Jesus Desires Mercy not Sacrifice

Matthew 9:13 (Jesus speaking) "But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 12:7 (Jesus speaking) "If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent."

Hosea 6:4-6 "What can I do with you, Ephraim?  What can I do with you, Judah?  Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.  Therefore, I cut you into pieces with my prophets, I killed you with words of my mouth, my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.  For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

Micah 6:6-8 "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?  Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?  Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  He has showed you, O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and You'll recover your life."

Below is my journal entry from October 12, 2012. 

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Oh, God, help me not forget who I am trying to please! I am to please you and You alone!  I don't have to please anyone else.  God, how do I please you without being "married to the law?"  I guess the first step is learning what pleases You.  

(Upon searching through Jesus' NT teachings, God brought me to Matthew 5:3-12...The Beautitudes)

Poor in spirit/Mournful
Meek
Hunger and thirst for righteousness
Merciful
Pure in heart
Peacemakers
Don't hate others
Don't lust
Manage your "multiple" personalities
Love your enemies
Pray in secret
Store treasures for Heaven
Don't worry
Don't judge others
Ask, seek, knock
Repent!  Matt 11:20-24

Rest in Him!  Matt 11:28-30 (from The Message): 

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me. Get away with me and You'll recover your life."

Journal Entries

For 2013, I want to start sharing some of the things I've written in my journal.  I completed my 3rd half marathon on December 1, 2012.  This is what I wrote in my journal on that morning:

Race Day!
Dear God,
You can see me this morning - nerves and all! God, I pray that I will honor and glorify you as I run this race. It's unto You.  Let me run with perseverance the race set out for me. Let me run and not grow weary. Let me walk and not faint. Help me keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.  God-what do you want me to learn about You today?

 God answered my prayer!  Here is what I wrote on Monday, December 3rd:

How is a half marathon like our spiritual journey?

• We all start at the same place (even if some start further back than others...)
• You can start to feel weary even at the beginning (but it's easier to push through because you're not exhausted yet!)
• There are others running the race that are pretty annoying; their sweaty arms might brush against mine.  But I forgive them.  Why? Because I realize that we are all working our booty off for one common goal: to finish this race!
• It doesn't matter what language you speak.  Anyone can run.  (In fact, there were 2 people from China running, and I overheard them speaking Chinese to each other on the course.)
• The water/Gatorade stops are like an oasis in the desert.  Oh, how wonderful to see that table with drinks!  Take a rest if it's offered, but get back into the race quick!
• You get really, really, really tired. And hungry!!! Your tummy makes noises that tell you to please feed it.  Your whole body hurts.  At some point, it doesn't matter if you run or walk - both hurt so much.  You must keep going.  Because there IS a finish line. You may have not seen it, but you know it's there.  Close to the end of the race, you see people that have already crossed the finish line.  They come back to the sidelines to cheer you on.  They are smiling, and look so happy!  So you keep pushing, because you know you'll get there, too.
• There are people holding signs along the path.  Some are meant to encourage you.  Some are just ugly.  Ignore the ugly (they will zap your energy if you dwell on them) and open your heart to the lovely (they will give you a shot of energy to keep going).

Thank you, God!