She Reads Truth - Jonah 3 & 4

 

Today I'm linking up with She Reads Truth for She Shares Truth. We have been studying Jonah and I'm going to share my thoughts on Jonah 3 & 4.

So many people think that Jonah's story ends when he was spewed out of a whale but I think that is just a minor part of the story. After that, God gave Jonah a second chance. This time when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh he obeyed. I probably would too!

Jonah obeyed God immediately this second time and delivered his message. The Ninevites immediately believed God and responded immediately. It doesn't matter that it took Jonah two tries to obey God's command, the Ninevites still receive the message. It doesn't take them two tries to hear and obey though. They obey immediately.

When the king of Nineveh heard God's message he told everyone to turn from their ways and to fast and wear sackcloth-to mourn-to pray-to cry out to God. Why? Who knows?! Maybe God will save us from death! Why not obey God and leave our old life behind? You never know, He might save you from death! God's compassion never fails.

Jonah 3:8-9 (NIV) "But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."

Sure enough, "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."(Jonah 3:10)

When we obey God and turn to him instead of ourselves He will save us. That is a promise!

Unfortunately Jonah still had some things he needed to learn. Just like me! Those Ninevites should not be saved! Why should, why would God save those people? Doesn't he know what they have done? Why would God bless that person and not me? 

But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" Jonah 4:4

Do we have any right to be angry about God's grace? Especially if we have seen and received his grace firsthand, we should want everyone to experience His grace. His grace is for all who want it.

God reminds Jonah, these people mourned their sinful ways and set out to change immediately after hearing that they would die if they continued living their way. Without any questions or fighting or (gasp!) running away, they mourned their ways, and immediately begged God to save them. 
God saved Jonah too when he prayed inside the fish. God saved me when I prayed in my time of need. God longs to save each and every person he created. Even if we think we don't deserve to be saved, God does.

Psalm 103:8  
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 145:8-9
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.    

Annie Makes It.

Some great new items in my etsy shop this month! Click on the picture to purchase or visit my shop to see more!

 

Reusable Coffee Sleeves- $5

 

Cash Organizer Wallets- $22

 

Bunker Gear Book Bag- $40

 

Zip Pouches- $12

Faith in Your Children

We have always talked with our children about God. We have prayed over them multiple times a day, we have prayed with them, we have asked them to pray. We have told them that God always hears them, that God is always with them. And most of all we have told them that God loves them even more than we love them. We have talked about Jesus giving his life on the cross so that we can go to Heaven. We have talked about how Jesus lived again and went to Heaven with God. We have even talked about how you can have God in your heart and how he wants us to be obedient and loving. Sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is simple, but I am still amazed at the questions they ask and how much they actually do understand during these conversations.

We have just recently started working through a great little preschool curriculum with Avalyn and Harper. They both enjoy the directed activity time but it has opened up some great conversations already with Avalyn and me. We were talking about the letter a this week and the story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. As we were learning about the consequences of them eating the fruit we talked about sin and how Adam and Eve tried to hide from God when he came to them because they knew they had been disobedient. We started talking about how God is always with us and knows what we do so we don't need to hide from him. He is always there, nothing is hidden from him.

At that moment I saw a little light click on in Avalyn's eyes and she realized, "But I can't see God." The pleading in her eyes and voice to understand this.

I know you can't see Him and I can't see Him either but we know he is with us. I know he is always with me, helping me when I need help. Giving me what I need. Showing me the way. When we ask him to be in our heart he is there. With us. Always. Forever. 

A slight smile starts and she pats her chest, "I know he is always with me."


And now how to explain happy tears to your kid...

Harper - 12 months!

Happy Birthday, Harper! I can't believe a year has already went by!

This is so crazy to me but you already have quite a vocabulary. Some of the words that we have heard you say: doggie, puppy, daddy/dada, mama, yummy, cracker, Bible, banana, Harper, thank you, amen, and hi.

You just finally started crawling on your hands and knees (2/19/12). I am so happy that your clothes will stay a little cleaner now that you are no longer sliding around on your belly everywhere.
You love bath time and bubbles and you have so much fun when you try to tickle your sister. You have been going to story time and you are such an observer when we are there.

We will celebrate your birthday this Saturday with some family and close friends. Sometime before I forget I should write down your birth story some of the details are still so vivid to me and it was such an amazing day!

We love you sweetie!

 

 

Love!

My Utmost for His Highest, February 11-
Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
                                                                                                               
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

John 15:9-14 
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
                                                                                                               

On this day of love, may you remember Who it is that loves you so much He created you and gave His son to save you. May you find your joy in that love and share it with others.

Love is enough!