Let God Surprise You

by Heather Whitestone McCallum, Angela Elwell Hunt

For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, says the Lord. . . . Joseph the slave becomes a ruler in Egypt. Corrie ten Boom seems destined to die a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, but survives to speak to millions. The apostle Paul encounters Christ on the road to Damascus. Bud Paxon meets Jesus in a Las Vegas hotel suite. A Jewish girl named Esther convinces a king to save her people. A young deaf woman defies the odds and is crowned Miss America---and later is able to hear through the miracle of modern medicine. From the chapters of the Bible and the pages of today's newspaper, Let God Surprise You introduces you to men and women whose extraordinary stories demonstrate how God can turn any situation around and bring good out of even the most difficult circumstances. This book also shows how God answers our prayers---sometimes through unexpected avenues. Heather Whitestone McCallum offers her experiences of amazing grace and divine timing along with stories of biblical and modern men and women that demonstrate how our loving and lavish God is ready to surprise us with his goodness and mercy. No matter what challenges you are facing, these stories will inspire you and remind you that God can do anything with a heart surrendered to him. Let God Surprise You will help you see that God never sets limits on what we can become as long as we are willing to put our faith in a limitless God. God loves to surprise his children in the way he works out the plans he has for us, the dreams he has planted in our spirits. He loves to do the unexpected, even the outrageous. Come with me now as we look at stories of people who chose to believe---and were surprised by this outrageous, outlandish, and loving God we serve. Heather Whitestone McCallum dreamed of dancing as a prima ballerina. But how could a deaf girl from Alabama reach such an 'impossible' goal? By dancing before millions at the Miss America pageant and capturing the coveted crown. What an unbelievable way for God to make a dream come true! This is only one of the inspiring stories you'll find in Let God Surprise You. Heather not only shares stories of the ways God has surprised her, but also brings to life other accounts of men and women who have discovered the surprising and often amazing ways God's grace works in human lives. Whether you are currently experiencing tears or triumph, tragedy or comedy, within these pages you'll find anecdotes and insights that will inspire you to trust the God who delights in helping his children find their hearts' desires. Each chapter of Let God Surprise You is like opening a beautifully wrapped gift from the loving heart of an incredible and wonderful God

Genres: Christian, Inspirational

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Lydia Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of good content - so many jewels mined from the Bible. It was sorta a Bible study - it told various accounts from the Bible and also related them to different historical and modern-day stories. The author wrote in an easy-going fashion, coming across very nicely and not at all prideful, which I thought was commendable since she's obviously accomplished a lot in her life.

As for why this book only gets three stars... I'm really not sure. I didn't have any issues with the book, but for some reason, I wasn't wholly engaged with it. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if someone asked about it.

[Mindy G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

HB*
Day in and day out, marriage isn’t a matter of feeling —for most of us, the feelings come first, but strength of will is what makes a marriage last.
p. 84

Confidence does much to make a woman beautiful and attractive.
p. 170

God blessed me with my body and I must take good care of it. I want to feel good about myself so I will earn other people‘s respect.
p. 172

Failure, he believed, should be a friend, because it forces us to stop and think before we proceed.
p. 180

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book written by a former Miss America who is now a wife and mother of two young boys. She takes stories from the Bible and relates them to our lives today. Lots of insight, wisdom, and good ideas to ponder.