Tag Archive for: Devotional

Jonah Moments ~ Part 3

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Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.  Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh… (Jonah 3:1-3)

Jonah Moments ~ Part 1

Jonah Moments ~ Part 2

This passage of Scripture amazes me.  I just love how God gives Jonah a second chance to be obedient.  This is God’s grace in its finest form.  We never deserve a second chance.  We should respond to God the first time, with a great attitude, and immediately do what He asks.  But how often does that happen.  If you’re anything like me, there are times that you have to think through what God is asking and sometimes you simply run away from it.  Thankfully God doesn’t give up on us!

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Jonah Moments ~ Part 2

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Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.  But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.  What I have vowed I will make good.  Salvation comes from the Lord. (Jonah 2:8-9)

Jonah Moments ~ Part 1

Jonah wasn’t in the water long, before God provided a big fish to swallow him.  For three days and three nights, Jonah spent his time in that fish.  At first, he didn’t even know where he was.  It took him all three days and three nights to repent.  How long does it take us at times to admit we are wrong, that we have been judgmental, unkind, unloving, etc? In Jonah 2, a beautiful prayer unfolds.  Jonah comes running back to God.  We can do this too!  It only takes a moment!  Have you taken a moment to pray today?  Have you had a conversation with the One who loves you and created you?  If not, stop and take time to exalt His name on high.

The last part of Jonah’s prayer really sticks out to me.  Jonah compares himself to the sailors on board the ship.  The sailors turned to their gods when the storm hit the ship, but their gods didn’t come through.  It was at that time that they turned to the One, True, Living God.  They only knew God for a moment, but they turned and made vows to Him.  Jonah knew God for a lot longer, but he ran from Him.  Jonah looked back on this whole situation and decided to make things right with God.  He told God he would make right what he vowed to Him.  He originally vowed to be a spokesman, to follow God wherever God led him even when it didn’t suit his interest.  Jonah surrendered!  Immediately after this confession of repentance, Jonah was vomited up on dry land.  God heard Jonah’s prayer and He responded!

Our obedience leads to God’s response!

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Jonah Moments ~ Part 1

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Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (Jonah 2:8)

What’s God been doing in your life?

Ever notice how quickly Monday comes!  I pray these times of reflection on Monday will remind you to stop and respond to God’s faithfulness in your life.  Take a look around you and take time to see how God has been faithful to you!  God continues to work in marvelous ways in our lives, even when we don’t understand the work that He is doing.  May this moment be a moment to celebrate the work of God!  The work that only He can do!  Please find time to praise Him for His continuous work in your life!  Drop me a note and let me know how God has been faithful to you.  I always enjoy hearing from you!

I’m excited to share with you what God has done in my life this last week.  Honestly, God’s been giving me a good dose of reality.  The above verse has convicted me in a profound way.  It was refreshed in my memory this last Sunday when my pastor was preaching his 3rd sermon in the Jonah series.  I wanted to memorize it and study it for the week to come.  I would love to give you the background and history of all that was going on in Jonah’s life at this time, but that would be a huge devotional.  If you want all of this information, then I urge you to listen to the sermon series Jonah.  You will not regret it!

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This Little Light of Mine

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No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. (Luke 11:33)

Do you remember singing “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…”?  I’m sure many of you can fill in the rest of the words.  I grew up singing this song and being so proud of the fact that Jesus is in my life.  I wanted to shine His light and shine it brightly.  Sometimes I wonder, if getting older causes the light in me to grow dim like song lyrics fading in my childhood.   Sometimes as a child, we have no inhibitions.  We will talk to anyone and share what we are proud of!

Then as we grow older, we tend to become conscious of our surroundings.  We learn how politically correct we must be in our office environment, how carefully we must step around issues, and how to avoid certain topics.  Well, Jesus didn’t care about being politically correct!  In fact, He pretty much shattered all political agendas.  He didn’t step around issues; He went directly to them.  And He didn’t avoid any topic.  Just one look at Luke 11 and you will see how clearly Jesus brought the light, even when it made the Pharisees a little uncomfortable.

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Silence is Golden

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He who answers before listening– that is his folly and his shame. (Proverbs 18:13)

What’s God doing in your life?

Yes, it’s that time again!  It’s time to look back on your week and see what God did!  How did He come through for you?  Did He show you something new this week?  Did He answer a prayer?  Did He bring you through a storm?  Did He pour out His grace on you in a new way?  I would love to hear about it!

This last week, the above verse continued to speak very loudly in my life.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times a situation came up where I needed to listen very carefully before I spoke.  I have to be honest, it’s not so easy to listen to the degree that the Bible calls us to.  Often, I find myself wanting to interrupt and give my two cents, for what it’s worth and I find that sometimes it’s not worth much.  In fact, my silence is golden!  My silence allows those around me to heal.

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