Happy Surprises - Count your Blessings

My niece loves the phrase, "Happy Accident." She is an artist (a very good one) and it is so appropriate, especially working in conjunction with many art mediums. There are so many "Happy Accidents" to be discovered along the way!

Reflecting on "Happy Accident" thoughts also make me think of other words that describe “coincidences”.

There's the word Synchronicity.  According to Wikipedia: Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events that are apparently causally unrelated occurring together in a meaningful manner.

What about "Serendipity", which is a propensity for making fortuitous discoveries while looking for something unrelated.” (Wikipedia)

But...are they really "Happy Accidents"? Is it really "synchronicity" or "serendipity" at work in the background of our lives? Do you think it’s just a coincidence when unrelated things happen?

When I consider the highlights of my life I can see a series of surprises —“Happy Surprises”, from the hand of a very generous God. Isn’t that amazing? Not really! It seems to me that God delights in surprising us. The truth is that I serve a God of "Happy Surprises." However, upon further introspection, I doubt that I reflect on those happy surprises as often and as thoughtfully as I should.

There are many important moments in my life that can illustrate this truth of “Happy Surprises.” I think of how He delights in me! How He loves to surprise me!  The enjoyment He has when I pray for a solution so He can show me how HE will provide…and it’s always in ways I didn’t even consider!!!

God has some “God-sized dreams” for me that began in His heart and then He placed them in mine. Yet…so many times I wonder (doubt) at God's hand in the "what if's" of my life.

"What if" I do this?
"What if" I choose that"?
"What if" I go this way?
“Is this Your Way”?

God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; and I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8 NIV).

I can trust Him. I can follow Him. I can thank Him!

I love the old hymn, "Count your blessings—name them one by one—and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

God is a God of  Happy Surprises and I give thanks for His unrestrained love...and all the generous surprises He has lavished on me!

"Be filled with the Spirit … always giving thanks to God the Father for everything" (Eph. 5:18, 20).

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him … and overflowing with thankfulness" (Col. 2:6–7).

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18).

For now I’ll leave you with the complete words to the song "Count Your Blessings".  (Yep...this song will be stuck in your head all day)…but it’s a good reminder to “Count your blessings!”

   1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

o Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

   2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
   3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
   4. So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Johnson Oatman, Jr., pub.1897

Till tomorrow...count your blessings,
debi

Waiting for Blessings

I find it so hard to wait!

Waiting for a friend's planned visit. Waiting for a major event/holiday. Waiting for a job offer. Waiting for the birth of a baby. Waiting for pain to end. Waiting for answered prayer. Waiting...

I was reading in Habakkuk (who reads Habakkuk? :>} )I love the Old Testament!

"This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." Habakkuk 2:3

My dad believes in the "Nick of Time" theology. He believes God never comes too early (because then we wouldn't know it was Him,) and He NEVER comes late.

The Bible always reminds me that God has a specific timetable that He uses to accomplish His purpose in my life. Sometimes that timetable seems excruciatingly slow, cruel and painful, but...always needful. I know God has a storehouse of blessings He has reserved for me, but my timing to receive His blessings is not the same as the Lord's timing.

When I think about Joseph and the time he spent as a slave, wrongly accused, thrown into prison and forgotten...I would be trying to second-guess what God was doing in my life! If I were Joseph I would go over and over the dreams of my youth, the mistreatment by my family, my wasted years as a slave, years spent in prison...what on earth was God thinking...clearly not about me! Or was HE?

I like to think my "character" is in order. My own self-assessment gives me pretty high marks, and I know God has taken much time over my lifetime to develop my character. But..I also know He's not finished correcting me and my character flaws (no matter my own self assessment). I even believe some of my "blessings" have been delayed due to my refusal to be corrected.

I want to be able to "motivate" God on my timetable. Something needs to happen...yet sometimes He keeps me right where I am. Nothing is moving or happening and it feels as if my whole life is at a standstill...or moving at a snails pace. I begin to feel discontent and wonder if God is evening listening. I want my circumstances changed...I want my life changed!

I believe Joseph had come to a place with God where he resigned himself to remain wherever God had chosen to keep him. He had become dead to his circumstances. I don't think that means I can't long for better days, but there is a Godly contentment that allows me to remain in any condition with a peace that passes all understanding.

Even though it is sometimes difficult to understand, the Lord is just and gracious in His dealings with me. When He does move on my behalf I know I will appreciate any delay and may even better understand the reasons for that delay. I know without doubt the Lord longs to be gracious to me. He rises to show me compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! (Isaiah 20:18)

I will wait...my dreams...I ask the Lord for His grace to sustain me. I know it will be worth the wait!