Are you a Jonah?

Tuesday while in Branson, we did a couple of fun things.
First, we went to a restaurant called Lamberts-known for Throwing a Roll.  Waiters come through with baskets of rolls, yelling want a roll?  When you raise your hand, they throw you the roll.  Alll over the restaurant. Great place to visit.

We had reservations to go to Jonah--a Christian Broadway musical/show. Are you a Jonah?

In two ways, we could be like Jonah:
1- God could come to you or I at any time and ask us to do something, and like Jonah, we could say NO and then run and do our thing-for whatever reason.  Early on in our ministry with CMA, Norm was going, going, going and ministering. I was very busy in the church with my church activities and responsibiities. One day, very plainly the Lord told me to start riding with my husband.   He told me Norm did not need to go alone any more. I knew the Pastor of the church would not be happy with me if I resigned from my jobs, so I chose to disobey. I did not go to the Pastor of the church and kept right on doing what I was busy doing. About a year went by, me doing my own thing and Norm ministering with CMA. It was obvious from early on that this was Norm's area of ministry. He really blossomed there, and had the heart for the lost bikers. The Lord came to me a second time and said, you need to be riding with your husband.  I said to the Lord, the Pastor is going to to be mad if I resign from my positions. The Lord replied, as if He was in the room with me, who are you more afraid of---him or Me? WOW! The next day I went to the Pastor and resigned from all my church positions and the rest is history.  God does not forget about what He wants us to do when he asks us to do it. He is patient and kind and will wait for us to get on board with what He wants us to do. Go, when He asks you to go, do what He asks you to do.. You will never be sorry.
Jonah finally decided to do what God has asked of him and in the end realized where he had been and where God had taken him.

2-Sometimes we don't want certain "folks" to get the mercy and grace of God, like Jonah felt about the Ninevites. We don't believe they "deserve" the mercy and grace. They are too bad, make too many bad decisions, don't try, won't listen to advice..on and on the list goes of our reasons. What comes to mind is me. What do I deserve? I deserve justice and being sent to hell, for the sinner I am. However, I am so happy that God chooses to see me as worthy of his mercy and grace no matter what. See, God, when we are saved justifies us and makes us as if we have never sinned. He redeems us... paid the price so we don't have to pay anything-it is a free gift to be received. He reconciles us to Him. moves us back to the position where we belong. What mercy and grace He bestows to all of us.

Ephesians 2:4-8 says, But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

May we ask the Lord to give us His eyes when we look at folks who we don't believe deserve the mercy and grace of our Lord. He will help us to see through His eyes.

Love to all,

Yolanda