I've been thinking of this expression a lot lately. I have always heard it and thought it applied more to food. However, it never made sense to me in that aspect...if I eat an apple..I'm an apple? lol..
Recently I have been thinking about it in another way. We have all heard in Christian circles the expression..eat the Word of God. Give us this day our daily bread..reffering to God's Word for us today or His provision for us.
So, if you are always chosing to watch things in movies or on television that fill us up with worldy junk then that would be what comes out of us. Listen to swearing long enough and you will be swearing, too. Watch TV shows that mock God and your faith in Him will diminish. Watch enough violence and you become desensitized or complacent about it. Listen to lies long enough and they become truth to you.
But, if we fill ourselves up on God's Word, feast on that daily..then that will come out of us. Joy, faith, love, forgiveness, patience, goodness.
That children's song always pops into my heard at times like this..."Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little ears what you hear, oh be careful little mouth what you say, oh be careful little feet where you go for the Father up above is looking down in love.."
Let us be mindful of what we consume each day because eventually it will spill out of us.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Comfort Through Grieving
I recently have witnessed many beautiful souls who's life ended too soon. One was a young mother of three children, one a newborn baby, another a young girl of twenty. At times like this we often wonder, "Why, God?" , "Why are some prayers answered and others not?"
In times such as these my heart and spirit mourn for those families but I remember that God is in control and He knows the outcome of everything.
We are tempted at times to think that death has come to the wrong person or has come at the wrong time, especially when a child is left without a mother, or when children die at a young age. Familiar as we are with death, the ways of God regarding it often seem strange to us. But, without a doubt, God never abandons His children. He leads us to look beyond our grief and to trust in His wisdom and in His tender love to comfort our broken spirit. At times we all need comfort. This is especially true during experiences of distress and grief when a loved one dies. Those of us who have lost loved ones know what a word of compassion can mean. I remember what a comfort it was for me when my dad died. As we see others suffering, let us also remember that our Heavenly Father has commanded to comfort His people.
The words of our Savior are most comforting, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3).
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. - Psalm: 116:15
The Lord pays special attention when his faithful people die. - Psalm 116:15 (NIRV)
Dear Lord,
Bless those who mourn with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship,
and their lives encircled by your love. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.
Please pray for families that are mourning today. My heart grieves for other countries as well. Many die everyday, thousands of children from disease and hunger, and sometimes we don't blink an eye. Pray for the broken hearted and those who mourn.
When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher then I (Psalm 61:2)
God is still in control
In times such as these my heart and spirit mourn for those families but I remember that God is in control and He knows the outcome of everything.
We are tempted at times to think that death has come to the wrong person or has come at the wrong time, especially when a child is left without a mother, or when children die at a young age. Familiar as we are with death, the ways of God regarding it often seem strange to us. But, without a doubt, God never abandons His children. He leads us to look beyond our grief and to trust in His wisdom and in His tender love to comfort our broken spirit. At times we all need comfort. This is especially true during experiences of distress and grief when a loved one dies. Those of us who have lost loved ones know what a word of compassion can mean. I remember what a comfort it was for me when my dad died. As we see others suffering, let us also remember that our Heavenly Father has commanded to comfort His people.
The words of our Savior are most comforting, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3).
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. - Psalm: 116:15
The Lord pays special attention when his faithful people die. - Psalm 116:15 (NIRV)
Dear Lord,
Bless those who mourn with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship,
and their lives encircled by your love. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.
Please pray for families that are mourning today. My heart grieves for other countries as well. Many die everyday, thousands of children from disease and hunger, and sometimes we don't blink an eye. Pray for the broken hearted and those who mourn.
When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher then I (Psalm 61:2)
God is still in control
The Lord's Prayer
Jesus gave us a guideline for prayer. Yes, it's the Lord's prayer.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your nameIt starts with worship. God is holy and worthy to be praised. We need to worship Him ever day and give thanks for His creation, His glorious works, and the sacrifice Jesus paid for us on the cross.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Surrender and submit to Him. Not my dreams God but Yours! His plans for me, His thoughts. Ask God for direction in all things, for wisdom, and guidance. Change me, God…make me more like You. Less of me and more of You!
Give us today our daily bread.
This is our petitions. Intercession for others, the lost, hurting, our brothers & sisters in Christ and for God to fill us with what we need for that day.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Asking God for forgiveness for our sins, what we have done wrong and for what we should have done that we didn’t do. Also, forgiving others. Not complaining about them, back biting, or feeling bitter but truly forgiving. God forgave us a far greater debt so we in return must forgive others of theirs..even if they really hurt us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.Covering Prayers. Praying for yourself and others to not be tempted by sin, deceived, tricked, or trapped by the enemy’s plans. No to become a puppet of the world and For lies and hidden sins to be exposed.
AMEN!!!
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your nameIt starts with worship. God is holy and worthy to be praised. We need to worship Him ever day and give thanks for His creation, His glorious works, and the sacrifice Jesus paid for us on the cross.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Surrender and submit to Him. Not my dreams God but Yours! His plans for me, His thoughts. Ask God for direction in all things, for wisdom, and guidance. Change me, God…make me more like You. Less of me and more of You!
Give us today our daily bread.
This is our petitions. Intercession for others, the lost, hurting, our brothers & sisters in Christ and for God to fill us with what we need for that day.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Asking God for forgiveness for our sins, what we have done wrong and for what we should have done that we didn’t do. Also, forgiving others. Not complaining about them, back biting, or feeling bitter but truly forgiving. God forgave us a far greater debt so we in return must forgive others of theirs..even if they really hurt us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.Covering Prayers. Praying for yourself and others to not be tempted by sin, deceived, tricked, or trapped by the enemy’s plans. No to become a puppet of the world and For lies and hidden sins to be exposed.
AMEN!!!
Only One Enemy
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12
How easy we forget who are enemy really is. We only have ONE enemy.
God has been speaking to my heart so strongly about loving my enemies, praying for them, forgiving, not talking bad about people who hurt me. When I tried to love them in my own strength I failed everytime. When I chose to go to my friends first and complain and vent all my feelings it always made things worse. Why? Because I was hurting those people back by my words and keeping contempt in my heart against them. Then the time I went to God first, cried my eyes out to Him and told Him everything it always ends with Him showing me how I can change. Change my heart and attitude towards the situation and then in His strength, encouraged by His word, and led by His spirit I was able to overcome and the situation always works out and peace is restored. AND the best thing is no one got hurt in the process because I didn't hurt anyone with my words. Instead I covered them in prayer and in God's grace, mercy, and love.
As I wrote before that doesn't mean you have to open the door to let them hurt you again. Trust must be earned and we must guard our hearts. The Bible tells us to guard them.
It doesn't mean we have to let people walk all over us and take advantage of us.
However, if we are to truly be like Christ and be a light to the world then we must remember who are enemy really is. The Bible says that satan comes to steal, kill, & destory. He is the one who brings false accusations, lies, threats, thinks up evil plans against us, leads people into jealousy, hatred, and hardens their hearts. He is the one who tempts us with the things of the world and keeps us distracted from God.
The good news is WE HAVE THE VICTORY! Jesus already took care of it on the cross for us and defeated him when he rose from the dead. The devil is under our feet and we have the power to stand against Him as Christians and tell him to get lost! We can choose not to believe the lies and we can choose not to focus on what we see with our eyes. We can choose to trust in God, even when everything around us looks bleak, looks bad, ...we can not trust our eyes! We must look to God and trust what we can not see, in the future He has promised us, in the hope of His calling and future for our lives. Like Job we must remember that no matter what, God is still good and still on the throne. He has not forgotten us.
He loves all His children, those who choose to believe on Him and even those who are running away and hiding as Jonah did when he hid on the boat. He never stops loving us, never stops believing us. He has great faith in us. Thank goodness He does! He believes in me when I do not believe in myself.
He never gave up on me and He will never give up on any of us.
So, who are we to judge? Only God knows the heart. Even when Jonah was in the belly if the fish crying out to God, the fish was already taking him to Ninevah. The plan was already in motion :)
I pray we will all have God's grace, mercy, and strength to love those who hurt us. To forgive them and pray blessings for them. To stop back biting, gossip, and trying to get justice.
God is in control and He is one God and Father of us all.
How easy we forget who are enemy really is. We only have ONE enemy.
God has been speaking to my heart so strongly about loving my enemies, praying for them, forgiving, not talking bad about people who hurt me. When I tried to love them in my own strength I failed everytime. When I chose to go to my friends first and complain and vent all my feelings it always made things worse. Why? Because I was hurting those people back by my words and keeping contempt in my heart against them. Then the time I went to God first, cried my eyes out to Him and told Him everything it always ends with Him showing me how I can change. Change my heart and attitude towards the situation and then in His strength, encouraged by His word, and led by His spirit I was able to overcome and the situation always works out and peace is restored. AND the best thing is no one got hurt in the process because I didn't hurt anyone with my words. Instead I covered them in prayer and in God's grace, mercy, and love.
As I wrote before that doesn't mean you have to open the door to let them hurt you again. Trust must be earned and we must guard our hearts. The Bible tells us to guard them.
It doesn't mean we have to let people walk all over us and take advantage of us.
However, if we are to truly be like Christ and be a light to the world then we must remember who are enemy really is. The Bible says that satan comes to steal, kill, & destory. He is the one who brings false accusations, lies, threats, thinks up evil plans against us, leads people into jealousy, hatred, and hardens their hearts. He is the one who tempts us with the things of the world and keeps us distracted from God.
The good news is WE HAVE THE VICTORY! Jesus already took care of it on the cross for us and defeated him when he rose from the dead. The devil is under our feet and we have the power to stand against Him as Christians and tell him to get lost! We can choose not to believe the lies and we can choose not to focus on what we see with our eyes. We can choose to trust in God, even when everything around us looks bleak, looks bad, ...we can not trust our eyes! We must look to God and trust what we can not see, in the future He has promised us, in the hope of His calling and future for our lives. Like Job we must remember that no matter what, God is still good and still on the throne. He has not forgotten us.
He loves all His children, those who choose to believe on Him and even those who are running away and hiding as Jonah did when he hid on the boat. He never stops loving us, never stops believing us. He has great faith in us. Thank goodness He does! He believes in me when I do not believe in myself.
He never gave up on me and He will never give up on any of us.
So, who are we to judge? Only God knows the heart. Even when Jonah was in the belly if the fish crying out to God, the fish was already taking him to Ninevah. The plan was already in motion :)
I pray we will all have God's grace, mercy, and strength to love those who hurt us. To forgive them and pray blessings for them. To stop back biting, gossip, and trying to get justice.
God is in control and He is one God and Father of us all.
Friday, June 17, 2011
A prayer birthed from Isaiah 26
Thank you God that you have made me a strong city. That Your saving power surrounds me like walls and towers. You are my strong champion! Thank you for Your perfect peace that You have promised when I am faithful to You. You are my rock and You keep me safe forever. Thank you that You are mighty to pull down every stronghold and I trample it under my feet! That which seemed to overpower me I now walk all over it. Thank you for being honest and fair, for guiding me to do what is right. You lead me on a straight path and make it smooth. Lord, help me to live the way Your laws command. I am waiting for You to act. My heart longs for You to be true to Your name. My heart longs for you at night and my spirit longs for you in the morning.
Lord, so many are lost and show you no respect. They have no fear of You. Yet still, You show your grace and mercy. My heart cries out for them. Show them how much You love them and then they will be put to shame and cry out to You. Lord, thank you for Your peace. You are the One who has helped me accomplish everything good. Thank you for being the one true God. Others on the earth have tried to rule over me but You alone will I honor and serve! What the enemy tried to do You have punished & destroyed. Those lies will never live again!
Thank you Lord, you have made our nation grow. You have made it larger. You have gained glory for yourself. You have increased the size of our land. Lord, we can do nothing without you. Nothing in our own strength. What I tried to birth on my own produced nothing! It didn't bring your saving power to the earth. It didn't give life to the people of the world. Forgive me God for trying in my own strength. On my own I will fail but I can do all things through You because you strengthen me. Those dead things in my life which I let die will live again! You will raise them from the dead. Every dead situation I gave up on will rise. What I laid in the grave will wake up and shout!
Praise you God! I was pushed to the wall and I called to You. From the wide open spaces You answered. You are at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? You are my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Thank you God that I can take refuge in You. I will praise You, for You have answered me! Bless the Lord oh my soul!
Lord, so many are lost and show you no respect. They have no fear of You. Yet still, You show your grace and mercy. My heart cries out for them. Show them how much You love them and then they will be put to shame and cry out to You. Lord, thank you for Your peace. You are the One who has helped me accomplish everything good. Thank you for being the one true God. Others on the earth have tried to rule over me but You alone will I honor and serve! What the enemy tried to do You have punished & destroyed. Those lies will never live again!
Thank you Lord, you have made our nation grow. You have made it larger. You have gained glory for yourself. You have increased the size of our land. Lord, we can do nothing without you. Nothing in our own strength. What I tried to birth on my own produced nothing! It didn't bring your saving power to the earth. It didn't give life to the people of the world. Forgive me God for trying in my own strength. On my own I will fail but I can do all things through You because you strengthen me. Those dead things in my life which I let die will live again! You will raise them from the dead. Every dead situation I gave up on will rise. What I laid in the grave will wake up and shout!
Praise you God! I was pushed to the wall and I called to You. From the wide open spaces You answered. You are at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? You are my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Thank you God that I can take refuge in You. I will praise You, for You have answered me! Bless the Lord oh my soul!
Hezekiah
While I was praying with a friend and as we drew to a close and waited on the Lord I felt His spirit saying to me "Hezekiah". Well, my mind raced through the Bible...there is no book of Hezekiah. However, the name seemed familiar. My friend pointed out to me Hezekiah was a king. So, I have been researching him and reading his story in Chronicles & Kings, asking God to show me what He wants to tell me.
What I found and am stirred up with is overwhelming and I think even I haven't absorbed it all.
Well, first of all Hezekiah was a king of Judah
In the crisis, Hezekiah proved to be a man of opportunity. No sooner had he ascended the throne than he began to plan and to execute. He first turned his attention to the restoration of the temple services, so long neglected; and in this work he earnestly solicited the co-operation of a band of priests and Levites who had remained true to their sacred calling. Confident of their loyal support, he spoke with them freely concerning his desire to institute immediate and far-reaching reforms. "Our fathers have trespassed," he confessed, "and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord." "Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us."
2 Chronicles 29:6, 10.
The people had turned their backs on God, they were not worshiping Him anymore. They were just doing their own thing. They had fallen into worshiping idols.
I feel in my spirit that God is telling us how urgent it is to restore our land! He is calling us back to Him. Many of us have felt the spirit of god speaking to us about the importance of being seperate from the world. There are difficult times ahead! We must be staying in the Word of God and praying. Staying close to God's heart! We must NOT be like the world. We MUST keep our eyes on Jesus and not on our situations or circumstances. We must truly walk by faith and not by sight. We must be praying for one another. We must be fully surrendered to God..every part..nothing held back.
2 Timothy 3 (The Message)
Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.
But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
As we spend time, immersed in God's presence, we know His will. . .we know His Word. . .we know His heart. When we fail to spend time with Him by reading His Word and praying with Him, His presence becomes faint. . .we don't follow His ways, instead we follow our own plans. I don't know about you, but I want to stay close to Him. I want to experience His presence on a moment by moment basis.
How's your relationship with God? Are you experiencing His love, His grace, and His presence? Or are you more in tune with listening to others and moving toward your own destination? Why not re-connect today? Ask God to give you the desire to seek Him.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31 (Message)
But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won't bring you to ruin, he won't forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.
What I found and am stirred up with is overwhelming and I think even I haven't absorbed it all.
Well, first of all Hezekiah was a king of Judah
In the crisis, Hezekiah proved to be a man of opportunity. No sooner had he ascended the throne than he began to plan and to execute. He first turned his attention to the restoration of the temple services, so long neglected; and in this work he earnestly solicited the co-operation of a band of priests and Levites who had remained true to their sacred calling. Confident of their loyal support, he spoke with them freely concerning his desire to institute immediate and far-reaching reforms. "Our fathers have trespassed," he confessed, "and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord." "Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us."
2 Chronicles 29:6, 10.
The people had turned their backs on God, they were not worshiping Him anymore. They were just doing their own thing. They had fallen into worshiping idols.
I feel in my spirit that God is telling us how urgent it is to restore our land! He is calling us back to Him. Many of us have felt the spirit of god speaking to us about the importance of being seperate from the world. There are difficult times ahead! We must be staying in the Word of God and praying. Staying close to God's heart! We must NOT be like the world. We MUST keep our eyes on Jesus and not on our situations or circumstances. We must truly walk by faith and not by sight. We must be praying for one another. We must be fully surrendered to God..every part..nothing held back.
2 Timothy 3 (The Message)
Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.
But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
As we spend time, immersed in God's presence, we know His will. . .we know His Word. . .we know His heart. When we fail to spend time with Him by reading His Word and praying with Him, His presence becomes faint. . .we don't follow His ways, instead we follow our own plans. I don't know about you, but I want to stay close to Him. I want to experience His presence on a moment by moment basis.
How's your relationship with God? Are you experiencing His love, His grace, and His presence? Or are you more in tune with listening to others and moving toward your own destination? Why not re-connect today? Ask God to give you the desire to seek Him.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31 (Message)
But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won't bring you to ruin, he won't forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.
What I learned from Jonah
One thing I still struggle with is being able to love someone who has hurt me. Truly to forgive them and love them and see them the way Christ does.
I had reached a point in my relationship with God where I fully surrendered to Him and have sought to die daily but then God reveiled something to me that shook me to my core.
I had recently been asking God to forgive me for complaining about others..especially those who are like sandpaper (and rub me the wrong way) or take jabs at me, mock me, that sort of thing. I found myself not only complaining but also finding fault. Everytime it happened I immediately repented and asked God to help me not do that. Well, today He showed me the root!
While I was meditating on this the Lord brought to my mind the story of Jonah.
Jonah was a man of God, used by God and yet when God asked him to go to Ninevah he flat out refused and ran away. Why? I asked myself that and then I realized, Jonah didn't like those people in Ninevah. They had done things to hurt his people, horrible things, offended them, mockers of God, etc.
Jonah didn't want God to save them. He wanted them to be punished. In a sense he wanted to see justice done.
I instantly thought of many situations where I have been like that. Wanting to see justice, wanting God to punish those who had hurt me. Then I thought of how Jonah was bitter and angry at God for saving the people of Ninevah. I think we are all like that at times.
BUT...then I put myself in those people's shoes. I remembered how I was before I came to Christ, when I was ignorant, of the world, lost.
Oh how much love and compassion God had on me! Chose to save me!
This is why it's so important to love each other, not find fault, pray for one another, and not let ourselves get so easily offended. We MUST stop complaining, pointing the finger, grumbling, and having this sense of wanting justice done. We must be quick to forgive and love one another. When we see something not line up with the word of God then we need to take it to our prayer closets...not to our social circles to gossip and complain.
People will not change until they see the true love of God pouring out of us. Accepting them where they are at, loving them unconditionally.
Jesus said;
Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
ouch...that's hard right? It is if we try to do it in our own strength. We must surrender our hearts totally to God. Only He can change our hearts so that we can love like Christ.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)
We must decrease so He may increase. Less of me God...more of YOU!
One other thought for today. Let us be careful not to let materialism water down our faith! We must be totally dependant on God and not on the things of this world.
I had reached a point in my relationship with God where I fully surrendered to Him and have sought to die daily but then God reveiled something to me that shook me to my core.
I had recently been asking God to forgive me for complaining about others..especially those who are like sandpaper (and rub me the wrong way) or take jabs at me, mock me, that sort of thing. I found myself not only complaining but also finding fault. Everytime it happened I immediately repented and asked God to help me not do that. Well, today He showed me the root!
While I was meditating on this the Lord brought to my mind the story of Jonah.
Jonah was a man of God, used by God and yet when God asked him to go to Ninevah he flat out refused and ran away. Why? I asked myself that and then I realized, Jonah didn't like those people in Ninevah. They had done things to hurt his people, horrible things, offended them, mockers of God, etc.
Jonah didn't want God to save them. He wanted them to be punished. In a sense he wanted to see justice done.
I instantly thought of many situations where I have been like that. Wanting to see justice, wanting God to punish those who had hurt me. Then I thought of how Jonah was bitter and angry at God for saving the people of Ninevah. I think we are all like that at times.
BUT...then I put myself in those people's shoes. I remembered how I was before I came to Christ, when I was ignorant, of the world, lost.
Oh how much love and compassion God had on me! Chose to save me!
This is why it's so important to love each other, not find fault, pray for one another, and not let ourselves get so easily offended. We MUST stop complaining, pointing the finger, grumbling, and having this sense of wanting justice done. We must be quick to forgive and love one another. When we see something not line up with the word of God then we need to take it to our prayer closets...not to our social circles to gossip and complain.
People will not change until they see the true love of God pouring out of us. Accepting them where they are at, loving them unconditionally.
Jesus said;
Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
ouch...that's hard right? It is if we try to do it in our own strength. We must surrender our hearts totally to God. Only He can change our hearts so that we can love like Christ.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)
We must decrease so He may increase. Less of me God...more of YOU!
One other thought for today. Let us be careful not to let materialism water down our faith! We must be totally dependant on God and not on the things of this world.
No Matter What
I love to praise my God. I will sing of His great love.
He showers me with kindness and His grace from up above.
I'd praise Him if He healed me or blessed me in some way.
But even if He didn't. I'd praise Him all the day.
No matter what the situation my voice and hands will raise
Even in the darkest storm I won't forget to praise
I simply need no reason to worship and to sing
I praise because He's God. I praise because He's king.
We need no special reason to praise God. Yes, it's wonderful when He blesses us and heals us. It's awesome when He answers prayer.
But even if He never did those things He deserves our praise and worship.
Why?
Because He's GOD
(Isn't creation and salvation enough to sing about?)
And yet God continues to shower blessings on us. Grace, mercy, and love on us. Our God is an AWESOME God!!!
He showers me with kindness and His grace from up above.
I'd praise Him if He healed me or blessed me in some way.
But even if He didn't. I'd praise Him all the day.
No matter what the situation my voice and hands will raise
Even in the darkest storm I won't forget to praise
I simply need no reason to worship and to sing
I praise because He's God. I praise because He's king.
We need no special reason to praise God. Yes, it's wonderful when He blesses us and heals us. It's awesome when He answers prayer.
But even if He never did those things He deserves our praise and worship.
Why?
Because He's GOD
(Isn't creation and salvation enough to sing about?)
And yet God continues to shower blessings on us. Grace, mercy, and love on us. Our God is an AWESOME God!!!
The Benefit Package
PSALM 103“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”
When our eyes move from our own state of affairs we can look at all God offers us. Listen to the refreshing, life-giving things God asks us not to forget:
Who FORGIVES all your sinsThank you, Lord, that I am forgiven. Fill me with the wonder of a clean heart. Help me to declare my forgiveness when I am tempted to wallow in the pit of despair over my past, my failures and my weaknesses. I am forgiven!
And HEALS all your diseasesLord, I bring my aching body to You and ask You to touch me with Your hand of healing. Give me wisdom and understanding of what to do physically. I also bring the diseases of my heart to you. Lord, remove all bitterness and pride and show me the things that erode my spirit.
Who REDEEMS your life from the pitLord, I am amazed at the fact that You reach into the pit that I even sometimes dig myself… and You lift me up. You bring beauty out of ashes as I trust in You. You buy back all the broken pieces and give me new life! Thank you!
And CROWNS you with love and compassionLord, Your care and tenderness to me is a constant surprise even though I know You love me. Thank you for the attention You give to the details of my life as I offer it to You.
Who SATISFIES your desires with good thingsThank you that Your plans for me are to find my fulfillment in You as I offer myself to You. You made me and You know how to grow me into all I ever wanted to be.
So that your youth is RENEWED like the eagle’sLord, when I see how You forgive me, heal me, redeem my life, crown me with Your love and satisfy me, I am truly renewed in my Spirit.
Lord thank you for this wonderful view of Your desires for me. I WILL praise you with everything that is within me. “Praise the Lord O my soul, all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” Amen
When our eyes move from our own state of affairs we can look at all God offers us. Listen to the refreshing, life-giving things God asks us not to forget:
Who FORGIVES all your sinsThank you, Lord, that I am forgiven. Fill me with the wonder of a clean heart. Help me to declare my forgiveness when I am tempted to wallow in the pit of despair over my past, my failures and my weaknesses. I am forgiven!
And HEALS all your diseasesLord, I bring my aching body to You and ask You to touch me with Your hand of healing. Give me wisdom and understanding of what to do physically. I also bring the diseases of my heart to you. Lord, remove all bitterness and pride and show me the things that erode my spirit.
Who REDEEMS your life from the pitLord, I am amazed at the fact that You reach into the pit that I even sometimes dig myself… and You lift me up. You bring beauty out of ashes as I trust in You. You buy back all the broken pieces and give me new life! Thank you!
And CROWNS you with love and compassionLord, Your care and tenderness to me is a constant surprise even though I know You love me. Thank you for the attention You give to the details of my life as I offer it to You.
Who SATISFIES your desires with good thingsThank you that Your plans for me are to find my fulfillment in You as I offer myself to You. You made me and You know how to grow me into all I ever wanted to be.
So that your youth is RENEWED like the eagle’sLord, when I see how You forgive me, heal me, redeem my life, crown me with Your love and satisfy me, I am truly renewed in my Spirit.
Lord thank you for this wonderful view of Your desires for me. I WILL praise you with everything that is within me. “Praise the Lord O my soul, all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” Amen
Stand in the Gap
The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.
This is an account of what God said to Moses. Found in Numbers 14:11 after Israel rebelled against God.
BUT Moses stood in the gap and prayed. He reminded God that He is long suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving their sins. And because of Moses and his prayers God spared all of Israel.
In verse 20 He said , "I have pardoned, according to your word."
I can't help but compare this to our nation. Our country has rebelled against God, complaining against Him. We have forgotten His miracles and great power. America was once united in faith, governed by the Word, and it was birthed through prayer and trust in God.
Now we live in a nation that curses His name, that believes that evil is good and good is evil. We've become a nation that worships the god of money and self.
God's hand of judgement is upon us.
BUT Christians....PRAY!! We can stand in the gap! We can remind God of His love and mercy.
Don't you see? We need to be crying out to God for our country! Praying for our leaders, praying for God to have mercy on us for our sins. We need to take it seriously. We need to cry out to God. We need to have a heart for the lost. We need to be dilligent about it. Time is short.
It's a simple message and one that has been said before many times I am sure. But I feel such an urgency in my spirit.
PRAY!
This is an account of what God said to Moses. Found in Numbers 14:11 after Israel rebelled against God.
BUT Moses stood in the gap and prayed. He reminded God that He is long suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving their sins. And because of Moses and his prayers God spared all of Israel.
In verse 20 He said , "I have pardoned, according to your word."
I can't help but compare this to our nation. Our country has rebelled against God, complaining against Him. We have forgotten His miracles and great power. America was once united in faith, governed by the Word, and it was birthed through prayer and trust in God.
Now we live in a nation that curses His name, that believes that evil is good and good is evil. We've become a nation that worships the god of money and self.
God's hand of judgement is upon us.
BUT Christians....PRAY!! We can stand in the gap! We can remind God of His love and mercy.
Don't you see? We need to be crying out to God for our country! Praying for our leaders, praying for God to have mercy on us for our sins. We need to take it seriously. We need to cry out to God. We need to have a heart for the lost. We need to be dilligent about it. Time is short.
It's a simple message and one that has been said before many times I am sure. But I feel such an urgency in my spirit.
PRAY!
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