"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows," James 1:17 (NIV)
This morning as I got dressed, I was pleasantly surprised to find $5.00 in a pair of pants that I have not worn for about three months. I like surprises; especially those surprises that benefit me. When I was a kid, I would beg my parents to buy me a box of Cracker Jacks, not because I liked caramel popcorn.
Instead, I wanted the surprise inside. When my mother would bring home a box of Corn Flakes that contained a toy inside, I would dig through the cereal in search of the buried toy. To expedite my search, I would open the bottom of the box first. I knew that the Kelloggs company hid the prize at the bottom of the cereal box. Not having the patience to eat the whole box of cereal, I learned to get my prize quickly by going after the wrong end of the box. Yes, I like surprises that benefit me. Those are good surprises!
But what about surprises that I don't really want? How do I receive this type of surprise?
Recently, my father passed away. Although it was not a huge surprise to learn of his death due to his ill health, it came unexpectedly two days before Christmas and a week before my daughter's wedding. As Christians, if we believe that God is for us and not against us, then we can withstand the unexpected events and tragedies that come into our life, the surprises that we don't really want. In our interview with Terry Esau, he emphasizes that God loves to surprise his children. In fact, the next time you open your Bible to most any narrative passage, look for the surprises that God brings into the lives of his children, and remember that God is a giver of good gifts. Even the ones we don't want have something in them to benefit us.
John Cordova is on the pastoral staff at Grace Fellowship Church in Brooklyn Park, MN and a member of the BoldPath team.
But what about surprises that I don't really want? How do I receive this type of surprise?
Recently, my father passed away. Although it was not a huge surprise to learn of his death due to his ill health, it came unexpectedly two days before Christmas and a week before my daughter's wedding. As Christians, if we believe that God is for us and not against us, then we can withstand the unexpected events and tragedies that come into our life, the surprises that we don't really want. In our interview with Terry Esau, he emphasizes that God loves to surprise his children. In fact, the next time you open your Bible to most any narrative passage, look for the surprises that God brings into the lives of his children, and remember that God is a giver of good gifts. Even the ones we don't want have something in them to benefit us.
John Cordova is on the pastoral staff at Grace Fellowship Church in Brooklyn Park, MN and a member of the BoldPath team.
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