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Hello Great Family,

Surprise! I think you are in for a pleasant surprise when you come to Oakwood this Sunday. I won't spoil it, but it is Wonderful!

Speaking of "surprise"... not all surprises are wonderful. Some surprises bring immediate fear and anxiety. That is probably why we have to add that word, "pleasant" before "surprise" when we are talking about something good.

Last week I had a not so pleasant surprise. Julie and I were out shopping and stopped at the Aldi in Davison. I finished paying at the counter, then helped Julie bag everything and then left the store. Halfway home, we needed to stop for gas so I pulled into a station and went to grab my wallet when... "SURPRISE"... I had left it at Aldi. I put it on that little shelf by the card machine and got distracted with the bagging process and just left it right there where anyone could have it. At that moment, fear set in and anxiety came on me like a wave. The wave was not a calming wave like on the shore of Lake Michigan. This was a tsunami like after an earthquake. I started thinking about all my credit cards and other important things that I would probably have to cancel and reorder. I thought about the loss of money from my bank accounts. I thought about the fight I would have with the fraud departments of every financial institution. I thought about the church card and how embarrassing it was going to be to explain that I just left it there out in the open for anyone to purchase anything they wanted under the good name of Oakwood. My blood pressure skyrocketed! I immediately jumped back in the car and headed for Aldi with the pedal to the metal and a laser focus on only one thing..my wallet!

The drive seemed long. Surely it was too late! Someone was probably on a wild shopping spree already. Maybe they announced to everyone at Aldi that everything was free today thanks to the incompetant nut who left his wallet at checkout.

I pulled into Aldi, jumped out of my car and ran inside. I went to the register and surprise... it wasn't there. It was gone! I knew it, everything I feared had come true. I was facing financial ruin and a blow to my character. The next thing I hear was, "Hey, you're back", from the nice girl working the register. She then grabs the intercom and announces, "Wallet guy came back, can someone get it out of the safe?" Apparently they put lost wallets in the safe until the person comes back in a panic and then they announce it over the loud speaker to put all the power of embarrassment solely on that poor individual.

What a pleasant surprise! With wallet safely returned, we proceeded to get gas and then arrive at home. No financial ruin. No permanent mark on my record. No blow to my character (unless I share it with everyone in my weekly email). I had however, probably lost a year off my life due to worry, anxiety and fear.

As followers of Jesus, we are commanded over 365 times to not be afraid. We are also told to put our trust in Him. How many times do we worry about things that haven't happened because they might happen but they never happen? The next time you face a "surprise", trust God. Wait for Him and you might get a "pleasant surprise" instead. Here is a verse for today, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

I'll see you Sunday here at Oakwood for a "pleasant surprise".

God Bless,
P.D. (Psalm 139)