7/12/15 JONAH’S RAINBOW

This week I re-read Jonah and pondered his message.  Today on Facebook someone had posted a video of a whale spout blowing rainbows!

BLIND SPOTS:  A TIME TO SPEAK A TIME TO LISTEN  7/12/15

This year has been a divine pause year.  We have been holding our breath and waiting on God for changes that are about to take place.  As I have walked through this year thus far, it has felt that even the Lord is holding His breath for a new 7 season to begin.  John Paul Jackson called it being in the eye of the storm as it passes over. 

When God pauses and after the initial jilt of realization that He indeed has paused, there are so many things that bubble to the surface.  One starts pondering issues, asking questions, then questioning everything.  Remaining in the eye is all about focus and whether we truly, truly believe in the goodness of God in the land of the living.  That will be challenged in the days to come and we must truly understand Who He is and choose to trust in His goodness no matter what.

This brings me to the topic that is on my heart:  Blind spots.  I have noticed that people who talk much and listen little end up showing their blind spots.  I have prayed a lot about blind spots this year.  Lord are You dealing with me?  Where am I blind?  What do I not see, and what needs to change?  I am willing, just tell me/ show me Your way. 

A WORD OF WISDOM

Someone once told me, “If you were to chew with your mouth open, it might bother me but I would not tell you.  However if it was harmful, I would tell you.”

That word of wisdom has had such far reaching ramifications for me.  It answered many, many questions I had piled up to the Lord.  I have applied it to my own life, about others, about raising children, and even about God Himself.  It helps me know that there is a time to correct and a time to refrain from correcting. 

I have heard it said that a mother needs to learn how to choose her battles.  Eli raised his sons in compromise and he lost the priesthood.  Silence is not the answer.  At the same time, how heavy is a heavy hand?  When Job went through his trial, God was silent and listened.  After everyone had their say, He spoke. The whole story of Job is a heavy hand for who… to learn what lesson?

HE IS LISTENING

Last month after many tears and being very honest with the Lord (and not very edifying) that night I saw that He had pulled up a chair and sat beside my bed and just listened!  He didn’t say anything!  Part of the reason the Lord has been more silent this season is because He has wanted to listen.  He has wanted to take into account the cries of the righteous, their prayers, decrees, their promises, the willing hearts.  Those who have nowhere else to turn, have been crying out this year like none other. 

HE WILL SPEAK

Just like Job, on the other side of this time we must be willing to listen, because He has a lot to say.  We may have been chewing with our mouth open and He has said nothing.  That does not mean He is endorsing what we are saying or believe.  But when He speaks, it will be because He has chosen to say exactly what we need to hear so that we may change. 

No matter what, we must believe that His plans for us are good and that He is a good God.  Some of the things we believe are standing in the way of those plans!  They are called mindsets, opinions and values.  Years ago I had a vision of a cowboy angel (the one with a lasso who captures runaways) and we both had a hold of something on opposite ends.  He tugged for me to let go and I felt the jolt.  This angel was very loving, but also was sent on assignment and he wasn’t letting go.  I realized that to the exact degree he tugged, if I held on it was going to H U R T.  I realized that to the same decree I held on, it was going to hurt to that same degree and thus the process was my choice! 

I have been thinking about Jonah this month. He was a man that knew God and Nineveh did not know Him and was wicked.  Both got a heavy handed message but one ran from it and the other listened. Jonah got swallowed up and spit out and Nineveh was spared. 

Leaving milk behind and growing up into strong meat, remember Jonah who ran from what looked like a heavy handed God with a heavy handed message. All the way through Jonah’s story he got exactly what he expected in his knowledge about God’s ways.  I think it might have been better for Jonah had he heeded the difficult message and not ran from it.

As we are rapidly moving towards the new Hebraic year (5776) on 9/14/15, in light of what I have shared above, consider Psalm 116 which is the Psalm of the year. 

Psalm 116:1-19 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he has inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the pangs of sheol got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech you, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserves the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto your rest, O my soul; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: 11 I said in my haste, All men are liars. 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid: you have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, 19 In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise you the LORD.

PRAYER:  Lord we want to listen. We want to heed You and Your way.  We want You and Your will.  We want Your kingdom to come in us as You have already declared in heaven.  We do not want to be blind and naked!!  We are asking for Your mercy and grace to change and let go of all that You are asking for.  Let us not stand in the way of Your good plans for us Lord.  We choose to listen, and we ask for great discernment to filter what we see and hear through Your Word and the knowledge of Who You are.  When we feel the jolts Lord, as we yield to You, let Your Word, faith, hope and love remain in us, in Jesus Name.