The countdown has begun, or I should say it has been going for some time. The summer is almost over, and I realize that I only have two full weeks here at home before returning to UMHB to do Cru Leader training and begin a new exciting semester of learning. In just several weeks, I will see friends who I have not seen since last year, I will become involved with the BSM (Baptist Student Ministries) once again, I will order new books, and get excited for all God has in store for me in the upcoming year.

As I have thought about all that this new school year has in store, and all the ways I will be involved socially, academically, and spiritually, I thought about the word complacency. With all the excitement, comes responsibility and occasionally stress, and not necessarily the bad kind of stress, but stress that nonetheless keeps you busy accomplishing goals. It’s no surprise, but being a college student does entail some level of stress, and balancing academic goals with extracurricular activities and leading ministries is important.

So back to the word complacency… The question that comes to mind is, “Will I become complacent with my spiritual journey? Will my faith become static?”

I don’t question whether or not I have faith, whether or not I love God, because I most certainly do. But growing in Him is something in which all believers should strive for. As I begin a semester filled with so many responsibilities, and as I start all the studying, homework, essays, projects, and exams, will I lay all my worries and cares at His feet? Will I surrender all and rely on Him? I would hope the answer to these questions is a definite YES!

My hope and prayer is that I wouldn’t become too overconfident in a way that I think I can manage all of these responsibilities on my own. I hope that my faith wouldn’t become stagnant, and that I continue to rely on Him, pray, study His Word and not think that I can do all of this myself.

Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (NIV). Rather than relying only on what I can do by myself, it is my desire to lean completely on the Lord and grow in Him.

There are times when I realize how much my faith in Christ has grown over the years, yet I want it to keep growing. I don’t want to become complacent and indirectly tell myself, “Well my faith has grown. I like it at this level.” I want it to keep growing. It’s hard to imagine (in fact it’s quite indescribable) what a closer relationship with Christ would be like when you feel that you’ve never been this close before. Yet I yearn for even a closer walk with Him.

I want to be drawn close to Him, to dwell in His presence. As Psalm 27:4 (NIV) states: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” I want a faith that grows, one in which I completely dwell with Him and seek Him.

And so I ask God, “Give me a spirit of brokenness. Break me, use me, mold me, and cause me to rely fully on you and not my own devices. Give me the desire to seek you daily and whatever trials life may throw at me, use them to bring me closer and closer to you. Never let me stray from you. Never allow me to think that I can handle all of the stresses of life on my own. I know I will face challenges, because challenges are a part of life. So use those challenges for your glory. As you use them to bring me closer to you as I rely more and more on you, use those same challenges to reach others and inspire others to also have a closer relationship with you.”

So what do I mean by having a spirit of brokenness? What I mean is that I don’t want to be too prideful and think that I can do everything on my own. I don’t want to take for granted the love God has for me to the point that I don’t grow in my walk with Him. I simply want my faith to grow and not become stagnant. I don’t want to be complacent with where I am and not grow.

Life is full of challenges and I never want those challenges to either weaken my faith or cause me to remain stagnant and not grow in my faith. The idea of having this sense of brokenness reminds me of a song sung by some friends, Paul and Vanessa Cherry, who travel to different churches to lead their revivals. One of my favorite songs they sing (I still have their CD), originally by Greater Vision, is “Spirit of Brokenness.”

Spirit of Brokenness

I remember the night so long ago,
The first time I called Your name;
Empty and broken, ashamed of my sin,
I asked if this sinner You’d save.
But the cares of life have darkened the light,
And I feel like I’m drifting away.
So break me, mold me, cleanse me, then hold me,
I want to be near You today.

Lord, give me a spirit of brokenness,
Like You gave when I first called Your name.
And replace all my pride with humility,
Lord, a broken, willing vessel I’ll be.

I never set out to drift into sin,
My intentions are never to stray;
But my flesh is weak, and I’m so prone to fall,
Like a child I go my own way;
‘Til I hear Your cry from deep down inside,
Saying, “Go back to Calvary again.
There you’ll see my flesh opened and my spirit broken,
Then surely your drifting will end.”
  
Lord, give me a spirit of brokenness,
Like You gave when I first called Your name.
And replace all my pride with humility,
Lord, a broken, willing vessel I’ll be.

I still remember when I was in middle school and was unsure of my faith. When I recommitted myself to Him and asked Him to be in my life and use me, I remember what a great feeling that was. I wasn’t this perfect little kid without problems when I called on Him. I was broken, hurt, worried about the weeks and months ahead. Yet I surrendered myself to Christ and asked Him to take away my pride and use this broken person for His glory.

As a believer in Christ, I still yearn to be drawn even closer to Him. So, my hope and prayer is that I never take my faith for granted. I want to have a sense of being broken down so that this wonderful Savior can use all these broken pieces and mold them into an instrument for His glory.

Lord, make me humble, erase my pride, break me, mold me, and use me. Let me continue to grow in you and rely fully on you. Never let me think that I can do any of this all by myself. My intentions aren’t to stray from my walk with you, but when I do, bring me back to your wonderful majesty.

Give me a spirit of brokenness!

Greater Vision. Spirit of Brokenness. By Rodney Griffin, 1996. Christiansongoftheday.blogspot.com. Web. 27 July. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 27 July. 2015.

Spirit of Brokenness by Greater Vision

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) by Hillsong Worship

As I pondered what to write in this week’s blog, my mind couldn’t help but think of all the pain and suffering we go through in our lives. The honest truth is that we all face hardship. We all face challenges and trials that try to knock us down. In the midst of life’s many challenges, we can choose either to remain defeated or to keep going, keep fighting, and keep trusting in the Lord.

Too often, however, we become discouraged, and at times this discouragement leads to frustration, a loss of hope, a level of anxiety, and fear of the unknown to the point that we stop trusting.

In my young 21 years on Earth, I will admit that I have battled anxiety, depression, and chronic illness. In some cases, my trust in God has abated as I have asked, “Why me Lord? Why?” In the middle of these various circumstances, I have turned to my mp3 player, turned on the radio, inserted a gospel album into my DVD player, and listened to any song to give me comfort.

Of course, I don’t always need a negative circumstance in order to listen. Last week, I was searching through YouTube listening to Kristian Stanfill, Hillsong, and the Gaither Vocal Band, among others, when I came across one of the many songs I would listen to when I was in middle school battling intense depression. I thought about the various times in life when trials have tried to knock me down, and each time a small voice would say to me, “Trust me. Just trust me. I haven’t left you yet and I never will.” It made me think of how beautiful and how majestic the name of Jesus truly is. In every single battle that we fight in life, no matter how big or small, we can call on His name, and He will guide us and bring us to Him.

I sat in my recliner listening to Vestal Goodman singing, “What a Lovely Name,” and afterwards, I looked up the lyrics to focus on the words (see video below).

There’s a name above all others,
Wonderful to hear, bringing hope and cheer 
It’s the lovely name of Jesus, 
Evermore the same, what a lovely name 

(Chorus) 
What a lovely name, the name of Jesus 
Reaching higher far, than the brightest star 
Sweeter than the songs they sing in heaven 
Let the world proclaim, what a lovely name 

He’ll return in clouds of glory, 
Saints of ev’ry race, shall behold His face 
With Him enter heaven’s city, 
Ever to proclaim, what a lovely name

I have come to realize that in any circumstance, we can call on the name of Jesus, and that is what He yearns from us, to turn to Him, to fix our eyes upon Him, and trust in Him even when the situation tells us to do otherwise. Sure, we can choose to turn to other things in life in an attempt to bring us comfort, but it is only the name of Jesus in which we can find true solace, true comfort, and true joy. So proclaim His name. Shout it from the mountaintops and sing it in the valleys. When life tries to knock you off balance, turn to Him and call on His name. The Lord goes before you and cares about everything you go through. So call on His name and place your cares at His feet.

As 1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you” (HCSB).

And even in the best of times, continue to glorify and praise His name.

Psalm 105:1-4 (NIV) says to us:

¹ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
² Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
³ Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

In every situation, both good and bad, praise His name, glorify His name, and sing His name. Let everyone know that Jesus is the greatest name.

As I thought about how awesome His name truly is, and how much meaning it has, I remembered one of my favorite performances of all time. For a while, earlier this year, the song Dad and I listened to every day was Revelation Song sung by Kari Jobe (see video below).

Filled with wonder, 
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah…

In the middle of the video, after singing, “At the mention of Your Name,” she repeats “Your Name. Your Name. Your Name. Your Name!” while jumping and dancing, and praising Jesus. I thought about all the names I could think of that we call our Savior: Abba, Father, Lamb of God, Healer, Redeemer, I AM, Yahweh, the Holy One, His Majesty, Emmanuel, The Way, Lord, Son of God, King of Kings, Light of the World, JESUS CHRIST!

How can I not get excited? How can I not jump up and down and proclaim His name? How can I not sing out His name with every breath in me? In every circumstance, in every good time, in every bad time, praise His name. His name is worthy of all our praise!

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) tells us:

⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How awesome will it be when that day comes and we are all gathered before the throne and every tongue will shout His name and confess that He is Lord. What a day that will be!

No matter where life takes you, never stop praising the name of Jesus.

WHAT A LOVELY NAME!!!

Goodman, Vestal. What a Lovely Name. By Charles B. Wycuff, 1967. Lyrics.com. Web. 20 July. 2015.

Holman Christian Standard Bible. Bible Gateway. Web. 20 July. 2015.

Jobe, Kari. Revelation Song. By Jennie Lee Riddle, 2004. K-Love. Web. 20 July. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 20 July. 2015.

New King James Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 20 July. 2015.

What a Lovely Name by Vestal Goodman

Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

The past few days, I have had so many thoughts float in my mind, and at times it seems hard to sort it all out. So many emotions have occurred, both good and bad. When figuring out what to say this week, I decided to put it all out there, my exact thoughts and exact emotions. As the summer winds down, I realize that I only have four full weeks before returning to UMHB to do Cru Leader training. Which leads me to the question, “Why do I want to be a Cru Leader?”

For readers who don’t know what this is, a Cru Leader (CL) is a UMHB student who is not a freshman, and this student (along with another CL) leads a group of new students and mentors them during Welcome Week and their first semester during Freshman Seminar.

This is something I have wanted to do since my Welcome Week experience, and now as I begin my senior year, I finally get to be a CL. I still remember coming to UMHB my first year, and the first night away from my family, the first night into a whole new world, I was timid and shy and had no clue what to do. I felt lost at first, trying to find my way around this entirely new lifestyle, that of a college student.

I felt so many things as I experienced the “new.” These emotions included, excitement, fear, happiness, joy, anxiety, all wrapped up inside me as I transitioned from the life of a high-schooler to that of a college student. There were plenty of moments when I laughed with these new people around me, and there were moments when I went back to my dorm room and cried in solitude.

As someone who has been outspoken about my love for Christ, I turned to God in these moments, both in the moments of pure joy, and also in the moments when there was so much uncertainty. Throughout high school, I battled severe Crohn’s Disease (although I didn’t know what it was at the time) and the idea of living away from home while experiencing this pain brought so much anxiety for me the first few weeks.

I tried to keep a smile as if nothing was wrong. I wanted to keep all of these emotions inside of me, not let anyone see them, and pretend like I had it all together. Then one night, we all shared our testimonies, and I realized that no one has it all together. In some way, we are all broken, imperfect people. We all have struggles, and we all have obstacles that can sometimes distract us from God. Sharing my testimony that night was probably the turning point for me. Sure there would still be times of uncertainty, but I realized that God would help me through all the craziness of life.

Towards the end of my Welcome Week, there was a big worship service. I don’t remember what song it was, but as we all sang, I started weeping. I sat down to pray to God when I felt a hand reaching across my shoulder. It was my wonderful Cru Leader, Samantha Garza, who sat down next to me to pray with me. Although I couldn’t hear half of her prayer over the loud music, the fact that she took the time to join me in prayer meant the world to me. She truly became the first of many friends I would make during my time at UMHB.

So the answer to the question of why I want to be a Cru Leader stems from my own experiences. More than anything, as Sam Garza was my first friend during my transition, I want to be that “first friend” to someone who might also struggle during this new and uncharted chapter of life filled with uncertainty.

Last week, as I sent out my first summer email to the freshmen I will be mentoring, I felt excitement. I finally saw the names of people I would soon meet. I was overwhelmed with enthusiasm.

As the days went by, I still had that excitement, but I also experienced nervousness, and in all honesty, those feelings are still present. Any new experience can bring out nervousness and sometimes fear of the unknown. And when you’re tasked with being a mentor to new freshmen who will soon experience their own transition, this nervousness seems even greater.

So you could ask, “Why do you want to be a Cru Leader?” It brings this nervousness, plus you have to do it in the midst of all your health problems. The best way I can answer that is this: I don’t let any of these obstacles stop me. Each year as I have turned another year older, I have grown in my faith with God. Through many experiences, I have learned that through trials, through weakness, we can find strength in the Lord. So with God on my side, there is nothing I cannot do. If I feel called to do something, no matter how challenging, can anything stop me if God is on my side? Only if I let it stop me. Only if I turn my eyes away from God’s plan. But even then, He can guide me back with His grace.

These feelings of nervousness, among others, reminds me of a song I had not thought about for some time. If you know me or have read my blog, you know that I love quoting music. Recently, I listened to the song, “Speak to the Mountain” by Jeff and Sheri Easter (see video below). It reminds me to focus on God and not let any obstacle keep me from serving Him and serving others. The first verse and chorus go like this…

From strength to strength we sometimes go
Then again we’re sinking low
In the shadow of a mountain 
Looming high above our head
We need not fear what lies ahead 
For the Word has clearly said
That our faith could be sufficient 
To make the mountain disappear

Speak to the mountain
You’ll not triumph over me
Be thou removed from here to yonder
Disappear into the sea
Speak to the mountain
Speak with authority
And the mountain must move
And you shall claim victory

There are times when these mountains, when these obstacles, in our life seem so tall. Yet in the midst of all our worries and nervousness, God calls us by name and says, “Do not fear.” So why should we? Isn’t God more powerful and mightier than any of these mountains? With Him at my side, I know that I can tell these mountains to disappear into the sea, and if I trust in the Lord and speak with authority, these mountains will surely move.

Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message) tells us this:

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

There are plenty times in life when we will experience nervousness, or fear, or worrying. Yet, in these moments, God is telling us not to fear, not to worry. No matter the situation, it is Christ who goes before you, so why worry? Why fear? Instead, pray. All of this is sometimes easier said than done, but God is not calling us to do what is easy. What He is calling us to do is to cast away our fears, anxieties, and worries and rely on His grace, goodness, and sovereignty.

So, as I prepare to mentor new students this upcoming year, and as I engage in various other opportunities, I will strive to trust in Him, and when I feel worried, anxious, or fear, I will pray and praise Him for all of the blessings He has given me in life.

If ever you should fear or feel nervousness, speak to that mountain with authority, the authority that is God Almighty, and that mountain will move, and you shall claim victory!

SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN!

Jeff & Sheri Easter. Speak to the Mountain. By Marcia Henry, 1995. The Lyric Archive. Web. 13 July. 2015.

The Message. Bible Gateway. Web. 13 July. 2015.

Speak to the Mountain by Jeff & Sheri Easter

Cast My Cares by Tim Timmons

Saturday, as everyone celebrated the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I spent the day with my family by ending the day with a spectacular view of the Andice Fireworks Show in Andice, Texas. It is truly a blessing to live in a country where we can celebrate what makes this country great and then have the freedom to worship on Sunday.

As I thought about the joy I have to live in such a great country, I thought about all the brave men and women in uniform through the ages who have fought, and in some cases, have died for these freedoms. I remember some of the stories I have of my great-grandfathers who served in the Navy during WWII. I thought about the law enforcement and first responders who keep us safe at home. I thought about remarkable educators, like my dad, who spend so much time and their own money to ensure that every child receives a quality education.

And while I thought about these remarkable Americans, I was also reminded that so many in this world today do not get to enjoy these freedoms. When I think about the rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, I realize that many in our world, are deprived of Life, the young and the old, by violence and terror. So many people are deprived of Liberty when they are seen as objects to be enslaved and trafficked. So many do not have the luxury of Pursuing Happiness when they have to wonder where their next meal will come from. And the sad reality is that many of these things occur not only throughout our world, but in our “backyard” as well.

Today is July the 6th, but why should we only recognize freedom on just one or a few days each year? Every day should be a celebration of freedom.

As I write this blog, there are American servicemen and women in our Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, who are oversees fighting to protect our freedoms, to protect my right to even write this blog. But do I thank them enough? The honest truth is no, I don’t. But can we really ever thank them enough? The least we can do is thank them for their bravery. So I am going to challenge readers, and myself, to thank people more when they are seen in uniform.

But we cannot stop there. Too many of these brave men and women struggle to find work when they come home, too many struggle with the trauma and health problems that war can bring, too many are now homeless. As a country, can we not do better?

No one who serves in our military should have to worry, “Will I have a job when I return?” None of them should have to wait months to receive quality care, and no one who serves should have to live in homelessness. Because they have sacrificed so much, why can’t we advocate on their behalf and ensure that they have the best opportunities when they return? It’s the least we can do for people who have done so much for us.

As we advocate for those who have served in our military, let’s also remember to pray for those in our world who do not have the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The sad reality is that too many people, everyone from the youngest to the oldest, are deprived of Life when they are slaughtered by tyrannical governments and terrorist organizations. Too many are deprived of Liberty when they are sold into slavery for sex, labor, or used as child soldiers. Too many are deprived of Liberty when they cannot worship without fear of being beaten or killed. Too many are deprived of Liberty when they have to worry about being imprisoned for standing up for something or speaking out against a government. Too many are deprived of the Pursuit of Happiness when they must live under a $1 a day.

Last semester, I did a research paper on sweatshops in Bangladesh. I was shocked and saddened when I realized that so many workers are treated as objects for profit. Many of them are deprived of Life when they are killed in disasters because the sweatshop owners overlooked safety precautions. Many of them are deprived of Liberty as they fear of retaliation for demanding better working conditions. Many of them are deprived of the Pursuit of Happiness as they are essentially used as labor slaves in order to make cheap clothing.

But this is only one tragedy occurring in our world. As these workers are being worked to death, millions struggle to survive while living in poverty. Whether it’s India, Sierra Leonne, Haiti, or Waco, Texas, too many in our world have to go without food or water, and too many live in tin shacks and cardboard boxes while I get to live in a nice home. So, how can I not have compassion for these people? How can I not lift them up in prayer?

In Matthew 25, verse 40, Jesus tells us, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (NIV). Praying for and standing up for those who live in poverty is just one way in which we can advocate for everyone to have the opportunity of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

And as I type this, millions of young girls and boys are being sold for labor and sex while others are used as child soldiers. Many of these sex and labor slaves are being sold right here at home, and not just in the big cities of Houston, New York, and Atlanta, but also in Belton and Waxahachie, Texas, Casper, Wyoming, and Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Many of these young kids are treated worse than animals, as disposable property. So many in the world are having their bodies mutilated in horrific ways. And whatever happened to the Kony 2012 movement, remember him? My heart breaks for all these precious kids, and that’s what they are… precious. They are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Too many are also denied an education. In many societies, girls are denied education and are threatened when they desire to learn. One young woman, Malala Yousafzai, who is now a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was shot in the head by the Taliban because she dared to pursue an education. Meanwhile, many kids in America are killed while walking to school and so many children with special needs are overlooked because they are seen as kids who can’t learn. How can my heart not break? How can I not pray that all these kids earn an education so that they can Pursue Happiness?

Others are denied the freedom to worship and are persecuted for wanting to worship freely. So many countries make it a crime to carry a bible or other religious text not approved by the government. The idea that you could be stoned, beheaded, dragged, or hung for worshipping sickens me. Yet people bravely worship anyways, risking their very lives for what they believe in.

As Christians, let us pray for those who are denied these sacred rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Let us work and advocate until freedom rings throughout this world.

One of my favorite songs emphasizes this perfectly. It’s “Let Freedom Ring” by the Gaither Vocal Band (see video below works cited). The lyrics go like this…

Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it
There’s something that keeps reaching for the sky

Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
And songs we love to sing have freedom’s theme
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom’s dream

(Chorus)

Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
We can be free and we can sing – let freedom ring

God built freedom into every fiber of creation
And He meant for us to all be free and whole
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul

I’ll sing it out with every breath, I’ll let the whole world hear it
This hallelujah anthem of the free
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
The Son has made us free and free indeed

Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
You can be free and you can sing – let freedom ring – let freedom ring

Until all can sing this song with the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, let us pray and advocate for all who yearn for freedom. Let Freedom Ring!

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ended his famous “I Have A Dream” speech with these words:

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Until everyone can truly sing “free at last,” let us never forget those struggling for the freedom to worship, to learn, to live, and to strive for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. God meant for all of us to be free. When Christ shed His precious blood, He bought our freedom. We are all made in His image, and because He died so we can be free, it is our obligation to stand up for those whose freedoms are being challenged by man. So let us stand for others, care for our brothers and sisters, and advocate for freedom.

As we celebrate our freedom, let us work to help others gain those freedoms. Let every day be a celebration of freedom. Thank a veteran, someone in law enforcement, a first responder, a teacher. Pray for those who have no freedom.

AND LET FREEDOM RING!

Works Cited:

(Blog)

Gaither Vocal Band. Let Freedom Ring. By Bill and Gloria Gaither. Lyricsmode. Web. 6 July. 2015.

King Jr., Martin Luther. “I Have A Dream.” American Rhetoric. Web. 6 July. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 6 July. 2015.

(Thumbnail pictures)

Civil Rights Protestors: Moore, Charles. Birmingham, Alabama, Fire Department Aims High-pressure Water Hoses at Civil Rights Demonstrators. 1963.

Iwo Jima: Rosenthal, Joe. Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. 1945.

Kids in Poverty: Rudd, Paul. Kids on a Road near Rishikesh, India. 2009.

Tied Hands: Hands of a Kidnapped Woman via Shutterstock.com. Nazish, Kiran. “Women and Girls, A Commodity: Human Trafficking in Nepal.” The Diplomat., 22 Feb 2014. Web. 6 July. 2015.

Let Freedom Ring by the Gaither Vocal Band

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin