surpise!

"When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Fellow Israelites, 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?"" (Acts 3:12)

How are you with surprises?  Have you had any recently?  Have you planned any as a surprise for someone else?  What kind of surprise was it?  A good surprise, one you have had fun with?  Or maybe, like in my case, it was a change in your health.  Now comes how you are thinking of reacting - like I told someone "you have to laugh or you start crying (or screaming)."  Which brings us back to how are you with all the various kinds of surprises?

This verse, in Acts, is asking about what people believe - how they react to surprises.  These two disciples have healed a man, in Jesus' name, which has surprised the people around them.  Peter uses this as a "teaching moment" to get more of the people to understand who Jesus was AND is.   I think we can also be surprised - both by the various things happening and by remembering (which means we sometimes have to stop and think, study and be in prayer) how God IS with us through all of the changes and challenges.  I know I tend to go to my friend, Isaiah, especially when new things "hit."  Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: and through the rivers, they will not overflow you....."  What a wonderful reminder of God being WITH us no matter what changes, or challenges, surprise us.

The important thing is to remember to spend the time WITH God - studying God's Word, in prayer and taking time to s-t-o-p and listen for what God is saying to each of us.  Yes, I know as Caregivers time for us is hard to find.  Yes, "more" time for ourselves is even harder to find.  I also know God IS with us and will help us to have the time.  SURPRISE!!  Time WITH GOD!!