Silent While Hearing Miraculous Stories

“The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done …”
Acts 15:12

How long did those miracles take?  I can only guess.  However, if you pray one hour throughout the day, every day for a year, that would be 365 hours to pray for miracles.  The Bible tells stories of instant miracles and some longer, most miracles happened fast.  Jesus put the ear of Malchus back on by a simple touch, in mere seconds (John 18:10).  Jesus raised a man from the dead, in the time it took to yell “Lazarus, come out!"  It took Lazarus longer to walk out of the tomb, stumbling over the wrappings of death’s clothing. (John 11) 

I’ve witnessed miracles within moments of prayer beginning. So, just think, if miracles take about a minute, then 365 hours of prayer would manifest 21,900 miracles a year.  This I know for sure, all of us would be silent as you told us what God had done.

I’m praying for your miracle stories,

Owen

Get Up and Walk

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up,

and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

~ Acts 3:7

As Peter and John were going to the Temple (“church”) to pray, they saw a beggar, a man who’d been cripple from birth sat at the Temple’s gate.  Peter, like most of us, didn’t have earthly riches, so he said to the hopeless man, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (3:6).  Peter gave what he had … access to Jesus.  By the good news Peter had been born again, baptized in the Holy Spirit, … and given God’s power to share and witness in a fantastic manner the complete healing found in Jesus.  He was no different than you or me.   

Jesus gives all believers – Peter … you – the power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) no matter where we are or go.  That power is the Spirit of God filling you in order that you can witness and proclaim the Word of God!  It is the power to enable your hands to be a tool for God’s miracles with the laying on of hands, your being accompanied with signs and wonders of God, and the ability to proclaim with your mouth that the sick be healed in Jesus name.  … O’ Hallelujah! … Wow, dare I say, even to raise the dead (Matt. 10:7) with the resurrection power of Christ Jesus! That’s all we have at our disposal for being a witness. …  

Except  … your willingness and compassion to witness, and to:  take people by the hand, help them up, that they may instantly receive the gospel, receive spiritual healing, receive the power of the resurrection … and receive healing of body, and see the wonders manifest by God as you stop to help them up.  If God is in you, then you are like Peter and release the power of Lord’s Spirit by speaking, “So be it in the Name of Jesus.”  And then, simply, take the crippled, the spiritually dead, by the hand and help them up.  So be it, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”

Let's Walk Together,

Owen <><

Humility is not Weakness

Andrew Murray identifies a reality, that, “Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of the Christian.” So, humility—is birthed in a life focused on surrender that leaves one helplessly open to God. It is a sincere Christ centered perspective—it is when one truly has an emptying of self, acknowledging that one’s life, provision, and eternal state rests completely in the Lord's hands. 

We cannot confuse humility as weakness or the need to back down to criticism in our worship and witness of Christ.  Read the Gospels and Acts, Jesus and the disciples did not stop their witness, in humility they relied on God’s Helper to help them “run the race.”  Remember, we are in Christ’s likeness; God has made us into something great by his Spirit in us at salvation and upon us in power by Christ’s immersion of us into the Helper – His Spirit.  As Paul, said, “I am not in the least inferior to the ‘super-apostles,’ even though I am nothing” (2 Cor. 12:11).  Murray adds, “It is the surrender of faith to Jesus in His self-humiliation and death that opens the way to the full blessing of Pentecost.”  The church was birthed by wind and fire - you and I are the Church. 

We cannot attain the blessing of the Helper, without humility, and dare I say salvation, for we must be humble enough to confess our sin and trust Christ, indeed humble ourselves before the Lord (see Philippians 2:5-11).  To say I am saved and that I have the blessing of God with His Spirit in power is not a lack of humility, but a humble truth—truth that comes in power when we live in complete humility, emptying of self, in turn, being filled and overflowing with God's Spirit and power to reveal Christ. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Ephesians 6:10, 

Owen <><      

 

Everyday person & everyday Miracles!

We are reminded by a Catholic professor of theology, priest, monk, ... in very  simple terms of the simplicity and power of daily life.  His words are brave, bold, and from a man willing to give up all for Christ, to pick up his cross – even against the Church he dearly loved. 

He gave us a simple statement:

"The world is full of everyday miracles." 



His quote on the side of a building in Germany

This is such a wonderful truth,

... one we need to embrace daily.



But, there will be no fireworks or great orators and crowds in attendance when we live in the blessing of Christ’s resurrection daily. 

 

Only when we are constant in conversation and gratitude to God will we see all common, ho-hum, everyday miracles – that is when you will find the Holy Spirit resting on you with all of God’s joy and peace. *Thank you Lord for the miracle of your grace and daily hope; indeed, breath. 

In his native language of German, he wrote:

"Die Welt sit voll allräglicher Winder."  ~ Martin Luther (1483 - 1586)

Living in God's miracles, live them with me,
Great grace to you!
Owen <>< 

Fearless Humility

Timothy Keller notes that “Anxiety is a daily statement to God saying, ‘I don't think you have my best interest in mind.’”  Such anxiety needs to firmly stand in the Lord’s Word, that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).  Keller’s statement reveals a quivering faith in our Redeemer.  To be “perfected in love,” is to fully experienced Christ’s absolute, unflawed love.  There must be complete trust in God if you are to be without fear.     

We are reminded by Andrew Murray that, “The life God bestows is imparted not once for all, but each moment continuously by unceasing operation of his mighty power.  Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, for the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of the” follower of Christ Jesus.  Only when your soul is perfected by God’s Spirit can you truly say it is God who gives provision for each and every circumstance of life—that is why humility can empower you to live without fear. 

A lack of humility gives Satan and his slaves the ability to feed anxiety into your very soul.  But, you can lift your head up, because “you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”  (Romans 8:15-16).

No looking over your shoulder,

Owen <><

The Big Picture

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, ..."   

~ Revelation 7:9

 

A little conversation occurs between friends, as follows:

"I don't like big churches."

"Well, you're gonna hate Heaven."

That was an uncomfortable conversation.

I hope they are still friends.

Our church averages around 200 on Sunday and I love our church very much. I used to love another assembly that averaged 500.  Oh, and we liked an awesome church that averaged 1,000 before moving where we live now.  Did I mention the church I attended that averaged 3,000?

What have I learned? 
That Christ is central and where His people teach and worship and serve to give God the glory – well, that is the church I like.
What about you?

Not forsaking to gather …   

Owen <><   

Pray As God Leads

Henry and Norman Blackaby wrote about experiencing the presence and example of Jesus in prayer.  They bring to your attention that, “Prayer is not for the purpose of getting God to help us…but for getting us in line with what God is about to do.  Prayer is God’s invitation to enter His throne room so He can lay His agenda over our hearts.”  Wow, powerful.

How does God place his agenda in your heart?  He does so through prayer, as Jesus taught.  When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, pause to consider how Jesus’ answer to them had some very pointed statements.  Jesus answered, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matt 6:9-10). It begins with praising God and yearning for His Kingdom.  As He continues, the request for a disciple’s needs are for daily bread (which represents Christ, the Bread of life, as well as food) and deliverance from sin and the evil one—connecting in the center is “your will be done.”  

 

Jesus set the example at the end of His earthly ministry, facing the cross He prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Matt. 26:42). 

In Christ: Father, “Your will be done,”

Owen <><