We’ve been having a drought the past couple of years. The other morning there was a nice rain and it seemed like I could watch the grass turn green. It seemed like nature itself was thanking the Lord for the rain.

In all of this, my nephew and I had been planning a couple of Kayak trips. However, these past two summers we’d have had to hike it on the river bed instead. I don’t understand what’s changing; so many speak of global warming. Not being a scientist or one who examines data, I’ll leave that one alone.

However, I am familiar with the One in charge of our environment:

Isaiah 24:4-6

The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth.  The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant.  Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.

• George Washington Carver

Think about it.

Gary

I’ve been splitting firewood most of the week. My wood splitter is somewhere near thirty-years-old and has been faithful over the years. I bought it from my brother at a good price. As a matter of fact, everything I purchased from him was a good price or free. This machine has been proficient. It always starts and always performs admirably. It has served me well.

The faithful service of machines and people is the air beneath our wings. My prayer is that some individuals will look back at life and include me in that category. Faithful service is acknowledged in Scripture.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

How are you doing when it comes to faithfulness?

Give it some thought.

Gary

I’m not mechanically inclined. If my pickup won’t start, I open the hood and peer inside. If the motor is missing, then I can make the proper diagnosis. (Motor’s missing.) Other than that, I need help from a licensed mechanic.

The Bible is written in such a way that it is very obvious what the problem is. Man is a sinner and Christ is the Savior. Easy! Now we can go on from there. We need to search out the depths of Scripture and a lifetime of study won’t exhaust the subject.

Here is a verse describing this devotional:

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Leaving elementary school let us go on to high school and then college. There is so much scriptural learning that we can add to the foundation.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Most stories end with, “and they all lived happily ever after.” We want to believe that all people who know God are nice.  Take fifteen minutes and Geico can save you 15% or more on car insurance. As you can see, life is not always like that.

It didn’t end in Jonah’s favor and he wanted out.

Jonah 4:1-3

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.  So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.  Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

Jonah knew personally that God was gracious and would forgive any transgression.  God doesn’t change, but the Jonah’s of the world need change. They need to quit thinking about “moi” and start thinking about God’s character.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Let’s change so God can be honored before a lost world.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Equality comes from God, not man. One of the statements of the U.S. Declaration of Independence says this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Jonah, throughout this book, is characterized by prejudice. That character trait has no business in the child of God. One way or another God would work to deliver His prophet from that destructive opinion.

On the other hand, God loved the Ninevites and desired that they be saved from destruction.

This is also a New Testament message.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Are there groups that you would never bother with? Give them a chance.

Think about it.

Gary

You know the feeling: the mouth gets dry and there is a taste of salt in your throat. Wishing you were dead, you hang on both sides of the flush.  This happens to me about every ten years and I would rather have a root canal done without anesthetic. It is described as a forceful discharge of stomach contents better known as vomiting. Something down there just has to come out.

This is what happened to that famous historical fish. Here is what came up: seaweed; bones of small fish; unrecognizable, undigested matter; bile and then Jonah. Someone said there is nothing to make you sicker than a backslidden prophet.

Jonah 2:10

So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

That fish was glad to get rid of that resident and get back to what great fish do.

Do you ever have the feeling you’re the cause of someone getting sick because of your actions? Maybe it’s time for a change of scenery and God is going to provide it. Just hang on because God can even tell a fish what to do in a case like yours.

Isaiah 43:16-19

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Some old farmers were discussing the best position for prayer. Some said on their knees; some said standing while others said it didn’t matter. One weather-beaten man said his most effective prayer was said while he was stuck upside-down in a well.

God just expects us to talk from our heart, but sometimes the position is created by Him. Jonah sure could pray in chapter two. This is how he ended the prayer:

Jonah 2:7-9

“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.

“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.

Has the situation you’re in caused you to cry out to God? I hope it’s not a fish story.

1 Timothy 2:8

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

Think about it.

Gary