It promised to be a fun weekend, starting with a Christian concert followed by a trip to Helena. My dear friend Kelly had given me two tickets months ago for my birthday. In the busyness of life, I hadn’t invited someone to use the second ticket, but at this final hour, time to make invites had passed. Rushing out the door, I joined Kelly and a few other friends for dinner.

After a fun dinner, we headed to the concert. Walking in the church door, I overheard a woman talking on the phone while a group of women waited around her. She said, “Well, we thought we had an extra ticket but…” I walked up to her and said, “Excuse me. Do you need another ticket?”

A startled expression accompanied her “Yes!”.

“Well, here you go. God must have meant this for you.” I handed her the ticket and rejoined my friends. It’s not too often a group of women are speechless, but their stunned stares were a priceless reward for God allowing me to be part of His surprise.

After the concert, although I told myself I wouldn’t buy any CD’s, I found myself at the sales table where I bought three CD’s. Talk about self-control! Back at home by 10:30 pm, I began planning out the next day’s events which included a three-hour drive to Helena to attend my niece’s bridal shower, followed by a dedication ceremony for my god-sister Heather. She had just purchased an assisted living facility, a fulfillment of her lifelong dream. She asked if I would help her dedicate it to the Lord. Before heading to bed, I found a couple appropriate verses.

An unexpected night shift for our daughter created a sleepover with our infant grandson, so I attended to bottle feedings at 1:30 and again at 5:30. After a quick shower and breakfast, I hit the road.

Enroute to Helena, I popped one of the new CDs from the previous night’s concert into the player and let the music flow. As I listened, two songs seemed very appropriate for the dedication. My mind began thinking about how to play the songs without a CD player. I remembered throwing my iPad in the car at the last minute. Perhaps I could find the songs on the internet and play them off that.

Still pondering the details, I arrived at the bridal shower and enjoyed time with my nieces. Several hours later, I headed back down the road to the dedication, armed with my two scriptures and two songs. Arriving at Heather’s, I discovered my iPad only had 20% battery left and no power cord to charge it. However, I happened to have my projector in the car along with the iPad adapter. I thought it out, hoping that if I plugged the iPad into the projector, maybe I could keep it going. Plus, we would have the benefit of speakers. So it went, as if planned to the absolute detail. Heather was pleased and God was honored as we gave glory to Him for Heather’s residents and her fulfilled dream. Just as the last song ended, my iPad gave me the 5% power warning and shut down.

Who could imagine with so little preparation, it would turn out so perfect? The concert led to the beautiful music for the dedication. My drive to Helena gave me time to hear it and thus find it, and God provided the right equipment to be in place long enough to complete the dedication.

Sometimes God’s plans are better achieved when we haven’t made all the arrangements; when we wait with empty willing hearts seeking His direction. Revelations 1:8 describes Him as “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” (KJV). If we let Him fill in the middle, often it will fall together, bringing Him glory for the unexpected results.