Everyone has things in their lives they don’t share with others. It’s especially true of people who have a public ministry. However, there are times that there is great benefit in sharing the lessons learned through these experience. This is the case with our host, Barbara Sandbek. On our program today, she will discuss how God transformed her life from one of dependence on herself to one of dependence on Him.
God has a good purpose for every change that occurs in our lives, but, too
many of us are pining away because things are not the way they used to be. We’ve depended on PLACES, PEOPLE, PROCEDURES or POSITION to draw us closer to the Lord. I say, “‘Where is your God?” Is He in a church sanctuary, in an idol you look up to, in a ritual, in your service for Him? Do you love the GIFTS more than the GIVER?
The Ten Commandments have been a source of controversy in recent times. It seems some people are offended by them. Institutions that posted them on their walls have been told to take them down – because they have no place in public affairs. Well, if they’re just a bunch of rules that make no difference, then why make an issue over them? Why?
On our program today, Barbara Sandbek will summarize what we’ve studied so far on the topic 'How to enjoy life', and show what it is that ties all the points together. You may be surprised at the finding, so listen in for a revelation.
Does God really care if we honor the Sabbath day? Today on Grace Notes Barbara Sandbek will address this subject as she continues her series on
'How to enjoy life'.
God’s does wants us to prosper, and even have possessions, but He also wants us to see that life doesn’t exist in the abundance of material goods.
So, does this mean that we should strive to be poor?
Does God really want us to be happy? What is true happiness anyway? Today on Grace Notes Barbara Sandbek will answer these questions and more as she begins a study on the subject ‘How to enjoy life’.
"As Believers, we are called to do good works – not FOR our salvation but rather to demonstrate that we ARE saved. These works also show our gratefulness to God for what He has done for us. God is quick to . . ."
It’s natural to want what you say and do to make a difference - to influence others. We’re wired this way. And when this happens we tend to feel successful. But is this really what God calls success, or is it just a byproduct of being successful?
Faithfulness…what does it mean? Webster defines it as loyal. And ‘loyal’ is defined as faithful to a trust or confidence – true to duty or love. Is that the definition you had in mind? On this Grace Notes program, Barbara begins a new series which will take us on a journey with the prophet Elijah. We’ll see how God worked THROUGH Elijah to demonstrate His faithfulness to His people, Israel, despite their unfaithfulness.
We’ll also see how God worked IN Elijah to groom him to truly be a man for the times. So, buckle your seat belts, and get ready to roll with the prophet of old.
In describing Jonah’s personality, one commentator wrote…
He was a proud, self-centered egotist: willful, pouting, jealous, and
blood thirsty; a good patriot and lover of Israel, but without proper
respect for God or love for his enemies.
What a poor assessment of a man who is supposed to be God’s spokesman. Do you think God will use Jonah with an attitude like that? We’d say ‘no’, but that’s where God’s mercy comes in. God extended mercy to Jonah by saving his life, and in His mercy, gave him another chance to obey. The poet Robert Frost said, "After Jonah, you could never trust God NOT to be merciful again." …So true.
God is a God of second chances and we’ll see that demonstrated on our program today.
So far in our study of Jonah, we’ve learned that God wanted to REACH out to the pagan Gentiles of Ninevah with His mercy, so He REVEALED a message to His prophet, Jonah, and told him to go there and preach it, but Jonah REACTED by RUNNING away. On this program, we’re going to reenact what happened as a result of Jonah’s disobedience. The setting is Joppa, a seaport about 35 miles northwest of Jerusalem - known today as Jaffa. A ship is docked there and about ready to leave. It’s destination - Tarshish, a mining colony in Spain.
Looks like a nice day for a cruise. Hey…there’s Jonah boarding the boat now.
The definition for the word ‘repent’ is ‘to feel remorse, contrition or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do’. Oswald Chambers writes…
Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying “I have sinned.”
The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means
it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes.
On this program Barbara Sandbek, will look at Jonah’s prayer from inside the fish and see if he is truly repentant.
In our study of the book of Jonah we’ve seen God SPEAK a command to Jonah, Jonah SIN by running away, God SEEK out Jonah, Jonah SURRENDER to the call, God SPARE Jonah’s life, and finally God SPEAK His command to Jonah a SECOND time.
God was merciful to Jonah in saving his life and in giving him another chance. It’s now time for Jonah to extend God’s mercy to the Ninevites. Jonah still doesn’t agree with what God is going to do, as we’ll see later, but he does yield his will to do what God commands. On our program today we’ll follow Jonah to Nineveh and see why God was so insistent on having this mission completed.
