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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Waiting on God's Surprises

A few weeks ago, I finished an eight-week Life Keys class at church. I'd taken the class because I love personality and gift questionnaires--as evidenced by my very thick file folder full of that type of information that I'd collected over the years. This class was different than others I had taken because it encompassed more topics and also because it distinguished between "life gifts" and "spiritual gifts". 

I didn't expect to learn anything new about myself and even thought it would annoy me or get me down because for so long I haven't been using skills and gifts in ways that I would like. I've been patient...but almost three years seems like a long time to wait on God (yes, yes, I know, many people in the Bible have waited much longer). For my summary during the last class, I easily and quickly picked the information you see in the photo. And then I went home, stuck it up on my wall above my desk for some kind of inspiration, put the folder away, and went to bed.

The next morning I woke up to this message on Facebook:

"I am actually wondering about your speaking experiences and if you would ever be interested in filling my pulpits some time? I also would be interested in having you be a speaker for the United Methodist Women. I think the ladies would be delighted to hear you speak about Christianity from a perspective that is outside their "normal" realm. I guess I'm thinking along the lines of what is coming in the future for Christianity, small-town churches and the best ways to maybe prepare for changes?"

And then this past Saturday, I woke up to another out-of-the-blue message on Facebook inviting me to be a contributor to Zondervan's newest women's devotional Bible: NIV Devotional Bible for Women: Fresh Insights for Thriving in Today's World.

And so, in a very short period of time, I'm scheduled to speak and will be a published writer this fall. Those passions and gifts I wrote down (and one I didn't--writing) are all coming together.

I've gone back and forth between being excited and being in disbelief and wondering how on earth this all happened. I'm not one to really have experiences where I can say without a doubt that God's pulling something together, but in this case, I feel confident saying that. 

And I'm so thankful. 

At the beginning of Advent, I also wrote about waiting (it really is a great theme to write about--there are many, many verses in the Bible about waiting) and ended with the question: "Are we willing to wait for God's surprises?"

I think I am--and I'm excited to see what comes next. 


Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.  Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.  He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.  Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. --Psalm 37:3-7