I Believe in Miracles

by Peter Van Gorder
Every so often we read or hear about some happening that so completely defies explanation that the people involved are con-vinced that they have been part of a miracle. For the rest of us, it takesfaith to believe those accounts—faith that miracles are possible, and faith in those giving the accounts. But faith has its rewards. If we can believe that “impossible” things havehappened to others, then perhaps we can believe that they can happento us too.
The French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal called miracles the “lightning strokes of God.” There’s no “perhaps” about a lightning strike, especially to one who is standing on the spot where it hits! Lightning is powerful, and it happens often—about 100 times persecond in as many locations aroundthe world. I’m sure that if every miracle were recorded they would far outnumber lightning strikes. What makes me so sure? I’ve yet tobe struck by actual lightning, but I’veexperienced many “strokes of God.”
One such miracle that comes to mind happened when I was living in Uganda, East Africa, and it ties in with another one that happened to someone else there.
My son had been visiting from Japan, and his flight home left early the next morning. I lived quite some distance from the airport, which meant he needed to leave the houseat 4 AM.
Realizing that it wasn’t going to be easy to find a taxi at that hour, we prayed for God to supply one and went to the main road, hoping to flag down a taxi driver who would agree to pick up my son the next morning and take him to the airport.
As we were standing by the side of the road, a jeep pulled up. “Can I help you?” the driver asked.
“Thank you, but I don’t think so,” I said. Then, without meaning to, I explained our situation.
“I’ll do it,” the man said.
He’s just trying to make some money on the side, I thought, but entering into a deal with a freelance taxi driver can be dicey. “Thank you,but we are looking for a regular taxi,I said.
“I’m not a taxi driver. My name is George, and I’ll drive you for free.”
George seemed sincere, but whyanyone would stop and offer to helpin such a big way was curious. We invited him for coffee at our home toget to know him better. It was there that he told us his own miracle story
Years earlier he had been workinas an electrician for the city’s main power station. Huge amounts of electricity flowed through the lines he worked on, so one small mistakecould be fatal. One day that “small” mistake happened. Someone else had failed to flip a certain switch, and thousands of volts of electricity coursed through George’s body. He should have been killed instantly, but for some inexplicable reason he wasn’t. Everyone said it had been a miracle.
This brush with death changed George’s priorities and perspective on life. “Since that accident,” he said, “I try not to make a move unless I hear from God. I was sittingin my room tonight, watching TV, when that inner voice that I’ve cometo recognize as God’s spoke to me. Get up, get in your car, and drive. You’ll meet someone who needs your help. When I saw you by the side of the road, I knew you must be the ones He was sending me to.”
Now convinced of his sincerity, we thanked George profusely for his willingness to drive my son to the airport so early.
“God also told me to fill my gas tank,” he said. Full tanks are almost unheard of in Uganda because thieves routinely siphon gas from parked cars, but this time it made sense; no gas stations would be open at 4 AM, and we were far from the airport.
The next morning George arrived right on time and drove my son to the airport. He did not ask for money, but rather gave my son a generous donation for his volunteer work, which came as another answer to prayer. The amount happened to be exactly what my son needed for his next project.
Few people would question that God saved George’s life by a miracle, but what about our meeting him the way we did? Ours wasn’t a life-and-death situation, but does that make God’s intervention in answer to prayer any less miraculous? I believe that every time we have a need, it’s an opportunity for God to work on our behalf. Ask for, look for, and expect miracles, and you will get them!

What is a miracle? I know of nothing else but miracles. Every hour of the light and the dark is a miracle. Every cubic inch of space is a miracle. Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same; every foot underground swarms with the same. The sea is a continual miracle. The fishes that swim, the rocks, the motions of the waves, the ships with men in them. What stranger miracles are there?—Walt Whitman

Real Servants

Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.
There will always be more people willing to do "great" things for God than there are people
willing to do the little things. The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants. Rick Warren

From A Lumb Of Coal

From a Lump of Coal


By Curtis Peter Van Gorder

Diamonds and coal are both comprised of carbon. So why are diamonds so prized, while coal is merely thrown into the fire to burn? What makes the difference between the glistening gem that is a symbol of purity and strength, worn in the crowns of royalty, and given as engagement gifts or to celebrate 60 years of marriage, and its humble cousin, coal? It is the amount of heat and pressure that each has undergone.

Coal is formed when a layer of eroding vegetation is compressed under the weight of much dirt, rock, or water above it. Diamonds are crystals of pure carbon that have been subjected to tremendous heat and pressure in the bowels of the earth and brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions. It takes much more pressure and heat to make a diamond than it does coal.

Diamonds are truly extraordinary! They are the hardest natural substance known to man. Diamonds are transparent over a large range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to infrared, and have a higher refraction index than any other substance. They conduct heat better than anything else—five times better than the second best element, which is silver—and have the highest melting point. The atoms of a diamond are packed closer together than are the atoms of any other substance. The English word "diamond" comes from the Greek adamas, which means "unconquerable."The trials and tribulations that we face in life are like the heat and pressure that are exerted on carbon atoms to shape them into diamonds. If we are going through particularly hard times, it may be that the Lord is making something precious of us. Imagine if a lump of coal refused to go through the process necessary to make it what it was destined to be—a diamond. It would remain a lump of coal.

Even after the diamond is formed in the earth and discovered by man, it must be cut and polished before its beauty and value can be fully appreciated. Diamonds are cut and polished by friction using other diamonds. God often "cuts and polishes" by means of adversity. People who have gone through the process already—other "diamonds"—can help bring out the best in us too, if we let them.

One way to tell if diamonds are genuine or mere imitations is by placing them in water and shining a light on them. Imitation diamonds lose their sparkle when submerged, but real diamonds continue to brightly glisten. The contrast between the real and the imitation is apparent even to the unskilled eye. Like genuine diamonds, we too will continue to shine with God's brilliance even when the waters of difficulty and sorrow overwhelm us, if we stay in the light of His presence.

* * *

Stick to Your Job
Diamonds are only chunks of coal
That stuck to their jobs, you see;
If they'd petered out, as most of us do,
Where would the diamonds be?

It isn't the fact of making a start,
It's the sticking that counts. I'll say,
It's the fellow that knows not the meaning of fall,
But hammers and hammers away.

Whenever you think you've come to the end,
And you're beaten as bad as can be,
Remember that diamonds are chunks of coal,
That stuck to their jobs, you see.

—Minnie Richard Smith

For Mothers on Mother's day

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Rules the World Mothers of the next generation are the ones who are molding the future! Motherhood is just about the greatest calling in the World! What an important job a mother has!—Of course, it may sometimes not seem very important taking care of nothing but a baby. But don't ever despise it or minimize it. It is a serious sobering responsibility! Who knows how important that child may be to the Lord one day? Motherhood is a big job! It takes the strength of Samson, the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job & the faith of Abraham, the insight of Daniel & the courage & administrative ability of David!—It also takes the Love of God, that's for sure!—What a job!! The thing that makes a mother so wonderful is that self-sacrificial spirit that is willing to sacrifice her own time, her strength & even her health for the sake of that child. Any mother can have a baby, but it takes a real mother to learn how to "train up a child in the way he should go!" (Pro.22:6) —David Brandt Berg
The bravest battle that ever was fought,Shall I tell you where and when?On the maps of the World you will find it not,It was fought by the mothers of men!