GREAT EXPECTATIONS

A dear friend joined the Sisterhood of Grandmother's this week-





The excitement and expectation of the days leading to the birth of a grand are in a class all of their own.  A continuation of the saga started with the birth of their own parent--a generation ago--those grands are a totally separate miracle classification.


The excitement in the air is literally palatable around the little grands' house lately.  Christmas is days away--school vacation begins this week--and preparations are at a fever pitch.  Expectations are high and even with trying to maintain some sense of reason---something tells me once again it will be pandemonium when the big day arrives.





My life seems to revolve around the expectation of my next adventure--next trip--next project.  It is a struggle to keep my focus on the day to day joy of life instead of living in anticipation of the next big thing. 





And then there is the occasional let down after the expected event.  I have memories as a child of gift envy--whatever someone else had---I wished I had gotten.  I still remember the Christmas my brothers got these wonderful rockets--which really launched.  I don't remember what was under my side of the tree--my green eyes were too busy focusing on their side.





LONG AGO--God's chosen people lived in anticipation---in great expectation of the promised Messiah's arrival.  It was foretold hundreds of years before His birth, and man had his vision of how it all would look.  After generations of oppression and making a general mess of things, it was believed the Messiah would be a great royal king--a man of immense power and wisdom who would sweep in and save the lost with armies of power and might.

He did just that--but the great expectations and stark reality of how it played out were miles apart.  The long expected king was born in a borrowed stable to a working class couple--and lived the life of a carpenter until the appointed time of his ministry.  Man had built up in his mind how this should all play out--and his expectations were dashed when God orchestrated His perfect plan.

The wonderful message is--all our expectations were met and more than we could have ever dreamed of---but the script was written by God--not by man.  The story is perfect--in every detail---a miracle of redemption for an unworthy world--but the storyline is one of pain, suffering, rejection, and death--and then the glorious resurrection.  God's plan for Jesus was not governed by man's great expectations, but instead followed the path foretold hundreds of years before.  Who could have known the glory of grace until the fulfillment of the prophecy-in God's perfect time and His perfect plan--all of our great expectations were met---and OH--so much more.


Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” 
Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 
Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”


6 comments

  1. It's amazing how many events in Christ's life were prophesied by the prophets in the Old Testament. As you say, it was all part of God's plan for humanity. Yet today, large sections of humanity still turn their backs on Him.

    God bless.

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    1. I have to wonder why, Victor!
      Blessings , Friend!

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  2. Get yourself a rocket, girl ... and fly high this Christmas!

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  3. AWWWWWWWW on the baby...congratulations to your friend...how precious. Life is an adventure of all its own...just my opinion of course...don't mind me...I was reminded today that I will be 49 in March...and that didn't sit to well with me...sigh.

    ANYWAYS---as always---your thought provoking posts always make me smile. Many Holiday Blessings to you, friend.

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    1. GIRL- you're a spring chicken!! Didn't start running marathons until my 50's so lots of good years to come !!
      Blessings, Friend!

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!