God Showing Off

I was having a conversation with one of our church staff members the other day, and we had occasion to reflect for a moment on what most people would have referred to as a series of coincidences.  

Our conversation centered on how seamlessly we were going to be able to connect a sermon series I have been planning to preach with a children's ministry program we will be launching later in the year.  

At one point I said, "Wow, it's almost like we planned it that way!"  Then we both paused and smiled.  "Or Someone planned it that way!" I added.  

To say that "God works in mysterious ways," is probably the biggest understatement in the history of understatements.  

More than once in my life I've had occasion to stand in awe of what seemed like an impossible turn of events... an improbable chain of actions and reaction... a fantastic bit of timing... 

And in those moments I have often find myself praying the following prayer quietly to God:  "Okay, now you're just showing off."  

I also believe that God is always inviting us to those moments of realization by giving us glimpses into the loving intricacies of God's plan for our lives.  

Like when we realize how many things had to happen for that "chance" meeting to occur--the meeting that changed everything for us.  

Or when it dawns on us how that one small decision we made started a ripple that later paved the way for incredible transformation. 

And it's also when we are privileged to see how even the hard and difficult experiences in our life resulted in beauty, truth and resurrection.  

But we have to be open to those moments of realization.  

Juliet Benner writes, "There is no end to the invitations to draw near and see God.  If we make a habit of looking for God everywhere, we will begin to again discern these invitations."  

May you be open to day and everyday to the realizations of God's loving, guiding hand in your life, and may you constantly be joyfully surprised by the ways that God is showing off all around you. 

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.