Hi Reader,

A few months ago, a new restaurant opened in our neighborhood. When I saw pancakes on the menu, something you don’t come across very often here in Turkey, I had to try them.

So, one day, I took a bottle of pancake syrup with me that I had purchased in the USA, and looked forward to a delicious breakfast. Like my mom or dad makes when my wife and I visit.

As an American, my version of good pancakes looks something like this:

When I ordered, I requested no chocolate fondue on top.

I wanted breakfast, not dessert.😋

Then, this came:

I knew it would have the fruit, but it wasn't what I expected.

And that's how a lot of things in life are...

We think something is going to be one way. And then it's not.

Often, that's okay, like with pancakes.

But sometimes, when life brings real disappointment, it cuts deep. It hurts.

I've heard this: if we don't have expectations, then we won't feel disappointment.

But who lives life without any expectations?

And don't expectations help us keep going as we push through life's challenges, anyway?

We're not promised that God will fulfill our expectations. Instead, God’s Spirit and power can be at work within us, shaping us whether our expectations become reality, or not.

So, I think it's worth checking our hearts to consider whether our expectations are realistic and aligned with who God is calling us to become.

How things work out may be very different from what we originally had in mind.

But...

They may also turn out better and more meaningful than we expected. The goal is to keep moving in the right spiritual direction.

Are you?

One last thing...

Want to win a free paperback of From Sea to Shining Sea?

I'm giving away 25 print copies on Goodreads.

If you're on Goodreads, you can click here to enter the giveaway.

Why?

Not only do you get a chance to win, but when you enter a Goodreads giveaway, it appears on your homepage, helping others you're connected with discover it too.

And the more people who become aware of the book, the better!

Here again is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/446301-from-sea-to-shining-sea-50-daily-devotions-from-traveling-to-every-stat​

Thanks for being part of my reader community.

John Christopher Frame​

p.s. Can you do me a favor? If you've checked out even just one devotion from From Sea to Shining Sea, and you liked it, can you tell one person you know about the book?

The ebook is free on most/all retailers, including Amazon. Paperback and hardcover versions are available, too.

Thank you!

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