Jonah and God

I'm going through Jonah for my Elements of Bible Study class and realized a difference between Jonah and the Ninevites and the men on the ship with him. While Jonah would "pray," even when he was in the belly of the fish, the Ninevites are encouraged by their king to "call on God earnestly." And do you remember when the sea was all stormy?? The men on the ship came to Jonah and said, "Call on your God."

I was listening to an emergent podcast (I don't, by the way, endorse all of their stuff) and the topic was "finding God in the other." The idea was that sometimes we can learn something about God through the eyes of those who don't quite believe the same as we do. Take Paul and speaking to the Greeks, for example, about the unknown God. While the Greeks didn't have a complete understanding of God, they knew something of the awesomeness and powerfulness of this unknown God. Well, I am learning something about communication with God by observing how those in the story of Jonah communicated with God. Jonah was too flippant about God. He was completely disrespectful many times, and at others, he just prayed and asked for the salvation that he knew would come from God. The men on the ship and those in Nineveh saw an urgency that only God could meet and sought to implore him for salvation!

A journal entry on how God is at work in my life...

He's at work in my life in many ways, I just don't usually see it. I can sense it though. I feel this strong urge to get in touch with Angela from Mario's work, and with Kelly, the fiance of one of Mario's friends. They're both pregnant, and I wonder if I can minister to them at all?

I also feel this deep urge to meet regularly with April and Leanna. I hunger for their fellowship and wisdom, as well as their love and concern. I feel God's invisible hand pushing me towards them.

I can also sense that God is preparing me for the chaos of life in Turkey and is constantly improving my multi-tasking skills.

As for intimacy with God - I think He's showing me how easily I stray away from spending time with Him. It's hard for me to set aside time when so much else needs attention. And all that other "stuff" is more tangible. I finish it and see that it's done. I can't even have that attitude in my quiet time! It's not allowed. I'm to go into it wishing that time were endless. So I'm screwed from the beginning, just by the wrong attitude I go into my QT with.

I can sense that God will be sharpening my sense of authority in the spirit realm as I dive into this new book "I Give you Authority." I've always had a hard time seeing past the line that divides spiritual from physical. It will be important to be planted firm in God's Word as I go through this book. And being in the Word is the hard part...

God is working in many ways. I'm curious to see how they'll intersect.

Love Your Wives as Christ Loved the Church

So I was just listening to an excerpt from John Piper's sermon "Marriage: Pursuing Conformity to Christ in the Covenant." John talks about how husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. This was wisdom that Mario's dad passed on to him years ago. It has been such a blessing to me that Mario has taken this advice so seriously. So much of the character of God and Christ in particular has been shown to me by the example of my husband. Through all of my moods and grudges and seeking out "fairness," Mario has been patient and has chosen to view me as blameless. His never-ending patience and pursuit of my heart has opened my eyes to the desire of God for my heart. Thank you Mario. :) I love you so much!

Judgments of the Lord Part 2

"...you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them, for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light." Ephesians 5:8-13

We are inadequate to fully recognize and accurately judge sin in our lives. It takes the Light of Christ to expose this darkness. So unless we intentionally seek out the judgments of the Lord, the depth of our sin remains in darkness.

"Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14

Judgments of the Lord

When you hear the words, "Judgments of the Lord," what comes to mind? An overbearing Father? Someone uncompassionate and unmerciful? A God who doesn't understand? Psalm 19:9-11 says, "The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb." When I read this, I was struck by how negatively I view the "judgments of the Lord." The words used by the Psalmist are so endearing. Have I let the world's view of God affect my own feelings towards Him and His righteousness??

Mario: The SleepTalker

Last night as I read my Bible in bed, Mario fell asleep. When I shut off the light and snuggled up to him to go to bed myself, he said, "Surprise!" "What!?" I asked. He responded, "It's the discreet avenue for kids who do good." It took me quite some time to stop laughing. :)