On the first and third Mondays of each month, anyone who wants to participate can post their thoughts on a specific verse--posted here at my blog on the Thursday before, to allow you to chew on it over the weekend. It doesn't have to be long -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional. Just post it on your blog on Mondayish (early OR late is fine, by the way!), then come back here and link up in the Linky Tools gadget that will be at the bottom of MY post at o'dark thirty that morning.
This Monday's passage is from one of my top 50+ books of the Bible (LOL yeah - my favorite changes so much depending on my circumstances that I'm no longer committing to a "fave"). So much to think about.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,Looking forward to hearing your impressions. Mine are below.
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
**
Not a bit of sense. I couldn't understand the absolutely backward logic. It couldn't be right.
I had always been taught to try to do things the easy way. I hated conflict of any kind, and would do just about anything to avoid it.
One of the most important things to me was to be liked and appreciated. I would go out of my way to make myself well liked--to be accepted by others.
And then I opened His Word.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2)Who in their right mind would accept this backward logic? Who celebrates in trials? Who believes a persecuted person is blessed?
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)
But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Nobody - in THEIR right mind, anyway. Only those with the mind of Christ can begin to understand and grasp the thoughts of God - and even they won't fully grasp it this side of heaven.
Why does my husband have a brain tumor?
Why is my son autistic?
Why can't I talk to some of my relatives about the Thing that matters most to me?
Why do dear friends suffer with diseases, prodigals, life-altering decisions, and despair?
Why are so many suffering for what appears to be no good reason?
Here on earth, it may not make a lick of sense, but God can see the whole picture. His thoughts are NOT mine, nor are His ways. His ways are higher - and from "up there," He can see the whole picture. And that picture is marvelous and 100% in line with His perfect will.
And that should be enough for me.
**
Thanks for reading my thoughts. Hope you'll share your own on these verses and link up below, or just read what others have contributed. You will be blessed :)
Paving Rough Roads With God's Presence
This is one of my favorite verses, too. We need to be reminded of it often, don't we?
ReplyDeleteThe way of the kingdom is definitely backwards to our natural way of thinking and behaving. Maybe I'll get around to sharing my thoughts on this verse before the day is gone.
ReplyDeleteI know these verses well-- I have clung to many of them over the past three years and during all the furnaces I find myself in. I choose to believe that He knows better than I do:)
ReplyDeleteIt is a workout trying to flip these truths into an upright position. I love what is said on "Flywheel" when Jay is reading his Bible and his wife asks if they will still tithe, although they may lose everything in a day.
ReplyDeleteHe answers yes they will then goes on to talk about how they've been doing things the one way for so long, it's tough moving in reverse.
Her response? "What if this is the right-side-up way, and we've been upside down all this time?"
It's quite dizzying to stand on your head for a while then be turned upright.
Amen. It helps sometimes to know that even when things don't make ANY sense, God can still make sense of them.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I did that writing meme and posted it today.
Together, we walk our questions and our struggles in faith... sometimes with understanding, most of the time with an unparalleled trust in the One with complete understanding.
ReplyDeleteIn this wrestling season of my life, I think I've asked more, thought more, than in previous seasons. Not sure I'm any wiser, but certainly feel closer to God.
Consider it a joy...
I'm doing so today.
peace~elaine