Was it hard to find Jonah in your Bible? This Old Testament book has only four chapters -- a small book with a BIG story! A lot of children's books have been written, along with pictures, retelling this important Bible story.
Books, felt boards and children's play ground sets have used this story.
Even cartoons have been written that use this Bible story.
There are so many lessons that we can learn from this book. In our devotional today we studied the last chapter from the book of Jonah. God shares that he loves these people, all 120,000 of them -- but did not love their sin. When they repented and turned from their wicked ways, He heard them and "relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them."
God loved Ninevah and he loves Glasgow too. "He sees the broken hearts and broken lives of those who live and work there. He sees the the people -- lost and confused and loves them. When Jonah saw the city, he saw only the problems, but when God saw it, he saw the people. May we find God's compassion inside of us and desire to reach out not only to the people in Glasgow, but the people where we live -- here in Bentonville, Rogers, Bella Vista, etc...
May each of us pray that God will humble our hearts and see what He sees in the cities around us. May we see the hurting people, not just the sin.
Lord, help us to share your love with others everywhere we go. Help us to be willing to open up ourselves and allow You to shine through and speak through us your love, grace, and mercy.
YESTERDAY'S SONIC QUESTION WINNER IS:
CARA COX
Thank you Cara for sharing on the blog site. I appreciate all of you who have taken the time to share your thoughts, prayers and praises with me and all of those who are reading this blog.
Only 7 more days before we take off, fly past the moon, and make our way to another country...a place filled with people who need to know God's love.
Are you ready?....packed yet?...rested up?....I am praying that you will have some good "down time" this Saturday so that you can be refreshed starting your last three days of school next week.
TODAY'S SONIC QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Tell me your favorite part of the book of Jonah. What does this book say to you today?
Speaking out,
Ken
Stubborn de-luxe! I am so thankful that God uses people like Jonah - it makes me feel a little better about my own stubborness and strong will! Ha! Isn't it amazing as we read through stories in the Bible how God uses everyday, stubborn, deceitful, strong-willed, selfish people to do His work! AMAZING! Even after Jonah saw all those people come to true repentence, he selfishly "pouted" because he wanted his own way in the matter! Wow! But God loved old Ninevah anyway! - and he loved Jonah anyway! God's love is great. God's love is good. God's love is never-ending. Thank you Lord for your love. May I put away my own selfish desires, my fear, my judgements and just "go" - be a witness for you in Glasgow and here in my everyday life!
I love how Jonah got so excited about the plant and then in one day the plant was gone and God says you have know reason to be angry with the plant...it is just so amazing how so a little thing can make such a big impact, this just shows me that God can do whatever He wants and my plan doesnt matter which also goes along with Jeremiah 29:11!
--Cara Cox :)
I love Jonah 2:7, "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple."
It reminds me that life can seem so horrible, but we can always remember that we have a greater future ahead of us; we get to spend eternity with God! No matter what we struggle with, getting swallowed by a whale, boy/girl problems, worldly things; it's all okay, because we've got God to support us! We are His children, and He will never let us "ebb away" :]