This last few weeks, I have been calling God ‘The God of Surprises’.  I am not sure why.  I think I like the sound of the words, and people enjoy surprises.  I have put a positive spin on the word.  After all, a nasty surprise is a shock.  I believe Jesus came to give us an abundant life (John 10:10) which is fulfilling, satisfying, busy, joyful and so on.  Good things.  So the surprises God gives are to bless us and not to harm us.

I believe.

On Sunday this past week I prayed that the God of Surprises would do just that.  Surprise me.

So He did.  Someone complimented me unexpectedly as I arrived at church – not on my appearance but on who I am; I was asked to join a ministry close to my heart; then, just as I was enjoying my Sunday lunch, the doorbell rang – my daughter asking me to help with her three small children for the next two days.

The day continued, with heavy rain falling which, after a year of almost complete drought, was a blessing in itself.

It did not stop there.  I had an email from the US asking me if I was interested in contributing an article for an e-zine; another from a friend asking if she could include my faith story in a book she is writing, and a phone call inviting me to join friends at a concert next month.

What a day!

“Thanks, Mom, for helping out – you’ve been a real God-send!” my daughter said the next evening as she collected the children.

“Well, I prayed to the God of Surprises to surprise me yesterday morning.  This was an unexpected, delightful surprise.”

We laughed together.

God answers our prayers – even when we pray for suprises.

In fact – even this post is unexpected as, for the last few days I have not had a clue what to write about.

Surprise!