Expect A Miracle! A DevotionByDon
Our previous pastor at St. Bede Catholic Church, Monsignor Monsignor McCarron, had a saying we often heard: “Expect a miracle!” miracle!” I didn’t know know exactly what he meant, meant, but I certainly agreed it was good good to believe in miracles. After he transferred transferred to another parish, there were were many things I missed about about Monsignor, including including his beautiful, beautiful, booming baritone baritone voice with which he sang many parts parts of the Mass, Mass, and the impactful points he used in his homilies, ho milies, which were always not only instructive and interesting, but were also delivered with a dramatic style that kept us fully attentive and engaged. Still, the signature point point he took with him was his reminder reminder that we should “Expect a miracle!” Remembering his statement, statement, and still wondering what it meant, led me to call him at his new location and ask, “What did you mean by that haunting declaration and where did it come from?” His answer (paraphrased) (paraphrased) was simple and profound: After 36 years in the priesthood, I’ve learned God delivers miracles at any moment, just when it is needed. needed. They may not come in the form we’re we’re expecting, lik e being raised from the dead or having cancer instantly instantly removed , but they do come. come. If we don’t believe this, we might just need to look back and reflect on those difficult times in our lives, when God’s grace was indeed sufficient. sufficient. I count the the ones I have already received and witnessed, incl uding uding that I have an eternal life … now that’s a miracle! Monsignor says this expectancy helps you see you see the the miracles that are happening, especially when life is dark or dismal, when we couldn’t handle life on our own. He says life still has it’s difficult times, but this conviction has helped him expect God’s grace, .. even anticipate it, …by faith. How about about you? Have you you seen seen miracles? miracles? What are some of them? With the help of Monsignor’s reminder , I realize I’ve seen miracles in my life, from small to big, with the small sometimes coming in the form of finding something I just couldn’t find until I stopped and and prayed for God’s help. The big includes includes surviving nd falling out of a 2 -story window window as a child. Some say I must must have landed on my my head, … but they haven’t explained explained what that means! Like the Monsignor, Monsignor, my biggest one is my my being given an eternal eternal life. And in-between, I’ve been I’ve been spared from from rd a serious illness in India, protected from evil forces in a 3 world country, received God’s call God’s call to quit my job and go into ministry work, survived the 4 “total loss” car 1
crashes I was a part of, and been given 40 years of marriage to Janet, plus two wonderful sons. The thought of miracles might lead us to the Gospels, where many Jesus miracles are found… found… thirty-seven thirty-seven according to one article I read, with most of those being crowd pleasers. pleasers. I really can’t relate can’t relate to these miracles witnessed by crowds, since most of my miracles have been only of my own awareness. But the many current-day miracles I will share are none-the-less inspiring and encouraging. If do I get to the point of having a clear and constant expectation, probably the most difficult part for me to understand will still be why God’s miracles are miracles are not in the form and timing for which which I was asking. Sure, we know it it is to be in God’s will (Romans (Romans 12:2 NKJV “ And do not be conformed conformed to this this world, but be transformed transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good g ood and acceptable and perfect will of God God .”) but .”) but we also hear several times that if we ask in Jesus’ Name, God will provide, … as though there were were a success-formula. success-formula. Two of these are are John 16:23-24 (“Truly, (“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing nothing in my name. Ask, and you will will receive, that your joy may be full .”) .”) and John 14:13-14 (“Whatever (“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it .”). .”). Hmmm, … interesting that the word will is is also in both of these! One source, www.gotquestions.org , said, “Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus. It said, “Praying “Praying in Jesus' name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God,” God,” and it cited 1 John 5:14-15, 5:14-15, “This “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever whatever we ask — we we know that we have what we asked of him”. him”. They concluded concluded with with “Praying “Praying in Jesus’ name is is praying for things things that will honor honor and glorify glorify Jesus.” We can conclude the basis for receiving receiving miracles starts starts with faith. Matthew 21:22 tells us, us, “ And whatever you you ask in prayer, prayer, you will receive, if you have have faith.” faith.” So one aspect of having a miracle-expectancy, miracle-expectancy, and of seeing miracles when they happen, might be how we maintain that faith in the face of not getting what we really wanted God to give us … and when we when we really wanted it to happen. 2
Here’s where the Monsignor Monsignor paints a picture picture that helps me understand. understand. He speaks of a deep belief in a God of miracles Who loves us and us and pours out His miraculous grace all the time, especially through through His forgiveness. forgiveness. We see changed hearts as people come to faith-in-Christ, faith-in-Christ, or as they soften soften a hard shell around their hearts. hearts. These transformations only happen as a miracle and that’s a point we are to take-in. Why are you where you are today, today, except for a miracle? How have you survived in the face of all that is wrong with the world, except for a miracle? Are we receiving miracles but just not seeing them match those on our punch list? David Cowger tells a story story of expecting a miracle and seeing it come come to pass. In February of 2003, David David was at an outdoor church banquet banquet with his family. family. One of the Elders asked David to light the grill, which did not have a button for igniting the flame. So David struck a match, asked a friend friend to turn on the gas and bent down to start the flame. flame. When doing so, David immediately immediately heard a loud whoosh and whoosh and saw a ball of flame coming toward him. This sound This sound was was the result of another friend’s friend’s having turned the gas on earlier and and then having forgotten to turn turn it off. As he quickly raised his head, David’s right hand was engulfed by a ball of flame, flame, produced as a result of the chemicals in the mix of fire and gas. rd
After batting the fire off of his hand, David saw the 3 degree burns and the drawingup of his hand into a crippled condition. condition. As his daughter cried out, “Daddy, look at your hand!”, David prayed, “Jesus, please straighten out my hand, so as not to frighten my my daughter.” Instantly, his hand straightened straightened and and the pain ceased. He was rushed to a hospital, where the doctors wrapped his hand in bandages and told him they would need to leave it in that state for 2 days, so they could determine the next action needed. The doctors explained to David the high level of pain he would experience over the next 2 weeks. weeks. However, during the 2 week period, period, David had no pain and when the the bandages were removed, removed, the hand hand was greatly healed. David asked for one miracle, but received several: the straightening of his hand to calm his daughter, the lack of pain throughout the process and the healing that leaves his hand in relatively good good shape today. I asked David how he came to his peace while going through what should have been a traumatic traumatic experience. He said, “I know God can heal and work miracles because I believe God’s Word.” David also shared of his bout with cancer when he had days of uncertainty, leading him to wonder if he would ever see his children grown. grown. At that time, he prayed, 3
“God, I need Your presence!” and God said in response, “Trust “Trust me.” David drew on the experience of his hand being burned and now says, “On this day, God gave me His presence, and His presence presence gave me the peace and realization realization of His trust. THAT made the difference.” The takeaway takeaway from David’s experience is experience is that he expected a miracle. And whether his faith led God to heal him, him, … as He did for the woman with hemorrhages for 12 years, who said in Mark 5:34 and Matthew 9:21-23, “ If only I can touch touch his cloak, I shall be cured! cured!” (She expected a miracle!) … or whether his healing was strictly God’s unforeseen gift, David trusted God, knowing He was in charge. Steve Scheffler is a dear and talented friend, whose body whose body prematurely evolved, … affected by earlier abuse and unfortunate illnesses, … into an what appeared to be an aged and decrepit frame. frame. Steve was wrought with horrible horrible pain in his back, neck and leg, having survived multiple operations yet never having found the freedom from the excruciating discomfort discomfort and movement restriction. restriction. One day while in his studio, studio, Steve cried out to God, asking “Why, “Why, Lord!” and “When will this end?!” end?!” As Steve reached reached up to a shelf, with his fists clinched from his suffering, he heard God say, “Do you love me?” “Yes,” answered answered Steve, “You know I love You!” “How much much do you you love Me,” God asked, in a voice that was was unmistakably clear. clear. Steve said next, “You know better than me, Lord; Lord; I don’t know how to answer. I know I love You but I don’t know if I love love You enough!” enough!” “Open your your hands,” God told him, “and raise them to Me.” Me.” At that moment, as he raised and opened his hands, Steve felt a cleansing of his body and immediate immediate freedom from from all that had plagued him. him. Steve fell to the floor and cried. When I saw him a few days later, later, he could do squats, could jump and had total control control of his body. Steve may not have expected this specific miracle, but his faith did expect a miracle. A former ICM board member has his Expecting his Expecting A Miracle Miracle story story and keeps us regularly informed informed as he reports on his journey. journey. In and out of dire diagnoses, diagnoses, Roger maintains a positive positive attitude and heart for whatever whatever God expects of him. him. So in a sense, he wants his expectations to be God’s expectations. Roger and his wonderful wife, Karen, have come to see blessings beyond their expectations, realizing realizing that God has sent angels to be with with and comfort them. them. Their stories abound abound of how former associates, neighbors, friends and family have blessed them through throug h visits, letters, a large red bow on their porch, and and so many other ways. Karen cites a visit by their pastor, who looked looked Roger in the the eye before praying praying and said, said, “You have done 4
enough, my friend.” Each of them instantly instantly knew his meaning was not to say ‘it was over,’ but rather, was said to calm Roger’s feelings that he might not have done enough. Said Karen: “I felt so much peace when those words were spoken and I knew God was in that room with with all of us. God is right with us always always and He will never forsake us!” I shared this devotion with with Roger, asking if I could could include his story. story. He said, “Every time I have a pain I think is unbearable, or fear tugs at me, God sends an email, a letter or a call from a friend that makes makes my heart overflow. overflow. My life is full of unexpected blessings.” blessings.” With this belief, how can he not expect expect a miracle! Dick Woodward weighed in on how he expects miracles, in the face of having been a quadriplegic since 1995. 1995. Dick says, over time, time, many well-intended friends have insisted he should be praying, each in their own certain way, for a miracle of healing that would give him the use of his his limbs. At one point, a visiting Australian Australian pastor delivered a message that said the inward man was a greater value than the outward man and, thus, inner healing healing was a greater value than outer healing. healing. Once Dick accepted his condition, he realized that his acceptance was that inner healing … and that was a miracle. So Dick expects miracles, miracles, but he believes God does everything everything for His for His good, good, and not our good. good. Says Dick: “We don’t give up our view of expecting because we know God God can do it. But we don’t live live on whether it does or does not happen.” Someone I know reported learning that a friend had been diagnosed with a fatal disease, causing her to be unable to talk and to lose the functioning of her hands and feet. She and her husband agreed agreed we are told to pray for miracles miracles and pondered together how they were to prepare themselves for the not-happening of of a miracle they wanted to to happen. Her husband said the closest closest thing he could think think of was a child at Christmas, Christmas, wanting a pony. He said, “The child knows he won’t won’t receive that pony but he prays for for it anyway. My wife is that that pony, and I want want that pony with with all my heart. All I know know to do is to keep keep praying for the pony. pony. Ultimately, God is God and He will be with us on our journey.” In spite of their trial, the husband and wife maintain positive spirits, and she often starts the day with a smile. I don’t know about about you, but that that sounds like a miracle to me! He still wants wants that pony pony but finds finds he is is moving to a different different point of view. He says, “I am overwhelmed that God has given us this amazing ability to give thanks for all things. things. Somehow in the the midst of the the brutality of this disease … even as we are 5
brought to tears tears … we can catch each each other’s eye eye and find a smile. smile. It almost seems seems unnatural that we could have grateful grateful hearts.” Indeed, a miracle miracle beyond expectations! beyond expectations! th
Mark shares a story of expecting a miracle in verses 46-52 of his 10 Chapter: “They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving leaving Jericho with his disciples disciples and a sizable crowd, crowd, Bartimaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, Timaeus, sat by the the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus Jesus of Nazareth, he he began to cry out and say, ‘ Jesus, son of of David, have pity on on me.’ me.’ And many many rebuked rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and sa said, ‘ Call Call him.’ him.’ So they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘ Take Take courage; get up, he is calling you.’ you.’ He threw threw aside aside his cloak, sprang sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said said to him in reply, ‘ What What do you want me to do for you?’ you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘ Master, I want want to see.’ see.’ Jesus told him, ‘ Go Go your way; your faith has saved you.’ you.’ Immediately he he received his sight and followed followed him on the way.” way.” Bartimaeus expected, … with great conviction, … a miracle. Perhaps a key revealed here is that Bartimaeus asked Jesus for a miracle once he knew H knew Hee was was near. So might another application for us be that we must first know that Jesus is near, casting aside all distractions, and then expecting then expecting as we ask?! There are so many inspiring miracle expectation stories that stories that it is difficult to decide which ones to not share. Ponder this one as we hear from from another friend, Brian Brian Fleming, who writes wonderful devotional thoughts and recently gave one on our expectations. expectations. Brian told us that that the oil stopped flowing in the II Kings 4:1-6 passage because the wife stopped believing. believing. [Read passage ] He says that if she had continued to bring empty jars, the the oil would have continued to flow. flow. And he concludes by telling us we should “never STOP STOP in your EXPECTATION. EXPECTATION. Don’t stop believing believing God! God thinks of the Unthinkable so the Impossible can become POSSIBLE.” Brian concludes by asking, “What are you expecting God to do today?” One final story is from from a recent experience of mine. mine. Waiting in line at a Subway as everyone watched a large order holding up the process, I turned to the person behind me and said, “Hello, how are you?” you?” His response was, was, “Blessed and affirmed, affirmed, … every day!” In our ensuing ensuing conversation, conversation, he boldly he boldly said, “I try to tell someone about Him (pointing upward) upward) every day. I often meet young or new believers, believers, who wonder how they can know He has control control of their lives. I tell them to think about a friend in need and to begin begin praying for them and their need. need. And then to watch watch how God answers that that prayer.” This man expects a miracle! 6
Earlier I mentioned mentioned that Janet and I have been married married over 40 years. That’s a miracle, as is Dois and Shirley’s Shirley’s being married for over 70 years! And just as it takes Two to Tango, Tango, perhaps it takes two aspects for those miracles-we-want-to-happen: miracles-we-want-to-happen: our part and God’s part. part. If this is so, our part certainly certainly includes faith, and might might also include certain actions that position us to receive and see the miracle God delivers. What, then is a miracle? If we’re to expect one, what is it we are expecting? expecting? One definition of a miracle is “A demonstration of God’s power, contrary to nature; nature ;” other definitions I found found were similar. Another way of describing describing our expectation would be our going from No-way! from No-way! to to His-way! His-way! with with our knowing the miracle can happen, through our faith, even when it hasn’t happened for happened for a period period of time. time. And a definition of expecting a miracle might be, Knowing God has the power to perform miracle might be, Knowing miracles for His people, and trusting He will perform them in your life, even though He has not . In an article titled The Importance of Waking Up, Up, Ruth Haley Barton describes waiting for the morning light, having a soul that is “calm and clear like the stillness of a quiet pond.” pond. ” She says, “There “There is never any doubt that the light will come; just come; just quiet anticipation.” anticipation.” Perhaps that’s that’s how we are to wait on expected expected miracles. A good close for this devotion is to share another quote from Monsignor: “I do believe that God is a God of miracles, miracles, but He is a God of Love first, Love first, and that means that miracles, the really important miracles, will be frequent, constant, and potent. BUT by this very fact, they will come to appear ordinary, and not miraculous at all. The raising of Lazarus Lazarus was spectacular, but but Lazarus would die again. The love offered between two married people seems ordinary and commonplace, but our faith says it is the very stuff stuff of, … and door to, … heaven. Expect a miracle, because because they are everywhere!” As you walk outside today, observe the miracles of creation and consider a blind per son’s son’s expecting to see; hear the beautiful sounds of nature and consider a deaf person’s expecting expecting to hear; go go to your next destination and consider consider a paraplegic’s paraplegic’s expecting to walk. Expect a miracle, miracle, … and prove and prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Amen.
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Post Script: As this devotion was completed, David Cowger had learned he had potential cancerous tumors and that that the path he was on was uncertain. In sharing this, this, David said that despite the uncertainty, he remains “confident in Who God is and what He can do,” do,” and he is “excited to know this is an opportunity for God to show He is great.” Whether in the form of a healed hand or in some other form, … David expects a miracle. Perhaps we can best can best be a part of others’ miracle others’ miracle expectations by helping with our faith and prayer.
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Scripture Used in Expect in Expect A Miracle! Romans 12:2 NKJV “ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable acc eptable and perfect will of God .” .” John 16:23-24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full .” .” John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it .” it .” 1 John 5:14-15, 5:14-15 , “This “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — us — whatever whatever we ask — we we know that we have what we asked aske d of him.” him. ” Matthew 21:22 “ And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith .” Mark 5:34 & Matthew 9:21-23 “ If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured!” Mark 10:46-52 “They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’ And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take courage; get up, he is calling you.’ He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said t o him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.” II Kings 4:1-6 “The wife of a man from the prophets cried out to Elisha, my husband is dead, and you know he revered the Lord. His creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves. Elisha slaves. Elisha replied, how can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house? Your servant has nothing except a small jar of oil. Elisha said, Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it it to one side. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 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.”
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