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Obedient Satisfaction

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12

But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
Hosea 12:6

oh the great commands of Hosea: 'Sow', 'Reap', 'Break Up', 'Seek', 'Return', 'Maintain', and 'Wait'. all these commands demand some action, even waiting. i remember going thru a phase in my spiritual journey when i thot the Bible was a list of exhausting duties. do this, do that. but as i mature (a bit), i'm learning that obeying the commands is so much better than disobeying. there are blessings ('the blessing! - from christmas vacation!) which give joy. so in doing what is expected, a feeling of fulfillment satisfies my soul. this is a profound understanding for me. more often than not, i lack the feeling of my soul being satisfied. (aka - contentment) even if i weary myself in doing what is expected, my exhaustion is surrounded by a shower of righteousness. 'God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.' - John Piper.

Christ,
as the season of Your birth is upon me, i can sense a renewed passion to seek You. thanks for calling me to seek You, to place within me a desire to seek the real You. i give You praise and ascribe honor to Your name for the righteousness You shower upon me. how good it is to be in Your light. obedience brings about a righteous lifestyle... and only by Your grace am i made holy. Come, Holy Spirit, and sanctify this child. i want to know You more.
in Christ' Name ~ Amen.
*Gail *Susan *Devin

I Beg of You

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.
Dan 9:18-19

have you ever found yourself saying to someone, "i beg of you, please..."? when i was reading thru this passage in Daniel, my mind thot of that line. this is the extreme urgency with which daniel is crying out to God. i've prayed that way before, but it's been awhile since i was that adamant about something. (that's a confession.)

my friend Shottie has a great post about some issues. i want to encourage any reader to do what you can about the issues in the world. focus on something and move. pray for specifics for that issue. research the topic and find out as much as you can about it. get connected. plug in. do something.

Here's a brief list of international organization.

Make Poverty History

Unicef

International Justice Mission

Salvation Army on Sexual Trafficking

Compassion International

World Vision

YWAM Thailand

just to name a few off the top of my head. i love in the verse written above - 'We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.' not on our accord, but because of who God is. that is why we are motivated to act on behalf of others.
O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! Amen!

what are you doing about it?

World AIDS Campaign