freedom

“You can sell a bag of cocaine once. A 5-year-old child, you can sell them 5-10 times a day, for 10 years straight.” – Tim Ballard from the movie, “Sound of Freedom.”

In case you still haven’t seen it, “Sound of Freedom” is a 2023 American-Colombian-Mexican action film about Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who starts Operation Underground Railroad and embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia. Directed, written, and produced by Eduardo Verástegui. It is based on an incredible true story.

April and I just watched it the other day. It was very moving, and of course, we cried. Perhaps not because of a particular scene or series of dialogue, but because in our hearts and minds, we knew it was true. There are children, people being trafficked every day, and a lot of it is here in America!

“God’s children are not for sale.” – Tim Ballard.

One character in the film, Vampiro, said that he got involved trying to rescue children out of sex trafficking after sleeping with one girl he was told was 22 years old. After the deed was done, he saw the sadness in her eyes and asked her what her real age was. She cautiously admitted, “14.” He admitted, “I was the sadness in her eyes.” He said after she left, he put a .45 up to his head and said, “If there ever was a God, now is the time to know.” He felt a stirring in his spirit. He went on to say, “When God tells you what to do, you cannot hesitate.”

“Do you know there are 22 million new images of child porn on the Internet? That’s up 5,000% from just 5 years ago!” – Tim Ballard.

What does freedom sound like? In the movie, the sound of freedom was when the children, realizing they had just been rescued, started singing. There is another kind of freedom, and that is knowing God, accepting his Son, Jesus, and asking for your sins to be forgiven. We, who know God, need to join the others who are praying against human trafficking. Praying is the least we can do!

“You know trafficking exists, you’ve heard of it, but you don’t want to look.” – Tim Ballard.

Charlie 70 How many times have you beat yourself up for not doing your devotions? Me? I used to constantly be black and blue! I didn’t like it. Am I not serious about serving God? I used to ask myself. I wanted to make God happy with me, so why did I constantly feel as though I was disappointing him?

It took a while, okay years, but one day I realized being devoted to devotions was not the same as being devoted to God. I begin to walk in freedom, because now I was devoted to God, and I knew I could talk to him anytime I wanted to. I could worship, read his word, and praise him throughout the entire day, and not just at a particular time of day. There may be those that like having a set time each day, but that didn’t work for me. Some people, I’m afraid, do their devotions, but then forget what they read or said to God as soon as they are done. They experienced time gone by, but fail to experience God.

Just like I can’t make you mad, I can’t make God have an emotional response to me as well. We choose our reactions to others and God chooses his reactions to us. I’m sure it’s an easy choice for him though when we talk to him and are mindful of him all day long. God, no doubt, wants to hang out with his children and listen to them, and have them listen to him. God has a lot to say.

^“Therefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as [you are doing] today.” (1 Kings 8:61 AMP)

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

The Sound of Freedom

“You can sell a bag of cocaine once. A 5-year-old child, you can sell them 5-10 times a day, for 10 years straight.” – Tim Ballard from the movie, “Sound of Freedom.”

“God’s children are not for sale.” – Tim Ballard.

“Do you know there are 22 million new images of child porn on the Internet? That’s up 5,000% from just 5 years ago!” – Tim Ballard.

“You know trafficking exists, you’ve heard of it, but you don’t want to look.” – Tim Ballard.

Devoted to Devotions?

“You can sell a bag of cocaine once. A 5-year-old child, you can sell them 5-10 times a day, for 10 years straight.” – Tim Ballard from the movie, “Sound of Freedom.”

“God’s children are not for sale.” – Tim Ballard.

“Do you know there are 22 million new images of child porn on the Internet? That’s up 5,000% from just 5 years ago!” – Tim Ballard.

​​​​​​“You know trafficking exists, you’ve heard of it, but you don’t want to look.” – Tim Ballard.

“You know trafficking exists, you’ve heard of it, but you don’t want to look.” – Tim Ballard.