Knowing

If you do not speak French, Latin or Italian and as a result don't know the different verbs translated "know" try reading this. It sounds very similar--I've been thinking about this a lot!!


what is it to know God? we know it is not to simply know of Him (savoir), but to actually know (connaitre) Him personally. And what does he say it is to know him?  In Jeremiah 22, God gives a warning to Josiah's wicked son, Shallum, who oppressed his workers for his own personal gain. In the midst of warnings, God uses Josiah as an example of a man who knew him, and it showed in his actions: "He judged the cause of the poor and needy. Then it was well 'was this not knowing Me?' says the LORD" (Jeremiah 22:16)

Josiah was quite a man. Crowned king at the age of 8, he ruled over Judah for just 31 years, dying before 40 because he "did not heed the words of Necho, from the mouth of God" He died because he ignored a warning not to engage in battle. This was the logical consequence for his mistake. However, Josiah left an amazing legacy. At the age of 16, we are told he began to seek God, and at the age of 20, began to clean Judah of its idolatrous way. He completely destroyed the centres of idol worship, and in the midst of this deep cleaning, the Book of the Law was found. When Josiah learned of the law, he was broken over the way his nation had completely rejected God's law.  He reinstituted the Passover when he was 26.  In just 39 years of life, Josiah left quite a legacy--" Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him" (2 Kings 23:25)  So in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, we see that Josiah changed the ways of his nation, bringing them back to righteousness before God, and in Jeremiah his legacy was performing righteousness and justice and defending the cause of the poor and needy. What a man to emulate!! What can I be doing in my sphere of influence to do as he did? How can I awaken my nation to God's ways; how can I be known for righteousness and justice?

Last week I read these two verses in my devotions:

"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." (Proverbs 21:3) 

"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6; Jesus quoted this verse twice--in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7)

and this week, I was re-reading Isaiah 58:

"Is this not the fast that I have chose: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?" (vv 6, 7)

Social justice is not just a fad or something we do to feel better about ourselves. God has called us to this fast, for he desires justice more than any sacrifice we could ever give. It's not about a backwards social snobbery. It's not about a show. It's about a heart that desires to honour God.  He gave us an easy way to do it. We crave the tangible in our lives. And he put his people made in his image--his beloved creation here on this earth. We can show our love of God, our fellowship with him, by showing it to his people.

What Came in the Mail (and some link love!)

Today I received 2 packages in the mail.  I had been eagerly awaiting them, and kept asking mum if they had arrived.  Today she finally checked the mail, and today, I finally came down to see her! As soon as I got home, I tore into the packages.

Here's what came in the mail for me:

(read about Miss Rebecca's Learn a Little, Win a Little~ A Giveaway, which I won [yay!] Then subscribe to her blog)


and

(recommended to me by Mark--subscribe to his blogs here and here) 

I got it on Amazon, and plan to read it on the plane. 

Faults

mel·o·dra·mat·ic/ˌmelədrəˈmatik/Adjective

• Characteristic of melodrama, esp. in being exaggerated, sensationalized, or overemotional.

This really bothers me. I do not want to be melodramatic.

Every Girl's Favourite Topic

Men. Boys.

ok, not my favourite, but still worth mentioning.


Not that I date, but if I did, I think I would enforce the 5-7 years older thing, and even prefer >7years older. But even age, and lack of maturity aside--

I wonder, where are the men who stand up? I want to stand by a man who stands up for God and His children. The one who invests himself fully into whatever ministry God has him in. Not the one who's squandering his youth on the American Dream.

I literally know not a single man in my age group who is willing to give up everything he has in life to serve. They're all still running for a life of luxury. Living up big dreams of an easy life. Not offering their bodies as living sacrifices, willing to do even the dirtiest of work for their Love.

and as a side note, (though I see this issue less in females) where are the women who are willing to give up their dreams to be man's help-mate? We're so hungry for love and attention. . .but these boys are not going to fulfil us. There's so much drama in mixed company. Where's the quiet spirit? The gentleness? The willingness to serve?

They Prayed

He said something along these lines: "I have told everyone about [. . .] but I know they are not praying for me."

It was not an excuse, but rather a picture of what Christianity is these days. We are human. We fail. Sometimes intentionally. But sadly, we are often found in these situations either with a partner in sin or a complete lack of friends who dare to reach into the darkness.

And having been there before, knowing in hindsight that she laboured over me in prayer, I was glad. Thankful for those times God intervened on account of her intercession. I do not know what the occasions were. I do not know to what extent prayer affects happenings (Would God still intervene sans intercession?). But I do know that I was surrounded by prayer and I am confident it changed things.

Back to the present-how would it have been different if people were praying? How blessed am I to have those friends, who will not take my excuses, who direct my gaze toward the heavenly places, who shower me in scripture, and above all, who pray.

And so I remember I should be the one who dares to be different. The one who loves him not with affection, or with praise or gifts, but by offering him up to his father.

Pondered

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart--Luke 2:19

In the midst of excitement over the newly-borne Jesus, we find one little verse about Mary.  Seems that though she was surrounded by all this hullabaloo, she kept quiet, was introspective. I think about this a lot. When my life is starting to get exciting and emotions run high, I frequently recall this verse and wonder if it is better that I process things.  It is in my nature to often remain nearly stoic in positive emotion, but sometimes I must remind myself not to talk about it, because it is also in my nature to spill. Just minutes ago, it seemed I was in a flurry, excited about what I think God is calling me to. And now I keep a quiet heart. I refrain from speaking my thoughts right now. But I will say this:

I don't know when, I don't know how, and I don't know why. But I'm going 

I wonder if the thoughts in my head are truly the answers I have been searching for. Why, God, have you kept me here? Why does it seem I may remain here even longer? Maybe it is all part of the plan. The plan you had to call me to --.

Illogical

Did I seriously just do that?


Yes, sadly, I did.

I just sent a series of nasty texts to my buddy. Complete with all sorts of profanity, attacks on his character, and very cruel intentions. What a mess. I still disagree with what he said. But what I said was absolutely uncalled for.

Seems nearly every conversation we have had lately involves us talking about being logical. According to him, I am rather logical for being female. This was a complete swing into illogical emotional mayhem. Mom knows I hold it all in till I explode. I did not even realise myself what wickedness I harboured in my heart toward him. That was very, very ugly.

It started with a good intention too. When I first made my request of him, it was out of love.  I still do not know who is right. I believe I am. Regardless, my words were an expression of wickedness within me. To hell with that crap [and stay there! there should be no place for it in my life].  We could disagree on the request for the rest of our lives, but there is absolutely no place for me to remove grace from my speech.

I was so angry and tired that I do not recall what all was said (nor do I wish to!). It stopped when I fell asleep.

That was probably the most I have ever used those disgusting words. What a mess. The fool multiplies words.

I was plagued by demons. I rarely glimpse the spiritual wars around me, but by the time I was about to fall asleep, I could clearly sense the demons about me. Thank God for sleep. Maybe some logicality returns with rest. I am much more calm.





For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 


2 Corinthians 10:3-5

phrases

I cannot stop thinking about this--"The Secret of Understanding is Obedience"

I have noticed I often have little to write here [excluding paltry things] when I am disobeying. I am convinced I just hear so little from God; have so little knowledge of him when I do not align myself with his call.

Those words cycle through my head, part of a long list of phrases in my mind. Phrases from our talks. Phrases from things I've read. And a few phrases straight from God. 

A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.

To be honest, my love for him motivates me to obedience more than my love for Him.