Longing for the UNUSUAL, the ATYPICAL, & the UNEXPECTED!
God sees all that goes on in the earth. Do we really believe that statement? Do we live as we believe it? Do we testify of the goodness of walking in fellowship with our LORD as if we do? This day, we can be reminded (not based upon our thoughts but on the truth) by the Word of God that this statement speaks truth—GOD SEES ALL THAT GOES ON IN THE EARTH!
“For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”
(2 Chronicles 16: 9a NASB)
As the day unfolded, it was just like any other Tuesday, one filled with students, with classes to teach, with miles to drive, and with e-mails to read. A normal day, right? Then, it suddenly was not! Normalcy is really underrated. Truly. We enjoy the state of being usual, the typical, and the expected. We seem to seek it, hopeful nothing unexpected will come to our day, to our path, to “our agenda,” to our plans, But God Is God, & we are not! Thank You Father for this truth! God’s Holy Spirit lives within us, filling us full, and as His, we walk throughout what seems to be our “normal” Tuesday(s) with our eyes focused upon our calendar plans—Do this, Do that, & When all is finished, return home to Do that. Thank You God for sending to us the unusual, the atypical, and the unexpected!
I drove to campus, prepared for class, walked to class, and took attendance (a typical day).
Then as I just began teaching, as the discussion of their next essay began, her hand shot up in the air, as if she suddenly had words to share. She did. “Ms. New, you pray every class period before we leave. Can you pray for my good friend and her husband who had a terrible crash on Friday and are now in the hospital in comas? ATYPICAL!
Oh Wow! Unwilling to wait, this beautiful student reminded us why we were given to each other. She reminded us within one simple request how God was there within that classroom, right with us, seeing us, supporting us, those who believed and who gave our whole hearts to Him. Most amazingly, in one simple statement, this young student reminded all her peers of the power of healing found in Almighty God!’
Thank you, LORD, for allowing Your eyes to roam into our typical English classroom today.
God, we lift our eyes toward heaven and praise You for Your goodness, for Your mercy, & for Your grace.
Believe It—God sees all that goes on in the earth!
Then, later in the day, I drove to another campus to teach a new group of students (quite usual).
While I was hopeful, unsure what type of students would enter the classroom, still I remained apprehensively hopeful. On the forty-minute drive, I talked with God.
As I arrived and sat in the conference room preparing my head, reading e-mails, reviewing my class notes, God settled His peace upon my being, and in that moment, I knew! God had sent me here, to a new campus, to new students, and to a new place where I could serve. Class began, I began to introduce the class and myself, and the students new to me revealed their beautiful selves.
Oh Wow! A Blessing. A Comfort. A Confidence. A Joy.
Eager. Expectant. Engaging. Willing. UNUSUAL!
Most amazingly, God brings us blessings within the smallest townships, within the tiniest campuses, and within the smallest details. God, You are most amazing!
God, we lift our hands, our hearts, our hopes, our dreams, our concerns, our burdens, our thanksgiving that YOU are our LORD, our SAVIOR forevermore!
“Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NASB)
Yes, We Can Believe It—God sees all that goes on in the earth!
- Joy inspires thanksgiving to God.
- Gratitude flows into rejoicing.
- Thanksgiving blends with musical adoration.
As this morning brings us to a new day, may you find time to sing, to dance, to twirl, to praise the Father, our Creator. If time allows you space, listen to “Be Glad” as Cody Carnes sings this Scripture passage, reminding us how God does see us as we walk through our typical Tuesdays & gifts us with unexpected joy.
“They shall give thanks to the LORD for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
They shall also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.”
(Psalm 107: 21-22 NASB)
“Of all cares, unbelief is the mother,” spoke John Calvin hundreds of years ago, and while those words were true then; still today, they ring true. After class finished and I locked up the building and turned off the lights, I drove forty-five minutes to reach my home. As I drove, seeking a new, shorter route, God led me to another blessing. You see, there is really no “short” way home when the road we must drive is filled with curves, hills, and winding roadways with hilly curves built directly into the roadway. Needless to say, the drive home made me drive the speed limit (new to me for sure) and gave me time to think back over my “typical” and “unusual” Tuesday.
I arrived home, unpacked my things, prepared a cup of tea, and sat down with my computer to record my last class attendance and check for any end-of-day e-mails. That’s where I found a question, a request, a petition from a student from one of my earlier classes.
“Ms. New, you share devotionals with us every day. May I write one for you to share with my classmates? I would like to remain anonymous so they don’t know it’s me. Would you allow me to write one for our class, and would you read it to my peers? I think I could write one that encourages them.” UNEXPECTED!
Oh Wow! A blessing! One most Unexpected! Thank You, Jesus, for Your saving grace.
My reply was quick. “Yes! I would most definitely allow this, most assuredly keep your name anonymous, and most excitedly share your devotion with your class.”
100%. We Can Believe It—God sees all that goes on in the earth!
Yes, Almighty God sees our Everything!
Let us long for the normalcy of our days where God can show up in UNUSUAL, ATYPICAL, & UNEXPECTED WAYS!
- Let us focus our eyes upon our Father.
- Let us see Jesus.
- Let us set our heart’s eyes upon God’s will for our days.
- Let us see our day as it unfolds, expectant and willing and hopeful—
For God to step into the single moments and bring us unbelievable JOY!
- Thank You, Father, for Jesus who we adore.
- Thank You, Father, for Your Holy Spirit who You sent to guide our steps.
- Thank You, Father, for SEEING ALL parts of us.
- Thank You, Father, that “the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, . . .”
- Thank You, Father for Your care, so that You “may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”
- Thank You, Father, for WhatsApp, for giving me students who desire to share time, staying with us throughout the weekend in our home.
Thank You, Father, for Christ Jesus, who is our life!
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
(Colossians 3: 1-4 NASB)