Shirley's Corner - Surprise!

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That word brings a variety of responses from people. Some love to be surprised, some hate surprises, some like to surprise others and some are plain scared of surprises!

No matter how you may try to avoid them, life is full of surprises. They are inevitable, though we put forth our best effort to control circumstances, people and events. Surprises come in all sizes--some wonderful, some horrible, and regardless of how hard you try, it is impossible to prepare for a surprise. That's the nature of surprises, they sneak up on you and give you no warning.

For instance:

  • an increase in taxes
  • an unexpected raise at your place of employment
  • job loss
  • a bad report from your doctor
  • winning the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes

Any and all of those things you didn't see coming.

Surprises reveal a lot about us. How fast do you adapt to a surprise? Are you able to embrace a surprise? Do you like to plan surprises for others, but would choose not to receive surprises? Surprises alter our lives and force us to rearrange our plans. They don't allow us to have the final word.

The only Person in all of the universe Who is never surprised is our God. Absolutely nothing ever slips up on Him. Because He is "all knowing", it is impossible to either surprise or disappoint Him. We can grieve Him with our disobedience, but never take Him by surprise. We can delight Him with our worship, but He reads our hearts long before they overflow.

So how do we handle surprises?

The same way we handle everything else in our journey here on earth. We take a deep breath, regain our balance and ask, "What would You have me do?". He has orchestrated every detail in your life, and for His Own purposes, has allowed these unforeseen events to take place. That's why He goes before you and is also your "rear guard".

That's why He promised that ALL things work together for good for those who are called, according to His good purpose, and that's why He instructed us to count it ALL joy. If He surprises you with riches, you can be sure He will also give you instructions on how to be "conduit" in order to bless others. If He surprises you with difficult circumstances, He will draw you close and reveal aspects of Himself that are true riches. Surprised? Yes. Overwhelmed? No!

It is His good pleasure to surprise His Own, and He is reserving His greatest surprise for last...

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ shall rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain (on the earth) shall simultaneously be caught up along with (the resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! ...1Thess.4:16-17...(Amplified Bible)

In Matthew 24 Jesus told His disciples,

"...and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (in brilliancy and splendor). And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, (even) from one end of the universe to the other......Sky and earth shall pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that (exact) day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

SURPRISE! HALLELUJAH!

With love from my chair at the Harvest Table,

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(Surprise image credit: CSAtimes website)

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