Rescuing Runaways // Mary Swafford

“Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow up Jonah.  And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”  Jonah 1:17

As we saw in Jonah chapter one, God has asked Jonah to go and do something he clearly does not want to do (preach to the Ninevites their need to clean their rooms and change their ways!).  The prophet of God who has been faithful in previous instances, wants to do anything other than obey God's command to go to the Ninevites.  And so, Jonah runs away.

But God, our God, is a God who goes after him and does not wait for him to be ready for Him! 

Have you ever heard of “hindsight”?  

When I was growing up, my mom was always quoting these cliche sayings that drove me absolutely insane.  Some of them were silly; “If your right hand itches, you’re going to shake hands with a stranger.”, if you got a cold chill, “someone was walking over your grave.”  If she didn’t like the kind of friends I had, she’d say “birds of a feather flock together”.  And my least favorite, when I snuck around and called a boy on the phone (a boy I had been dating for a year mind you) she would say, “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free!” There’s nothing like being called a cow by your own mom, but that's a whole other blog for another day…

She would also say, “hindsight is 20/20”.  I never understood that phrase when I was growing up.   But now I love the gift of hindsight and I cherish the times when God reveals himself to me.

Webster’s Dictionary defines hindsight as “understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.”

You see, in the middle of our rebellion or in the middle of our need to control the outcome, we’re unable to see God at work.  We are so short sighted that we can only see what we want and what we’re focused on.  It’s kind of like not being able to see the forest for the trees.  (Wink wink).  But God sees the whole picture from the end to the beginning and he orchestrates divine encounters all along the way.

God arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah at just the moment in time when Jonah had been thrown overboard and was sinking into the depths of the sea.  I imagine that he was at the point of no longer being able to hold his breath.  The pressure of the waters weighing on his body.  No longer able to hear anything other than the beating of his own heart.  Blinded by the darkness in the deep.  Jonah relinquishes control, his body no longer fighting, he surrenders and that’s the moment that it happens.  That’s when the fish swallows him.  Breath returns to his lungs, filling them at full capacity.  He’s surrounded by the safety and warmth of the fish’s belly and in the darkness inside is where Jonah has clear sight.  He can see the hand of God guiding him and leading him in the purpose and path God created for him.  

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.  He said, I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.  I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!  You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea.  The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.  Then I said, O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.  Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.”  Jonah 2:1-4

Here inside the fish, Jonah cries out to God.  Jonah has reached his point of desperate need and recognizes that only God can rescue him. Jonah is in full submission to God’s will for his life and not his own. 

This is true for you and I too.  We are all broken on our own, in our rebellion, yet God still rescues us.  He still forgives, redeems and loves any one who will turn to Him.  

“Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.”  Jonah 2:10

In his disobedience to God, Jonah experiences forgiveness when God rescued him from the fish.  At that point, Jonah has not proven himself worthy or committed or even changed.  All he had done was surrender and recognize his need for a savior.

And God, met him where he was at in the middle of his need and forgave Jonah and redeemed him. 

Jonah chapter 2 describes a man who is running from God, and a God that pursues him.  This chapter and all of scripture, shows us that God doesn’t despise the runaways, he rescues them.

Will you EXCHANGE your will for his and let him rescue you too?  

We Aren’t Called To Be Ordinary // Heather Dillingham

Let’s play a game. I want you all to give yourself a work review right now. Yes, like those uncomfortable, once-a-year reviews that nobody likes.

If you stay at home, imagine this review is going to your spouse or your children instead of a boss. Ready? Let’s go.

Q. How would you rate your attitude at work?

Q. Would you consider yourself an ordinary worker? What sets you apart?

Q. What do you hope to get out of this job?

Three questions, that wasn’t so bad right? But those three questions can bring up some very real observations. Let me show you…

My Answers:

1. Ooff, can I plead the fifth? To be honest my attitude has been not great as of late. I easily lose patience with myself and others and have been finding it hard not to disassociate. 

2. Yes, while I would love to say that I am extraordinary, currently I’m not. I do a really good job of teaching my children and creating things for them, but I struggle with play and connection with them and my spouse.

3. I’m not sure, but hopefully functioning humans. 

Why the review?  Because what we do at work matters. Oftentimes those that we work with see more of us than our family. They can be the easiest ones to lead to Christ or away based on our attitude and how we present ourselves. Because of this, we need to work with a purpose. We need to work knowing we are called to be more than ordinary.

In Daniel 6:4 we see that Daniel gave a great example of this; 

“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

When the administrators and satraps of Babylon tried to find corruption or negligence in his work, they couldn’t. You have to assume by the text that the faults they were trying to find were normal, maybe even faults they had themselves. 

But Daniel, because of God’s work in him, wasn’t normal. 

His review would look something like this…

Q. How would you rate your attitude at work?

1. My attitude is great. I am kind, wise, and show discernment.

Q. Would you consider yourself an ordinary worker? What sets you apart?

2. Yes (I feel like he would be humble here), I am ordinary in the fact that my goal is to serve and serve well. I am set apart only by what God has given me. 

Q. What do you hope to get out of this job?

3. My goal is to glorify the Lord.

So the last question is, are you choosing to be ordinary at work, hiding your faith or giving into the stress to be less than what God asks? Or, are you choosing to lean into God’s abundance even if it sets you apart or makes you a target for those who don’t understand?

Take time this week, even now, to write out your answers.

God, I pray for each woman reading this. That we first and foremost understand how important we are in the work you have given us. God that you guide our hands and give us strength especially when we feel on the edge of failure. God I thank you that you can and always will provide the encouragement, strength, and wisdom we need. Lead us to be more than ordinary. Lead us to be like you. In Jesus name, Amen!

Conviction Brings Faithful Blessings

In our last blog we read about the importance of having a godly foundation.  Bethany Thomas shared about her childhood and how her parents raised her according to the Bible and then sent her out into the world praying that she would follow God’s direction for her life.  

She shared about Daniel and the other young men of Israel being taken captive when King Nebuchadnezzar’s army invaded Jerusalem and the “training regimen” they were to undergo.  Part of their training included daily provisions from the King’s royal food and from the wine that he drank.

But Daniel, because of his foundation;

“...determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank.”

  Daniel 1:8

If you know my husband or I, you know that we are trying to plan our first EVER vacation together.  To a beach.  Where people wear swimsuits.  Between you and I, I’ve gained about 50 pounds since I married Mark almost 13 years ago.  I was underweight when we married, but that’s not the point for this story.  

The point is, we’re on a diet.  We bought special food and smoothies to drink for all but one of our meals each day.  Jeremiah, our youngest son, often watches me wide eyed as I try to swallow the thick, pasty substances or dry, almost stale feeling crunchy things.  You would’ve thought I was drinking some kind of awful liquid after losing a bet, but it’s only my diet food.  High in protein and fiber and full of yummy probiotics….but low in flavor and carbs.  As much as I don’t like some of it, I know it’s good for me.  It fills me up with good nutrients and vitamins and makes me feel full so I don’t binge eat chocolate chip cookies.  Not often anyway.

Similarly, in Babylon, Daniel may not have been eating protein drinks and crunchy sticks, but he was eating what was good for him and ONLY what God wanted the Israelites to eat.  I sometimes imagine Daniel and the boys standing in front of a glorious “char-dude-ery board” full of choice meats, yet he chose to eat what he knew was good for his body and was acceptable to God.  Daniel and his friends made a commitment to purity and did not eat the food that was forbidden by God.  They DETERMINED, or decided ahead of time, to stick to their convictions.

Like Bethany suggested, sometimes we get in trouble because we have not DECIDED ahead of time where to draw the line or what our convictions are.  Amazingly, God gives perfect insight into what we are to  do.

“Love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength….Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Mark 12:30-31

If you do that, you will not have to worry about what type of protein drink or crunchy stick to eat or only eat vegetables as Daniel did.  You will be pleasing God by obeying His commands and bringing glory to Him.  

But how do we do that?  How do we know what it is that God is asking us to do?  What are your convictions?

For me and I believe you as well, it is by spending time with the Father.  Not just a checklist of to do’s time with God, but genuine, focused, intimate and devoted time with Him.  Time that is beyond my morning “quiet time”.  This year in particular, God has been telling me and showing me the importance of having a Sabbath rest with Him.

Earlier this year myself and several women from my House Church committed to fasting and praying for one another for 2 weeks as we prayed through specific needs for ourselves and loved ones.  When we talked about doing the fast together everyone agreed that they long for the intimacy they had with Christ during our corporate fast in January and all wondered why we “lost” the intimacy we had gained with the Father during that time.  And we experienced Him again.  And to some extent, we “lost” the intimacy AGAIN when the fast ended.

In my time with God since then, this is what He has been teaching me.  I’ve discovered that rest is not a time to be lazy and disconnect from the world, but a time to connect with the Father.  Rest is instituted in a Person - the Lord of the Sabbath.  His rest is rich and sweet, easy and light, just as He said it would be.  “Learn of me.  You will find rest for your soul.”  This “rest” is a holy relationship.  

Resting in Jesus involves remembering Him, knowing Him, following Him, obeying Him, trusting Him and enjoying Him.

Christ has commanded and I am obeying and committing to a weekly (and daily if we are honest) Sabbath rest time with Him.  This is my conviction.  I am to set aside focused, devoted time to worship Him, pray with Him, study His word.  Marvel at His creation.  Stand in awe at His people.  Listen for Him to speak.  Respond with anticipation.  Be His representative in a lost and lonely world.  Share the gospel and honor Him with my surrender.

I am EXCHANGING a life full of to-do’s and half hearted time with Him, for the fullness of Christ in each and every day through worship and honest devotion to Him.  In surrendering this sacred time to the Father, I will be equipped, as Daniel, to DETERMINE in advance, how to honor God in everything that I do.

Our lives matter.  When we stick to our convictions and show discipline in following Christ, God is faithful to give us more of Him.  In Daniel’s case, he flourished both physically and in;

“Knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.”  Daniel 1:17

God rewarded Daniel’s faithfulness.  God will reward yours, whether now on earth (and 20 pounds of weight loss) or for eternity with Him.

Saul to Paul // Sarah Mercado

I chose to write this week’s blog post for a couple of reasons. First, I am a procrastinator and it was the last week of this series of posts. Second, it was about Saul’s name change to Paul, a story that I am familiar with, so I thought it would be fairly easy to write about. I thought I would write about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus and how his name was changed to Paul following his conversion, signifying that he was a new creation in Christ and marking the beginning of his incredible ministry. 

But as I dug into scripture, that’s not the story I found at all. Saul did have a life-changing encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus and was transformed from a Christian persecuting pharisee to one of the most influential leaders of the early church. However, his name wasn’t changed as a result of his conversion. He continued to go by the name Saul even AFTER his conversion. I’m not sure if I was ever actually taught that his name was changed to Paul as a result of his conversion or if I just assumed that was the case, but either way, that’s what I have always believed. Maybe you did too. It seems to be a pretty common misconception.

So when did Saul become Paul? Well, as it turns out, Saul had a dual name at birth. He was a Jew but also a Roman citizen. Saul was his Hebrew name, and Paul was his Greco-Roman name. It was common for the Jews of that time to have both a Hebrew and a Latin or Greek name. In Acts 13:9 Luke refers to him as “Saul, who is also called Paul”. He was raised in the Jewish culture, so it made sense for him to use his Hebrew name, Saul, for most of his life. After his conversion, he remained among the Jewish people so he continued to go by Saul. 

But Saul felt called to take the gospel beyond the Jewish communities, so he began a ministry to the Gentiles. It wasn’t until he was embarking upon his first missionary journey that he began to use his Greek name, Paul. In doing so, he was able to minister more effectively to the gentile communities. Had he used his Hebrew name, the people he was sharing the gospel with may not have been as receptive. This approach to ministry was pretty typical for Paul. In 1 Corinthians, he talks about his ministry strategy of becoming “all things to all people”.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law… To those not having the law I became like one not having the law... To the weak I became weak… I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul knew it was important to meet people where they were. He sought to find common ground with everyone, putting them at ease, and approaching them in a language and style they could relate to. His message stayed the same, but his approach and delivery is what differed. 

This name exchange was an intentional shift for Paul in order to be well received among the gentiles. He didn’t want anything, including his name, to be a hindrance to anyone receiving the gospel message. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the meaning of the name Paul is “humble, small”. This was definitely an act of humility for Paul. Paul was actually very proud of his Jewish heritage, referring to himself as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” in Philippians 3:5, so to no longer go by the name that would tie him to his Jewish heritage, was no small thing. God honored this act of humility, making Paul’s ministry fruitful, using him to spread the gospel more than any other Apostle and to unify and encourage the church. What a legacy!

I think we can all take a cue from Paul and take a look at what in our lives might be hindering us from sharing the gospel effectively. What do we need to exchange in order for God to work in and through us more effectively? Let’s “throw off everything that hinders….fixing our eyes on Jesus” as Paul wrote in Hebrews 12:1-2, and see what incredible things God does.

Sarah Mercado is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a follower of Christ, a wife, and

mother of two. She is a small business owner, and a founding contributor of Church That Matters. When

she is not working, she can be found spending time with her family and friends, cooking, reading, or

listening to a podcast.

Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash

Hoshea to Joshua // Heather Dillingham

Ever read something and then just think, “that’s it!? There is nothing else?”

Not going to lie, that was me when reviewing this change from Hosea to Joshua. In this story, Moses is sending one man from each tribe to scout Canaan before taking the land God promised, but the actual verses talk about this significant name change. Well, let me just show you.

“These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land.
(Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua).”
Numbers 13:16

Two sentences and one man's name is changed for the rest of his life. His legacy, altered, his purpose chosen, in two sentences.

Different resources tell us that his name could have been altered to protect him (kind of like a blessing) or to point to the fact that Moses was already planning on taking him under his wing, but for us today, it leaves a lot of questions. Isn’t that like God?

Throughout my life, I have constantly questioned God. I think it’s a normal consequence of our nature. We always want to know, to have control, and to be informed.

But God isn’t that forthcoming and honestly, looking at the craziness of this world from the existence of galaxies to the heartbreaking realities that are in each of our characters, I am glad I don’t know it all.

Just like Joshua at this moment, the most we can hope for is that in the confusion, the fog, and the changes, we continue to point to God.

You see, his name change, while small, meant something. It changed his name from “salvation” to “God is salvation.” It pointed back to God.

In this, God is showing that even the little changes, a few characters here or there, make a difference for His kingdom and for our legacy. That we don’t always have to know the reason behind His choices as long as we walk in faith.

After all, faith isn’t knowing all the answers. It’s trusting in something DESPITE not having the answers. A hard concept, but something God reminds us of time and time again.

So, what act of faith is God asking you to trust Him in? Is there a name change that needs to happen for you? A shift in your legacy and purpose?

Maybe, like me, you need to let go of control even if it feels like the changes in life aren’t fast enough or big enough.

I mean, look at Joshua, this was a big thing but there was no pomp and circumstance, just two lines! Yet God used Joshua to bring His people to the land He promised.

God, we ask that you open each of our hearts, first to your truth, then to accepting the faith you provide. God sometimes it’s hard to accept that we don’t, can’t, and never will know all that You do. Help us accept the place you have created for us in this world. Give us grace when we try to push against Your will and lead us to see the importance of the seemingly small changes You provide. We thank You God for all that you are. In Jesus's Name Amen.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus, use this as an opportunity to let him change you. If you have, let us know in the comments, what small change have you seen God make in your life that turned into so much more.

Heather is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a believer, a wife, and a mother to a wonderful (and sometimes crazy) toddler. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. She can usually be seen taking care of the home and playing on the floor with her daughter.

Photo by Raychan on Unsplash

Plan for Purpose // Mary Swafford

If you’ve read any of my blogs from the past, you already know that I became a Christian when I was around 8 years old at a Vacation Bible School program at my local church.  It was during this time, when I not only had a very real encounter with Christ for the first time, but also when He called me to missions.

The call to missions created a stirring in my heart that I didn’t understand.  I was already in ballet at the time.  I LOVED ballet.  I wanted nothing more than to be a professional ballet dancer for the American Ballet Company in New York.  I spent many years focused on this dream.  By the time I was 16, I was probably dancing 30 hours a week and the call to missions was a distant memory.  

This same summer, while I was at Falls Creek with my church’s youth group, my right ankle swelled up the size of a cantaloupe for no apparent reason.  I’m sure there must have been a great deal of pain involved as well, but I only remember the extreme swelling.  The swelling and presumed pain kept me from being able to dance when I returned home.  The details of the next year are foggy by now, but I know they were riddled with Dr’s appointments and tests and x-rays.  Cortisone shots and draining of fluid off of my ankle.  The more I was poked and prodded the more arthritis they found.  Both big toes, both ankles, both knees, both hips, my neck.  You see how this is going.  Eventually it was decided I had osteoarthritis (very uncommon in 16 year olds) and at one point I was even told that if I wanted to walk by the time I was 18 I had to quit ballet.

My world was shattered in an instant.  Everything I had planned for, trained for, dreamed of was over.  MY whole purpose in life had been to be a ballet dancer.  I didn’t know who I was without ballet.  I didn’t know how I was supposed to act or what I was supposed to do.  I didn’t even know how to hang out with friends because I had always been at the dance studio.  

I spent the next many years trying to fill a void in me that I thought could only be occupied by ballet.  I tried to find my identity and purpose in other things and other people.  Often drinking alcohol and going to parties.  But all of these only left me more empty.  More ashamed.  More broken.

One day, in the still quiet of my bedroom, I heard a whisper that was louder than a scream ask me, “What are you doing?” and in an instant God showed me exactly where my life was headed if I continued to seek purpose and fulfillment in the things of this world.  He told me, “I didn’t create you for this!”

You see, purpose isn’t found in a program, a plan, a curriculum or even a bunch of activities.  Purpose is a person.  The person of Jesus!  Purpose is a byproduct of a Jesus encounter.  You can’t separate purpose from His presence.  We can’t have purpose without His presence in our lives.  The good news is that He promises believers that we will always have His presence;

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
Matthew 28:20

My problem wasn't that God had left me to suffer alone.  He was with me all along, but I wasn’t sitting in His presence.

When we seek Jesus, we will find Him AND His purpose for our lives.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” 
Jeremiah 29:12-13

This is how we find our identity and purpose because the Lord reveals His plans for us when we are in His presence!  If you want to be who God is calling you to be, you must prioritize time with the Person, not the plan.  God wants His presence to be enough for you.  He wants to be your main desire.  When His presence becomes your pursuit, He will reveal His plan!!

A week ago, a good friend sent the following to me and I think it sums up perfectly what God’s plan is for my life:

My life is not about my ministry.

It's not about my calling or my accomplishments.

It's not about writing a book or about gaining followers.

No.

My life's purpose is to worship my Savior.

It is to walk with Him and learn from Him.

It is to know His heart.

My life is about drawing closer to Him and letting

the things of this world fall away.  My life is about living a life that is pleasing to Him.

My life is about dying to my own wants, desires

and plans and instead being filled with His Spirit

and transformed into His image.

My life isn't my own.

I have laid it down for Him.

I have placed it in His hands to do as He wants.

I want to be so full of the Living God that I then overflow onto other areas of my life.

Ministry is not my purpose but it is part of the overflow. Motherhood is not my purpose but it is part of the overflow. Writing is not my purpose but it is part of the overflow.

If I seek Him first then I will be successful at all these other things. I want to be so full of His presence that people feel Him when I am around.

I want to carry Him with me everywhere I go and in everything I do.

My purpose is to know Him.

To love Him.

To worship Him.

And then carry His Spirit in me for

others to know Him.

I don't ever want to get so caught up in how He will use me that I forget to get caught up in His presence first.

I want to be so caught up in His love that then He uses me how He sees fit.

All for His glory.

Forever and ever.

Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.

Photo by Alexandre Tsuchiya on Unsplash