Expecting the Unexpected

This topic has actually been in a running list of "things I want to blog about" for several months now, but over the last several weeks so many aspects of this idea have never been so real to me...

One of the things I've realized about myself is how often I'm amazed by how quickly God can shake things up, surprised by how specifically He answers prayers, overwhelmed by opportunities that can only be orchestrated by His hand. His blessings, and sorrows as well, often take me by surprise; they come so unexpectedly... Or do they, really?

While I've learned so much about trusting Him more fully and running to Him quickly during these times, I still ask myself - why is it that I am so surprised when I see glimpses of how God is working? I serve a BIG God, who does BIG things... He is RISEN and intimately involved in the details of our lives. He is NEAR. He sovereignly causes all things to work together for good to the glory of His Name!!

Why do I not learn to expect the unexpected? To pray in faith at ALL times. To boldly seek His face and will to be done in my life at ALL times. To say "YES, LORD!" immediately and quickly to ALL the unexpected blessings and sorrows that come my way. To live in eager expectation of the next moment I will see His hand, the next time I will hear His voice, the next opportunity I will see Him working in my life and the lives of those I love. Will I ever fully attain this depth of intimacy? Surely it will take an eternity... He knows me more fully than I know myself. In my humanity, I will never be able to anticipate or expect anything close to what He has in store for me... Praise God!

Part of my "surprise", I think, will always remain as I stand in humble awe of His amazing love and grace raining down in my life, but my prayer is this: Lord, increase my faith and continue to teach me how to live in passionate expectation of Your will in my life! You have made Yourself known to me. Help me to expect Your unexpectedness!

Momma Duck, Daddy Duck, Ducklings!!!

A while back I blogged about the rented ducks and geese that inhabit my client's office complex... When I returned from our trip to Lake Louise, I was surprised and delighted to see that there are some new additions!! Ducklings for everyone!

They really are the cutest things following their mothers all over the place in groups of 3-4. Some are all yellow, but most are yellow with black markings. Everyone walking into work is loving it and stopping to take pictures on their camera phones.

So here's my question... Did the overall contract rental price for the ducks and geese just go up? How much can a baby duckling really cost? I don't know, but they are adorable...

Indescribable...

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Cor 9:15

More pics of Lake Louise/Banff on Stan's site

Heading North...

A Fool for Christ

"April 1st: This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three-hundred and sixty-four." - Mark Twain

When I started blogging on April Fool's Day and began thinking about all of the hoaxes that go on in the media and practical jokes amongst friends and coworkers, I was reminded of my own daily foolishness and its true definition. Surrounded by worldly wisdom and the desires of the flesh, it is so easy to have wrong thinking about true foolishness. To the world, seeking Christ and pursuing holiness is foolishness; it doesn't conform to the pattern of socially acceptable behavior in America, or anywhere else. But in God's eyes, I am foolish everytime I choose to turn away from Him in disobedience or put my own selfish desires above His desires for me.

Praise God for His grace & mercy in calling me to Himself and His enduring patience and faithfulness despite my wandering and disobedience.

"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong," - 1 Cor 1:27 NASB

Let me be a fool chosen for Christ and His glory alone and not merely a fool of the world!!!