Being open to let God work!

Today on The Morning Thing, we focused on Serendipity Day! We looked at it through a Christian lens as we know God works in incredible and surprising ways, and we came up with 8 things each of us can work on to be more open to this kind of God!

Recognizing and being open to a serendipitous God — one who moves in unexpected, surprising, and grace-filled ways — involves cultivating a mindset, a heart posture, and some daily practices that create space for divine presence in the ordinary and the unforeseen. 

Here are some of the best ways to open yourself to this: 

1. Practice Attentiveness 

  • Slow down: Serendipity is often missed in busyness. 
     
  • Cultivate a habit of noticing: small joys, coincidences, encounters, beauty, and nudges that may be divine in nature. 
     
  • Ask: “What is this moment trying to show me about God?” 
     

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” 
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

2. Let Go of the Need for Control 

  • Be willing to release rigid expectations about how God “should” act. 
     
  • Stay open to mystery, ambiguity, and the unconventional. 
     
  • Recognize that interruptions may be invitations, and detours may be sacred. 
     

3. Cultivate Wonder and Curiosity 

  • Instead of seeking answers, seek encounter
     
  • Be curious: Why did that person come into my life? What is unfolding here? 
     
  • Welcome the unexpected with openness rather than fear. 
     

4. Engage in Reflective Prayer or Journaling 

  • Ask questions like: 
     
  • Where did I see God today? 
     
  • What surprised me? 
     
  • What felt like more than coincidence? 
     
  • Keep a “God of Surprises” journal. 
     

5. Trust in Divine Timing 

  • A serendipitous God is often a God of timing, not just outcomes. 
     
  • Learn to embrace delays, disruptions, and waiting as potentially sacred pauses. 
     

6. Surround Yourself with Stories of Serendipity 

  • Read scripture with a lens for divine surprise (e.g., Ruth meeting Boaz, Paul’s detour to Macedonia, Mary’s unexpected yes). 
     
  • Listen to the testimonies of others and how God met them unexpectedly. 
     

7. Be Willing to Act on Gentle Nudges 

  • When you feel prompted to reach out, speak up, help, pause — do it
     
  • Serendipity often requires participation. 
     

8. Hold Theology Loosely, Hold God Tightly 

  • God is not always confined to our doctrines or expectations. 
     
  • Stay rooted in God’s love and character, but allow the form of His movement to surprise you. 

To learn more about Serendipity Day, click HERE!

Praisestock is here!

WNZR gets to talk with Ben Staats and Dave Ewert from the team at Praisestock! They share with us all of the information on this year’s Praisestock event. There will be speakers, worship, ministries you can visit, and a ton of events for kids! Your not going to want to miss this year’s event.

To learn more about Praisestock’s mission and their annual event, click HERE!

WNZR talks with members of the TAC about the annual Color for a Cause Race!

We got to chat with several members of the Teen Advisory Counsel about their program and the upcoming Color Run! Their members tell us all about the TAC, why they are involved, and they highlight the fun event coming this weekend!

To learn more about the TAC or their Color Run, click HERE!

WNZR learns about Habitat for Humanity’s amazing ministry!

We got to sit down with Terry Schulz and Sarah Scott from Habitat for Humanity! They tell us all about Habitat’s mission and goals to help in our community.

They also highlight their new Welcome Home Ohio Project which is in the works right now and will help numerous people. There is a lot of work going into right now and it is for a great cause!

To stay connected with their ministry, click HERE!

It’s Back-to-School Time!

Today on The Morning Thing, we had mixed feelings about sharing some back-to-school content! It is always a bittersweet moment.

We had the opportunity to share some great tips for you and your kids when it comes to getting back in the groove of things. Today, we highlighted how to deal with anxiety and how to make the first day of school easier, as well as how to develop good sleep habits for your young students.

We will share more of these on the show tomorrow!

To see the full list of tips click HERE!

MVNU Update – We talk with New Executive Vice President Colleen Derr!

We are very excited that our MVNU Update is back!

Marcy got to talk with Colleen Derr, MVNU’s new Executive Vice President! They go over her background and what she does here. Colleen also shares her vision for our great university and her messages to students and staff.

More information about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

Xander got to talk multiple members of the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Board! They tell us about their involvement with the MVMAF and give us details on different events that are going on this year. They also tell us some advice and what they are looking forward to. This is going to be an amazing event and a special year!

Come on down to the MVMAF and see all these great events!

For more information click HERE!

The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Kicks off Today!

The Mount Vernon Music Festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday.

Click HERE to hear all of Thursday’s Interviews!

We talked to a number of folks associated with the festival about the entertainment, music, food and fun:

  • Joe Rinehart who serves as Board Chair
  • Noelle Walton, Festival Director
  • Trina Trainor, Board member
  • Ashley Smith, KidsFest Coordinator

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

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