Who would you say you know best? I think of some of my closest friends. I know Erin's favorite color is yellow, and the first thing she does every morning is put on a pair of socks to keep her toes warm. My sister likes to eat out of funny shaped bowls with funny shaped spoons, and drink out of measuring cups. My dad laughs every time he hears the word "green". Eric and Mike absolutely cannot hide a secret. All you have to do is look at them and they burst out laughing! Isn't it great to really know someone? Don't you love it when you can finish their sentences and know how to make them smile!

  This month a teacher encouraged our Bible study group to know God. How ridiculous it would be to someday stand before a God we do not know! Let's get to know Him a little better today.

  Recently I was reading Jonah's story, and I realized how true it is when it says in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” I thank God His thoughts were different from Jonah's!

  Jonah didn't want the people of Nineveh to be spared - he didn't think they deserved mercy. But God saw they had changed their ways and their hearts, and He was thrilled to show them mercy. Thrilled! He even saved the animals. When I read that section, it's so obvious to me that God's way is the best way and that Jonah is being pretty selfish and ridiculous...but it also 

Makes me wonder how often I second guess God.

  Note to self: His thoughts are not my thoughts, they are much higher!

  Personal goal: Change my thoughts to match His.

  This is something we can know about our Heavenly Father - He is merciful, He has a real soft spot for people, and He's not ashamed to show it.

  Psalms 103:8-11 tells us, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

  He will not always strive with us, nor will he keep His anger forever.

  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

  For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him”

  We can know from this passage and others that God is so good to us, even (and especially) when we don't deserve it, We don't deserve eternal life, but praise God for his great love and mercy to give us Jesus!

  There was one other thing I took away from the book of Jonah, our weaknesses and shortcomings, even our fears and rebellions, can not keep us from His love, plan, and purpose.

   Jonah physically ran away from God. But God saved him in the sea, and gave him another chance. How merciful! How gracious is our God! Do you realize what that means? God is not limited by our current weaknesses.