No Like Jonah

What's Next? And Will I Let It Come?

2009-11-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

For a while now, too long, I've avoided all the intensity and demands of being spiritually involved. It's so much easier to debate, discuss, and merely THINK about God instead of living it all. Comfort and staying self-involved are so seductively tempting! Default mode...

2009-10-16T18:23:00.001-07:00

Uh-oh, I think I'm ready.

Staying Close Is The Purpose

2009-09-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Belinda Hodges, in comments on her hub How To Make Your Dreams A Reality said, "On another level, we can also keep attracting the same negative situations until we are ready to face whatever it is and move on."

I really like this, I agree with her. This has put words to what I was afraid of maybe, she stated a fact that happens in people's lives. I started checking to see if that's what was going on with me but have realized it probably isn't. Now I understand even more that this whole situation is NOT ABOUT ME. There are things I've seen concerning my son and the children that let me know the reason I'm here is all about them. I've been in this same situation over and over to be prepared to help them - I'm the expert! Reading what Belinda wrote clarified things, checking into it, though it doesn't apply in my life right now, it showed exactly what and why this situation is. Useful information no matter what, I'm sure it's applied to me before and will likely apply to someone I have met or will meet.

Since this means I'm not the point here, it makes me want to whine about my own desires that can no longer be attended to. I'm a mother so they never really have yet. The only way to avoid focusing on myself and what I wish would be is to stay so connected to I AM and 'let' the spirit flow through me to them. It's not like this is a bad situation, many people desperately wish they could be living this way. When the spirit flows through me, I'm perfectly happy with it all, it's when I let selfish thoughts and the ideas of "why shouldn't I get to..." that I feel put upon. Much of my feelings of guilt come from knowing things are too easy for me.

In scripture, people were sent to others for reasons that had nothing to do with them themselves. As a matter of fact, isn't that what it always was? The answer seems to be the same all the time, draw close to the great I AM!

Life Is A Process Of ... ?

2009-09-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Life is a process of development, spiritual and character progress, that's what it's intended for. But does that truly mean we accept life as it and not try to change it? May we claim the power and right to change our circumstances when we don't like them? We can at least try to change things and see if it's 'allowed'. If I belong in my particular situation because this is where I'm supposed to be, it won't change, true? That's what I'm afraid of, seems like whatever I do, the end result doesn't change and my overall life will stay the same until I ... what? Become the person this set of circumstances is supposed to bring about? Perhaps my life is meant to be what it is until some other person or situation is set up. That's an intriguing possibility, like the woman who couldn't sell her house until things were right for the buyer.

I'm not convinced that anyone's life has only one particular purpose - if so, maybe it's already been done. In my case, maybe I was meant merely to be in the family line of someone so that a particular descendant can be born. Or does God step into every believer's life and arrange every detail? Or major details? Where would the dividing line be? Perhaps He tweaks a believer's life so that whatever situation the person gets into is used for the purpose He has in mind?

Planned By God Or Not?

2009-09-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

The whole idea of coincidence vs. deliberate intervention interests me. Once, my youngest and I were discussing this - the next day there was a moment that we both realized it would be the exact right moment for a "coincidence" or "intervention" - nothing happened. It was noticeable.
There are enough times that something DOES happen that makes me believe there was a purpose behind it. The title of this blog is No Like Jonah because I am trying to say no to this whole situation but don't see a way out. Is this I AM's plan or does "He" make plans like that? Does he really arrange things in our lives specifically?

I want to present the definitive answer on that - but I don't have one yet.

Grateful

2009-09-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

When life seems to have come to a standstill, you're trapped with no way out, it helps to see what there is to be grateful for. Some situations are harder to deal with than others and that right there can help many of us! If you have enough food to survive and somewhere to eat it, that's already more than a lot of people have.
I have that and besides that, winter's coming which means SNOW!!! I LOVE WINTER! All the wonderful light and sunshine will be gone and that's depressing but no more heat! Instead, it will be the invigorating cold air and beautiful snow. We'll have to wear more clothes to stay warm but that's easier than staying awake through the heat. And I have a home to be out of the cold when I need it.

Coincidence or Intention?

2009-09-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Did I want to read this or not? My first post on this blog (two down, just below the video) point #3 that I suspected is true, was about exactly this. The first thing I found online this morning, and only because two pages are jumbled together and this is the only part I could read...

I especially appreciated the reminder that it’s not all about me. When she spoke about trying to sell her house, I never would’ve thought to think that God was working on things for the buyer!

(This was in response to some conference the woman had been to, ~Marsha, on Marybeth Whalen’s talk “Inspired to Live Financially Free" on the site Christian Women Online.) I have no idea yet what the rest of the page says but this stopped me in my tracks this morning.

Coincidence? A message? A reminder? Thinking it was meant for me to see is difficult to believe but it is making me determine to concentrate on the needs of those who need me instead of on my own whining. It's a funny message anyway - It was meant for me to see that it's not about me!

After My Last Post, This Is What I Needed To Hear and When I Needed To Hear It

2009-09-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

Didn't God Hear Me Say No?

2009-09-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

When I realized that I keep finding myself in the same type of situation over and over, one I thought I had gotten away from, I started feeling quite annoyed. Didn't He hear me say no? Didn't the Almighty get it? This is NOT how I wanted to spend my life. Didn't He realize that this is the situation I was trying to avoid and that's why I've made the choices I've made? Why do things keep working out this way?

First I tried to be grateful for the things I DO enjoy. It's not like things are awful but my life feels wasted - like I've taken a big step backward. So why am I back in this situation now that I've finished with it?
1. Maybe it's all coincidence - doubt it.
2. There's something in my character that needs work and this is the situation that will best develop it.
3. It's possible that it's not all about me anyway - I'm here because others need me to be. This is obviously part of it but my selfishness makes me deny it.

I think it's both 2 and 3 but mostly 3.

Insanity is tongue-in-cheek defined as doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. What is it called when you keep trying different things but always end up with the same result? "Meant" to be? Intended by the Almighty? Does he really pay that close attention to someone's life? Often it's obvious that he does, other times I think he's just set this world in motion and he'll be back to check on us later. So would that mean finding oneself in the same type of life situation over and over means we've finagled our way back into it subconsciously, or perhaps as a matter of habit? What about when everyone else agrees that they 'didn't see that coming!'

On my numbered list, there's also a possible number four that I don't like to think about. Maybe 4 is that I won't be successful otherwise anyway and this is His way of providing for me. Sad thought but possible.

No matter the reason, even if it is all coincidence, just the way life works out sometimes, finding ourselves in the same situation over and over is much easier and more bearable knowing we can let him do something with it. There's no point in wasting the time - eventually we'll understand why He didn't pay attention to our "No." But only if we look at it right and LISTEN.