The seminar began with the...
Illustration
Object:
The seminar began with the leader asking, "What are you avoiding doing that you know needs to be done?"
Terry was always complaining about how chaotic and out of control her life seemed. She blamed all of her problems on everyone else. She blamed her ex-husband for leaving her. She blamed her former boss for firing her and not giving a positive recommendation to perspective employers. She even blamed her son and daughter-in-law for failing to help her. In all of this Terry failed to grasp her role in the problems.
With the encouragement of her family Terry began counseling. Her therapist pointed out that she was never able to make a decision on her own. She always hemmed and hawed until someone was forced to decide for her, and then she complained endlessly about the bad decision. Perhaps we all know people like Terry. In the months following that break through Terry learned to place her trust in God. She began making decisions on her own -- trusting that God would see her through.
The prophet Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. In fact, he went in the opposite direction. He was dragging his feet, not wanting to do what God called him to do offering as many excuses as he could think of. After spending time in the belly of a whale God called him a second time.
Reluctantly, Jonah went to the center of town and preached a one sentence sermon, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" That was all it took, the people of Nineveh "turned from their evil ways."
Terry was always complaining about how chaotic and out of control her life seemed. She blamed all of her problems on everyone else. She blamed her ex-husband for leaving her. She blamed her former boss for firing her and not giving a positive recommendation to perspective employers. She even blamed her son and daughter-in-law for failing to help her. In all of this Terry failed to grasp her role in the problems.
With the encouragement of her family Terry began counseling. Her therapist pointed out that she was never able to make a decision on her own. She always hemmed and hawed until someone was forced to decide for her, and then she complained endlessly about the bad decision. Perhaps we all know people like Terry. In the months following that break through Terry learned to place her trust in God. She began making decisions on her own -- trusting that God would see her through.
The prophet Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. In fact, he went in the opposite direction. He was dragging his feet, not wanting to do what God called him to do offering as many excuses as he could think of. After spending time in the belly of a whale God called him a second time.
Reluctantly, Jonah went to the center of town and preached a one sentence sermon, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" That was all it took, the people of Nineveh "turned from their evil ways."
