“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:14 (NIV)

A community of farmers from a drought ridden Midwest town called on the pastor of the local church to set up a prayer meeting. Their livelihood had been threatened by the lack of rain, so they decided to set aside a couple of hours on a Saturday to pray and ask God to revive their crops.

As the congregation arrived, everyone exchanged hugs and said their hellos, then took their seats. As the pastor scanned the sanctuary, he was reminded of their desperate situation and their dire need for rain to pour down from the heavens. While gathering his thoughts, he noticed a little girl sitting in the front row. She couldn’t be any more than ten years old. She sat quietly, but her face BEAMED with excitement. A red umbrella was placed on her lap, poised and ready for use. The beauty and innocence of the faith-filled girl made the pastor’s heart smile.

Everyone had come to pray for rain; the girl had come expecting rain.
Everyone had come hoping God would show up; the girl came expecting God to show up.
Everyone came expecting a prayer meeting; the girl came expecting a miracle.

A life lived expecting miracles is a fresh approach. Living in high expectation that God will move the impossible mountains of our circumstances allows us to dwell in a place of excitement and anticipation; much like the way we feel soaking up the rays on a bright sunny day. In stark contrast, living life without expectation leads to a sad and uneventful life, the way one might feel on a dull, gray day.

Miracles are a gift from God. They demonstrate His love for us. Naysayers don’t believe in miracles, calling God’s work coincidences. God’s timing is always perfect. He shows up in the 11th hour, moving mountains, making the impossible possible; showing up and showing off His sovereignty. He does this for one reason and one reason alone: so that we may KNOW how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love for us really truly is.

We should all try to walk through 2018 with red umbrellas – with high expectations from Heaven above. We should count on God to move mountains in our lives, as well as the lives of those around us.

We invite you to grab your red umbrella and join us in high expectation that God will SHOWER each one of us with His gifts of miracles.

Julia Charleston
Development Assistant