Be My Miracle!

Psalm 77:13-14 (NIV) You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 


Typing it into Google, "miracle definition," here is what it read: a surprising event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency." 

Here's another: an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. 2.such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God, a wonder or marvel. 

The world wants to use other words: coincidence, karma, "at the right place at the right time," like somehow "we" had anything to do with the phenomena. While maybe we pray for such things to occur, The Divine Creator has always had the script written and ready to manifest in our lives--His will waiting to be a testament of His glory and power. 

Yesterday, I went with my two close friends and one of their daughters to see the movie, "Miracles From Heaven." It is the true story of a little girl diagnosed with a chronic, potentially life-threatening illness in her intestines called Pseudo-Obstruction. It is a disease not many are familiar with, a disease with complicated medicines and treatments and life-changing, life altering adjustments. Without giving away the storyline, I do highly recommend this film because it explores human/family emotions authentically, dealing with such a chronic disease, faith, desperation, love, friendship and encouragement...hope. 

And then there is this...MIRACLE!

Having suffered through with a chronically sick child  myself, I could relate to many scenes within this movie, tearing up many times, reliving, remembering those same emotions. But what so filled my heart and my thinking while watching this movie, was someone else, a very close friend and another miracle.

My dear friend, diagnosed with this same terrible disease in her early twenties, is a medical wonder. Forty years now passed, her doctors tell her all the time, she is a miracle, the longest living person to have survived--and SURVIVE she does! Linda is a leader in church, a mentor and encourager to others and my writing partner. When I arrived home, the first thing I did was call her and tell her, in my grateful tears, how thankful I am for her, that she IS my miracle friend. Many people are now learning about this terrible malady because of this movie, hopefully, many will be reminded that God is STILL in the miracle business.  

After the movie, I went to the nursery to purchase a hydrangea, a bush I had been looking for, for a few weeks now. In the movie, one was featured and it reminded me and inspired me to go look one more time. I did find one, planting it today next to my white rose of remembrance, to remind me--to honor the miracles in my life and others. 

My son was not cured from his chronic illness. Linda does not have a cure, but ways to deal with and manage her disease. We learn to cope because we have THE Hope, the miracle of Easter, the Resurrection which opens up the sky for a relationship with God, the Miracle Inventor. 

Miracles from God are intimate, personal and supernatural. I believe I received three this past Valentine's Day, many of you I have shared this with. One friend I saw the movie with, burst into my living room, to share a miracle she received today; so random and yet so precise, "I Love you and I am working things out for you," --God, written all over this revelation. Praying earnestly for her son's frustration, dilemma and demeanor, he received a miracle answer, one he readily shared with her, knowing it came from above, a supernatural source, prompting him to a sincere thanksgiving spirit and drawing him closer, lifting his spirits. Thank you Lord!  

A co-worker couldn't wait to share this with me on the last day of school before break. She had injured her foot a few months back and was still wearing a protective sock around her bandages. She purchased some new socks and that morning had opened the packaging, with the socks inside. Her birthday looming in a few days, she was a little melancholy, as she is widowed and recently lost a close cousin. She put her sock on over her wrapped foot and felt something scratching her, something inside that shouldn't be there. Taking the sock back off and turning them inside out, "Happy Birthday" metallic confetti, several pieces, fell into her lap. She pulled it out of her pockets to show me when she got to school. How does a message of "Happy Birthday" show up in a sealed package of socks? God orchestrated a miracle for her to receive it on that day, at that hour. 

As a believer, God knew her heart and what she needed.  

Linda, though not cured, has survived to serve others and be my miracle friend, to love the Lord and encourage others to tell their story. She will be the first to tell you, her life has not been easy, but she will also tell you her life is a miracle because of God's strength. 

Butterflies come from the trees in my darkest days of grief to surround me and minister to me in such personal God-whispering-love ways that continue to fill me with hope. 

God is still in the miracle business. I could (and maybe should) write about all the miracles that happen just within my circle of faithful friends. Pray believing He has one for you too because He does! Stand at your doorway and look, and be prepared to receive it. Sometimes the miracle is just that, recognizing the Love He has for us and settling down to allow Him to make us into His miracles. Be still and Know that I Am God. Be Still and Be My Miracle!  

Thank you Lord for Miracles from Heaven, butterflies, friendships, socks with confetti, messages that make sense to only us but causes us to see You, for the miracle of Hope and Light in the depravity and hopelessness that surrounds us. Help us to be a miracle in the life of others, to bring your miraculous Love to view in a faith inexplicable by the world, but proven by the evidence Your Holy Spirit leaves in our daily walk with You. I am grateful for the miracles I see and feel everyday. I am grateful to be a miracle, forgiven and filled with hope. Amen.  

Enjoy Third Day, "I Need A Miracle" 

Is It In You?

I Peter 3:15  "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts...


I know. It's only part of a much larger verse, a greater calling. The words before...commands.

Do Not fear...but

Do Not be troubled...but

So many of us have taken that first step of faith, believed, asked for forgiveness, know the promise of heaven. Praise God!  

And it ends there.  You are a beautiful butterfly never opening your wings. 

Oh, good deeds may abound, prayers may still be whispered at the beginning of the day, at the closing of heavy eyelids, at a table with the smell of food and appetites waiting. 

That "sanctify" part...What exactly does that...what do I have to do in order...how much time will it take...what will I have to...change?  Give up?

Complacency.

Apathy.

Excuses.

Comfort

Unwilling, unmoved, ineffective.

For me, the sanctification process became reborn within me, like a cut-off, half-dead branch grafted again to the Vine, after the "comfortable" burned up. I lived with the complacency, the apathy, the excuses and the ineffectiveness for way too long. Pink Floyd said it well, "comfortably numb." 

But the HOPE of God, though dormant, never left.

God reawakened in me a desire to deepen my faith and then live it out. I began to see and understand true Grace in a soul-changing purpose for me. That, my friend, is sanctification: the intentional pursuit and the resulting growth in that pursuit of all that is Holy, all that is purposeful, all that is inspirational and affirming--sojourning on the  path of His will and finding joy and peace in the process.

Alive again and active, my intentional asking and seeking, the nerve-endings of my soul surged with anticipation and longing for more. In that, God leads me to His comfort within the uncomfortablness of this world. 

For we may have the privilege of suffering for Christ.

The rest of that verse says this: "...always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."

I know the Hope of Christ. Because I intentionally seek it every day within my grief-stricken heart, God has refilled, re-purposed and recharged a passion, planted long ago by the Holy Spirit. I gravitate towards it and I run to it. His Word is alive and active, personally sanctifying and leading me in truth towards His promises. As Lord in my heart, I can't help but share.  I stand firm to make a defense, I invite the broken, the seeking, I  encourage the down-trodden, I pray with my sisters--together in the suffering and waiting; and I am embraced and loved by a community who lifts me up as well. I rejoice in the redeeming Love and forgiveness of my Heavenly Father.

For I am a sinner.

I am called for the very purpose that I might inherit a blessing!  (I Peter 3:9). Though I have suffered greatly, I have not been crucified. I have not held the very sin of every human being in the palms of my hands and left to die on a forsaken cross where even God, The Father turned His face away. Jesus Christ bore the ultimate suffering for me, for you. In the resurrection, He conquered death, the ultimate suffering--the result of my sin.

I am redeemed, blessed. I am a temporary resident, taking daily steps towards Him in the sanctification process.  One day, I will inherit all His promises. 

Thank you Lord for the Hope within me. May I use it in a way that only brings You the glory and may this same hope stir others to seek more of You than just simply believing; for You are made known through us. Your power and grace magnifies through the believers heart if we let it go and give it to You, full reign. I am thankful for the very first step, the belief. Thank you for stirring me up. Lord help us to continue to arise out of our own dark comfort and bask in Your marvelous Light. Amen.