Anticipation (random Friday) - Daily Devotional Apirl 23rd, 2010

Bible Reading - Numbers 1, Psalm 35, Ecclesiastes 11, Titus 3

Anticipation (random Friday)

Watching my kids grow up now for the past seven years (Cara 7, Faith 5) has taught me so many lessons in life. I think one of the greatest lessons it has taught me is the joy of anticipation. I told my daughters that we will be going to the Water Park this summer and although we went last year they are still very excited to do this. I told them about 2 weeks ago that we will be going and yet still today as I drive them to school they are talking about it and how fun its going to be and what slides they will and will not go on. Their little faces light up with excitement and joy as they anticipate the coming of this grand day. Just the other day I heard them whispering in the back of the car and then they stopped and said, "Dad, can we invite some friends to come with us?" Without hesitation I told them, "yes of course you can!" And of course their response, "YIPEE!!!!"

My children have been anticipating this day for over two weeks now and with each day the excitement grows and now they are not only talking about what slides they are going to go on but they are talking about what friends they will bring with them. Faiths excitement has grown so much that she asks, "is next time (meaning the next day) when we go to the water park?" They are so assured that dad is really going to take them to the water park that there anticipation is contagious to the point of wanting to tell everyone including adults form church that they need to come to the water park with them.

Anticipation is exciting, its contagious and it should be a part of the Christian life. You see as you read the Bible one thing is certain throughout it. Jesus is really going to return and we are going to live with The Lord Jesus Christ forever. This has been promised to us by our heavenly father and there needs to be an anticipation in each and everyone of us, an anticipation just like Cara and Faiths for the water slides.

Anticipation is what causes my daughters to be excited, to talk about it with one another and to want to get others involved in it. It is the same for you and I when it comes to our relationship with Jesus and the promise He has given to us. It is our anticipation that causes us to be excited, talk about Him with one another an invite others to be a part of it. This anticipation of His return is what people should notice as we are living lives that exemplify this. Just like the joy I see on my daughters face when they talk about the water park, people need to see the joy on our face when we talk about Jesus Christ.

I am experiencing anticipation even right now as we get ready for our Friends and Family weekend May 1st-2nd. I have been inviting my neighbors and parents from school. We are even going out tomorrow to do an outreach in Little Italy's Art Walk to invite people to church. My anticipation has me thinking about this exciting weekend and telling everyone about it. I exciting because it is another opportunity to find Jesus and get plugged into a life giving community.

Let anticipation fill your heart and life once again, be excited and contagious because He is alive and He is coming back for His church.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Numbers 2, Psalm 36, Ecclesiastes 12, Philemon 1

Dream Big
Ben