Posted by
L.
In:
Child Brides
I’m thrilled there has been such a response to the article I
posted on facebook about the child bride that passed away due to internal
injuries in Yemen. So I decided to write a blog in response to some of the
questions and reactions I received. I’m glad to be held responsible for the
things I post on my facebook page. It helps me process at a higher level the
information reported in that article. I would like to say here that today there
is a new conflicting report that this particular story is possibly untrue.
However, upon further research the tradition of child brides in Yemen is true
and stories like this one have occurred in the past.
My heart breaks over stories like these, because it’s not
that the children are being taken and exploited by some mysterious bad guy but
rather it’s the parents that are handing them over, and the government/their
society is ok with it. It’s part of their culture, a horrible part of it but a
part of it, an accepted part of it unfortunately. It’s almost harder when it’s an accepted part
of a culture in a country because there are no laws, written or moral, that
oppose it.
Upon researching this issue I learned that under pressure
from worldwide human rights groups in 2009 Yemen did pass a law setting the
minimum age of marriage at 17 years old but this law was later overturned. The
other thing I’ve learned through looking into this further is that there is a
lot of worldwide exposure of this practice and that exposure has sparked
outrage among the worldwide humanitarian community and pressure is being put on
the Yemen government to do something about it.
I know this article is hard to read, and I'm sorry it’s
wrecking you a lot of you, and yet I’m not. This is a way for us to help, by exposing it
to the worldwide community. To be upset and outraged by it. To talk about it
with our friends, and inform people that it’s happening. Perhaps it will cause
the people of Yemen to stop and think, "why do people think this is bad
but it is so accepted here?". Who knows? But if we can be a voice for
those who are voiceless I say that is the least we can do.
We need to pray. Pray for renewal of mind, for Jesus to reign in the hearts of men, and for revival to happen in the earth. Pray for the Holy Spirit to change hearts, attitudes and culture. For people of influence in Yemen to be radically changed by the Holy Spirit.
I love that our prayers don't fall on deaf ears of an uncompassionate god. But that they are precious to the Lord and they move his heart of compassion and moves his Spirit to action. I love that when we come into agreement with the Lord’s heart in prayer over something that grieves the Spirit that there is power and invitation for heaven to come to earth and change the atmosphere. We are promised that when we ask we will receive.
Posted by
L.
In:
A 3 Cord Strand Not Easily Broken
4 more weeks and I’ll be a Mrs.! How in the world did that
happen?! As I continue on this journey of discovering marriage I am in awe of
the Lord’s design. As my post about surrendering singlehood testifies this hasn’t
always been an easy journey. In fact at the beginning it was with a reluctant
heart that I allowed the Lord to open my eyes to his definition and design of
marriage. But how glad I am of his persistence to purify my ideas and heart of
what marriage truly is.
While I was on the World Race I met, became best friends,
and fell in love with the most incredible man. How surprised I was when this
man, a man of integrity and honor, desired me, and pursued me! This man of
purity and character ACTUALLY wanted me. Did I mention he is stunningly
handsome!? To be completely honest I
didn’t think I deserved him and have tested him and left the door open so that
he could leave if he wanted to, I expected him to. Yet every time I would share
a part of me that was difficult and I expected would be a deal breaker he drew
closer to me, attracted to the vulnerability of my heart. He understood who I
really was, it wasn’t the mistakes of the past, present or future that define
who I am, but rather the image of God in me that defines me. I am continually
blown away by this man, I’ve never known a man to love like he does,
unconditionally, patiently.
In the past I have been fearful that a relationship with a
man would only cause distraction and a hindrance from my relationship with the
Lord. I loved my close intimate dependent relationship with the Lord and never
wanted it to change, or have someone ruin it. I thought that I would have less
energy to love the Lord like I did when I was single, and that my attentions
would be divided. To some degree this is true. My attentions are now divided,
but also multiplied. My relationship with the Lord has never been richer and my
understanding of who he is to me has never been clearer. It is through this
relationship with this man, that I will soon call husband, that he has taught
me about his deep love for me. I can’t tell you how many times as we traveled
and navigated this relationship and its joys and difficulties that I’ve said, “Ah
Lord, that’s how you pursue me, that’s how you love me, but times infinity.
That’s how you want me to pursue you, love you, respond to you, and receive
from you”. Marriage is part of the Lord’s design to give us an earthly taste
and representation of who he is for us and who we are to him, deeply desired,
beloved. And a foretaste for what is to come.
This is only the beginning and I can’t possibly know what
lessons are to come, and what depths are to be reached, but I can’t wait for
the adventure of marriage.
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