As the director and founder of Shining a Light I take on the full responsibility of fund raising and spreading the vision of our work. As unrealistic as this is I have to constantly remind myself of who's ministry this really is and who is in control. That is why when I was invited to speak at a small farm house in the hills of Kentucky to a group of women battered and bruised by the world, rescued out of the sex industry and in hiding to protect their new lives I was excited about the opportunity to forget the bottom line and just LOVE!We headed out there one Tuesday morning and were greeted by smiles and hugs. These women didn't appear to be angry or bitter they were loving and grateful. The Refuge for Women House wasn't a place of brokenness and sadness these were women who were healed, women who were hopeful and secure in their future.
I shared my story of addiction, sickness and sin and how God, who had no reason whatsoever to rescue me, pulled me out of a life of darkness, despair and death. I shared how He took all my pain and replaced it with respect, hope and a chance to give this love away to others. As I spoke I could see the light ignite in their eyes. I could see it begin to register that they too could recover, receive and change the world. That this life of pain and suffering that they had been given could be transformed into a life of love and hope, ashes could be turned into beauty.
The morning ended up with all 8 women digging through boxes of sandals picking out their very own pair, a gift from my dear friend and hostess Amanda Bledsoe and her amazing husband Todd. The picture shows the sandals they chose. Have you ever seen such beautiful feet? They are feet of women who were lost but now are found, women who were blind but now can see because they serve a God who is bigger then any addiction, abusive relationship, any job in a strip club and any mess we can ever get ourselves into.
