Expecting the "unexpected"!

So I was concentrating on all of the traffic around me as I was driving home from Gwen's this afternoon.  There was quite a line up of cars that had grown longer and longer (thanks to the Canadian National Freight Train blocking the busy road) and we were inching along.  Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted this odd creature that peeked its head out of the tall grass on the side of the road and started to walk closer and closer to the cars.  As the cars began to move, it turned around and darted back into the grass.  When I got home, I actually drew a picture of the animal that I had seen so that I could show it to Ken.  My drawing  looked a bit like a cartoon dinosaur, keeping in mind that the creature I saw was about 2 feet long and possibly a foot and a half tall.  I described it as a smooth, solid black creature without ears.  Ken identified it on his second guess (his first guess was a weasel) - A RIVER OTTER!  And that is exactly what I saw.  Not exactly what you would expect to see!  And the article I read said that the River Otter is a member of the weasel family!  So Ken was actually correct on his first guess!  This made sense with the lakes that were all around the area I was driving through.

Earlier today I had been thinking about that "window" word that I had heard a few days ago.  As I was meditating on that word, I heard "expect the unexpected"!  As I was thinking about those two things together - the window and the unexpected - many things started to run through my mind.  The first time I thought about the window, it was a quiet, calm scene that came to mind.  But today, I was seeing the exact opposite of that.  I was seeing lots of scarier things out of that window.  In fact I was thinking about 9/11 and suddenly that window became the TV and I was seeing those buildings fall.  Yes, that was very unexpected.  So I wasn't really surprised today to see that unusual animal out the car window.

I can't wait to see more of the "unexpected"!  This seems to be a time of seasons changing all around.  Things are happening in the natural!  Zeke noticed this morning that the leaves on the top of the trees in their neighborhood had started to turn red!  He was very excited.  And, truthfully, it was unexpected to already see leaves changing.  I loved this (from the Passion Translation Facebook site)

When Jesus looks at you, he never sees your history, he sees your destiny, he sees who you really are. You are his lover, his friend, his delight, his bride.When you think you deserve a lecture, he gives you a kiss.When you have failed him, when you are your worst, Mercy rises up and says you know I love taking chaos making it into beauty and symmetry. I work the night shift and my plan is Night and day. Evening and the morning is the first day. God always begins in the dark. He's comfortable working to make you more like Jesus Christ.

This was an unexpected find on Facebook today!  I can't wait to see what will be coming around the corner for all of us.  I love that Jesus doesn't see our history.... only our destiny!  And I love the reminder that God always begins in the dark.  Isn't that a great encouragement to us all?  Even if we are in a really dark place, it is a good place because God is beginning something there.  So if it is looking dark and gloomy out of that window, expect the unexpected and rest in the assurance that Jesus sees our destiny and is already working in us and for us!

Jesus, thank you for speaking to me in even little things, like a surprise animal out my car window! Holy Spirit, continue to encourage us during those dark times.  Keep our eyes open to see those unexpected sights.  Thank you for seeing our destiny when you look at us!  Amen

The end of a "sugary" day.... good food, good work, good friends!

This is going to be just a really quick post about my very long day........ It was the kid's Christmas Party today at my work.  So we had a room full of over excited, over stimulated, over junk-fooded, crazy kids!  Yes, it was a busy, busy day that sure had some "moments"!  Here is a shot of the "snacks" at the party!  Yep, cookies, donuts, chips, more cookies, cheese and crackers and yes fruit.

Most of the kids only ate a cookie or two and some of the fruit, but there were several that cleaned their plates!  It was most certainly a "sugar overload".  (And most of the kids hardly touched their lunch either).  But hey, Christmas only comes one time a year, right?

Okay, I have been working on "expecting the unexpected" and I sure had some more "unexpected" things happen today. 

1.  I started the morning by dropping a container of white finger paint onto a tile floor.  The lid popped off and I had GLOBS of thick white paint all over me!  Down my pants leg and covering the front of my fleece and the right sleeve.  And did I mention that I was wearing BLACK corduroy pants and a BLACK fleece?  And I was "dressed up" for the parents who would be attending the party that started at 9:30.  The unexpected part of this story is that with lots of water and paper towels, the white finger paint vanished from my clothes.  I mean totally gone!  Now THAT is really unexpected!

2.  I received so many wonderful cards and gifts from the children today..... I was totally overwhelmed.  I have only been working at this job since mid-October and was not expecting this at all.  I am not the "teacher" in the room, just the assistant.  This was an unexpected thing that makes me so thankful for this job!

3.  It is very hard not to get excited and happy about Christmas when you are surrounded by 15 or 16 little faces, all filled with joy and happiness over a simple little party.  Yes, I was not expecting to feel so HAPPY today.  It was a surprise.  A very pleasant surprise, I might add.

4.  Tonight I got to spend the evening with some very dear friends.  You know that feeling that you are so tired and you don't want to go anywhere or do anything?  Well, I had that feeling earlier tonight.  But I pressed through, went out to meet with my friends and I was so blessed!  The unexpected part of this is that, on the way home I had several very clear revelations and answers to prayers that I have been seeking for weeks.  This was an unexpected ending to this day.  (I am sure I'll be sharing more about this in the days ahead!)

Jesus, thank you for the "miracle" of finger paint that dissolves away with water.  Thank you for the kindness and generosity of the families I work with every day.  Thank you for joy, for wonderful sugary snacks, for Christmas time and for children.  Thank you for good friends, amazing prayers, and wonderful revelations.   Amen

An unexpected, out of control day!

So you know how you think that you might have things figured out and/or under control?  Well once again I have learned that - guess what? - I am not in control of anything!  While I am upset about the current "snag" in my plans, I remember well, my lesson from yesterday.   I GET IT!   Jesus is in charge and I am convinced that He has plans in place for me and more importantly, he wants to bless me.  Knowing that, I can sit back, take a deep breath and let things play out.  My part is just to keep listening to Him.  I am sure that there will be lots of days ahead when I forget this, or slip back into wanting to have everything neatly lined up.  So I am trusting that all of my friends and family out there, will remind me that I GET IT!

And what I have been thinking about today is when Ken lost his job in 2002.  Let me tell you, that was an unexpected, out of control moment.  We were NOT prepared for this, in so many ways.  We circled the wagons (so to speak) and prepared for the worst.  Fortunately, Ken got a job in less than 4 months.  Nearly unheard of given his age.  Now we knew that this job wasn't the greatest - but HEY - it was a job.  He was very overqualified and the job only lasted 6 months.  But, once again, after an unbelievably short 2 months off, he found another job.  This job had a killer commute, but once again, we were feeling blessed that he had a job. Then, he lost this job after only 8 months.   This was much harder to take.  But we tried to stay positive and he faithfully sent out those applications.  Well, somehow, God was definitely in charge.  Ken got hired at a company that NEVER hires direct and only hires from temporary.  IT IS THE PERFECT JOB FOR HIM!  The original job that he lost in 2002 was stressful and not much fun.  This job that he has had for 10 1/2 years is simply amazing for him.   He never brings work home, rarely travels, has an easy commute and most of all - HE LOVES IT and IT IS FUN!  Several years ago, he was talking with his boss and asked him how he got his resume.  His boss couldn't even remember!  But I know that when Jesus is in charge, things happen.  And the things that happen are a blessing.  So we weathered that storm, we weathered the storm when I lost my long time job in 2009 and we will get through this job change for me now. And I will continue to seek to rest in contentment. 

Tonight I am so thankful for Ken and the rest of my family tonight.  They are affirmed for me, that this is a GOOD thing and that there is something so much better for me out there.  Actually when Ken and I were talking, I realized that there is a conference coming up in two weeks that I felt SOOOO called to be at.  Yet with working, I really didn't feel like I could do it.  Now, I will be able to attend!  Isn't that amazing.  And the best part is Ken really wants me to be able to do this.

Yesterday I received an email from the ministry hosting that conference... this was the tag line of that email.....
 "The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him." Galatians 3 Message

So, tonight I will be embracing what God has arranged for me! 

Thank you Jesus for your love and care.  You are an amazing and wonderful God that is arranging things for me.  Holy Spirit, remind me to embrace all the changes that are happening in this time.  Thank you for the blessing of my family and friends during this time.  Yahweh, would you please hold a place for me at that conference?   Thank you, thank you, thank you.   Amen