Don’t we all.
Yesterday morning my heart was overflowing with compassion as I stood in church to sing. My eyes were drawn to several families. Two little boys, brothers, absolutely adorable, stood in the pew in front of me, with whom I’m presuming is their uncle. You see, their daddy has just recently been diagnosed with leukemia and he is undergoing treatment. These boys were being so considerate of each another, the older continually checking that the younger had a clear path of vision to the lyrics on the screen ahead. At one point, the elder of the two tried lifting his sibling. So cute, when the “elder” appeared to be about eight years old. When this idea failed miserably, he then allowed his little brother to stand on his feet to give him that extra inch or two of height.
From there my eyes fell on a single mom with her three children. This precious young woman, touched by separation, has just recently been left to bring up her children on her own. The youngest daughter was in her arms. As we continued singing, this sweet cherub began styling her mom’s hair. A ponytail was her choice today. With sheer delight she continued to comb her mommy’s hair with her hands, working a creative masterpiece, oblivious to onlookers. The mom sang on.
Not far from this family stood a couple who only recently have returned to the Lord. My eyes tear up every time I see them enter the church. A few months ago their youngest child, still a baby, became critically ill and it was discovered she had diabetes. Heaping this news onto an already physically exhausted mom with three young children has been overwhelming. Yet, here they stood, singing praises.
My heart cried out to the Lord for each one of them as my eyes filled with tears.
Lord, I want You to show me a miraculous sign on behalf of these precious ones. I want to see a daddy healed, a family restored and a life renewed. Father, show me a miracle.
Suddenly the scales of darkness were removed. I was looking at three miracles.
The Lord showed me that sometimes the miracle is in the strength to carry on. It’s in the power to get up each morning. It’s in standing and singing a true sacrifice or praise and believing that even though circumstances speak cruelly, God is good…all the time. Sometimes a miracle is following God by faith when we don’t see Him working. As Beth Moore says, when no obvious miracle comes there is good theology in ‘I can’t find Him, but I know He’s there.’ The miracle can be seen in caring pals, ponytails and praise.
Yes Teacher, I have seen miraculous signs. May I continue to look for You and believe when miracles come packaged in unexpected ways.
5 comments:
Joy,
My heart aches for the families you described as well.
Yet...
"The Lord showed me that sometimes the miracle is in the strength to carry on."
I say "Amen" to that.
Now that is worship, friend, both in them and in you. God has given you the rich capacity to "see" his miracles in the midst of your day. That's what I need every day, not just Sundays. You are such a gift to the world. Keep looking for God's grace and writing about it. You are my hero, friend. I love you.
peace~elaine
We have expectations on God. Like to define what a GOOD life is and have Him perform for that outcome.
You are so right. What is whole in our eyes is sometimes different in His. What is better to Him is sometimes what we consider not His best.
Father, continue to change us so we have your perspective on 'your will be done on earth as it is in heaven".
Oh what a beautiful post and testimony of His goodness and faithfulness, Joy! I felt like I was with you in church yesterday as you worshipped!
Love this:
"The Lord showed me that sometimes the miracle is in the strength to carry on. It’s in the power to get up each morning. It’s in standing and singing a true sacrifice or praise and believing that even though circumstances speak cruelly, God is good…all the time. Sometimes a miracle is following God by faith when we don’t see Him working."
Oh Joy,
My heart aches with yours, and rejoices too as you see the miracles of those precious people being there all the same.
Sunday was a day of miracles for me... the reminder to put on the armor of God, communion Sunday, a reminder of why we are even able to put on His armor... a day where God gave me a job.. and complete peace about it too.... and a 4 hour retreat of silence, with only a cuddly kitten to break it....
And worth more than all of that, a time of on my knees before Him worship at all He has done in my life in the past few years...... I never thought I would be where I am today, and wouldn't be without the miracle of God's intervening. If I want to see a miracle, I need only look as far as the mirror, and remember what I used to see there, versus what I see now.
Praise be to God, I am a new creation. The old has GONE and the new HAS COME!!!
Love you,
Heather
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