Close

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday. Join me! The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write. Today’s prompt: CLOSE The door closed right in front of me. I didn't ask for it to close. But before I knew it, it had been closed. I just wanted to walk up to it and open it back up. But this time I didn't have a choice. I didn't have time to respond, to give my story. Decisions were made and I had to start looking elsewhere or maybe it was time to sit still. Oooh being still. Not one of my best attributes. Everything was already put into motion to stand still. The options were none. Time to reflect, to ask questions to myself. To redirect, be still and focus on where the next step would be. Would another door open? When? Why? Answers I do not have. But we all know the saying when one door closes another one opens,right? It's in the waiting for that next door to open when we find out what were really made of. So as we watch that door close that we had no choice over its time to reflect and ask for the closing to reveal the opening. Lisa Michelle

Calling all warriors!

I am deeply passionate about helping hurting women find healing. Since I know exactly what they are going through and what they are experiencing and have found myself on the other side of that hurt I want them to experience this too. When I am given the opportunity to invest in a woman's life to mentor & challenge her to live her life fully,I can only do that. I invest, love and mentor these women in the hopes that they too will embrace healing and find out what freedom looks like. Let me tell you the journey sometimes is almost harder than the original abuse or past that you suffered but well worth fighting for! It is not easy. It hurts even more. But once you walk thorough the fire and face your past and the hurts that control who you are today then you will find a peace that you will want more of. Here's the thing though, I can only show the way. Give advice and encourage change. Ultimately the choice is there's. I am the only one who sat in that counselors office, the one who read all those books, the one who was on my knees and the one who ran to church when the doors where open. No one could help me if I didn't want to help myself. Addiction and

codependency we're my daily companions but I can say they no longer hold me captive! I had to stop blaming others, take responsibility and seek help to find my new life in freedom. You can find yours too but it's not for the faint at heart. It will take a warrior to fight this battle and giving up isn't an option. I know countless women will read this today that are addicted to drugs, pornography, codependency, alcoholism, women who are being beaten, women in the sex industry and women with severe self esteem issues. Please open the door to freedom today, she is waiting for you with open arms and repays you with a life that you could only imagine. You are the one who holds the key to that door though, so stand up, shake off the dust and get your key and open the door.

SHE

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday. Join me! The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write. Today’s prompt: SHE Go SHE looks at us in disbelief as we show up to give her a gift. SHE doesn't know how to except a gift without giving something in return. SHE is overwhelmed by the power of unconditional love as it enters the room. SHE is guarded but curious. SHE is Loved, valued and cherished. When we leave the room, SHE will go back to work. SHE works hard for her money. SHE is a daughter of the KING, a precious women, has value far bigger than rubies and diamonds. SHE is the lady of the night. The sex worker, the stripper or the brothel worker. SHE is someone I love and have a heart for as SHE needs to know someone out there cares for her. SHE has been a sister, a mother, a daughter, a mom, a friend. SHE needs more people to understand her and love her and help her in the situation SHE is in. So the next time SHE is in the room with you will you please consider SHE just might need you and a friend. STOP

My worst nightmare

It was like any other ordinary night at work so I thought until the unthinkable happened. I was called to go back to the VIP room. Which if you don't know anything about strip clubs and the way they operate then this is a private room for a client to have one on one with a stripper. For me this was my first time being called. As I walked back to the room my heart began to beat a little deeper and I started to feel as though I could possibly have a panic attack. There was something about doing this that scared me. The unknown of what was to be expected of me and how far do I go and am I ready to do things I swore I would never do. I started this job as a waitress in the club to make ends meet. But after becoming friends with the girls and seeing their wads of cash I though hmmm,I could do this. What's so bad about taking your clothes off and teasing some guys. But as I headed down this hallway I began to think, how did I get here? Demand. I was the prettiest girl in the club the most requested and I quickly started making more money than any of the other girls. Now this! The VIP room. As I opened the door the light was dimmed real low. I could barely see. Hello? Yes I'm here,come in. I walked slowly over to him and sat in his lap. He handed me a glass of champagne and asked,is an hour ok with you tonight? Yes sure,what did you have in mind? I downed my drink in two large gulps knowing I needed to be sedated for this. His hands quickly began to rise up my leg and he told me what he wanted. It began to get real heated and I started to notice his voice reminded me of someone. I asked his name and he replied it's Alex (not his real name). And yours,he asked? I'm Heather but most people around here call me Doll. His drink fell over and I reached down to get it and he quickly stood up. He seemed frightened and I asked is everything ok? Silence. I began to feel very uneasy and somewhat sick to my stomach. Neither one of us moved. Again I still couldn't really see this mans face or couldn't identify him. I thought about reaching over to the dimmer on the wall and turning the lights up but I sat there frozen. He began to get dressed and said I'm so sorry I just remembered I have to be somewhere and he fled out the door! I knew something was terribly wrong and as I sat there trying to remember who his voice reminded me of all of the sudden I remembered and ran to the sink in the room and vomited. This is a true story of a young girl living in the sex industry. Her named has been changed and you can only imagine who that man could of been. So I tell this story for the very reason of letting men know. The girl your about to have sex with could be your daughter or another relative of yours, your daughters friend, a neighbor or someone else you know. The truth is, she is someone's daughter! Please get help and find healing for your sex addiction. www.xxxchurch.com www.getopen.com

Five Minute Friday

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday. Join me! The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write. Today’s prompt: LAST Do you always feel last? Last in line, last to get that phone call, last to figure out the latest trend. Last last last! You know that scripture in Matthew? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. We'll where's that put you if your always last. Think about it? I'm pretty sure your not missing out on anything if your last and you think your overlooked, invisible behind everything. Sometimes I let everyone go in front of me so I can feel what its like to be last. Last isn't fun. You get leftovers, picked overs & whatever overs. But first isn't fun anymore either cause then you remember what last felt like. Are you tracking with me? If not its ok. Try to be last next time. Let everyone go in front of you and you'll get it. I'm just thinking being first is overrated and being last really means your first. In my humble opinion.

Lisa Jo Baker Blog Post "Small"

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday. Join me! The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write. Today’s prompt: Small Go: As we are preparing for our outreach this weekend we are reminded of the women in the sex industry that need us. Even though we are small I am reminded we are mighty! Walking into the strip clubs and giving the girls homemade goodies may seem like such a small thing but really its about us just showing up. The gift of presence is how I best describe it. Sometimes in a world where everyone takes from you just having someone come along side you to remind you that you are cared for and loved is more than a small gift. Its a gift that lingers that stays with the soul and reminds these women they are not forgotten and that Jesus loves them more than they'll ever know. So even though we are a small group of women I believe that it is no small gift that we are giving cause in a big world sometimes its the small things that stands head over heals over the big things! So here's to the No Strings attached Girls known as the NSA Girls! You may be small but you are mighty! Stop #stripcluboutreach

The Father's Love "Strip Club Outreach"

Here's a story of one night on our Strip club outreach! Thank you to all of you who make cupcakes, pray & help us!! As my hand hit the door, I slowly opened it to the sound of chatter, heavy metal music, and a strong smell of smoke, perfume & despair. On the surface it looked like one big party was going on. Everyone was happy, having fun, and living it up. My steps led me into the back of the club, and I arrived at my destination for the night. A dressing room. Not any dressing room. This one had all of Gods princesses in it! Yes, you heard me right. These are the women of night. The dancers, strippers, sex workers, whatever you want them to be for the night. They do it all. They are good at their jobs because when you talk with them,the girls are so happy,the money is flowing,and they are seeing their dreams starting to become a reality. It won't be long before they can return to their former life, their normal life. No one will ever know the things they did to get that degree, to raise that child, to pay the rent, to start that business. No, this will be their little secret, and it will be tucked away so deep that no one will break down the walls to ever find out how they really survived in their circumstances. Not until we walk in. We ask the questions that pull on their heart strings. We dig deep and find out who they are. Ask questions to get to know them. Become a friend, a mentor and a positive voice in their life. We look at the root, not the fruit, of their life, and continue on in our relationships this way. We remind ourselves that it's not our job to judge their lives, but to be a light and a Godly influence, to draw them closer to a God that is waiting for His princess to arrive. The Bridegroom is patient, a gentleman, a lover of her soul. He uses us to love on the girls and to show them how valued they are. Soon they sense a deeper and more profound relationship and begin to ask questions. Some come to church, have coffee, attend events with us. Just knowing we gave them another option is so rewarding because then we know they aren't left with the only option they once knew. Darkness. So I sit down and start to watch a young girl do her makeup. I ask questions about what kind she's using and make small chat. I grab a cupcake from the goodies we brought in and ask if she'd like one. Red Velvet I say, just for you! She stopped doing her makeup and looked at me. I asked her, "have you heard of us or seen us in here?" "No,why are you here, she responded?" Well, we want you to know that you are cared for and not forgotten..... and honestly, I don't remember the rest, it was God's words and not mine. He took over and spoke right into this woman's heart. Tears began to pour our of her eyes and you could visibly see she was shaken by the words that were spoken! She ripped off her false eyelashes and ran into the bathroom and went into a stall and bawled her head off. I sat there overwhelmed by what God was doing, and tried so hard to hold in my emotional anguish for this young girl. I felt her pain, I knew what she was going through, and it broke my heart to see her hurting! She composed herself, walked back into the room, and embraced me with a hug. Then she cried some more on my shoulder. Tears flowed all over my arm and my shirt. She was overwhelmed, and didn't realize she had just encountered her Father's love! She sat down and began to share her story. Her boyfriend was beating her and she didn't know what to do. She said her grandpa was sick, and she was in town to visit him and if he hadn't been sick she would of never met me. She began to realize that it was no accident that we met, and was incredibly grateful for this encounter. This is the Fathers love, He knows what the girls need to hear, He knows their needs , He knows what it takes to draw them closer to Him. I love love love watching my Daddy do His work and use me in a way I never even dreamed of. This story is only one of many I have encountered, and there are many woman out there every week doing this exact same outreach. So many ask what I do when I go into the clubs, so I wanted to share one of my stories. As we left the club that night, I walked out into the parking lot with my wet sleeve and the tears still fresh on my arm. I touched them and asked God to dry up His little girls eyes and change her life. I was wishing I could keep them on my arm to remind me of how God moves and loves these women more than we'll ever know. And if we allow God to use us and step out in faith He will do amazing things! Oh and by the way the room didn't smell like smoke anymore, there was new song playing and HOPE filled the room!!