Surprised by God

 Have you ever been surprised by God? I am sure Mary was when God sent Gabriel to her announcing she would give birth to the Son of God. I imagine the disciples were surprised when Jesus called them to leave their fishing nets to follow Him and become fishers of men. I am betting Moses was surprised when he saw the burning bush that was not consumed by the flame, and he heard God call Him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Did Moses get surprised again when God parted the Red Sea to make a way for Israel to escape from Egyptian forces when there seemed to be no way? God surprised them again with manna, water from a rock, and provision of quail for meat. 

Have you been surprised by God? I have multiple times. Surprised when He called me to preach as an eighteen year old high school graduate the summer before I went to Howard Payne University to play football and study journalism. He surprised me again when I met the love of my life, my best friend, and wife of 34 years in Brenda. He surprised both of us when He blessed us with not one, but four sons. He surprised us with many might moves from Him saving souls. Too many to recount. At youth camps, revivals, retreats, rallies, and in the different churches we have served. He surprised us over and over again with answers to prayer. You just cannot know all the ways God has sustained Brenda and I over these 34 years on our journey of faith. Sometimes He provided hundreds of dollars. Sometimes thousands. A few times tens of thousands. We did not ask any person for this provision. We asked God, and He surprises us by communicating our need to people whom responded by giving. God gets the glory for every answer to those prayers. 

He surprised us with a call to Fritch, TX. I did not send a resume to this church. A friend did without my knowledge. He certainly called us here, a fact we cannot deny. He made a way for us to get a loan on a home based on my income alone. Brenda has not had a job in seven months. He has met our every need. He surprised us by moving so powerfully this past summer, and the much celebrated lake baptisms on Aug 3rd. He surprised us again by opening a door for our son Tucker to get a teaching and coaching job in Borger, only a few minutes from Fritch, and him moving back in with us. God surprised us again by First Southern Baptist Church blessing us with an incredible pastor appreciation gift a few weeks ago. He continues to surprise us with more people getting saved. Four in the past week and a half. 

God certainly surprised us by sending revival to FBC Seminole back in the summer of 2010. I look back on those days with such fond memories. The prayer meetings. The yearning for God by that church. the mighty men of prayer that met Friday mornings. I recall writing a 40-Day devotional in preparation for those revival services in just three days as God inspired the material. I reflect on the cleansing of the temple, where we prayed and read through the Bible out loud in the sanctuary, the week leading up to the first services. I still can see Coach Herb Rios starting the first service of those revival days by reading the last chapter of Revelation out loud that Sunday morning. I recall the first song of the first meeting sung by Sherman and Tammy Aten. The worship honored God for 23 straight days. There was intensity. I remember seeing people flat on their faces at the front of the church in tears as they repented of sin. The people kept showing up. Jase Waller baptized people nearly every night. 37 to be exact. The testimonies were deeply impactful. The people kept showing up hungry for more. My life revolved around prayer, study, preaching, sleeping and waking up to do it all again. God surprised us as much in those 23 days as He has my whole ministry. 

I sit here this Thursday evening after everyone else has left the office. It is after hours and I let my mind drift back to the surprise of that Seminole revival. I retreated to my office each night after the service to write about it while it was fresh on my mind. I plan to turn those writings into a book one day. While looking back with joyful satisfaction, I also am looking ahead. To the day when God chooses to pour out the weight of His presence in Fritch, TX at First Southern in a transformative way. I can see it in my mind and spirit. I know in those days God will do more than we have seen in decades. I look forward to the day He surprises us with true revival. One that shakes the church and the city. A revival that sweeps through all the churches in Fritch and far beyond into the whole Panhandle region. 

One day we will show up for up worship unsuspecting what God will do. One day the worship will transport into the glorious presence of God. One day the proclamation of His word will move people to broken repentance. Once the people are clean before God, He will start saving souls by the dozens. Dozens upon dozens and the baptistry waters will flow and be stirred continuously night after night. Nights will turn into weeks and weeks turn into months with all that God wants to do. One of these days He will surprise us with a revival that exceeds our wildest expectations. May it be so Lord. Amen.