THE THOUGHTS AND WAYS OF THE LORD

THE THOUGHTS AND WAYS OF THE LORD ONE of the most true sayings Of all the bible Comes out of the BOOK OF ISAIAH “For my thoughts Are not your thoughts NEITHER are your ways-my ways Declares the Lord” Isaiah 55:8 For example WHEN I was younger I thought IF I prayed A certain way It would be answered In a certain way GOD THINKS DIFFERENTLY There is NO DOUBT about that I prayed for LIFE- “To live for my family-friends-and ALL people everywhere” And I never dreamed God would answer my prayers SO LITERALLY I prayed to live FOR OTHERS To help others along the way And I am glad that I did But I have to admit To be in situations WHERE you are unable To help yourself To be DEPENDENT On everyone else-IS DIFFICULT My ways ARE NOT YOUR WAYS Says the Lord “I will INSTRUCT you And teach you In the way you should go I will COUNSEL YOU With my loving eye on you” Psalm 32:8 Let us EXAMINE Some teachings of the Lord Some teachings of Jesus Jesus gives us The first two commandments “Jesus replied: 'LOVE the Lord your God With all your heart With all your soul And all your mind' This is the first And greatest commandment And the second IS like it 'LOVE your neighbor As yourself ALL the law And the prophets HANG on these two commandments'” Matthew 22:37-40 My ways are NOT Your ways Says the Lord The thoughts and ways Of the Lord are different And they REVOLVE around LOVE-and FORGIVENESS-and KINDNESS THE INTANGIBLE QUALITIES OF GOD Or TRY loving your enemies As the Lord taught (and did) “But to you who are listening I say: 'LOVE YOUR ENEMIES Do good to those who hate you BLESS THOSE who curse you- PRAY for those who mistreat you'” Luke 6:27-28 Or TRY FORGIVING SOME ONE Who hurts you in the same way OVER and over and over again “Jesus answered: 'I tell you NOT seven times- But seventy-seven times'” Matthew 18:22 Or TRY living the BEATITUDES That begin in Matthew 5:3 “BLESSED are the POOR IN SPIRIT For theirs is The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ….....” YES-the thoughts and the ways Of the Lord are different And I WISH I could say that I have ALWAYS lived up to them But I TRY And that is the BEST-I think That anyone of us can do IN JESUS' NAME Robert P. Wallman 9-23-15