Seek Justice

This past Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of sharing the songs off of the Defend the Orphan CD project at TBC's Global Gathering. What was most enjoyable for me was getting to play and sing with a variety of friends. These girls were precious. I pray they grow up with a heart like our Heavenly Father's... one that beats for justice... to care for orphans and widows for His Name sake....

Interestingly enough, I had a conversation with a gentleman Thursday morning who shared a story that went something along these lines:

"I remember the first time I picked cotton was when I was 5 years old. I wanted to help my grandmother. She told me she would pay me a penny for every piece I could put in the stocking. So, I started putting whatever I could find in there... kernel or not. I wanted lots of pennies! (*grin*) She told me that was not going to work...

Growing up my family was sharecroppers. We worked on a man's land just down the road here in Mississippi. We worked from sun up to sun down, long hard hours. Occasionally we would get to go into town, which was always a treat. What we didn't realize at the time was that the owner of the land was keeping a tally of every little thing we did and every expenditure. He had given us a piece of land to work after we'd worked his land. The profits were to be ours. What we didn't know was that he was charging us rent. At the end of the day, once all the tally's were added up and put against the profits the man said we hadn't even earned a cent! I was twelve years old. My dad was so mad he went to confront the man. The man's sons came out with shotguns and told us to leave. It was an especially long walk back home that day. I'll never forget hearing my daddy cry the whole way home. We never sharecropped again... He worked two jobs after that so we could eat...."

This was an actual conversation I had with a neighbor here in Hattiesburg. Actually, it was kind of random topic during a professional encounter. The timing of it is particularly interesting...

Friday, I will be joining a group of friends from here, in traveling to participate in the International Justice Mission's annual Global Prayer Gathering in DC. It has become a highlight, now my third year to attend. It is not only a time of encouragement, reunion and celebration, but an intense time of intercession for God's work of justice across the globe. Please pray for our travels, health, safety and God's presence...

You can join in praying too! This year IJM is having a special GPG online experience. Follow along, receive updates and join in the fight for justice through prayer. Click HERE.