it’s five minute friday time! woohoo!
today’s word:
Today I was reading the book I Don’t Wait Anymore by Grace Thornton while in the doctor’s office. Grace’s blog was the 1st blog I really ever followed, so I was excited for her book– and it hasn’t disappointed.
She was writing a bit about visiting Corrie Ten Boom’s house (if you don’t know her, google her, she’s awesome). She told a story about a piece of embroidery hidden in her house, below the hiding place she used to shield people from the Nazis.Here’s the quote from the book (i posted the quote after time because it’s long):
“The tour guide reached past Dana and me, pulled the frame from the wall,and turned it over. The back was a straight-up mess. If you’ve ever done any stitching, you know what the underside of something like that looks like– an ugly tangle of threads with no visible picture at all.
That’s the side we see, Corrie would say. In our pride, when He weaves the dark threads in with the bright ones, we forget that He can see the upper side– the real picture, the intricate design– while all we see is the mess. “Every thread is important,” Corrie said.”
God sees the whole picture even when it’s hidden from us, and all we see is the messy behind-the-scenes moments.
When all we have is crazy, or broken, or frustrating, He knows that it’s all going to be a part of the greater story he’s telling. Even when the end results are hidden from us, we know that He’s going to make the mess and tangled threads we try to weave together and make something beautiful from them.
As Grace says earlier in the book, “In that deep place, God was weaving wonders from the mess.”
Even when the big picture is hidden from us, God is weaving every thread-no matter how long or short or pretty or ugly– into something for our good and for his glory. He’s weaving wonders from the mess of threads we’re making, even when we don’t understand what the picture’s going to look like.
Let us not worry about the parts of our story hidden from us right now– for they will all be woven together by the Master Creator into something far better than we could ever piece together ourselves.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
doesn’t really go with the topic of the post, but it was stuck in my head the entire time writing so here ya go… <3
I love when books or songs or other sources fit in with what the prompt is, it is such a nice reminder that God has us exactly where we are meant to be!!
Right?! Especially because i just read that chapter today, God’s timing for sure! Miss having you at FMF friend!<3
Dang, homie…this be dope! You words be down with da G! (Sorry, I’m writing my ‘urban’ memoir and I keep falling into character.)
Jordan, seriously…this is brilliant. I love the way you put this together (and CTB is one awesome lady).
And in your Instagram sidebar, is that a Pug I see? We have one, name’s Shelby, and is at the same time the sweetest and most exasperating Person you will ever meet.
Love you, Jordan. You’re a keeper.
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-dying-spouse-187-hidden-song-of.html
The vernacular is killing me, smalls. I’m moving to start my internship at an urban ministry tomorrow so the irony is perfect. Lol.
Thanks for reading, friend! This book is killing me. She talks so much about surrender and plans and all the things I struggle with,she really hits the nail on the head.
And YES! Oh my goodness I should’ve asked you if you had a pug. I have 2 of them!!! They are the BEST DOGS!! Russ is the black one (today was his gotcha day– we brought him one 1 year ago today!). Lola is older, a rescue we got after losing our first pug, Sebastian. We love them to death. Such fun personalities in their tiny chubby bodies!! praying for you, friend. <3
Oh, Jordan, this was such a beautiful post. It’s so easy to get caught up in the tangles and forget that God is creating something beautiful in our lives.
What you said here resonated with me! “Let us not worry about the parts of our story hidden from us right now– for they will all be woven together by the Master Creator into something far better than we could ever piece together ourselves.”
I’m too easily caught up in the tangles. They affect my thoughts and push at my heart. I need to remember that God is well aware of what’s going on in my life, and He’s weaving it/stitching it into something beautiful. 🙂
I needed that reminder today. Thank you, friend.
Love! THIS: “God sees the whole picture even when it’s hidden from us, and all we see is the messy behind-the-scenes moments.” I’m in the 68 spot this week.