As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Tammy Mills):

Today’s reading really seems to be making the point, that because the people of Nineveh repented, God decides to change God’s mind. Is that really possible?

I went on a little search to see if there were other instances of God changing God’s mind. Much to my surprise there were several.

Exodus 32:11-14 tells me that Moses pleaded to God for mercy on the people of Israel. God heard Moses’ plea and scripture says “And the Lord changed “his” mind about the disaster that God planned to bring on his people.”

What about Abraham pleading for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah? God seems to keep changing God‘s mind about how many righteous people had to be found in order to save the city. (Genesis 18:16-33)

Mark 7:24-30 tells us Jesus changed his mind. He wasn’t going to heal a women’s daughter because she wasn’t Jewish, but the woman was able to persuade Jesus to heal her daughter.

These scriptures lead me to believe God’s mind can be changed — but what about the scriptures that tell me God is unchangeable:

Malachi 3:6; “For I, the Lord, do not change”

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and Omega” says God, who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.

So which is it? Does God ever Change God’s mind? I don’t have any idea. I am more confused than when I started this passage. I don’t mind living in a state of confusion. I figure God is way bigger than me and I like knowing there is an air of mystery around God.

But consider this:

A few days ago, my youngest daughter wanted to wear her “Dance Ball” shoes to school. They were way too fancy for school, so I told her no. She didn’t like the answer much, so she kept on asking. I told her my word was “FINAL”. I knew that she was really disappointed, but as a mom I also knew those shoes could be dangerous at school.

On Sunday, she asked if she could wear the “Dance Ball” shoes. I thought for a moment and then said yes. I knew she would be a bit more careful wearing them at church and I would also be there to stop her if she was running in the shoes.

I am sure she thinks she changed my mind when it comes to wearing the “Dance Ball” shoes. She didn’t really change my mind, what did change were circumstances and some things that she didn’t understand.

Perhaps that is how it is with God. It may seem as though we change God, but perhaps that’s just our own child-like (childish?) understanding. There’s likely more to the story than we know.

Today, let’s join together in prayer for: All who are involved in military actions around the world that may put them in harm’s way.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (David Zier):

When Jesus calls us to be his disciples, He wants us to be authentic. When we let Jesus into our heart and soul, and we allow the presence of God into various aspects of our lives, shouldn’t we:

• Lift our prayers and praises to God,
• Repent of our sins and shortcomings, and
• Authentically communicate to God routinely?

Yeah, yeah, I have heard some people say, “God already knows what is in my heart and what my sins are, so why should I spend so much time repeating them to a God who is all knowing?”

We don’t do this because God doesn’t already know — we do this for ourselves. When we go to God authentically, and we allow ourselves to talk deeply to God and truly let God know how we feel — pouring out our hearts, our tears, and giving everything to God and truly asking for forgiveness — this is a way for God’s Grace to be revealed in us so that we can live in that grace. This also allows us to invite God into parts of our lives that we may be trying to hide. It allows us to recognize that God can work in all places of our lives.

No matter how I want to dress myself up and no matter how I want to appear to God, I can’t hide who I really am. I have to reveal the true “me” to God. This will allow me to be a better disciple in Jesus Christ! God’s presence and blessing is conveyed to me when I have a heart that truly reaches out, a heart that asks God for forgiveness, and a heart that prayerfully asks God in.

The prophet is telling us that repentance and reaching out to God is not an outward change of one’s actions and words, but it is primarily an inward change of one’s heart. Are we more concerned about the exterior, appearances, a moment of drama, or something staged to make us look good? Or are we more concerned about a true authentic relationship with Christ, which produces the fruits of discipleship? Rend your heart, not your garments.

Thought for the day: Let’s commit to being authentic, and live in God’s true Grace!

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Robert Ferguson):

In the verses for today we find the prophet Haggai preaching God’s word to a discouraged group of folks. The people had been going about the business of rebuilding a grand temple, but it seems that whenever they would start working they would be distracted, interrupted, or become discouraged. And it seemed like the past was so glorious, while their present was so grim — their rebuilt temple would never be as majestic as the one that was destroyed.

Do you ever feel discouraged? Are you like the Judeans? Do you ever intend to pray more or read the Bible more only to find yourself distracted and caught up in the call of everyday life? I know I do. It is difficult to focus on things of God when the things of man seem so pressing.

I often think back to my grandparents and the elders of my childhood church. Their walk with God seemed so simple from my point of view. Perhaps it was easier to be a good Christian before there were 148 cable channels, cell phones, the internet, and blockbuster video. During that time it seemed that everyone had a job, they earned enough money, paid all the bills on time, and always had a check to drop in the plate on Sunday morning. There was no road rage, 60 hour work week, or speed dating. Life just seemed simpler then and faith was automatic. Maybe I’m just romanticizing a past I don’t remember clearly — but I know that today, our faith is challenged.

God is moving in “God time” and not our time. We want to be blessed now and we need to see the fruits of our labor quick, fast, and in a hurry. Add to that the constant stumbling and falling we all do as Christians, and it is easy to become disheartened and downtrodden.

God tells us today to be strong and continue the work! God knows we’ll become discouraged and yearn for the glorious days past. However, just as God made a covenant with the Jews, we too are reminded that God is with us always. We are encouraged to continue to work at living lives that are glorifying to Christ.

Thought for the day: My life runs on God’s timetable. God, grant us a glimpse of “God time!”

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Christen Peters):

Have you ever really sat down and asked yourself just what God wants of you? And been willing to hear the answer?

We go to a job interview and we ask what our duties will be. We’re recruited to join a club or a team of some kind and we ask what we’ll be required to contribute. Our kids play sports and we ask the coach how we can help.

We come to church…

We need to consider what God requires of us. What, as Christians, should we be doing?

Does God require that we offer a sacrifice? Our methods have changed from Old Testament times, but our offerings are still important to the life of our congregation.

So is this what God requires of us? Not really.

When we give of our time and money to the church, we are merely returning to God something that already belongs to God. Our offerings come from outside ourselves, so it’s not really anything of us that is being given to God.

God requires that we move from the inside out. We are to DO justice, LOVE kindness, and WALK humbly with our God. All of these require something of our very essence.

DO justice. True justice requires that we do what is right by all creation. We have a choice every day in every interaction. Do you know someone in need? DO justice. Ask yourself what you can do to help them in their need, and what you can do to eliminate the need. Don’t just treat the wound — work to remove the stumbling block that caused the wound.

LOVE kindness. I like peanut butter — a lot. However, I LOVE my family. I will go out of my way to be with my spouse and daughter. Loving kindness is the same. God doesn’t ask that we like kindness, or tell us to do it if it’s convenient. We are required to LOVE kindness. We are to seek out opportunities to commit acts of kindness, just because of the love of God that is in us. When we share that love that God has given us, I think we are giving that love back to God.

WALK humbly with your God. God desires your friendship. Have you ever seen a gaggle of teenage girls and heard one squawking above the rest? She seems a little apart, like she’s trying to be noticed for who she’s with rather than who she is? That’s not what God wants. God desires and requires genuine friendship with you. Delight in that friendship with God. Walk with God as you would with your closest confidante. Walk through an autumn wood with no words required, or cry on a shoulder in the darkness of your night. Share your essence with your Creator — the one who made you and knows you best.

These are the job requirements. It is but for you to accept the position as a growing, acting Christian.

Thought for the day: From Ignatius of Loyola: “Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not count the cost; to fight and not heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, except that of knowing that we do your will.”

Today, let’s join together in prayer, asking God, “Show me ways to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with You.”

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Deb Doty):

Know how to make a VIP angry? Treat him like he’s not a VIP — don’t bow to his perceived power. Tell her to do something beneath her status — something embarrassing — something that doesn’t make sense.

That’s what happened to Naaman, the mighty commander of the army of the king of Aram. He showed up at the prophet Elisha’s door with a letter from his king and mind-boggling riches. He was there to be healed. And he expected to be healed like a powerful, rich man should be healed — immediately, personally, and with dignity. And if there was a nice ritual, so much the better. But he got none of that.

Elisha didn’t even come out to see him — and he didn’t let him inside his house. Instead, he sent a messenger out to tell Naaman to go wash himself in the Jordan River seven times in order to be healed. No wonder Naaman left in a snit.

“Doesn’t he realize who I am? He didn’t even come out to acknowledge my presence! For as much as I’m willing to pay him, you’d think he’d at least come out to pray over me! But no! He sends a servant to tell me to go bathe in his pathetic river! I could’ve stayed home and bathed in a better river if I thought it’d help! Does he think I’m stupid? The nerve of that guy! I’m heading home, but I’ll be back — with Aram’s mighty army! And then we’ll see who ends up in the Jordan — as fish food!”

In the midst of his angry sputtering, a couple of very brave servants bowed low and said, “Oh, dear, wonderful person that you are! What would it hurt to just try what the man said? It’s on our way, so why not? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

And so Naaman ended up washing himself in the Jordan River seven times. And he was healed of his leprosy.

What’s your “leprosy?” Has a “prophet” given you a solution, but it just seemed too stupid for words? Does the path to your healing involve swallowing your pride and taking a step of faith? Sometimes it’s in the unexpected — and maybe even the unorthodox — that we discover our breakthrough. But we have to be willing to put aside our prestige and plunge into the Jordan — sometimes more than once. What are you willing to give for your healing? Are you willing to go skinny-dipping in the Jordan?

Thought for the day: God, help me be willing to take the plunge of faith — even if I think I’ll look silly.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Kay Olry):

I have just left the sanctuary of JMCC. I signed up for the weekend “Prayers for Darfur” — not because I think that I’m any great prayer warrior, but because doing something sounded like a better idea than doing nothing, and because prayer changes things. When I finished praying, I walked around the church lobby looking at pictures of villagers who had been beaten, shot, raped, and killed. The images were difficult to look at, but I didn’t turn away. I kept my focus on them, as difficult as it was.

For the last three years, I have effectively ignored the carnage in the Sudan. I have managed to turn off, turn away, or ignore the images from the heart of Africa that have tried to make their way to me. A confessed news junkie once upon a time, I used to produce news stories when I was in the Air Force. Several years ago, I made the conscious decision to stop watching and reading so much of the bad news that the world repeatedly produces. I am embarrassed to admit that it took me three days before I recognized that Hurricane Katrina wasn’t “just another hurricane”.

In the same way, I’m realizing that Darfur isn’t “just another African problem”. For so many years, there’s been so much bad news coming out of Africa that I think we’ve become numb to it. How do we put our heads and our hearts around millions of people displaced and 200,000 dead?

Here’s how I did it today. One picture caught my eye; it wasn’t even a picture of the tragedy. It was a picture of a village before it was wiped out. There were 10-15 homes in the village — each little more than twigs and grass, which each family had carefully put together. Each home had a sleeping area, and a separate covered area about 10 feet away. Their carpet was dirt; the roof of the central area was the open sky. They had almost nothing — and then it was destroyed.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to talk about being “the Church” to one of the Discipleship classes. We talked about what it is that God calls us to, and what it means to live in Christian community. As part of that conversation, I encouraged them to look not only at our local church, but also to the Church in the world. Rather than looking at so many Christians who are “doing it wrong”, I encouraged them to try to catch the church “doing it right”.

The tragedy in Darfur is ongoing. At times, the task of trying to help seems overwhelming due to the enormity of the problem. Yet, in spite of the obstacles, there are thousands of Christians who are trying to be the hands and heart of Christ to these people who have lost so much. Locally, we’re praying to determine what, if anything, God would have us do. I won’t pretend to know what form, if any, this ends up taking. I only know that it’s important to start asking the questions – and to stop turning away.

Today’s scripture ends with this: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” The book of Hosea was an allegory for God’s relationship with Israel. Israel kept turning away from God and God kept giving them second chances.

For me, it reminds me that my Creator doesn’t want me to be about the outer trappings of faith. God wants a relationship with me, and wants my love. The best way for me to show that love is to be like Christ to someone else — to be the Church in the world — even to people half a world away.

Thought for the day: What can Jesus MCC do for the people of Darfur? What can I do?

Today, let’s join together in prayer for: The women’s softball team, who instigated our prayers for Darfur. Pray that God would continue to give them wisdom and discernment going forward.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.