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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Great Expectations (not about the book) (08/25/11)
DOES GOD HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS?

I am going to be very honest here- there are times I believe that God is expecting me to move mountains, be the perfect person, heal the sick, raise the dead (metaphorically, of course). In short, I put so much pressure on myself to be what I think He wants me to be that I forget He is love, mercy, forgiveness and so much more.

The words of the gospel do not ring true in my heart that say all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The all have sinned part is what trips me up. I think that when I am unkind, angry, rude, judgmental or hurtful; that I am the only Christian who behaves this way.

After all, aren’t we new creations in Christ? So I lament over my situation and make it larger than it is, thus creating a worse situation for myself and sometimes for others.

As a writer, I try to convey to the hurting world that God is mercy and as Anne Graham Lotz has said, “He is the God of the second chance, the fat chance, the no chance…”

How is it that when she says it, I find it believable, but applied to daily life it becomes a challenge and sometimes an obstacle?

So back to my original question, does God have great expectations?

I think so, in the fact that He expects us to trust Him and know that He loves us – that He is not sitting on the throne with a big stick waiting to smack us with it when we mess up, but He is ready to dust off the mess we’ve made and place us firmly on solid ground, giving us a kiss of peace for the journey.

It’s a shame I can’t remember that when I am going through something, but it only occurs to me when God has kept His word, done His part and showed His love for me that I can say, Oh, yeah, now I remember who you are!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Mildred Sheldon
09/02/11
A very interesting take on the subject and one that I find myself right in the middle of it. I like you when I mess up berate myself ten folds until something happens and I know God has forgiven me now all I have to do is the same and move on.
C D Swanson 
09/03/11
Interesting story and well told. Perfect ending. God Bless~
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/03/11
This is a great point. I really liked how you shared a part of yourself. Add an appropriate scripture and a prayer and this would be worthy of any devotion magazine. I do a similar thing. I can believe God can forgive the most evil person but often have a hard time forgiving myself. This is a message I needed to hear.