Everyday Miracles

Sunrise reflected through
our front door

My life has been filled with trials and miracles, sometimes both at the very same time! God has brought me on a journey to a place of embracing faith and trusting Him through anything. It hasn't been easy, but when we can allow God to speak to us and show us His perspective in any situation or circumstance, we position ourselves for Him to turn what was meant for evil in our lives into blessings--and a miracle occurs each time!

I have been a believer for many years now and have been learning to experience the supernatural on a regular basis. No, I don't talk with angels everyday or see the dead raised, but I do see God's hand in the simplest things sometimes. I have gained insight by traveling through some unbelievably difficult circumstances while learning to trust God finding that He sees things much differently. We don't have to wait until we are at our wits end to ask God to reveal His purpose and plan in our trial. He is waiting to hear us call Him and ask from the beginning, in fact to ask to see His perspective each day when we awake, before we even open our eyes. He desires our friendship so much that He constantly gives little hints of His presence in our lives each and every day--just to see if we will notice and receive His blessing. To me this is the greatest miracle in my life, God loves me! Every moment of every day, in sickness and in health, in my weakness and when I shine with His glory--He knows my heart better than I do myself and God still loves me.

I have traveled through a valley under the shadow of death more than once. An unknown severe blood infection caused my husband to nearly die seven times in 2007. Through the prayers of faith of family and friends from around the world we saw many miraculous healings and financial provision. Without their prayers of faith combined with our absolute trust in our faithful God, we could not have passed through that devastating time. I lived an additional 11 years with a walking and breathing miracle! My husband, Duane, a pastor for many years, was transformed by God's hand into His vessel for His glory. I always believed he was one of God's chosen. He had already been a man of humility and sacrifice with a huge anointing on his life to reach those in Africa, Israel (where we lived) and the nations. But God had even greater plans for his life in his later years. Like Job, whom Satan planned to harm and God planned to bless, Duane’s end was indeed multiplied blessings.

It was an amazing blessing to watch first hand as the anointing of God continued to rest on him, even during his worst health issues, as he spoke prayers and blessings led by the Holy Spirit. His life shone with the reflection of one who has had a brush with death. He often responded with prophetic insight and had a different perspective that could only be known by a gift of knowledge and wisdom from God. Humility and grace abounded in his speech and actions. Watching him walk under a cloud of Father God's favor, where doctors, officials and even strangers treat him with honor like he is an important dignitary was astounding to see. Each of us is living each day in a new revelation of the supernatural. It is an amazing journey that we have only just begun I am sure!

That isn't to say it isn't a difficult journey. Having your husband transformed means he isn't the man you married. That can be a shocking revelation, especially if you really liked the way he was before. But I am also finding that God's grace and mercy in every circumstance is a miracle which abounds towards me as I ask Him to help me through all the little things that can seem so difficult each day. The burdens and responsibilities that have multiplied to my shoulders because of the effects of his illness are impossible for me to bear alone. Yet God says, "Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

Every day with God is a miracle as we live as citizens in His Kingdom, all and only for His glory. The showers of His blessings of mercy and grace are the best miracles of all!


**For details of this testimony you can purchase Ruth’s book, Trusting God through the Valley, through the Horizon Ministries website.

The God who answers by fire...

I said, “O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days; Thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end." PSALMS 102:24-27

Who is the God who answers by fire?

I can think of many things I would love for God to remove from my life. But what if his fire came and devoured something in my life that I wasn't especially wanting to get rid of just yet? He is a Holy God who is a consuming fire.

Lord, help me to let go of everything that might singe me if I hold on to it.... Because I know that your love is the prize that nothing else could come close to substituting for...

(Reference: 1 Kings 18 - The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal)

How Excellent is Your Name!

 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen- even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8 NKJV

I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy as He shows himself Almighty and us as dependent, yet precious children who do mighty deeds in His Name.

No other god claims to love or value his children like our God does.  He is magnificent. The universe He created causes us to stand in awe at his power and creativity. Yet his desire is towards us and He delights in our communion with him. May we recognize our need and privilege to spend time with the Master as He guide us toward Himself so that we reflect Him and His glory more and more.

Baruch HaShem! Blessed be His Name Forever!

 

 

In Your Presence, O God

Words and Music by Lynn DeShazo

In Your presence That's where I am strong In Your presence O Lord my God In Your presence That's where I belong Seeking Your face Touching Your grace In the cleft of the Rock In Your presence O God I want to go Where the rivers Cannot overflow me Where my feet are On the rock I want to hide Where the blazing Fire cannot burn me In Your presence O God I want to hide Where the flood of Evil cannot reach me Where I'm covered by the blood I want to be where The schemes of darkness Cannot touch me In Your presence O God

You are my firm foundation I trust in You all day long I am Your child And Your servant And You are my Strength and my song You're my song Seeking Your face Touching Your grace In the cleft of the Rock In Your presence O God In Your presence http://www.middle-east-pictures.com/middle-east/Cleft-Rock-of-a.htm

© 1995 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
Even as I read the lyrics I imagine the voice of Paul Wilbur singing this song. But this song always reminds me that Jesus himself is the Rock--cleft for me. Being in the place of basking in God's presence as Believers is such a privilege. It is indeed a gift. A gift given and paid for by the Blood of the Lamb, the sacrifice our Lord Jesus gave of His life. For believers it is a safe place, a secure place, a secret place where our heart is open and vulnerable to the God who understands. He accepts us as we trust Him with our lives. But to non-Believers it could be a place of terror. If we refuse to trust Him, we will not allow Him access into our lives to protect and keep us.

I once had a vision of being squished into a cramped crack in a huge rock. The jagged edges poked my sides and felt like they would scrape my arms and legs. I was afraid to move, balancing my weight on first one part of my body and then another. I was unable to be comfortable, unable to sit or stand on anything or straighten fully. Looking out of the crack into brilliant light, the darkness behind me seemed to ooze out of the jagged places. But at the same time I knew that I was being hidden in a safe place. The brilliant light was my assurance of God's nearness. But while I was drawn to the light, I was also afraid that it would overwhelm me.

As I reflect on this experience I understand that even the uncomfortable place was part of His presence. He is light, but He dwells in thick darkness(Psalm 18)--He is there, He is everywhere--but in this case it wasn't that He was where I was, but I was where He was. Wow! My flesh was not comfortable, my soul felt fear of the unknown, both the penetrating darkness and the brilliant light at the same time. I was afraid to relax or even to move--YET, I knew I was safe!

The experience causes me to sing these words with a completely different perspective. I want to be in the cleft of the Rock! No matter how uncomfortable, I know it is a safe place and I can only get there as He places me there. Jesus, our Rock, the Living Word of God can be found as we diligently seek Him. This year spend as much time as you can seeking Him as you read His Word. You will be amazed as He reveals Himself as He has promised.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

Our God is Mighty!

We have so many friends who are going through really difficult circumstances right now that it continues to cause us to ask ourselves the question, "Can we trust God?"

When I am sitting in a meeting with other believers or worshiping at home after Bible study, there is no doubt or hesitation. "Our God is Mighty! -to the pulling down of strongholds! -to heal the broken hearted! -to save and heal the oppressed! -to heal our every sickness and disease! There is nothing too hard for God!" But when I am standing in the hospital beside the bed of a dear friend or their child, my heart breaks. Sometimes righteous anger arises and I declare God's will to heal, save and deliver. But there are times when it isn't that simple. It isn't that I don't think God can or wants to heal in that case. Is it because my faith is weak? Or is it because I am reasoning why this has occurred?

I am continually taken back to the days of the disciples walking with Jesus, listening to his stories and examples that were meant to reveal to them the heart of God in very practical ways. He used everyday situations to show them how to respond in faith to any situation. We are familiar with most of these stories if we have sat in a pew or Bible studies for even a few years. Jesus only taught his disciples for three years. Yet they so embraced His emphasis on the scriptures that they dedicated their lives to the message--the Good News of the Messiah--that Jesus taught from them.

It distresses me that there are believers who do not read their Bibles--some have never read the entire Bible. Yet these same people expect God to speak to them and teach them through every situation--"working all things together for their good and for His glory". Yes, God is faithful and He will do that, but how can they listen if they don't know His voice and don't understand His language? How can we expect our faith to withstand the tests in this difficult day and hour if we don't know what we believe? What do we believe?

I think of Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on the water during a storm. Picture this: It is the middle of the night and the disciples find themselves in the middle of the Sea of Galilee when a treacherous storm begins to whip up. They knew their lives were in great danger. They also knew Jesus was left behind on the far shore with no knowledge of their peril. They must have felt fear and abandonment--all that they had given their lives since they met him would end when the boat capsized. Surely that was about to happen. They had just witness Jesus miraculously feeding the five-thousand men--plus women and children. But they also knew that John the Baptist had recently been beheaded. These men had every reason to doubt--their faith may not have been big enough to continue to trust God, not even through that one storm. (Matthew 14)

In the midst of their fear and doubt they see Jesus walking on the water. It is no wonder they thought he was a ghost! Jesus tells them to take courage--he is there with them. He was letting them know that he had not abandoned them and reminding them of His supernatural ability to respond to any situation. Yet Peter has the most unbelievable reaction. "Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you!" Peter is apparently sold out, willing to die to move forward with Jesus in this preaching of the Gospel--no matter what. We know from the portrayal of Peter's personality that he was compulsive and may not have thought through his request. For that brief moment Peter expected to walk on water.

Yet Jesus, knowing Peter was still fearful and that he did not have enough faith to walk on water, calls him to come out of the boat. Once out of the boat Peter suddenly pays attention to the wind and the waves--those circumstances that would be the primary factors in any one's observation during a storm. When Peter cries out Jesus immediately takes him by the hand and they are suddenly safely in the boat, the sea is calm. Peter had walked on water! It must have been a dream like memory that consumed all of them as they completed their journey by boat across the lake. Imagine being on that boat witnessing these events!

This amazing story speaks volumes today. We know that God asks us to walk by faith, to show our faith by our works, to live by faith, that the prayers of the faithful will heal the sick--but we don't feel like we have enough faith against the onslaught of difficulties we seem to face increasingly. We don't! Our faith on it's own would never be enough to see any kind of miracle. But it only takes faith as a grain of mustard seed placed fully in a Mighty God for us to see the supernatural. Jesus said to Peter, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Jesus did not say, Why don't you have more faith? Jesus knows we are sometime impulsive and he knows our faith is inadequate to walk in the miraculous. It is our crying out to him that causes his heart to be touched on our behalf. Imagine what we could accomplish if we did not doubt!

This is different than that holy boldness that we sometimes walk in when we know that we know what God wants us to do or say and we can rise up in the power of his name and go forth. When we face seemingly insurmountable circumstances we must remember that when we feel the weakest, He is the strongest! He gets all the glory as we become less, yet trust him with our last, tiny bit of faith left in us to face that situation. This is victory. It is a victory that overcomes any circumstance--even death. We can trust him! He is a Mighty God!