At that Moment

At that Moment

Acts 11: ¹⁰ Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 

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“LORD please help me” was my cry. I was doubled over in serious pain. The words I uttered were not used often, as I had stopped communicating with GOD. At that moment, the pain went away.

• There are times when I need GOD right now and HE agrees.
• There are times when I pray to GOD and HIS answer is immediate.
• There are times when I am shown something by GOD and it happens right away.

Peter was told to eat strange animals as an illustration of how he was to go and speak to other races about JESUS. The illustration or vision happened three times. At that moment, three men knocked on the door where Peter was. The HOLY SPIRIT was orchestrating the whole situation.

• When GOD has a plan for me, HE wants me to act with immediacy.
• When GOD has something for me to do , HE wants me to do it without doubt.
• When GOD has a specific change I need to make, HE wants me to make it without question.

Every day, GOD speaks to HIS people. HE guides them and requests that service be top of mind. GOD leads me through the HOLY SPIRIT, praying for people HE brings to mind.

Every once in a while, GOD may put a special request in there. When HE does, I must act immediately, otherwise I would forget. I am grateful GOD includes me in HIS plans.

• Are you hung up on something right now?
• Is GOD trying to speak to you and you cannot hear HIM because of your rage?
• Will you quiet down and listen to what GOD is telling you to do today?

Faith Practice

Luke 7: ⁶ Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” ¹⁰ And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

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“How will I ever do this?” I said to myself nervously. I had never done this before and I did not feel comfortable. As I took a deep breath, I got behind the wheel of the car. To my dismay, there were other practicing drivers sitting in the back seat. “Put the car in drive” the instructor said. I followed his instructions. After the drive was over, I felt more confident. “When will we do this again?” I said excitedly!

• Sometimes my faith is lacking.
• Sometimes I am not confident because of the unknown.
• Sometimes I need help with my faith.

One thing I noticed is the centurion never actually came out to speak with JESUS. He sent messengers to communicate between them because he did not feel worthy to be in JESUS’s presence. The centurion also believe in JESUS’s authority, so much so, that he could accept a word from JESUS knowing the healing would take place.

• JESUS wants me to practice having faith in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to believe in HIS authority over all of my situations.
• JESUS wants me to be more and more confident in HIS abilities and less confident in mine.

Just knowing JESUS is concerned about my situations is good enough. I mean once I know HE is handling the circumstance, I feel better. I praise HIM in the middle of the storm rather than when it is over, but it took practice to get there. Yes, I still question “why” and sin, BUT GOD teaches me faith daily and I trust HIM more and more.

• Do you feel your faith is lacking?
• Are you facing a huge situation that seems insurmountable?
• Can you allow GOD to have authority over your circumstance to do as HE pleases?
• Will you put your trust in HIM today?

Hits Too Close

Matthew 13: ⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

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“But you are supposed to be a role model to me” I said to myself as I watched yet another mentor fall by the wayside. This person seemed like a godly giant, but turned out to be just like the others. My faith dwindled quickly.

• My faith used to be based on someone else’s actions.
• My faith used to be based on what I could see others do.
• My faith used to be easily thwarted by the fall of others.

When “that” person sinned, I would be so disappointed. I could not hear any preaching or teaching from them. BUT GOD wants me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to have faith in HIM and the people HE sends.
• GOD wants me to drop my arrogance of thinking “that” person can’t possibly perform miracles.
• GOD wants me to stop looking at the sinner and look at GOD inside.

I am in a very popular club, namely ALL those who committed sins. Miracles do not come from humans rather they come from GOD. I should focus only on the SPIRIT not the sinner. Judging people weakens my faith. GOD wants me to see HIM in action, even through the highly unlikely.

• Are you judging someone who is an unlikely candidate for GOD?
• Are you basing your faith on someone else’s actions?
• Can you stop looking at others and start looking at the HOLY SPIRIT?

Higher Habit

Matthew 12 ⁹ Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, ¹⁰ and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

¹¹ He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹² How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

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Getting up and going to church was a real struggle for me. I mean after hanging out in the clubs with my “friends” I felt I owed it to myself to get some sleep. When I started going to church, it felt weird at first but soon became a habit. Soon I was a regular attendee and decided to tell “those sinners” they should do the same.

• I used to think church was the destination for sinners.
• I used to think church was a place to go that I could check off my list each week.
• I used to think church was the goal and getting “cleaned up” was the prize.

Taking my disgusting habits to a place where I could dump them off seemed like the right thing to do. Follow a few rules, sing a few songs, listen to someone tell me how wrong I was felt like the right thing to do to get my life on track. BUT GOD wanted so much more than that.

• GOD wants me to see HIM as the destination beyond church.
• GOD wants me to worship HIM daily not just minutes on a given day.
• GOD wants me to “be” with HIM rather than going to HIM.

Don’t get me wrong, going to a church that serves people through GODLY words and habits is great. BUT GOD wants more. HE wants me to open my eyes to HIS kingdom around me to tell people about the Good News. Church should not be a habit rather GOD should be a “relationship” that drives me to go to church and beyond.

• Are you judging someone because you attend church regularly?
• Do you feel you have made it because you go to church?
• Can you stop thinking more highly of yourself and seek those who need GOD today?

If You Are Willing

Matthew 8: When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

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“Demand a raise” was the thought that popped in my head. I walked into my evaluation and said all of the things that “I” had accomplished. I literally spent hours writing this stuff down. After the meeting I was proud of myself for being able to come up with all of these “wonderful” accomplishments.

• There have been times I have demanded.
• There have been times I have thought more of myself.
• There have been times I have tried to convince others that I was more than what I am.

Arrogance was speaking to my pride as I waltzed down the hallways thinking “I” did all of this. When I got my average raise, I was furious. Looking back I can see several mistakes in my approach.

• GOD wants me to be humble in my request.
• GOD wants me to recognize HIS power and authority in all situations.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM, not demand HIM.

GOD is not owned by me but HE is my GOD and I am HIS servant. HE enables me to humbly ask for things and HE has the right to say “No”, “Wait” or “Yes” whenever HE pleases. The man with leprosy humbled himself thoroughly. He followed JESUS for a while, he knelt down and he asked, knowing JESUS could say “No.”

One critical thing I noticed is JESUS said “don’t tell anyone.” Wait, there was a crowd there! HE sent the cleansed leper directly to those who opposed HIM as a testimony of HIS power.

• Are you bragging about your power?
• Is all the attention on you?
• Can you stop trying to draw attention to yourself and have people focus on GOD?
• Will you humbly ask JESUS to make you clean?

Opportunity Comes at Strange Times

Esther 2: ¹⁹ When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. ²⁰ But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

²¹ During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. ²² But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.

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My roommate and I were walking back from class when the dorm director pulled up and asked us, “Would you like to visit a nearby college?” We jumped in the car and reveled our first trip to another world.

Another time I was sitting and waiting for my interview, and was called in early. The other candidate decided to go with another company. I got the job.

Yet another time a large company was reorganizing and I was in a conference room confused about the future. It just so happened that I was in the conference room of one of the people who was initiating the change and I was invited to help.

• Sometimes I thought I was simply at the right place at the right time.
• Sometimes I thought I was simple lucky.
• Sometimes I thought I had what it took so therefore I made things happen.

I have learned over the years that there is no such thing as luck and positioning myself to be at the right place could never happen the way it has happened in my life. In fact, the times I tried to position myself for something I wanted got met with huge disappointment. What am I to do?

• GOD wants me to rely on HIM to deliver the right path HE wants me on.
• GOD wants me to understand HE is the one who provides favor.
• GOD wants me to believe HE can provide, protect and prevail over any circumstance.

There are no coincidences. GOD has me right where HE wants me at all times. HE is blessing me thoroughly even when I don’t recognize it.

• Are you trying to position yourself to be at the right place at the right time for something you want?
• Do you place luck over faith?
• Can you start having faith in GOD today?
• Can you open your spiritual eyes and notice where GOD has you so you can be useful to HIM today?

GOD provides miraculous appointments

2 Kings 9: ² When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. ³ Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!”

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³⁰ Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. ³¹ As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?”

³² He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.³³ “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

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Another shake up at work left only a few people with enough knowledge to do the job. I was one of the candidates but my opponent was favored and they chose him. I was miserable and pouted for a while, but soon had to get over it. After a while, I got used to my position and fell in line like everyone else.

One day an abrupt announcement came through. The person had to leave the company suddenly and they asked me if I wanted the position.

• Sometimes I pout when I don’t get my way.
• Sometimes I think the situation is not in control because I am not in control of the situation.
• Sometimes I brood over another choice because I didn’t get my way.

Jezebel was feared by one of the most powerful prophets who existed, namely Elijah. BUT GOD appointed someone new to take the reins. HE has done this in my life time and time again. When I was passed over for promotion after promotion, GOD saw to it that I was taken care of in spite of the politics.

• GOD raises me up at the right time, not my time.
• GOD raises me up when HE knows I am ready, not when I think I am.
• GOD raises me up for HIS purposes so I need not be afraid.

Jehu was not afraid of Jezebel because he had purpose in his life. He knew GOD was with him and he completed his task just like GOD told him. Living a life of purpose enables me to see GOD’s miraculous appointments.

• Have you been passed over?
• Do you think someone is in the way of your success?
• Can you see that GOD can and will raise you up at HIS appointed time?
• Will you accept GOD’s training to make you stronger?

GOD is concerned about the day to day

2 Kings 4: The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

² Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

³ Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

⁷ She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

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“GOD” or “JESUS” was the canned answer I blurted out in Sunday school. I mean it had to be the answer to the mundane questions that were asked, like: “Who loves you” or “Who can take care of everything” or the most asked “Who died for you?”

After hearing this over and over, my ears glazed over and I put GOD in a box. “HE is only concerned with heaven, but not concerned with my life here on earth” I thought.

• GOD is concerned about the smallest detail of my life.
• GOD knows the number of the hairs on my head and HE is concerned about each detail of my life.
• GOD made me beautifully and wonderfully through HIS power and was pleased when HE did it.

JESUS is busy building an eternal place for me that has no curse, no pain and no misery. This doesn’t mean HE is absent in my life here on earth. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live in me and comfort me each and every day.

HE is concerned about my concerns and doesn’t judge me as much as I think but still chastens me for things I shouldn’t be doing. HE keeps me on HIS path and guides me to great and marvelous places. GOD can perform miracles and does so when I trust HIM.

• Are you in a bind?
• Does the future look bleak?
• Can you believe GOD has the situation under control?
• Won’t you stop fretting over the situation and let GOD handle it the way HE wants to?

It’s not my power!

Acts 3: ¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.

¹⁴ You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

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Jealousy of Peter, Paul and Moses is the best word to describe my feelings toward GOD. I mean they did some cool supernatural feats that my puny faith can’t seem to muster up. People I have prayed for died, that person didn’t get the job, or those people got a divorce anyway.

Why does it seem like their prayers were answered and many of mine fall by the wayside?

• When I think I have to be “special” to perform miracles then I have the wrong focus.
• When I think I have to be “sinless” to perform miracles then I have the wrong understanding.
• When I think I have to be “all prayed up” to perform miracles then I have the wrong person.

My problem with performing miracles is “me.”  I think I have to be something I am not. GOD performs the miracles whether I am the messenger or not. HE breathes life into people, heals them, raises them to powerful places and kills them under HIS own power. I have no control of any of GOD’s ways.

• GOD can do anything and the more I believe the more I see HIM doing miracles.
• GOD can solve any issue and the more I point to HIM the more barriers fall by the wayside.
• GOD can heal bodies and broken hearts and the more I depend on GOD to do it the better off I am.

No wonder “I” can’t perform miracles. I don’t have the power. GOD has all power and it’s up to me to understand HIS plan and be accepting of HIS direction.

• Do you need a miracle?
• Can you accept whatever GOD has in store for the situation?
• Have you pointed people to GOD for the “little” things HE does in your life so that HE can do “bigger” things through you?

SPIRIT led choices

Acts:  ²¹ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

 ²³ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

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When I got my first job out of college I drove to the small town without directions (typical man). I didn’t know the area or where I worked but I needed to find an apartment.  A car cut me off as I drove around my new “strange” town. Stopping to catch my breath, I glanced over and there was a set of hidden apartments, under my price range.

A feeling came over me saying “this is the place” so I immediately put a down payment on the place then I went to check out where I worked. To my amazement my job was only four blocks from my apartment.

• I don’t have to see burning bushes to see GOD every day.
• I don’t have to see seas splitting open to see GOD working in my life.
• I don’t have to see fire rain down from heaven to see GOD steering me and guiding me.

Okay, there are times when I don’t feel comfortable speaking about the experiences I’ve had with GOD. I mean I feel like I will be looked at like I am a nut or people will brush off my situation as a coincidence or belittle it. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD is just as concerned about my “little” choices as much as the large ones.
• GOD has a plan for me and has chosen me for that plan.
• GOD protects and guides me.

The disciples were very SPIRIT led when making a choice for a new apostle. They relied on GOD to make the choice for them. Please don’t get me wrong, planning is great, just don’t leave GOD out of the plans!

• Do you have a decision to make?
• Have you considered allowing GOD to guide your direction?
• Are you trying to control every aspect of your life?
• Which decisions have you left up to the SPIRIT to make?

It’s easy for GOD

John 21: ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

 

   “No,” they answered.

 

 ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 

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Sometimes I think I have become too smart for my own good.  There is nothing wrong with learning and education, but there are times when I brush off situations as coincidences or I explain them away with my scientific prowess. Do miracles happen daily and I am just numb to them?

• Bullies told me to be scared of them because of their power but GOD said something different.
• My professor told me I would never make it in my field of study but GOD said something different.
• Scientists told me my child could be born with an illness but GOD said something different.

Throughout the years GOD has been there in my life nudging me along to a much better place. HE raised me to levels I should have never been, HE took me to places I would only have dreamt of travelling to and HE has shown me HIS power over and over again. 

 

Many would chock it up to just being lucky or karma or the “universe” just likes me but I say give credit where credit is due. 

• It’s easy for GOD to protect me from that terrible accident.
• It’s easy for GOD to heal my broken body.
• It’s easy for GOD to mend my broken heart.
• It’s easy for GOD to handle any and every situation or obstacle placed in my way.

Even the disciples had stopped following JESUS when HE died. They had seen HIM alive again and yet went back to work like nothing happened. HE wants me to know miracles happen daily, just open my eyes, ears and heart and they will happen.

• Do you doubt GOD’s power?
• Have you placed your belief in other mystical or scientific things outside of GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT?
• Can you give GOD credit for doing more things in your life?

Do I really believe GOD will fix it?

Luke 8: ²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

   He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

   In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

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Amazing accounts of miracles peaked my curiosity about the concept of “GOD.” Were these accounts true or were they made up? I questioned GOD and demanded that HE show me one of these “miracles.”

“If you are GOD then show me YOUR power!” I would exclaim. Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be standing next to me either.

• JESUS’s miracles were meant to show the world HE cares, not as a parlor trick.
• JESUS’s miracles were meant to establish that GOD became a human yet remained connected to the ultimate power of the FATHER.
• JESUS’s miracles were meant to get everyone’s attention so they would not reject HIM rather embrace HIS gift of love.

GOD left my question unanswered. I read the Bible and got a sense of peace that GOD wants me to understand HIS unending love for me so HE gave just the right account of HIS love so I can manage through life’s difficult circumstances.

Whether I believe these miracles happened or not, JESUS is still GOD and is capable of doing anything and HE doesn’t need my permission to be GOD even if HE doesn’t perform a miracle for me.

The Bible helps me understand how to navigate “this” or “that” circumstance while remaining faithful to the one and only GOD. Now I am connected to GOD who has all the power to lead and protect me.

• Do you believe in the miracles listed in the Bible?
• Do you agree these miracles are listed to bring all humans back to HIM in a loving way?
• Will you drop your doubt that GOD cannot handle your circumstances, even your repeated sin?

JESUS is still supernatural!

Mark 5: ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

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Growing up in a large city in modern times has made me cynical towards GOD. I have dentist, doctors and medication available to me to make me feel better.  If one of my vital organs stops working I can just go to the supermarket and have the cashier put in a new one. Okay, I know it’s not that simple but you get the picture.

I hear the questions “Is GOD real” or “Does HE still perform miracles” or “Did HE really do all the miracles stated in the Bible?” My answer is a resounding YES!

• Just because I didn’t see GOD do the miracle doesn’t mean it never happened.
• Just because I didn’t witness JESUS’ resurrection doesn’t mean it isn’t significant.
• Just because I don’t understand how and why JESUS makes things out of nothing doesn’t mean HE can’t.

GOD sometimes seems quite random to me when I look at HIM through my sinful eyes. HE heals some and lets others die. Some people get rich while others struggle. Isn’t there a way to control GOD with my prayer to make HIM less random?

• GOD is the most high and does not bow to humans.
• HE is supreme in HIS decisions because all HIS decisions are based on pure, sinless love.
• GOD has a perfect and pure plan that redeems any human who believes in HIS SON.

Trouble will happen while we live on this earth. I will get emotionally and physically hurt someday I will even die. BUT GOD has given me eternal life and healed my soul of the eternal disease called sin. I have seen GOD do supernatural things. That doesn’t make me special, it makes HIM special.

• Do you believe GOD can heal you or “that” person?
• Even if HE doesn’t is HE still GOD to you?
• Can you grow in your excitement toward the most HIGH GOD?

GOD wants me to have an “amazing” life!

Matthew 14: ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

 ²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 ²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

   ²⁹ “Come,” he said.

   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

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Hollywood and it’s special effects have always amazed me.  In many instances they have tried to help me visualize GOD and HIS power. They used glass to have an actor walk on water and computer graphics to simulate a bush burning but never being consumed.

Peter actually walked on water and GOD didn’t mind that he asked to do this miraculous thing. In his normal “act first” and think second behavior he was able to do something amazing. I thought about this once and told GOD, “If you are GOD then heal my eyes” because I didn’t want to wear glasses. I’m still wearing glasses!

• GOD doesn’t perform “parlor tricks” for my amusement.
• When GOD performs a miracle it is used specifically to draw the attention to HIM not me.
• GOD can tell when my request is selfish and when I want to use HIS power to make me look good.

I have heard preachers speak about the waves representing life’s worries or Peter’s sinking representing taking your eyes off of JESUS. These are great messages, but Peter “walked on water!” Wow! JESUS didn’t mind at all, in fact HE seemed like HE expected Peter to do this and more.

• With enough faith I too can do supernatural things as long as my faith is in GOD.
• With enough faith I can overcome a GOD sized situation because GOD is with me.
• With enough faith I can ask GOD for something in GOD’s will and it “will” be given to me.

In my life I have seen people healed from deadly diseases without medicine, I have witnessed large amounts of money arriving to people who didn’t know where to turn, I have observed the right person being delivered to the right place at the right time and known it was more than a coincidence! GOD wants me to have an “amazing” life and HE is bigger than what I make HIM!

• Have you made GOD smaller than HE really is?
• Do you believe HE can perform miracles today?
• Will you allow GOD to get “all” the attention if HE performed a miracle in your life?

Do "miracles" still happen?

Acts 3:1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


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I am a firm believer in miracles. I think they happen each and every day around the world. I had to look up the definition of miracle to get some better words for myself.

A miracle is an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. Such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of GOD. -Webster

Okay, I get it. A miracle is something that I can't do, but GOD can. I have to admit that I personally have seen people healed and I personally have seen people obtain things at the right time when it seemed like everything was going to fail.

Today in America it's hard to hear about a miracle. The way news is presented, even if a miracle happened, it would cause doubt that it came from GOD. There are still other places in the world where miracles happen and everyone knows that the event came from GOD.

So what's the difference. Is it location or is it faith? I believe it's faith. I'm not saying miracles don't happen in America. I am saying that miracles happen for a reason. GOD performs miracles so that people will believe in HIS SON. Unfortunately the faithless want to see miracles for their amusement.

I know at one time I have tested GOD, telling HIM, "If YOU are GOD then heal my sight!" Needless to say, years later I see a little worse now. This doesn't stop GOD from being GOD.

Later on GOD needed my little faith to grow so HE performed miracles in front of me. The miracles were for me and guess what? My faith has grown. Peter and John were on their way to have their daily conversation with GOD.

HE was probably talking to them along the way. When they saw the crippled man, something inside of them made them help the man. That something was GOD's prompting. Peter wasn't acting on his own. He asked later in the chapter, "Why are you amazed? This miracle came from GOD so that you would believe in JESUS."

I believe this still happens today. Some people say miracles happen through doctors and I say, umm, yes, BUT... the miracle performed here was not by a doctor, in front of everyone and could not be explained.

• GOD can perform a miracle today just like yesterday.
• GOD wants people to learn about HIS SON when HE performs a miracle.
• GOD is still GOD when HE does not meet your demand for a miracle.
• GOD wants to perform a miracle in front of you, but your faith has to be in the right place.
  
  

I believe Peter would get full of himself if he thought he could perform miracles. He was more than likely told to do this miracle and that's why he knew it would work. Now if it were me, I would try to abuse that awesome power and HE knows you would too.


All of the miracles I have studied have come at a time where people could believe in GOD's SON. The one miracle I'm waiting on is HIS return.

• Do you believe in miracles?
• Do you believe in coincidences?
• Can you see small things happening that you know only could come from GOD?
• Have you ever seen a miracle?