God's will WILL be done

[memoriesbymichelle]

So this morning I was reading about Jonah. Of course I have read the story before but this morning the message was different (at least for me).
Jonah thought that by going to a different place he could escape what God told him to do...go and tell the Ninevites to repent. But then Jonah got swallowed by a big fish and in that belly of the fish he cried out to the Lord. He thought God would leave him there to die, but God didn't. And afterward he went on to do exactly as God told him to do, tell the Ninevites to repent.

The lesson was about the fact that God WILL have his way, one way or another, but He is also loving and compassionate with us and as soon as WE repent, He is quick to bless us. Just like the prodigal son that went and squandered all his inheritance and came back expecting to beg his father just to be a slave, but that's not what happened.

So my summation is that God will never leave us totally to our own devices, and if he tells us specifically to do something, we would be wise to just do it, because it WILL happen one way or another and we can avoid some tribulation if we just do it initially. To me it shows me two things..
One is that God's will WILL be done, no matter what
Two is that God loves us SO much that he never gives up on us even when we throw in the towel. He WILL rescue us!

Thoughts?

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

Yesterday morning in adult Sunday school there was mention of how Peter denied Christ and yet God used Peter in a major way. I thought, I am glad God can use people who have failed.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Yesterday morning in adult Sunday school there was mention of how Peter denied Christ and yet God used Peter in a major way. I thought, I am glad God can use people who have failed.

Me too! If you think about it alot of people in the Bible were failures. David was an adulterer, Paul was a christian killer, Abraham tried an alternative way to have the son that God promised and on and on.

That's why I don't think we should be judgemental. I have friends in bible study that disagree because in their opinion, God is VERY judgemental, but He is GOD and we are NOT. But every time I bring up something, like last night we were talking about disciplining a child or how we were disciplined as a child and whether spanking was a good idea or not. One lady said there are many other ways to discipline a child rather than hitting, to which I said, what about "spare the rod, spoil the child" and then she said the "rod" was more of a shepherd's crook and it didn't mean to hit the child with it. She's the same one who said God was very judgemental so we should be too, but I think that's why alot of people DON'T come to Christ is because we are too judgemental and often hyprcritical. JMHO.

 

[Life2Christ]

I know what the bible says about rods but I think that is only for certain children. I don't believe in physical punishment. I got beat often by my parents and it really affected my development. Most children can be corrected easily but there are some bad apples and usually, the bad apples come from parents who are too lazy to parent/spend time teaching them. That is why those kids get beat.

What drives me, as a Christian, is that I am a sinner and no better than anyone else. That is why I can easily have compassion for others and not be as judgemental. The image of Jesus drawing a line in the sand is always etched in my mind. Jesus (God) created the laws of morality and has high standards, but when Jesus (God) drew that line in the sand, He showed his compassion as we all should.

There is a scene in Les Miserables when Hugh Jackman steals this bag of silver from a priest. The police catch him and bring him back to the priest. The priest says, "I gave it to him" (he didn't). He saved him. I want to be like that priest.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I know what the bible says about rods but I think that is only for certain children. I don't believe in physical punishment. I got beat often by my parents and it really affected my development. Most children can be corrected easily but there are some bad apples and usually, the bad apples come from parents who are too lazy to parent/spend time teaching them. That is why those kids get beat.

I don't believe in beating your children, but when they are young a spanking (which IMO is different than a beating) helps them "feel" the consequences for their actions. My husband never spanked out of anger or when he was angry. He would take them in their room and sit them down and explain why they were in trouble and what the consequence was. He did not use a belt or a rod or a switch, and it was not severe. It would not leave marks or bruises but it would sting and get their attention and they would change their behavior.

 

[dayhiker]

very good points.

I think I spanked my two boys once or twice each. The younger one I put up against the wall once and did the drill instructor voice thing.

The spanking had an immediate effect.

OH, when they were using bad words, I'm make them drink some dill pickle juice. They didn't like that! But in general they were good boys.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

very good points.

I think I spanked my two boys once or twice each. The younger one I put up against the wall once and did the drill instructor voice thing.

The spanking had an immediate effect.

OH, when they were using bad words, I'm make them drink some dill pickle juice. They didn't like that! But in general they were good boys.

My younger son loves pickles, pickle juice, limes, lime juice so that would not have worked on him lol

 

[dayhiker]

Nope that wouldn't then!

 

[renewed21]

So this morning I was reading about Jonah. Of course I have read the story before but this morning the message was different (at least for me).
Jonah thought that by going to a different place he could escape what God told him to do...go and tell the Ninevites to repent. But then Jonah got swallowed by a big fish and in that belly of the fish he cried out to the Lord. He thought God would leave him there to die, but God didn't. And afterward he went on to do exactly as God told him to do, tell the Ninevites to repent.

The lesson was about the fact that God WILL have his way, one way or another, but He is also loving and compassionate with us and as soon as WE repent, He is quick to bless us. Just like the prodigal son that went and squandered all his inheritance and came back expecting to beg his father just to be a slave, but that's not what happened.

So my summation is that God will never leave us totally to our own devices, and if he tells us specifically to do something, we would be wise to just do it, because it WILL happen one way or another and we can avoid some tribulation if we just do it initially. To me it shows me two things..
One is that God's will WILL be done, no matter what
Two is that God loves us SO much that he never gives up on us even when we throw in the towel. He WILL rescue us!

Thoughts?

whoa! WE just had back-to-back sermons this last SUnday on Jonah.

tres coincidental Michelle

 

[renewed21]

So this morning I was reading about Jonah. Of course I have read the story before but this morning the message was different (at least for me).
Jonah thought that by going to a different place he could escape what God told him to do...go and tell the Ninevites to repent. But then Jonah got swallowed by a big fish and in that belly of the fish he cried out to the Lord. He thought God would leave him there to die, but God didn't. And afterward he went on to do exactly as God told him to do, tell the Ninevites to repent.

The lesson was about the fact that God WILL have his way, one way or another, but He is also loving and compassionate with us and as soon as WE repent, He is quick to bless us. Just like the prodigal son that went and squandered all his inheritance and came back expecting to beg his father just to be a slave, but that's not what happened.

So my summation is that God will never leave us totally to our own devices, and if he tells us specifically to do something, we would be wise to just do it, because it WILL happen one way or another and we can avoid some tribulation if we just do it initially. To me it shows me two things..
One is that God's will WILL be done, no matter what
Two is that God loves us SO much that he never gives up on us even when we throw in the towel. He WILL rescue us!

Thoughts?

I agree Michelle.

I also would like to add that our Assistant Pastor preached that Johan prohisying to the Assyrians and them susequently repenting was an example to Israel of how rebelious they themselves were to God.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

whoa! WE just had back-to-back sermons this last SUnday on Jonah.

tres coincidental Michelle

I don't believe there are coincidences in life. We just THINK they are