Throw In the Towel or Give a Second Chance?

Some days I just want to throw my hands in the air and say, "I give up...!" I get so tired and weary, sad from all the things I see going on around me, that I want to say, "That's it, I'm done!" Not that I want to give up on serving my God, not that I am saying I don't want to be a Christian, don't want to live for Him, or be there when He calls for me to do something... No not at all! There are just some days you get fed up with people, in general. People will let you down every time if you put your trust in them, and some days I feel like saying to some of them, "good thing God wants to save your soul, because if it were me, I would have thrown my hands in the air and walked away a long time ago."

That isn't surprising that someone would feel that way, right? No it isn't. I am as human, and humans get frustrated, they get mad, they want to throw in the towel sometimes too. I can admit there have been times, not a lot of them, but times when I wondered if the price I was paying for what I am trying to do, is worth the heartache, frustration, and pain. Sometimes at first, I get so excited about a new venture when God says Go, then when I get there, I am trying hard, but can't see a redemptive quality in another person or group I am supposed to be working with, but I have to remind myself that God has a plan for them, just like He had for me, and whether I see the qualities or characteristics that God sees or not, it isn't for me to decide, it is up to God.

I am so glad God makes those decisions and not me or any other human being. I know I would have been given up on a long time ago, if it were up to someone else. When I do finally see a quality or something special about the person or group I am working with, I thank God that He gave me the strength and fortitude to stick it out and go on... I praise Him everyday that He gives me a love for Him that makes me want to serve Him no matter what, so that I don't want to really give up. I just get frustrated sometimes, like many out there in this world.

On days when I want to throw in the towel, I think about Jonah, when he went to Nineveh, told them that because of their wickedness that they would be destroyed in 30 days by the hand of God. He just figured, okay, I will go sit here and watch what happens, watch the destruction so I can start all over again sharing God with someone else when they are gone, since they are done for, they are never going to change their ways. Then, something that Jonah never counted on happened, the people in the city cried out and called on God, repenting, asking Him to forgive them, asking God to give them another chance, and God chose to spare their lives. He forgave them of their sins and they turned from their wicked ways to live for Him there after.

Oh boy, was Jonah mad. He was so angry with God. He thought, that wasn't fair, if you say you are gonna do something, then you should do it, even if they repented, you said you were going to destroy them, you should have done it. When God said, "But they repented and changed from their sins..." Jonah didn't care at all, he was arguing with God that they shouldn't get that second chance, just because they repented. I can just see Jonah saying something like, "What are you thinking God, if you don't destroy them, other wicked cities are never going to take you seriously." Jonah was so done with this city, that he didn't see that true repentance had taken place. He refused to look at it from God's point of view.

He needed to take a step back and look at it a different way. He was told to go to Nineveh, to tell them of their destruction, he didn't want to go because of their sin, because they were such a wicked city, he didn't want to go anywhere near them. So what did he do, he got on a boat, took off in the other direction, to "escape" God. Like he ever really could. God sent a storm, the men on the boat were preparing to their death, they couldn't figure out why such a storm hit them so hard... Jonah told them, "it is me, I am in disobedience to God and he sent this storm. Throw me over and it will stop." So they did what he told them to do, their lives were spared and the storm subsided for them.

God sent a great fish to swallow up Jonah, to get a hold of his heart. Jonah spent three nights in the belly of that fish, not dead, alive, he was in there, going over all that he had done, all he had refused to do, and all that God had told him to do and had done for Him through his life, and said, something like, "I am running from a God that is everywhere, he could have killed me right here and now, he could have even struck me dead before ever getting on the boat, but He let me live, so that I could set things right with Him and do what I am called to do in Nineveh." Talk about a God of second chances, Jonah called out to God, repented of his sin and rebellion, and asked God to forgive him and spare his life, so he could go to Nineveh on God's behalf.

When the fish coughed Jonah up, he landed right on the shores of Nineveh. Right where God had wanted him in the first place. He got the ultimate second chance, God sent this fish as not only a life raft, to save his life from the waters in the middle of nowhere, but he was also his transport to Nineveh. What an amazing God we serve!

It was so wrong that Jonah couldn't even think that Nineveh deserved a second chance after receiving his life in exchange for obedience? He didn't even remember his own moment of rebellion, sin and pride. All he could think about was, I came all this way to deliver a message and now God isn't going through with it, "that's just so wrong!" He was so above these people, because they were so wicked, even though his own life had been spared he couldn't see why God would spare theirs. What a contradiction.

When I get to point of wishing I could just throw my hands up in the air and say "I'm done, I quit! Lord, find someone else!" I look back and think about Jonah. I look at my own life, I think, how selfish and prideful would it be to think that I am so much better than they are, to receive all the second chances after second chances I have received, if I didn't press on and help others get the chance of redemption and restoration I have received in my own life from God. That is the redemptive quality I find in others. That is why God sent me here!

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

In all the days I have been on this earth, from the time I learned my first word, learned to walk, help others, and began growing up getting to know more about being a help to others, I cannot ever remember someone telling me that I lived in this world all on my own, that everything is all about me, and I didn't have a care in the world, nor another's life, cares, or problems to consider when making my choices in life. I don't ever remember my parents telling me, "Yes, we do have seven of us living here, but you take your time in the only bathroom in the house, take your time with dishes and stay up all hours of the night to disturb the ones you share a room with..." I don't ever remember ever thinking, "my life is my own, I can do what ever I want, and forget about everyone else in this world, they don't matter at all, ONLY I MATTER."

Nope, don't remember that at all.

I do remember, however, that my parents taught us to be loving, kind, and compassionate. I remember my family being taught the Bible in our home, at church, and any other time the opportunity came up, my parents would find some kind of lesson to teach us about life in our daily action or routine. I remember my parents talking about consideration for other's space, things, thoughts, trials, and their homes. I remember, they would tells us that the total sum of US was more important than the ONE. I also remember, they showed us that when others are in trouble, you should find some way to help them, whether you could do something yourself to help, give them a name or address of a place that could help, call your pastor to see if your church could help, or just take the time to pray for them, and allow God to work through your prayers and the promises in His Word.

Always Ready to Volunteer where needed!

I remember that my parents taught us about community minded, try as long as you can to keep neighborhoods a neighborhood, talk to people in your community, get involved with your kids at school. When there is an immediate need for someone in your community or in their family, help them, if you can; pray for them if you can't do more than that, it is a good start. They never taught me to turn my back on someone in need, to ignore the "dirty and smelly" person who walks up to you and asks for a dollar, they just said, "help if you can, if not, tell them I'm sorry I can't, but I will pray for you." They don't always like that answer, but when you try your best and do what you can, you can live with yourself at night, that is for sure.

Mark 12:29-31 - "And Jesus answered Him, The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." 

Teaching Our Children and Youth to Pray!

God tells us that we are to love everyone we see and/or know. That God is who we are to love with everything that is in us, and that we are to give love, show love and be love to all those we come into contact with... He also says we are to "Ye have heard, that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love our enemy, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Matt. 5:43-44

God did not want us to single out our friends and families, to choose who we help and who we don't. God wants us to love and do for anyone and everyone. The bible tells us He is not a respecter of persons, which means, He doesn't pick and choose who He likes or chooses to help, His gift and love is for all. Anyone who chooses to call on Him. We are to live our lives the same way, give to all, help anyone who needs help, if you can, and not turn anyone away, for anything, who needs help.

In Luke 6:35 - 38 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again" and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

 God sees your intentions, He knows your heart. He wants you to reach out to others, be a missionary in your own town, in your own neighborhood. When you see a need, hear of someone that could use a friend, reach out to them, I tell people all the time, "People see a message, MUCH BETTER than they can Hear one." We are God's hands and arms, we are tangible and physical evidence of the Love of the Lord. Love is an ACTION Word, we are to show love by taking action and showing them how God would have us to be. In your home, in your community, church, and in your town. Are you ready to give God yourself, to be that extension of Him for others? I AM!

Whether it is singing for the Lord at a nursing home

Or working with the Youth in a community

Or making Hats and Scarves for those in need... Or Whatever God has for me to do, I AM READY... To Give Him my all and Show others, that there are others that love for no reason, other than because I can.