Summer vacation

       Every Christmas my mother-in-law buys each of us a wall calendar.  This year she gave me a table top calendar- Inspirations for Daily Life by the Association for Lutherans.  Each page has a pretty picture, an inspirational saying, and a bible scripture.  Many times since December, I have flipped the page and thought "Wow, that is just a perfect word for where I am today!"  Well today I flipped the page and had to smile at today's saying and verse.

       

               Vacations are for rest and renewal.  They are for visiting loved ones and taking time to enjoy the small stuff.  Being a teacher, I love the two months I get off for summer vacation.  Our family doesn't always have the finances to plan to go anywhere fancy however, I find that I am just as happy getting to spend time doing things with my girls and focusing on pet projects  around my house.  I also love that in the summer I have established a morning routine where the main purpose is to spend time with God.  I wake up, get dressed, get a bowl of cereal, get my coffee, and then I sit down at my little kitchen table to do my daily bible reading followed by prayer time.  That routine is definitely a luxury that I only get to enjoy during my summer vacation and just yesterday I thought sadly "When school comes I sure will miss this time."  Today's verse made my think about my "Summer Vacation with Jesus."  Does it have to end just because in August my work schedule will get busy and hectic?  Can't I vacation with Jesus anytime?  

               I think I need to change my idea of quality "Jesus vacation" time. Other types of vacations come in all shapes and sizes from day trips, to weekend getaways, to week long retreats.  The same can be said of spending time with Jesus.  It is nice to be able to take a week long trip where you spend thirty minutes to an hour daily really soaking in the word and prayer.  I do need that but, it is not always feasible.  But what other times, ones that look more like a day trip or weekend getaway with God, give my mind a rest from my daily worries and burdens and renew my heart?  Singing to a worship song does it, cleaning to the Sirrus FM Praise channel does it,  reading books by Christian authors like Francine Rivers does it,  reading my daily email from Provers 31 does it, enjoying a sunrise, sunset, (anything in nature) does it, praying while driving in the car does it.  I realized that I can vacation with Jesus anytime.  I don't have to pack or unpack.  I don't have to load anything up or unload anything.  No one is asking me "Are we almost there yet?"  And best of all, the benefits are always amazing no matter the amount of time I can give.  That's just how great he is, that just a little time in his presence can be so restful, so renewing that we want to and can't wait to spend more and more "vacation" time with him.       

A heart full of mercy

      Since I have been reading through the Old Testament, I have noticed a reoccurring event.  God has extended mercy to his people repeatedly when 1) they have turned their hearts back towards him with repentance, changing their evil ways and 2) when he remembers the covenant he made with them. Today while reading the in Jonah, the story of God's mercy was written into every chapter.  

     Chapter 1- Jonah runs from God's request to deliver a message of judgement against the town of Nineveh.  While on a ship God causes a violent storm.  Sailors are fearful and confused.  Upon discovering that Jonah is the cause, they ask what can be done to stop it.  Jonah tells them to throw him in the sea.  At first they ignore what Jonah says and continue towards the shore and I do not blame them.  I would not want to throw someone into the sea knowing they would die.  I would ask myself "What else can be done so that this man's death is not my responsibility?" In the end the sailors decide to throw him overboard and cry out to God "O Lord don't make us die for this man's sin.  And don't hold us responsible for his death." (Jonah 1:14 NLT) As soon as they throw him overboard, the storm stops. In that moment, they receive God's mercy.  The story says that they were so compelled by this that they "vowed to serve him." (Jonah 1:16 NLT)  

      Chapter 2-  Jonah spends three days in the belly of a big fish.  Three days in an unsavory environment  would give you plenty of moments to reflect don't you think? In this chapter you hear directly from Jonah.  He is praying and calling out to the Lord.  He says "And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.  Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.  But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.  For my salvation comes from the Lord alone." (Jonah 2:7 NLT)  Jonah's heart is now turned back towards God, remembering him, and prepared to be obedient.  Right after Jonah says this he receives God's mercy and is released from the fish.

      Chapter 3- Jonah goes to Nineveh and delivers the message of judgement.  Upon hearing that in forty days their town will be destroyed everything changes for Nineveh.  I find the first of God's mercies in this chapter to be in giving Nineveh forty days before destruction.  Within that forty days the king of Nineveh believed God and decreed that " People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God.  They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.  Who can tell?  Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us." (Jonah 3:8,9 NLT) And with this degree and heartfelt actions, the end of the chapter shows that God extended his mercy and spared Nineveh destruction because he saw their hearts had changed. 

       Chapter 4- Jonah gets angry at God for being merciful.  It seems that Jonah has yet another lesson to learn about God and his mercy.  He admits that he knows that God is "a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  You are eager to turn back from destroying people." (Jonah 4:2 NLT).  But Jonah is angry that his prediction of judgement will not come to pass.  It seems that Jonah's pride is hurt. It also seems to me that Jonah has put God in a box.  His words say to me that Jonah thinks that his God should only extend mercy to the right people.  However, God uses a plant to show Jonah the depth of his love for all people.  He replies to Jonah " You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there.  It came quickly and died quickly.  But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals.  Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" (Jonah 4:10,11 NLT)  God's love and his mercy is extended to all that he created.  He is ready to pour it on those who turn their hearts and ways towards what is pleasing in his sight.  

      Much of my memory of Jonah's story from my childhood Sunday school lessons focus on Jonah's disobedience to God.  I always came away from that story with the thought "Oh you better obey God or he will give you some kind of consequence."  I saw God as a powerful punisher.  After reading today, I see him as a pursuing Savior, longing to spare us, redeem us, and extend us love and mercy.  A Savior whose touch of mercy should inspire us to live a life changed for him.  

My heart's alignment

       Today I read about King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat and their joint decision to go to war with the town of Ramoth-gilead.  They both consulted prophets.  Ahab wanted only to consult his prophets but Jehoshaphat wanted to consult a prophet of the Lord.  Ahab did not want to consult the Lord's prophet because he hated Macaiah and he did not want to hear anything that was troubling.  Jehoshaphat pressed on to hear from Macaiah and as Ahab said, his prophecy was indeed troubling.  In the end the two kings went to war.  God watched over Jehoshaphat and Ahab died.  
       As I continued reading about Jehoshaphat's actions after the battle, the difference between the hearts of these two kings became very clear to me.  Prior to the battle Ahab lived for himself, he wanted only to hear what coincided with his selfish motives. His put his pleasure above pleasing the Lord.   His heart was turned inward.  The bible says that "no one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord's sight (1 Kings 21:25 NLT)."  His most outrageous offense was worshipping other idols.  However Jehoshaphat, understanding that going to war with Ahab had been wrong on his part, went out among his people and encouraged them to return to the Lord.  He appointed judges and told them to "always act in fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart (2 Chronicles 19:9 NLT)."  When faced with peril, Jehoshaphat called out to God for guidance and help.   He professed him as the one true God.  All the men, women, and children of Judah stood with him as he sought God's help and professed his authority.  He encouraged his people to believe in God, his word, his faithfulness, and his unfailing love.  Together they turned their hearts toward God and were able to praise him despite grim circumstances.  They trusted he would do exactly what he said he would do.  Their heart's were aligned toward God and he saved them.  
       This story has prompted my to ask myself today "How is my heart aligned?"  Is it aligned to serving/seeking what I think is right or serving/seeking what is right in God's sight.   I want my heart to be like Jehoshaphat's and his people.  I want it to be aligned with the things of God and turned away from my selfish nature.  I want to trade in my heart and all of its selfish and ugly ways.  In return I want God to give me a heart like his. A heart that seeks out what is right, what is good.  A heart that praises him and seeks his wisdom.  A heart that loves others, shows compassion, and serves with happiness.   My heart for his.... yep, that is what I am after.   That is my journey.  That is my quest.