Expect the Unexpected

I adore flowers, whether in a vase on my dining room table or growing in my yard. Earlier this week when I was in my backyard, I noticed an iris growing next to some azaleas. This was quite odd to me because I've never planted irises, and to the best of my memory, no iris has sprouted there.

Irises are among my very favorite flowers (lilies and roses rounding out the very top, just for the record). I don't know how or when that iris was planted, but it was an unexpected blessing from God. He, of course, knows how much I love flowers--and the best time to get flowers is when it's unexpected!

This iris is a reminder to me that God is able to bring blessings seemingly out of nowhere, when we least expect them. How awesome He is!

This Psalm was part of my devotional reading this morning:

What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion.

We will fulfill our vows to you, for you answer our prayers, and to you all people will come.

Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all.

What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What joys await us inside your holy Temple.

You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.

You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength.

You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.

Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.

You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so.

You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy.

The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy! (Psalm 65)

Hope your day is filled with the abundance of God's blessings!