Expectations

What did you expect? Has life let you down lately? Do you find yourself disappointed? Maybe it is time to review your expectations. Often we feel let down because we expect something impossible or unrealistic. Sometimes though life just happens. You are going about your day not expecting anything out of the ordinary and wham it hits you, the unexpected. A disaster, an accident, something so little, or so large it can change your world forever.
You see expectations are like that. If you think you know what will happen next you are often wrong. The plot of life is not like your favorite movie or novel. It is designed with a bigger picture in mind. I cannot explain why bad things happen to good people, no one can. In fact many a great philosopher and theologian has tried. We can't explain why anything happens, and reflecting on what happens won't change the past.Imagine what expectations people had for the Messiah. He was going to be a great king, and his chosen people would find their lives forever changed. Yet, he was born in a manger, he spent his time with beggars, thieves, and prostitutes. If you had expected a king who would conquer all others your expectations were not met. If you expected a grand and awe inspiring person you had to look deeper. He didn't ride in on a chariot laden in silk and gold. He wasn't that kind of king. He exceeded all expectations that were set for him, but at the time so many people must have felt a bit let down, they had waited for one thing and God had sent another.

God sent a Savior. Not just a king among men, but someone to save you for all time. He sent his son to change expectations. In fact he wanted to change the world, and he did. Ever since that fate filled day when the king of kings hung upon a cross for crimes he did not commit, the world has been changed. However, sometimes we get to busy with all our expectations to appreciate the unexpected. The joy of plans ruined and changes made. The joy of a life lived without expectations is so much greater than the disappointment of expectations unfulfilled.

Milestones

Psalm 16: ¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Milestones happen everyday. Some are big: wedding days, babies are born, and people we love die. Some milestones are so very small but have such a big impact on our lives. I remember so many days, and moments that looking back I realize were milestones. Sometimes they are come and gone before we realize that in a moment our lives have been forever changed. Go ahead make a list of all the milestones in your life; then go back and think about how these days and moments changed who you are.

I don't remember the day we bought our first house, but I do remember moving in. I remember the day we moved out, and I remember signing the papers when we sold it. I also can remember building our second house. Picking out each and every detail and planning for a life we expected. It was a milestone. So was the day we packed our Uhaul and left it all behind.

We don't plan for all the milestones in our life, and they come and go before our eyes. You cannot know the future until you truly let the past go. The past is such a haunting thing full of memories and hindsight. Full of milestones that passed before you realized that moment would change your life forever. If you tried to make a list you might find that there were to many little milestones to list. The big milestones fill a page, but the little ones are a book.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. ¹⁵ Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before;and God will call the past to account

God already knows each and every milestone we will face. He prepares us daily for them if we let him. When we open ourselves up to God and his will we learn that every milestone is a part of his plan. We are not in control. This is such a hard concept for us to comprehend or begin to understand. God is at the helm and he guides our ship through the sea of life. However, sometimes the water is choppy and the storm is at hand. In these moments we seize the wheel. In these moments we want to steer for ourselves. It is hard to trust that we will survive the storm. In these moments we stray from the path God has chosen for us. When we leave the path we venture out into the storm without direction. We find ourselves sucked up into so many things we could have avoided, and with time we again surrender to God and he shifts us back on course.
Milestones are exciting and scary. They forever change us and they happen in the blink of an eye. We don't see them coming so without God in our lives we find ourselves foolishly facing so many things we aren't prepared for. If we turn away from God we have to find the way alone. Would you travel through the jungle without a guide or a map? Why travel through life alone?

I am often reminded of the lyrics to this audio adrenaline song:
"Walk On Water"
Simon Peter won't you put those nets down follow me I'll lead you out of this town to a place where no boat has ever been I will make you a fisher of men Jesus walked out on the water said take courage it is me Peter trusted and he wanted to go farther so he stepped out on the sea If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water Just like peter I want to go farther tread on the sea and walk on the water step where he steps and go where he goes side by side when the sea billows roll I'll be alright when the wind comes I'll be alright when the waves come crashing I'm not afraid for this is my father's world

When will you give up your pride, trust the Lord, and step out on the water?

Waiting

Christmas is such an amazing time of waiting. When you are a child there is all this build up! Christmas programs at school, shopping, cookie making, church programs, and so much more. You wait patiently and then impatiently. When Christmas Eve finally arrived the anticipation that has built up is part of the magic. Some of us relish the waiting and others, like me, find it tedious.


I hate waiting! Being a part of the now generation might be my problem, or maybe it is just my personality. When you are waiting for something big you put everything else aside. There seem to be too many hours in the day, and as the day progresses you find yourself bored. One day leading into the next and on and on. The end is in sight you can count the days cross them off one by one. Crossing them off though doesn't make it go any faster. Moreover, I find that counting down makes it go more slowly.

Imagine being lost in the desert. You are waiting to be shown the way and day upon day passes. You encounter so many blessings and hardships along the way. Can you imagine wondering will we be waiting forever? Is there really a promised land? In that light it puts my waiting into perspective and one more day, week, month, or hour doesn't seem so bad!

Deuteronomy 4:31

³¹ For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.