Roller coaster........

Sitting back and reflecting on the week....Yes it has been five whole days since I blogged....I can't believe how fast the week went, but anyway...I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. Big, news and great surprise when our daughter Mary, called and said she has accepted a job here in Minneapolis. WOW.....I never expected it to happen this fast. My emotions overflowed with joy as I anticipate spending fun times with her and watching her continue to suceed in life. Then the difficulty set in as I can feel through her voice, the obvious, how difficult it will be for her to leave what has become her home state of South Dakota, and all the wonderful people who have touched her life over the past 6 years. I as a parent want to make it as easy as possible. But when your children have become adults, this is not possible. God has given me the forsight to sit back, pray, pray and pray some more to be here for her when she asks, and not try to fix it.... God has given my husband the kind and gentle words to help me to understand where our role as parents lyes. So as I pray surprise me God.... I have been asking God to guide me, more than surprise me....during this transition time for our family. I know God will surprise us with many wonderful times, and he will guide Mary into wonderful things here in Minnesota. Peace, Sue

Friday Prompting

Today as I was going one place to another I had this prompting…an overwhelming sense that I should stop to see a friend of mine. We were a part of a prayer group for several years while I was serving another congregation. I struggled with whether or not I had enough time or if he might be in his office but something drew me to stop.

I was greeted by one of his co-workers with great big hug. I guess it was worth stopping just for the hug but when Tim came around the corner it was a reunion. We hugged and began talking about families. His folks have had health issues like mine so we had some poignant moments talking about the changes in their lives and ours.

I asked Tim if he had seen our friend Chuck who was also a part of our little group. Tim indicated that they were supposed to get together last Friday for lunch and prayer but Chuck was called into work and could not meet. I grab my cell phone and dialed Chuck’s phone. He answered immediately. I asked him where he was and to our surprise he was just a couple minutes away from Tim’s office. He said, “I’ll be there right away!”

We had a great lunch and a time of prayer together just like old times. It was so rich a time. I never expected this wonderful surprise. God was all over this time and meeting together. If I had not acted on this “prompting” to stop I would have missed the highlight of my day. God pulled us together to share some time again in prayer and conversation. Relationships are core to the journey of life. I have been blessed to make many acquaintances but these two men have my heart and trust. We would drop everything for each other if one had a need or emergency. We are “friends forever” in Christ.

Thank you Jesus for stirring in my heart to stop and “smell the roses” of life with my friends, Tim and Chuck. Thanks for giving me sensitivity today to your presence in my life.

Pastor T

The Sign

The day after we started Surprise Me God, my father was diagnosed with terminal melona cancer. Not a good surprise. I've struggled with our project. This is a time in my life when I've thought: "Enough with the surprises God. We need to have a good chat and I'm going to tell you how it will work." I realize this is against our project plan, but I've been feeling a little cheated lately.

There was a rumor about the hospice we chose for Dad: as a patient nears the end, the deer come in from the woods and look in the windows. It was “The Sign”.

I thought this was an urban legend. The deer showed up every night, around dusk, to eat from the feeders on the property. Although Dad enjoyed this nightly ritual, I couldn’t help but think we had been duped.

Monday came, and we all sensed Dad’s time with us was nearing an end. We gathered together in Dad’s room and tried to think of anything other than what was happening. That afternoon was sunny with blue skies. Around noon, we sensed a shadow at the window. A huge buck was staring in at us. Twice he wandered over, never to eat, only to look in. He tipped his head to us, showing that he had recently shed his crown of antlers.

Those who knew Dad knew he had a thing for deer watching. Our cabin journal contains many entries detailing how many deer were spotted during a visit. He always got a kick out of seeing a huge buck wandering solo. Later that day, we located the antlers on the hospice property.

What a great gift to have this majestic animal give us the signal that it was time for Dad to leave. I'm glad that I could see this surprise. Thank you God.

Jill Schuerman

Blue Like Jazz

Last night at Revolution we began reading the book Blue Like Jazz.

At first I just liked it because I thought it was funny and good, but the more we read the more desire I had to continue reading.
This will seem like a tangent, but it comes back around so just bare with me.
Lately I've been having a lot of problems with society and humanity at whole. On Tuesday I was waiting to go into the lunch room, but no one was moving. Pretty soon I saw the school cop go running and I was hearing rumors spreading down the line that someone was choking, having a seizer, or something to that effect. So I finally get up the ramp into the lunch room and she is laying in the middle of the ramp. Death is always something I've had a really hard time dealing with and this girl laying on the floor happened to be my friend Dezi. At this point she was purpleish, cunvulsing, and looked practically dead. We were redirected by some teacher to go like 20 steps outside and then back through different doors so we could obviously walk around her becuase by this time the teachers had gotten out a defibralater and were taking her pulse. I get outside (its not even that cold) and the girl behind me starts complaining about how stupid this is and how cold she is. I couldn't believe it. I mean seriously, if that was your best friend laying there dying on the ground how would you feel? Not that it should make a difference, becuase you should have the common decency to not only care about yourself.
So I'm already frustrated about that and then when I'm walking up the stairs to my next class I hear the guys behind me loudly stating how much they hate gay people. Honestly now. This is like my third time having to hear someone talk about it so loud that everyone has to listen just this quarter. Some of my best friends are gay and I take it very seriously/personally.
These are just some of the things that make me so angry; at high school and at life. I mean honestly, especially in high school, everyone is so self centered. Like, what can the world do for me today? How does this directly effect me? No one ever takes a step back to realize the actions they take effect other people or that the things that happen are part of a greater picture and don't just involve them. This isn't even religious, its just inconsiderate society. And I'd like to think that its just high school, but I also realize that some people will never get their thinking and reasoning levels to that mature point. I think this is why in the past year or so high school has been so frustrating for me; I just want people to mature I guess.
Okay, so moving on: When I got home last night from Revolution I sat down and read chapter one again because we had skipped some things and then continued to chapter two. This is where God comes in. Completely on a tangent, Don starts talking about how its easy to scrutenize humanity, but what it comes down to is taking responsibility for youself first and formost. That really made me think, like, am I really modeling all the things I expect out of other people? Not that I haven't always tried to be the best model I can be, but it definately put things into perspective. Who am I to be so judgemental? Isn't that part of exactly what I'm criticizing? Tollerance and understanding. I'm really doing the best I can though. Doing peer mediations at school really helps me work on my communication, patience, understanding, and helps me expand and develope my thinking and reasoning. Through other people's flaws I not only try to give them the tools it will take to improve their lives, but I leave with some new tools of my own.
Anyways, I guess the biggest thing is just striving to be your best.
Jackie Winters

Wednesday Lenten Service…Surprise

Some of you were there tonight for our mentoring and Lenten worship. It was a rich night of beautiful music (thank you Jessica!), humor, a neat sing-along sermon by Pastor Jim and a huge God surprise. We had discussed at staff this morning about the Mission Jamaica Team leaving Saturday and that we had not done a send off on Sunday. Phyllis suggested we consider doing the send off tonight at our Lenten service. We decided we would see who might be there and pray we would. We were not sure what it would entail until we were sure the team would be available.

When we started checking at supper it was evident that a significant portion of the team would be at worship. As we arrived at the time for the closing prayer I invited the team to come forward and as many folks from the congregation who wanted to lay hands on them as we prayed to come forward too. With the team facing the church family and 20-30 (women, men, youth, children) gathered around to lay hands on the Mission Jamaica team, we prayed. We prayed for the team and for others in our congregation that had asked for prayer too. With hands still laid on the team we joined together and prayed the Lord’s Prayer. It was a powerful moment as God surprised me and a few others I think. There was this undenyable sense of God’s presence. I found it difficult to pray the prayer as my emotions whelmed up inside of me. The mental picture of the whole church family standing and facing the team with so many hands laid on them in prayer was overwhelming. It was a huge God moment in my time here as a part of the Prince of Peace family. When I arrived home later this evening I had an email from one of the team expressing some of the same thoughts…

I want to quote just a bit of the message from Jennifer’s email….

“What power there was, I could really feel the hand of the Lord on me and the MJ team. I was telling Andrew (our oldest) in the car on the way home how cool it was. I was saying that saying the Lord's prayer up there with everyone laying hands on us was so moving, it was like God reaching down and touching us himself.”

This has been one of the most memorable and life-changing Lents that I have observed in my life. Another surprise that only God could engineer.

Pastor T

God is at meetings?!

Yesterday I had a meeting with a guy who is our main speaker at the metro-wide 30 hour famine... of which I am a planning team member (you know, in all my free time). I was a little annoyed about the meeting because it wasn't that much stuff to talk about, but it required more than email or a phone call. The guy who is speaking is a friend from a few years ago, and so it was good to see him on one hand, but on the other, it took time out of a busy schedule. SO... needless to say my attitude was not that great to start it off. Here's the surprise: not only was it so so so good to see him again, and our conversation confirmed that he was the right choice for speaker, BUT the heart of this guy changes you... just sitting and talking with him changes my heart. That's how amazing he is. I am giving you all this background because I don't want to take any credit for the things I'm about to write, God used my friend to speak straight into my heart, and that's who gets the credit. GO JESUS.
We were talking about the message of Jesus, and how it would have the same effect today as it did when Jesus walked the earth. Jesus had this tendency of turning the culture upside-down and totally freaking everyone out. My friend said that we live in a time where everything is about what it can do to me, and even the most well intended people, if honest, would say the same is true about church. We think that we go to church to receive something, so that we can go out and give something. This is a great intention, he said, but it's not what Jesus would say or do. Jesus said we give to receive... not the other way around. So instead of coming to church with the intention of receiving something, we should go into church thinking about what we can give by being there. Can you imagine this flip? And it's not that going to church to be filled in order to go out and give is a bad thing, it's just not what Jesus had in mind for the church. It is in giving that we receive. It is in pouring out that we are filled up.
WHOA. I had to take a minute when I got in my car and let this settle because it's a big one. It seems really obvious, but when I thought about it, it's not that simple in practice. How often do I go to church to fill up my emptying heart? How often do I look at the worship and the prayers and the messages as things that give me something? What would it look like for me to really give in church, instead of take? What would it look like in friendships, in community, in my marriage, if I gave first... instead of receive first?
I dont have the answers to any of those questions, but man - this was a HUGE surprise that God threw at me today. I really felt like God was looking in my heart and saying "no no natalia dear, you've got it all wrong!" So thanks God, for speaking right to me through my meeting. What a great surprise.

natalia

Tuesday March 4th

We all continue to struggle with what is a God Surprise. I had a full day with prep time for upcoming messages, special lunch meeting with Terry Esau (he IS the “real deal”…cool!), coordinating ministry one-on-one with staff (I am always amazed by their vision and passion for our church family), meeting with a new family who is having a baby baptized (a rich time to experience God’s drawing us together through the promises of Baptism and I get the privilege of meeting these new “babies” of our church family…and do we have “babies”…Wow!!) and then regular on-going leadership meetings (what a “heart” the leadership teams have for God and our church family!!).

In and through the day, God was there…oh there were times I wondered what or where or why…but God was there. God was holding, lifting, pulling, stretching, healing, clarifying, challenging, encouraging, forgiving, renewing…(just to name a few instances that I was aware of but there surely was more)

Now I must admit I am a bit of a “mystic” so if this seems a bit to much I ask you to understand that I tend to see or be looking for God in everything...the good, the bad and the “ugly”. One of the comments Terry made a lunch that resonated with me about praying the prayer “Surprise Me, God” is the increased appetite created for being aware of God’s presence in all things. If I could just rest in that truth…not try to manage that truth. God is the actor who is making it all possible as life continues to be so daily. God will work in spite of what the outward circumstances appear to be or what we seem to see. God’s message of mercy, love, grace and transformation in the person of Jesus is still as powerful today as it was 2000+ years ago and that message is what changes individuals, families, churches, governments, nations and worlds. God surprises are there for the seeing if we ask for eyes to see and ears to hear. Surprise me, God…Surprise us, God”.

Pastor T

A Blessing In Diguise.

I suppose this proves that I need to just go all in with God.
Don't question; just roll with the punches.
I'm starting to see the blessings that became of my little mishap. I think in the end it was for the better.
Ah. Relationships. People. Ugh. Complicated.
All I can do is assume there is a greater plan its all playing into.
God, I am your disciple. Use me as you wish.
Jackie Winters

Little Surprises are the way God works

It's interesting to read all these posts and notice how often people expect or hope for big things, and often God surprises them with little things... I love that this is how God works. We want the lightening bolt, and God gives us a light bulb. :)
Yesterday I was pretty crabby. I shouldn't have been, I had a great weekend with my husband and spent part of Sunday with two of our best friends, but somehow I woke up and put on my good ol cranky pants. On Monday nights I have yoga, and I usually go with one of my best friends - Amy (same one I ate brunch with on Sunday) but she told me Sunday that she couldn't come along this week. Grrrr... not only was I crabby but I was going to have to get my OWN butt in gear enough to go by myself! I got in to work, and there was a lovely little email from Aim saying her meeting changed and she was going to come after all!! YEY! Yet still, I kept my crabby pants on for most of the day. ... Until yoga. There is something about taking time for yourself, breathing deeply, and getting an amazing workout that is so calming, and dare I say it - crabby pants removing. I know it's not a big thing, but it was a really great little thing that made my night and honestly, made my day too.
Thanks God - for reminding me to breathe and to take time to appreciate the life you have given me.

Natalia

Day 25 Sunday and Sunny

My Sundays start real early…it was 4 am and focusing on the morning message as I click on Surprise Me Blog to see if any entries were made. Well Surprise…there was the prefect illustration for the morning message from Ms Cheree. It grabbed my heart and I knew it had to be a God thing at that time in the morning…so I used it in the message and I believe it was as much of a God Surprise for others as it was for me. Thank God…and Dad (Bruce), Sue (Mom) and Ms Cheree.

As I pulled up to church at 6:20 am the worship center lights were on…Surprise…Kirk was busy getting things ready for morning media. I had a couple video clips to show and Kirk was again faithfully setting it up for others to enjoy. God is working over time in a bunch of our young women and men like Cheree and Kirk. What gifts!

I opened my office to find some mail on my desk that included a slip of paper that was from last Wednesday’s Staff meeting devotions. Katie had devotions and had asked if we each would write one affirmation for each of the other staff members. She would collect and then put on individual sheets for each staff to enjoy. (I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t get it done before I left for a few days…and now I regret it. Sorry faithful co-workers in the Kingdom…I am in debt to each of you for your faithful and enduring ministry to our church family!) My sheet was on my desk. I think that each one who made an affirmation were more than generous in their affirmation. But I felt cared for and encouraged. Thanks to each and Katie for taking us there with her devotion.)

I made it through the morning without coughing on to many folks. I hope I didn’t pass on this “bug”. When I made it home I hit the bed and slept for 2 hours. The phone ran and it was some friends wanting to know if we would do “coffee” tonight. Surprise…I love coffee…I love to go out with friends and share our lives together. It was the end of another good day. I was still tired so off to bed…thanking God for all the God activity in my day and my church family.

Pastor T

God, You Made My Day

On Saturday, March 2nd I took the third part of my certification test to be a QuickBooks Pro Advisor. When I was done and clicked all done I could not believe my eyes at the score I received. It said Congratulations, your score is 97%. And I just said Praise The Lord! I had spent many hours studying for this Certification and then to get a 97% on the last part was unbievable.

Doug Lindberg

Like everyone else who uses this blog, I too have been waking up each morning and praying "Surprise me, God". And also like the other bloggers, I have been answered by little things. Like today for example, I pulled into the parking lot of Super Target ready for a seven hour shift and realized I didn't have a quarter for the portable lockers to secure my valuables in for the day. This sounds strange, but I prayed "Surprise me, God" and, lo and behold, I found a stray quarter sitting inside the first locker I opened. Or a couple weeks ago when I was having an especially rough week, a very special friend of mine gave me a CD that they burned for me just because they were thinking about me.

I feel a bit shallow for not accepting these surprises as legitimate, but I supposed (again, like everyone else) that a bigger surprise was heading my way. There are plenty of other events in my life that could use surprising, yet God has chosen the little, somewhat insignificant details to make special. As a high school senior who is worried about financing a college education next year, I have REALLY been praying "Surprise me, God (with some extra scholarship money so I can go to St. Olaf)". Yet, I'm not sitting here writing this after receiving thousands of dollars towards my higher education; today I found a quarter- that's 1/4 of a dollar- and I have to say it made my day.

I suppose my biggest revelation over the last couple of weeks is that we can't sit around guessing what our surprise will be. After all, doesn't that take the fun out of the surprise? Like Pastor Luke preached about a few Wednesdays ago, God WANTS to surprise us. Personally, I think he likes to see the expressions on our faces and the turning of our hearts toward Him when we truly receive a gift that we were not expecting. :)

That's about it for my deep thinking. Time to write the rest of that English paper!

Kayla Gronli

Waiting

Anticipating a surprise...... One of our children is expecting some major job change news, wheather it be good or not so good, I find myself having butterflies in anticipation. I ask myself is this right??? Or Am I trying to control the outcome and not let God plan for her? I have asked God to guide her and her decisions, but I hope for an outcome that is better for me....to have her closer. I miss her and want to be able to do more things with her. But I feel I am being the guide not the guided.! So as I have said this prayer so many times.....I still struggle to accept that God has total control over my life. He only knows where she is suppose to be and where her place is in this world. I struggle with the selfishness of it all....on my part. God continues to test me, through this experiement. He is trying to teach me patience and trust. I will continue to pray also for guidance, as God WILL continue to surprise me with many things..... To God be the Glory.....for the things he has done. Peace Sue