The Pursuit of Justice

I just watched Blood Diamond and it reminded me of a conversation with one of the high school girls. I was picking her up from school and she told me they had watched Hotel Rwanda that day. She was freakin' out because she couldn't believe what happened and she felt terrible for not doing anything to help. She proceeded to ask me what she could do to help "Save Dar fur" because we had talked about that before and it's a similar modern day situation. We discussed some and I told her I'd get back to her. I was hoping to come up with some very practical ways to get involved. I'm excited she was so interested since we had discussed social justice a lot in bible study. But I've been busy and haven't researched on the updated Dar fur situation, or how to get involved. Part of me feels like a bad bible study leader because she's seeking answers and I'm not being faithful to help in the process. But part of me is trying to have mercy on myself because my plate is pretty full. So maybe y'all can help.

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can tell this girl? I know it's very complicated, but I don't feel like I have any good answers. I'd also like them to do something practical to put into practice what we've discussed. Something like Samaritan's Purse, but that's more dealing with poverty and not civil war. Although I know it'd be good. Ideas anyone?

Going into Law

My co-worker put in her 2 weeks recently and explained she's joining LAPD, you know, to become a cop. This led to a discussion about how I've always wanted to wear a cop uniform for one day. I've thought about law enforcement, but a few things draw me away from it. It's either boring or intense. But I still wanted to know about the process of joining LAPD. Then two people told me they could see me being a cop, including my boss. And I told my boss how a lot of the action movies I own happen to be movies involving guns (The GodFather, Donnie Brasco, Mission Impossible, Mercury Rising, The Goodfellas). For some reason I'm really attracted to these types of movies.

This made me think about how God has kind of been brewing law in me. My neighbor that just moved was going to the academy to become a cop. He was interested in working with gangs. This super intrigued me and led to a series of questions. This brewing started at Urbana when a lady spoke on the International Justice Mission (IJM). So I discussed with my boss how maybe joining the FBI or IJM would be a better fit for me. Hmmm, I don't know, just something I've noticed has come up a lot. I guess only time will tell.

Also thrown into the mix is how I've wanted to get my Master's in Social Work. I was discussing this with my co-worker who has his MSW. He seems to think I would be good at it due to the job I have now. It'll be interesting to see how all the pieces come together in the end. As of right now, I really don't know what the future holds, I just have some inklings!

God ministering through music

God has been ministering to me through these songs as well (basically Kirk Franklin's whole Hero CD and Derek Webb's Mockingbird CD):
Let it Go - it inspired me to write my own testimony and then just let the past go.
Imagine Me - inspires me to have hope.
Afterawhile - more hope.
Without You - just makes me appreciate having God in my life.
My enemies are men like me - a reminder to love
Rich young ruler - a reminder of why I moved to CA
A new law - a reminder for me to not be apathetic

First Love

Here's another song through which God has been ministering to me. Especially the part where it says God is able to heal if you listen. And He'll show you His will if you listen. But you gotta be still and just listen. God spoke to me a couple weekends ago when I was sabbathing (taking a day to rest and spend with God) about how I am still in a season of healing.

Part of me is frustrated because I can't function in the ways I'd like. He showed me how with the back pains I've been having that part of healing is not being able to function in ways I typically can. It's the same for the emotional healing I'm going through. I feel like God has been reassuring me in this season. Part of me also has wondered if there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I felt like God was saying "yes" there is. I had my first session with my counselor yesterday. It went better than I expected. I definitely felt God's presence and I almost cried 3-4 times. But I feel like He is beckoning me to "come back to [my] first love" and He can heal me if I just be still and listen. I get so busy, I forget to stop and listen. God ministers to me through music a lot! I'm realizing that due to me being introverted I have to take introverted time. My boss at work has inspired me in this and how important it is.

Purity

As I've been struggling to have pure thoughts, this song is has really ministered to me. It reminds me of God's jealous love for me and how He feels when I "prostitute" myself with impure thoughts. There are a lot of ways that we as people "prostitute" ourselves and seek attention and love in the wrong ways. And this song is like God saying you don't have to do that, you don't have to put on that red light or wear that dress tonight. It's God expressing his jealous love, how his heart cries to the point where it's more than He can stand. Wow!! And how I need to believe God when He says He loves me. I struggle with that sometimes. The song says Roxanne, but I imagine God saying Diamante. I've listened to it several times to try and get the truths to sink deep into my heart! The red dress she's wearing reminds me of the blood of Jesus that covers all my sins!! I love the way God speaks to me! We have a special relationship! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqm3Fxa1SoQ