As we go through life, I don’t know anyone who wants to be around people that are mean, grumpy, and rude. I think it safe to say this is true throughout the world. Instead, we prefer people who are kind, patient, gentle, loving, and joyful. These are just some of the fruits of the Spirit …
Have you ever desired someone to receive justice? If you are like me this has happened many times. We worship a God that is both a God of mercy, but also a God of justice. It is God’s very nature to have mercy on us and justice is only a last resort. In Jonah chapter …
Have you ever given much thought to the Lord’s divine mercy? Mercy is a divine quality by which God faithfully keeps his promises and shows compassion despite our unworthiness and unfaithfulness. The Lord is like a faithful spouse who continually calls an unfaithful partner back. He pursues us when we are unfaithful. In the story …
Jonah choose to sacrifice his life in order to save the crew and the ship as we see in our story today. 10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. 11 And since the storm …
God continued to pursue the disobedient Jonah. He is not out to punish Jonah, but to turn him around and restore him. Even with this, Jonah’s actions of disobedience have consequences for others. After Jonah boards the ship, he goes below and lays down for a long nap. Meanwhile, up on deck, the sailors are …
Jonah had been called by God to go to the great city of Nineveh to announce judgment because of their wickedness. The prophet Jonah did not want to obey God, and boarded a boat that was going in the opposite direction. Jonah did not count on God’s intervention through a great storm to get his …
A job that you never expected? What happens if God doesn’t work in the way you want Him to work? God had told the prophet Jonah that the borders of Israel would expand. That was a very popular message and one that was easy to deliver. God did physically give land back to Israel that …
Have you every run away from what the Lord wanted you to do in life? Like me, you have free will and we can choose to follow God or run from Him. What we don’t always understand is that God pursues us. God pursues not to harm us, but to draw us to himself. Sometimes …
In Jonah chapter one Jonah runs away from God, but the Lord sends a storm to get his attention. When I was 27 years old a drunk driver broadsided me at 70 mph. Through a miracle of the Lord I was not hurt, but the Lord did get my attention. Through this the Lord was …
Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-18 to put on the full armor of God, but what does that consist of? Today we are going to explore that question. 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm …