He Exceeds Expectations!

February 10

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or

imagine … be glory … ”

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Having lost a kidney to cancer years ago, Donna’s remaining kidney was failing

for the same reason. On dialysis five days a week and needing a kidney trans-

plant, there was less than a one in four hundred thousand chance of a match.

The elders anointed her as the church body gathered around. They prayed

for a match to be found, prayed for God’s peace, and for God to sustain her.

What happened wasn’t on the list.

At her next doctor’s appointment, an MRI was ordered to check on the

progress of the tumor. As he entered the exam room, the doctor had a dismayed

look on his face. Holding the film to the light, he said, “I believe you have

another tumor where your first kidney was removed.” The negative revealed a

small growth resembling a lima bean. Donna felt a rush of hope. “I know what

that is! It’s a new kidney, not cancer!” The doctor tried to reason with her that

kidneys do not replace themselves, especially after so many years. But to his surprise,

over the next two weeks, this lima bean grew to become a viable, working kid-

ney. Donna has not needed dialysis to this day. And by the way, the diseased

kidney was also healed.

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We are amazed and somewhat surprised when God steps onto the scene in

power. We pray in faith and yet are stunned when God chooses to answer in a

way that eclipses what we pray for.

Miracles and healings did not pass away with the apostles. It is for God’s

glory that they occur. He is sovereign and will bestow or withhold healing as

He sees fit. We should always pray in unshakable faith, believing for miracles

and healing, leaving room only for God’s decision as to how He will answer

our petitions. With boldness, in prayer and thanksgiving, we are to approach

the throne of our Creator.

Prayer

“Sovereign God, we are humbled when You recreate

what You first created. Teach us to come boldly

before Your throne, with faith that produces hope!

We yield to You in all we do and continue to believe

for healing when it serves Your purpose. Amen.”

 The Look

February 9

Immediately a rooster crowed.

Matthew 26:74

This wasn’t the first time Jeff had played the part of Peter in the passion play.

He’d even felt a small portion of Peter’s anguish in past performances. But

tonight something shocking had happened. As he turned from the fire barrel,

having denied Christ a third time, he was looking into the eyes of Jesus. Not

the actor playing the part, but Christ himself! 

He folded to the floor and wept uncontrollably, great sobs racking his body. To the audience, it appeared to be a tremendous performance. To Jeff, it was as if he were Peter! He had received a large measure of the agony the apostle must have felt that night.  He couldn’t stem the flow of tears as he pried himself from the floor.

Jeff didn’t share his experience immediately. When he finally did, the tears

came again, unabated. Yet this time there wasn’t shame and conviction. In their

place were love and restoration. Jeff understood that Jesus had done for him

what He had done for Peter.

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Romans 5:10 says, “That while we were still God’s enemies … Christ died for

us.” The look Jeff saw in Jesus’ eyes wasn’t one of condemnation but of sorrow—

a sorrow born of the knowledge that there is within each of us a weakness that

places flesh ahead of spirit.

Jeff received a gift, a revelation. Jesus showed him the depths of His love.

Christ freely came knowing we would kill Him. First as an infant—in an infant

there is no fault. This baby was pure enough to meet the demands of Justice. 

He grew into a warrior with the strength to lead us through the murkiest waters

and lift us from the pits of hell; so fierce is His love that He left His throne to

live in our world! 

Finally, as a Savior willing to stand in our place and be defiled because He could not stand that we would spend eternity without Him! The look says, “I love you!”

Prayer

“Jesus, we come humbly in response to that look into

our soul. Though we have denied You in the past,

forgive us today as we ask to understand and surrender

to You. Lead us into reconciliation. Amen.”

 Do This

February 8

Do this in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24

He donned a hygienic mask, latex gloves, and sterilized the communion kit.

Then he prepared the elements. He was bringing the Lord’s Supper to a recov-

ering cancer patient. She had been isolated from the public for the past twelve

weeks due to an insufficient white cell count as a result of chemotherapy.

He thought about God’s healing power as he broke the matzo into the tiny

tray. As he poured the juice, the blood of the Holy Lamb of God, he reflected

on last night’s phone call. “Hi, Dana. It’s Pastor Chuck. I was wondering if it

would be all right to bring communion to you and Paul tomorrow morning.”

“That would be wonderful!” she replied. “I just hung up from talking to a

friend. He mentioned that he was getting ready to take communion to a shut-

in. As I hung up I said, ‘Oh, Paul, I wished our church did that.’”

Chuck was never surprised when he found that God’s urging was in

response to prayer.

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Divine appointments are opportunities to do the work of the kingdom for

God, to be His instrument of blessing. In our busyness, we sometimes view

these as inconveniences. Yet if we listen closely, stop rushing, and respond to

His urging, we discover God’s eager desire to bring blessings. When Chuck

brought the Lord’s Supper to Paul and Dana, he brought God’s love and heal-

ing power. When we obey, God sends His power through us to encourage

others. It always amazed Chuck that he was the recipient of a large portion of

that blessing.

As our relationship with God deepens, He asks us to carry His love further

into His kingdom. Fear from the enemy wishes to stop that from happening.

God wants us to know His strength is sufficient to meet that fear head-on

and walk right through it. Our obedience will determine if someone receives

a blessing.

Prayer

“Father of inspiration, right now we give ourselves over to

You to be used in bringing a blessing to those in need of

one. Touch our hearts and minds so that we can respond as

Your instruments of love. Blessed be Your Name, amen.”

 The Good Fight

February 7

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we

will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

She’d left the house in a huff—the typical Sunday morning routine lately. Kids

in tow, arguing, “If Dad doesn’t have to go to church, why do we?” She pressed

on, angry and feeling defeated. This was a battle she no longer felt like fight-

ing; she was ready to give up. “Are You watching, God? Do You care about my

family? I hate fighting with Rick.” He’d been wounded at church years ago and

refused to allow it to happen again. “Why did You let that happen, Lord? Don’t

You care that he was wounded?”

As she pulled into the parking lot, she glanced toward the digital marquee

in front of the church. Doing a double take, she looked back. Today’s message

read, “I know sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, but I am watching. God.” Staring

at the marquee as the message scrolled by once more, she sensed God’s pres-

ence and peace. “Give me strength, Lord.” she whispered.

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We are never alone. Occasionally, when it seems He is nowhere near our galaxy,

the God Who set the stars in the sky and calls them by name, kneels down and

speaks ours.

Singlehandedly rearing children in the Lord was never God’s design.

Many deal with spouses who would rather play nine holes, sleep in, or just

relax and read the Sunday paper than attend church.

If you are one who is fighting this battle, remember that God is at work

while you are being faithful for both of you. He wants you to know this is a

battle for your children’s future and spiritual direction, as well as your spouse’s.

When you choose to fight the good fight, you follow the exhortation in Gala-

tians. Those who walk away from God must come back on their own. It’s called

free will. But God says, “Do not become weary, for at the proper time you will

reap the harvest.”

Prayer

“Lord, give me strength to continue this fight. Heal

my heart and the wounds of those I love. Bring

resolution to painful memories and restore us to

complete spiritual health. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 A Matter of Perspective

February 6

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My

ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your

thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8–9

Through a clear and cloudless sky, the jet banked hard left, preparing for final

approach. Looking out the window, the businessman saw the hand and heard

the voice of God. There, below him, was a single, fluffy, white cloud. Centered

on the cloud was a perfect, vibrantly colored rainbow—not an arch as we see

from the ground, but a perfect circle. And in the center of it all was the shadow

of his plane cast by the noonday sun.

In that moment God whispered, “This is My promise. There is no place

that exists outside my love; no valley is below this circle; no mountain rises

above it. There is no east; there is no west; there is only my love. This is My

promise.”

There wasn’t time to snap a picture before the plane leveled out, but that

didn’t matter; he would never forget the image. A sense of peace replaced his

harried and stress-filled mind.

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Following the flood, God promised Noah to never again destroy the earth with

water. His covenant was the first recorded rainbow. “I have set my bow in the

cloud.” Never having witnessed one before, Noah must have been awestruck!

In the fourth chapter of Revelation, John describes how God remembers

that promise: “A rainbow resembling an emerald, encircling the Throne of

God,” not arching above it, but encircling the throne, all encompassing and

never ending, just like God’s promises.

The image and the whisper through the window of that plane let the busi-

nessman know that God was aware of his life and the problems he faced. From

God’s perspective, the things we deal with and witness each day are usually not

what they appear to be; there is a purpose. God asks that we trust Him to work

in our lives for that purpose.

Prayer

“Lord, I don’t look at things the way You do. Help me to

see what You see as I look at the issues of my life. Help

me to trust in Your promise. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”