Jonah 4;1 But this was very displeasing to Yonah, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to Adonai, “Now, Adonai, didn’t I say this would happen, when I was still in my own country? That’s why I tried to get away to Tarshish ahead of time! I knew you were a God who is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in grace, and that you relent from inflicting punishment. 3 Therefore, Adonai, please, just take my life away from me; it’s better for me to be dead than alive!” 4 Adonai asked, “Is it right for you to be so angry?”
5 Yonah left the city and found a place east of the city, where he made himself a shelter and sat down under it, in its shade, to see what would happen to the city. 6 Adonai, God, prepared a castor-bean plant and made it grow up over Yonah to shade his head and relieve his discomfort. So Yonah was delighted with the castor-bean plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God prepared a worm, which attacked the castor-bean plant, so that it dried up. 8 Then, when the sun rose, God prepared a scorching east wind; and the sun beat down on Yonah’s head so hard that he grew faint and begged that he could die, saying, “I would be better off dead than alive.”
God asked Yonah, “Is it right for you to be so angry about the castor-bean plant?” He answered, “Yes, it’s right for me to be so angry that I could die!” 10 Adonai said, “You’re concerned over the castor-bean plant, which cost you no effort; you didn’t make it grow; it came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 So shouldn’t I be concerned about the great city of Ninveh, in which there are more than 120,000 people who don’t know their right hand from their left — not to mention all the animals?” (Complete Jewish Bible)
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The Book of Jonah ends with no resolution. God did not destroy Nineveh, and this made Jonah angry. The Book of Jonah ends with Jonah’s great anger and frustration. When the plant God provided for shade dies, like a spoiled child, he says that he wishes he could just die, too.
If Jonah were a modern-day pastor or missionary, I am sure he would have written a blog post about the exponential growth of the church, the thousands who came to know the Lord, posted picture on his social media pages and the church would have featured this story in all of its news outlets. Instead, Jonah was furious. He was furious that he was right—God was, indeed, slow to anger and abounding in love.
I remember my dad saying, on more than one occasion, “Life isn’t fair!” But are we not so thankful that life is not fair? If life were fair, we would all deserve the hell-fire and brimstone of Nineveh. If life were fair, God would not have sent his only son to die for the rapist, the cheat, the murder, the liar . . . and for me. Thank God that life truly is not fair.
Hymn for Today: "Wonderful" by Haldor Lillenas.
1. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Refrain: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!
2. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.Refrain: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!
3. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven
For all eternity—
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
The Book of Jonah ends with no resolution. God did not destroy Nineveh, and this made Jonah angry. The Book of Jonah ends with Jonah’s great anger and frustration. When the plant God provided for shade dies, like a spoiled child, he says that he wishes he could just die, too.
If Jonah were a modern-day pastor or missionary, I am sure he would have written a blog post about the exponential growth of the church, the thousands who came to know the Lord, posted picture on his social media pages and the church would have featured this story in all of its news outlets. Instead, Jonah was furious. He was furious that he was right—God was, indeed, slow to anger and abounding in love.
I remember my dad saying, on more than one occasion, “Life isn’t fair!” But are we not so thankful that life is not fair? If life were fair, we would all deserve the hell-fire and brimstone of Nineveh. If life were fair, God would not have sent his only son to die for the rapist, the cheat, the murder, the liar . . . and for me. Thank God that life truly is not fair.
Hymn for Today: "Wonderful" by Haldor Lillenas.
1. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Refrain: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!
2. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.Refrain: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!
3. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven
For all eternity—
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Refrain: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!
Thought for Today: By David:
(1) Adonai is my light and salvation;
whom do I need to fear?
Adonai is the stronghold of my life;
of whom should I be afraid? (Complete Jewish Bible)(Psalm 27:1).
(1) Adonai is my light and salvation;
whom do I need to fear?
Adonai is the stronghold of my life;
of whom should I be afraid? (Complete Jewish Bible)(Psalm 27:1).
Please pray: That many people in Myanmar will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City Missouri United States "Our Comfort For Fear" by Rachelle Miller for Thursday, 22 March 2018 - Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 23:1 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come. (Complete Jewish Bible)
Psalm 23:1 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come. (Complete Jewish Bible)
***
As a young mother, I have come to realize that fear and anxiety have become an epidemic amongst her mom friends. It does not take long for women to shyly reveal that they struggle with worry, anxiety, and unfounded fears for their children, themselves, and their spouses. Life today runs rampant with worry and those selling a cure for it.
God has given us a way to deal with these things. Quoting Psalm 23 and replacing the personal pronouns with your own name is a great way to personally speak truth and God’s promises over your own anxious life. Isaiah 43 is another chapter that is good for dealing with fears and anxiety. Each time Isaiah says Jacob or Israel, it is empowering to insert your own name.
Conquering fear and anxiety is a bit like running a marathon. One does not simply wake up one morning able to run 26 miles—it takes training, practice, and discipline. Each day the runner practices, steadily pushing her body to be able to run a little bit farther. Overcoming fear and anxiety with God’s help is exactly the same.
Hymn for Today: "The Solid Rock" by Edward Mote.
1. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.3. His oath, His covenant, His blood
As a young mother, I have come to realize that fear and anxiety have become an epidemic amongst her mom friends. It does not take long for women to shyly reveal that they struggle with worry, anxiety, and unfounded fears for their children, themselves, and their spouses. Life today runs rampant with worry and those selling a cure for it.
God has given us a way to deal with these things. Quoting Psalm 23 and replacing the personal pronouns with your own name is a great way to personally speak truth and God’s promises over your own anxious life. Isaiah 43 is another chapter that is good for dealing with fears and anxiety. Each time Isaiah says Jacob or Israel, it is empowering to insert your own name.
Conquering fear and anxiety is a bit like running a marathon. One does not simply wake up one morning able to run 26 miles—it takes training, practice, and discipline. Each day the runner practices, steadily pushing her body to be able to run a little bit farther. Overcoming fear and anxiety with God’s help is exactly the same.
Hymn for Today: "The Solid Rock" by Edward Mote.
1. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.3. His oath, His covenant, His blood
support me in the 'whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found,
dressed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
when all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found,
dressed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
Thought for Today:There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love.(Complete Jewish Bible)(1 John 4:18).
Please pray: For faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in Korea.
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