Paige has finished her teaching on Jonah, will take a break this week, and will return for what I expect will be a fascinating one-week study on why we should study the Bible.
Therefore, this week, let’s review. We’ll remember it better if we do! I’d like you to find one, possibly two truths from each week, tell why they impacted you, and then we will pray for you to have it go deep into your heart!
For example, I will always remember: “Who is in your boat?”
We impact the people in our boat for good or evil, and I’ve got some people in my boat that bug me a bit, and I know God says: “Whoever does not love his brother does not know God.” How I need cleansing and power. I need you to pray that I will see people as God does and give the grace and love He’s given me.
Wednesday/Thursday
1. What do you remember from week 1, why, and how can we pray for you?
Friday/Saturday
2. What do you remember from week 2, why, and how can we pray for you?
Sunday
3. Share a God hunt or highlight from church.
Monday
4. What do you remember from week 3, why, and how can we pray for you?
Tuesday
5. What do you remember from week 4, why, and how can we pray for you?
55 comments
1. What do you remember from week 1, why, and how can we pray for you? We have not understood grace until we have desired it in the lives of our enemies. There is no “them” when it comes to grace.
I was thinking about the answers to yesterday’s questions that I gave, at the time I couldn’t think of anyone that I wouldn’t want to see good things happen to. Then I got a text from my sister about some things concerning her stepdaughters.
A brief background, my sister married their dad 8 years ago (he had been divorced for over a decade). Both of his daughters were adults when they married. We have had some occasions to be with my BIL’s side of the family and everyone seemed to get along. Then my sister relayed to me about how her son-in-law and brother-in-law were talking about our side of the family’s political views and how they were going to take all of us down at the next get together (they had been drinking so that’s a big part of it). I know that nothing like this is really going to happen and that they were just talking, but this came totally out of the blue. We hardly know these people. We’ve never once discussed politics or anything close to it and many members of my family have opposing political views, so they don’t even know what they’re talking about.
I have to admit that since then I do find that when I hear about something going wrong in their family, I’m kind of glad. This directly opposes what God wants my heart and attitude to be. I need prayer I that will truly desire His grace and mercy in their lives and not be hypocritical in my thinking.
Oh Dawn — all so interesting, vulnerable, and relatable. Yesterday at pickleball I heard a man say to a like-minded woman: “I would never go to a doctor who was a Republican.”
As believers, we know that no party or organization instituted by man can be anything other than filled with sin and self-serving — yet people trust in them and hate the other side. And God calls us to love them — so your opening quote is such a good one to remember.
Dawn, I agree with Dee. And I have had those feelings before. The ugly side of me that I deny at times and don’t want to face. I still feel a tinge of anger when a few names or faces come up. I need to let God help me let go of my anger and see them as equal recipients of God’s grace with me. He is helping me with one situation that I am facing right now. I so need God’s mercy.
Gosh Dawn, you really hit the nail on the head when you said “ I need prayer I that will truly desire His grace and mercy in their lives…” Because Like you I don’t truly desire that in my old flesh either. It certainly is only the love of God granted so freely to me that moves me in that direction of wanting grace and mercy for others. I really appreciate your transparency.
Dawn, can totally relate and will definitely be praying for you.
I appreciate the vulnerability of my sisters here. We can pray for each other. I’m reviewing my memory of 1 John and over and over he says that if we don’t love our brother we don’t love God! Oh Lord, help us to have Your mind, Your heart, Your grace — we are desperate for You.
Wednesday/Thursday
1. What do you remember from week 1, why, and how can we pray for you?
—As I have gone back and reviewed my notes and my answers to the questions of week 1 I am reminded of how incredibly rich the teaching on Jonah is. The takeaway I had for week 1 was this statement by Paige “God has more grace than I have sin!”
I wrote below that comment these thoughts.
(In order to really appreciate that truth I need to see the depth of my sin and rebellion but in spite of it He runs after me. No matter what He will come running and running and running and running after me. And along with that He is running after “them”. All these other people too. And I can be a conduit of His love to others. She said if He can love me He can love anybody. Wow! Grace way beyond imagination.)
Grace is my word for the year and this teaching the very first week in the study emphasized the reality of our very gracious God.
My prayer request would be renewed health. I have been under the weather for a couple of days with some cold and flu like symptoms. I am not “terribly” sick but Covid is around again and I want to be wise around others. It prevents me from visiting my Mom who is seemingly failing a little more over the past few weeks. I’m feeling hampered to be where I need to be and do what I need to do. But God knows.
Bev…love this, “I need to see the depth of my sin and rebellion but in spite of it He runs after me. No matter what He will come running and running and running and running after me.”
I will be praying for renewed health.
I too pray for renewed health for you, Sharon.
Wednesday/Thursday
1. What do you remember from week 1, why, and how can we pray for you?
Like you, Dee, I remember the question, “Who is in your boat?” Aahhh…There are many who I would like to keep with me in my boat. People who think like me (Jungle Book song, “I wanna be like you”), act like me and agree with me. But then, God has placed people in my boat who are otherwise. And some of them are my Christian brothers and sisters in Christ!
Your prayer, Dee, is my prayer for myself: “How I need cleansing and power. I need you to pray that I will see people as God does and give the grace and love He’s given me.”
For some reason, I have been tempted to withdraw from some people lately because I do not want them in my boat and be “responsible” for them. Ugly thoughts. And I am realizing that I am going back to “self”. I don’t want to expend the energy and time needed to relate to them if they are not reciprocating. I need prayer as stated above.
Bing, You have a delightful way of frequently remembering a song that illustrates or emphasizes a point. my prayer request was for the physical but like you and Dawn and Dee my greater need is always the spiritual. I think of the old hymn “Oh to be like Thee”. 😊
Oh Bing, I have found myself also withdrawing from those that I don’t want in my boat…will be praying for you.
Wednesday/Thursday
1. What do you remember from week 1, why, and how can we pray for you?
What stood out to me was “the 3rd law of motion doesn’t apply to the Lord…for every one of our simple and rebellious actions, there is a greater reaction of God’s grace. He has more grace than we have sin.”
My prayer is that when I sin, that instead of beating myself up that I would fall on my knees before God with a repentant heart, ask for forgiveness and remember His amazing grace and be grateful that He loves me unconditionally!
I’ll be pray that for you, Sharon.
1. What do you remember from week 1, why, and how can we pray for you?
I remember thinking how Jonah and Jesus were alike. Now I know differently!!!
Tarshish, Tarshish, Tarshish!
Jonah SO disrespected God by running to the farthest place he could.
I could sure use prayer for my family. We are a mess.
You always make me smile, Laura.
Father,
I do pray for Laura and her family — for wisdom, love, healing!
Friday/Saturday
2. What do you remember from week 2, why, and how can we pray for you?
—This question and her answer stood out to me. “Why did the Lord send the storm? For the exact same reason God was sending Jonah to Nineveh. For warning unto grace. Jonah is running and God is chasing. God is pursuing him. Not to crush him but to claim Jonah.”
The fact that it was a warning unto grace for Jonah just like God was sending him to Nineveh as a warning into grace. These two situations overflow with God’s
grace. This speaks to me that God pursues me when I wander and He is pursuing the lost. And if it takes a storm it is happening as a warning unto grace.
Answer to prayer: with prayer and some medications I feel significantly better this morning.
One of the main prayer concerns on my heart this week is for the people of Israel. It is beyond words what they have suffered.
Friday/Saturday
1. What do you remember from week 2, why, and how can we pray for you?
Below is what I wrote from Jonah 2:
“Walk the talk” is what I gathered from this section. I had goosebumps when she asked, “Who in our lives would be surprised if they find out that we are committed Christians?” Do how I live reflect my love and trust in God’s person, position, and power?
Jonah was shamed because as he was claiming the person, position, and power of God, it was obvious to the sailors that his word and his behavior showed irreconcilable discrepancy. “The greater tragedy is not that we are silenced but that our lives are never silenced. Jonah’s life was screaming in denial of his profession.
Trust and obey for there’s no other way, To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. My Father who loves me is also The (my) King who has authority over all things.
Friday/Saturday
2. What do you remember from week 2, why, and how can we pray for you?
What I remember from week 2 was the illustration of the bee in a tumbler without a lid and it will try and borough out the bottom or sides but refuses to look up. This is what Jonah did and I find myself doing…focusing on worldly things/idols rather than keeping God as my focus. Please pray that God would be my focus…keep looking up!
I loved that too. Lord, please help Sharon, me, and all of us to set our affections on things above and not our anxieties on things on earth.
2. What do you remember from week 2, why, and how can we pray for you?
I had to look back on this one. I remember the sailors seemed to turn their eyes to God, while Jonah just slept. They seemed to believe more than he did!
Please pray for our son Wesley. He is a lost soul right now (even though he doesn’t think he is). He really needs a professional job but he is struggling finding one. He seems content just working a lower paying job at a local restaurant instead of using his (very expensive) degree. He also won’t consider coming home to relieve his economic situation. I’m actually okay with that, but would like him to find a “real” job.
Laura, I am praying for Wesley. Our moms’ hearts get torn up when our children are not doing how we think they should be. Thank you, God, that you see our children and you hear our prayers for them. you love them even far better than we do.
Amen. Father, please help Wesley see.
I’ll be praying for Wesley.
2. What do you remember from week 2, why, and how can we pray for you? I was unable to do week 2. I have read all of your comments from that week and it looks like I missed a good one!
For me: Week 2: Real obedience is when we obey when we disagree — or when something, like loving a particular brother is simply hard — but we still do it.
3. Share a God hunt or highlight from church. This Sunday my son was breaking down the Lord’s prayer and he was having us pray each part as a personal prayer either in groups or alone. I usually do these alone, but I was sitting next to my daughter-in-law and she immediately turned toward me and started praying aloud. It was really nice to hear her heart and know what she could use prayer for and to be able to share in this way that we never have before. A couple of times other people joined us and it really was a good time of fellowship.
Sunday
3. Share a God hunt or highlight from church.
It was great to see people at church who have been gone for a while due to illness or other personal reasons. Also good to check on the nursery and sit down with a few 2-3-year-olds and learn from them. I was teaching one little 2-year-old how to cut paper and he was so glad when he was able to cut less than an inch! His joy was inevitable! No wonder Jesus wants us to be like children.
I love toddlers! When we were at a bigger church, that was the class that I wanted to teach.
3. Share a God hunt or highlight from church.
I have recently begun singing with our worship team because a leader left and others in the band are stepping up to help coordinate. I thought I might step up into a role of singing, as I love to sing and it reminds me of my dad. The leaders have been so kind and I am totally enjoying being a part of the team! It is a blessing. Thank You Lord for music.
I’m glad you are getting to use your gift of singing, Laura!
I. love getting the church reports! Sermons, singing, toddlers — all makes me smile.
I can’t tell you what is going on with Patti except that it’s heartbreaking on top of her grief and would urge you to pray.
I wondered about Patti this morning and prayed for her. Thank you for letting us know she has a special need. I will make it a point to keep remembering her.
I was thinking of and praying for her as well this morning.
Sunday
3. Share a God hunt or highlight from church.
—A God hunt for me came on Saturday afternoon when I met my sister at the care home where my mother is and we spent several hours with her and took some time to read from her Bible and pray over her. Mom is very diminished in her capacities. She is very slowed down and communication is hard because she is pretty much deaf. But she recognizes us and likes having us there. She talks very little and not clearly but the most beautiful thing for us is her smile and when we tell her we love her she responds in kind. I know she likes having the two of us there together and it helps me when visiting my Mom because my sister brings a very bright presence into a room. She loves Jesus deeply and it overflows from her.
The verses of scripture that we read to Mom were from John 14. Some time in the past Mom had underlined verse 27 which says
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV
So we noted that to her and and experienced His very sweet peace in our time together with her. He again brought encouragement to my soul.
Oh, Bev! What a sweet time with your mom and your sister. Great memories!
Monday
4. What do you remember from week 3, why, and how can we pray for you?
—As I reviewed my notes from Paige’s teaching and my answers to the questions in week three I see it was all about God’s amazing grace. These were such great reminders. This was what I wrote as my takeaway for that week.
“What a wonderful lesson on the amazing grace of God. Paige said earlier in this lesson the heart of the book of Jonah is his prayer. She commented “ The heart of the matter is do we understand God’s grace and what will we do with God’s grace.” She said grace is only found at the bottom and we have to get to the very bottom to fully understand grace and what it really is. That is where we see ourselves accurately as the sinners we really are without hope but for the grace of God. And God’s amazing grace is manifested to us in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s all about Jesus and the Cross. That is where I find hope and life.”
—I pray that I can live everyday in the light of God’s grace and that it overflow in practice to others.
Love your prayer Bev…”I pray that I can live everyday in the light of God’s grace and that it overflow in practice to others.” So need this in my life as well…thank you😊❤️
Monday
4. What do you remember from week 3, why, and how can we pray for you?
In reviewing my notes, this was such a good one and so many nuggets of truth in regards to grace and as Bev reiterated…”wonderful lesson on the amazing grace of God. We can’t be preoccupied with the fish because the greater miracle is Gods grace. We must plant ourselves in the promises of Gods grace…argue with what we feel with what we know. As Job said, “I know my Redeemer lives.” This brings me to my God hunt. As I was driving to a church event on Saturday (I did NOT want to go) but the whole way there I prayed through scripture and asked God to change my heart and keep my focus on Him and His faithfulness to me. By the time I arrived my heart had softened and diving home afterwards I gave Him praise.
Please pray for my nephew who has totally rejected God. He has been deconstructing his faith and has turned to taro cards, enneagrams and horoscopes! Thank you🙏
I’ll be praying for your nephew, Sharon.
Father, I lift up Sharon’s nephew and ask that You would deliver him from this darkness. I pray this in Jesus name
Thank you Dawn and Dee for your prayers…they are so appreciated!
Sharon, I shiver at the word “deconstructing”. I feel like that is where my daughter is as well. I pray for your nephew and my daughter that they would see the light and let Jesus’ light overcome the darkness that they and so many of our young people nowadays are living in.
I love reviewing each week. I go back and reread everyone’s comments. I liked seeing people during this week that we’ve been missing.
4. What do you remember from week 3, why, and how can we pray for you? The undeserved grace of God for us. We need to cling to Him alone with our minds and hearts (and it’s only because of His grace that we want to or are able to).
I need prayer that I don’t take His grace for granted. I have idols in my life that I have been “managing” and not giving totally up. I know that it isn’t going to be through sheer will power that I can overcome these, but from a true change of heart and mind that just lets them go and clings only to Him.
Father, I thank you for Dawn, for her heart, and ask that you would give her the faith to abandon instead of manage her idols.
And I need this too.
In Jesus Name
Amen!!!
Dawn, not “managing” my idols but “abandoning” them. Wow! I think I am doing the same thing. Praying you and I abandon our idols.
For week 3, I’ll remember conjunctions of yet and but, unique to Christianity.
For week 4, I’ll remember that Jonah’s short terrible sermon was successful because of God.
Monday
4. What do you remember from week 3, why, and how can we pray for you?
The story of Carlyle and Trey. When the former showed up at the prison, Trey cried and said, “I know you would show up.” God never gives up on us. And Keller’s, “Only Jesus sees us to the bottom and loves us to the sky.” Amazing love, how can it be?
Tuesday
5. What do you remember from week 4, why, and how can we pray for you?
God is running after people who are running away from him. Oh, what manner of love the Father has indeed given to us! We undeserving people have a God who would not let go. As Sally Lloyd Jones said, “the never stopping, never-ending forever love of God”.
I need to be willing to be used by God but to be ready to get out of the way to let the Spirit move in the lives of others. I am not in control and I am glad I’m not!
It is often easy for me to fret. Did I say the right words? Did I hurt somebody’s feelings? The root of this, I realize, is my idols operating in my life. It is a movement to moment surrender.
Tuesday
5. What do you remember from week 4, why, and how can we pray for you?
—He will change us but He will not change His will.
That was a significant thought that stood out to me. Jonah came to the end of himself and to the end of his life so to speak and he called out to God and submitted himself to the reality of who God was to him. A God of steadfast love and the source of his salvation. And it changed him at that point but then comments from Paige:
“Jonah was restored at the exact same point as his rebellion.
The command of God didn’t change. Jonah changed. God’s will did not change.”
She also said “When I wander away God comes running after me and grabs me by his grace. He doesn’t put me on a different path rather he changes me. “
I love that statement “When I wander away God comes running after me and grabs me by his grace.” Our God is a God of deep love for us and One who brings us hope.
—I continue to ask for prayer for my neighbor Christy’s friend, Blaine the Cowboy who needs Jesus. She keeps sharing Jesus and she feels he is listening. I think God is working on him.
My prayer request: We are having our annual women’s luncheon on Sunday after church. I am organizing the event along with 3 ladies from our church. Things are coming along beautifully, praise God! Please pray for God’s protection for all of us. Some are traveling from their hometowns, Covid is still around, and our venue is at full capacity. May Jesus be lifted up in praise and the attendees have hearts and minds open to listen to His specific Word for each of them and to obey Him. Thank you very much! Please pray I would lay aside my worries and just like our Dawn said here, “to abandon my idols” and for me, that would be of approval and control.
4. What do you remember from week 3, why, and how can we pray for you?
Definitely the two brothers who were buried in the sand “dune.” UGH. I’m going to cry again…it’s about the substitution. The older brother substituted himself for the younger one to be saved. The younger one was standing on his brothers shoulders. Jesus gave himself for us. We are standing on His shoulders.
Continued prayers for our son Wesley and our family challenges. Thank you. 🙏🙏🙏
Tuesday
5. What do you remember from week 4, why, and how can we pray for you?
The people of Nineveh mourned over their sin, their repentance was genuine, they were inwardly humbled as it showed up in how they responded and in how they lived.
I pray for genuine repentance in my life, to have an inward humility that is evident in how I live…as Dawn said, a changed heart.
5. What do you remember from week 4, why, and how can we pray for you? “We’ll see”. No one truly knows what anyone’s walk with Christ actually is. Pray that I will remember my first love, repent and do the deeds I did at first (Rev. 2:4)