I recently attended the Sight and Sound production, Jonah, which is a musical adaptation of the Biblical story of Jonah.

The book of Jonah demonstrates the consequences we suffer when we are disobedient and fail to follow God’s instructions. The book also demonstrates God’s patience and love for us despite our disobedience.

In the story of Jonah, God gave Jonah instructions to deliver a message to the city of Nineveh, that they must repent or Nineveh would be destroyed in forty days. Jonah had no love for Nineveh and feared its leaders, so he decided to run away rather than go to Nineveh to deliver the message. Jonah escaped by setting sail on a boat headed to Tarshish. After being tossed overboard by his ship mates, God sent a gigantic fish to swallow Jonah to prevent him from drowning. Jonah remained in the belly of the fish for three days, allowing him ample time to ponder over his plight. After being released by the fish, Jonah knew that God was giving him a second chance to obey his instructions.

In the musical production, there is a song that asks, ‘What is your Nineveh?’ It suggests that each of us, like Jonah, may have a challenge or something that we dread doing. I began thinking of possible Ninevehs one may be facing. It could be a challenge that we feel we’re not equipped for, an illness or treatments that we’re facing, pending changes in employment or even the demise of a relationship. Any one of these things can cause great stress and as a result, lead us along a path that God did not intend for us to follow.

The story of Jonah shares some beautiful lessons that provide hope when you encounter your Nineveh:

1. We serve a God of second chances. While you may initially run from God’s instructions, God always gives us a second, third, and sometime numerous chances to get it right. God didn’t give up on Jonah and He won’t give up on you.
2. He will give you instructions, if you ask. God will always give you direction when asked. God gave Jonah instructions to visit Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want to follow them. Had Jonah been obedient, he would not have spent three days in the belly of a fish!
3. It’s not as bad as you think it will be. You need to remember that God has gone before you and prepared the way. He knows what’s ahead of you. Jonah feared that he would be captured and killed if he went to Nineveh. However, when Jonah finally delivered the message to Nineveh, the people responded in a positive manner and were very grateful to Jonah for delivering the message and saving their city.
4. Despite our disobedience, God never stops loving us. Of all the cruel and vicious things Nineveh had done to people throughout its history, God loved them enough to give them a final warning before destroying their land. In other words, it takes a whole lot for God to give up on you.

So, what is your Nineveh? Rather than run, face your fear and know that God loves you and is there to carry you through it.

I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. ~ Proverbs 4:11-13

Have you ever had a dream and wondered what it meant?

I’ve had many. I recognize that dreams are one of the ways in which God communicates with me. So, I pay close attention to my dreams and try to decipher their meaning.

Recently, I dreamed that I was climbing a mountain. In this dream, several times I stopped to rest and look out, but I couldn’t see anything. Unable to see, the Holy Spirit would instruct me to keep climbing. Finally, I reached a point where I could look out and see the vast land of beauty that laid below the mountain. When I woke up, I immediately thought of Moses climbing Mt. Nebo and looking out to see the Promised Land. (Deut. 32:49-50) 

I did some research to explore the meaning of my dream. Climbing mountains often means pursuing a goal or challenge. There are goals and projects that I’ve undertaken which God has encouraged me to stay focused on and persevere. I strongly feel that this dream is an affirmation of that message.

What happens during the climb is also important. Does the dreamer fall or stumble? Do they complete the climb? Does the climber descend the mountain?   The multiple stops along my climb indicate periods of struggle, distraction or loss of focus. However, since I reached the mountain top where I could see the view, I feel optimistic about reaching my goal or completing my projects with a positive outcome.

Are you pursuing a goal or challenge and wondering about the outcome? Ask God to provide you with wisdom with regards to the steps you need to take.

And many peoples will come and say, “Come! Let us go up to the mountain of the LORD.  To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.”  Isaiah 2: 3 NASB

Photo Courtesy of wordblessings.com

I was out walking one sunny morning, enjoying the unusually warm weather for a winter day.  The light breeze felt good on my face and I found it very peaceful. I began thinking about the large amount of fear and anxiety that exists in our society today. What exactly is causing so much fear? More importantly, why are people choosing certain ways to respond to this fear?

I find that people are consumed with fear when they feel threatened.  The perceived threat could be the result of something as simple as a ‘change’. Humans are creatures of habit, so a change in our routine, environment, or even what we may eat moves us into an unfamiliar territory, leading to mild or extreme stress. Not knowing what to expect can be as stressful as watching the change take place, and having to decide how to deal with the change. I find that fear, if left unchecked, can easily move into hysteria.

I thought back to Jesus, the Pharisees and the crucifixion. The Pharisees, a group of Jewish leaders that were fiercely devoted to keeping the laws of God, hated Jesus. Some of the reasons for their dislike were based on Jesus’s actions, but other reasons were based on the fear of what could happen. Jesus had no problem calling out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and scruples about the law. The threat that Jesus posed to their traditions was very real to this religious group. As Jesus’s popularity among the Jewish people grew, they feared His influence would also grow, which would threaten the security, prestige and income of the Pharisees.

The Pharisees had a cozy relationship with the Roman government and now Jesus was threatening to upset life for them all. So when Jesus committed the ultimate offense of blasphemy, an offense punishable by death, the Pharisees’ anger and fear turned into hysteria.  Jesus proclaimed to be the Son of God. Do you know what this would have done to the status and authority of the Pharisees if the idea of Jesus being the Son of God permeated among the Jewish people? Case closed. Jesus had to go.

How many times do we let an idea or a thought drive our emotions to a heightened level? Often, our fears are backed with little substance – only a highly-charged imagination. The Pharisees did not have the discernment or faith to even consider that Jesus could be the son of God. Instead, they allowed their jealousy, anger and fear drive them to put an innocent man to death.

What things are threatening you today? Are you fearful of a change taking place? Do you feel like you’ve lost control and just want things to return to status quo? Once you discover the cause of your fear, you have a choice in how you react. You can embrace the change, grow and learn to appreciate the good in all things, situations and people. Or, like the Pharisees, you can remove anything or anyone that threatens your world or your peace, possibly eliminating that one perfect gift.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” (II Timothy 1:7 AMP).

Photo Courtesy of Backpacker Guide New Zealand

I recently went through a period in my life when I experienced high levels of anxiety due to a series of unexpected life events. As usual, I leaned on God’s promises and relied on my faith to pull me through these troubled times. During this time, God gave me a vision that I was a passenger in a van, being driven along the highway of life. The driver was Jesus. We would drive a while, then pull off the road and stop. After some time, we would return to the road, moving towards our next destination. The stops represented the various times and life events when God took my through periods of testing and refining. I would eventually come to understand the purpose of each trial, and could humbly reflect on the spiritual growth that resulted from that trial.  Each time we resumed our journey, my fear and apprehension lessened as we approached future stops.  That’s how I knew my self-reliance was decreasing and my dependency on God was increasing.  Jesus reminded me that His grace was sufficient for me and that His strength and power showed themselves more effectively during my weakness. (II Corinthians 12:9 AMP)

So the next time you experience a ’blip’ in life and you’ve wandered along an unexpected path, remember the van. Reach over and grab the driver’s hand and relax. He’s an excellent driver and will steer you safely back onto the road towards your next destination.

It is easy to get caught up in our daily routine and not really appreciate the blessings God has bestowed on our lives…

• We complain about our job, yet there are 7.8 million Americans unemployed .
• We complain about our weight, yet there are some 795 million people in the world that do not have enough food to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.
• We complain that our home is too small, too old, needs repair, yet we forget there are over a half million people that are homeless in the U.S.
• Being a parent comes with added stress, but be grateful if your child is healthy, alive and drug free.

Regardless of your situation, there’s always someone experiencing more difficulties than you. Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed, I’m reminded of the story called the Cross Room.  This story always humbles me and makes me very thankful for the burdens I carry.  God wants us to remember that He has a plan of each of us and to trust Him with the outcome.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Photo Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

After experiencing a week of unsettling events, we now move into a season of unknown. The Serenity Prayer is such a wonderful reminder for us to not get caught up in the things we can’t change. Our God is an intentional God, and He has a plan for everything that happens. His ways are not our ways, so it’s always a test of faith and patience to wait for God to reveal His plan to us.

As we move into this season of Thanksgiving, rather than focusing on things out of our control, let’s focus on the blessings God has provided us. As we gather to spend time with friends and family, remember to give thanks for the love and joy shared among loved ones. When you are blessed to have the love of family and friends, the future is always brighter.