{"id":210,"date":"2012-07-25T12:36:00","date_gmt":"2012-07-25T12:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/?p=210"},"modified":"2012-07-25T12:36:00","modified_gmt":"2012-07-25T12:36:00","slug":"jonah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/?p=210","title":{"rendered":"Jonah"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I have been working through a Bible study on the book of Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. If you think you know the story of Jonah, I believe I could challenge you to learn more. Mrs. Shirer certainly has opened my eyes to several revelations throughout the study so far.<\/span><\/div>\n
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I am also impressed with God once again. This study has been preparing me for an upcoming experience. My Southeast Asia mission trip. <\/span><\/div>\n
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The idea of this Bible study is that Jonah\u2019s life was interrupted and that our lives are interrupted as well. But what if we think of these interruptions as divine interventions? Times when God stops us in our tracks to share a vision with us? It changes our outlook on life.<\/span><\/div>\n
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In the beginning of this study, I thought it was a great way to look at Jonah. But then it got personal. Some of the questions stirred me. Some of the concepts intrigued me.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Then ten days ago, everything changed. I was called to action. And this study had been preparing me for that very moment. What a journey God is sharing with me.<\/span><\/div>\n
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From the example of Jonah being called and disobeying to the concept of God being the God of second chances, each section of this study has been preparing me to go. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach.<\/span><\/div>\n
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One revelation for me has been how evangelistic this book is. This week in our homework section, we compared the mission Jonah was given with the mission we, as Christians are given (Jonah 1:2; 3:2; Matthew 28:19-20).<\/span><\/div>\n
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Another revelation has been that God goes before the mission He gives us and how He prepares us for that mission. I believe I\u2019ve been preparing for this mission trip my entire life. It is finally the moment when it is all falling into place. Into God\u2019s timing. And He will do amazing things when I obey.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Another revelation was the importance placed upon praying Scripture. I\u2019ve done this in the past, but Jonah showed me that sometimes it is all that is necessary. Praying God\u2019s words back to Him. And that leads to the importance of Scripture memorization. If we don\u2019t know it, we can\u2019t recite it.<\/span><\/div>\n
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I want to close with a few quotes from the Jonah study. These are the lines that have made an impact on my life. Maybe you\u2019ll find some relevance.<\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cMaking sense of what God has asked or feeling compelled to cooperate cannot be the prerequisite for choosing obedience. His Word must be enough.\u201d[i]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cThe discipline God allowed was not meant to punish Jonah; it was meant to prepare him.\u201di<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cWhatever you are holding on to in this life, hold it loosely so it won\u2019t hurt when the Lord has to pry your fingers open to take it away.\u201di<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cNo prayer is more effective than the one that finds its roots in the pages of God\u2019s Word. Jonah challenges us: Have we taken time to inscribe God\u2019s Word on our hearts so we have a framework of verses to construct our prayers in the time of need?\u201di<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cThe word God is trying to do in you requires your full participation. You will find the rewards when you subscribe completely to what He asks and do the tasks how and where He asks.\u201di<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cSharing Jesus is supposed to be a way we live, not just something we do.\u201di<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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We still have a two sessions to go. I\u2019m certain God isn\u2019t finished with my lessons from Jonah. My desire is to be completely open to what He wants to teach me. I can\u2019t wait.<\/span><\/div>\n
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I must admit, I\u2019ve second guessed myself about the trip to Southeast Asia. I haven\u2019t seen any real progress. I\u2019ve been challenged by some. But it all comes down to the fact that I truly believe this is what God wants me to do.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Do you believe God is calling you to something? Maybe it is as simple as saying hello to your neighbor. Maybe it is to read the book of Jonah and work through a study on this small book of the Bible. Maybe it is to memorize more of God\u2019s Word and add these verses to your payer life. Maybe it is to give your life completely to God\u2026not just enough to make it look like you\u2019re committed. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Maybe it is giving money for a mission trip. I am still seeking financial support for the work God has called me to do. If you are willing to help in any way, please let me know. You can read more about it at http:\/\/wwwpreachitclearly.blogspot.com.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Whatever it is God is calling you to, act upon it. Now. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/span><\/div>\n
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Donna<\/span><\/div>\n

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[i]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>Priscilla Shirer, Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted<\/i>, (Nashville: LifeWay Press, 2010) 29, 64, ChuckSwindoll \u2013 73, 75, 93, 107.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have been working through a Bible study on the book of Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. If you think you know the story of Jonah, I believe I could challenge you to learn more. Mrs. Shirer certainly has opened my eyes to several revelations throughout the study so far. I am also impressed with God […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,16,29,25,26,9,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-believing-god","category-following-god","category-magnifying-god","category-praising-god","category-serving-god","category-sharing-god","category-trusting-god"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}