El Kana and El Elyon

I have been learning so much from this kid's book. The kid's and I have been going through the different names of God and WOW. John Piper nailed it when he said, "the God she sees, savors, and sets forth here is unabashedly big."  

I am going though the book of Hosea in my bible study and it's a doozy. Hosea was the last prophet to prophesy before the northern kingdom fell to Assyria - ending a golden age of peace of prosperity. A peace and prosperity that also brought moral decay. 

God is El Elyon, Most High. 

What does it mean to be the most? Being the most means it is the greatest. No one and nothing can be as great as God. 

God is El Kana, a Jealous God. 

There shall be no other God's before me. (Exodus 20:3) But He must be the Most High in our hearts. 

As I was reading through the first two chapters of Hosea, I was reminded of this book that taught me God is El Elyon and El Kana. And I wrote this prayer in my bible: 

Lord, would you be the Most High in Josh's heart!

Lord, would you be the Most High in Emerson's heart!

Lord, would you be the Most High in Landon's heart!

Lord, would you be the Most High in Abby's heart!

Lord, would you be the Most High in my heart.

And for you, stranger and friend, as you join me on this journey. Say it out loud. 

Lord, would you be the Most High in my heart. (Psalm 47:1-2)

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

Maybe I'm telling no one with this but for legal purposes I am obligated to say that I am not sending a Christmas card out this year. Low key, it's awesome guys. I didn't have to struggle with the outfits and the pics, we saved hundreds of dollars, and I don't have a stack of mail to write, collate, seal, stamp, and send.

As those of you who have been around know, I LOVE Christmas cards, but just because I miss it one year doesn't mean the tradition is dead. Holding perspective so I can hold onto my sanity this year too. 

It's not just the Christmas cards that have been put aside. We decided to not do Disneyland at Christmas, turned down a few asks for hosting parties, didn't book the Nutcracker with my girl, rsvp'ed no to parties.. Being real intentional this year in an effort to be a good person to my husband and my children. It's going great so far! Highly recommend holiday boundaries (so far lol). 

Making room for God especially. I'm not too tired to spend time with Him. It's been soul giving. And holding space for sorrow around us this year. This week alone two of our dear friends have lost a parent and another leader from school was diagnosed with serious cancer. 

I read this article on Insta this morning and boy, please go read it if you too are holding on to real sorrow in this season. 

You have heard the name Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet and literary critic, but it is his story that makes his work even more remarkable. After sudden loss and much trial and tribulation in his personal life - "he wrote a poem seeking to capture the dynamic and dissonance in his own heart and the world he observes around him that Christmas Day. He heard the Christmas bells ringing and the singing of "peace on earth", but he observed the world of injustice and violence that seemed to mock the truthfulness of this optimistic outlook. 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

The theme of listening recurs through the poem, eventually leading to a settledness of confident hope even in the midst of bleak despair as he recounts to himself that God is alive and righteousness shall prevail."

Just like HWL, if we are listening for the voice of God, we will see that even in the darkness God is working for our good and His glory. He never stops. He never stops. He never stops.