This news flash may shock some friends and family... but it is true!!
Oh, many of us have been through the “We’re EXPECTING” experience before… receiving the good news, buying a crib, bassinet, diapers, painting the room. Days filled with joyful anticipation. We know it will be good, exciting, a new page in our lives, new experiences, fun and laughter, joyous times.
But, to the undoubted relief of friends and family, this message is not about an addition to our family. It is about EXPECTING GOOD, anticipating God’s blessing, spiritual inspiration, love and kindness, new revelations of life’s secrets of happiness.
And it is a GOOD thing to be Expecting!!
Recently, watching the evening news on television it became apparent that there was a negative tilt to almost every story. It seemed that each report carried gloom and doom, broadcasting the dreary outlook that “there is no expected relief”, “a good outcome is not expected”, and promises that “things will undoubtedly get worse before they got better.” They remind me of the statement from a 1913 novel by Eleanor Porter, Pollyanna... "When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will find it."
We may all know someone whose views reflect a worrisome attitude, always expecting the worst possible outcome, frowning and fretting over each situation.
I am inspired by the Expectations of professionals. It is hard
to imagine a baseball pitcher going out to the pitcher’s mound expecting that everyone will hit a home run and that he will not strike anyone out. Or picture a concert pianist taking the stage convinced that she will hit many wrong notes and disastrous results.… and we won’t even discuss the fisherman who is doubtful of landing “the big catch” and preparing thought to settle for empty nets at the end of the day!
Turning to the Bible we can see how through the thousands of years wise men, prophets, even ordinary people in all walks of life EXPECTED GOOD, looked to God, the Creator, searching for Truth, expecting to see solutions and help take place in their lives. The story of the three Wise Men en route to the birth of Jesus demonstrated the lengths they were prepared to travel based on that Expectancy of Good, the promise of redemption, or seeing God’s presence on the human scene. In stark contrast, Job, at the height of his discomfort and challenges lamented, “The thing that I most feared has come upon me.” I have always thought that Job’s lack of faith and expectation of God’s help precipitated his problems.
In another instance, a young boy destined to become King, courageous David, ran towards Goliath, a giant of overwhelming strength and experience, expecting God’s power to carry the day in this lopsided contest. And, as Christ Jesus walked the hillsides and along the seaside, eager people gathered, expectantly, as recorded in Luke 8:40, “And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.” Waiting for healing and uplift, confidently, and their high expectations paid off.
A favorite hymn carries this promise, a promise proven over and over again in my own experience:
"We expect a bright tomorrow, all will be well;Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All must be well;
While His truth we are applying, And upon His love relying,
God is every need supplying, All, all is well."*
Turning to the Bible we can see how through the thousands of years wise men, prophets, even ordinary people in all walks of life EXPECTED GOOD, looked to God, the Creator, searching for Truth, expecting to see solutions and help take place in their lives. The story of the three Wise Men en route to the birth of Jesus demonstrated the lengths they were prepared to travel based on that Expectancy of Good, the promise of redemption, or seeing God’s presence on the human scene. In stark contrast, Job, at the height of his discomfort and challenges lamented, “The thing that I most feared has come upon me.” I have always thought that Job’s lack of faith and expectation of God’s help precipitated his problems.
In another instance, a young boy destined to become King, courageous David, ran towards Goliath, a giant of overwhelming strength and experience, expecting God’s power to carry the day in this lopsided contest. And, as Christ Jesus walked the hillsides and along the seaside, eager people gathered, expectantly, as recorded in Luke 8:40, “And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.” Waiting for healing and uplift, confidently, and their high expectations paid off.
All good fisherman love the story of Jesus disciples
improving their "catch' by throwing their nets on the right side, the Expecting Good side of the boat!!
These examples of Expecting Good are not the result of Pollyanna or “goody-goody” thinking, or a naive trust in Chance. They are documented proofs of the fact that God, Spirit, which is chronicled in the Bible in such terms as Mind, Love, and Truth… delivers nothing but good when we are faithfully listening and watching for signs of His presence. Thoughts of doubt, discouragement, fear and uncertainty cloud the Divine purpose, make us miss the mark, (a definition of sin), and become obstacles to realizing God’s power and presence, available for us to use, right here!!But HOW does it work? Jesus set the example. He encouraged us to know and understand that we are God’s ideas that like rays from the sun carry the light and heat out from their source, so we are the emanation of God's qualities, the rays of goodness showering the earth. For example: God is Love, and we are Love’s expression, here, in this place, right now! God is Mind, and we are the outcome of that Mind, intelligent, aware, and alert. God is Spirit, and we, His offspring are spiritual and eternal, not just little bundles of flesh running purposelessly through a span of time.
Expectancy is the active application of faith, and we need not just sit back helplessly watching problems accumulate, feeling out of control, hiding from life, but we can actively participate, running forward like David did to meet Goliath carrying that expectancy that God is more powerful than evil. We can live the realization that we are the very evidence of God’s life and being and we can overthrow the claims of sin and disease, defeat the lies of corruption, infidelity lack… the plethora of problems that would rob us of our heritage as God’s loving ideas.
Jesus gave this counsel: “ If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matt. 17:20
When we face each day with Expectation of Good as our outlook, Seeing Good as our Goal, our lives become
more active, more fruitful, and more productive. Racing out to meet the Goliath problems, getting on the mound to pitch a strikeout, sitting at the piano keyboard to play life’s classical tunes, just going out to LOVE and let our light shine, is today's challenge and opportunity!!Theologian Mary Baker Eddy set the stage for our anticipation of Good when she wrote in her book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", “When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress.”
These examples of Expecting Good are not the result of Pollyanna or “goody-goody” thinking, or a naive trust in Chance. They are documented proofs of the fact that God, Spirit, which is chronicled in the Bible in such terms as Mind, Love, and Truth… delivers nothing but good when we are faithfully listening and watching for signs of His presence. Thoughts of doubt, discouragement, fear and uncertainty cloud the Divine purpose, make us miss the mark, (a definition of sin), and become obstacles to realizing God’s power and presence, available for us to use, right here!!But HOW does it work? Jesus set the example. He encouraged us to know and understand that we are God’s ideas that like rays from the sun carry the light and heat out from their source, so we are the emanation of God's qualities, the rays of goodness showering the earth. For example: God is Love, and we are Love’s expression, here, in this place, right now! God is Mind, and we are the outcome of that Mind, intelligent, aware, and alert. God is Spirit, and we, His offspring are spiritual and eternal, not just little bundles of flesh running purposelessly through a span of time.
Expectancy is the active application of faith, and we need not just sit back helplessly watching problems accumulate, feeling out of control, hiding from life, but we can actively participate, running forward like David did to meet Goliath carrying that expectancy that God is more powerful than evil. We can live the realization that we are the very evidence of God’s life and being and we can overthrow the claims of sin and disease, defeat the lies of corruption, infidelity lack… the plethora of problems that would rob us of our heritage as God’s loving ideas.
Jesus gave this counsel: “ If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matt. 17:20
When we face each day with Expectation of Good as our outlook, Seeing Good as our Goal, our lives become
A favorite hymn carries this promise, a promise proven over and over again in my own experience:
"We expect a bright tomorrow, all will be well;Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All must be well;
While His truth we are applying, And upon His love relying,
God is every need supplying, All, all is well."*
* Christian Science Hymnal 350
It explains the scientific laws behind the teachings and healings of Christ Jesus. From the first chapter, “Prayer,” to her exegeses of Genesis and Revelation, the author invites readers to deeply consider the allness of God, the perfection of man as God's spiritual creation, and how an understanding of these facts brings healing—just as it did in biblical times. For over 135 years, readers have testified that reading and studying this book has given them a spiritual sense of the Bible and their permanent relationship to God, and has also resulted in physical healing and spiritual uplift. For more information or to purchase this book, click here.
5 comments:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. Jer 29
And those thoughts, ends, and hearkening can only be those good and perfect gifts of God's grace.
Thanks Pat. Good always begets good.
With all our heavenly Father has given us through His inspired Word, as well as the truths of Christian Science, how can we not look forward to infinite good?
Well done, my upbeat friend.
Sharon
Thanks for sharing your expectation and joy. Your post was both funny and uplifting.
Yes indeed. Although we don't often get what we expect, we'll never achieve what we don't hope for.
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