“But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”
The cat killed a hummingbird. I didn’t think this was possible. Hummingbirds move so fast. The average hummingbird flaps it’s wings 53 times per minute and they travel around 30-45 MPH.
The cat is a stray that hangs out in the woods behind our apartment. We started feeding it a few months ago because he seemed hungry.
This morning, my wife was in the kitchen, and glanced towards the window. She saw the cat jump, and quickly ran outside. The cat had indeed killed the hummingbird and carried it to the side of the apartment. I came outside after she told me and angrily chased the cat in the woods.
I’m not a violent person but I wanted to kill the cat. (My wife had a proper perspective on this and said the cat was acting out of natural instincts.)
I was also mourning the loss of a beautiful hummingbird.
Then I could hear in my spirit, that I was angrier at a cat for killing a bird, and sorrowing for the loss, when there are so many in the world who are suffering. I need to show that kind of concern for them.
This brought to mind the story of Jonah. He hated the people of Ninevah because they were so cruel to the nation of Israel. He reluctantly went and preached to them, and they repented of their sins. God spared them, and Jonah was really angry.
God caused a plant to spring up to give Jonah shade, and then let a worm destroy it overnight.
God showed Jonah that his compassion was misplaced. He was more concerned about a plant that died than the multitude of people who were in need of God.
During this pandemic and time if social conflict, am I more concerned about how this has affected me? That I can’t go and do the things I’m used to doing?
May we all be more concerned, compassionate and love those in need, more than anything else. The first thing we can do is to pray. Then, ask God to show us how we can help.
“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,”
Proverbs 27:23
Looking at Facebook memories this morning, I came across a post from a year ago. I had posted several photos of our ministry volunteers, expressing appreciation for them.
So, I reposted it, thinking that it would make each one of them smile.
A little while later, my wife asked me, “Have you checked on Robert?” “What about Cynthia?”
I honestly told her it had been a little while since I had checked on them.
Solomon reminds us to
“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,”
Proverbs 27:23
Of course, this applies to shepherds looking after sheep and can be applied to a Pastor and his flock.
But, each one of us has a circle of family, friends and acquaintances.
Sometimes the Lord brings someone to your mind. It may be that He wants you to reach out to them. Perhaps they are having a bad day, and need a prayer spoken, a need met, or a kind word.
Proverbs 16:24 reminds us that:
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Your kind words might be just what the doctor ordered!
Recently, I drove down a road where a hospice patient of mine had lived. I thought of his widow and wondered how she was doing. But, the thought soon left my mind, as my mind was preoccupied, driving to my next destination.
A few weeks later, she died. I regret that I didn’t check on her.
OK, no more excuses!
After I write this, I will reach out to the folks I haven’t talked to in awhile as God directs me.
“My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Lamentations 3:20-24
Do you ever have a “sinking feeling?” What is a sinking feeling?
Dictionary.com defines it as:
“A feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension; “with a sinking heart”; “a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach”
A feeling of dread… Recent events can leave us with a sinking feeling.
Jeremiah, in the book of Lamentations, has a sinking feeling…
“My soul still remembers and sinks within me.” Lamentations 3:20
Jeremiah is witnessing God’s wrath being poured out on His people. There is famine, destruction and loss if lives. There seems to be no hope.
A sinking feeling…
But Jeremiah doesn’t give up.
“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”
Lamentations 3:21-22
He starts to think of God’s merciful nature. “Through His mercies we are not consumed.” (v.21)
God is leaving a remnant. He is not finished with Israel, His chosen people.
Why are they not consumed? Because God is a compassionate God. (v.22)
Jeremiah says about God’s mercies: “They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:23
Our God is a faithful God. We can always rely on Him.
You can feel Jeremiah’s spirits rising as he says:
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Lamentations 3:24
When the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and you have that sinking feeling:
Remember…
1. God is merciful. The psalmist said “Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalms 136:26
His compassions fail not. “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”. Psalm 116:5
God is faithful. “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;” Deuteronomy 7:9
God is good. “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:25
THIS WON’T LAST FOREVER! “For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.” Lamentations 3:31-32 Jeremiah knows the Lord will bring His people home again one day. Though things look bleak, he has hope. He keeps God first in his life. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”. Lamentations 3:24
Finally, remember this:
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
Psalms 30:5
Night will end, the sun will shine and joy will come.
