Treasure of Learning just like Jonah did!

For my birthday an old friend (longtime not old) wrote me a note that said "Happy birthday to the gal who taught me to tie my shoes in kindergarten." Did I really show her how to tie her shoes in Kindergarten?? I can believe I did...sounds just like me !! I was one of the oldest and I am sure I took it upon myself to show the rest how to do what I could already do !! I was sure they needed to learn how and evidently no one else was teaching them...or they weren't listening and learning. Even in Kindergarten, I was already already a Miss Fix-it . And it was always to be helpful.....never to be pushy or bossy....nooooooo, never !!

So, here I am some 50+ years later and I still think I can fix things....for others and for me !!And it is still to be helpful not pushy or bossy...or so I THINK ! I am quite sure God did not go on a vacation and ask me to fill in for Him. In fact I doubt if He even mentioned to me that my services were needed or so in demand ! He is mighty God, creator of the universe and world....I think He can function just fine without my help.......I am not sure my friends can........ but if God be for them, then what can stand against them ??

So this is something the Lord is talking to me about and working on with me !

Letting God be God and do His job....He is really good at it !! Something Jonah seeminly forgot in his running away to Tarshish....and then his pouting about how the Lord was going to be merciful and save the people of Ninevah. A wicked people who needed to learn a lesson or two on how to honor and obey God. And Jonah was just the one to show them...after all he was a prophet and a good one and obeying God was a priority ....or was it.....or is it??  But it became one, finally, as Jonah realized the necessity of doing things God's way. He could agree with David in Psalm 119:71 & 75  "It is  good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me."  The discipline God allowed was not meant to punish Jonah but to prepare him for doing things God's way.....accepting and surrendering to God's discipline was the wise thing to do ! Jonah's heart needed a realignment* to be able to handle his reassignment...or should I say his willingness to complete his original assignment !! So, how is this applicable to me.....do I see a parallel to my life and my " I did it my way" theme song. I think I just might.

 My devotional for today said...paraphrased......Seek my face and your will find my presence and my peace...BUT to receive it, you must change your grasping controlling stance to one of openess and trust. The most persistent choice you face is whether to trust me ......Psalm 46:1-2 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains (or JONAH) fall into the heart of the sea"

What a traceable, trustable treasure…. to be able to leave it up to God…..after all........ He is GOD!


* Jonah pg 64~ by Priscila Shirer