WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

Pondering today’s CHOOSE JOY devotion and BELOW Scripture, why is it so hard to get past hurts out of the way?

Jonah was shown to be grateful for his being saved by God out of the whale’s belly; however, he was NOT grateful for God forgiving an entire city of ‘God’s creation’.

He even stated it would be better for him to die than to live and see Nineveh forgiven.

This challenges ME to leave judgment to the Lord, be grateful for His hand and Spirit’s influence, and I AM TO BE ABOUT ‘instructing and nurturing those who don’t KNOW Him to KNOW Him.   Moving forward with others in instruction, or nurture, can't begin until we've become grateful for His forgiving them first.

 
MY NAME SHOULD BE JONAH
Quickly embracing personal hurt

Closing off concern, feelings

Choosing judgment over mercy

Highlighting self
 

Righteousness demands ‘praying for enemies’

Climbing up…sharing His Cross
His Glory shining...Seeking His heart
 

  Living love or dying self-absorbed?

A choice.

(by: Skoots1Mom)
 

http://www.mustardtreearts.com/

Jonah 4:3-4:5  God changed his mind about the calamity  he had said he would bring upon them (Nineveh); and he did not do it.  But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.    He prayed saying, "O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country… I knew  you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.  And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."
 

How does this Scripture speak to you today?

KITCHEN FUN, ANYONE?



Katherine has some great ideas...
and a giveaway going on!








Blessings,

FISHING... not CLEANING

Reading blogs IS as important as writing blogs

...our sharing ideas in life triggering thoughts of His Holiness and actions in our lives.


Yesterday I was reading Donna's post over at HOLiMESS



Chesapeake Bay @ sunset...

Isn't this a gorgeous picture she made of the sunset?!


Her blog reminded me that FISHING isn't the same as CATCHING

Fishing:   an intentional act, throwing a line out over the water (rod and reel); waiting to hook; taking an unknown period of time

Catching: actual capturing, snaring, discovering, grasping something


Once there's a physical capturing then comes the time of decision and action. 


Recently I read a church sign that was posted:

"We catch 'em...He cleans 'em!"

Knowing the Church is wanting to fulfill our being fishers of men...

We want to witness and share Him with others, and often we want to know their decision. 

Unfortunately, sometimes we want to be proud and take credit for their decisions.

...should we boast or try to judge their sincerity?

Knowing my thoughts are NOT His thoughts, I knew I needed to look into His Word for more clarity: 

ACTS 15:9 "And God, who can't be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person's thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He treated the outsiders exactly as he treated us, beginning at the very center of who they were and working from that center outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed him."

His is 'the cleaning'

He is the ONLY ONE who knows the heart and thoughts of His creation.

That, my friends, helps me keep my path straight, saves me from worrying about things that aren't MINE to fix. 

Let's go fishing each day, wanting to share in His bounty; knowing He will do the cleaning!