Friday's Flammule

Isaiah 55: 8-13

"I don't think the way you think. 

The way you work isn't the way I work."  God's Decree. "For as the sky soars high above earth,  so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed.  They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

"So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life.  The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song.  All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines—  Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God." 

 I can almost hear you as you read the location of today's scripture - "oh great, we're getting this one again."  But hang on ... today's thought is a bit different here.  I want to share something from way down deep in my gut today.  It may even be "TMI", but I feel led to share it so here goes.


Today is my last day of retirement from the secular working world.  I have consented to go back to 8-5 work beginning Monday.  I'll be going back to the University system where I worked before which means (although to a different position) I'll be tied down to a secular job and not free to share my thoughts with you every morning or to jump on FB all throughout the day or tweet as I feel the urge.  It is necessary for me to go back to work to provide financial support for our family.  The drastic change in our economy has hit us (like so many of you) below the belt, and we are in a financial pit.


Am I excited?  What ... are you crazy??  I feel like I've had the wind knocked out of me, my feet kicked out from under me, and someone has stomped me into the ground!  Does that sound like I am excited?  NO!!  I may not be kicking and screaming on the outside - but just know this my sweet friends - I am going back to secular work kicking and screaming and pulling and tugging on the INSIDE!!  If I thought that dropping to the ground and just pitching a flat out UNholy fit would change anything - I would do it!  But it won't, and I know that.


I don't know exactly why we (my family) are in the place we're in nor do I understand it, but according to the scripture above I may not necessarily be able to or supposed to understand it.  However, what I am to do is to obey His instructions, to trust Him in all things and believe that He is working it all out for the good of my family and me.  The Word doesn't say I have to like it or that I will like it.  Believe me, I've tried to find that in there ... but no such luck!!  One of the file drawers in my brain just opened up to show me a song from my past ... "Trust and obey, for there's no other way...."  O good grief!  I just want to hack a hairball about now.  (That's for my spiritual daughter who knows exactly what I mean by that - and the rest of you reading this will just have to wonder for now.)


But look at the last couple of verses in the scripture.  It says we'll "go out in joy and be led into a whole and complete life."  Hey, this could be exciting.  Whole means lacking nothing - all my needs are met - right??  So if I give up my will for His - even though I don't understand it - even though I can't follow His line of thinking - I (any my family) will be rewarded!  Look - it even says there will be a parade!  See ... it says "The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song.  All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause."  So that's pretty cool - right??  And it doesn't stop there ... it says "No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thorn bushes, but stately pines—  Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God."   O man - I could use some life without thistles and thorn bushes!  Just giant sequoias and stately pines - all monuments to Him.  In other words there'll just be great and beautiful things - wholeness - no lack - and it'll all be to His glory!!  Way kewl!

Although I won't get to share my thoughts with you every day I do hereby commit to sharing them as often as I can - even if it's only once a week.  Maybe you'll be interested in reading about the journey I'm beginning on Monday.  If so, you can subscribe on the front page of my blog.  

I do feel like it's a journey - I don't know where I'm headed, and I don't know what's going to happen along the way, but I do know this.  God will be with me every step of the way, and He'll always give me grace for the step I'm in as long I trust Him.  So...in my lifelong quest to be like Jesus in Luke 22:41-43 my prayer continues to be...  Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.


...and I believe that just like God sent the angel to Jesus in verse 43 - He will send an angel and strengthen me for this journey.

He'll do all of this for you, too.  I don't know what journey you're about to take or what one you're already on - but know this.  If He'll do it for me - He'll do it for you.  Keep standing, my dear friend, and know that you are not alone.