Today’s title may make some of you – who are really old – think about a wonderful actor named Danny Thomas and an old television program he stared in the early days of television. It was a family friendly show focusing on the life of an American family. Today’s title really is talking about our Heavenly Father.

A friend gave me a copy of “Jesus Calling” which is an excellent devotional which I am really benefitting from, but one of my favorite daily devotional books is still “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. Yesterday’s thought went was about “living in a constant state of expectancy.”

As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him – to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surpassing power can break through at any point. Live is a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.

From Jesus Calling, “A life lived close to Me will never be dull or predictable. Expect each day to contain surprises! Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day. Be willing to follow wherever I lead. No matter how steep or treacherous the past before you, the safest place to be is by My side.” Isn’t that true? Our tendency to look for the easiest route and the truth that there’s no better place to be than at the side of Jesus?

God is surprising us as He did in worship last Sunday! What a blessing to baptize Abbey, anoint with healing oil another, to hear a Word from through Lord through Cyvil’s obedience, to worship in spirit and Truth, to respond to God’s preached Word and send off Mark and Nina with heartfelt prayers! God is alive! I am so thankful for the surprises He’s bringing to the First Church Family. To Him be all the glory!! Come “expecting great things!”

Yours in His amazing Love,

Pastor Mark

PS –Remember our “5th Sunday Potluck Dinner” this Sunday January 29. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Mary is cooking fried chicken!