Who Did Swallow Jonah

We know it wasn't this turtle!

The story of Jonah, well, I can relate with.

I've often thought of him and how God called him to do something he really didn't want to do.

If I'm being completely honest (and I should as a Christ follower) I am probably a Jonah every day. How many times have I quenched the Spirit and gave an excuse? "I know you want me to do __________, but God that would make me uncomfortable. That would me I would be late for _____________. But God, they won't take it right." And on and on.

When we were at CVE the first time (a year ago now) I was really struggling with it. Feeling like it was all just too much and was missing home. I wanted to just pack up, go home, be with my little family and go on about living my life.

Andy was taking it very seriously and trying to discern if this is where we were supposed to be. And while I was too, his heart was open. God was leading him and giving him direction while He was trying to work on my heart and opening my clenching fists.

One of the last mornings there, I woke with a heavy feeling. I wanted to do what God wanted me to do. I pleaded for His direction. I opened the Bible and the following is what I recorded from that day's journal.

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"I woke up with a heavy feeling. I remember telling God, "I can still rebel to stall the time". I laid in bed and prayed that God would make it clear whether it was His work for us. I opened the Bible and the chapter was none other than Jonah 3. It doesn't get much clearer than that. Ever since Andy first told me about this, I have always had Jonah in mind. I never wanted to be a Jonah, yet here I was telling God I was going to rebel.

We went to the Kupfershmids for 4 hours and talked about all sorts. They had a similar calling to ours and also had a business to sell. God worked out every detail in His Time and especially after they surrendered the situation or thing.

They also talked a lot about the challenges they have already faced in 3 years, but with tears in her eyes, Kathy said her favorite part is getting a front  row seat to witness how God is changing lives. Daton also said, you know CVE is about the kids and growing a church, but what you don't realize is how much God will Mold and Shape you once you're here. When they were praying about it themselves, Kathy really did not want to, and she remembers God telling her 'you do have a choice, you can say no'. And then she opened up to Jonah. With tears in my eyes, I told her the exact same thing had happened to me that morning.

Over and over again people told us to make sure it's a calling we have and not just a desire. The desire to help will fade, but the calling will be sustained when times get tough."

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So this morning, I opened to Jonah 2. Jonah is in the fish's belly and is giving God thanks for saving him from drowning. In our study bible, it talks about the 6 miracles God performed in the 4 chapters of Jonah. God is a miracle worker! Just this morning, our new niece Penny Kate Zimmerman was born to my brother Evan and his wife Elisabeth. New life is a miracle!

The number of miracles that God is going to perform still in our lifetime is numberless.