May God surprise you!

White sand stretched along an emerald sea sparkling beneath a golden sun. Brown pelicans rode currents high in the deep blue sky as gray porpoises rolled through the waters below. Ah, God's creation. And I soaked it all in as Chris Tomlin sang through my earphones.

At the Cross, at the Cross

I surrender my life.

I'm in awe of You. I'm in awe of You.

Maybe it was God's Spirit reaching across time and space, but a spiritual connection leapt through the music and echoed in my soul. Tomlin's praise and worship quickly became my own. With eyes opened wide, God and I danced along the shore.

Where Your love ran red

And my sin washed white

I owe all to You. I owe all to You.

My heart rejoiced. I'd come seeking my Father and I'd found Him. Not so much at the beach, but in a spiritual place of knowledge and understanding He had chosen at that moment to share with me.

Here---my Hope is found

Here---on Holy ground

Here I bow down. Here I bow down.

The time was overwhelming, yet peaceful. I was filled with the embrace of His love for me and my love for Him. I saw Him in His beautiful creation and heard Him laugh among the crashing waves.

Here---arms open wide

Here---You saved my life

Here I bow down. Here I bow down.*

I hope you've had such experiences. I have to admit, they don't happen as often as I'd like. Maybe I couldn't handle them if they were more frequent. Or they might lose that special quality if they became routine. Or maybe God just enjoys surprising me.

Whatever the reason, they are amazing and I pray you will seek those times with Him. Trust me. If you do, you will have them.

But don't be like those who walk with their heads down, moving simply from point to point, station to station, day to day. They do not know the glory of God that surrounds them. They see only fading footprints in the sand. They hear nothing but the sound of their own voice.

They cannot see what we see. They cannot hear what we hear. And they miss the blessing God gave at the Cross and that lives in His presence...here!