Have you ever had one of those days???? Have you ever thought...Oh brother...!! Have the ideas of your heart been tossed aside in light of the Sovereignty of God and you thought..."seriously??" Instead of thinking Praise the Lord His plans are in motion and not mine...we think...no no no..I don't want things His way...Again we are choosing death over life and sacrificing so much when God values our obedience more than sacrifice!! He already sacrificed for you!! Reap the benefits not the whirlwind!!!
The clouds began to roll...the rain began to fall and the wind began to howl...all of these signs that the Lord had been told, no by one of His children..His children by love and by design...!! Close your eyes and smell the salty sea...feel the wind bring powerful resistance...Watch the darkness cover the light of the sky..Hear the sounds of the thunder burst forth in warning...See the lightening split the sky...Jonah saw this...I, Jennifer saw all of this happen under the sun of my youth..of my conflict with letting God be God and every man a liar....
I've often wondered how many times and in how many ways that I have gone below the deck and fallen asleep..or wait a minute..let's back up...!! How many times has Jennifer, Jonah's little sister, jumped on board a ship heading for Tar shish, away from the presence of the Lord, and thought it would all be ok with smooth sailing??? Oh brother Jennifer!! Oh Brother Jonah..come and see what the Lord is doing...do you not perceive it???
The clouds began to roll...the rain began to fall and the wind began to howl...all of these signs that the Lord had been told, no by one of His children..His children by love and by design...!! Close your eyes and smell the salty sea...feel the wind bring powerful resistance...Watch the darkness cover the light of the sky..Hear the sounds of the thunder burst forth in warning...See the lightening split the sky...Jonah saw this...I, Jennifer saw all of this happen under the sun of my youth..of my conflict with letting God be God and every man a liar....
Jonah 1:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
I've often wondered how many times and in how many ways that I have gone below the deck and fallen asleep..or wait a minute..let's back up...!! How many times has Jennifer, Jonah's little sister, jumped on board a ship heading for Tar shish, away from the presence of the Lord, and thought it would all be ok with smooth sailing??? Oh brother Jennifer!! Oh Brother Jonah..come and see what the Lord is doing...do you not perceive it???
2 Timothy 1:9
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
Perhaps instead of falling asleep because you are too afraid of His perfect love to carry you and change you and make you free to serve Him fully...Perhaps it's time to be awake??? Wake us up oh Lord that we may do your wonders and in turn wake up this world to your perfect Love!!
Oh Lord..you are Holy...Let's just stop and worship Him in His perfection..in His holiness...Wholly given over to Him and to His perfect plan...remembering that all Good things come down from above from the Father of Heavenly lights..Sing to the King of Kings and give him your life and every part of your timelines and plans...
When we focus on His perfection, we are less afraid of our weaknesses...
I was focusing on my weakness and my failures and scared to death of what might happen if God truly rocked my boat...It was at this time that I went to Haiti as an on-call missionary when I was 21 yrs. old!! More on this story in the next blog...for now...think about the last time you were afraid of failing...??? I know for me that I was afraid of not being accepted if I failed..afraid of not being loved and afraid of being alone...!! I did not know that God was enough and that His perfect love would never leave...and that's why His perfect love that called me to surrender looked really scary...I thought that if I had to let go of a picture that I'd come to know as a sure bet for love, for not being alone..then I'd better have a plan that was better...Sadly, I didn't know or accept that the Love of God was the best love..the perfect love that I really needed...!!! Grow up Jennifer, finish college, get married and find love...have children and serve the Lord in righteousness!! Ok! Too bad that all of that plan was completely out of order...The Lord had walked with me and he had talked with me...as we have read together in my story..he had even called me...touched me with His love...but I had no idea what it meant for His love to be enough for me...that it was worth giving up any boat I'm in or any picture that I have...or any position in ministry that God had given me...
Please worship with me again and I hope you keep reading, for we are about to go to Haiti together....The setting, Nampa, Idaho on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University..The mood?? Excitement and joy mixed with fear of the unknown and major misconceptions about what it means to follow the Lord in surrender!!
Perhaps instead of falling asleep because you are too afraid of His perfect love to carry you and change you and make you free to serve Him fully...Perhaps it's time to be awake??? Wake us up oh Lord that we may do your wonders and in turn wake up this world to your perfect Love!!
Oh Lord..you are Holy...Let's just stop and worship Him in His perfection..in His holiness...Wholly given over to Him and to His perfect plan...remembering that all Good things come down from above from the Father of Heavenly lights..Sing to the King of Kings and give him your life and every part of your timelines and plans...
When we focus on His perfection, we are less afraid of our weaknesses...
I was focusing on my weakness and my failures and scared to death of what might happen if God truly rocked my boat...It was at this time that I went to Haiti as an on-call missionary when I was 21 yrs. old!! More on this story in the next blog...for now...think about the last time you were afraid of failing...??? I know for me that I was afraid of not being accepted if I failed..afraid of not being loved and afraid of being alone...!! I did not know that God was enough and that His perfect love would never leave...and that's why His perfect love that called me to surrender looked really scary...I thought that if I had to let go of a picture that I'd come to know as a sure bet for love, for not being alone..then I'd better have a plan that was better...Sadly, I didn't know or accept that the Love of God was the best love..the perfect love that I really needed...!!! Grow up Jennifer, finish college, get married and find love...have children and serve the Lord in righteousness!! Ok! Too bad that all of that plan was completely out of order...The Lord had walked with me and he had talked with me...as we have read together in my story..he had even called me...touched me with His love...but I had no idea what it meant for His love to be enough for me...that it was worth giving up any boat I'm in or any picture that I have...or any position in ministry that God had given me...
Please worship with me again and I hope you keep reading, for we are about to go to Haiti together....The setting, Nampa, Idaho on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University..The mood?? Excitement and joy mixed with fear of the unknown and major misconceptions about what it means to follow the Lord in surrender!!
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