Role Playing

We are all defined by the roles that we play, aren't we? Men and Women play different roles and those roles define in large part who we are as people, as christians, or as enemies. Just ask the question of any man, "what do you do for a living" and he will tell you as though he's sharing his soul. In the same way, ask a woman about her children, her babies, or her home and she'll tell you a tale of unending story about what makes her breathe, and about what makes her exhale. Now, consider a less gender specific role, such as a prophet, a preacher, or a teacher, especially a teacher of a specific topic, and he or she will tell you...the complete story of what makes their heart beat..it's their life's work, that is still working, growing, and evolving, making them into what they were meant to be. Truly, when Jonah was called by God..the God he served by the way...LOL, I only point that out because the bible is so full of characters that were called before they knew God, which in someways was a plus for their faith. Well, Jonah knew God...knew Him well....and when God called Jonah...he was a prophet of Israel... Jonah 1:1 reads,

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. 

Now, we've said this before and we'll say it again....to go away from Israel is to go away from the Lord....So, when Jonah ran, he was not just running away from His calling to serve God in Nineveh, he was running from God...!! Why not just stay in Israel and defy God...?? At least, Jonah would have been still in his home, carrying out his role as prophet...yes, that heart could've kept on beating, right? Jonah...Jonah Jonah....the prophet, called the dove of Israel...he couldn't fly straight anymore because he was mad at God...!!! At the very suggestion that Jonah give up his role as prophet to Israel and compromise himself as a person, a Christian or as a rightful enemy to Assyria....Jonah was mad!! So mad, So sad, too bad for Jonah who had no where else to go but away..away from the presence of the Lord.   Are you running from God today because His dream for you means giving up a current dream you are living..?? Consider that even in the loss of the roles we tend to need...desperately need...that God gives us a more definitive role in Him, a role that will last forever....Remember...there is no God like your God..there is no plan, like His plan and there are no roles as great as the ones He has yet to ask us to play on this earth and into eternity...

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

Psalm 119:60 NIV  Amen!

The Words are Worth the Effort!!

When we are raised Christian, we are taught to read God's Word and to make sure to hide those words in our hearts....that.....That what?? That we might not sin against God!! Although hiding God's Word in my heart will definitely assist me in not sinning against God, what about the other perks and benefits??? After all, let's be honest..where's my incentive to read His Word..a book of commands and directions to do everything God's way, not my way...and a book that doesn't guarantee that people in this world will not hurt me or torment my life? Maybe I want to do it my way and not God's way and just maybe I don't agree with God all the time...Where's my incentive to obey despite all of that? What about the whole reward package?? Friends, do you realize what God's Word is and or does in your mind, heart, soul, and body? LOL ...I think Jonah really understood the whole fringe benefit of God's Word and that's why he didn't want Nineveh to have a piece of that pie!!

Consider the Word of the Lord..Romans 10 8-12“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 

12 For there is no difference 



between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord 

is Lord of 

all and richly blesses all who call on him, 


For Everyone who calls upon the name of 

the Lord shall be saved!!  

Okay  We do want to sin sometimes...or even a lot of the time...We do not trust God and want to try things a different way...!! However, the Word of the Lord is a great protection from danger...it is a gateway to major blessings and it is the peace that passes all understanding in the storms of life. There are keys in the Bible...Keys that unlock the mysteries of all knowledge and understanding.  In Galatians 5-22-23 we learn that the fruits of the Holy Spirit..Love, Patience, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Goodness, and Self control answer to no one..!!!! Against such things, the word of God says, there is no law!!! 



Guess what...??? All the rules in the world that we are going to face that will limit us and hurt us and wreck all of our plans can not stand up against the fruit of the Holy Spirit!!! Let's stop worrying about how God's Word might limit us or not line up with our plans and let's start enjoying the simple facts.....


Principle: When you hide God's Word in your heart...

There are no limits to the joy and the life that will start...

When you choose your way and plan

Anything can go seriously flat!!! 

Jonah didn't want Nineveh to have a piece of that joy and power...He wanted to lay them flat....Don't you want a piece of it?  Friends..I want all of it!! Praise His Name...and Praise His Word!! His Words are so amazing...so full of freedom and joy!! I want them all!!!!