Great Expectations

Expectations can be a great thing. Or a beyond, beyond less than great thing that creates great disappointment.
I expect food delivered hot and fast when I go through a drive-thru. Mostly because I am in a hurry, starving because I've been "too busy to eat", and oh yeah, the establishment's commercials set up that expectation.
So while receiving an order of  limp, luke-warm fries and a less then tasty sandwich, I feel disappointed and ripped off, I tend to chastise myself, "What'd you expect? It's _______, (insert fast-food joint's name here).

Even though half the responsibility surely rests on the disconnect between a New York ad agency, the restaurant's Marketing Department and the actual restaurants, some responsibility is mine. Because I have had bad fast-food meals more often than I have had good fast-food meals.
I should at least switch locations, or chains, right?

This type of expectation falls into the category of I expect this because I want it to be true. Really more wishful thinking on steroids.

There are great expectations that come to fruition and I am always so thrilled.

 In July of 2011 Keith and I stood at the altar of a sanctuary with carpet so worn you could see the holes in the floor underneath. Dust on the widow sills was measurable in inches. The windows themselves were beautiful-just dirty.( In fact to put it in realty terms, the building had great bones. It  needed cleaning and updating).

We prayed together to God. We told our Heavenly Father that if this was where He wanted us to do ministry, we would do it, we would give it our all, we would meet His people in the Shaw community and do life with them, helping in the ways we could, sharing the Word, breaking bread, and working really, really, really hard.

We did not place expectations on God as to what color the walls would be painted, who would paint the walls, how many people would help us, or how hard it would be to renovate a building while serving in the community. These things mattered but were not at the forefront of our prayers,

Our expectation was if God wanted us here, He would show us the way, to continue on Eva's theme from last week, step by step.  I continue because Eva was right, and Dr. King was right when he said, "Faith is taking the next step even when you can't see the whole staircase." Keith and I believed in God's ability to move us through our journey, And we just had to take the next step. And then the next step. And the one after that. One at a time, each one taken with equal faith in the God we love.

God brought us people to help with the building. Actually-we helped them as Keith and I epitomize the term unskilled laborers. God brought us people to help work at our first National Night Out only a month after being blessed with our church building.God brought us people from the neighborhood who have become our mentors, sounding boards, friends and great church members. With each step we took in faith and continue to take, God showers blessings upon us. Most often in the form of the beautiful people of the neighborhood.

My expectation now is that God will continue to bless if I will continue to step, alongside my favorite pastor and yours, Keith.

I do come to church every Sunday with great expectations. I expect to encounter God through Worship in music and in hearing His Word. Harry and the rest of the praise team and Keith, are vessels for this encounter.

I also expect to share life with friends, reveling in their victories, and praising God with them for those. Praying with them about their struggles and mine.

When I go to work each day I expect to work hard to earn my pay and am never disappointed. I also expect God to show me ways I can be Jesus' hands and feet for those I encounter. I pray to God each morning to show me someone I can minister to and to give me the right mindset and words to do so. As long as I am praying that prayer, and have that expectation, I have had that opportunity. No kidding.

This is a lot of me going on and on about how great our church is-and it is. And a bit of me sharing about my Monday-Friday life. But my point and I do have one, is that if we want to love others the way Jesus does, and grow as a disciple of Christ then we all have a job to do. We need to know we are on a mission from God. We need to have an expectation that God will show up if we ask, that He will bless our lives by allowing us to be His hands and Feet not just on Sunday but daily.

Who's willing to do two things with me?
1. be willing to be one of those vessels of God's love for others.
2. set up the expectation.
Okay three things.
3. take the first step.
So are we willing? Are we ready? Let me know how it goes. You can share in the comments section so we can all be encouraged by your great expectations.

Blessings, Lorilise