Friday, November 6, 2020

What I Am Reading Now

Hosea 6:6 captured my attention recently:

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." 

I was reading the King James Version but my iPad let me quickly check a couple other versions:

The New International Version read "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

The English Standard Version was "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."


The marching orders throughout the Old and New Testaments speak to me that God prefers that his children show mercy and love rather than making a lot of public sacrifices. Throughout my life I have been surrounded by people who lavished mercy and love on me and others. 

With such a bounty of examples past and present, one would think an individual would be abundantly merciful and loving. But 
I felt that my opportunities for overt expressions of such diminished on Good Friday 2011. 

That was when a blood vessel popped in my brain right over where motor and sensory nerves bundled together before extending into the brain stem. Even hugging my children and grandchildren is a challenging process now. 

But God's work through our Savior Jesus Christ was not done with me. I finally realized that as long as my mind works, prayers and encouraging words are my route to showing mercy and love for dear ones near and far, as well as friends, neighbors, and strangers encountered. 

Sometimes I am privileged to learn of prayers answered. Even when I don’t learn of how my prayers are answered, I am certain that without fail one person benefits. 

That person is me. 

Praying for others has given me purpose and a sense of usefulness, thankfulness and peace. 

It has also resulted in the pleasure of becoming aware of and observing the strengths of character and the abilities of those I encounter.

May blessings abound in your life, too!

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