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| Author | Topic: Miracles |
| Karen |
posted 4/5/07 6:17 AM
I realize I'm skipping ahead, but I was reading the section about "How to Identify a Genuine Miracle." It gave some criteria and at the end it said that the most overlooked miracle is that God shows up in everyday events and in ordinary forms, and also that the miracle of life in Jesus Christ is a daily event. There are some things in my life that just seem like they have to have been a miracle. I was wondering if anyone wanted to share a miracle they have witnessed or experienced. What is a miracle? |
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Pastor Eric (Moderator) |
posted 4/6/07 12:55 AM
The word miracles comes from a Greek word meaning "sign." This is to say that a miracle is to point to something (or someone) larger than the event. Jesus' miracles were to be signs that God was with him and active in the world. I believe that miracles are very personal. Martin Buber (Old Testament scholar) that miracles in the Bible were things that made people wonder and continue to wonder. So it was with the Passover and the escape from Egypt, people wondered how they did it and despite all kinds of scientific study, it is about an event that defines a people (Israel) One of the best stories I remember about this was this: A woman lived in an apartment building, and down the hall was a single mother with a couple of children. The mother always looked exhausted, but caring for her children, even if she was occassionaly impatient. This women always smiled at the children and on occassion would offer them candy or cookies. One day there was a knock at the door and there stood one of the children. She had a pair of athletic shoes in her hand. The little girl said that her mother had just bought these shoes and then wasn't allowed to wear them and that they were a waste. She was trying to get some money for her mother by selling them and wanted to know if she wanted them. The women was suspicious of the child. Questions ran through her mind like "Does her mother know she is doing this?" "Where did the shoes really come from?" And "Is it a good idea for this little girl to go by herself door to door trying to sell shoes? What might happen to her?" So while she was thinking this she took the shoes and looked at them. They were a size five, but truly new shoes. Since her feet were size seven, and she almost never wore sneakers, she had no good reason to buy them, but in her heart she wanted to do something for the children whom always made her smile when she saw them, so she offered $50 for the shoes. The little girls face lit up and thanked her with enthusiasm. The girl left, but the woman now questioned the girls motives. "Was I just conned?" she wondered. She felt a little foolish, why didn't I check with the mother, I wonder how much the shoes are even worth." Feeling more than a little silly, she decided to take a closer look at the shoes, and to even try one on knowing that it was two sizes too small. The shoe fit. the woman took it as a sign from God, and over the next few weeks made some special cookies for the children and even a casserole (see page 48- What to bring to a potluck). It wasn't long before she was babysitting regularly and suddenly a lonely woman had a family and a tired parent had some help. All because the shoes fit. Was it a miracle? To them it was. |
| Cindy Mann |
posted 4/10/07 1:04 AM
My Guardian Angel Over 18 years ago, when Brian was just a tiny baby, I experienced a miracle. It happened like this... Brian was about six months old. His pediatrian was over by St. Luke's Hospital. It was mid-November and the day was miserable. It couldn't decide if it wanted to snow, rain or sleet. I had decided to take 23 north to Airport Highway to get home. I had just gotten on the expressway when my rear driver's side tire blew out. I pulled over to the curb and sat there wondering what to do. I had no idea how to change a tire and I had no cellphone. I looked in the back seat and Brian was sound asleep, so I bundled up and was contemplating getting out of the car to attempt to figure out how to change the tire, when I looked up and saw a Ford Escort pull over just in front of me. Out of the car came a young man dressed in nice clothes and a leather jacket and no hat. I was thinking "should I stay in the car and protect Brian, or should I help him?" I decided to get out and at least shield him from the spray the passing cars were making. He changed the tire and told me not to drive too far on the insta-spare. I felt terrible because his leather jacket was ruined and he was soaking wet. He put the blown tire in the trunk and it wasn't until he shut the trunk that he notice Brian sleeping in the car seat. He said he was very glad he stopped to help, especially knowing that I had a baby in the car. I wanted to pay him for his trouble. I opened the driver's door to retrieve my purse and when I turned to give him some money, he was gone and so was his car. I never heard any car doors close and never heard the car leaving. I got in the car and started to cry. I knew right then and there that God has sent a guardian angel to watch over Brian and I and help us get to safety. |
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