he isn't expected to agree. As a lost person, he is unable to worship God, and that is the sole purpose of that song and its being played. It wasn't even the song that I was really even thinking about though... It was his perception of the worship and his soul's present condition. Of course he isn't going to understand what it all means- before I was a believer, I thought the same exact thing. 

     The point of my saying all of this was to explain the situation and circumstances behind the note above. I ask that you would pray for my friend, and pray that he sees what God is trying to make him see. I don't know if I posted that in hope that he would read it and that it would spark something more inside of him, but I know that it's truth. God is sovereign and greatly to be praised. For whoever read this far, much thanks, and for whoever goes on to pray for my friend, I'm very grateful.

     Our God is greater than our misunderstandings and misinterpretations, our God is greater than the hold Satan has on the world's minds. Our God is also greater than our word-limitations, and where I fail because I'm weak, He prevails for He is strong. May the Spirit move.

Track 03

  

    His power is great and His love is changing. 

    Come speak to me and show me Your might.  Hold me, lift me, shift my face in Your direction. 

    Bring on the conviction and mold me to be Your vessel. 

    Show me beauty and show me knowledge; show me what they truly are. 

                                                                                                                         You

    Keep me and guide me and don't hide Your gentle spirit, oh my God. 

    I want to serve and I want to learn.  I need to. 

                                                                                           You. 

    I see to. o

           k

              You. 

    This can't be all; I know it's not.  I'm reaching, I'm running, I'm climbing and finding 

You. 

Awe-Inspiring

Absolutely incredible. Just a few minutes- please take the time to watch this. You won't regret it. 

Beautiful