The heart of the matter

Ladies,
I sort of stopped blogging here right after saying I was getting a "fresh start". Lame.I have been blogging over at the other blogging site and it's more of a free for all, but you're welcome to check it out and subscribe etc. It's at www.IvetteAlegria.wordpress.com
And now, for the first thought in a long while. I now read a blog/devotional website called Wisdom Hunters. I highly reccomend it. This website always packs a punch of conviction. Today's hits very close to come. I had a chat with God just last Friday that went a little something like this.

Me: Lord, it's Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement. The day, that long ago before Christ became our sacrificial lamb, the High Priest would atone for the sins of the people with an actual spotless lamb. The day that we are supposed to forgive others. I learned about that from All Of A Kind Family

God: Yes, it is. Do you need to forgive anyone?

Me: Yes, I think I have been harboring unforgiveness toward _____.

God: Ah, is that all? How about ____?

Me: Ah! No, not him. I can't forgive that person. I just can't! He reeeeally crossed the line. He really made me angry and disrespected me. I just cannot forgive him!

God:(Tenderly) I have forgiven you of much.

Me: I know, but...

God: In the same manner in which you forgive, you will be forgiven.

Me: I know...But, God...I mean I really am just not ready.(Light bulb goes on)... Lord, if your want me to forgive that ogre, you're going to have to change my heart, because at this moment I cannot find it within myself to forgive that man.

I smirked as I came to that decision. Acting as if I'd out-smarted God. I had to make a choice to forgive someone and I passed the buck back to God, who needs no practice in forgiving grievous offenses.
The awesome thing is that He actually will help us to forgive and trust and obey and to do all those things that are unnatural for us as humans. But now after reading today's Wisdom Hunter's devotional, I am convicted of how awful and bratty I was for having pushed off forgiveness to another day.
So today, I am going to live in forgiveness toward that man who wronged me. And tomorrow, I will purpose to do the same.
Here's a beautiful remake of The Heart of the Matter by India Arie.

I've been tryin' to get down to the Heart of the Matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness

Starting Fresh

Dear Girls,

It’s been a long time since I have written. And yes, I am ashamed of myself. Happy New School year! Happy September! Happy smell of new books and sharp pencils!

I too, have begun the Fall semester and the work appears daunting, but I know that great things are just around the corner. I love how new school years allow us to feel a fresh start before January.

Having not been a student for so long, I had lost the appreciation of the newness September brings, but I am enjoying the fresh start again. It’s hard for me to really grasp what it means to have the ability to start fresh every day, every moment even and yet God says he offers that to me. I have been struggling with an awful round of perfectionism lately. Seeing all that I am not, and dwelling on my failings. But the other day I was listening to some Psalms and I was reminded of how great God is. I was overcome with how insignificant my failings and imperfections are in comparison to how perfect and capable our God is.

The enemy loves to paint a bleak picture. He loves to fill us with hopelessness and tries to blur the reality that with God all things are made new; that he is committed to completing the work he begun in us and that He sent his son to be perfection for us.
So if for some reason you’re struggling to not feel the newness of the day or the newness of the year or if you’re feeling bogged down already by the assignments and commitments that your school year brings, know that I am praying for you. May you each have a fresh realization of just how great God’s mercy is and how wide and deep his forgiveness is.

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

WORLD news for Students

I didn't realize that WORLD magazine had a site devoted to news for Teens. Not that I think you shouldn't be able to digest the news already out there, but I thought you guys might like to check it out.

Having studied journalism in undergrad, I think it's important for us to be involved in Truth telling in our culture. Best way to start is to stay current on what is going on the World. Are there other sites like this you all like to look up?

My Fave News Sources:

Wall Street Journal
Slate Magazine
Politico
Drudge Report
WORLD Magazine

I need to do better at checking in with BBC
And I've also heard great things about: Real Clear Politics


I also try to check into FOX News and CNN at least once a day. But, the best news is in print form. Now, I'm not as up on my current events as I should be, especially international stuff, but I'm trying to do better about being aware of what is being said in the world of ideas (Living in DC definitely helped make this more of a habit).

The Bible honored those who "understood the times" (1 Chronicles 12:32). And I definitely want to be a woman of wisdom in order to make a difference.

So do you try to keep up with what's going on in our country and the world? If so, any good news sources I should be aware of?