Sometimes Miracles Hide - Bruce Carroll

Miracles.

     Do we really believe in them?  I think many Christians (and even non-Christians) believe in the idea of miracles.  We are hopeful for miracles in times of desperation; and if things turn out the way we wished for - we may even refer to it as a miracle.  But what about those times when things don't happen according to what we hope for?

     First, let's examine the main purpose of all miracles.  Someone has said, "One could say Christ's miracles were parables in deeds, just as His parables were miracles in words."  Of course, the purpose of Jesus telling parables was to reveal spiritual messages of Good News.  Miracles are meant to do the same.  First and foremost, they reveal the power of God through Jesus Christ, and that He is in control of all things.

     It's my belief that miracles are never meant to be about us as much as they are about God.  God chooses to miraculously heal or not to heal.  Whether He heals or not does not determine the miracle.  The miracle can be the healing or the "not healing"; which means sometimes we have to look beyond the wish for healing in order to see the real miracle.

     Let me give you an example.  Helen and I have special friends who have a disabled child.  When their daughter was an infant they found out that she would be severely mentally challenged for life.  We have visited their home many times, and their daughter is usually present.  Even though she can not communicate, she is always acknowledged in our conversations and included as part of the visit.

     I greatly admire this family.  There is a love for their daughter constantly transpiring among them that goes beyond normal ways of expression.  I guess I feel that they are a part of God's work in miracles.  It's not simply an instant healing, or having a debt miraculously erased.  They are a living, continuous miracle of God, unfolding bit by bit each and every day.

     I guess what I am saying is that everything about life can be considered a miracle from God, because everything flows from God's power and control.  He breathes into us the breath of life, and everything beyond that is one blessing after another.  What a difference it would make if we could have this approach to life.

     Then again, sometimes God reveals His power and glory beyond the ordinary - and we can be thankful for that as well.  The point is though, don't simply base your belief in miracles on the extraordinary ones over the "hidden ones."  Miracles come to us in different ways: sometimes in the supernatural; but most times, as precious gifts in normal everyday living.  I think these music videos say it all.  Enjoy. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgZvax0NKSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_0K-gPlyb0&NR=1&feature=fvwp


Blessings,

-Leo

Hi and Welcome

     Hello New Life Baptist and Friends.  I am so happy to join with you today.  I hope that this blog can become a way of communication from me to you.  We have so many ways of connecting with one another these days; why not use what is available to us to the honor and glory of God.

     Let me begin by sharing with you what is on my heart today.  I have been intensely interested in discovering the deeper meaning of things for some time now.  A short time ago I spent about two years reading and studying prayer.

     I have read such people as Madame Jean Guyon, from the 1700s, a member of the Quietest Movement; E.M. Bounds, who spent the last number of years of his life shut up in a house in prayer; and Charles Finney, one of the great revivalists of the 1800s.  It's believed that he won over half a million people to the Lord through his lifetime ministry as a revivalist.

All of these people (and other well known Christians through the ages) had one thing in common - a deep commitment to prayer.  Prayer was at the base of their fame as great men and women of God.  They accomplished things in their lifetimes which went beyond human explanation.  Madame Jean Guyon was blessed with the gift of healing.  Whenever she traveled to a town or village people came to her, and through the power of her prayers, they went away healed of ailments or disabilities.

     Andrew Murray, another revivalist in the 1800s, was used of God to win complete towns and districts to the Lord.  He once was preaching to his congregation and became angry because the entire congregation was not listening to him; but instead, they were praying.  He began to chastise them when an elderly man came up to him and said, "Be careful not to interfere with the mighty hand of God."  Murray immediately repented and revival broke out in that area and it is believed that thousands of people came to the Lord.

     We are about to embark on a journey into the unknown called faith.  Our human nature resists the unknown because it is something that we cannot control.  But every journey with God will have some element of unkown to it, and the only way we can step into it is through the power of prayer.

     There indeed will be obstacles along the way.  Each one should be faced by not trusting in our own strength, but trusting in God through the power of prayer.

     In the year 2011 I believe our journey is two-fold.  1. We will rediscover ourselves in terms of what we are all about as a church.  This will involve defining ourselves through our Core Values, Mission, Vision and Ministry Strategy.  Hopefully you have been able to read Aubrey Malphurs book, "Nuts and Bolts of Ministry".

2. The journey will also involve establishing permanent roots for residency.  We will answer the question: Is St. Christopher's our permanent vantage point for ministry?

     These two tasks are big and requires a commitment from all of us.  However, the load becomes lighter in a number of ways: by everyone sharing the load; by trusting in God; and through the power of prayer.

     May God be with us as we travel the road of faith together.  P.S. Enjoy this beautiful song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqNdQdmUbWU

Blessings,

-Leo