Mini Miracles Prove God Cares.....By Shawn McEvoy

 Mini Miracles Prove God Cares

By Shawn McEvoy

So they all ate and were filled. Mark 6:42

The title of my post today strikes me as oxymoronic. Miracles, after all, are defined as acts of God, amazing and marvelous events, and "seals of a divine mission" (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary). Generally speaking, there's nothing small about them.

What I'm talking about then, are instances of heavenly intervention in the lives of believers that impact what we would consider "minor" areas of our existence, the things that cause us to make statements like: "It showed me that God cares about even the small things in our lives," always as if that's a profoundly shocking proclamation. Nobody ever responds by saying, "Well, duh…"

I think that's because it never stops being a mind-blowing concept - the Creator of the universe, who hears the prayers and praises of billions simultaneously and loves each one the same, provided, perhaps, just the right amount of money for a struggling single mom to buy her child a pair of shoes. It's not the parting of the Red Sea to preserve for Himself a people, or the resurrection of His son to purchase the redemption of humanity. It's, for lack of a better term, a mini-miracle.

I see an even greater personalization in mini-miracles, in God drawing delight from blessing our socks off in ways that speak to our individual hearts. The idea also gave me greater permission to attribute to the Lord all sorts of transpirings that I had chalked up to my own efforts, happenstance, or even worse, had gone without noticing.

If, for instance, I told you about the time we thought we'd lost my wife's keys - including several costly ones - only to find them sitting precariously on a single steel beam of the trailer behind our moving van, maybe you'd respond the way my friend Scott did: "You got lucky, dude." Yeah, well, that's why Karen says sometimes these events are "just for us." I saw those keys, I knew the bumpy route we had traveled, I was astounded, I was humbled. I decided that giving credit to the Lord for things that bless you is never wrong, as suggested by  James 1:17.

I just don't do it enough.

I wonder how many mini-miracles I've missed out on by being impatient, angry, or inattentive. Donald Miller, in Blue Like Jazz, has Moses tell those worshipping the golden calf: "Your problem is not that God is not fulfilling, your problem is that you are spoiled" (92).  Romans 1:20 would seem to indicate that the Lord's hand is evident everywhere - "people can clearly see His invisible qualities." I like that verse very much, because I like to think of myself as on the lookout for God.

But that brings me to the other ways to miss miracles - by not accepting them or expecting them, by resenting them or wanting to earn them. I quote from Blue Like Jazz again, where Miller admits, "I love to give to charity, but I don't want to be charity. This is why I have so much trouble with grace" (84).

Can we get past the affront of accepting a free gift? If we can, we might see the Lord trying to say through the Feeding of the 5,000 and even today, "Here I Am, stay here, spend more time, no need to go away, please accept this, put yourself in My hands, keep your eyes open, I love you."

After all, says  Matthew 7:11, "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?" Mini-miracles are the treats God brings home to His kids, those who seek him with childlike faith, those who consider themselves "the little things in life." Well, duh…

Today, try bringing something small home to a loved one to remind yourself of how much joy the Lord gets from giving.

Resurrection Culture Part 2.....Denison Ministries

 Resurrection Culture Part 2

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

We serve a God of powerful transformations. All throughout Scripture God takes those whom the world deemed the lowest, the hopeless, and the helpless and uses them to change the world. You are not beyond transformation. God longs to break off that which inhibits you from experiencing fullness of life. He longs to heal you, deliver you, and set you free. May your life be forever changed as we spend time discovering God’s heart for transformation.

Scripture:“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Devotional:

We devoted time yesterday to searching Scripture for understanding on life in the Spirit. We looked at Romans 6:4 which says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” And in Romans 8 we learned that God has offered us a life free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2), crowned us with Christ as his co-heir (Romans 8:16-17) and made it so nothing could separate us from the depths of his love (Romans 8:37-39).

We’ve been given an incredible life in the Spirit through Christ. But so often we continue to live as if his death and resurrection didn’t change our everyday occurrences. So often we live according to the flesh rather than our new life in the Spirit. So, building on the foundation of God’s word, let’s take time today to learn some practical ways we can better live the abundant life afforded to us through the resurrection of our Savior.

How can we better live our lives in the Spirit? How can we experience the “newness of life” Paul talks about in Romans 6? It all starts with growing in our friendship with the Spirit. The Bible tells us that the Spirit prays for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26), that he teaches us (John 14:26), helps us (John 14:16), and fills us (Ephesians 5:18). But the Holy Spirit never forces himself on us. He only fills and speaks when he is asked. Such is the depth of God’s love for us that he waits patiently for us to open ourselves to him, beckoning us with his loving-kindness. So, we must make time every day to be filled with the Spirit anew and learn what it is to receive his help, teaching, presence, and prayer. It’s only when we grow in our relationship with him in private that we will learn how to be led and used by him in public. Just as you couldn’t pick out an unfamiliar voice from a crowd, you will have a hard time feeling the nudges of the Holy Spirit in this rushed and busy world without experiencing him in the secret place. Growing in friendship with the Spirit is vital and foundational to living with “newness of life.”

Next, we have to live in obedience to God’s word. God has blessed us with an incredibly practical book meant to guide us into an abundant, Spirit-filled life. To walk in obedience to the word is to live a life experiencing all that God has in store for you. So, spend time in the word of God opening your heart to the Spirit. Allow him to be your teacher. And commit yourself to live in obedience to what he shows you. In obedience to God’s word you will discover how perfectly applicable and powerful Scripture is to your life.

Lastly, set aside time to simply receive the love of God. We live our lives in a society full of people and possessions that promise to satisfy us. We’re surrounded by a world that isn’t living out of personal experience with God and isn’t a reflection of his truth. If we’re going to live in the world but not be of it, as Romans 12:2 commands us, we must spend time experiencing the reality of God’s love. We must allow his presence to be the lens through which we see the world around us. Victory over the enemy comes from encountering the reality of God’s unfathomable grace and affection. Following the leadership of the Spirit moment to moment stems from encountering the reality of his nearness in the secret place. You have to spend time engaging in spiritual relationship to live a spiritual life.

Spend time today growing in your friendship with the Spirit, reading God’s word, and receiving the love of your heavenly Father as you enter into guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Spend time receiving a fresh filling of the Spirit. Simply open your heart and wait for him. Ask him to make the reality of his presence known to you. Ask him to lead you into deeper friendship with him. The Spirit loves to talk to us, help us, and guide us because he loves us. You will never have a better friend than the Holy Spirit.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13

2. Spend time engaging with God’s word. Where does your heart need more life? Where do you feel like the world has taken over? Look up Scripture on whatever subject you need help with, and stand on God’s word! Renew your mind and live in obedience today.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

3. Receive the love that God has for you today. Similar to receiving a filling of the Holy Spirit, just spend time resting in the presence of God. Ask him to reveal his love to you. Ask him how he feels about you.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9

I pray that you would be transformed as you align your life with the resurrection culture. May you see yourself as one saved, redeemed, empowered, and delivered. May you live in pursuit of the abundant life available to you. May the chains of this world fall off in light of God’s powerful grace. And may your life be a reflection of the reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

 Extended Reading: John 15

When People Forget, God Never Does.....ELIZABETH LAING THOMPSON

 When People Forget, God Never Does 

ELIZABETH LAING THOMPSON

“But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!’” Isaiah 49:14-15 (NIV) 

I knock, and my parents’ front door swings open. Dad stands there uncertainly, his collared shirt half tucked into old sweatpants.

I wait for the flash of his crinkle-eyed grin, but he just blinks and says, “Hi?”

The question guts me. My own father doesn’t recognize me.

“Dad, it’s me, Elizabeth.”

His eyes brighten. “Elizabeth! Come in.”

“I’ll make us coffee,” I say, trying to keep moving so I don’t cry. Dad’s been forgetting things for a while, but this — not recognizing his own family — is new.

We soon cradle steaming mugs at the kitchen table. I steer our conversation to familiar topics, but we keep stalling out. Dad can’t remember his favorite restaurant, our family vacations, the songs we used to sing.

On my drive home, the tears finally come. I pray, but it comes out muddled: Lord, it feels like our memories never happened … And seeing Dad’s dementia worsen in spite of all our prayers — it makes me wonder if You, too, have forgotten me.

Maybe you know the feeling: You pray and plead but get no answer — or at least not the answer you want. You reach out for God, your heart hurting, but He feels distant. Silent. And doubt starts to whisper: Maybe God doesn’t care … Maybe He’s forgotten me. 

We aren’t the first to feel insecure with our Father. In moments of crisis, God’s people sometimes expressed similar feelings in the Bible. Once, when Israel was under threat from an enemy nation, the Israelites cried, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me” (Isaiah 49:14).

Now that my dad has dementia, I can more fully appreciate the way God’s response mingles painful truth with staggering kindness: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15).

By saying, “Though she may forget,” God acknowledges that people — even the people we need most — aren’t always there for us. Sometimes they can’t be. But God is always there, and He never forgets: “I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15b).

Ironically, when tough times hit, we may become forgetful. Hardship makes it hard to remember the good. We forget the comforting truths in God’s Word. We forget His kindnesses in the past. We forget … so we feel forgotten.

Here we can find guidance from Asaph, one of the biblical psalmists. Like us, Asaph asked, “Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful?” (Psalm 77:8b-9a, NIV). But Asaph revived his faith by digging through his memories: “I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will … meditate on all your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12, NIV).

We, too, can overcome doubt, that lonely, God-has-forgotten-me feeling, with remembrance. We can intentionally recall specific times when God has proven faithful. Times when He has met our needs, answered our prayers, comforted our hurts. When we meditate on God’s faithfulness, the enemy’s lie — God has forgotten you — loses its power.

The next time heartache comes knocking, try clinging to God’s promise by recalling the many ways He has already kept that promise: I will not forget you. 

God always remembers us … Let’s make sure we remember Him, too.

Father, thank You for remembering me. As I meditate on Your faithfulness throughout my life, I am reminded that You will remain faithful through every challenge to come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Where the Wrath and Love of God Meet.....Dr. Charles Stanley

 Where the Wrath and Love of God Meet

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 3:23-26

In our culture, sin is no longer considered an issue. Although some people might admit to making mistakes or being wrong, few will actually say, "I have sinned." The Lord, however, takes sin very seriously. Until we learn to see transgression as He does, we will never understand what happened at Christ's crucifixion.

The cross was God's perfect answer to a terrible dilemma. Because the Lord is holy and just, He hates sin and must respond to it with punishment and wrath. Yet He also loves sinners and wants to be reconciled with them. The cross of Christ was the place where God's wrath and love collided.

The only way to rescue fallen mankind from eternal punishment was to devise a plan whereby the Lord could forgive sins without compromising His holiness. There was no way to overlook transgressions; His wrath had to be poured out--either on us or a substitute. But there was only one possible substitute: the perfect Son of God.

So Jesus came to earth as a man and suffered the Lord's wrath for us as He hung on the cross. Sin was punished, divine justice was satisfied, and now God could forgive mankind without compromising His character. His wrath was poured out on His Son so that His love and forgiveness could be lavished upon us.

Because of human limitations, we'll never grasp all that happened while Jesus hung on the cross. We can begin to comprehend only the physical suffering He endured, but in the spiritual realm, Christ bore so much more--the very wrath of God. This costly redemption plan proves God's great love.

The Gifts of Easter.....Ryan Duncan

 The Gifts of Easter

Ryan Duncan

“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” – Luke 24:51-52

My Grandfather has always been a generous man. Every Easter when I was young, he would go out to the local candy store and return with bags upon bags of candy for me and my cousins. Of course, we couldn’t just eat the candy then and there. To make things more enjoyable, the children would all go into the basement to play while he and my Grandmother hid the candy in nooks and corners of the house for us to find throughout the day. The big prize in the game was always an enormous, solid chocolate bunny hidden somewhere in the house, and my grandfather loved to walk about giving vague hints as to where it might be.

To be honest though, what I loved most about my early Easters was actually what came afterward. You see, my Grandfather always bought so much candy that we kids couldn’t find it all. So when our family came to visit a few weeks later, you might find a caramel egg while rummaging through the bookshelf or stumble on a bar of chocolate while playing in the study. These unexpected blessings always reminded me how much my Grandfather loved his grandchildren, and how he always spoke of God loving us. Looking back on it now, I can’t help but see a resemblance between those unforeseen gifts and Christ’s work through the resurrection.

Look at the verse below,

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’" – John 20:19-23

One of the most amazing, wonderful messages of the gospel is that it’s not over. Just like my old Easter-egg hunt, which didn’t end with the capture of the giant bunny, Christ’s work didn’t end at the resurrection. Instead, he gave us the Holy Spirit. The unexpected gift, that continues to remind us how much he loves us, and the sacrifice he made so that we could be together again. So this year, celebrate Easter with a grateful heart, and remember the love Christ has for you.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Take a moment to meditate on Jesus life, death, and resurrection.

Further Reading

John 20

A Prayer to Calm Your Fears.....By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer to Calm Your Fears

By Betsy de Cruz

“Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed.” – Mark 6:50b,51 (NIV)

As a child, I had to check under the bed several times each night to make absolutely sure no monsters lurked down there. Then as a teen, I could barely get into a swimming pool after seeing the movie Jaws. Because of potential sharks on the deep side of the pool. 

Years later as an adult, I know enough not to fear monsters under the bed or sharks in a swimming pool; however, now I have more “real” fears to deal with. Like the problem that showed up on my credit report last week. After a sleepless night fearing someone had stolen my social security number, I learned it was a simple reporting error.

Fear might lurch our hearts into overdrive when we wonder how we’ll pay the bill or find a new job. Fear attacks our peace when a loved one has to go in for a skin cancer removal or when we’re dealing with a life-threatening illness. As parents, we worry about our kids. As children, we worry about our parents.

In the face of fear, we can take comfort in Jesus’ words to the disciples when he walked across the water to rescue them in the storm: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:50b).

The disciples had been struggling several hours in the middle of the Sea of Galilee because a strong wind came against them. For reasons we don’t know, Jesus waited until early morning to walk out to them. They must have been scared out of their minds because when they saw Jesus, they thought he was a ghost! But when Jesus got into their boat, the wind ceased. His very presence calmed the storm.

What wind is coming against you today, my friend? Maybe you’re struggling against the wind of illness, unemployment, or conflict in your home. Perhaps you’re fearing the worst as winds of discouragement beat you down. Maybe you wonder why Jesus is taking so long to come and rescue you. May I encourage you to take heart? Jesus sees you. 

How about inviting Jesus into your boat today? Invite him into your situation. Ask Jesus to come and be with you as you face the wind coming against you.

Take courage. Jesus is closer than you think. He can calm any fear.

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life today. I give you control of my difficult situation. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, so I can take courage and not be afraid. Forgive me for worrying instead of trusting in your steadfast love and infinite power.

Calm the storm inside me and the winds coming against me. Help me today to remember you are with me. Show me step by step what to do in this situation, and when there is nothing I can do, help me to rest in you and trust your faithfulness. 

I know you see me, and I invite you into my boat today. Jesus, I call on you to help me navigate my circumstances. I praise you for your great power to speak peace over my fears. I surrender every worry and concern to you. Instead of fearing the worst, I choose to trust you are working for my good. Fill me with faith and give me the grace I need.

In your powerful name I pray, Amen.

The Ultimate Lifesaver.....by Jim Liebelt

 The Ultimate Lifesaver

 by Jim Liebelt

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. —John 15:13

An article in Reader’s Digest described the actions of Dave Shoemaker, captain of the 180-foot fishing vessel, “Galaxy,” somewhere off Alaska’s St. Paul Island. The article read, “When a disastrous engine fire wreaked havoc for the Galaxy and its crew, Captain Shoemaker bravely walked through the smoke and flames with no protection but a bandanna around his mouth to radio for help. Shoemaker continued to put the lives of his crew first and worked to help them to safety despite incurring three broken ribs, extensive burns to his skin and the increasing chance of going down with the ship. Like a true captain, he made certain he was the last of the crew to be rescued by the Coast Guard, who arrived thanks to his initial Mayday call. The Galaxy was completely lost, but thanks in great part to Shoemaker's courage under fire, 21 of the 25 crew members survived.” Captain Shoemaker, a modern day hero, put his own life on the line in order to save the life of his crewmembers.

Let’s reflect on our ultimate lifesaver, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Remember that he willingly suffered, bled and died—taking our own sin and shame on Himself as He hung on a cross— that we might be saved from an eternity of separation from God. In his resurrection from the grave, Jesus broke the power of sin and death—and guaranteed rescue—to anyone who believes in Him. He is our most shining example of heroism in action.

Yet, the story doesn’t end here. We, in fact, are destined to become part of the story. For Jesus calls all of us who have experienced His rescue to become part of his rescue team—to act heroically, willingly putting our lives on the line—in order to help rescue others. “Snatch others from the fire and save them,” is how the New Testament book of Jude puts it. It’s a simple act of gratitude for we who have been given a lifeline, to share a lifeline with someone else.

Today, offer a prayer of thanks to Jesus, our ultimate lifesaver and consider someone around you with whom you can share your own Easter story of rescue. You never know. In doing so, you just might “snatch someone from the fire.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who had the courage to share the news of Jesus' resurrection with you? Pray and thank God for using this person in your life. If possible, thank them personally for being willing to be used by God in your life.

2. In your circle of relationships, who might benefit from hearing your story of God’s rescue in your life? Will you commit to sharing your story with this person in the coming week?

FURTHER READING:

John 10:11-18; Luke 9:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21