Messy: "A Strange Way to Save The World"

I've been thinking all week about the fact that my thoughts aren't like God's thoughts and His ways are not like mine.  Let me explain.  If I'm planning something--an event, happening, or just trying to get something accomplished--I want everything to go smoothly.  I want it to go without any problems, glitches or snags--"neat and tidy" you might call it.


God doesn't think like me.  His perfect plan--God's PERFECT Plan, the one He put into place before the beginning of the world--was for Jesus to be born of a virgin, that she take a long trip close to her due date, riding on a donkey, that there be no room for them at the only hotel in town, and that she have her baby, God's Son, in a stable.  That was His Perfect Plan.  Nothing went wrong. It went just as He wanted it to.


All week long I've been thinking about how purposely "messy" it was.  I've been thinking about how, on days when I think things are not going well, or when there's a "mess" in my life, God might have been planning for things to go that way.  (I'm not talking about when there's obvious sin that's causing the problem.)  How do I respond when situations in my life don't turn out "neat and tidy," the way I think they should.  My attitude is that "neat and tidy" is what God wants, and that I'm sinning somehow, or not as mature as I should be, or "not measuring up," or something, if things aren't going smoothly.  I tend to analyze to see what I or someone else did wrong.  I tend to try to figure out how I can avoid the glitches, snags, and PROBLEMS the next time.  I tend to be upset with myself, or someone else, if I think they were "to blame."


Maybe, though, the way God sees it, it was just perfect.


When Jesus was born, God's plan was perfect. And yet. It was. Very. VERY... "messy."

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Valentine's Dinner: Video Cooking Show

I just found this *great* cooking show on YouTube! "Cooking for Dads" but it's not just for dads, by a long shot!  Rob Barrett has put together some very professional cooking shows from his kitchen, which I'm going to post here on my Timely Tips on Tuesdays series, but I happened on this Valentine's Dinner, so I just had to post it right away--I know you're going to love it. I mentioned on Food Friday that children, especially daughters, need to learn how to cook.  Well, one thing I love about these videos is that he makes his recipes easy to understand and cook!  If you haven't already got something planned for Valentine's Dinner, try this! It looks really simple, and delicious. Coconut Shrimp, Salad, and special carrots...well, watch and see!

Marlow and Frances Cowan's Mayo Clinic Piano Duet and Interview

The Duet by The "Sweetest Couple"

Followed by an Interview with The Cowans