Recently, at a staff meeting at my job, my boss shared this touching story about her sister that just happened.
Her sister has a young son who wanted an X-Box 360 for Christmas. She didn't have the money for something that pricey but she prayed for it anyway. Then one day, a coworker came to her, paper bag in hand.
"Please don't get angry," she started. "I know what it's like to want something for your child but not be able to afford it for them. I've been blessed and just wanted to pass on the blessing. This is for you."
Handing the bag to my boss's sister, she opened it, and what do you think she found? An X-Box 360, of course!
My boss's sister's co-worker had been blessed to be a blessing. It's a good time to be praying about and thinking of how each of us can be the same. Look for opportunities all around you! Being a blessing may involve giving a physical gift as in the true story just told. But it could also be a myriad of other types of giving: spending time with a shut-in relative, bringing Christmas joy to a friend in a hospital or providing a meal for their family, trying extra hard to get along and not be dragged into a verbal sparring match with "that relative" at your family Christmas dinner (but instead, praying for and passing on some "extra grace" to them), sharing the REAL, Biblical Christmas story with a child, or passing on a gentle "Merry Christmas" to someone in a store who looks frazzled and in need of some "Christmas Peace" and "A Silent Night, Holy Night.."
So, while we're busy getting all our presents bought and checking off all our "to do" lists this last week leading up to Christmas Day, let's take some time to first spend time at the foot of the manger, in adoration of what C.S. Lewis called "The Grand Miracle" of God becoming a human baby. As we focus in appropriate awe and wonder on the One whose birth we celebrate as the FIRST and GREATEST gift of Christmas from our Creator and Heavenly Father, let us stop to listen to His stilll, small voice whispering to us unique ways in which we can shine the true light of Christmas on the world around us in His Name!
Merry Christmas to all and God bless us,every one!
Welcome to Springs in Baca, based on Psalm 84, a quiet place to reflect and be encouraged by a fellow pilgrim, on our way to our eternal Home.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Advent season - Who is this King and who are we in Him?
For a few months now, I've been writing about miracles - big and small. This morning on the "TODAY SHOW" I was reminded about one of, if not THE greatest miracle of hope for believers.
If you had a chance to read the book Heaven Is For Real, you know what I'm talking about. Colton Burpo, at age 3, went into surgery and was taken to Heaven. There he was sung to by angels, met his (miscarried before he was born) sister and grandfather he'd never met on earth, learned about spiritual warfare and how much Jesus loves children, and most importantly had the opportunity to sit on Jesus' lap and just be with Him! When he "came back," Colton slowly unravelled his story over the space of months (if not years), telling his parents what they each were doing while he was on the surgical table - and all that he experienced in that brief time. Now, eight years later, at the ripe old age of 12, Colton has written a 35 page book of his own - the illustrated Heaven is For Real For Kids.
With all of the indoctrination of our children going on today - from every wrong side - it is a joy to hear about not only what happened to this child eight years ago. But now we have the privilege to see this child's heart as he grows up, wanting to reach out to other children (it's geared to ages 4-8) through this beautifully illustrated book to help them see Jesus and Heaven a little clearer and to set the focus of their lives a little more clearly beyond the distortions that this world will teach them. I'm sure his parents asked themselves afterward, "Why Colton?" I think it's a little clearer now why Jesus chose this child to take on this adventure of a lifetime (and then some!).
I guess the next question it brings to my mind is "What am I doing with the gifts He's given me?" (And by implication, what are you?) Sure my experiences (and probably yours as well) have likely not been as dramatic as Colton's, but God has gifted each of us with a set of specific gifts and talents, and put each of us here, at this time in history, to make a difference in one way or other, for such a time as this (Esther 4:14 b). I've been reminded lately that we are living in a time, perhaps more than any before us, that will require a lot of us: courage, character and hope to pass on to those hurting ones around us. But in order to do that, we need to be in touch with the ONLY ONE who can give us these qualities.
C.S. Lewis said that trouble in our lives doesn't give us good character; it brings out what is already IN us. We are responsible to spend the time necessary with God and His Word in order to develop the fruits of the Spirit that will enable us - and those around us - to deal with the increasing angst of our time. It's not enough to just pray for them, any more than to just "be nice to" them. It takes the whole deal - they need to hear the Gospel of grace from us, proclaimed in word and works. They need to see our courage and hope. We can't manufacture them, though. Fruit comes out naturally as the branches are part of the life of the tree, just as Jesus told us ("I am the vine, you are the branches; if a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." Jn. 15:5). Christ's life will come out of us as we are in Him. It can't be faked, though many have tried.
As we have been shown through the eyes of a child (once again), let us be reminded that our faith, hope and courage (as well as the love that comes as a result) come from "keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Heb. 12:2)
In this season of Advent - looking forward to the birth of our Lord Jesus - let's take the time to meditate on Jesus, who He IS, was and always will be, and the hope of being with Him joyfully forever, but only AFTER the work He gave us to do has been accomplished. And let's spend time with Him during this season to ask Him what that work is that He has predestined us to do to His glory (Eph.2:10), through His power and grace in our lives.There's an assignment out there which only you and I can accomplish because He planned it that way. Will we do it? I hope so. I know I'm going to purpose to pray more diligently about it from now on, and hope you will too.
Have a blessed Christmas season and all (next) year long! Amen.
If you had a chance to read the book Heaven Is For Real, you know what I'm talking about. Colton Burpo, at age 3, went into surgery and was taken to Heaven. There he was sung to by angels, met his (miscarried before he was born) sister and grandfather he'd never met on earth, learned about spiritual warfare and how much Jesus loves children, and most importantly had the opportunity to sit on Jesus' lap and just be with Him! When he "came back," Colton slowly unravelled his story over the space of months (if not years), telling his parents what they each were doing while he was on the surgical table - and all that he experienced in that brief time. Now, eight years later, at the ripe old age of 12, Colton has written a 35 page book of his own - the illustrated Heaven is For Real For Kids.
With all of the indoctrination of our children going on today - from every wrong side - it is a joy to hear about not only what happened to this child eight years ago. But now we have the privilege to see this child's heart as he grows up, wanting to reach out to other children (it's geared to ages 4-8) through this beautifully illustrated book to help them see Jesus and Heaven a little clearer and to set the focus of their lives a little more clearly beyond the distortions that this world will teach them. I'm sure his parents asked themselves afterward, "Why Colton?" I think it's a little clearer now why Jesus chose this child to take on this adventure of a lifetime (and then some!).
I guess the next question it brings to my mind is "What am I doing with the gifts He's given me?" (And by implication, what are you?) Sure my experiences (and probably yours as well) have likely not been as dramatic as Colton's, but God has gifted each of us with a set of specific gifts and talents, and put each of us here, at this time in history, to make a difference in one way or other, for such a time as this (Esther 4:14 b). I've been reminded lately that we are living in a time, perhaps more than any before us, that will require a lot of us: courage, character and hope to pass on to those hurting ones around us. But in order to do that, we need to be in touch with the ONLY ONE who can give us these qualities.
C.S. Lewis said that trouble in our lives doesn't give us good character; it brings out what is already IN us. We are responsible to spend the time necessary with God and His Word in order to develop the fruits of the Spirit that will enable us - and those around us - to deal with the increasing angst of our time. It's not enough to just pray for them, any more than to just "be nice to" them. It takes the whole deal - they need to hear the Gospel of grace from us, proclaimed in word and works. They need to see our courage and hope. We can't manufacture them, though. Fruit comes out naturally as the branches are part of the life of the tree, just as Jesus told us ("I am the vine, you are the branches; if a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." Jn. 15:5). Christ's life will come out of us as we are in Him. It can't be faked, though many have tried.
As we have been shown through the eyes of a child (once again), let us be reminded that our faith, hope and courage (as well as the love that comes as a result) come from "keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Heb. 12:2)
In this season of Advent - looking forward to the birth of our Lord Jesus - let's take the time to meditate on Jesus, who He IS, was and always will be, and the hope of being with Him joyfully forever, but only AFTER the work He gave us to do has been accomplished. And let's spend time with Him during this season to ask Him what that work is that He has predestined us to do to His glory (Eph.2:10), through His power and grace in our lives.There's an assignment out there which only you and I can accomplish because He planned it that way. Will we do it? I hope so. I know I'm going to purpose to pray more diligently about it from now on, and hope you will too.
Have a blessed Christmas season and all (next) year long! Amen.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Another miracle!
I just read another miracle story on Facebook from a couple in my church. I asked them if I could share their story here on this blog. Listen up!
Mac & Robin McIntyre
Mac & Robin McIntyre
Saturday, September 24, 2011
More Miracles!
The more people I speak to about miracles, the more stories I keep hearing! Since most people are too busy to write in themselves, I thought I would sum up some of the miracle stories I've been hearing of late. Feel free to send YOUR stories to my email address at Spiritglogal7@comcast.net and I'll add them next time!
A friend, Teresa, told me about TWO times she nearly died of hypothermia - once with some friends on a hiking trail, wearing only a tank top and shorts. It started getting late and cold, and her friends got ahead of her on the trail. She started getting groggy and finally lay down and started to lose consciousness. If it weren't for her friend's dog returning to find her in that state and running back to her friends, pulling on their clothes to finally get them to go back and find her, she believes she would have died on that trail.
The same friend related how she was driving in a friend's pickup to drop someone off, only to find after that that her gas tank was empty! This was a local road that was to be closed for the season the next day, so no one would have been able to come and look for her and once more she was dressed too lightly for the weather and after some time started getting cold and very tired. A man driving a truck with a usual route was surprised to hear a strong, repeated "nudge" telling him to get off his usual route and turn off onto a small, out of the way road, where he discovered Teresa already starting to fall asleep and was able to revive her and get more help - just in time!
I was with a friend when we went to hear evangelist Mario Murillo at a church near my friend (and boss's) house near Tacoma, WA last Nov. 9. I told her about my healing of my knee at one of his services 34 years ago and immediately she said she wanted to go the next day. So we went. He went up to her at one point and told her that God was touching and healing her (because it was a sensitive area, he didn't announce what it involved). She knew immediately, she said, and accepted in faith that she was healed. When she went back to her doctor after the fact, this doctor, who had acted so SURE about her diagnosis, changed her mind, not being able to "find" what had been diagnosed, and my friend was able to share her newly re-found faith with the doctor as well as build her own!
HALLELUJAH! God is SO GOOD! Share YOUR stories to encourage others and I'll add them to this blog! We ALL need to bolster our faith in the God who STILL does miracles - especially during such difficult times as these in the lives of most people around the world today! Trust God and be blessed today.
A friend, Teresa, told me about TWO times she nearly died of hypothermia - once with some friends on a hiking trail, wearing only a tank top and shorts. It started getting late and cold, and her friends got ahead of her on the trail. She started getting groggy and finally lay down and started to lose consciousness. If it weren't for her friend's dog returning to find her in that state and running back to her friends, pulling on their clothes to finally get them to go back and find her, she believes she would have died on that trail.
The same friend related how she was driving in a friend's pickup to drop someone off, only to find after that that her gas tank was empty! This was a local road that was to be closed for the season the next day, so no one would have been able to come and look for her and once more she was dressed too lightly for the weather and after some time started getting cold and very tired. A man driving a truck with a usual route was surprised to hear a strong, repeated "nudge" telling him to get off his usual route and turn off onto a small, out of the way road, where he discovered Teresa already starting to fall asleep and was able to revive her and get more help - just in time!
I was with a friend when we went to hear evangelist Mario Murillo at a church near my friend (and boss's) house near Tacoma, WA last Nov. 9. I told her about my healing of my knee at one of his services 34 years ago and immediately she said she wanted to go the next day. So we went. He went up to her at one point and told her that God was touching and healing her (because it was a sensitive area, he didn't announce what it involved). She knew immediately, she said, and accepted in faith that she was healed. When she went back to her doctor after the fact, this doctor, who had acted so SURE about her diagnosis, changed her mind, not being able to "find" what had been diagnosed, and my friend was able to share her newly re-found faith with the doctor as well as build her own!
HALLELUJAH! God is SO GOOD! Share YOUR stories to encourage others and I'll add them to this blog! We ALL need to bolster our faith in the God who STILL does miracles - especially during such difficult times as these in the lives of most people around the world today! Trust God and be blessed today.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Miracle Stories - First of many!
Recently I asked friends and readers for your stories of God's miracles for the purpose of encouraging one another in this time of increasing chaos and bad news. I believe that the more stories we hear of God's interventions into our daily lives, the greater our faith will grow in His character and nature and the more we will abound in hope and be in an ever-increasing position to help and encourage others, many of whom might just be in a similar place as you once were, lacking hope. Second Corinthians 1: 3-4 tells us that God comforts us so that we can comfort others in their times of trouble.
Since then, I have been asking friends of mine about their personal stories and have gotten quite an earful already. Tonight one friend sent me an email about a miracle involving her granddaughter. Here it is in her own words. Get ready to praise God!
My nine year-old granddaughter, Sage Isabella Clements-Gallagher, is somewhat of a walking miracle. On June 25, 2003, when she was 16 months old, she accidentally drowned in her parents’ backyard koi pond. Her mother discovered her, floating face up, and called 911 immediately. There just “happened” to be a Shoreline Fire Dept. paramedic taking a lunch break in their neighborhood, which I believe had to be the provision of an all-knowing God. Sage had no life signs for at least 20 minutes before the paramedics tried one last strategy and got her heart started again. She was rushed to Children’s Hospital.
As soon as Doug & I heard of the accident (shortly after they arrived with her at the hospital), we asked every church with which we had any connection to put Sage on their prayer chain, and within a short time she was being lifted up in prayer by people around the world. Although the doctors treating her at Children’s Hospital thought it would be best if she died (because they thought she would be severely brain damaged), she not only survived, she made a full recovery! After being hooked up to all kinds of tubes in the hospital ICU for a whole month after the accident---and receiving several years of traumatic brain injury (TVI) therapy thereafter---she now has minimal speech and motor-skill impairment. She is a bright, cheery and active little girl---brimming full of life. She is entering the fourth grade this fall and does not require any more TVI special assistance. What a blessing she is--- and all the glory goes to God!
Now - email YOUR story and will publish it here so that others may also be encouraged. Shorter ones can be combined in one posting. Let me know what you think of the story (and storiES, as they start to come in!
Be encouraged in Jesus!
Since then, I have been asking friends of mine about their personal stories and have gotten quite an earful already. Tonight one friend sent me an email about a miracle involving her granddaughter. Here it is in her own words. Get ready to praise God!
My nine year-old granddaughter, Sage Isabella Clements-Gallagher, is somewhat of a walking miracle. On June 25, 2003, when she was 16 months old, she accidentally drowned in her parents’ backyard koi pond. Her mother discovered her, floating face up, and called 911 immediately. There just “happened” to be a Shoreline Fire Dept. paramedic taking a lunch break in their neighborhood, which I believe had to be the provision of an all-knowing God. Sage had no life signs for at least 20 minutes before the paramedics tried one last strategy and got her heart started again. She was rushed to Children’s Hospital.
As soon as Doug & I heard of the accident (shortly after they arrived with her at the hospital), we asked every church with which we had any connection to put Sage on their prayer chain, and within a short time she was being lifted up in prayer by people around the world. Although the doctors treating her at Children’s Hospital thought it would be best if she died (because they thought she would be severely brain damaged), she not only survived, she made a full recovery! After being hooked up to all kinds of tubes in the hospital ICU for a whole month after the accident---and receiving several years of traumatic brain injury (TVI) therapy thereafter---she now has minimal speech and motor-skill impairment. She is a bright, cheery and active little girl---brimming full of life. She is entering the fourth grade this fall and does not require any more TVI special assistance. What a blessing she is--- and all the glory goes to God!
Now - email YOUR story and will publish it here so that others may also be encouraged. Shorter ones can be combined in one posting. Let me know what you think of the story (and storiES, as they start to come in!
Be encouraged in Jesus!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Miracles: Reasons for Hope
Everyone needs hope. In this world and in this time where everything seems to be turned upside down and inside out, when right is called wrong and wrong right, and when people's hearts fail them for fear, earthquakes and hurricanes hit unlikely targets (like NYC!), people are deceived in every arena of life, and Jesus' name can be used as a curse word but not in any other realm of public life (other than church), it seems that we need reasons for hope more than ever.
It is for this reason, primarily, that I would like to change the focus of this blog - for awhile anyway - to one that proclaims good news, specifically news that demonstrates that we still have a LIVING, LOVING God who CARES and INTERVENES MIRACULOUSLY in the affairs of humankind - TODAY!
But I don't want this to be a one-woman show blog! In order to accomplish this goal, and reach the most people with the encouragement we ALL need, I need to ask for your help! In two ways. First, I need to hear your stories of ways God has and IS moving in the miraculous: healing miracles, amazing conversion stories, and more. I KNOW they're out there!!! Sometimes here in America we become too "sophisticated" or "smart" to believe, and as a result, we fail to see God's workmanship in miraculous ways all around us, and more sadly, we fail to give God the "space" to perform His wonders that are often reported by missionaries from places WAY out in the "uttermost parts of the world" where they haven't been corrupted by "sophistication" and they still believe that God is willing and ABLE to do the "OUT THERE" miracles! So, tell me your (or others' substantiated) stories of God's awesome power to share with people from ALL OVER the world! That ties in with my second request/need of you: in order for the most people to benefit from the encouragement of this blog, I will need YOU to tell others ABOUT it, to people across the globe! If you know of missionaries, evangelists, pastors with ties to ministries around the world, etc. - pass on this blog address and encourage them to write down their miracle stories so that MORE and MORE people will be encouraged, and hopefully nonbelievers would see the overwhelming evidence of God's moving in this world and come to Christ!
Please - spread the word and send in your stories so that MANY would know, be encouraged and be blessed, and so that Jesus would be glorified! I can't wait to hear your stories! Bring 'em on!
Here's a preview: just a tip of the iceberg, two, actually, and true.
In 1976 I was a new believer (about a year into my salvation), living in NYC. Seven years before I was running in my apartment in just my socks to get to the phone and slipped, skidding several feet and landing hard into the door jamb of my parents' bedroom. OUCH! It hurt, and was x-rayed but it showed nothing. However, days became months, which became years and the pain increased. More tests and more nothing. To make a long story short (or less long), after 4 years I had exploratory surgery and was told that "the ligaments supporting the kneecap had "stretched out" and weren't holding it in place any longer; additionally, I had fibrosis, which they told me "comes from chronic arthritis." In short, I was told to "wear high heels and get used to the pain. There's nothing we can do for you." That was in 1973, at the age of 17. But God had other plans! Three years later, at a large church in Queens, NY, an evangelist came to speak and I went with several friends to hear Mario Murillo speak. What I didn't know was that he had a ministry in which God gave him words of knowledge about miraculous things He was going to do and they were done! At the end of the first night, my faith was encouraged, but the best I could say was, "It would be nice." But I wasn't holding my breath. On my way out the door, though, God spoke to my heart (loud enough to almost have been audible!) He said, "You're coming back tomorrow and I'm going to heal you." I remember all the next day thinking, whenever my knee strained and pained, "Tonight my knee isn't going to hurt anymore." Well, since this is already getting too long, I'll spare you the details. But as you can probably guess by now, this story wouldn't BE included here if it DIDN'T happen. It did. And 34 years later, not only is my knee still healed, but once again God used the same evangelist to unexpectedly heal my back after a car accident three months prior to last November, only 3,000 miles away from the original "scene." So you see, I KNOW first-hand, that God is still IN the miracle-making business!
Now it's YOUR turn. Send your miracle stories to my email address: Spiritglogal7@comcast;.net. The sooner I get them, the sooner I can share them. And pass this blog address on so many others can be blessed as well, and tell their stories. Can't wait to read them.!
It is for this reason, primarily, that I would like to change the focus of this blog - for awhile anyway - to one that proclaims good news, specifically news that demonstrates that we still have a LIVING, LOVING God who CARES and INTERVENES MIRACULOUSLY in the affairs of humankind - TODAY!
But I don't want this to be a one-woman show blog! In order to accomplish this goal, and reach the most people with the encouragement we ALL need, I need to ask for your help! In two ways. First, I need to hear your stories of ways God has and IS moving in the miraculous: healing miracles, amazing conversion stories, and more. I KNOW they're out there!!! Sometimes here in America we become too "sophisticated" or "smart" to believe, and as a result, we fail to see God's workmanship in miraculous ways all around us, and more sadly, we fail to give God the "space" to perform His wonders that are often reported by missionaries from places WAY out in the "uttermost parts of the world" where they haven't been corrupted by "sophistication" and they still believe that God is willing and ABLE to do the "OUT THERE" miracles! So, tell me your (or others' substantiated) stories of God's awesome power to share with people from ALL OVER the world! That ties in with my second request/need of you: in order for the most people to benefit from the encouragement of this blog, I will need YOU to tell others ABOUT it, to people across the globe! If you know of missionaries, evangelists, pastors with ties to ministries around the world, etc. - pass on this blog address and encourage them to write down their miracle stories so that MORE and MORE people will be encouraged, and hopefully nonbelievers would see the overwhelming evidence of God's moving in this world and come to Christ!
Please - spread the word and send in your stories so that MANY would know, be encouraged and be blessed, and so that Jesus would be glorified! I can't wait to hear your stories! Bring 'em on!
Here's a preview: just a tip of the iceberg, two, actually, and true.
In 1976 I was a new believer (about a year into my salvation), living in NYC. Seven years before I was running in my apartment in just my socks to get to the phone and slipped, skidding several feet and landing hard into the door jamb of my parents' bedroom. OUCH! It hurt, and was x-rayed but it showed nothing. However, days became months, which became years and the pain increased. More tests and more nothing. To make a long story short (or less long), after 4 years I had exploratory surgery and was told that "the ligaments supporting the kneecap had "stretched out" and weren't holding it in place any longer; additionally, I had fibrosis, which they told me "comes from chronic arthritis." In short, I was told to "wear high heels and get used to the pain. There's nothing we can do for you." That was in 1973, at the age of 17. But God had other plans! Three years later, at a large church in Queens, NY, an evangelist came to speak and I went with several friends to hear Mario Murillo speak. What I didn't know was that he had a ministry in which God gave him words of knowledge about miraculous things He was going to do and they were done! At the end of the first night, my faith was encouraged, but the best I could say was, "It would be nice." But I wasn't holding my breath. On my way out the door, though, God spoke to my heart (loud enough to almost have been audible!) He said, "You're coming back tomorrow and I'm going to heal you." I remember all the next day thinking, whenever my knee strained and pained, "Tonight my knee isn't going to hurt anymore." Well, since this is already getting too long, I'll spare you the details. But as you can probably guess by now, this story wouldn't BE included here if it DIDN'T happen. It did. And 34 years later, not only is my knee still healed, but once again God used the same evangelist to unexpectedly heal my back after a car accident three months prior to last November, only 3,000 miles away from the original "scene." So you see, I KNOW first-hand, that God is still IN the miracle-making business!
Now it's YOUR turn. Send your miracle stories to my email address: Spiritglogal7@comcast;.net. The sooner I get them, the sooner I can share them. And pass this blog address on so many others can be blessed as well, and tell their stories. Can't wait to read them.!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Miraculous Interventions
Earlier this summer a couple of friends loaned me a dvd set called "Against All Odds." It's about the many ways God miraculously saved His people just in the past century: from World War 1, when a British major was inspired by the biblical account of Saul and Jonathan in a way that led to an amazing victory against a Turkish garrison to the 1948 establishment of the Jewish homeland to a 1976 hostage situation leading to a miraculous rescue at Entebbe airport, and SO many more miracles I wouldn't have room to include here. If you can get hold of this movie or series, RENT IT!
After hearing SO MANY recent negative national as well as world events, from natural disasters - floods, fires, famine - to man's inhumanity to man - I know I don't have to name specifics for you to get the picture in your own minds, I was once again reminded of this 13-episode series and the incredible power and goodness of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It won't let go of my heart and head. I find that particularly when things around me and this world are getting increasingly INsane, stories of triumph and the miraculous offer a weary world much- needed hope, encouragement, courage and a reminder that God is STILL GOOD and STILL IN CHARGE!
Not that we can't be encouraged by God's Word, the Bible - we can and MUST, and the more of IT we get into our minds and hearts, the more transformed we will be and the more we will trust God's CHARACTER. This is not an either/or game, but both/and. By looking at the biblical, historical events and records, we see how God worked (and works in the present at times, though He is not a God who repeats methods in a cookie-cutter manner). And more importantly, by keeping our eyes on Jesus, we will grow more into His image as He intends for us.
So, I got an idea - likely whispered into my ear by God or one of His angels. And I would LOVE to hear what you think of it. What about a blog that centers around more such TRUE MIRACLES from around the world! How much greater would the faith of believers grow in order to embolden us all and how many others who don't yet know this loving, miracle-working God might come to know Him as a result?
My only remaining question is this, which is where I will need your help (as well, of course, as God's): I need to get the reports of the miraculous to share! The wider out this net can be spread, the more hope and encouragement can be built! I have a vision of this ministry expanding as well: a television or internet component dramatizing some of the true life miracles for all to see! But that's a long way off. If you hear about a miraculous event or story -(preferably first hand) healing, deliverance, salvation of an unlikely person (a Saul-to-Paul-like transformation), miraculous rescues and many other such faith-building stories - and have or know who to contact to corroborate the story - PLEASE - email me with your stories to Spiritglogal7@comcast.net and tell your friends, church members, missionaries - anyone who might have access to such stories to do the same and pass on the request to as many others as you think might be equally interested.
My pastor said that He has been emboldened to pray and ask God for greater and more amazing things that could only happen through God. That's what this sounds like too - forget the "box" - this concept blows the box (along with my mind) - right out of the stratosphere! Where evil and darkness abound, how much brighter does the light of God shine! All I can say is, if this is in fact, His idea, then the stories will come and many will be blessed. I can't wait for it all to start! Go GOD!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Courage to Stand
The Courage to Stand
Recently I’ve been finding myself led, in my prayer times, to read 2 Chronicles. I haven’t read this portion of Scripture in a LONG time. Unlike Psalms or the Gospels, it’s not a section that I (nor probably many other Christians) gravitate toward. Here’s the gist: It recalls the story of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. His father, Asa, had once trusted in the Lord, but then started, as is often the case when power goes to the head of a leader, putting his trust in himself, his army and own strength. It never ends up well for those who do so, and did not for him either. But when he passed on, his son Jehoshaphat took over as king. 2 Chron. 17:6 says of him, “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord. Furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.” He was standing with God and against the idolatry of his forefathers. I’m sure this took courage. It always does when one takes an unpopular stand. Our nation and culture is not the first to embrace “multiculturalism.” It just went by different names at various times. Like idolatry.
Fast forward three chapters to chapter 20. Jehoshaphat is told that “the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites” were on their way to make war on Jehoshaphat. Look at his response. “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord” (v.3-4). The result was nothing short of miraculous. The Lord responded by comforting them with these words: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God’s” (v. 15b). And then God came through and literally blew their enemy away by their OWN hands and all Jehoshaphat’s army had to do was set up a praise choir and watch God’s hand at work! Read the rest of the chapter for yourself. I don’t think Steven Spielberg would ever have come up with an ending like this!
In reading and meditating on this section of Scripture, I couldn’t help but compare it to some current events of today. Space does not allow me to go off as I would like so I have to be (mercifully, for your sake) brief, or at least try.
1. Then: Judah was being surrounded and attacked on all sides.
Now: Israel is being attacked on all sides by those who want to see t wiped off the face of the earth (again).
2. Then: Their king, Jehoshaphat, gathered his people to pray for God’s help and direction.
Now: A band of people standing up for Israel, gathered together to stand up and pray for and encourage the people of Israel. What? I didn’t hear about this in the media. Why not? Where? When?
Oh, you haven’t heard? Well, so glad you asked. From August 21st to 24th in Jerusalem, (on the Temple Mount on the 24th!), there was a gathering of Christians, Jews and others standing for Israel. It was not a political gathering, but a spiritual one, to pray for and encourage a people who are being surrounded once more by enemies on all sides (sadly, including our own country, the good old U.S. of A.
It took real courage (in fact, the name of this gathering was “Restoring Courage”) to take this stand, by all those involved, and particularly Glenn Beck whose vision this was and who set it in motion through many threats leveled against this brave band all sides.
And true to form, the media refused to acknowledge, much less cover this event, with a cast of two thousand-plus, not to mention the 1,400 viewing parties (of 25 + people) and all those smaller groups around the globe watching via the internet, many literally risking their lives to do so. Celebrity speakers, political figures and musicians all there to present an uplifting message of support and encouragement for this once again world- (but NOT God-] forsaken tiny nation at the vortex of world news.
No doubt if an iota of violence would have taken place at this event, every network on the planet would have appeared, and likely most (at least from THIS country) would have blamed the victims. That’s the (understood) reality of the situation. I wonder if any of those who to now have believed everything the media says (or doesn’t, in this case) will ever open their eyes and see the truth of the matter. Not without prayer, I daresay.
I find it staggering personally, to see how quickly our world has forgotten the Jewish people a mere 60 or so years after the Holocaust, and are once more not only willing but abetting its destruction. Yet they have learned NOTHING from history – spiritual or physical history. At every turn, God has showed up and miraculously pulled HIS PEOPLE out of the fire, and He WILL do it again. We need to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, speak up for her, and then as did Jehoshaphat, stand by to watch God step in again with HIS victory! That is TRUE courage.
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