Unexpected Surprises

Our sermon on Easter morning was about how we can look at life like it is a tragedy or we can live our life like it is a comedy. Comedies always show how something turns out better then expected. We often expect the worst and are therefore living as if tragedy is our life. But the comedy brings surprises, the unexpected. The Bible is a comic book if you really look at it. There are tons of examples of surprises and God doing the unexpected from blessing Abraham and Sarah with a son in their very old age to Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, to the king of all kings born in a barn. Life brought me an unexpected surprise this Easter morning. I got on the scale hoping to see that my 10lb weight gain from our family reunion cruise had decreased in the last 7 days since our return. I had to get on the scale twice and then ask my daughter to get on it just to be sure it was working right. I proclaimed it to be an Easter miracle! I lost the full 10lbs and was back at the starting weight I had before the cruise. Unbelievable. As I thought about this wonderful blessing, I realized that my sun poisoning and swollen ankles probably contributed a bit of water weight which was why it seemed like I gained so much. No matter the reasoning, it was a glorious unexpected surprise! I saw another surprise that God brought to a family in Nebraska. We went and saw the movie Heaven is for Real. 4 year old Colton Burpo had seen heaven with details that are unbelievable but our Father loves surprising us with the unexpected. Who says you have to die to go and see Heaven? There is no limit to what God can do. I pray that you will come to love the surprises and the unexpected and live for them and for God.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 196

We went to the circus yesterday. What a feast of stimulation! Everything was spectacular but one thing stands out and it is because I didn’t expect it. All the typical circus performances were there including the shoot the lady out of the cannon ball. The tigers were amazing and all I could think was how brave is that guy to stand in front of 17 tigers! But the unexpected performance by a group of poodles (Yes, I said poodles) was the icing on the cake. White poodles, Black poodles, Big poodles, little poodles. They were so cute! You never know what the Lord will bring you each day. The blessings he gives us are too great to number or name. But these odd-ball blessings tend to stand out so I am shouting out to God, “That was awesome!!”

Deuteronomy 28:2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 192

Each day this week, my husband has taken my 16-year-old son out on a driving adventure. My son is in his last 10 hours needed before he can go and get his driver’s license. So my husband has asked him to locate a specific place and drive there. Each day they have encountered unexpected things which great because my son has the benefit of having an experienced driver in the car with him when these things happen. The first unexpected happening was as they were exiting our highway exit to head home, they came upon a motorcycle accident that just happened with two people. So, they had to stop, call 911 and wait for someone to arrive. Thankfully, the two were not seriously hurt. The second happening was a little less dramatic but still a valuable lesson; a thunder storm came over them and started dumping rain on them so my son learned the lesson of not panicking while trying to see out the window and turn on your wiper blades at the same time. The third unexpected lesson was not as urgent or frightening as the first two: They came to their destination which was on a two-lane road and discovered it was closed and they could not pull in. So, he learned how to find his way back the direction home. I think my husband plans on taking him to our downtown where there are way too many one-way streets. That should be an experience. By day three of these driving adventure stories, I finally had to get up and give my husband a big hug and praise him for the time he is taking to teach my son about driving. I think most of us got a one trip to the parking lot kind of deal so I am impressed with my husband and the gift he is giving my son. Praises to him and to God for bringing those unexpected lessons into the mix!!

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 281

Yesterday afternoon I received an unexpected call. I had gone for a preliminary interview at my church for an admin assitant position a couple weeks ago and hadn't heard anything so was assuming that it was the Lord's will that I not get that job. It was the church calling about setting up a double interview with a panel of 3 people each. The word "intimidating" comes to mind but I am working and praying to keep my perspective clear, my fears from taking over and just go in as prepared as I can and know that ultimately it is the Lord's will that will take place. I will just think of it as a growing experience. I got through that last interview without any fear which was awesome so without  a doubt I know the Lord can fill me with all the confindence and peace I need and will hopefully give me the write words to say in answer to the questions they have for me. This possible change in jobs will not change my course in deciding to be a Christian Counselor. That is my dream, goal and calling from God and I will heading down that road.
1 Samuel 3: 4-10 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Elis said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the Lord called , "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli sai, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 248

I love surprises, the unexpected, the I didn't think of that one moments. With those surprises come joy, smiles and excitement. We got a couple unexpected blessings on our trip out to Alamosa. We did the driving tour of the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge. It turned out to be mostly birds which was kind of poetic timing since we just saw a movie about birding recently. This refuge is a wetlands so there are lots and lots of cattails. I wanted to get out and take a photo of one and did so but it turnd out my handy-dandy i-phone had switched to video mode on me with my knowing it. I didn't want a video of a cattail! So, right at the end of the tour I spotted another lonely cattail by itself and said stop the car. I got out and to my surprise there out in the grassy reeds was a deer. I think my own excitement over spotting a deer got the deer on the move and that's when the unexpected showed up, a baby deer. We watched with awe as they bounced through the grass away from us with their white tufted tails. It was the perfect end to our drive through the refuge and never would have been seen if the first cattail photo hadn't been a video! The next day we took a drive over to the the Alamosa Ranch and walked beside the large pond. We were enjoying the atmosphere and throwing rocks in the water when I spotted a deer coming out of the island full of tall grass and cattails and start swimming across the pond to the shore. How totally cool was it to see not just a deer standing there but doing something unexpected. I love the unexpected blessing of feeling God in our midst through his creation. Thank you Lord for sharing with us these unexpected moments with your creation.

2 Chronicles 1:11-12 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”