Should I Not Pity

 

It is I
who create
breathe into
make alive.

It is mine
to have pity on
to be merciful
lovingkind.

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I can rejoice in Your mercy to others, for You are with me.

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“But the LORD said, ‘You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.’ “

” ‘And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and also much livestock?’ “

Jonah 4:10,11 NKJV

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God Saw

 

You see and care
when I turn

from my
evil ways

laying aside
what I’ve planned

to walk with You
each day.

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You see what I am doing for You are with me.

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“But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and cry mightily to God; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.”

“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

Jonah 3:8,10 NKJV

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Forsaking Mercy

 

Idols come
in many forms

if I seek anything
more than You

then I forsake
my precious Mercy

my life, my hope
my truth.

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I know mercy for You are with me.

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“Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy.”

“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”

Jonah 2:8,9 NKJV

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Arise

 

 

Let me arise
seeking Your presence

and not simply
to flee

listening
to what You say

for it is life
to me.

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I can arise each day and seek You, for You are with me.

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“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’ “

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

Jonah 1:1,2,3 NKJV

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Storms of Change

 

Turn around
come back to Me

be resurrected and
made new

for each time
you repent

a storm is calmed
inside of you.

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You establish how I can move forward by turning back.

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“The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.’ “

“But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish . . .”

“Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. . .”

“Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.”

“The LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.’ “

“This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: ‘Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!’ The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and a put on burlap to show their sorrow.”

Jonah 1:1-3,17; 2:10; 3:1-5

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Image from The Greatest Gift, by Ann Voskamp, page 155.

No Need

 

I don’t need
the testimony

of men
for other men

but when you come
to know Me

you will witness of
Me then.

You establish testimonies.

“But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in men.” John 2:24,25 NKJV

God’s Question

“Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” ”  Jonah 4:4

I love that God just asked Jonah a question. He had been through quite a lot by this point.

Thank You, Lord, for Your care and patience with me as I try to process what You are doing.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Is it right
for you to be angry?
God’s question
humbles me.

Please keep me broken
lowly and serving
praying for Your
relenting mercy.

God bless you and give you understanding today!

So The People Believed

“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk.  Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”  Jonah 3:4 NKJV

“So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”  Jonah 3:5 NKJV

When Jonah finally preached, the reaction and results were both quick and positive.

Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to do what You ask us to.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

The enemy sends lies
and discouragement
tells me I’ll fail
that it’s too hard

but my Jesus says
“Listen to Me now,
I’ll take you through this
just obey and walk on.”

God bless you as you obey Him today!

Praying From the Fish’s Belly

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.”  Jonah 2:1

“And he said:
I cried out to the Lord  because of my affliction
And He answered me.
Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And you heard my voice.”  Jonah 2:2

Though in a fish’s belly, Jonah recognized he’d been saved.

Thank You, God, for hearing my voice and saving me out of the belly of Sheol.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Even if I’m downcast
and afflicted
with waves and billows
rolling over me

let me remember how great
is my Salvation
how You swallowed up sin
at Calvary.

God bless you as you cry out to Him today!

An Everywhere God

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”  Jonah 1:3 NKJV

Jonah found out he couldn’t really flee God’s presence.

Thank You, God, for being everywhere . . .even the places where I go to hide.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

How could You ask
me to do this?
With my track record
I’d best just hide.

It’s true
I could find someone better
but then how could I
change you, inside?

God bless you and all the places He finds you today!