I don’t know about you but I love to be surprised by things. Especially when it’s good news, expensive gifts or a good doctors report. ha

I’m one of those people who always try to figure everything in life out. I like to have a plan…and when I get pleasantly surprised, it messes with that plan and makes me appreciate life more. Don’t get me wrong, I NEVER try to figure out a movie or TV show. EVER. I can’t stand when people are talking the entire way through trying to guess what’s going to happen next. JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY A SURPRISE ENDING PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of the best surprises I’ve ever enjoyed in my life, come straight from God. You know, those blessings that smack you in the face when you turn around and least expect them. They aren’t deserved, they aren’t fore-casted, they aren’t wished or prayed for…and often they defy our pea brained human logic. Yeah, those surprises. I LOVE when God chucks a few of those my way every so often! 

In my reading today I was reminded of the story of Nathanael in John CH 1. Man, talk about surprises. Check this part of the story out, when Nathanael is first introduced to Creator of the Universe: 

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him,“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,t you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Seriously though…Nathanael had a great point. WHAT GOOD CAN COME FROM NAZARETH??? He wasn’t expecting that. I guess that’s sort of like Jesus coming from New Jersey or something. Anyway…I’d say the Nathanator got the surprise of his life…from the very place he wasn’t looking. 

So it is with you and I so many times. I want to challenge you to STOP trying to predict what God is up to. It’s fine to pray, to wish, to be observant of His work in your life (that’s what helps lead us to gratitude after all) but I want you to stop trying to figure God out. It’s futile, you know. He likes to keep you on your toes, and trust me…He’s really good at it. 

Embrace it. Be watching for God to throw you a change up when you’re expecting a curve ball. When He does…write it down, journal it, remember it. 

It will help you appreciate the creativeness, the personal touches of the Son of God.