Thoughts for Life: LIVE WITH EXPECTATION

live with expectation

Elaine Elliott- We all live with expectation.

A hummingbird’s heart beats 1,260 times per minute, and their wings beat fifty to eighty times per second. When resting, they take 250 breaths per second. That’s astonishing.

My husband and I looked at each other for the one-hundredth time and said, “Why didn’t we know this?”

We both enjoy documentaries and books, which often surprise us with new information about the world. Hummingbirds have a particular fascination for us. Multiple species visit our garden, taking nectar from flowers we planted to attract them. Their iridescent feathers flash in the sun as they dart about, and we watch with awe.

One bright green one drinks from the tangerine flowers while another darts into the lavender ones hanging from a vine. As we follow their busy flight, we wonder about their unlikely miraculous little bodies. Another surprise—they only exist in the New World. The Spanish explorers called them “flying jewels.”

Learning about creation fills us with delight, and today’s scientists keep adding to our wonder. The latest pictures from the James Webb telescope come to mind.

When God spoke to Job, he never explained suffering; He simply pointed out amazing facts about things He had made. He set Job’s life in the context of a complex world, giving him humility and admiration for the marvels of God’s creativity. The more understanding we gain of God’s creation, the deeper our joy.

God is a great engineer, author, artist, sculptor, and musician. We’ll never finish learning from all He does, but any understanding we gain adds to our appreciation.

An expectant heart that learns something daily and shares it with others can live aware of the miraculous. Even in times of suffering, wisdom and understanding bring a bright new perspective of joy.

Learn to live each day with expectation.

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding."
Proverbs 3:13 NIV

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Veronika_Andrews.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)

Let's pray-

Father, when you spoke to Job, You simply pointed out amazing facts about things You'd made. When we see the creations, such as the hummingbirds, we are very impressed too!

May we view them with admiration and humility and at Your extravagance in making our world so beautiful! May we be reminded that You are the Great Engineer, Author, Artest, Sculptor and Musician of all things we see and hear, and give You our appreciation and thanks.

Help us understand with expectant hearts, that we are to learn something daily about the miraculous, and to share the wisdom and understanding with others. May we greet each new day with renewed expectancy!

In the name of Jesus, we ask this. Amen.

#44 Quote of Scripture:

Heb. 10:21,22 "And since we now have a magnifient High Priest to welcome us into God's house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out."

(The PASSION)

Recommended Reading-

Quiet Talks on Prayer by S. D. Gordon

"Confused about prayer's real power? Baffled because of your unanswered prayers? Shackled with doubts . . . hesitant . . . maybe just a little afraid of honesty- between you and God?

Read these QUIET TALKS ON PRAYER for a new understanding and fresh, stregth-giving insights into what can be man's greatest source of power . . . and love."

1246-1250 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1246- Ps. 119:41 "Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word."

1247- Job 36:22a "Behold, God exhalteth by his power."

1248- Ps. 134:3a "The LORD that hath made heaven and earth bless thee."

1249- Ps. 111:9b "He hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name."

1250- Pro. 4:11 "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom: I have led thee in right paths."

#44 Hymn- Redeemed

Some enlightening words-

"As long as we put sin under a cap and cover it, God will not prosper us in His way. The sins we often attempt to cover are pet sins that easily entangle us and hinder us from running the Christian race and winning the prize. When we confess and forsake our sins, Jesus covers them with His blood." James Cagle

Upcoming posts:

8/20- JESUS, THE TRUE PEACEMAKER- Winn Collier

27th- THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS- James Banks

8/3- GOD IS MY HELPER- Arthur Jackson