Believing in Miracles: Part I

Fellow Folders! Good morning.  I have been traipsing through lots of personal stuff, study, work, and as promised, I am crafting my "Miracles" post. The topic is too large for one entry, so I hope you stay with me. The reason I have chosen to write about miracles is that a Biblical understanding will be a helpful tool during the last days for strengthening our faith in a time when the world will be in mass confusion. Personally, I think we will need to know the difference between the Holy Spirit miracle and the counterfeit. And, honestly, I would like to live in the world of the miraculous, not for vainglorious reasons, but to feel nearer to my most awesome God. Like receiving a love note, reminding me that He is taking care of me and that I don't have to finish the race by myself - a faith-booster shot. Disclaimer:  I'm not a theologian, just a Christian lady minding her own business, when God decided to enlist me in another program. My study is as much of an encouragement for me, as I hope it will be for you, too.

Oxford's definition of a miracle is "an extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency." I spent hours researching scholarly apologetics, and found that some Ph.D.'s, in their sincere attempts to clarify the miraculous, have talked themselves into unbelief. They believe that the violation of the scientific law of nature must be so spectacular, such as the parting of the Red Sea, and be witnessed by multiple people, that anything less is not miraculous.  Job chapters 5 & 9 speak of miracles that can't be counted, indicating that some are not so grandiose that they register 10 on the Miracle Richter Scale.  Strong's Greek definition for miracle includes "sign, token, wonder." If one of Paul's handkerchiefs was given to an old lady living alone, and she was healed, could that be more of a "sign" or "token" miracle than a "wonder" (Acts 19)? Where does it say that the miraculous can't be simple? To me, any intervention from God on my behalf is momentous, large or small, and greatly cherished.

Jesus' first recorded miracle, changing water in to wine at a wedding, is mentioned in John 2:1-11. What I found most intriguing was his mother's involvement. Mary had to have known her son's capabilities because she approached him with the problem. Why? He was a guest, not the host and, as a carpenter, I doubt he had pocket change to purchase approximately 180 gallons of high quality wine. Mary instructed the servants to do whatever he asked, so, who knows what miracles she had already witnessed in the privacy of their own home prompting her to make such a request of her son?

Then, of course, there are those that believe that miracles no longer exist or are necessary, citing I Corinthians 13:9,10. "That which is perfect," is doctrinally translated as the Bible, hence, now that we have the Bible we no longer need miracles.  If you read the rest of the chapter, it's referencing Jesus' return, when we'll see Him "face to face" (v.12).  For an unpoetic book, referencing the Bible as having a face doesn't fit. Another perspective is that we now have a better understanding of science so our Ph.D.'s can offer scientific explanations for what these ancient folk attributed to as miraculous. C.S. Lewis states that thousands of years ago society "knew that people who died, stayed dead." Lazerus and Jesus were both dead, and then days later were seen by hundreds of people in public, so advanced knowledge of the heart and brain would not have changed the fact that dead is dead.

This is in no way exhaustive, and I could fill the screen with lots of Greek and Hebrew verbs and multiple passages, but I want you to get the gist. I encourage those who have time to continue their own study. My hope is that I don't move on to the other parts, only to find that I neglected to introduce proper foundation - that's the type A in me: Watch Me Break This Down In To 50 Easy Steps.

During this sojourn, in addition to books and my Bible, I've used some very helpful free online tools that I'd like to pass on to you:

BibleGateway.com

Biblios.com

Biblicaltraining.org 

Apologetics 315 

SermonIndex.net

The Veritas Forum 

 Miracles are not necessary to believe or a replacement for faith. We continue to fix our eyes on not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29). Lord willing, the next posts will cover the purpose and recognition of miracles, types, and personal testimony of those that I have experienced.

See you soon.....

Hello, Fellow Folders! I did not forget about you, in fact, I have been praying much about the blog and the faithful few. The post I am currently working on is taking longer than anticipated. I liken my post-writing to a funnel: Poured in to the top of the funnel includes the information currently preached to the American Christian; doctrinal myths and gold nuggets; heavy Bible input; prayer to sift out the nonsense; and finally, presenting a condensed, blog-length version of what a 100-Folder will find useful now and in the days to come. I hope to have it done in the next week, so stay tuned!

A young woman from work asked me out to lunch last week, desiring to learn about God. Honestly, I thought she would cancel, but when I showed up at Chili's she and her toddler were sitting at a table waiting for me. No matter how often it happens, I'm always surprised to meet young people who have been raised without any knowledge of the Lord. In fact, I overheard one woman in the break room say that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were lovers, which I assumed she "learned" from the Da Vinci Code movies. In just two generations, our American foundation has been jackhammered apart. People can't fathom how the Holocaust happened....but without God, there's no moral thermometer to measure righteousness, and the stage can easily be set again.  I read a comment a young "Christian" posted on FaceBook stating that she does what is right for her and doesn't preach to others what is right for them, and after a slew of comments in response to her statement, she threw out the "don't judge" catchall phrase. There is great danger when we, or weak, ineffective non-biblical teaching, becomes our moral foundation.

My heart has been so heavy these past weeks, probably another reason for not posting. Before a change, I sense it is coming, but must remain vigilant in prayer and repentance. I am trying to decide if it's God's new endeavor is solely for me, or my family, too.  He hasn't said who are included, so I have directed them to pray and hear what He is saying to them. When it all flushes out, I will keep you posted (never can resist a pun), but it's difficult to walk out my parallel lives.

Simply put, God wants me to adapt to the new things He's doing. I am old enough to understand what the church has been like for many decades, and young enough to see that much of it is failing to bring forth the kind of men and women of God that will have to pass through the fires that I have walked. These precious people are sincere, but woefully ill-equipped to withstand the wiles that the enemy, who even now, is setting up scenarios to cause their hearts to grow cold when their tribulation really kicks in to gear. Regardless of which theology you embrace, we all can agree that the walls are closing in on Christians. God doesn't waste suffering and chastening: Part of the reason I lived my American house of horrors is so that I could come along side my brothers and sisters in Christ and say, "Be strong" (Isaiah 41:6). God took my heart back to that place, for a brief moment during prayer, and the pain was so intense and overwhelming. Two things went through my mind: How did I make it, and how will they make it?

I barely made it.

An easy, "sensible" alternative will be waiting on the side-lines for those who decide to take it, but behind the facade is the enemy,  luring them to escape the riches and glories that await those who are obedient.

That said, I promise that this is not doom and gloom. Yes, it will require tremendous prayer and repentance, but it will be a glorious adventure, sprinkled with miracles, and resulting in an intimate relationship with the Father that can be found no other way. A "brother in the Lord" recently shook his head slowly, side to side, wondering about how he will make it in the days to come. I said, "Don't worry, I went before you so that I could help you." That isn't entirely true - he will have to sacrifice his will and way, keep his eyes on God, and pray like sixty - then I can encourage him.

My prayer life is exploding with surprising awarenesses. In speaking to two different men of great faith, both confirmed that something new is on the horizon for my life. One likened the heaviness on my heart to the strain and stretching of an archer's bow, as it it pulled back taut and tense, when released it will powerfully fly forth to God's target. Isn't that an awesome picture?

I'm spending so much time in prayer and study, I have little time between that and working full-time to craft this blog. I asked God again if I should continue, and I believe He's saying yes. The post I'm working on is about miracles, and I have listened to enough philosophical and apologetic teaching regarding the topic that I wonder how some of these people can get dressed by themselves in the morning. So, until it's completed, I just wanted you to know I haven't been a fickle poster, but earnestly desiring to present excellent Bible-jerky for you to chew on to counteract the pablum that is so freely offered at the Lord's table in America.

Bless you and may God strengthen you for the days to come.