Expect the Unexpected!

Wait- To stay in a place, in expectation

Often times we wait for things to happen in our lives and we may even wait in expectation. However there are times that the unexpected takes place and brings blessings with it. John 1:1-15 tells the story of a man in Jerusalem waiting by the Sheep Gate called Bethesda. In the story we discover that a multitude of sick people rest near a pool by the gate expecting an angel to come down and trouble the water. Once the water was troubled the first one in the pool would be healed of their ailment. The main character in the story had been lying but the gate “waiting” for thirty-eight years.

One day Jesus was in the area and stopped by the pool. He saw the man and knew he had been there a long time. In verse six Jesus asks him a simple question, “Do you want to be made well?” The man must not have been expecting this because in his response he fails to answer the question. In verse seven he explains to Jesus that every time the angel shows someone would beat him to the pool and receive their healing leaving him to once again…“wait.” The conclusion of the story is that Jesus commands the man to take up his bed and walk. The man obeys and is not only healed but made whole from that day forth.

Let’s think about this; though the man was lying at the pool in expectation, it was the unexpected visit from Jesus that brought his healing. In his thirty-eight years of waiting he didn’t give up hope that he would one day be healed. Many before him may have given up and left or had someone come and carry them away. But this man continued to wait for the angel to come trouble the water, and he did not wait in vain because the visit he got was much better than a visit from an angel! So let us be mindful that as we wait in expectation, remember the man by Bethesda, because the Lord tells in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways…” Always trust God and expect the unexpected!

Think about it!

It goes deep!

What or whom do you love? Have you ever been in love so deeply that you would offer to do anything for that person including give you last or even your life? If you have loved someone this deeply, can you ever truly “not” love them?

Gospel singer Kierra Sherad has a song entitled “Indescribable.” The title alone lets you know that she is singing about the undeniable power of healing, salvation, freedom and forgiveness that lies within the power of God’s love.

You see, it does not matter how much we love someone or how much they love us, there is no way to compare that love to the love that Christ has for us all. There is a line in the song that says, “Indescribable, uncontainable you see the depths of our hearts and you love us the same, you are amazing God.”

That is exactly what God is, amazing. Do you know anyone on this earth who has or is willing to be beaten, spat on and condemned FOR their accusers? This is precisely what Christ did for us. He took on the sins of the entire world to afford us freedom through His blood.

His love for us runs so deeply that He sees us when we fall; AND yet when we purposely falter,  He still loves us the same. In my opinion that is amazing. I’m reminded of another worship song entitled, “Lord I lift your name on high.” The chorus says, “You came from heaven to earth, to show the way, from the earth to the cross my debt you paid, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord I lift your name on high.”  

Not only did He descend from His thrown, but also came and gave His life for our lives. In return He only asks that we lift Him up in all the earth, share the wonder of His story, and live for Him every day. That is not much to be asked from someone whose love is so deep for us that in spite of the evil that often lies in our hearts, He loves us the same. He is AMAZING and His love…it goes deep.

Think about it!

Disconnected

Did you know that over 200,000,000,000 text messages are received in America? That’s 200 billion every single day, which is more than one year’s worth of regular mail! Twenty-nine percent of Americans admit that their cell phone is the first thing they look at in the morning and the last thing they look at before going to sleep at night. Sixty-six percent of working Americans admit that they will remember to take their cell phone to work before they remember their lunch! Sixty-one percent of Americans admit to using their cell phone while watching TV and 39% say they use their phones WHILE playing with their children.

Don’t be shocked! I guarantee that anyone reading this article has a cell phone in their possession right now; if it is not in your hand, I’m sure it’s only an arm’s-length away. And I’m not knocking it. I myself have a cell phone, as does everyone in my household including my four year old, only her phone doesn’t work.  But you can’t tell because she uses it quite frequently having very lengthy and detailed conversations. J

Recently I dropped my cell phone in the toilet! If this has ever happened to you, I don’t have to tell you the immediate feeling of dread that came over me as my phone floated towards the bottom of the toilet. Luckily the water was clean and I reached in and grabbed the phone seconds after it entered the water. I took the phone apart and hurriedly began drying it out and praying that it could be salvaged because it was pretty much brand new.

You guys know how I am; I started goggling solutions to save my phone. And YES, I tried the rice trick. For one entire day, I had to willingly leave my phone at home in a bowl of rice hoping it would be ready to go when I returned. This entire incident made me think; I felt so disconnected from the world without my phone that day. It’s like a life-line; I keep it with me at all times so I can be reached and communicate when I need to.

Think back. Do you remember when there were no cell phones? What did we do? Hard to fathom now isn’t it? Now let’s think about the real life-line we have in Jesus Christ. He’s always there. But is He the first thing on our minds in the morning and the last thing we think about before going to bed at night?  When we don’t talk to Him daily, do we feel disconnected? Well we should. Have you ever left home without your cell phone and returned to get it because you felt you had to have it with you? In the same respect have you ever left home without “taking Christ with you” in prayer or in your heart to share or sustain you throughout the day? Communication is very important and even more so when it comes to Christ. He wants us to stay connected to Him. He’s not like a cell phone, He can’t be misplaced or dropped in the toilet, but we do have to remember to take Him with us wherever we go! Think about it! #stayconnected

Sources: http://www.statisticbrain.com/mobile-device-cell-phone-statistics/

http://www.accuconference.com/blog/Cell-Phone-Statistics.aspx

http://www.griffintechnology.com/blog/fun/mind-blowing-cellphone-statistics/