Understanding

I just finished a book that I wish I would have renewed from the library - and re-read. It wasn't a GREAT book in a sense that it was "the most amazing piece of work that I have ever read" -- but it was a great work in that it reminded me of a truth that I believe the Lord needed to really make me understand. I am not sure if you are like me in my thinking...the always analyzing situations, trying to "figure the Lord out", or "why" a situation is turning the way it is or isn't. I also don't know if you are like me and think - "Boy, if I were God, it would look totally different". Praise the Lord that Amanda is not God - what an arrogant thought that is anyway! The world would be in a BIGGER mess than it the state it is currently in, and boy -- it needs more help than I can give it! That's me, the Savior of the world...the "fix it now", the I can do it by myself, full of pride -- human, girl that I am. UGH.

Anyway - back to the reminder -- You will have to forgive me, for I do not have the book in front of me, nor do I remember ALL the details, but I will give you a paraphrase of what I took from it.

In the fictional story, a Polish man who spent several years in the Nazi prison camps, was explaining to a woman why it was that he wasn't bitter and angry at God, and still in fact promoted Him. He answered by telling a story that a rabbi in the camp told him at his moment in questioning God. Some time ago, there is a legend of a rabbi in Poland who .... (OK...I know what you are thinking...no it isn't a joke!! Place your mind back on the truth of the moment please!) This rabbi in Poland took a class of students one day to a hill that overlooked the entire city to teach the lessons of the day. While they were away, the enemy came in and destroyed the entire city and those that lived in it. As the students and the rabbi watched in horror, the rabbi just lowered his head and whispered..."Oh, if only I were God." To which a student replied, "teacher? If you were God, what would you do differently?" The rabbi, with tears in his eyes, looked at the student and then back at the city and slowly stated, "If I were God, I would not do anything differently -- I'd understand."

My reminder. Who knows the mind of God or can fathom His ways?? Who can understand his wisdom, or His ultimate timing? I understand why Solomon asked for Wisdom. I understand now why it is the Christian life can be hard to understand from a distance. If one doesn't truly know Christ, and I mean TRULY know him..love him, and trust him.... with everything that they are -- this world can seem upside down. UH, to the christian, it seems upside down at times. The only difference is, we know Jesus - we know He has an ultimate plan - that we are privileged to play a part in -- an irreplaceable role, that no one else on earth can accomplish in that plan. And how we carry out that role -- is the incredible miracle -- for we have a free will in which we can choose to listen to his calling -- or not. And still, if we truly know him and miss his voice -- he still works to our Good because we love him! What a gift. During this Thanksgiving weekend, the Lord has reminded me once again -- that he is God and I am not. That despite my attempts to try to control the situations around me, and my attempt to understand his ultimate plans for my and my children's future... That he alone holds the plan, and reveals it to me in a manner that I can understand -- piece by piece. How do you eat an elephant??? One bite at a time! He knows that if I see the entire picture, I would be completely overwhelmed, completely terrified and would crawl under my covers to hide -- at least until the pumpkin pie comes out!

Thank the Lord for His gift of grace.
Thank you Lord for your perfect timing.
Thank you Lord, for your gift of peace.
Thank you Lord for being Lord,
Thank you Lord for loving me,
AND thank you Lord, for pumpkin pie!