SURPRISE!

This month we celebrated our son Peter in a big way.  His 40^th birthday is the end of September and his wonderfully creative and organized wife wanted to have a surprise party for him.

And she succeeded brilliantly!

First, she chose a day he would least expect to be celebrated – almost 2 months before his actual birthdate.

Second, she prepared everything, and I mean everything, well in advance of the event date.

Third, she elicited help from trusted people – daughters, friends, and family.

Fourth, she invited others to participate in the celebration.

And finally, she gifted him with what she knew would be good.

To make the surprise special she had to do a lot of work behind the scenes;

work that kept Peter totally in the dark.

She is a blessing to her husband, and to those of us privileged to know her.

I thought of the many times God surprises me!

First – He ordained all my days before they came to be - Psalm 139:16

Then He prepared my activity in advance – Ephesians 2:10

He put others in my life to bless, counsel, train, challenge, correct, inspire, motivate and celebrate with me.  And He gave me opportunities to love and share with them.

Then He gifted me to do what He asked of me.

A lot of what God does is behind the scenes, unknown and unrecognized and sometimes leaving me seemingly in the dark...

until it bursts into my consciousness that my God truly is AT WORK!

He is good! 

His surprises are good!  

I just need to watch for Him.

I wonder ... how has God been surprising you?

"Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me."
Psalm 103:2 (NLT)