Hope, Faith & Love

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9   This is one of those verses in the Bible which I have a love/hate relationship with and before you start judging me, hear me out first. It talks about God’s sovereignty, power, and might. His insight and wisdom are unmatched by anyone.   Ok, like me start on the why I struggle with this verse. It exposes my helplessness. You see, I had in some way, always thought I can do things on my own. If I am honest about it, I pride myself that I can. But more and more, I realize that control is an illusion. There are so many things that are out of my control. Reminds me how small I am, my struggles, and my inability. These things I have to accept.   I guess that sounds like submission. And maybe it is but I have to accept it. Because when I have learned to accept, I learn the next truth that leads to comfort and reasons why I love this verse.   ...

  'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!' Psalms 46:10 In the midst of lockdown and life decision, this thought has been on my mind for a while now though I haven't written about it. When I think this verse, one of the images that come to me is that of Moses and Israelites in Exodus 14. When Israel came out of Egypt, they were caught between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's armies in pursuit. To be still and see the deliverance of the LORD was the call. But that isn't something I am good at. Being still. Yes, I am lazy (there. That's out on the Internet now) but that is different to being still. Especially when it seems like nothing is happening when there seems to be some other thing I can do. When I am stuck in a difficult place, I will struggle, scream and anything I can to try to break the hold on me. Sometimes it works and other times, I find myself in the same place again and again. Like being stuck...

  'and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.' I Kings 19:12 In my Bible reading, these verses are interesting and I have never really thought about this but. The thing is, after an incredible victory Elijah's life is threatened. So he does what most of us would do, running for his life. He gets to a place in the desert; quiet, there is no one around, no distractions, and isolated; in the midst of the unexpected place, God spoke to him. Often I am too distracted to wait for His voice but put that aside. There were the earthquake, fire, and huge winds - some fearsome and powerful elements, the huge and seemingly miraculous things. But God wasn't in them, it was the quiet still voice that followed which God appeared in. These verses got me thinking. I loved to travel and one thing I noticed, I find it fascinating some of the culture, architecture wonders, and arts but yet I watch the locals go about their dai...