About Me

My photo
This blog is simply meant to bring God the glory; no more and no less. I'd love to hear from you! Comments, questions, conversation. rebecca.labriola@gmail.com

Sunday, March 18, 2012

"Lord, Grant That I May Love You." Sunday, March 18. 2012.

"Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will."
- St. Alphonsus Liguori

One of my favorite prayers.
My heart quickens its pace when I read this prayer.
Such a beautiful plea.
Such a raw plea.
Such a bold plea.
A plea that requires full confidence and unwavering trust.

Let me love You, Lord,
for this is my only hope, my only desire, and my only wish.
After I have learned to love You,
Do with me as You will; whatever You wish, whatever You desire.
Wherever You want me to go, send me.
Whoever You want me to be, form me into that person.
Whatever You want to me to take away from my life or add to my life, let it be done.

What profound trust.
I wish I could trust like that.
I hope that I can get to a point in my life where I will be fully satisfied with loving the Lord
and needing or wanting nothing else.
And not only that but completely letting go of my own life and letting Him do what He desires.

Lord, grant me the privilege to get to this humble place,
Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Invisible Children- Kony 2012 and Supporting Life. Thursday, March 8. 2012.

I did it.
I finally spent 30 minutes of my day watching Invisible Children's Kony 2012 video.
It was a great video.
It held my attention and the plea is beautiful.
I agree with the movement completely.

If you have not seen the video and would like to,
it is on the Kony 2012 website, here is the link.


For those of you who do not have time to watch the video or do not know what the movement is about, Invisible Children gives this summary on their Kony 2012 website-

"JOSEPH KONY IS THE WORLD’S WORST WAR CRIMINAL. IN 1987 HE TOOK OVER LEADERSHIP OF AN
EXISTING REBEL GROUP AND RENAMED IT THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY (LRA).

THE LRA HAS EARNED A REPUTATION FOR ITS CRUEL AND BRUTAL TACTICS. WHEN JOSEPH KONY
FOUND HIMSELF RUNNING OUT OF FIGHTERS, HE STARTED ABDUCTING CHILDREN TO BE SOLDIERS IN
HIS ARMY OR “WIVES” FOR HIS OFFICERS. THE LRA IS ENCOURAGED TO RAPE, MUTILATE, AND
KILL CIVILIANS–OFTEN WITH BLUNT WEAPONS.

THE LRA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE IN NORTHERN UGANDA (WHERE IT ORIGINATED) BUT IT CONTINUES
ITS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC,
AND SOUTH SUDAN. IN ITS 26-YEAR HISTORY, THE LRA HAS ABDUCTED MORE THAN 30,000
CHILDREN AND DISPLACED AT LEAST 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE."

Invisible Children's mission is to arrest Kony so that not another child will have to undergo the previously mentioned horrors.
Invisible Children has already made huge progress.
Their plan of attack is unity.
They are hoping to transcend all political, racial, and class barriers.
Their website lists names of politicians, celebrities, radio show hosts, and musicians who have agreed to support the mission and to stop Kony.
Really it is quite beautiful to see this list of people.
Males and females.
Democrats and Republicans.
Former presidents and current politicians.
African Americans, Caucasians, and Asians.
All speaking in one voice.
Unity.


But, as I watched the video, I could't help but think that there are so many people who were not given the opportunity to participate in this mission.

Since January 22, 1973 somewhere around 50 million babies have been aborted.
50 million.
In less than 40 years.
50 million.
I cannot even comprehend that number.

Invisible Children says that Joseph Kony is the world's worst war criminal.

When you do the math, for the past 26 years, he has killed over 1,150 children a year.
Absolutely awful.
Something needs to be done.

However, when you do the math for abortions,
every year for the past 39 years, we have killed over 128,200 babies per year.
Yeah, I said we.
That is not to say that you personally have had any direct involvement with an abortion at all.
However, that is to say that maybe we are committing a worse crime than Kony;
through our silence.
Our silence can be deadly.
Our tolerance can be deadly.
Our indifference can be deadly.
Our complacency can be deadly.
When we are silent, tolerant, indifferent, and complacent millions of lives are lost.
So far, 50 million.
Maybe, we and our silences are the true criminals.

The babies in the womb should be given just as much of a voice as the children in Africa.
They all deserve a voice.
I have a voice.
You have a voice.

Invisible Children's idea is that,
"where you live should not dictate whether you live."
Brilliant.
The children living in third world countries should have just as much of a chance as the child living in the multi-million dollar home.
The child living in the womb should have just as much of a chance as you and I.
"Where you live should not dictate whether you live."
Amen.

So, why then is abortion such a touchy and political subject
but Invisible Children can get so many dynamic supporters and followers to essentially say that, "Yes! Children should have the right to live!"?


I believe the child in the womb has the right to life.
I believe the children in Africa should not suffer and should have the right to life.
I believe it is wrong to pick and choose which children I think have the right to live.
They all have the right to live.
Who am I to say otherwise?
Who am I to be so hypocritical that I support Invisible Children
but when it comes to babies in the womb, I become silent.
My silence is their grave.
Our voices can be their life.

If we are going to support the truth that each person should have life,
then we must support it fully.
Don't be a hypocrite.
Don't support life half-heartedly.

Jesus came so that all might have eternal life.
He is not selective.
And if He is the giver of life,
then who are we to be selective?

Children in Africa.
Babies in the womb.
They are one in the same.
They are people created by God.
We have no right to condemn them to death
but rather the duty to ensure that they have life.
We were given life.
We have a voice.
We serve the God of life.
He is counting on us.
He lives in each of us.
We each have the right to live;
whether that be living in the womb or in Africa.