Yesterday I was walking around shaking hands and talking when I headed to the stage to take my seat before the service started.  I walked down the aisle and there sitting on the front row were friends from my previous church.  I was overwhelmed in seeing them.  They have been and are great friends, but there is something that makes this more special.  In June as I was preparing to leave the church I got a call telling me that my friend was in a motorcycle accident and that they we not sure if he would live.  I lived in a big city then and rushed to the shock trauma unit.  He was awake and I got to talk with briefly and pray with him and that was the last time I saw him but I kept in contact with family.  He was touch and go and in bad shape.  He had a number of broken bones.  His wife was told on several occasions that they were not sure how he was staying alive.  He slowly made progress and he was told if he was to ever walk again it would not be  for a long time and not even put weight on his legs until Thanksgiving.  He would not be discharged from the hospital until after Christmas.  My friend is an amazing man and took his first step on August 23rd and is living at home now.  He drove 4 hour see me and my family.  He walked down the aisle of the church and walked into my home.  He is going back to work (he is a Police Officer) next week.  Let me tell you how wonderful it was to see my friend.

He and his wife came to see me and my family and got to worship with us yesterday.  We went to lunch and talked.  I am inspired and encouraged by him and his family.  I was surprised by his and his families love and friendship.  I am always amazed by what God does in people’s lives and how he blesses us.

Have you been surprised by God?  His Love?  By friendship?