Anger Issues… Who Me? Who You? – Jonah 4

Jonah 4

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Psy 101- (courtesy of Wikipedia.org) Three types of anger are recognized by psychologists: The first form of anger, named “hasty and sudden anger” by Joseph Butler, an 18th-century English bishop, is connected to the impulse for self-preservation. It is shared between humans and non-human animals and occurs when tormented or trapped. The second type of anger is named “settled and deliberate” anger and is a reaction to perceived deliberate harm or unfair treatment by others. These two forms of anger are episodic. The third type of anger is called dispositional and is related more to character traits than to instincts or cognitions. Irritability, sullenness and churlishness are examples of the last form of anger. Please read more at your convenience- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger

 

We learn in this last chapter why Jonah chose to flee from God. (vs.2) Oh my word! (TYHS) Doesn’t this remind you of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)? Key words- “I knew… ”

** Main lesson learned- When it comes to God, it’s best that you KNOW, not “Knew” **

We also learn that Jonah became angry with God. After all that he went through…Who Jonah? He had the nerve to become angry with God? He is the one who took a chance to flee from his destiny, pleas with God; gets saved by God; is released from the belly of the great fish, i.e. blessed by God to serve Him as originally asked; chose to serve Him, and then have the nerve to become angry with God after serving Him? Whoa! Pull that reel back in before you fish for an answer! 😛  Step back and spell Mississippi the old fashioned way before you answer. For those who are not aware of the old spelling technique taught to some toddlers reared in the South. Here goes…

M- I- crooked letter(s), crooked letter(s)- I, crooked letter(s), crooked letter(s)- I, hump back(p), hump back (p)- I.. Mississippi. Put ourselves in Jonah’s wet clothes for a sec. We’ve all been there.

Now get in front of a mirror and ask self…Anger issues-Who Me? (pointing to self) Who You? (pointing to the mirror)

Lesson- God understands when we become displeased or angry with Him and with others. Don’t go sit your bottom in a corner, away from others, or under a tree sulking in anger because you thought you knew the mind of God. I used to think being angry period was such a terrible sin. Is there such as thing as righteous anger? (Spell Mississippi break)   I was reminded that several others became angry with God throughout the bible. Most are familiar with Moses’ anger. I was also reminded…Anger is one of God’s attributes. Many verses tell us that He is either “slow to anger” or “became angry.” We were made in His image…eh?

We have a tendency to overlook this verse that tells us who God actually becomes displeased and angry with. (Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. )This proves to me that anger is indeed one of God’s attributes, and that there is only ONE category of people that angers Him “every day.” You choose the correct answer… Wicked or Righteous? What’s intriguing is that we have either been in this category and/or some are still in it and deny it to self.

I have learned on this journey through Jonah that I did not know ME as well as ME thought I KNEW. Whenever you read The Book of Jonah, substitute your name for his. (TYHS) It is one of the books of the bible that place focus on the sole attitude and actions of a messenger God chose and called. It’s an “about me” book.  As Popeye would sing …“I yam, what I yam cause I…” Do you really know who you are? I also learned why my Papaw spent a lot of time with me showing me that God worked through him, teaching me that God Is, and training me to write his Sunday school lessons beginning at the age of 4.  PTL!!! As they say hindsight is 20/20.

I am glad that a challenge was put forth to our congregation for each individual to focus on their walk with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit for 40 days. I also pray that others discovered who they are and how their actions as an individual affect the Body of Christ. I pray that those who are reading this make the same discovery when you choose to seek God and walk with Him. Leave NOTHING to chance, Choose GOD. If  more than 120, 000 can repent and be saved within a 40 day period, what do you think the odds are of 1 person repenting and being saved who can’t discern their right hand from their left? Look to self and choose God.

Lesson Goals

• To KNOW God. Rend your hearts, it’s the only way.

• To KNOW what The Lord’s Will for us is as an individual and to Do it. Only then, as a congregate on the ONE, will the Body of Christ be glorified. Do your part.

• Be not angry at God and learn to accept His decision when He decides to spare the wicked. Keep your judgments of others to yourself, let go, let God. For it is He only who can prepare a gourd, a worm and a wind in a blink of an eye to teach YOU that His Will supersedes your anger issues and that He is ALWAYS in control. (Jonah 4:9-10)

Besides, who best of all would know to ask you, “Doest thou well to be angry?”

We have a lot of work to do with self ahead of us. I hope you have gained some insight through my journey with Jonah, just how great the Lord works period. Amen. Jonah knew not the hour of the Lord’s appearance (Jonah 4:5- So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city) We will not know the hour when Jesus returns (Matthew 24:42)  We know as Jonah did, He is coming.

Are you swallowed up in the big fish of Anger? Call out to God. Please pray with me Psalm 7, which I prayed as I closed out my Lent 2014 journey through The Book of Jonah.

 

Popeye: Hey, I wants me girl!Sindbad the Sailor: Oh, yeah? Popeye: Yeah! Sindbad the Sailor: Who are you? Popeye: [sing-song] I’m Popeye the Sailor Man! Who are you? Sindbad the Sailor: Who am I? Popeye: You heard what I said. Sindbad the Sailor: WHO AM I? Popeye: That’s what I said. Sindbad the Sailor: Who’s the most remarkable extra-ordinary fellow? Everyone: YOU! Sindbad the Sailor! Sindbad the Sailor: Who’s the most phenomenal extra-special kind of fellow? Everyone: YOU! Sindbad the Sailor! Sindbad the Sailor: I’m afraid of nobody under the sun/ All I say is “Boo!” and my enemies run! Who’s the most remarkable extraordinary fellow? (Who Me? Who You?…LOL)  Popeye: Popeye the Sailor! You got a long way to go, young fellow… (I love this response…ha ha ha. We can all relate) Sindbad the Sailor: [enraged, grabs Popeye] Well, let’s see how brave you are! [throws him into the talons of the roc] ”

What’s The Quantity of Light You Have in Your Life? 1 John 1

As I was studying 1 John thru 3 John, I decided to use another tool to assist in my study as well as being led to open up my dictionary.  I used The Biblical Expositor, Consulting Editor, Carl F. Henry.  The commentary on 1 John was written by Fred L. Fisher.  There were several statements that Fred made required me to think deeper after reading all three books of John.  

According to Fred, “The author (John) does not consider these themes merely as ethical requirements, but as religious realities based upon the Christian revelation of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore Christian doctrine lies at the root of the book, and one is tempted at times, to think of it as a doctrinal exposition of the reality of the incarnation of God in Christ. If we are to follow the mind of the writer, however, we must avoid this temptation, since he is primarily concerned with the quality of the Christian life of his readers.”

AND

“The plan of the book does not follow a logical order.  The writer thinks and writes intuitively with constant repetition of recurring themes. The book defies outlining and one must be satisfied to follow the course of the author’s thoughts as he deals with the great cluster of ideas which, to him, constitute the essence of the Christian life.” 

I prayed  as I always do before studying His Word, that I would be following the mind of the Holy Spirit before beginning the study, and I guess it is a worthwhile thing to follow the mind of the writer at times and let the Holy Spirit guide you to an understanding of how it applies to self.  Now with that being said, isn’t it like us when we have a lot of ideas, more than much to say, when our mind and heart are overflowing with reverberations of things we have seen, heard, and experienced? We get anxious to share words about urgent matters and we just fly to the moon and back in a day with what we want to say before giving it more thought. We are a people, most, who like to share with others what they have learned and experienced especially if it is a joyful experience.

After all a light reveals ALL that is in the dark, right? I know I say this all the time, but it just amazes me how often the Holy Spirit leads, protects, and reminds me that I am not a material or selfish person.  I had another title I wanted to use, The Quantity of Light Determines the Quality of Life. For now we shall ride with the title I used. Ok? Alrighty then!  😛

While I was studying, the Holy Spirit threw a dictionary in front of me. Well He didn’t actually throw it, He more so guided me to pull it from my nightstand while I was reading 1 John.  I had not planned on writing anything  on this study. Sometimes we read things over and over and are instinctively unaware of a word’s true meaning, even the simplest of words like I, and, am, is, have, etc. I am a dictionary addict by birth though.  

You will find a lot of simple words with definitions within this blog.  I promise you, that it will give you deeper thoughts about what John is trying to relay in his messages as it did me. You will find many blessings and learn what God desires of you as an individual when it comes to self and others.  1 John thru 3 John opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart to some truths about some Christians truly caring for the destiny of others.

I will admit openly, it has never been a worry of mine to care about whether one went to heaven or hell outside of friends and family.  The reason being was that I was not knowledgeable about how a person lives their life that I do not know, and I’ve always believed each individual have to answer for him/herself to God alone without my assistance. I believe there is always light in each and every one of us that let us know how important it is to be in line with God’s Will.  It is the individual who needs to find that true source of true light within them with the help of the Holy Spirit. It’s there!   Let us keep in mind that John’s message was to all those who follow Christ or at least were trying to follow his teachings, both children and adults, both men and women.

This, to me is one of the most encouraging books of the bible when it comes to being a light for others and self to find The Way out of the darkness.  It is my belief that John put himself on a level with each listener or reader of his words.  He/they definitely spoke from experience.  John also was concerned for the joy of others in the “Word of Life.”  AND, John informs us that “We write this to make our joy complete.”  He was also excited about the audience attaining joy by receiving their quantity of the True Light due to his experience.  Just think to share the joy of Christ with others must be a wonderful feeling.  I guess I do it at times by blogging.  I’m thinking that in order for joy to happen one must reach out to others to bring them into knowing the light they can have in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who is JOY.  

Joy- the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness; BLISS.   🙂  I decided to put the definition here so you can associate the two words as being in one …….Christ = Joy.

 

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¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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While reading those passages above, please place focus on the words below and experience a deeper meaning of what John is stating about the “Word of Life”. Yes, he appears to be anxious and repeats the same message using several techniques in these 10 verses.

I found the word “have” to be a key word in John’s message to his/their experience about the Word of Life;

• Have- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege or entitlement.

1. have heard (perceived by their ears gaining knowledge)
2. have seen ( perceived with their eyes)
3. have looked upon  (highly regarded)
4. have handled (touched, felt)

• Manifested- made evident or certain by showing or displaying; readily perceived by the senses, esp. the sight; easily understood or recognized by the mind. (TYHS!)
• Declare- to make clear; to make evident; to show
• Fellowship- community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience; the quality or state of being comradely (friendly, brotherly)
• Full-containing as much or as many as is possible or normal; complete in detail, number, or duration; not lacking in any essential; complete
• Light- something that makes vision possible; spiritual illumination; pure; Truth
• Darkness- devoid of light; not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light; arising from or showing evil traits or desires
• Cleanse- purify; freed from dirt or pollution; having no interior flaws visible
• Deceive- ensnare; to fail to fulfill; cheat; to cause to accept  as true or valid what is false or invalid
• Confess-to tell or make known(as something wrong or damaging to oneself);admit
• Faithful- full of belief and trust; LOYAL; firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty; binding promise
• Unrighteousness-sinfulness; wickedness; unjust; not righteous

Finally, my summary of thoughts on this chapter…. In Christ Jesus, you will not be lacking in anything and you will be privy to receive joy and more quantities of light in your life which will one day allow you to physically hear, see, look upon, and eventually handle(touch) our Heavenly Father when the Word of Life, returns for His bride. Living in darkness makes one unable to see the TRUTH to experience successful bliss which leads to a poor quality of life. . Have you discovered the quantity of light that you have in your life?  If it’s not much, what are you going to do about it?

 

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

Consider This –Taking Another Look At Our Mind and Heart

As I was studying the Book of James in the bible, I became inquisitive about other verses that states “Consider….” I shall list a few of the verses for your reading pleasure.

Judging from the bible and history books, we are a nation quick to act without giving things much thought.  We are a people quick to point fingers, and criticize before giving others a careful examination. Yes, there is some good done here and there.  I have been guilty of being inconsiderate. Gasp! I know, it’s a shocker.  🙂  We have become a nation of self-appointed judges. This world is being run by King Tongue who dictates to and happens to rule over Queen Heart.

Consider this, who has the power over his or her tongue and heart; who is in control of every breath you take; how is it the norm that the mind makes decisions w/o the heart and how do we distinguish if whether decisions are made with the mind or the heart or w/o any thought at all. (TYHS)

Consider this, who is to blame and who will account for their actions before God. From some of the verses that I’ve read I’ve come to a conclusion that consideration is also a form of encouragement and love and by no means should you worry when considering this or that. I’ve learned through research and experience that considering something can even keep one from sinning.  

Consider the power of consideration. I want to encourage all, including self, to consider taking another look at our own mind and heart and to “Think on These Things” as one of our great fellow bloggers here states in his posts.

Let us take a look at the word CONSIDER. 

My simple definition —-> to fix the mind upon using the heart as your guide to do what is right.

From the American Heritage Dictionary- Consider (verb)- con·sid·ered, con·sid·er·ing, con·sid·ers  verb, transitive

1. To think carefully about.

2. To think or deem to be; regard as.

3. To form an opinion about; judge: considers waste to be criminal.

4. To take into account; bear in mind: Her success is not surprising if you consider her excellent training.

5. To show consideration for: failed to consider the feelings of others.

6. To esteem; regard.

7. To look at thoughtfully.

• James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
• Luke 12:24-26 – Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
• Luke 12:27-29 – “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it
• Hebrews 10:23-25- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
• Hebrews 13:7-8 – Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
• Deuteronomy 32:7 – Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.

Isaiah 1:2-4

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!  For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know,    my people do not understand. Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.  Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Even if you give no consideration to anything written in this post, I pray that you consider this:

2 Peter 3:8-9

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins

Get Your Blessings!

Confirm Your Calling and Election through A Heart Baking Process

Guess what I was reading? You’re right. High Five!   2 Peter 1. His thoughts are right on point, so I’ll let those be my thoughts as well for this blog. The heart is a powerful baking tool. Allow me a few thoughts, please. After reading this, the Holy Spirit has shown me that I (we) have been given the ability to confirm our calling and election through the knowledge of God. It truly and faithfully lies within us. Heed the message in verse 3-4 & 19 underlined below.

In all the confirmation stages we experience throughout life given to us by God, there is always diligent work to be done and it starts from within our heart. Work….that comes from the heart which in turn transmits the want to become righteous to the mind and body. However diligence to do God’s will appears to be an important stage in that of us confirming our calling and election. To me it is like baking a cake or pie. The aroma is pleasing to us, just like our goodness is pleasing to God, when it is well-done. Sometimes the product doesn’t turn out right due to its baker leaving out ingredients, making shortcuts, or by not following the right steps, you know add this next or add this after such and such time. If you know how to bake things, you know the steps. If it is well-done, it smells good. If it is under cooked or burnt, there is a lingering stench.

Like it or not, we too will have to go through a baking process to become well-done. I know that I’ve got work to be diligent in doing. I want to hear these words when facing My Lord – “Well Done”

Diligence- (n) constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

2 Peter 1

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Let’s get out our mixing HEART bowl and fill with the 7 ingredients below. The more you measure out, the better it will be. Let us BE DILIGENT in kneading these things together, adding as needed to confirm our calling and election:

• add to your faith virtue

• add to virtue knowledge

• add to knowledge temperance

• add to temperance patience

• add to patience godliness

• add to godliness brotherly kindness

• add to brotherly kindness charity

Peter reminds us in verses 10-11 the result of our baked product:

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, YE SHALL NEVER FALL: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Are you working towards being sure you will be well done? A baked good falls when it is not prepared thoroughly, i.e. diligently and when taken out of the oven too soon or too late. Let us be sure “Ye shall never fall.”

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins