Pleasantly Surprised

Acts 3:1-12 (NIV)



1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
 

Well, today marks the end of a long journey for me.  Today I had my final checkup after several months of recovery and healing from eye surgery.  No more lying completely still, face down.  No more eye drops several times a day.  The healing process is declared complete.  The doctor was "pleasantly surprised" at how well everything healed.  He was "surprised" at the quality of vision I have in the repaired eye.  My vision in that eye without glasses is "better than expected."
 
For my wife, Lynne, it raised some questions, like, "What did you expect?"  But for me, I could only smile because I knew God had touched me and therein lies the "unexpected" result.  I had so many dear friends go to the throne God to ask for full restoration of sight.  Thank you so much.
 
What did I expect?  I think my answer would be, "Something unique."  I have learned in the last few years that it is not about me.  It really wasn't about my eyesight.  Rather it was about how God would display Himself.  How would He be glorified?
 
Was I surprised?  No, I don't think that is the word for it.  I don't really have a word for it.  I know that once again, today, I was touched by God.  Today, He touched my spirit.
 
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)


20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, You Are Good, Everything You Do Is Good

Psalm 119:68 (NIV)

68 You are good, and what you do is good; 
 
Our former pastor would often start his prayer by saying, "Lord, You are good, and everything you do is good."
 
I've taken that as a launching point for many of my prayers as well.  It puts God in His proper place.  It puts me in my proper place as well.  Let me explain.
 
First, we agree with God that he is good.  Scripture teaches us that his creation was "very good." (Gen. 1:31)  From that point on, through the Old and New Testaments, we see God's acts of love, promise, protection and redemption.  
 
Secondly, it reminds me that what I read about in scripture, he continues to do today.  God does not change.  He is still good and everything He still does is good.
 
OK, so what about the bad stuff?  We live in a broken, fallen world with people who are broken and fallen.  Some folks are good-willed people prone to making poor decisions.  Others are simply evil in their intent.  David found himself in the  midst of his enemies.  They were people who sought to damage his reputation if not cause him physical harm.
 
Read carefully what David says to the Lord, in the midst of trial.
 
Psalm 119:68-72 (NIV)
68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
 
I was listening to my iPod this morning and the words of a modern psalmist, David Crowder, caught my attention.

"And all of a sudden, / I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory / And I realize just how beautiful You are / And how great Your affections are for me / Oh how He loves us / Oh how He loves us / How He loves us all"

The phrase that jumped out at me was "these afflictions eclipsed by glory." 

This brings me to my third point.  If He is good, and everything He does is good,  then my afflictions aren't necessarily a bad thing.  I must surrender them to Him so that I may witness His glory.  It reminds me of my place as His child.  If I hold on to my afflictions, that is all I will see.  My afflictions.

My afflictions this year have dealt mainly with eye health.  I just received an excellent report and prognosis from the doctor after 3 surgeries and 8 months of recovery.  But I have to tell you, I would not change a thing about these past 8 months, because I now understand what it means to be suddenly "unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory."

Lord, You are good, and everything You do is good.