But God -- Hope Chronicles 92

Yesterday, I posted "No But's." While there are no but's to God's truth, there is a time when but becomes a word of hope. it is when it is coupled with God. "But God . . . ."

The story that sticks out to me the most is the one of Jonah. It's nice and short, so you could easily give it a quick read. (Hint, hint.) Short version: God called Jonah to go and preach to the the city of Nineveh. Jonah turns and runs the other way. But God sends a storm to wreck havoc on the ship that Jonah is on. The sailors throw Jonah overboard to appease God. I'm sure Jonah thought he was going to die. But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the fish for 3 days. (Yuck!). When the fish spits him onto the shore, Jonah finally goes to preach to Nineveh. However, when the people repent, Jonah is even more angry. He stalks off into the desert. God makes a vine grow up to give him shade. However, the next day, it is eaten by a worm. Jonah is so angry he wants to die. But the Lord replied, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

"But God" juxtaposes the difference between man and God. In Jonah it shows Jonah's shallow concerns and God's compassion on 120,000 people.

In other places it shows God's provision:

• Genesis 45:7 "But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth . . . ."
• Genesis 48:21 "I am about to die, but Godwill be with you."
• Psalm 118:13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me."
  
• Acts 2:24 in regards to Jesus "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
• Acts 7:5 "He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at the time Abraham had no child."
  

It shows God's compassion:

• 2 Samuel 14:14 "Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him."
• 2 Kings 13:23 "But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them . . . ."
  
• Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
• 2 Cornithians 7: 6 "But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus . . . .
  

It shows God's protection:

• Psalm 64:7 "But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down."
• Psalm 14:6 "You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge."
  
• Exodus 9:4 "But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die."
• Numbers 14:9 "Only do not rebel against the Lord and do not be afraid f the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us."
  

It shows that God hears us:

• Pslam 66:19 "but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer."

It shows that God is not always what we expect:

• 1Kings 19:11-12 Elijah is told to go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord. There is wind, fire, and earthquake. "but the Lord was not in the wind . . . . but the Lord was not in the earthquake . . . . but the Lord was not in the fire." Elijah recognizes the Lord in the gentle whisper.
  

"But God" -- words of hope.

40 to 40 (Gratitude 10)

I took this picture last summer while I was on a walk. I am drawn to the beauty and simplicity of it.

But what I really love about it is that it represents a place of invitation, of going in. It is an open gate.

I am thankful that God always leaves the gate open for us to come back when we have sinned or messed up. I am thankful that He refused to let the gate slam shut on anyone.

The sobering thought is that when we are outside the gate, we often don't realize it or we realize it and are too afraid to take the steps needed to go inside.

So, I am thankful for God's open gate/open door policy with His children.

God's Glory in Sunflowers

My words still feel cumbersome, but even in the midst of that I thought I'd share with you a couple pictures as evidence of God's continued glory. I took these today after work.





I do know these aren't lilies but I was reminded of Luke 12:22-30:

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."