Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced. Hebrews 13:12-13. Christ came to cast us in… we who were once outcasts or cast out and destitute in spirit. He came to give us grace, to cast us in… CAST IN GRACE.
In 2015/2016- American Pharaoh swept the races to become the first triple crown winner in over 30 years. Later in 2016, candidate Trump swept the elections against all odds to become the 45th President of the United States.
So I said, what do the horses have to say about 2020 elections? Well, there isn’t a triple crown winner in 2020. So what else is there?
In 2020, the races were all turned upside down due to Covid.
Tiz the Law won the first race. But he was outdone by Authentic in the second race. No triple crown. Then Authentic was outdone by Swiss Skydiver… a filly.
What if it signals……..
Tiz the Law… confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court.
Authentic can only mean one person.. President Trump wins re-election.
Swiss Skydiver… means one of the greatest revivals in the church’s history.
Just saying…..
This is of course done with a bit of humor (not a horse race fanatic nor do I bet on races).
God gave Jonah a mission but Jonah felt he did not need to obey God. Many times God is speaking to us but we are consumed by our own goals and ideas. We believe we can run away from God’s purpose for our lives and escape God.
He made a 180 degree turn and went away from the place God was directing him.How many times we knowingly disobey the still small voice inside us. And when we do that we get ourselves in a whole lot of trouble.
He put others in danger because of his disobedience. When we walk away from God, we endanger the lives of those around us because of our reckless disregard and selfishness.
Jonah died and from the depths of death’s captivity, he cried out to God and pleaded with God. In the valley that we walk in due to our own self-centeredness and careless behavior, even in that dark valley that resembles the grave, the Lord hears our prayers.
God gave Jonah a second chance. Many times, God gives us a second chance. And we know it is the second chance. God is a God of second chances.
Jonah delivered the message of God. The people repented and turned from wickedness. And Jonah was disappointed. What a strange reaction from a prophet who got a second chance himself. When God was merciful, he complained to God about God’s mercy and used God’s mercy as an excuse for his earlier disobedience.
Yes- we are servants of God. And yes- we deliver God’s message. But let us never lose sight of the grace and mercy that God showed to us. Let us put aside own prejudices and judgments and see that the same grace and mercy God showed to us, He is willing to show to others.
Jonah learned the lesson of the vine. God again showed him grace by providing shade and then took it away. When it got uncomfortable again, Jonah complained to God that he allowed a plant to be devoured. But it was not about the plant. The problem was that Jonah was made uncomfortable after he had delivered God’s Word. How many times, we think we are faithful to follow God’s instructions and we think God owes us. And then when things do not go the way we conceived, our plans do not work out quite the way we envision, we blame God.
God reminded Jonah about His mercy and grace and asked Jonah to have empathy for the lives of 120,000 people living in Nineveh.It is not about our plans, but God’s destiny. Our selfish desires and egos need to bow before God.
Jonah was at the point of death, he returned from the dead, God resurrected him to accomplish the mission. God gave Jonah more than his fair share of chances. But habits and attitudes are hard to break. Selfishness, self-righteousness and ego must all fall and bow before the grace, love and compassion of a loving God.
Can you believe this day we are living in? Sometimes it feels as if we are living like Alice in the Wonderland. Everything appears topsy turvy and on its head. But this is what chaos does. It twists things and words to create confusion. You no longer have bearings to guide you. North becomes South and truth becomes a lie.
What we know as normal has become abnormal. Evil and people doing plain evil are lauded. We, who see these things and recoil, are admonished brazenly- Don’t believe your lying eyes!
The airwaves are dominated by falsehoods. In any age, a leader who comforts his people and encourages them to not be afraid would be celebrated. In the face of fear, he would be a braveheart- going forward in the face of darkness. We make movies of these people.
But here we are. In the face of actual heroism, there are those who tell us to turn away from encouraging words and listen to fear. They mask the fear in “science” and in “reality”. The hero who encourages us is beaten down and the enemy is promoted instead.
Why not inspire people to be and do their best? Why condone evil and dwell in fear? These are cowards masking their true desires for total destruction of that which is good and pure. They invent stories and parade falsehoods as truths.
The American media is truly the false prophet of our day. Their god is their belly and their pockets. They have no desire to speak truth. They bargain in fear and falsehoods. And the people are the bounty. There is NO profit in truth.
People of God, turn away and turn off! Stand against the tide of this evil. Stand for TRUTH. Stand for honor and faith and for love. Let the North be North and South be South. Stay the course. Don’t believe the lies and the falsehoods of Jezebel and her lying prophets. Listen to God!
Pray for the eyes of nations to be opened. For hearts to repent of following evil. Let the Light of God shine in the darkness and set the captives free.
BELIEVE IN GOD WHO ALWAYS TELLS US …FEAR NOT!
Because Fear has torment. BE CONFIDENT IN THE WORD OF GOD. He will and has delivered us. Stand your ground upon the ROCK and Foundation of Truth.
CASTIN-GRACE 