Exceeding Expectations
1 Corinthians 2:9 (New American Standard Bible)
9but just as it is written,
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
God’s plans are so much bigger than what our limited minds can grasp. Oh we try to figure out how His grand purposes will come about, but we are usually wrong.
Last night I watched an excellent movie entitled Gifted Hands. It tells the true story of the remarkable pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson. As a child, Ben’s perception of himself was that he was not very bright. Many others in his life had low expectations of him. His mother however had great faith that God had grand plans for his life. Ben Carson overcame enormous obstacles and studied medicine. He now performs life saving procedures on children at the renowned John’s Hopkins Hospital.
Many years ago I had the privilege of meeting the mother of Joni Eareckson Tada at a major event which Joni was hosting. I remember a sweet conversation I had with Mrs. Eareckson. She said: “When Joni first broke her neck, and was lying in the hospital, I prayed, God there must be more to life than this. Then, when she started painting and speaking to groups, I still had the sense that there could be more.” Joni’s mom paused, and with an awestruck expression, continued and stated”…But I had no idea it would mean all this!” No one could have guessed in those early days of her disability that Joni would be instrumental in forming an organization with worldwide impact ministering to people affected by disability. Joni has authored numerous books, spoken at countless conferences and touched the lives of multitudes.
In addition to these present day examples of individuals whose lives became better than was thought possible, we have the account of Abraham in the Bible. God had promised that He would bless Abraham abundantly and give him innumerable descendants.
Genesis 12
1Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
2And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Since he had no offspring, Abraham assumed out of misguided human reason that the blessing would come through a household servant.
Genesis 15
2Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir."
God in His patient mercy corrected that thinking.
4Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them " And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness
God’s plan for us is greater than we could ever imagine. Dream big and trust God. The destiny which He has ordained will exceed all expectations.
Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified Bible)
20Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--
9but just as it is written,
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
God’s plans are so much bigger than what our limited minds can grasp. Oh we try to figure out how His grand purposes will come about, but we are usually wrong.
Last night I watched an excellent movie entitled Gifted Hands. It tells the true story of the remarkable pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson. As a child, Ben’s perception of himself was that he was not very bright. Many others in his life had low expectations of him. His mother however had great faith that God had grand plans for his life. Ben Carson overcame enormous obstacles and studied medicine. He now performs life saving procedures on children at the renowned John’s Hopkins Hospital.
Many years ago I had the privilege of meeting the mother of Joni Eareckson Tada at a major event which Joni was hosting. I remember a sweet conversation I had with Mrs. Eareckson. She said: “When Joni first broke her neck, and was lying in the hospital, I prayed, God there must be more to life than this. Then, when she started painting and speaking to groups, I still had the sense that there could be more.” Joni’s mom paused, and with an awestruck expression, continued and stated”…But I had no idea it would mean all this!” No one could have guessed in those early days of her disability that Joni would be instrumental in forming an organization with worldwide impact ministering to people affected by disability. Joni has authored numerous books, spoken at countless conferences and touched the lives of multitudes.
In addition to these present day examples of individuals whose lives became better than was thought possible, we have the account of Abraham in the Bible. God had promised that He would bless Abraham abundantly and give him innumerable descendants.
Genesis 12
1Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
2And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Since he had no offspring, Abraham assumed out of misguided human reason that the blessing would come through a household servant.
Genesis 15
2Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir."
God in His patient mercy corrected that thinking.
4Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them " And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness
God’s plan for us is greater than we could ever imagine. Dream big and trust God. The destiny which He has ordained will exceed all expectations.
Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified Bible)
20Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--
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