There are so many things I want to do and read but I feel like there is literally not enough time in the day to do what I want. Between double majoring, working, and training for my half, I feel like it leaves such little time for God. For serious, sit down, intentional, still, time. I bought a new roll of film, so instead of posting daily on my flickr I'm taking daily photos on my (Jivan's) film camera and I'll be posting them as a finished project.

Front to back-

As of right now I'm in Deuteronomy chapter 2. As far of my list of what God's characteristics are I've added Repetition. God is constantly (through Moses) recapping, and reminding the Israelites of where they have been physically and spiritually. He does this so much with us! Some of the greatest healing when you find yourself in a hard place is to remember previous hard times and how God brought you out of that, and what you learned from that. The book of James opens by telling us that it should be considered PURE JOY to go through difficult times, because it is only through difficulty that we will truly grow and mature.

I met a woman named Celeste last night at Waffle House. She is a beautiful soul. She encouraged me in a lot of ways, talking about her happiness, and being thankful for her alcoholism (she is now 3 years sober) because she knew God chose her for it so that He could show His grace in her healing. Which he has done. She works late night shifts every Sunday so she always misses church, but told us how blessed she was to have God bring the church to her by having multiple groups of young people from churches all over the city come to eat and talk at Waffle House after their church meetings. What a beautiful way to look at the church! As truly a body, a group of people, moving, meeting, conversing, and sharing with people.

Isaiah 61:1

"The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me,

because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners."

My initial thought was "oh, he is talking about Jesus, not us".

Then I began to realize, "what's the difference?"

As christians we're called to "walk as Jesus did", so even though all these characteristics are what Jesus was all about, it should be what we're all about, and what we're ACTIVELY doing every day.

The Good Old....

Yes. The Old Testament.

I'm taking on the journey of reading the Bible cover to cover with an excellent friend.

This is where I will be tracking all that I learn for other people who may be interested?

First:

-There are many things that I desire to know more about by reading the Old Testament. One of these things is getting a deeper understanding of God's character. (Not like "role" like "pretend" but really, his CHARACTERISTICS)

So far I have noted these things:

1. God is specific. Very specific. While instructing the Israelites how to make the Tent of Meeting he stretched all the way to what colors, symbols, placements, stitching and amounts of everything. At first I thought this was incredibly annoying to read. But then I began to realize that God is specific (especially during this crucial time) because he wants to be set apart. Set apart from all other gods. So that the religion of the Israelites would be different and specific, unlike all other pagan religions.

2. God is forgiving. It's kind of obvious through the exodus of the Israelites that God must be SO full of mercy to continue to lead these crazy people. Even when they decide to worship other gods, or completely break the rules (which, if I were them and knew that I could get blown up with fire at any moment for burning the wrong incense, I WOULDN'T DO IT.) But God always keeps His promises, even if it's not in "our" ideal timing.

3. God is just. It is incredibly easy for me to get my mind tangled while reading the OT. One second God is being so nice and loving and then he kills your family. But I always have to revert back and think that even in the simple things, your parents discipline you so that you may be corrected and grow. Things (sins) cannot (or could not) go unpunished in order to... keep some order, for one. And how would we ever grow, or learn, or mature if we didn't have an consequences for our actions?

A good friend gave me this verse one night at church as a comfort, and I believe it to tie into all things above (and all things Biblical):

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;

He rises to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice,

Blessed are all who wait for Him."

-Isaiah 30:18

Elizabeth Ellen

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