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51
Clark's Reflections / Jonah 4:6-7
« Last post by clark thompson on November 20, 2017, 05:09:27 am »
Jonah 4:6-7
KJV 6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
WEB 6 Yahweh God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine. 7 But God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine, so that it withered.

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

6 Jonah was happy because this vine grew and provided shade but he was waiting for God to destroy these people, who repented and God forgave. Jonah’s priorities are all wrong, people’s souls are more important than his comfort.

7 God then has a worn ruin the vine; this was done to teach Jonah and help wake him up to God’s priorities. Sometimes we have to have wake up calls to get our focus on what God wants and what we should be doing.
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Clark's Reflections / James 5:1-3
« Last post by clark thompson on November 13, 2017, 05:03:06 am »
James 5:1-3
KJV 1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
WEB 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days.


These are my thoughts, please share yours.

1 We are not to just feel sorry for the poor but do what we can to help them, this for some is prayer but for those who can help they need to help and let those who cant help prayer so they can help that way. James is talking about the rich crying over those in need rather then helps them with their need.

2 Riches will go away, what are they storing up, isn’t it more important to help people if we can. Laying up treasures in heaven is far better.

3 When the times of the Lord comes it wont matter how much money a person has, when death comes it wont matter how much a person has because they wont take that with them but the riches we give away will be laid up heaven.
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Clark's Reflections / Jonah 4:4-5
« Last post by clark thompson on November 06, 2017, 05:05:56 am »
Jonah 4:4-5
KJV 4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? 5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
WEB 4 Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
    5 Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

4 Jonah didn’t have a right to be angry. What I think of is the contrast of Jonah and Abraham. Abraham wanted God to save Sodom so the people weren’t judged but Jonah did not want Nineveh saved. Jonah didn’t want the people to turn to God. Jonah was angry because God was merciful and loving to people Jonah hated. Do we ever act this way towards people who come to the Lord? The prodigal son’s brother acted this same way.

5 Jonah was still waiting for God to destroy the city, Jonah wanted to see it so he sets up a spot to see it. Jonah no longer was being used by God now and I believe it was become of his attitude, our attitude will prevent us from being further used.
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Clark's Reflections / Jonah 4:1-3
« Last post by clark thompson on October 30, 2017, 05:14:19 am »
Jonah 4:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.


Jonah 4:1-3 New Life Version (NLV)
Jonah’s Anger and the Lord’s Loving-Pity

4 But Jonah was not pleased at all, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is this not what I said You would do while still in my own country? That is why I ran away to Tarshish. For I knew that You are a kind and loving God Who shows pity. I knew that You are slow to anger and are filled with loving-kindness, always ready to change Your mind and not punish. 3 So now, O Lord, take my life from me. For death is better to me than life.”

New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

1Jonah had did what God told him to do but his heart was still on the boat running from God. Jonah just went thru the motions of service and never had the heart for it, it left him bitter and angry.

2 Jonah wanted God to judge these people rather then show them mercy. Jonah had so much hate and was making no attempt to ask God to purify his heart of the hate but he wanted to keep hold of it.

3 Jonah wanted to die because He didn’t judge the people Jonah wanted, instead of having a pure heart that allowed him to be uplifted he held hate and lived in the bitterness, we should be willing to do what God wants of us instead of running we need Him to change our hearts.
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Clark's Reflections / James 4:15-16
« Last post by clark thompson on October 23, 2017, 04:59:20 am »
James 4:15-16 King James Version (KJV)
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

James 4:15-16 New Life Version (NLV)

15 What you should say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But instead you are proud. You talk loud and big about yourselves. All such pride is sin.

New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International


These are my thoughts, please share yours.

15 We have to know that we live only by the Lord and as believers our lives are meant to be lived for only Him. We have to understand its about what the Lord wants from us and not what we plan but its about us keeping His plans for us.

16 We shouldn’t be bragging or be prideful, pride often times keeps people from the Lord. We only need to brag of Him and for Him. We have nothing to brag about for ourselves.
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Clark's Reflections / Jonah 3:10
« Last post by clark thompson on October 17, 2017, 02:01:50 pm »
Jonah 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah 3:10 New Life Version (NLV)

10 When God saw what they did, and that they turned from their sinful way, He changed His mind about the trouble He said He would bring upon them, and He did not destroy Nineveh.

New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

God didn’t change His mind, He knew they would turn that’s why He wanted Jonah to go but Nineveh was not in threat of being destroyed. God wants us likewise to turn our hearts to Him.
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Clark's Reflections / James 4:13-14
« Last post by clark thompson on October 09, 2017, 05:10:33 am »
James 4:13-14 King James Version (KJV)
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James 4:13-14 New Life Version (NLV)

13 Listen! You who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this city and stay a year and make money.” 14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? It is like fog. You see it and soon it is gone.

New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

13 He isn’t saying making plans is bad but is saying to many of us make plans without seeking the Lord and to many of us follow our plans rather then God’s plans. We are to make plans and keep them if the Lord wills.

14 We don’t know if when we make plans if we can keep them, so many things could come up to prevent us from making them, we should avoid breaking promises and sometimes the best of doing this is not to make them to begin with.
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Clark's Reflections / Jonah 3:7-9
« Last post by clark thompson on October 02, 2017, 05:10:06 am »
Jonah 3:7-9 King James Version (KJV)
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?


Jonah 3:7-9 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

7 He made an announcement and sent it through the city. The announcement said: By command of the king and his important men: No person or animal should eat anything. No herd or flock will be allowed to taste anything. Do not let them eat food or drink water. 8 But every person and animal should be covered with rough cloth. People should cry loudly to God. Everyone must turn away from his evil life. Everyone must stop doing harm. 9 Maybe God will change his mind. Maybe he will stop being angry. Then we will not die.

International Children’s Bible (ICB) The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a division of Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

7 The king believed the warning so much he mad it law for no one to eat, eating is important when death is at the door. This was a nation wide fast.

8 This rough cloth was to cause discomfort; this was to show how sin leads to discomfort and judgment. Those crying to God were to show their repentance. Repentance is a turning away.

9 God don’t change His mind but they did have Him postpone what was prophesied to happen. We sometimes as believers move God’s heart and the same way.
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Clark's Reflections / James 4:11-12
« Last post by clark thompson on September 25, 2017, 04:57:10 am »
James 4:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

James 4:11-12 New Life Version (NLV)
Do Not Talk Against Each Other

11 Christian brothers, do not talk against anyone or speak bad things about each other. If a person says bad things about his brother, he is speaking against him. And he will be speaking against God’s Law. If you say the Law is wrong, and do not obey it, you are saying you are better than the Law. 12 Only God can say what is right or wrong. He made the Law. He can save or put to death. How can we say if our brother is right or wrong?

New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International


These are my thoughts, please share yours.

11 We aren’t to gossip and be little each other, but to pray for and encourage each other. We are not condemn each other but work in Christ with each other. While we are not saved by following the law as a follower of Christ we are to live in a way that is above the law because that is where Christ set the standard.

12 God is the judge, this isn’t to saying we don’t use scripture to show people they have a need for Jesus, because we should, this isn’t saying we don’t go to scripture to show brothers they have gone astray, but is saying we don’t make ourselves better then another brother or try to lower them. It is only by Jesus that people are saved. We can share Jesus and people come to Him and by saved, we can be used to help people being saved but we cant ourselves save anyone.
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Clark's Reflections / Jonah 3:5-6
« Last post by clark thompson on September 18, 2017, 05:03:28 am »
Jonah 3:5-6 King James Version (KJV)
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Jonah 3:5-6 New Life Version (NLV)

5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God. They called for a time when no food was to be eaten. And all the people, from the greatest to the least, put on clothes made from hair. 6 When the news came to the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne and laid aside his beautiful clothing. Then he covered himself with cloth made from hair, and sat in ashes.

New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

5 The people accepted the message and turned to God in repentance, this is how we should want people to react when we share God’s message with them, that they receive it. They fasted this was to start to purify their bodies from all the corruption they had in them by doing this it gave honor and glory to God. Clothes from hair had to be uncomfortable; they didn’t want to go back to where they were.

6 This showed that the king was also repenting, the people moved the king, this can happen with the people devoted to the Lord it can move leaders to seek God.
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