(Copyright 1985) Great Expectations~Testimony Part 1 Pam tells her “life story” humorously. Have you had “great expectations” that have disappointed you? Life is what happens when we are planning other things! Sometimes it surprises and confounds us! Pam breaks down our barriers and relates through humor how her expectations were dashed, but that there is hope, if we choose to put our trust in the right object. Through a familiar fairytale, Pamela shows us that we often place our faith in the wrong things for security and happiness. (Opening night at a retreat–35 minutes to 1 hr.)

1. By Pamela Stephens

2. Our PlansOur Plans
 Our Future
 Our Goals
 Our Dreams
 Our Hopes

3. RunningRunning
 Jonah—Disobedience leads to running!
 Psalm 55:6 “Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly
away and be at rest..I would hurry to my place of shelter, far
from the tempest and the storm.”
 Where do we run? (Emotional, Mental, Physical, Spiritual)
--Escape to the “fridge”
--Escape to the medicine chest
--Escape to the liquor cabinet
--Escape through TV, movies, busy-ness

4. Facts About RunningFacts About Running
 We can run, but we can’t hide! Psalm 139:7-12 “Where
can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your
presence?”
 We can run, but we are always there!
 We can run, but it doesn’t change anything!
 We can run, but it delays answers/solutions!

5. Another ChoiceAnother Choice
 OBEDIENCE keeps us from getting “swallowed up”
by our problems!
 OBEDIENCE keeps us from having to clean up
unnecessary messes!
 OBEDIENCE keeps us in communication with our
Father, God!
I Samuel 15:22 “To obey is better than sacrifice!”

6. When you want to RUN:When you want to RUN:
 Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.”
 Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out
your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge!”
 Psalm 42:11 “Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so
disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet
praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
 Psalm 17:8 “..hide me in the shadow of your wings..”
 Psalm 18:2 “my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge..”
 Psalm 61:3 “you have been a shelter for me and a strong
tower.”

7. ResistingResisting
 Moses resisted God’s call– Ex. 3
 Resisting is really denial of what is truth.
 We resist uncomfortable situations, or don’t
take necessary actions to avoid problems or
people.
 We bury our head in the sand like the ostrich,
leaving an imposing target!
 We pretend all is well..and make up excuses for
bad behavior.
 We cannot change anything by ignoring it!

8. Facts About Resisting:Facts About Resisting:
 We are saying: “my plan is better than God’s plan.”
 We are fighting against the arm of God. “do not fight
against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you will not
succeed.” 2 Chron. 13:12
 We cannot stop the clock, or the consequences we
will reap by resisting! “There is a way that seems right
to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Prov. 14:12

9. Another ChoiceAnother Choice
 Give Over the Controls to God
 Spend time in God’s Word
 Ask God to Teach you—Prayer
 Gratitude—It’s an Attitude!

10. When You Want to Resist:When You Want to Resist:
 Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he
will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
 Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and
my thoughts than your thoughts.”
 Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your
ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘this is the way; walk in
it.’”

11. RationalizingRationalizing
 Definition: “the skin of a lie stuffed with excuses.”
(If only_________)
 Adam and Eve – Genesis 3 It’s in the “family tree.”
 Saul– I Samuel 15… excuses, excuses, EXCUSED!
 When we disobey, no one else made us do it; it was
OUR choice!

12. Facts About Rationalizing:Facts About Rationalizing:
 It’s easier to blame someone else, rather than
taking responsibility for our choices.
 It doesn’t change reality, it only attempts to hide it.
 It never leads to spiritual growth, but only to
stagnancy.

13. When You Want to Rationalize:When You Want to Rationalize:
 I John 1: 8-9 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.”
 Psalm 32:1-5 “..when I kept silent (about my sin) my bones
wasted away..then I acknowledged my sin..and you forgave
me.”
 James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and
pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous man is powerful and effective.”
 Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God..see if there be any
offensive way in me.”

14. Another Choice:Another Choice:
 Admit Fault-- It’s my own doing!
 Agree with God – It is wrong—call it what it is—SIN!
 Accept Responsibility -- I hurt someone else: myself: God.
 Act on it! -- Change your behavior, ask forgiveness, turn
around!

15. Run, Resist, RationalizeRun, Resist, Rationalize
 Run: we run when life gets hard
--marriage, circumstances, change
 Resist: we resist when bad things happen
--cancer, life changes, death
 Rationalize: we rationalize when it’s really our
fault-make excuses/blame
--addictions, behaviors, failures

16. There is Another Way!There is Another Way!
 Psalm 62:1 “My soul finds REST in God alone!”
Not in relationships
Not in possessions
Not in vocations
Not in finances
Not in fame

17. Living Happily Ever AfterLiving Happily Ever After
Dealing with the Real!

18. His PlansHis Plans
Jeremiah 29:11 “for I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, not to
harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”

19. RestingResting
 Instead of Running away
 Instead of Resisting truth and what is reality
 Instead of Rationalizing why we are the way we are,
we must:
 REST– “My soul finds REST in God alone.” Psalm
62:1
How do we do that, you say?

20. Learning to RESTLearning to REST
 REMEMBER what God has done for ME in
the past! (Make a list if you need to)
 EXPECT God to work again on my behalf!
(Attitude of Expectancy for our answer)
 STAND FIRM in my Faith!
(there is no armor for our backs! Eph 6)
 THANK God that he will again prove
himself faithful to me!(An opportunity for a lesson to
be learned, a miracle, an answer, growth for us!)
Psalm 77:11-12 “I will remember the deeds
of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles
of long ago. I will meditate on all your works
and consider all Your mighty deeds.”
Psalm 5:1-3 “Give ear to my words O God,
consider my meditations; listen to my cry for
help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In
the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the
morning I lay my requests before you and wait
in expectation.”
I Pet 5:7-12 “Stand firm in your faith and
after a little while, he will restore you and make
you strong, firm, steadfast..this is the true
grace of God. Stand firm in it!”
I Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all things.”