The Lord's Creative

  *Exodus 12:7,13 (NASB)- "Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." *Matthew 27:50-51(NASB)- "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split."      Lately, this song and the blood of Jesus Christ has been a constant theme in my comings and goings. "The blood, the blood" is what I keep hearing...actually this entire month. The Lord is stressing the high importance of the blood of His son Jesus Christ. The blood for our salvation. The blood for our sicknesses and diseases. The blood! The blood we should cry out for in worship and re...

     Matthew 10:28 (NASB)- "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."      Jonah was upset with the Lord because he knew the Lord's characteristics would make him look foolish in front of many. What do I mean when I say this? Jonah literally told on himself and the reason why he ran from the Lord and his responsibility. "Therefore, in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I  knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity"-Jonah 4: 2b, NASB. Jonah knew there was a possibility that God would not do (at least currently) what He wanted Jonah to proclaim to many.      Jonah was concerned more with his image and how this would make him look, rather than the lesson that the Lord was trying to get across to him....

     *Repent (verb): to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life; to feel regret or contrition; to change one's mind; creeping; prostrate (2022, Merriam-Webster).         Last time, we discussed Jonah and his  opportunity to witness during his trials that he put himself into. Now, we are going to skip ahead to the Ninevites and the true representation of repentance. Jonah had already been thrown overboard into the sea, swallowed by the big fish, prayed, and spat out onto dry land. Now, we are in chapter three of Jonah, after the Lord spoke through Jonah to the Ninevites declaring, "Yet forty days, and Ninevah shall be overthrown," (Jonah 3:4, KJV).      Just to give you a "big-picture" view on the subject matter and really  emphasize my point, Ninevah was a large city, and to walk through this city would take three days (Jonah 3:3, NASB). Jonah only walked through the city for a day, and didn'...

      If you know the story of Jonah, then you know his story of disobedience, being swallowed by a big fish , and then having another opportunity to "keep his word" to the Lord by doing what he was told to do initially. I was lead to speak on Jonah in a three-part series. I'm finding it hard to narrow it down to just three messages, but here we go.      The whole book of Jonah was made out of his disobedience and attempt to run from the Lord and his responsibilities. This reminds me of Ezra 10:4, NASB "Arise! For this matter is your  responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act." This was Jonah's responsibility, the Lord was with him, and he just needed the courage and action. Jonah's story can also lead to Joshua 1: 9, NASB and so much more, but I digress.      While "running" from the Lord, Jonah ran into an opportunity to be a witness of God's Word in the midst of trial. When the Lord started the grea...