So…my apologies for being MIA for the past couple weeks. I would tell you it’s been a crazy time with trying to figure out my new work schedule, along with a trip back to Michigan for a dear friends wedding, but those would just be excuses. And I’m really trying to adapt a new “no excuses” mindset, so I will just simply say sorry.
Anyways, the new job is going well, and the Michigan trip was AWESOME [can you tell I miss home, jut a little bit]. Even though I wasn’t in Grand Rapids [my homeland] for very long, it was still great to see family. I got to spend all of Wednesday last week with my mom going to our favorite places—Marie Catrib’s, downtown Holland, Hope College, Lemonjello’s, Lake Michigan, the cottage—needless to say, it was total awesomeness. And we even got a decent beach walk in despite the freezing, gale-force winds.
Thursday was full of Doctor appointments [joy], a wonderful coffee date with an old friend, Big Apple Bagels, a run on my favorite path, pedicures and some more quality time with my family. Friday through Sunday we all went to Dearborn, MI for my friend’s wedding [I’ll try and post some pictures in the near future] and we all had such a good time. It was hard to leave, but it was also great to see James and little Samson again when I got back to Texas. Overall an excellent long weekend:)
After sleeping in this morning [yay] I felt prompted to read the book of Jonah. I’ve been mulling a lot of things over in my mind lately—you know, trying to figure out my future and all—and have been really seeking God’s will in my life and choices. Let me just share with you what I read…
“Instead [of throwing Jonah overboard], the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried to the Lord, “O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.”
Jonah 1:13-16
For those of you who might not know, Jonah ended up surviving. God sent a big fish to swallow him up and later deposit him onto dry land. But that’s not the point here. You see, Jonah was disobeying God when he stepped foot onto the boat in the first place. He was supposed to go to Nineveh to deliver a message of repentance to the people living there, but instead he decided to choose his own path and run away from God. That didn’t really work out so well for him. But, even though Jonah deliberately disobeyed God’s will, God was still able to use the situation for his glory. Those sailors on the ship with Jonah were pagans, but after witnessing God’s awesome power in the form of a calmed storm, they immediately began to praise him and offer him sacrifices. God still used Jonah as a witness to the sailors, even though he had messed up and was on the run.
Just because we’ve messed up, or we find ourselves in a bad situation, doesn’t mean that God can’t still use us. He can turn any situation around and use it for his glory. It might not be easy for us to admit our mistakes and attempt to turn ourselves around, but just as God used Jonah despite his bad choices, so too can he use us. We just have to trust him enough to let him guide us through our mistakes.
This was seriously just what I needed to read this morning. I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me! God Bless:)
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