Jonah, The Rest of the Story

Jonah, The Rest of the Story

Jonah 4:1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

     Jonah had just suffered the most traumatic event in his life. Caught up in the belly of the whale for three days and vomited out onto the beach, so he reluctantly went to prophecy to the people of Nineveh that they needed to repent. He didn't like these people, he thought they were evil and in all probable scenarios he was probably right about them. But God is His compassion said go and tell them to repent. 

     How many times in life have we just gone through a situation where we were swallowed up by situations where people have betrayed us and it seems to come out of nowhere like a drive by shooting and the person leaves you bleeding and dying on the side of the road and you are all alone like Jonah. God comes along and picks you up and places you somewhere safe. It might not feel like you are safe. It might be a stinky situation like the belly of the whale but it carries you to a place of freedom where you can finally crawl up on the beach, clean yourself up and take a fresh breath. THEN God comes along and says I want you to forgive that person. And you say I knew You were going to ask me to do that because You are a compassionate God and it is better for me to die rather than forgive that person.  

     I have had similar conversations with God, a lot :) It is very hard to come to terms with the emotions that are so overwhelming when someone has treated you badly, especially those that are close to you and you trusted. 

Jonah 4:5  Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

     So in our self pity we go out and try to shelter our hearts, find some comfort in the shade and wait and see what happens to the person who has hurt us so badly. Amazingly enough, the person usually by all appearances seems to flourish and prosper and does not even seem to care what they have done to you. This adds fuel to your angry fire. Then God tries to comfort you because He is a good Father, and grows a vine around you of people who do love you. But then because of your anger and unforgiveness the worm of destruction comes along and starts to separate and cause those who love you to keep their distance. And you are even more angry.

Jonah 4:9  But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Moral of the story, we are not the creator of life. When someone wrongs us, we do not easily recognize the big picture of their worth to our Father no matter how bad someone has hurt you, in God's own words, "there are people who cannot tell their right hand from their left". We are not to be concerned about their sin or iniquity and we should not be holding things against them. God will judge them but by the same principle He says,

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Not an easy lesson, but forgiving those who have hurt you is freeing yourself from the responsibility of carrying their sin. Be free today. Ask God to show you the areas you might be harboring unforgiveness and then ask for Him to forgive you, just as you are forgiving those who have hurt you.  

     

Choosing Life

     

  All around the enemy's camp there is dancing and celebrating the latest victory. High fiving, singing, shouting profanities as they revel in the taking of a country's government. Satan himself falling into a false security that he has won. His narcissistic pride blinding him from the spiritual reality. The earth has seen this before, Satan rejoices in his stupidity and blindness, celebrating that he killed the Christ, the Savior of the world. Jokes on him, Jesus rose again ruling and reigning from His Throne in Heaven. So believers, rejoice! Jesus is still on throne! Many countries all over the world that don't have our freedom of sharing the gospel are powerhouses of many miracles and signs and wonders. Dead raising, miraculous healings, supernatural encounters with angels, prophetic gifts flowing, so take heart and position yourselves in humility in a real relationship with the Lord. Allow Him to teach and comfort you, get so close to His heart that you only speak what He speaks and only do what He tells you to do. A few months ago Father told me, "There will be those who will and those who won't." It is your choice are you going to be one of those who will step into your destiny and be completely immersed in His will or are you going to go on as you have always gone on. 

   

2 Timothy 2:11-26New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

11 Here is a saying you can trust.

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him.
12 If we don’t give up,
    we will also rule with him.
If we say we don’t know him,
    he will also say he doesn’t know us.
13 Even if we are not faithful,
    he remains faithful.
    He must be true to himself

20 In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have special purposes. Others have common purposes. 21 Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.

22 Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights. 24 Anyone who serves the Lord must not be hard to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach. The one who serves must not hold anything against anyone. 25 They must gently teach those who are against them. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth. 26 Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil’s trap. He has taken them as prisoners to do what he wanted.

In the love of Jesus I pray all who read these choose this day who they will serve. 

   

What comes out of your mouth?

     This weekend was a wonderful time of revelation for me. I am going to be vulnerable and wear my heart on my sleeve and share a very personal story.  Many, many years ago there was situation that happened to me that left me feeling betrayed and separated from the very things that held my heart. God was always the foremost go to source when situations came about but this situation made me feel like Joseph and so alone. The first few years I confess, I made many bad choices because of this one situation out of hurt and trying to survive and although God was right there with me and I felt him, I really didn’t completely surrender and allow Him to show me the path I was to take. I struggled with forgiveness and eventually was able to come to grips with forgiving and making peace and moving on from the situation. But the one thing that always haunted me was I did not know why the whole thing happened in the first place. It left a little hole in me that no matter how strong and even when I got back on the right path with God, it was always there.  This past weekend I was able to have a simple two minute conversation and the source of my grief for that past many years was revealed. God is always faithful and I know we are not to dwell on “why” but sometimes for healing we need to know the source.  So my point is after this conversation it struck me how destructive the enemy is in using lies. A simple lie, a simple misunderstanding and boom! my life was completely turned around in one day.  The Revelation was that the secret of the lie continued to build and build and if the person involved would have just come to me and asked me about the situation all would have been resolved and the enemy couldn’t have had a field day causing destruction for MANY years in my life. So my advice is this.

Matthew 22-26  The Message Bible

 “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.  “Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.

Other thoughts to read from The Amplified Bible

Proverbs 16:28

A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

 

Leviticus 19:16

You shall not go up and down as a dispenser of gossip and scandal among your people, nor shall you [secure yourself by false testimony or by silence and] endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord.

Psalm 41:6

And when one comes to see me, he speaks falsehood and empty words, while his heart gathers mischievous gossip [against me]; when he goes away, he tells it abroad.

1 Timothy 5:13

Moreover, as they go about from house to house, they learn to be idlers, and not only idlers, but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say and talking of things they should not mention.

Walking in someone else's shoes

 I was cleaning out my documents and I found this and decided to share it on my blog.  I wrote this little blog as a sample for a magazine where they had given me the subject title to write on. 

When I was about five years old I remember watching television and someone saying “try walking in my shoes for a while.” It’s amazing how that phrase stuck with me all my life and I have applied it even as a young child. I learned to be respectful and look at the situation through the other persons eyes and see why they might have reacted the way they had. Whenever I have a disagreement with someone I always go back to this phrase and try to see the situation from their point of view.

Being a parent can be very rewarding emotionally but also comes with a great responsibility to not only provide for their physical needs but to try and instill a good moral sense and teaching children the difference between right and wrong. There is so much stimulation with television, internet, peer pressure, and school environments that is very important to always be watchful and make sure the children are learning their core values from a positive home environment.

 Today’s world is so much more fast-paced and complicated than when I was young. There are single parents, blended families, grandparents raising children and foster homes. No single “family” has the same economic, social, educational, religious, or situational challenges as the next family. Each one is unique, so it is important to teach our children how to react to the differences they see. So how can parent teach this mentality to their young children?

1.      Instead of verbally acting out your aggression such as yelling at traffic, remember your children are going to emulate you and develop future behavior patterns on how to deal with certain situations. So take a deep breath and be calm and teach your children those things such as backed up traffic are not worth getting agitated over.

2.      Praise good behavior when you see your child doing something kind for someone. Make sure they know you value and appreciate their kindness. Just simply noticing a kind act and saying thank you to the child will encourage more of the same positive behavior.

3.      Parents with young children can often feel frustrated and discouraged when trying to communicate. It is important to remember they have not had the same opportunity to learn life’s lessons like you have so be patient. If they don’t understand what you are trying to tell them then rephrase it to adapt to their age level of understanding. Try not to show your frustration in your tone of voice but try and be positive when discussing anything with your children. We often get in so much of a hurry we forget this important fact.

4.      Pay it forward. Allow your children to see you being kind and generous and to learn that we live in this world and need to help others. Give them ideas on how they can help others. Encourage them to hold doors open for people, help their siblings with their chores for no other reason except to do a random act of kindness. Make sure they send thank you notes or make phone calls to people who give them gifts.

5.      Remember children are like sponges soaking up every action and reaction whether good or bad from you. Whatever values you want your children to possess they will learn by watching your behavior.

EARS TO HEAR AND EYES TO SEE

     Life in general can knock you down, catch you by surprise and try to destroy you. Yes its true and being a Christian does not change that fact.  In fact, when you have a Heavenly destiny and whether you know (or maybe don't realize) what your purpose is, life can be especially cruel to try and displace you from your calling.
I haven't written for awhile, been going through one of those hard places, but I woke up preaching to myself this morning :) .

Matthew 13:15-17  For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because   they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

So ask God to open your ears and hear His voice and open your eyes to see the wonders that He has for you.

     I have struggled all my life with not belonging anywhere. I realize that this is a blessing not a curse. I don't get caught up in the need to be seen and accepted by man,  I don't covet material things, I am genuinely happy when someone gets blessed or succeeds in something. I don't envy them. I really don't care if people think I am weird. My ultimate purpose in life is to allow the Lord's love to overflow in me so powerfully that I in turn will spill out His love all over those I do come into contact with. I fail miserably because I am still a work in progress, but my Father's love never waivers. I'm not saying if you are social person that is wrong, it's in your make up and everyone in their uniqueness compliments the whole body of Christ if we allow ourselves to recognize the differences in each other and revel and praise the Lord for each other's gifts, talents, quirks etc. whatever you want to call them. I just happen to be different and you would be surprised how many are just like me.


   Time is short, we know it, we feel it, and some are consumed with fear and trying to survive not realizing we will not be able to survive in our own strength, intelligence or ingenuity. Only by allowing God to wrap His loving arms completely around us, spirit, mind and body, will we survive.  And love casts out fear.
I John 4:17-19 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
     We are called to take back and restore the things defiled by the enemy and have them restored back to their original purpose. This includes people, government, places, and situations. According to several studies done there are 2.1 billion people who believe Jesus was the son of God in the world. 73% of the people in the United States consider themselves Christians. Can you imagine if all of those who believe Jesus is the son of God actually understood who they were created to be and their purpose is, what our world and our country would look like? We need to take back our purpose and pray the most profound prayer found in the Bible.

Matthew 6:5-15  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us today our daily bread.
 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

Father, YOUR Kingdom COME! YOUR Will be DONE! on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

So this Christmas with it's celebrations and office parties and all the nonsense with shopping and stressing over everything, take the time daily to soak in your Father's love and pray and take something back this season. Even a small victory is a victory.

 

Some ideas

1. Pray for the clerk that checks you out at the store. Father, YOUR Kingdom COME! YOUR Will be DONE! on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN for this person.

2. Pray for your family members that are struggling or that you are struggling with. Father, YOUR Kingdom COME! YOUR Will be DONE! on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

3. Pray for our government leaders no matter how you feel about them, they are people too and need to know what their true purpose is. Father, YOUR Kingdom COME! YOUR Will be DONE! on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

4. Pray for all those suffering abuse, oppression, depression, homelessness, the hungry etc. one person at a time as you see them in your daily activities. Father, YOUR Kingdom COME! YOUR Will be DONE! on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

 

Be blessed this season and be a blessing! Love you all and praying you all find your purpose and your identity in Jesus.

 

 

 

 



  

Foolishness! lmfo (laughing my face off) :)

   

 Some people think me foolish because of my belief in God. I have gotten to the point that I really don't care what "man" says, whether friend or enemy, judgments, criticisms, and speculations of what is going on in my life. Don't worry God has factored my foolishness into my destiny. :)

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
 
I Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  (There is no one more foolish or weaker than I am!) So to God be the glory; when you look at who I am I pray you are seeing my Father in Heaven with His mercy, grace and love.

I Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

 

I Corinthians 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for,“Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

 

     I have finally become comfortable and accepting of myself as God created me, even with the foolishness and the flaws, its all me and its ok, I was created that way, unique and special in my Father's eyes. So that being said, here is my prayer for everyone reading this:

 

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

 “All things have been committed to Jesus by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I pray that you find the peace and the rest that I have been able to find in my Lord Jesus. When you are surrounded by His love you have no choice but to surrender all.  Amen

 

 

    

 

Word of encouragement for those of you that are in the trenches.

     There are days and then there are days! Chaos running rampant all around us, sometimes it just feels like I should have no hope.  And I will be completely honest there are days when I feel hopeless even for just a minute and get overwhelmed with the every day stuff that wants to knock me off track like a drive by shooting.  Bang! "Take that!" my enemies scream and maybe they shake me for just a second but then I remember Whose I am and I get up and yell  "Bang! Get under my feet where you belong!" Then the praising starts and the Lord will remind me of all the good things He is doing behind the scenes if I will just rest in Him.
     My Father in Heaven sneaks in several miracles in my midst that I wasn't even praying for and I sing and dance and praise Him for His ever present concern for me and my life and the little things. 

I love this word the Lord gave me this morning.

1 Thessalonians 5 (NIV)

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

 

 

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all my brothers and sisters.