Expectations

Expectations can be defined as the end result that a person demands or has a strong request for. If not met, it can lead to great disappointment and if it’s achieved beyond measures it results in a huge surprise and happy endings. I have been told all my life what my expectations are in school by my parents. They wanted the best for me, and if I didn’t reach those expectations they wanted, there were definite changes that had to be made. When I started working my bosses demanded certain expectations, and if these were not met it could have great consequences to follow.

Now relating expectations to religion, it seems as Christians, that we expect a lot out of God. We know he is capable of the impossible, so we tend to fall back and hope he takes care of it. But we have to realize, we don’t always get what we expect. We have turned the word expect into a demand of things we want. It is not the things we would like to see happen, but the things we have to see happen. This is where things get so messed up and people get let down and disappointed the worse! We also go into church expecting the preacher to say the exact thing we need to hear to solve all of our problems that week. But the things we are expecting are not always the things we need, but the things we want. God has such great plans for our lives and most of the time the things we want sound great to us, and we will do whatever it takes to get them. But when we step back and quit expecting the things we want to appear, something even better will arrive at our front door.

We are not promised anything except for everlasting life, if we believe in God. Proverbs 27:1 ~ “Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day may bring forth” You never know when the last day will come or what things God has in store for you tomorrow. But be patient and know that all things work for good for those that love God. Romans 8:24-25 ~ “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

What I hope you get out of this message is not to completely quit expecting things, but to quit expecting the things you want to happen. God is great and powerful and can make anything he wants to happen, but those good things that happen, happen in His perfect timing! Don’t expect just the possible with God, expect the impossible!

Light

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” ~ John 1:5

How crazy is this verse!! God does so many miraculous things in and around our lives and when we stop and try to comprehend what and how He does the things He does we just can’t seem to wrap our mind around it!

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend an amazing prayer night in the NTS building. This building is the tallest building in the city and I was right there at the top! Being able to look out over the city and see people down below walking, driving, and living out their normal day lives was a big eye opener. It got me to thinking, how often do we really stop and think about what is going on around us and how we can use those moments to share with others God’s great plan for us all. As the sun was setting, the street lights and car headlights began to come on one by one. The drivers and people on the streets began to rely on those lights to guide them where they needed to be. These lights that guided them all to their final destination of the evening is just like the light God is spiritually providing us, we just have to be willing and open to follow where it leads us.

As people are traveling in new and unfamiliar places they rely on a map to get them to where they need to be. God’s word is exactly what we should rely on to get us where we need to be throughout everyday! “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105 Being out of the word and not in constant contact with God will really mess up your life and the plans He has for you. His word is what will guide you and provide you with the light of life.

Standing at the highest point of the city and looking out at all of God’s creation really puts things in perspective. It makes you realize how small you are and how equal everyone is! God loves everyone and everything so much. He has blessed everyone with that special unique light to guide your life. And what is so amazing is that not even one is the same!

I challenge you to dig into God’s word this week and pray to him for his light for you to shine so bright that you will be able to be on the path he has prepared just for you. He has great plans for you, better than anything you could imagine or wish for!

Faith

There are so many things going on right now! The school year is coming to an end which means finals are starting, summer plans are being made, and preparation for next fall is beginning to start up! This past week, after a lot of prayer, I have decided to run for President of my sorority. I have no idea where God wants me next year but I don’t want to close any door too soon. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~ Matthew 6:33 I have total faith in Gods’ plan for my life and he will place me where He needs me!

Being an officer this year has been a challenge and a wonderful experience. I have been stretched so far from my comfort zone and have met so many wonderful people along the way! Being President and being a leader among the group next year would be an awesome opportunity to share Gods’ word with all the girls in Phi Lamb. As I have watched the girls this past year and how they work with each other, I have began planning ways to become one as a group and use the strength God has equipped each of us with to move mountains across Tech campus! “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” ~ Philippians 4:13 This verse has been a challenge and a boost of power for me each time I read it! Whether this is the position for me next year or not, I know that where God puts me great things will happen!

I encourage you to have faith in Gods’ plan for your life! It doesn’t matter what stage you are in life He is still with you and in total control! The main thing to remember is that when things don’t turn out as planned; don’t let it get you down. There is obviously something much better for you that you haven’t even thought of and God is right by your side the whole time! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” ~ Proverb 3:5-6. Remember to take time to listen to God, He has so much to tell us and there are so many times we forget to stop and listen. You don’t want to miss out on something great he has in store for you!

The Cherry on Top

Do you ever feel like things are just going down the drain, you go from having a wonderful uplifting week and one little things makes it come to crash and everything falls to pieces? Sure, we all have those times in our lives, and if those bad things never happened, we would never have anything exciting to look forward or build up to. A lot of times these events seem unfair and completely out of the blue, but after the storm is over and you look back starting when things were good and now see how much stronger and closer you are with God it makes all the bad things worth the pain.

There are so many ingredients to a cake and when they are mixed together and cooked, it turns out to be so delicious! But if you were craving a cake, and have been craving one for several weeks now so you ordered a cake, and the cook brings out a cup of cooking oil, 2 cups of flour, a couple of raw eggs and dumped them all in one bowl and handed it to you…would you eat it? I hope your answer to this is no!! You would think that this was the most disgusting cake ever and you would be so upset because that craving you have been longing for still has not been fulfilled.

But this totally represents our life! God gives us this big baking pan to fill with great things that glorify him. And what do we do with it? We begin filling it ingredients like: TV, Facebook, gossip, social time, anything that takes our time away from God. So He begins filling it with things that will test your faith in Him, things that will make you feel like your world has come to an end. So you begin emptying that pan of evil ingredients of the world and filling with ingredients God. All of a sudden God begins mixing those challenges he has placed in your pan, and as you continue to walk with God he warms those ingredients, puts a dab of icing on it and a cherry on top and shows you that He is here to help you, and show you that all of these challenges work for the best of each of us.

God wants us to continue to grow with him. He knows that if you are not walking, talking, and listening to what He has to say, you will never be prepared for the things He has planned for you in the future. Romans 8:28 ~ “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”