Expect the Unexpected: Being Amazed

Hello Friends,

Well, last week Mr. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow…. which means that we have six more weeks of winter. I was personally looking forward to six more weeks to Spring, but I guess six more weeks of winter isn’t that bad as long as we get one more snowfall! What do you think? Is Punxsutawney Phil correct? Do you want more wintery days or are you ready for Spring?

Every year on Groundhog Day, speaking of Punxsutawney Phil, the people who tune in to listen for the outcome are surprised by what the they hear. No one really knows, from year to year, whether or not he is going or not going to see his shadow. We live in suspense and embrace the surprise that awaits us on February 2nd. The other day, I was thinking about surprises. I don’t mind surprises; but I am the kind of person that likes to know things: I like to know what is going on, where I need to be, what I need to say, and what others are doing. Surprises are great, but not all the time. And so, I thought it would be fun to discuss how surprises help us expect the unexpected in our life.

Do you likes surprises? I thought there would be a few of you who would say yes to that one! Now, you should be careful when you say that you like surprises. Being surprised by something doesn’t always mean it’s something good or fun. I remember growing up, my parents put together a surprise birthday party for me. Every time I asked about plans for my birthday, my parents would say, “You just have to wait and see!” It was driving me crazy. The day of my party, my friends showed up–even some people that I didn’t really get along with. It was a good surprise party, in terms of I had no idea what was going on, but having those other kids there was a little awkward. Surprises can be good or bad.

We can be surprised by all kinds of things. I know this is before your time, but the TV show ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ had lots of examples of people being surprised and they’re not necessarily always happy about it. Some people screamed, some people laughed, some people cried, some people yelled, some people expressed joy, some people wanted the camera to be turned off, and some wanted to keep the camera rolling. Surprises have a way of showing us who we really are. I wonder what it is about “surprises” that causes such an array of emotions in our lives?

I have been talking a lot about “surprises”, but what is a surprise? A surprise is called a ‘surprise’ because we didn’t know about it or expect it to happen. It’s ‘unexpected’. In the Bible, we learn that Joseph was very surprised when he learned that Mary was having a baby. It was something that was definitely very much ‘unexpected’. Matthew 1:20-21 tells us, “But just when he had resolved to do this–meaning to leave Mary–an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” Joseph was surprised to hear the news about Mary and now he is surprised by the news given to him in a dream by God. In the dream, Joseph’s surprise was turned into something to be expected.

Nobody had a camera back then to film his reaction and put it on ‘YouTube’ or ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos.’ But we know from the Bible that Joseph didn’t do anything crazy or funny. He decided that he would do exactly what the angel said he should. Which is probably not what most of us would do? His reaction was very much unexpected. And unexpected is what can be said about Mary and Joseph.

Now, you would expect that if two people were going to be the parents of a King they would be very special people. But there was nothing special about Mary or Joseph. They were just two very ordinary people. One came from an ordinary small town and one from an ordinary, very small village. You see, in God’s kingdom, it doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from. Any one of us – rich or poor, adult or child – any one of us can do great things with God’s help: we can do the unexpected.

The next time you meet someone new – expect to be surprised. Expect the unexpected. Maybe God has something special in mind for them or even for you because we’re all children of God. Whether or not you like surprises, following God is always filled with surprises because we never know what God is going to do in our life. We have to trust Him, have faith in Him, and love Him with our whole heart. And just because winter is going to last for six more weeks, doesn’t mean that God has removed His surprises! I wonder what sort of surprises God is going to do until Spring arrives?

Let us pray: Dear Lord, please help us to let others surprise us with who they are. Help us to remember that everyone we meet is one of your children and is capable of great things. In your name we pray. Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

Message Borrowed from: https://sermons4kids.com/sermons/expect-the-unexpected