Hello friends,

As you know, if you happen to be reading this, I haven't been here in quite a while... My time available for blogging this year has been scarce, if at all existent, so it just hasn't happened.  However, my desire to write about what I'm thinking and learning is still alive and well, so I've determined to start it up again.  Even so, what with my absence around here lately, I feel the odd sensation that something new must be done... like I need to start completely from scratch.  Thus, this.  Xanga has been good to me, introducing me to new wonderful people (including a most delightful husband), but I need a change of atmosphere, of scenery, of template.  :)  Please come visit me at my new blog, and fill my heart with as much joy and love as you have done so here.  Thanks for being a part of my life... and please don't stop now!

                                                                              grace and peace,
                                                                                      Carrie

If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:2-3).

As a student of Moody Bible Institute, I often suppose that I know many things.  Especially things concerning God and His Word.  Systematic theology is a puddle of information that I must soak in, to ensure a diploma and a life of service to God.  But then there are moments (such as this one) in which I realize that my supposed knowledge concerning soteriology, pneumatology, eschatology and other such ologies grant me nothing more than a head full of knowledge, which often does nothing more than make one arrogant.  Sure, there must be a place for such knowledge, but I'm learning that such a place is not necessarily close to the heart of God, which is where I so long to be. 

Over the past three years of study, seeking all the knowledge I could find concerning God and all He encompasses (which is quite a lot!), I have found one simple truth to be useful:

It doesn't matter what I know... What matters is that God knows me.

I love Him.  I desire His presence with me and His word in me.  Not so that I can know about Him, but so that I can be known by Him.  There is no greater knowledge, after all, than the knowledge that I am known by the dearest and best in all that exists.  It's no wonder the psalmist cried, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me!" (Psalm 139:6)

Father, as I begin this fourth and final year of Bible school, I pray that you would form within me a love for you that is so pure that all the knowledge I could retain about you would mean nothing to me compared to being known by you.  Thank you for knowing me as you do.  Help me only to love you as you deserve.

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall...
Lord, I long to enter into Your eternal rest!  Yet for now I am so thankful for the glorious rest you have given me -- a rest not from my physical labor on earth, but from my spiritual striving to find salvation in my own merit.  Thank You, Jesus, for the work You did on the cross, that I may rest in You and cease my own work for Your favor.

Yet, what an interesting paradox I find here... "Be diligent" to enter Your "rest."  In other words, I must strive not to strive!  May I ever strive only for Your glorious rest, Oh Lord!