Posted in Deep thinkin

no, I'm not talking about the summery shoes, those rubberized torture devices that rub blisters in between the uninitiated toes of winter-cozied feet.  It's the flip-flops of life.

Lately, we've seen and felt a few.  Have you?

In the practical nature:

 we've seen my mother-in-law go from what doctors were declaring as her "death bed" to being at home, with assistance, and going in daily for rehabilitation...all through God's Gracious Hand and answered prayer!

 I've gone from daily migraines and a constant daily headache to having only 4 migraines and no constant drone of an ache in a month, Praise God!

I've seen three families reunited in our church, so far, with several more expected to be so in the next few days, after being separated for a YEAR, due to military service in Iraq.    I can't help but cry for joy when I think of them!

...those and several more.  We all have daily flip-flops that happen, things that we THOUGHT were going to work in ONE way, but they were turned to work in another.  And why did they work out in that way?  Did the WHY really matter?  (at least the "you knowing the why" part) How did YOU react?  (don't answer ME, answer YOU...I'm not the one who needs to know! )

Those of you who know me IRL, or who have known me online or in message groups for several years know that I'm not a deep philosophical thinker, but I've been doing some thinking lately.  A lot of it.  As the fog from my headaches has cleared, and I've been able to link more thoughts together and hold onto them solidly, God's been leading me through dealing with my own behaviors and reactions.  The home has become a mite more peaceful, I might say, in the process, and we're accomplishing so much more in so many different ways.  We're not "there" yet, but we're baby-stepping our way there daily. 

Now back to those flip-flops.  God tells us that "All things work together for good"...but we usually stop there in our quoting.  Let's keep going (oh, this is so cool...I couldn't remember this verse last week, but I can THIS week!  I could CRY!) with the verse: "For we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, and to them who are the called, according to his purpose."  (Romans 8:28)

Okay, you've just experienced a flip-flop.  Why?  In the simple, "because all things work together for good"...BUT...did ya catch the part I italicized above?  The "according to His purpose" part?  Did God have a purpose for that flip-flop?  Now don't go and "spiritualize" the change in plans you just experienced.  But know that GOD did and does have a purpose for it. 

For example, last night, a dear friend was to come over to our house with her two dear children.  It did not work out for reasons understandable.  Now, yes, we were both disappointed, but we got over it.  I don't know how her evening went, with her two sons and two silly  s (I just wanted to use that icon!), but ours here was really peaceful and the kids ate dinner, and headed to bed peacefully and without argument, a little early, even.  They fell asleep exhausted, and I got to work on my quilt for a while and watched an episode of one of my favorite television shows as well.  Just relaxed, period.  It was no earth-shattering evening, but it was a very peaceful evening.  If you've ever experienced the Thornburg Zoo in the evening, you'd know how rare that is.  I consider the day well-seized.  And my friend will come over another day.  Hopefully with her dear hubby as well, who is expected home any day now....I can't wait to see the family all together!  Hooah!