Do You Expect Good Things From God?

 

Do you expect good things from God
or do you settle for the mundane
when God offers the miraculous?

 Mr. 4-Ever and I were driving home 
from an event on a
hot and sunny day.
We’d been on the road for hours
and I just had to have
a break … and a chocolate malt.

A jumbo cup of
thick, chocolatey deliciousness.

I tried to talk myself out of it
but the hankering would not go away.

Finally, I asked Mr. 4-Ever
to be on the lookout for ice cream.

At the next exit,
we followed the signs to McDonald’s.

Mind you, McDonald’s will do,
but I had something a little different in mind.

I wanted hand scooped ice-cream
and lots of malt powder mixed
with whole milk – blended together till
it was a cold, smooth concoction
fresh from the whir of a malt maker.

Just as we saw the golden arches,
I spied an ice cream stand
on the other side of the road.

“Can we go there instead?”
I asked Mr. 4-Ever excitedly.

He was already in McDonald’s mode,
drive-through quick,
inexpensive and satisfactory.

“No, let’s just stick with McDonald’s,”
was his disappointing reply.

“Ok,” I drooped,
“I have to use the ladies room anyway.
I’ll go in and get the shake.”

At the counter,
I saw a big “OUT OF ORDER” sign
on the machine that oozes milk shakes.
I was practically giddy as I asked,
“Is your milk shake machine working?”

“No, I’m so sorry, ma’am. It’s broken.
May I get you something else?”

“Nope!
And THANK YOU!” I replied.

I skipped out to the car to tell Mr. 4-Ever the news.

“Are you kidding?” he questioned suspiciously.

Now, to be honest,
it’s not beyond the realm of possibility
that I might exaggerate the truth
to get what I want,
but God was protecting me on this occasion!

“Nope, I’m not kidding.
They have no ice cream capability today.
We’ll have to go across the street
to the ice cream stand, after all.”

Mr. 4-Ever shook his head,
and started the car.

He parked in the shade of the
cinder block ice cream stand.

“You deserve the best!”

was painted in big swirling script
the length of the exterior wall.

I looked at Mr.4-Ever and said,
“We would have settled for a McDonald’s shake
when God really wanted us to have
a thick, home-made chocolate malt.
You deserve the best, Dave!”

Mr. 4-Ever nodded his head smiling and said,
“Isn’t God good? 
He loves us so much!”

Last summer it was a chocolate malt.

Yesterday it was a great deal on a laptop computer
we’d otherwise not have been able to afford. 

Last week,
it was YES to a speaking opportunity
I thought was a NO GO.

Two years ago,
it was finding the tiny jewel
from Mr. 4-Ever’s watch
that had flown into the snow
while he was shoveling. 

Three years ago,
my purse was stolen.
It was recovered by police
in a different state
with all the contents still inside.

I forget to expect good things
from our good, good Father.

I settle for the mundane when
God offers the miraculous!

Expect good things from God today.

What has he
surprised you
with lately?

9 Comments

  1. Irene sirk on February 10, 2017 at 3:02 am

    robin, I enjoyed your e-mails. I don’t always read them, but this one catched my eye. I’m getting married in August and I’m very excited, but I have a daughter that really upset me. Before all of that, God had open so many doors for me. He has given me so much and I want him to have all the glory. I have come a long way, I’m just happy God never gave up on me. He chose me before I was born, but I still have a long way to go. I’m very happy about getting married, but very sad about my daughters feelings for me,. Please pray for her heart and soul and for our beautiful wedding. Thank you for your e-mail and Mr. forever, I’m marrying one of those too

    • Robyn Dykstra on February 10, 2017 at 3:13 am

      Irene Congratulations on the wedding! Glad you’re getting a Mr. 4-Ever too! I pray that you and your daughter reconcile soon!

  2. Laura Warfel on February 10, 2017 at 3:05 am

    4 new tires that I could not have afforded! Yes, our God knows our every need.

    • Robyn Dykstra on February 10, 2017 at 3:14 am

      Woo woot! Terrific Laura.

  3. Debbie Jo on February 10, 2017 at 3:36 am

    Yesterday i was exhausted after heaving my groceries and extra not so essential finds onto the belt at the register. I couldn’t wait to haul it all home. This was one of those not to be named member stores where you walk three miles down aisles to find everything you may possibly need. Anyway, somewhere along the way I DROPPED my credit card. There I was with no credit card, an unloaded cart, a heap of product stacked precariously by the cashier, and four people waiting behind me with stern looks. When I announced my card was missing, I began to reload my cart to make the three mile trip back through the store, hoping it might be found but believing the absolute worst. Already I was jumping ahead to how much someone charged on my credit card during my shopping. My cashier contacted her boss who came running over to me with my card. WOW! Someone had found my card and turned it in. What a huge surprise and blessing!

    • Robyn Dykstra on February 10, 2017 at 4:13 am

      Oh. My. Heaven. That is awesome. Best story of the day!

  4. Michelle Fowler on February 10, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    We are trying to refinance our home and get the equity out and pay all our debt off. We have been praying hard about our financial situation. I’m hoping for a miracle today. We just need to boost our credit score by finding money to pay down the debt. This is really going to be a miracle if we can find the 5000 we need. Please pray for us for God’s favor and grace.

    On another front, my sister got a miracle today. She is a 2 time breast cancer survivor, and has been in and out of the the hospital the last two years. The Doctors say some nodules on her thyroid and we’re going to do a biopsy. They were almost certain it was cancer. They did a scan and it is not cancer at all. Praise God!

    • Robyn Dykstra on February 14, 2017 at 4:14 pm

      Michelle,
      That is beyond good news about your sister. Hurrah!

  5. Karen Herteg on February 11, 2017 at 1:31 pm

    I AM WORKING AT A PRESCHOOL, AFTER SEARCHING FOR A JOB FOR 3 MONTHS. THE LORD CLOSED EVERY DOOR, AFTER NUMBEROUS INTERVIEWS. AND THE VERY FIRST JOB I APPLIED FOR, WHICH DID NOT HAVE ANY OPENINGS IN OCTOBER, CALLED ME ! I AM A CHILD CARE AID, WORKING WITH THE TEACHER AND AID FOR 15 CHILDREN FOR 7 HOURS A DAY, TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. AND 2 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE. GOD KNEW THE “RIGHT JOB” FOR ME! AND I AM VERY THANKFUL!

    PRAISE THE LORD,
    P.S. PRAY for me as I have to take many tests (certificates), for 1st aid , etc.

    GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
    Karen ?

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