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Expectancy or Expectations? Ready Or Not For God’s Work

I was fully of expectancy when our first son was born.  I had expectations when our second son was born. 

With our first I had no idea what was going to happen, how it was going to be, or what he would be like.  I just knew I needed to be ready—for anything.  Because the baby was coming.  

I was full of expectancy

But with our second, well, now I was a pro.  I had idea about how he was going to grow and develop.  I had experience from the past to guide me into the future. The baby was coming—and I was ready.

I had expectation. 

Are we full of expectancy or expectations this Christmas, for God’s work in our lives?

Expectancy and Expectations

Expectancy:

Open to the Unknown

Passionate Desire

Cooperation With

Preparing, not controlling

More like Birthing a new life

Expectations:

Closed to the Unknown

Impatient Demand

Control Over

Planning as controlling

More like Building a mechanical contraption.

Expectancy is an openness without demand, looking toward the future, and offering a joyous energy to the present. 

Expectations are often closed around a (silent) demand, looking toward the past, and offering an anxious energy in the present and unproven predictions.  

Expectancy creates a joyous vigilance toward hopeful possibilities. 

Expectations create an anxious vigilance toward feared outcomes.

Who Are We?

This Christmas, and in life in general, who are we? 

Are we more like the wisemen, who journeyed far with expectancy, following a star where ever it might lead, without clear expectations, but open to a surprising work in a foreign land and by an unknown God?

Or are we more like Herod, who had expectations of his land and his God and his kingdom, expectations that were threatened by news of a baby born under his nose—unexpectedly?

Ever ask, "Does God Really Like Me?"

Let me send you an ebook on how God is overcoming every obstacle in order to be with us, because God really does like us.

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