Great Expectations Matthew 7:24-29 8/29/04

When I joined the church as a young child we were each given a Bible. I used that Bible all thorough my growing up years… for study, for daily devotions. There are passages underlined throughout the pages. I pulled it off the shelf and was showing it to Sarah the other day. As you can see it’s in pretty tattered shape. Written in the front pages – in the handwriting of a young child is my name, address, telephone number. And then on the opposite page are these words:

"Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God."

What do you expect from God? As I began to think about this question a number of things came to my mind. I expect God to be present in times of struggle. When the challenges of life weigh heavy on me – I expect God to show up. I expect that God will help to get me though those difficult times. When I’m in the midst of the raging waters. At times of death – at times of loss – at times when I just can’t seem to stand on my own. I expect God to be there when I have to make important decisions: what will be my life’s work? – who will be my partner on the journey? – should I make a major move in life? – to another city? – get divorced? – start down another path? I expect God to always love me... even when I don’t feel very lovable – when I make stupid mistakes and need forgiveness. When I go off running my own life I expect God to love me no matter what.

But do I expect God to show up in the routine, ordinary days of my life, when nothing very exciting is going on? When you begin to think about it most of our days are pretty ordinary. Hopefully there’s not a lot of drama going on every day. Do we expect great things from God in the ordinary or do we only seek God in the topsy- times of life? I have been re-reading "My Grandfather’s Blessings" by Rachel Ramen. The book is a series of stories that Dr. Ramen writes about encounters with her patients who are faced with chronic or terminal illnesses and how in these situations people have a deeper sense of God’s presence and how many people find how to really live life -- when faced with death. How do we learn to live life to the fullest – to expect God’s presence in each and every day?

What great things do you expect from God on Monday mornings… in the ordinary days of our relationships? What great things do we expect from God as we build friendships with other people... as we make daily commitments to do the best we can to help other people? Just maybe the great things we expect from God are found in the ordinary as well as in times of challenge… to hear God in the song of the bird, the laughter of a child… to see God in the eyes of another person, in the beauty of a sunset… to feel God in the tender touch of another person, in the warmth of the summer sun on our skin… to find God in the ordinary may be the great expectation.

The second part of the writing in my Bible said "Attempt great things for God." I wondered what I was thinking when I wrote these words in my Bible as a young child. What great thins did I expect to attempt for God as a 12 or 13 year old? Did I expect to change the world? Did I expect to tell others what I had found at church – how God was a part of my life? What great things do I attempt for God as an adult? What great things do you attempt for God? There is a story told of a woman who went down to the beach every morning and when the tide went out it would leave hundreds of starfish lying on the beach. She would walk the length of the beach putting as many starfish back into the water as possible. Someone watching her do this stopped her one morning, asking why she attempted to do such an overwhelming task that she could never save all of the starfish. As she continued her efforts she picked up yet another starfish saying, "it matters to this one".

What great things are you attempting for God? I have long believed that we can change the world one person at a time… that what I do each and every day can be heard around the world. By attempting to reach out and touch another person today and tomorrow and the next day will make a difference.

It is faithfulness that is required of us. That tomorrow morning I will get up with intention of attempting something great for God. That Tuesday morning and Wednesday and for a all of the days this week and the next and the next… I will do my best to live a life that makes a difference. By my words, through my actions, in my decisions, God will be glorified.

Attempt great things for God as you expect great things from God and the world will be transformed.

As you go into your new week pray about the great things you expect from God. How can you more and more open your life to experience the great things God is doing in times of struggle and challenge but also in the ordinary days of your life? Also pray about the great things you will attempt for God. The may ways that you can touch the world one person at a time to make a difference.