"And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" Jonah 4:6-11 (KJV)

The Lord, was teaching Jonah, about mercy here. Jonah, wanted Nineveh, to be destroyed for their evil doings, even though they repented. So the Lord, gave this little lesson to Jonah, to show him how ridiculous he was being. Jonah, was sad over the death of a gourd, but he wanted an entire city with people and cattle to be destroyed. Our God, is one of mercy and forgiveness. We should also have this mercy and forgiveness for others.

Today is Easter and Easter, is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today is the day we celebrate the finishing of the great work that Jesus, did for us! He came to give us mercy and forgiveness. Just like God, spared Ninevah, He spared us all through His Son! Jesus, rose from the dead and defeated death and that is what we celebrate every year at this time. Easter, isn't about Easter eggs or the Easter Bunny, it is about Jesus and the mercy and forgiveness He gives us! With that in mind, have a happy Easter!

Remember to always show mercy and forgiveness to others, as the Lord, has shown it to you!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message, this day and for all things. Please show us your mercy and forgive us of all our sins and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Thank you, for sending your Son and may we not forget what this day is about and may we have remembrance everyday and not just today. Please bring us very close to you, Lord. In Jesus, name. A-men!