Thursday July 12^th, Mark 6: "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.  Expectations!!  Sometimes they come in the form of pressure to perform up to some standard that someone else has of us, sometimes they are the blinders that keep us from seeing the greatness before us and within us.  Sometimes the blinders are worn by others who are unable as of yet to see the work God is doing through us.  But the most destructive times are when the blinders are worn by us.  Expectations can be the blinders that keep us from seeing the Angels before us and beside us.  Expectations can be the blinders that keep us from seeing the miracles in life that unfold before us each and every day, the kindness of others, the grace of God and the love and caring of friends.  Magic tricks work because we only see what we expect to see, and in doing so we are fooled.  Satin tricks, like magic, work because we see what we expect to see and miss the grace of God that surrounds us.  Open your eyes to the grace of God in your life this day, and then live the wow of God’s love!!!