His Voice

It seems like for several weeks now my time of pursuing the Lord has been so personal that, when I go to type out something to share, I don't know what to say.

Do you ever have times like that?  I don't know...like you are tucked away in a secret place with the Spirit of God, and He is whispering things to you faster than you can process them?  

Please know that it is never that I don't want to share, but I've learned to be still and listen when the season changes too.

This has been a sweet time of resting in the Lord for me.  Through all the craziness that surrounded my surgery...despite everything that could have been, I'm so thankful that my eyes have been on eternity and my ears have been tuned to the voice of the King.

I feel so sorry for people who think God is a joke...that God doesn't speak...that He isn't loving or ever-present to help us by His Spirit.

I hear the voice of the Lord so easily.  I don't mean that boastfully in any way.  I mean it to glorify Him.  This should be our "normal" as His children.  This was never meant to be something super-spiritual or mind-blowing or even something too outrageous to believe.

Jesus tore the veil that separated us from the Father.  He yearns to be with us minute-by-minute.  He rejoices over us with singing and His thoughts toward us outnumber the grains of sand!

He is a personal God.  He cares.

One can argue about the Bible.  One can argue theology.  At the end of the day, one cannot argue my experiences.  They are mine, and I can never be convinced I haven't, time and time again, met with the One, True Spirit of God.

I had a dear friend ask me some months ago how I know I am hearing the voice of the Lord.  Wow, that is a hard question to answer about a voice that usually isn't audible!

I can only explain that I know my husband's voice.  If I were blindfolded and could only hear Tom's voice, I would know it.  I would know each of my children, my mom, my dad, my friends...

How do we recognize the voices of those we love?  

We have spent enough time with them that we "just know" them. 

We can't really explain how we know, but we do, don't we?  No one is going to convince us that isn't our child's voice we hear!

That's how it is for me.  I know the Lord's voice because I have spent much time with Him and He is now familiar.  I know when I'm hearing Him and when I'm not.

I want to share some more on how I recognize the Lord, but for today, I leave you with this:

John 10:14Amplified Bible (AMP)

14 I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me—

Quiet Time

I have found myself wondering lately what others do for their personal quiet time with the Lord.  There are so many ways to practice His presence!  One of my favorite things to do is to take Scriptures or the devotionals I'm reading and turn them into prayers that I write out in my journal.  This way, when I'm having a rough time and feel stuck or don't know how to pray, I just open my journal and read it aloud. It soothes my soul and reminds me of God's love, grace, and mercy. It helps me exalt him above every problem and circumstance.  It's so easy to knock the personal, intimate time to the bottom of the shuffle in a busy day, but my day feels so off when I allow that!  When I seek God first, I am just a much more peaceful person.  I'm pretty sure everyone around me appreciates it.  :)

Honor

Looking further into aspects of humility, I studied honor with the Youth and Young Adults groups.

By definition, honor is regarding something or someone as precious; reverence or respect.

We no longer live in a culture where most people are taught to honor others. Oh, we hear terms like "tolerance," but to merely put up with something someone does is not the same as honoring them.

Enjoy these discussion notes, based on the book, Honor's Reward by John Bevere.

Honor

*Before you can honor another, you must choose humility

Honor is to value; see as weighty and precious; to reverence and respect

You receive many blessings just by becoming a child of God through the acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  But, there are other blessings/rewards you only receive by honoring those God has appointed in your life.

Think about it like this:  just by being your parents’ child, you receive some things like a place to live, clothes to wear, and food to eat.  By honoring your parents, however, you can receive other privileges/rewards/blessings, such as driving a car, having a phone, or using your parent’s credit card.

By choosing humility and honor, you determine which rewards you receive.

Obviously, we know we should honor God above anyone else, but He has also set up a kingdom, not a democracy!  He has appointed leaders in positions of authority.  If you say you honor authority yet refrain from submission and obedience to it, you deceive yourself.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God.

Paul is referring to all areas of delegated authority (this is authority entrusted to another; people are God’s delegated authority on earth).  The New Testament speaks of 4 divisions of delegated authority: civil, social, family, and church. 

Here are some verses to give you an idea of what God expects of you in each area.  Note, however, that though we are told that all authority is of God, He doesn’t say that all authority is godly!

Harsh leaders will give an account to God, but those placed under their rule will be tested like David under Saul.  If they choose to honor, they will be rewarded!  It is profitable for us to honor the position and our Father who placed the leader there, even if we dislike them or disagree with them.  Also realize this though:  you are not required to obey a leader who is asking you to sin!

Civil Authority/Honor: (government)

Romans 13:3-7

3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

1 Peter 2:17

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Social Authority/Honor: (employers, teachers, coaches, etc…)

(*These verses refer to the work we have to do)

1 Timothy 6:1

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

Ephesians 6:5-8

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Family Authority/Honor:

Ephesians 5:33

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

1 Peter 3:7

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Ephesians 5:22

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

Titus 2:4-5

4 Then they (the older women) can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Psalm 127:3

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

(*The following two verses can be applicable in the other areas of delegated authority as well.  “Little ones” can mean children or newer believers in the faith.)

Matthew 18:6-7

6 If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Matthew 18:10

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Ephesians 6:2-3

2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Leviticus 20:9

9 “‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.  (Thank heaven for Jesus and grace!  God was pretty serious about this, wasn’t He?)

Proverbs 29:15

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

Church Authority/Honor:

Ephesians 4:11

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

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.

Hebrews 13:17

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

John 13:20

20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

Matthew 10:40-42

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Do you treat all people with dignity and respect (honor)?  God makes it clear in 1 Peter 2:17 that He indeed means all people. 

Do you find yourself criticizing, judging, or making fun of others…even if it is in your mind but you don’t say it aloud?  Or maybe you do say it aloud.   Do you gossip about others behind their back?  Do you repeat things you've heard and slander others?  Do you know that God says you will give an account for every idle word you speak? 

Do you make it a point to be a friend to those who others don’t deem worthy or are you too cool for that?  Do you exclude others from your circle? 

Do you do what authority asks of you with a happy and willing heart? 

Do you give honor where honor is due? 

Honor is displayed through submission (attitude) and obedience (action). 

Your honor determines your reward.

Isaiah 1: 17-20

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.  18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Humility

In the Young Adults group at our church, we have been discussing humility. It was an eye-opening study!  Enjoy these notes :)

Humility is not:

~Feeling sorry for yourself

~Putting yourself down

~Pretending you can’t do anything right; God has given you gifts & abilities

~Thinking/focusing on yourself all the time

~Lowering yourself to other people and letting them walk all over you

~Completely denying yourself (for example, taking a vow of poverty…that doesn’t make you humble; that makes you poor!)

Humility is:

~Loving yourself in a way that does not put you over anyone else; you are not better or worse than anyone!

~Recognizing that you are who you are and what you are because GOD gifted and enabled you; you are not an amazing self-creation!

~Submitting to the will of God, believing He knows all the answers and the way to your best life

James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace (His empowerment) to the humble. 

God provides His empowerment to those who don’t rely on their own power and strength, but instead allow Him to lead the way.  The proud are those who believe that they know best, try to do everything in their own power, by their own ego.  This doesn’t mean a person is to just sit back and not act.  It means one watches and listens for His leading and follows Him.  Therefore, greater humility is greater power.  When you become less, God and others can become more, and in return, God will exalt and promote you.  Over and over, we are told in the Bible to humble ourselves; it is our choice.

*Humility comes before honor

Proverbs 15:33 The fear (the reverence, awe, and honor) of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.  (You can’t honor another until you humble yourself.)

*Grace is given to the humble

1 Peter 5:5-6 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.  (You don’t have to make yourself something great.  You follow God and HE will make you great for His glory.)

*Humility goes hand-in-hand with prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14 And My people who are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (their inheritance-what they have been given and entrusted with).

*Humilty and faith

Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me, I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.  (You may think you are better than others, but God doesn’t see it that way!)

*God has given us the gift of grace

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  (You have nothing to boast about; it’s all God!)

*We all fall short

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

*Humility involves putting others first

Philippians 2:3-11

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (It’s not about you!)

*Humility shows we have been chosen by God

Colossians 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Your fruit will prove where your heart really is no matter what your words say!  Can others watch you and know you are a Christian, or do they get confused or even turned away from Christianity because your walk doesn’t match your talk?)

*The humble shall be exalted

Matthew 23:12 And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. 

Remember what God said to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7?  “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”  Do you trust God to exalt you or do you find yourself doing things to be accepted?  One of the saddest tragedies in life is to look back years later and regret the actions or lack of actions of your youth.  Choose humility.

Still Not Being Still

Sad how chaotic and crazy daily life has become in this culture. Most of us rush around, hustling and bustling families all over, from the time we roll out of bed until the time we fall into it!

Even if we can manage to squash our schedules enough to stop running so much, it seems we still contend with our minds that never stop racing thoughts here and there.

I had a blessed moment today while waiting to pick my son up from physical therapy. I had just zipped through the grocery store and gotten that checked off my to-do list and then, there I was...just sitting.

I was only sitting still because I didn't have enough time to get any other errand done! But what a gift in the middle of my day.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD... Prov. 46:10

I realized in my quiet moment that when I don't take the time to get still, I get wrapped up in trying to be God to myself and others.

I have to remember to slow down and be intentional.

Hospitality

As I was cleaning the other day, I found myself getting very irritable. 

Do you ever have those times when you go to clean or do a project around your home and you start seeing all the other things that need attention?

I admit that this overwhelms me some days!  I think, "Wow, all I feel like I do is clean, but still filth is everywhere and how does this stuff get broken and when do they do this and...and...and...are you kidding me???"

I live with five males.  I don't think any of them notice what I notice. Three of them are young and they don't really equate things to money like I would like!  They don't quite see the "big deal" about water rings on tables or carpet that hasn't been vacuumed and is accumulating dust!

I have made A LOT of progress in letting some of this go and relaxing, but I will be honest and say that I often dread cleaning anything for I know I will get extremely bothered by what I see!

Now, just so you understand, I'm not some haughty, uppity, snob who has a million-dollar estate with designer furniture and knick-knacks! We are a "typical" (I guess) middle-class family, who lives on a budget and buys most things on sale!

I have spent time in third-world countries witnessing true poverty unlike anything I have seen around the United States.  I know well that because I have a vehicle and clean water, I am among the top 8% of the richest people in the world! 

That makes me feel utterly grateful and  yet terribly guilty at the same time.  

I have went through seasons of severe depression trying to reconcile what I have seen others live in and what God has given me when I return from mission trips.

That has all helped me to relax and let uptight worries go in my beautiful, well-built, warm and spacious home.  However, I am human and stuff still gets to me.  

I think in a way, seeing the poverty I've seen has made me more frustrated as far as trying to get my sons to understand that we should be good stewards because we have been given so much.

My husband and I believe with all our hearts that the only reason we are blessed with any of this is TO BE  a blessing to others.  We have had multiple people live with us over the years and will continue to do so as God directs us.  

We have purposefully decided we will not hoard, be greedy, or turn anyone in need away if we have it to give and God says that is good ground in which to sow.

We will also not live in fear of giving because the Word says, "GIVE and it shall be given to you..."  We realize we cannot "out-give" God!

But as I was cleaning the other day and finding all kinds of things falling apart and needing fixing or deeply cleaned, or repainted, etc... I thought about all the traffic that flows through our home.  I thought about how fast things get worn out and then I found myself getting anxious that we wouldn't be able to get it all taken care of in the time it would be needed.

Thankfully, I heard that still, small voice whisper.  "This isn't your concern.  You have no reason to fear.  I know what you need.  You take care of my sheep, and I will provide."

Then, I began to think how it seems I have NO good reason EVER to not be hospitable.  I have found no exception to this verse:  

1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

I don't see sickness excusing me...even though when I was down after a surgery, I desperately wanted to tell people they couldn't come over and see the mess.

I don't see busyness excusing me...even though some days, after teaching my kids all day and running to appointments, I just want to collapse in bed!

I don't see my mood excusing me...even though some days I am so mentally and emotionally exhausted from dealing with other circumstances.

I don't see inconvenience or my husband's work schedule or my lack of neatness or organization or my non-designer furniture or decor or my fear of judgment from others or that something could not be replaced when needed... 

I can think of nothing I could grumble about inside my mind excusing me from God's call to open my door to others.

OUCH!  That is hard for me, how about you?  But, I pray I will never stop having my heart laid bare before the Word of God. It indeed is living and active, dividing the intents of the heart!

Praise Him!

A Clean Slate

Extending grace to others can sometimes challenge me.  I try very hard to keep in mind how much God has forgiven me.  I try to remind myself that no one else's sin is greater than my own.  ALL sin put Jesus on the cross.

In day-to-day life though, I find that I constantly get stretched to extend that grace.  With my children, I especially have a hard time knowing when to offer more grace and when to discipline.

It hurts me when I see them sin.  When they choose to do something that I know they know we have taught them not to do and that they know God doesn't want them to do, it just makes me ache.

Tom and I have tried to teach our sons that we don't have a list of rules, nor does God have a list of rules, they must follow to earn our love or salvation.  Those things are free gifts.

But God does give us a book of wisdom that teaches us how to live under His protection and have the most abundant life possible.  His "rules" are actually guidelines to help us do things His right way.  His way leads to life, not death. 

Of course there are things in my own life that I'm certain makes God ache.  He is my Father, and He probably mourns my choices and hurts for me.  I crave His patience and understanding...His long-suffering love and His slowness to anger.

I can only guess that my children want the same from me, whether they can articulate that to me or not.

It's so hard to extend these things when you feel like you have told someone over and over again what to do or not do...when you have discussed and forgiven and given chances time and time again!

We walked through some things this week, and I was so angry with two of my boys right before bed one night.  The next morning when I woke, I heard the Holy Spirit nudging me to get up and make them their favorite breakfast.

Now, you know my flesh was fighting.  "God, they don't deserve that!"  And quickly, I realized how much I don't deserve grace or mercy either.

Sigh.  I made them breakfast.  They were visibly shocked.  They thanked me.  They even apologized for their choices.  We had a much better week.

Wouldn't you know it though, that one of them lied to me again yesterday.  It was about something ridiculous that he just didn't feel like doing, but what we are trying to help him see is that if you can be trusted with little, you can be trusted with much.

Sigh again.  It was time for me to offer some more grace and mercy.

Lamentations 3 
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Each morning, God let's me start with a clean slate.  It is mine to do the same for others.

Rejoice with Others

Love in Action~Romans 12

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I have had this portion of Scripture running through my head a lot in the last week and maybe February 14th is a great time to talk about it. 

This passage is called "Love in Action" in the New International Version.  There are so many great reminders here about how we should CHOOSE to treat one another, but the highlighted part above is what I have had running through my mind.

Rejoice with those who are rejoicing.  

It's not that this particular sentence is more important than the rest; it's just that I have seen so many people struggling to do it lately!

I am the type of person who hears something great that happened to someone else and I may have a thought like, "Oh wow!  They got a new car!  I can't wait for that day for us!" But very quickly I forget about me and I am just genuinely happy for them.  I don't struggle with being bitter or envious, etc...  I have sadly noticed though that this isn't the case for some Christians.  They covet each other's homes, vacations, clothes, even their spiritual gifts!

A couple weeks ago we found out that my husband won a very nice award for being the top engineer in his region.  He also won an expensive trip to a luxury resort in Mexico!

Of course we were rejoicing!  My husband works HARD!  He travels most days of the year and our entire family makes a lot of sacrifices to make that happen.  In my opinion, he absolutely deserves this award, though he would tell you, award or not, he does his job not for the accolades of man, but for the glory of God.  

This portion of Scripture came to my mind as I found myself hesitant to tell certain people about Tom's award because I new that they wouldn't just say congrats or be able to be happy for us, but they would say some remark about how nothing like that ever happens for them...blah, blah, blah.

I just don't get that.  I get that life is hard and sometimes you don't get rewarded for hard work, but I don't understand not rejoicing with someone else.

I am a firm believer that our attitude determines our altitude, meaning how we appear, act, and react, will have much to do with how we are promoted in this world.  Nobody enjoys being around grumblers and incessant complainers...Negative Nellie's and Oh-Woe-Is-Me Mildred's!

We all have choices each day to become part of the problem or part of the solution...to be faithful in the little so we can be trusted with much.  And just what do we do when we feel like we have been faithful and have worked hard?  

We trust God and we wait patiently, believing that if we do not grow weary in doing well, if we do not grow faint, in due time we shall reap our reward.

When our eyes are on the reward, they are often not on the Rewarder.  How do we change that?  We seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6 says that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  We seek Him diligently...

dil·i·gent

  [dil-i-juhnt] 

adjective

1.

constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything: a diligent student.

2.

done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking: a diligent search of the files.

God "Is" (My take on Jonah)

I have been thinking about and reading the book of Jonah recently.  Because it is only four chapters I actually read it multiple times, and in a couple different versions Monday.  So, while sitting in my hotel room waiting for a part to be delivered I decided I would try to express what God has been speaking to me.

What initially got me thinking about Jonah is the biggest thing God has put on my heart recently, the question of “Who am I to try to limit God?”  God has really impressed on me that He “Is”.  What does that mean?  I think about when He told Moses to go the Pharaoh and say “I am” sent you.  Or like the ebay commercial “whatever ‘it’ is”.  God “Is”.  He is everything! He created everything! He knows everything!  Is that enough everythings? 

Jonah knew this, yet he, like I often have, tried to force his will on God.  God told him to do something that he did not want to do, something that made him uncomfortable (yes, God does do that).  And instead of doing it he ran.  He tried to hide from God.

We read later in chapters three and four why he ran.

Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 4:1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. ² So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. ³ Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” (NLT)

Jonah let his pride get in the way of him doing what God wanted him to do.  He was more concerned about looking foolish in man’s eyes than obedient in God’s!  To top it off while he was in the belly of the fish he cried out to God and repented and God showed him mercy.  Yet when the people of Nineveh cried out and repented Jonah did not want God to show them mercy.  Not just because they did not deserve it but because he did not want to be wrong!  He said he would rather be dead than be wrong!

At the end of the story Jonah still goes up on a hill to watch and see if God will destroy the city.  He still wanted God to do what he wanted Him to do.  He still tried to force his will on God.

What God is saying to me through this is that when I step out of His will I do open the door for the enemy to come in and attack me (Jonah in the storm then the fish’s belly).  However, He is faithful and just to forgive me, 1 John 1:9, and He will redeem the plan that He has for me.  I have to be willing to do what He is asking me even if it makes me look foolish.  I cannot let my pride get in the way of His will.  

As stated earlier, the other thing I continue to hear is that no matter what happens He “Is”.  If the plan is not what I wanted or expected He still “Is”.  If it did not happen in my timing He still “Is”.  God is my everything and I cannot limit what He is going to do.

My Part

I love the quiet moments of the morning when I get to read something with no loud sounds or flourishing movements around me. Just the gentle lull of the refrigerator and furnace for which I am so grateful.

It is some degrees below zero outside with whistling wind. Why I am allowed to enjoy a cozy and warm home while others endure homelessness I do not know.

The question is what do I do with that?

I have thankfully been blessed to spend time in foreign countries and see how poor that poor can be. The images are seared into my mind. I can almost smell the nauseating smells and see the patches of missing hair from the malnourished.

Oh, to be sure, it has made me a giver. I try to listen intently to the Holy Spirit's leading and give everywhere He says to give. It never feels like enough though. Never.

I suppose it never can feel like enough. This side of heaven, in a fallen world, with hurt and hardship, turmoil and trial, I will never be able to meet all the need I see or feel.

I guess that's why we are each touched by different causes...so we can each do a part.

I pray we will all seek our part. I pray we can all find a quiet moment to get alone with the Father and seek His face and listen carefully for the still, small whisper.

Thank you for speaking Lord.