Expecting the Unexpected
Good morning!
Ben and I will be away for two weeks, to see the Redwoods in CA and to get some time to rest. We pray that this time away will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and to each other.
In view of the Boston bombing and Texas fertilizer explosion, the experience I share is small. But I am sharing it anyway.
Much love in Christ,
Joy
The other morning started out like most other mornings.
I was talking with an employee in my office, when all of a sudden there was a very loud and jarring sound and everything on the outside wall of my office was propelled forward. The printer and the shelves were pushed to the floor.
The first thing I thought was that there was an explosion of some kind.
We ran out of the office to the outside of the building. No smoke. No fire. Only a honkin’ 78 Ford truck parked by the wall of my office with a sheepish looking employee standing by it. Eric explained that he had left the truck parked in second gear to get some gloves from the office. When he started the truck again his foot slipped off the clutch and the truck lurch forward. Into my office.
Part of lower paneled wall inside my office is tilted eight inches forward. There is a hole and cracks in the top drywall part of the wall. I was standing directly in the line of impact, by the wall that the truck hit.
It WAS a morning like most other mornings. The wisdom and power of God were at work like any other day, only on this day I got to see the working of God more clearly.
#241 Expecting the Unexpected
What do we think and feel when the ‘unexpected’ happens? It can be an unexpected interruption, a sudden turn of events that does not fit into our expectations for our day or our life. It can be an unexpected tragedy or an unexpected joy. Whatever the ‘unexpected’ event, we can be sure that the Lord is getting our attention. He is asking us to trust if we don’t understand. He is asking us to be grateful for His providence when we can see it, and to trust in His providence when we can’t. He is asking us to thank Him for the gift, be it wrapped in joy or in difficulty. Because the gift in the unexpected is the mercies of God that are NEW every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 The word ‘new’ is #2319, which comes from #2318: new, to rebuild. His mercies are a surprise and a delight because His mercies are constructed into to a new day and a different set of circumstances. This new-never-to-be-repeated moment is met with His new-never-to-be-repeated creative response.
“Don’t let unexpected events throw you off course. Rather, respond calmly and confidently, remembering that I am with you.” Sarah Young
When Moses saw the burning bush from a distance he went to have a closer look. God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am,” Moses answered.
“Readiness for God means…we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready….Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God.” Oswald Chambers
I am reminded of the experience of Jacob when he ran for his life from Esau. On his journey he slept on a stone and dreamed of a ladder with angels ascending and descending on it. After hearing God’s assuring promise, he made this statement. Genesis 28:14-15
“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:16-17
God is with us in the place of our fear whether or not we realize it. Oh Lord, make us aware.
Oh Lord, open our eyes to Who You Are.
May we delight in the unexpected will of God.
And may we expect His ‘unexpected’ unique response and deliverance, as He personally reveals Himself to us.
Ben and I will be away for two weeks, to see the Redwoods in CA and to get some time to rest. We pray that this time away will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and to each other.
In view of the Boston bombing and Texas fertilizer explosion, the experience I share is small. But I am sharing it anyway.
Much love in Christ,
Joy
The other morning started out like most other mornings.
I was talking with an employee in my office, when all of a sudden there was a very loud and jarring sound and everything on the outside wall of my office was propelled forward. The printer and the shelves were pushed to the floor.
The first thing I thought was that there was an explosion of some kind.
We ran out of the office to the outside of the building. No smoke. No fire. Only a honkin’ 78 Ford truck parked by the wall of my office with a sheepish looking employee standing by it. Eric explained that he had left the truck parked in second gear to get some gloves from the office. When he started the truck again his foot slipped off the clutch and the truck lurch forward. Into my office.
Part of lower paneled wall inside my office is tilted eight inches forward. There is a hole and cracks in the top drywall part of the wall. I was standing directly in the line of impact, by the wall that the truck hit.
It WAS a morning like most other mornings. The wisdom and power of God were at work like any other day, only on this day I got to see the working of God more clearly.
#241 Expecting the Unexpected
What do we think and feel when the ‘unexpected’ happens? It can be an unexpected interruption, a sudden turn of events that does not fit into our expectations for our day or our life. It can be an unexpected tragedy or an unexpected joy. Whatever the ‘unexpected’ event, we can be sure that the Lord is getting our attention. He is asking us to trust if we don’t understand. He is asking us to be grateful for His providence when we can see it, and to trust in His providence when we can’t. He is asking us to thank Him for the gift, be it wrapped in joy or in difficulty. Because the gift in the unexpected is the mercies of God that are NEW every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 The word ‘new’ is #2319, which comes from #2318: new, to rebuild. His mercies are a surprise and a delight because His mercies are constructed into to a new day and a different set of circumstances. This new-never-to-be-repeated moment is met with His new-never-to-be-repeated creative response.
“Don’t let unexpected events throw you off course. Rather, respond calmly and confidently, remembering that I am with you.” Sarah Young
When Moses saw the burning bush from a distance he went to have a closer look. God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am,” Moses answered.
“Readiness for God means…we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready….Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God.” Oswald Chambers
I am reminded of the experience of Jacob when he ran for his life from Esau. On his journey he slept on a stone and dreamed of a ladder with angels ascending and descending on it. After hearing God’s assuring promise, he made this statement. Genesis 28:14-15
“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:16-17
God is with us in the place of our fear whether or not we realize it. Oh Lord, make us aware.
Oh Lord, open our eyes to Who You Are.
May we delight in the unexpected will of God.
And may we expect His ‘unexpected’ unique response and deliverance, as He personally reveals Himself to us.
