Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Here we are at the brink of 2010... ready? Get set... GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Greater is He that's in you than He that's in the world! Don't let anything stop you from achieving your God-given dreams in 2010!
I John 4:4
I John 4:4
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Let your light shine! Don't hide it under a basket. Celebrate! It's a new year and God wants His best for you! He is going to shower you with His blessings and abundance!
Look to Jesus who for the joy endured what lie ahead in His life - the cross, to die for us. He did it so that we too are able to endure with joy what God has planned for us.
Look to Jesus who for the joy endured what lie ahead in His life - the cross, to die for us. He did it so that we too are able to endure with joy what God has planned for us.
Matthew 5: 14-16, John 10:10, Hebrews 12:2
Sunday, December 27, 2009
I have found that when I seek the Lord at the beginning of a New Year, He is faithful to point out to me the areas that trip me up the most and need His help. These would be areas that cause my light for Him to be dim. I don't want a diminished light for Jesus; I want my light for Him to brightly shine!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The rush towards Christmas Day now over for another year, we look to begin a new year. 2010. How will you choose to open that first second of this New Year? Where will you be? What will you be doing?
Some will be sound asleep with sweet contentment for an awakening later in the day on that new day. Others will be up and radically involved in a celebration and partying through the midnight hour that rings in the New Year. Could be you are at your church for a watch night of prayer. Maybe friends have invited you over or you've chosen to stay at home and... whatever it is you have chosen to do, have you sought the LORD in it? What I propose to you is to begin now in seeking where the Lord would have you be to bring in the New Year, what He would have you do that would bring Him glory.
We are to seek Him first in all things and He will add to us those things we need. (Matthew 6:33) I encourage you to seek Him now. While you and He are conversing, be sure to ask Him too, what great plans He has prepared for you this entire year! Don't miss out on what God wants for you this year! What is it you need to be deeply focused and concerned with this year so that God would be glorified in you. For we are "called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3b)
Some will be sound asleep with sweet contentment for an awakening later in the day on that new day. Others will be up and radically involved in a celebration and partying through the midnight hour that rings in the New Year. Could be you are at your church for a watch night of prayer. Maybe friends have invited you over or you've chosen to stay at home and... whatever it is you have chosen to do, have you sought the LORD in it? What I propose to you is to begin now in seeking where the Lord would have you be to bring in the New Year, what He would have you do that would bring Him glory.
We are to seek Him first in all things and He will add to us those things we need. (Matthew 6:33) I encourage you to seek Him now. While you and He are conversing, be sure to ask Him too, what great plans He has prepared for you this entire year! Don't miss out on what God wants for you this year! What is it you need to be deeply focused and concerned with this year so that God would be glorified in you. For we are "called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3b)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
So here we are, are we through with Jonah? I hope not. I hope that we will always remember Jonah and what we learned from his book in the Bible. What did we learn? Let's take a look and see what came from this study:
When your world has been turned upside down leave it in the hands of the Lord - trust. If we would do this everyday then maybe the trouble won't be so often or so difficult at the least.
We are taught the heart of God from the Jonah story in the Bible. God wants all to be saved even those who we may want destroyed because of their wicked and evil ways.
Jonah's story in the Bible teaches us about the mission God has for His people. We are to go where he says and lead others to the Lord to be saved.
God does speak to His people - the word of the Lord came to Jonah and God will give us a word too.
God wants our instant, willing obedience to what He has for us to do. No matter what he says to do, whether we like it or not, we are to do it.
When we don't trust God and obey Him we will find trouble or trouble will find us. This more often than not is a consequence due to our disobedience to God.
God is wherever we are and ready to save us. He can even be found in the belly of a big fish! Let's hope he doesn't have to find you or me there!
We are to have a thankful, heartfelt prayer with God in our times of trouble or need.
It is best every time to confess, repent, and believe God - We can trust God because His goal is always restoration. He wants all to be saved.
I encourage you to take time and if you haven't done so already from a day-to-day basis, write down what the Lord was speaking to you as you studied the Book of Jonah. There will come a day that just when you need it God will bring it to your rembrance and it will again be a help to you.
I hope to be with you tomorrow again as we discover more of the mysteries found in God's Word. Do log on as we continue this blog. I thank God for you, my follower (s).Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Read Jonah 4:4-11
God has a lesson for Jonah to learn through all of this. God is there again (still) for Jonah. We can learn from our mistakes, our circumstances and even from our anger or any other emotion we experience. The lesson Jonah is to learn is that God places value on all men and that He shows mercy to all including Jonah with his wrong attitude and what he knows about God.
Jonah got alone some place an isolated himself. Was he pouting? Was he venting? I don't know but I do know that in our alone moments God can and will step in and speak to us. Jonah spoke to God and asked for his life to be taken, but God...
God chose to help Jonah see for himself the error of his ways. He's done that for me before, how about you? Has God helped you in a way to see that you have been wrong about something? Plain and simple, wrong. There are times we are wrong. We may think we are right, but God in His compassion and mercy takes an ideal situation for giving us His instruction that puts us in our place, a place to repent and receive His forgiveness and move on. This is that place in Jonah's life.
God uses a plant with Jonah. He used a donkey with Balaam, a rooster for Peter, and blind eyes for Paul. The type of plant doesn't really matter but we do see that it's a fast growing plant as it grew overnight. It was a Godsend to Jonah as it brought shade to him in the heat of the day but by the next morning it was eaten up by a worm. Jonah was again angry as the sun beat on his head and he grew faint.
Here he is again, wanting to die. Why? He's playing the fool (read Proverbs some time). Jonah has just obeyed God and caused a whole city to come to know Him. Why can't he see this? Instead he's sucked up in himself and has misplaced his values. Consider the value of Nineveh? Consider the fact that though they were not morally innocent, were helpless to know how to escape their plight before God, and that without a prophet, Jonah, they would have remained trapped in the wickedness and all lost. Maybe forever!
Verse 10 and 11 God explains to Jonah.
"God said, 'What's this? How is it that you can change your feelings for pleasure to anger over night about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. So, why can't I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike peple who don't yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?'" (Taken from The Message)
Jonah's prophecy was not fulfilled as God sent him to Nineveh saying, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" Nineveh wasn't overthrown, was it? The entire city was saved. That would make you feel like a blooming idiot if you were Jonah, wouldn't it? But God used that prophecy and saved Nineveh. God got the glory! Jonah knew it would happen, that they would repent and be saved. He knew God's character and he knew Nineveh would be saved as God would show His compassion and mercy upon them, not to overthrow the city. So was Jonah out of his pity party now or was he still stuck? Did God's message to Jonah come through loud and clear that Jonah could now move on?
Let's hope for the best because that's exactly what the Lord wants for us. To see the evil ways in our lives and repent so that we are able to move on with God. Today choose to do just that and move forward knowing that your loving, compassionate Father is with you in all that He asks of you... even if you look the fool for God. Will you do as God asks of you? From the belly of a big fish, in front of 120,000 people... whose lives depend on you and your obedience to God like the lives of those in Nineveh depended on Jonah's obeying the word of the Lord? The word of the Lord came to Jonah. He obeyed. Obey God today.
God has a lesson for Jonah to learn through all of this. God is there again (still) for Jonah. We can learn from our mistakes, our circumstances and even from our anger or any other emotion we experience. The lesson Jonah is to learn is that God places value on all men and that He shows mercy to all including Jonah with his wrong attitude and what he knows about God.
Jonah got alone some place an isolated himself. Was he pouting? Was he venting? I don't know but I do know that in our alone moments God can and will step in and speak to us. Jonah spoke to God and asked for his life to be taken, but God...
God chose to help Jonah see for himself the error of his ways. He's done that for me before, how about you? Has God helped you in a way to see that you have been wrong about something? Plain and simple, wrong. There are times we are wrong. We may think we are right, but God in His compassion and mercy takes an ideal situation for giving us His instruction that puts us in our place, a place to repent and receive His forgiveness and move on. This is that place in Jonah's life.
God uses a plant with Jonah. He used a donkey with Balaam, a rooster for Peter, and blind eyes for Paul. The type of plant doesn't really matter but we do see that it's a fast growing plant as it grew overnight. It was a Godsend to Jonah as it brought shade to him in the heat of the day but by the next morning it was eaten up by a worm. Jonah was again angry as the sun beat on his head and he grew faint.
Here he is again, wanting to die. Why? He's playing the fool (read Proverbs some time). Jonah has just obeyed God and caused a whole city to come to know Him. Why can't he see this? Instead he's sucked up in himself and has misplaced his values. Consider the value of Nineveh? Consider the fact that though they were not morally innocent, were helpless to know how to escape their plight before God, and that without a prophet, Jonah, they would have remained trapped in the wickedness and all lost. Maybe forever!
Verse 10 and 11 God explains to Jonah.
"God said, 'What's this? How is it that you can change your feelings for pleasure to anger over night about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. So, why can't I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike peple who don't yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?'" (Taken from The Message)
Jonah's prophecy was not fulfilled as God sent him to Nineveh saying, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" Nineveh wasn't overthrown, was it? The entire city was saved. That would make you feel like a blooming idiot if you were Jonah, wouldn't it? But God used that prophecy and saved Nineveh. God got the glory! Jonah knew it would happen, that they would repent and be saved. He knew God's character and he knew Nineveh would be saved as God would show His compassion and mercy upon them, not to overthrow the city. So was Jonah out of his pity party now or was he still stuck? Did God's message to Jonah come through loud and clear that Jonah could now move on?
Let's hope for the best because that's exactly what the Lord wants for us. To see the evil ways in our lives and repent so that we are able to move on with God. Today choose to do just that and move forward knowing that your loving, compassionate Father is with you in all that He asks of you... even if you look the fool for God. Will you do as God asks of you? From the belly of a big fish, in front of 120,000 people... whose lives depend on you and your obedience to God like the lives of those in Nineveh depended on Jonah's obeying the word of the Lord? The word of the Lord came to Jonah. He obeyed. Obey God today.
Monday, December 21, 2009
God relented. The people repented and turned from their wicked ways to God. And God relented upon the city of Nineveh. He chose to show mercy. He had compassion on them and forgave them!
This is the character of a loving father, this is the character of our Father in Heaven who waits for us to turn around, turn from our wickedness, and come to Him finding His love, graciousness, forgiveness and mercy. Then it is we who allow this same character, God's nature, to shape our character accordingly that we go to other cities - people in cities - begining with our city, our family, or neighbors - and proclaim the word of the Lord so that they find Him and are saved as well.
But there was Jonah. Did Jonah have or show compassion and forgiveness to the people of Nineveh? After all, he was there, he saw it with his own eyes. He was used of God for a great and mighty blessing that all in Nineveh were saved!
"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry." - Jonah 4:1
Jonah is angry that God should even conceive of sparing Nineveh. These who are noncovenant people. These who are the enemy of Israel.
What is God going to do about Jonah and his bad attitude? Or is it more than a bad attitude? Is it a heart attitude?
Read Jonah 4:2-4
God let's Jonah see for himself. God let's Jonah decide.
This is the character of a loving father, this is the character of our Father in Heaven who waits for us to turn around, turn from our wickedness, and come to Him finding His love, graciousness, forgiveness and mercy. Then it is we who allow this same character, God's nature, to shape our character accordingly that we go to other cities - people in cities - begining with our city, our family, or neighbors - and proclaim the word of the Lord so that they find Him and are saved as well.
But there was Jonah. Did Jonah have or show compassion and forgiveness to the people of Nineveh? After all, he was there, he saw it with his own eyes. He was used of God for a great and mighty blessing that all in Nineveh were saved!
"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry." - Jonah 4:1
Jonah is angry that God should even conceive of sparing Nineveh. These who are noncovenant people. These who are the enemy of Israel.
What is God going to do about Jonah and his bad attitude? Or is it more than a bad attitude? Is it a heart attitude?
Read Jonah 4:2-4
God let's Jonah see for himself. God let's Jonah decide.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Thursday, December 19, 2009
Jonah 3:3-10
What happens in Nineveh? The people of Nineveh believe! Yes! Hallelujah! Have you been there before yourself? So into yourself and then when you realize that God has rescued you from the pit, any pit, from the first pit bringing you into His fold (salvation) or even when you need rescued after you have become one of His - any situation you are in! Even today! Call out His name with a repentant cry for rescue and He is there for you just like He was for Jonah!
God not only rescues us He brings rewards! Jonah repented and went God's way to Nineveh and those once wicked people now believed and were saved! God wants all to be saved and He can use us to reach one or a whole city!
What amazes me here is that there is no place in the Bible that says one was not saved! All believed! All were saved! (v. 5- "from the greatest to the least of them.")
The king of Nineveh proclaims a fast! Everyone was to "turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands." Verse ten says, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." There's another place to shout "Hallelujah!" The people of Nineveh were shouting I'm sure of it and we can shout with them as we know the God who saves!
So tell me, why was Jonah so displeased and angry?
What happens in Nineveh? The people of Nineveh believe! Yes! Hallelujah! Have you been there before yourself? So into yourself and then when you realize that God has rescued you from the pit, any pit, from the first pit bringing you into His fold (salvation) or even when you need rescued after you have become one of His - any situation you are in! Even today! Call out His name with a repentant cry for rescue and He is there for you just like He was for Jonah!
God not only rescues us He brings rewards! Jonah repented and went God's way to Nineveh and those once wicked people now believed and were saved! God wants all to be saved and He can use us to reach one or a whole city!
What amazes me here is that there is no place in the Bible that says one was not saved! All believed! All were saved! (v. 5- "from the greatest to the least of them.")
The king of Nineveh proclaims a fast! Everyone was to "turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands." Verse ten says, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." There's another place to shout "Hallelujah!" The people of Nineveh were shouting I'm sure of it and we can shout with them as we know the God who saves!
So tell me, why was Jonah so displeased and angry?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Let's talk about Jonah in the belly of this big fish. Jonah cries out to God with a prayer. This is a prayer of thanksgiving. Jonah was thankful that he had not drowned. He was not in a postition to bargain with God. Have you ever bargained wtih God? I have. God let's me get away with it until, well, until he's had enough. Enough of my childish, rebellious ways. I guess God was a little tired of Jonah and his childish, rebellious ways. So after Jonah had been thrown overboard and was drowning in the deep blue sea, God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. God rescued Jonah. Jonah knew this and was thankful to God for saving his life. I've found it best not to bargain or make deals with God, especially when I'm trying to get out of a mess or something painful because I've found out (and God knows) that it's in those messes and painful times that we cling more tightly to Him.
Jonah had tried to escape his responsibilities only God did not allow it. What if He had? What if Jonah had been allowed to keep on running or what if Jonah had died? Would God have sent someone else? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know. He gave Jonah another chance to do what was right and what matters is that in the belly of that big ol' fish Jonah had a change of heart and repented and got thankfully happy. Praise the Lord for that! Because of his repentent and thankful heart he pledged to keep his vows and went to Nineveh. We'll see what happens in Nineveh tomorrow.
Read Jonah 1:17 - 3:3 again.
Jonah had tried to escape his responsibilities only God did not allow it. What if He had? What if Jonah had been allowed to keep on running or what if Jonah had died? Would God have sent someone else? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know. He gave Jonah another chance to do what was right and what matters is that in the belly of that big ol' fish Jonah had a change of heart and repented and got thankfully happy. Praise the Lord for that! Because of his repentent and thankful heart he pledged to keep his vows and went to Nineveh. We'll see what happens in Nineveh tomorrow.
Read Jonah 1:17 - 3:3 again.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Jonah is in the belly of a fish! A big fish! Must be. I know it would take something big to swallow me! You would have thought Jonah was a gonner, wouldn't you? But no. But God. Jonah is in this fish three days and what happens while he is in this fish is a miracle! Jonah and God talk again. They talk because Jonah cries out! All his life is now passing before his eyes as he is strangled in the sea by the heartbeat of conviction. He confesses and repents and God's way is opened to a city for repentance and salvation!
Read Jonah 1:17 through 3:3.
When Jonah prays in the belly of this big fish he looks again at God. Seeing God who is the LORD of salvation who has brought him out of his pit. What pit are you in? Have you been swallowed up in something? Anger? Hate? the things of the world? Others? What kind of sin is tempting you to go your own way and not walk with God? Don't go any farther? Remember the LORD.
When Jonah looked to the LORD his life changed. The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time and this time Jonah arose and went. He went to Nineveh in obedience to God and at His Word Jonah jumped up! He obeyed and carried out God's plan for Nineveh. And how did he do this? Look at verse 9 in Chapter 2. He did it with thanksgiving! "With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed."
When you accept the Lord Jesus into your heart and become saved, you have made a vow to God to be His. All His. He is Savior and LORD. Master. The One you serve. Where are you in this relationship with the Lord? Where are you in your obedience to the Lord? Where are you in your vow?
Read Jonah 1:17 through 3:3.
When Jonah prays in the belly of this big fish he looks again at God. Seeing God who is the LORD of salvation who has brought him out of his pit. What pit are you in? Have you been swallowed up in something? Anger? Hate? the things of the world? Others? What kind of sin is tempting you to go your own way and not walk with God? Don't go any farther? Remember the LORD.
When Jonah looked to the LORD his life changed. The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time and this time Jonah arose and went. He went to Nineveh in obedience to God and at His Word Jonah jumped up! He obeyed and carried out God's plan for Nineveh. And how did he do this? Look at verse 9 in Chapter 2. He did it with thanksgiving! "With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed."
When you accept the Lord Jesus into your heart and become saved, you have made a vow to God to be His. All His. He is Savior and LORD. Master. The One you serve. Where are you in this relationship with the Lord? Where are you in your obedience to the Lord? Where are you in your vow?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
So Jonah hops this ship and heads for Tarshish. Read Jonah 1:3-16 to see Jonah's first experience at sea... and first trouble.
Why trouble? Trouble is the consequence of going your own way and not God's way. Trouble is the consequence of disobedience. Disobedience, you know, is sin. Sin is trouble because sin is evil. Evil is the opposite of good. God is good.
Trouble is God's opposition to your disobedience. When we don't trust God and obey Him, we find trouble. We fall into sin. The Spirit Filled Life Study Bible says that "The wise person understnds that God responds to disobedience by making circumstances oppose us." You reap what you sow. (Galatians 6:7) That's what's happening to Jonah here in the midst of a storm. How about you today? Where are you with God, in the midst of a storm? "God knows what is required to cause a change in our hearts and behavior. The path by which we flee from God will become the highway to repentance because of His intervention."
Jonah will repent, eventually. God is with Jonah and He is with us in our storms in life. He is ever present, persisting or pestering us to choose Him. But first the storm comes.
Many things can cause us to be disobedient to God and face a storm. Jonah doesn't like the people of Nineveh because of their wickedness. Doesn't he realize he's joining them with his own wickedness? Even the sailors on the boat - excuse me, today it might be a ship - know that Jonah has trouble. They simply cast lots to find this out. That's because they went to their gods and didn't get an answer. But remember in verse six the captain of the ship woke up Jonah and said, "call on your God." They may worship idols and not know Jonah from another but they knew to call on their gods - little did they know of Jonah's God! He can move the mountains, calm the sea and have a plan all set in place for what comes next.
One thing I can say for Jonah is that he's an honest man. He tells the truth when the sailors ask him about his lot. He even goes so far to offer himself up for death so that they might live! Is he disobedient or a savior? It may appear that he has the right motives but he is problem! He's got trouble but he is trouble!
We bring most of our trouble on ourselves and we don't even realize it when we do! Jonah knows there's trouble and he knows he's the trouble so he has the answer. Do we have the answer? No. God has the answer. God is the answer. You will soon see that God is the answer for Jonah. God has a plan for Jonah. God has thought ahead and knows what is to come. He had a plan knowing Jonah... andwhat Jonah would do.
The men decide it's right. Jonah's right. So the men throw Jonah overboard. Remember, Jonah is wanting to escape from God and what God wants him to do - go to Nineveh. And here is God. Where do we find Jonah next? Where we find Jonah, God is there.
Why trouble? Trouble is the consequence of going your own way and not God's way. Trouble is the consequence of disobedience. Disobedience, you know, is sin. Sin is trouble because sin is evil. Evil is the opposite of good. God is good.
Trouble is God's opposition to your disobedience. When we don't trust God and obey Him, we find trouble. We fall into sin. The Spirit Filled Life Study Bible says that "The wise person understnds that God responds to disobedience by making circumstances oppose us." You reap what you sow. (Galatians 6:7) That's what's happening to Jonah here in the midst of a storm. How about you today? Where are you with God, in the midst of a storm? "God knows what is required to cause a change in our hearts and behavior. The path by which we flee from God will become the highway to repentance because of His intervention."
Jonah will repent, eventually. God is with Jonah and He is with us in our storms in life. He is ever present, persisting or pestering us to choose Him. But first the storm comes.
Many things can cause us to be disobedient to God and face a storm. Jonah doesn't like the people of Nineveh because of their wickedness. Doesn't he realize he's joining them with his own wickedness? Even the sailors on the boat - excuse me, today it might be a ship - know that Jonah has trouble. They simply cast lots to find this out. That's because they went to their gods and didn't get an answer. But remember in verse six the captain of the ship woke up Jonah and said, "call on your God." They may worship idols and not know Jonah from another but they knew to call on their gods - little did they know of Jonah's God! He can move the mountains, calm the sea and have a plan all set in place for what comes next.
One thing I can say for Jonah is that he's an honest man. He tells the truth when the sailors ask him about his lot. He even goes so far to offer himself up for death so that they might live! Is he disobedient or a savior? It may appear that he has the right motives but he is problem! He's got trouble but he is trouble!
We bring most of our trouble on ourselves and we don't even realize it when we do! Jonah knows there's trouble and he knows he's the trouble so he has the answer. Do we have the answer? No. God has the answer. God is the answer. You will soon see that God is the answer for Jonah. God has a plan for Jonah. God has thought ahead and knows what is to come. He had a plan knowing Jonah... andwhat Jonah would do.
The men decide it's right. Jonah's right. So the men throw Jonah overboard. Remember, Jonah is wanting to escape from God and what God wants him to do - go to Nineveh. And here is God. Where do we find Jonah next? Where we find Jonah, God is there.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Now have you ever thought about Jonah being a stubborn man? Where is his stubborn self going to take him? Don't you think although he's going away from a wicked and evil city that he's walking into trouble (wickedness) himself? Sounds like it to me!
A godly person will display instant, willing obedience to God's word of instruction. Godly people are not stubborn people. Oops, that leaves me out! I can get quite stubborn when I want to be. In my stubbornness I have discovered that it does bring trouble. That's too bad. Or is it. If it's God's word/way we are to be following, then that must be the better way if stubborn disobedience brings trouble. The better way, God's way. We must promptly do what the Lord directs us to do. Trust Him. Obey Him.
So, who is Jonah? At present he is a disobedient man. A man of God. He knows the Lord. He has served the Lord faithfully. He's one of the Lord's own men, a prophet. (v. 9) People knew about Jonah and his God or did they? (v. 6/8) So what's up with Jonah now? He's walking into trouble.
Jonah's trouble... a storm comes up.
A godly person will display instant, willing obedience to God's word of instruction. Godly people are not stubborn people. Oops, that leaves me out! I can get quite stubborn when I want to be. In my stubbornness I have discovered that it does bring trouble. That's too bad. Or is it. If it's God's word/way we are to be following, then that must be the better way if stubborn disobedience brings trouble. The better way, God's way. We must promptly do what the Lord directs us to do. Trust Him. Obey Him.
So, who is Jonah? At present he is a disobedient man. A man of God. He knows the Lord. He has served the Lord faithfully. He's one of the Lord's own men, a prophet. (v. 9) People knew about Jonah and his God or did they? (v. 6/8) So what's up with Jonah now? He's walking into trouble.
Jonah's trouble... a storm comes up.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Obedience follows trust. Right? Isn't that what the song says, "Trust and Obey"? I believe it does and it goes even further than that because it says, "trust and obey for there's no other way"! Can you believe that!? I can believe that. Do I follow it every time? No. Do you believe that there's no other way than to trust and obey the Lord?
Jonah must not. Not this time any way. Read Jonah 1:1-3. The word of the LORD comes to Jonah and says, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." But what does Jonah do? He goes the opposite direction to Tarshish! He wants to get completely away from the Lord. What's the matter with this guy? Who is he any way? Doesn't he know we are to "draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to us"? (James 4:8a) Or is it that he already knows "their wickedness" in Nineveh? Wouldn't you want to get away from where there is wickedness being done by the people of any city?
God and Jonah both knew about the going ons of Nineveh... and it wasn't good. Wickedness in Hebrew is also translated "trouble," "misery," difficulty," and "harm." The Spirit Filled Life Bible note, which is what I study from, says that God is concerned about Nineveh's distresses and its evil ways. Its situation is extreme enough to get the attention of God. Ouch! It's so bad in Nineveh that God is alerted and now goes to Jonah with a word for him. Why Jonah? This word to Jonah is to, "go." Jonah, though, goes another way. Another way instead of God's way.
Tomorrow and the next few days we'll answer why Jonah and see where Jonah goes. What happens to Jonah by going another way and not God's way. Not God's way but his own way. He chooses to not obey.
Jonah must not. Not this time any way. Read Jonah 1:1-3. The word of the LORD comes to Jonah and says, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." But what does Jonah do? He goes the opposite direction to Tarshish! He wants to get completely away from the Lord. What's the matter with this guy? Who is he any way? Doesn't he know we are to "draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to us"? (James 4:8a) Or is it that he already knows "their wickedness" in Nineveh? Wouldn't you want to get away from where there is wickedness being done by the people of any city?
God and Jonah both knew about the going ons of Nineveh... and it wasn't good. Wickedness in Hebrew is also translated "trouble," "misery," difficulty," and "harm." The Spirit Filled Life Bible note, which is what I study from, says that God is concerned about Nineveh's distresses and its evil ways. Its situation is extreme enough to get the attention of God. Ouch! It's so bad in Nineveh that God is alerted and now goes to Jonah with a word for him. Why Jonah? This word to Jonah is to, "go." Jonah, though, goes another way. Another way instead of God's way.
Tomorrow and the next few days we'll answer why Jonah and see where Jonah goes. What happens to Jonah by going another way and not God's way. Not God's way but his own way. He chooses to not obey.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittal, saying..." - Jonah 1:1
Isn't it an amazing thought to know that God speaks to us? Do you know His voice? The Bible tells us that His sheep know His voice and He knows ours! (John 10:14)
Think on this and ask yourself these questions - better yet put these questions before the Lord and have Him answer them.
To know the Lord's voice and to have Him speak to you. Do we first have to talk to Him? Does He know our voice from our neighbor's? Does He speak to you? Do you know His voice? Have you heard thevoice of the Lord? What sort of things has He said to you? Has the word of the Lord come to you?
When you read all of the Book of Jonah you find that when God spoke to Jonah he didn't go and do what God said every time even though Jonah would listen to God. God and Jonah would talk andit seems they spoke with each other often. Sometimes Jonah would even argue with God. And God kept speaking to Jonah. Why? Why did God continually shall we say "pester" Jonah? What did the Lord want from Jonah?
Obedience.
Isn't it an amazing thought to know that God speaks to us? Do you know His voice? The Bible tells us that His sheep know His voice and He knows ours! (John 10:14)
Think on this and ask yourself these questions - better yet put these questions before the Lord and have Him answer them.
To know the Lord's voice and to have Him speak to you. Do we first have to talk to Him? Does He know our voice from our neighbor's? Does He speak to you? Do you know His voice? Have you heard thevoice of the Lord? What sort of things has He said to you? Has the word of the Lord come to you?
When you read all of the Book of Jonah you find that when God spoke to Jonah he didn't go and do what God said every time even though Jonah would listen to God. God and Jonah would talk andit seems they spoke with each other often. Sometimes Jonah would even argue with God. And God kept speaking to Jonah. Why? Why did God continually shall we say "pester" Jonah? What did the Lord want from Jonah?
Obedience.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Let's look at Jonah today. In Luke 11:29-32 I was reading about Jonah. I know, I know, there's a whole book of Jonah, but this is where I was reading and I was in Luke first which took me to Jonah. God uses Jonah's story in the Bible to say a lot to us about the heart of God and the mission He has for His people. God's closing words in the Book of Jonah to Jonah are very much God's heart in John 3:16. What is that? That is God wants all people to be saved and none to be lost and left behind. In Luke we read the words of Jesus saying to the multitudes that have shown up to hear Him:
This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.
Skip down to verse 32 now:
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
Does this generation repent? Will our generation repent? Will you repent?
The Word of the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God never changes. (Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6)
John the Baptist cries out to this generation and to us today, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.
Skip down to verse 32 now:
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
Does this generation repent? Will our generation repent? Will you repent?
The Word of the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God never changes. (Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6)
John the Baptist cries out to this generation and to us today, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
In Genesis 24 Abraham now well advanced in years sends his trusted servant to the land of his brother, Nahor, to find a bride for his son, Isaac. When his servant arrives in the city the first thing he does is seek the Lord's help (Matthew 6:33) to find Isaac's bride. Reading Genesis 24:10-27 you will see that before he has finished speaking to the Lord, Rebekah shows up and does all that the servant had asked of the Lord. The servant's prayer was answered before he finished speaking! In Psalm 32:8 of the Bible it says, "I (the Lord) will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eyes." But we first have to seek the Lord each and every time we need direction or instruction. Isaiah 65:24 promises us this same thing! It says, "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear." But we first have to seek the Lord. Yesterday I closed my journaling Just 4 You Today with Proverbs 3:5 and 6 - look back at that or better yet look it up in your Bible and then look at Psalm 37:5. What conditions must we meet if we are to receive God's guidance? In two words, trust, commit. We are to seek Him - lets commit to seeking the Lord - and we are to trust Him. Abraham trusted God and he could trust his servant and the servant learned to trust God.
Now look back at the story of Abraham's servant and see how the servant reacted when God answered his prayer (v.26). He is so thankful that he praises the Lord! Yes! He bows down with his head and worships the LORD and says, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham...". If God did it in Genesis 24 for Abraham's servant, he will do it for you. He is no respector of persons. God will answer your prayer even before you are through speaking! He does every time when you are obedient to do what He asks of you as He guides you - it's when we are disobedient that we are found to be lost and often struggling. Think back and pray to God your Father and ask Him to show you where you are today and what you need to be doing for Him or maybe repent for doing. "...he will not forsake His mercy and His truth toward you." He will "do exceedinly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory..."! (Ephesians 3:20)
Before I close, notice one more thing in this story God gives us to encourage us. The servant was able to stay and lodge in the home of Abrahams' relatives. Did the servant include this in his prayer? No. This was given to him as part of the "more abundant life" God promises to us that choose Him! (John 10:10b - life more abundant: superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, more than sufficient!) The servant chose God. Choose life today - trust in the Lord!
Now look back at the story of Abraham's servant and see how the servant reacted when God answered his prayer (v.26). He is so thankful that he praises the Lord! Yes! He bows down with his head and worships the LORD and says, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham...". If God did it in Genesis 24 for Abraham's servant, he will do it for you. He is no respector of persons. God will answer your prayer even before you are through speaking! He does every time when you are obedient to do what He asks of you as He guides you - it's when we are disobedient that we are found to be lost and often struggling. Think back and pray to God your Father and ask Him to show you where you are today and what you need to be doing for Him or maybe repent for doing. "...he will not forsake His mercy and His truth toward you." He will "do exceedinly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory..."! (Ephesians 3:20)
Before I close, notice one more thing in this story God gives us to encourage us. The servant was able to stay and lodge in the home of Abrahams' relatives. Did the servant include this in his prayer? No. This was given to him as part of the "more abundant life" God promises to us that choose Him! (John 10:10b - life more abundant: superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, more than sufficient!) The servant chose God. Choose life today - trust in the Lord!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Has your world ever been turned upside down? For whatever reason that it's become upside down, it's mind boggling and I suggest you don't try and figure it out. The problem is we ourselves want to figure it out! Again, don't. It's always better to place it in the hands of the Lord and leave it with him. Can you trust like that? That's the key. Trust.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5 & 6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
First thing this morning talking with God:
My question was: What am I not doing that You cannot bless?
His response was: Faith but no action.
My next question was: What shall I put action to?
Then came the following. See if it doesn't relate to your situation as well:
Wisdom says: Build My Church.
Knowledge says: Schooling now.
Wisdom says: Finish your home.
Knowledge says: Little by little.
Wisdom says: Get out of debt.
Knowledge says: Pay first things first - God then debt.
Wisdom says: I need help.
Knowledge says: Seek Me (more) - read, study, meditate, pray, fast
Wisdom says: I need time.
Knowledge says: Make and take the time.
Wisdom says: Do not be lazy.
Knowledge says: Be like the ant.
Wisdom says: Go with the beat of Jesus' drum.
Knowledge says: Not your own.
Note: The little drummer boy gave Jesus his best; both time and talent.
Wisdom says: Follow the Holy Spirit's leading.
Knowledge says: Not your own understanding.
Wisdom says: You don't need to understand it all yet.
Knowledge says: Begin to apply this - what we've shared today - what you already know to do.
My question was: What am I not doing that You cannot bless?
His response was: Faith but no action.
My next question was: What shall I put action to?
Then came the following. See if it doesn't relate to your situation as well:
Wisdom says: Build My Church.
Knowledge says: Schooling now.
Wisdom says: Finish your home.
Knowledge says: Little by little.
Wisdom says: Get out of debt.
Knowledge says: Pay first things first - God then debt.
Wisdom says: I need help.
Knowledge says: Seek Me (more) - read, study, meditate, pray, fast
Wisdom says: I need time.
Knowledge says: Make and take the time.
Wisdom says: Do not be lazy.
Knowledge says: Be like the ant.
Wisdom says: Go with the beat of Jesus' drum.
Knowledge says: Not your own.
Note: The little drummer boy gave Jesus his best; both time and talent.
Wisdom says: Follow the Holy Spirit's leading.
Knowledge says: Not your own understanding.
Wisdom says: You don't need to understand it all yet.
Knowledge says: Begin to apply this - what we've shared today - what you already know to do.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Things have really gotten away from me since Thanksgiving! Here it is Saturday already! Friday is just a blurr of a simply fun and relaxing day, but isn't that what the day after Thanksgiving is suppose to be? And why do "they" call it Black Friday? My husband use to work in the retail industry and they called it Green Friday! That's a day all the money would come in and the shopping days for Christmas gift giving had begun! Not to mention the stores would have fun in their preparations too. I'm not against the stores for what would we do without them today, but let's think about that... what would we have to do if we didn't have stores to go shopping in or malls and restuarants and home shopping networks or online shopping and free shipping too? We might actually have to do something besides spend money!
It might be we'd go out the day after Thanksgiving and take the family along to gather wood for the winter even if we had to bundle up because the weather got cold over night. In the process of work the kids would have fun playing games and getting to know one another. Some of us might have to stay behind and prepare the evening meal for the day or maybe even plan out the meals for the entire week but it would be a real treat when everyone sat down together to eat! And for gift giving at Christmas you'd have to get really creative and think of what you might make or what gifts you were given you could use for the blessings upon others. Like the little drummer boy, remember him? He came in a song we sing; not that it's a true story. However, he gave his best when he played his drum for the King.
What an idea! I use to spend money at Christmas. Lot's of it as a matter of fact and not that I had lots of it either, but I would spend it. Now I don't know that anyone much cares what they get. I see most people open one and go right to the next without even a thanks to the person who gave. I know from experience that thank you's aren't something you get any more from those you see next door or somewhere across the way. We've lost something from Thanksgiving to the weeks that follow in the Spirit of Christmas and that something we've blamed on the retailers and stores when maybe we should look closer at the shoppers and families we shop for this Christmas. I want to give my very best even if that very best is something not big or expensive or maybe not even store bought!
My daughter-in-law one year, a year when I was in my busy bee lifestyle and had not time on my hands to bake or make or whatever it might take, and she made and gave us an ice tea jar filled with homemade cookies of all sorts and kinds - it was wonderful to set them all out on a tray and share them with friends when they arrived one day. Another gift I have to this day and it hangs in my bedroom to remind me each day what a "joy it is knowing my children (and grandchildren) are walking with the Lord." This a beautiful creamic heart and another of Battonburg lace that tells me how much "I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works."
My Dad is not with us for any more Christmases, but the memories of him and Mom and the fun we'd all have when we went to cut our very own Christmas tree for each house one year and the campfires and roasted marshmellows, and Christmas Eve services late at night with candles lit on the end of every pew and our Christmas trees standing tall and decorated with the love of homemade ornaments and strings of popcorn! Well, so much for memories as I'm getting ahead of myself with Christmas still three weeks away and we've only just left Thanksgiving behind. With all there is to look forward to in the coming weeks, may we prepare for the celebration of Christmas Day when Jesus our Savior was born! Praise God for Christmas and His sending His Son! Not only do we have the opportunity each year to celebrate His birthday, we also celebrate His death and resurrection as well for it is He who is the One we adore! Remember the reason for this season as you take each day and give it... no, let's give Him your best!
It might be we'd go out the day after Thanksgiving and take the family along to gather wood for the winter even if we had to bundle up because the weather got cold over night. In the process of work the kids would have fun playing games and getting to know one another. Some of us might have to stay behind and prepare the evening meal for the day or maybe even plan out the meals for the entire week but it would be a real treat when everyone sat down together to eat! And for gift giving at Christmas you'd have to get really creative and think of what you might make or what gifts you were given you could use for the blessings upon others. Like the little drummer boy, remember him? He came in a song we sing; not that it's a true story. However, he gave his best when he played his drum for the King.
What an idea! I use to spend money at Christmas. Lot's of it as a matter of fact and not that I had lots of it either, but I would spend it. Now I don't know that anyone much cares what they get. I see most people open one and go right to the next without even a thanks to the person who gave. I know from experience that thank you's aren't something you get any more from those you see next door or somewhere across the way. We've lost something from Thanksgiving to the weeks that follow in the Spirit of Christmas and that something we've blamed on the retailers and stores when maybe we should look closer at the shoppers and families we shop for this Christmas. I want to give my very best even if that very best is something not big or expensive or maybe not even store bought!
My daughter-in-law one year, a year when I was in my busy bee lifestyle and had not time on my hands to bake or make or whatever it might take, and she made and gave us an ice tea jar filled with homemade cookies of all sorts and kinds - it was wonderful to set them all out on a tray and share them with friends when they arrived one day. Another gift I have to this day and it hangs in my bedroom to remind me each day what a "joy it is knowing my children (and grandchildren) are walking with the Lord." This a beautiful creamic heart and another of Battonburg lace that tells me how much "I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works."
My Dad is not with us for any more Christmases, but the memories of him and Mom and the fun we'd all have when we went to cut our very own Christmas tree for each house one year and the campfires and roasted marshmellows, and Christmas Eve services late at night with candles lit on the end of every pew and our Christmas trees standing tall and decorated with the love of homemade ornaments and strings of popcorn! Well, so much for memories as I'm getting ahead of myself with Christmas still three weeks away and we've only just left Thanksgiving behind. With all there is to look forward to in the coming weeks, may we prepare for the celebration of Christmas Day when Jesus our Savior was born! Praise God for Christmas and His sending His Son! Not only do we have the opportunity each year to celebrate His birthday, we also celebrate His death and resurrection as well for it is He who is the One we adore! Remember the reason for this season as you take each day and give it... no, let's give Him your best!
Monday, November 23, 2009
We begin - Monday, November 23, 2009
My day has ended with hours on the Internet and time spent setting this journal blog up that I've not any time to say much today. The frustration of how this works has gotten me to a place where all I want to do right now is rest and clear my mind of such computer technology of which I do not comprehend in the first place. Have you ever been at that place before? I find it more complicated to diagnos at the end of the day other than rest. That means to simply go to bed. As I go off to slumberland I leave you today with this thought on rest: REST, it is the best thing for the body. It does a body good - much better than milk at this time of day. However, I do remember as a young girl my Grandmother taking bread and tearing it up and adding it to a glass of milk for me just before bed. It taste good. I just don't remember how much better it made me sleep. I know this: I can sleep good knowing God will take care of any frustrations I might have as He is going to be awake all night any way! May your sleep be sweet and your dreams come true. Tomorrow will bring a new day.
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