Pastor’s Corner | When the unexpected unfolds

This past month we experienced what many are now calling the most historic weather event to ever effect northwest Arkansas and Arkansas itself for that matter! In a matter of roughly eight hours, some 24 inches of snow was dumped on our area. This Texas boy has never experienced anything like it!

Several points need to be made about this storm.

First of all, we knew that there was going to be a storm. It had been predicted. We knew that we were going to get snow. Secondly, we had made some preparation for the storm. We had stocked up on supplies, got our car ready, and in a way expected something of what we got. What we did not expect actually happened. A DOWNPOUR!

It came from nowhere.

One meteorologist stated that there were no explanations for the mesoband of snow that formed over our area. It just “blew” up and stayed put over our area even as the expected storm moved on around it. WOW! Unexpected and unreal.

I got to thinking about this and how it is so similar to serving the Lord in the context of our daily lives.

Think about it this way, we expect certain things from God. We know that when we gather certain things are going to happen - His presence in our midst, the Word of God challenging us, the songs of God inspiring us, sweet fellowship with one another, the occasional manifestation of God’s saving grace in the life of a new believer, baptism, the Lord’s Supper.

You get the idea. All of these things are good - no, they are great! They are a wonderful part of our Christian life. Kinda like a snowfall is part of winter.

However, every now and then something totally unexpected will happen in the midst of the ordinary and explainable - a “ downpour” if you will. The snow starts to fall but then it just begins to rain down and down and down with an intensity and fervor that is beyond description or explanation. Of course, I am talking about the Spirit of God and His power and presence in our lives, in our families, in our work and leisure, in our private world.

We really do need to have one of those unexplainable downpours of God don’t you think? I believe it will soon happen. The signs are all around us, and I feel it in the air! It won’t be on our terms or our agenda. It will, like our record snow, come on its own terms. It will be unexplainable, unimaginable and certainly unbelievable!

I, like you, certainly find myself asking the question “Why is it so quiet around here?” It is then I realize that God is behind the scenes, working in the midst of the storm, waiting for the right moment to open the doors of Heaven and rain down His power and love in an unexplainable and unprecedented way. Don’t miss it - it could be any moment now!

P.S. For some of us it just may begin in our local church. If you do not attend a local church I encourage you to make your way this Sunday to a Bible-believing church in our area and join them for worship. This paper has a list of many of them and their activities.

You will be welcome there!

◊◊◊

Editor’s note: Jack Maddox is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield.

Follow him on his blog at www.wordpress.jackmaddox.com, or e-mail him at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 02/23/2011