And, SUDDENLY……

My word for today is SUDDLENLY: quickly and unexpectedly, immediately, instantly, without warning

Meet Red Gerard. Talk about SUDDENLY!!! On Saturday, 17-year old snowboarder, Red Gerard, from Colorado was sitting in last place heading into his third and final run. He was hoping to just get a good run and 4th place. But when the pressure was on, he delivered. During his run, Gerard's creativity was on full display, as he repeatedly used features of the course that other riders were ignoring. Red scored 87.16 from the judges, putting him in first place. The top competitors failed to exceed Red’s scores. Red received the first gold medal awarded to the U.S. team at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics AND he was the youngest snowboarder to ever win a gold medal and the youngest male athlete to win a Gold Medal since 1928 in a Winter Olympics. SUDDENLY Red's life changed forever.

I remember another SUDDENLY. Small town of Checotah, OK and the small town girl raised on a farm there -- Carrie Underwood, who just decided to try out for American Idol. Out of all those competitors she won the grand prize and SUDDENLY her life changed forever. We still love to follow her because she represents the SUDDENLIES that can happen to any who are willing to pay the price of going for their dreams.

How do we deal with the SUDDENLIES in our lives? SUDDEN illness, SUDDEN financial loss. Sudden wealth. Sudden fame.

Last week I was at a very prayerful night with others, when all of a sudden, I heard a gal who was looking at her phone exclaim “Oh, my God, NO! The stock market has crashed!” SUDDENLY, her world turned upside down, at least for that time being.

Now, let’s consider our God – Who is a God of surprises AND SUDDENLIES. And because He is God – he usually doesn't work the way we want or think. But this one thing I’ve come to know – His SUDDENLIES, for those who are His devoted followers, are filled with His power, His grace, His mercy, His love AND have learned to wait for His perfect timing. God's SUDDENLIES happen with our best interests at heart.

God always operates in a place above what we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). That’s because His thoughts and ways are so much higher above ours (Isaiah 55:8).

Just when we think we're boxed in on every side, God SUDDENLY provides a way of escape. Just when the last penny is spent, God SUDDENLY surprises us with a bonus. Just when we thought we were going down for the last time, God SUDDENLY shows up in a boat or helicopter. The lesson? Three words. DON’T GIVE UP!

Is the road long? Is the night too black? Are you in last place? Don't stop. God is watching. For all you know -- right at this moment -- the check may be in the mail. Opportunity could be knocking at your door -- right now! The SUDDENLIES in our lives can bless us – whether they are overwhelmingly disappointing or overwhelmingly over-abundant blessings. The point is – embrace the SUDDENLIES. They are part of the MASTER Plan of God to get us from Point A to Point Z. Don't quit. For if you do, you may miss the answer you've been waiting for!! Expect surprises. Expect SUDDENLIES!