Sup people. This out to all my (faithful) readers. I am sorry for not writing as frequently as I should be and for leaving you hanging. I've been experiencing a bit of a block and also been re-thinking strategies for my writing. So far I believe I have reached somewhere in terms of a decision;and I am torn between starting another blog, renaming this blog or keeping this one running and having another one running concurrently Anyway, I will let you know on the decision I arrive at.
Quick update on what happened since the last read-well, I ended up doing the assignment and it was a hassle. Learnt a lot from it though-writing is a continuous process of editing,editing and more editing before landing at a perfect story. It can be frustrating but nothing good comes easy. Oh, and for that class, I ended up doing a writing assignment as the exam:quite a challenge, but I did it. Waiting for the results and hoping for the best.
Life has been quite a journey for these past few months. There was a time I felt so lonely, like I had no one to turn to and it was devastating. The worst bit was when life's stresses finally got to me: I broke and of course, as we all do at 'that' point in time, remembered that I had someone who had been there all the while-GOD. I turned to him and began to get my life in check and set it straight (in accordance to his terms). I won't lie that there were no difficulties, but those are what produce the greatest TESTimonies.
During this time of getting my relationship with God back to where it should have been, I happened to read two books in the Bible that I felt, resonated with where I was in life. The books of Jonah and Ruth.
Ruth, a story of a faithful and loyal woman who remained true to her promise till the end. She sacrificed returning to her family to stay with her mother in law vowing that only death should separate them, absolutely radical. Choosing to adapt and live with strangers, accept their ways and their God for the rest of her life?Makes me think, what if we had such loyalty to God? So, this lady eventually gets blessed for her virtuous act and we see how God always has a plan for his people. Ruth gets married to Boaz (a relative from her husband's side who takes care of her) and she becomes part of Christ's lineage (She was the mother to Obed who was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David) and aliens/ Gentiles (we who are not Israelites) are shown that God had and has a plan for us, one of salvation and a lasting relationship with him.
As for Jonah, here is the summary. A man of God(Jonah) refused to do what God told Him to do and even ran away from Him.God told him to declare destruction on Nineveh but he refused because he knew that God would eventually change His mind, show compassion and not destroy them. To understand where Jonah was coming from, these people Israel's worst enemies and were very brutal. God eventually gets to Jonah (the whole fish swallowing him up-you cannot run away from God) who then repents and goes and does what God had instructed him to do. Just as he had predicted, God went 'mellow' and forgave the people so Jonah got angry and left the city of Nineveh to watch from a far what would happen to it.
Now, the bit that really did it for me-chapter four. Here Jonah, a person who was God's servant showed how ridiculously real we can get with God. (Please read it :-) ) First he complains pulling a 'I told you so'- he knew that God would still forgive the people. He states God's character showing that he had an intimate relationship with Him. He not only served Him but he knew Him to the point he knew who He was. A loving, merciful God who is always patient, kind and always read to change His mind and not punish. This is what annoyed Jonah. He then threw a tantrum saying he'd rather have died than be alive. Who does this in this day and age calls out to God telling Him they would rather be dead than alive? And what if He just goes ahead and kills you? And he did this more than once!In my opinion, that is a true show of being real with God, almost a little too real and even daring.
Back to Jonah, he calls out God and to me it is as if he is hoping his tantrum will cause God to act in his favour but God instead tolerates it. Here I see a God who is so loving in that, instead of punishing Jonah or giving him what he asked for, reasons with him and gives him the final verdict- If Jonah can pity a plant, how much more pity should he have on the city-there were more than 120,000 innocent children as well as animals! God even cared for the animals, so who am I (not to be cared for by the Almighty!
So that's what's-up. Have yourselves a lovely week and I will do my best to write more frequently.
Till the next time: Theng'e Signing Out!
