“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain

Monday Manna - Leave

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just put a link to your Monday Manna blog entry in the MckLinky gadget below, and check out others' thoughts.

And the verse is...
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1
Looking forward to hearing what you have to share--don't forget to link up! My thoughts are below.

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I'm a planner. I love to have my life organized (unlike my physical environment - but that's beside the point). I'm a creature of habit--a schedule-keeper. On Mondays and Thursdays I do laundry. I grocery shop on the same day each week--with a list, drawn from our needs and the weekly grocery store ad. I turn off my computer, for the most part, at about 9 or 9:30 each night, watch Jeopardy! with my husband, and say the very same thing to him before I close my eyes each night. Needless to say, I like to know what is gonna happen next.
But life doesn't always work that way.
Sometimes, I plan to spend a week potty training my son, but instead spend several days in and out of the hospital as a neurosurgeon attempts to remove a tumor from my husband's brain. Sometimes, I figure I'll get my whole to-do list done, but instead help my son in his sudden obsession with origami for hours.

And sometimes, I feel perfectly comfortable in my home of twelve years, but then hubby and I feel called to sell and look for something smaller. With no income except disability. In the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country.

The reasons, really, are immaterial. I could certainly justify this freakish decision with many different facts, from a lawn we can't mow, to no kids nearby for the children. But the only thing that should matter is God's call.
Look at Abraham. He was told to leave it all behind, and follow his God to only-God-knew-where. And he did.
There's no discussion of Abraham justifying the trip, or looking for "real-life" reasons why this move would be best for him. He heard God's Word, grabbed his stuff, and went.

She Took A Step She Will Walk In No Time 4/28/07 Pictures, Images and Photos

When God speaks to you, how easy is it for you to step out in faith? Do you need the "logical" rationale? Do you wait until it's comfortable?

Or do You follow the only One who will always lead you in the right direction, no matter how much out of your comfort zone it may be?

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Thanks for reading. Be sure to check out the other participants below, and link up yourself!



5 comments:

  1. Hey Joanne,

    God knows we would love to have everything in our control all the time. That's we he throws us a surprise every now and then...humbly reminding is He is Lord and the wheel belongs to Him.

    Also, thanks for responding to my post at exemplify. The simplicity of His love really is beyond us. We think we know and we definitely don't. My prayer is that we be granted understanding to even remotely fathom its magnitude.

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  2. I have to admit that I struggle with this, too. I'm a creature of habit trying to be more spontaneous. Which, I guess, would just become another habit...

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  3. Wow! You really put this in practical, down to earth terms. I'm sure your decision wasn't easy, but if God truly put it on your hearts, He will certainly bless you for it. Thanks for sharing this piece of your life and heart. I'll be praying!

    BTW~Hope to be back to joining Monday Manna soon! Life hasn't been exactly normal lately, but, thank the Lord, it has certainly been good! Thanks for following my travels on Dancin' On Rainbows! I so appreciate your faithfulness and your comments!

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  4. Thanks, Joanne. I missed Monday Manna this week—too much "stuff" added to an already full schedule. Which seems to me an important point in your post—the more "stuff" we collect, the harder it is for us to respond to God's call to drop everything and go when He tells us. People, projects, and possessions, can be powerful forces in preventing us from that step of obedience that ultimately leads to God's best blessing on our lives.

    Thanks for this, Joanne.

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  5. Dear Joanne,

    Jesus said "In this life, you will have tribulation", but the very personal journey through our suffering is honorable. Namaste.

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Thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear your thoughts - please share them!

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