A Miracle! Linda Lange
I was reading a guidepost magazine the other day, for those who don't know what it is, it's filled with great stories on people's faith, healing, and miracles. I had thought to myself; I've seen wonderful things happened, but nothing so profound as what was written in these pages. Well, I can't say that any longer! As what I'm about to share with you was nothing short of a miracle!
On Feb.20th, a state holiday, something miraculous happened, my husband's life was spared. He had made plans during the week to ride his motorcycle with a couple of friends and was preparing to leave that morning. I was in my sewing room working on some projects when he came in to say he was leaving. I said, "Have a good time" gave him a quick kiss, and went back to sewing. As I was sitting there and heard the bike start up I heard the Lord say, "Go out and give him a proper goodbye, you will never forgive yourself if anything happens to him today." I immediately left my sewing room, grabbed my digital camera and ran outside. He was in the drive way about ready to take off and I stopped him so I could give him a big hug and a kiss. I took several pictures of him on his bike, and even held the camera at a distance and took our picture as we kissed. And so, he was off, and I went back to my sewing.
I was moved to prayer for his safe return, and also asked that they don't run into each other or skid. Interestingly enough, that prayer saved my husband's life, and now as we both look back on this day, we both agreed that the prayer changed things.
What was destined to be a day where my husband would leave this earth, turned out differently, and that was through prayer.
I had a girlfriend come over that day and we worked on some projects together. I had a nice day with her, nothing out of the ordinary.
About mid afternoon I heard the bike pull up; it was my husband Tom. I ran out to greet him as I usually do when he returns from someplace, and I asked him how the ride was. He said, "It was OK except for the accident we got into." I was put back for a minute and asked him what happened. He was in lots of pain, but didn't know how much until the days ahead. But this is what he said:
"We (3 of them) were riding down a busy street that had a stop light at each corner so we were racing in between lights, joking around and having fun. The reason we did this was one of the guys was pretty new at riding and so when he started doing this, me and the other guy (knowing better) went along with it. So there we were, speeding up and stopping, speeding and stopping. Well, one of those times the speeding and stopping collided! One of the guys decided to "stop" as the start of a yellow light." He continued telling me that he was already into 3rd gear and was planning to sail through the yellow light, but was rudely interrupted.
He was riding behind the two of them when the one guy stopped, the other stopped as well thinking that the other guy saw or heard something he didn't. And then realized nothing happened, the guy just stopped. So the one guy started edging closer to the "new" guy to reprimand him for doing that. But without their knowing, Tom was barreling in behind. There was just enough space between the two bikes for Tom to aim for. With that, he threw on his back brakes, which only caused him to start skidding; and so released it, guiding the bike straight between the two. With that, because of the speed and space, he didn't quite make it through without affecting the others. Both bikes went down because Tom's bike hit each bike on both sides. It was so close to the others that the brake lever scraped one of the guy's arms that it sliced it right open, through the thick leather jacket! The other had just had surgery on his hand, and it was hurt along with his ankle. But the two were able to get up fairly quickly and pick up their bikes. But out in front of them, they saw Tom. He lost control of the bike after passing the two, the bike fell on it's right side, and without letting go of the handlebars, Tom flew into the air up and over the bike and landed on his back in the middle of a busy intersection. He bounced back up on his feet and pushed his bike to the side. The other two saw the whole thing happened and knew something miraculous took place. They didn't know how he got up after that accident! He should have broken his back; his neck, and never got up off that ground.
The new guy felt so guilty about the whole thing, but then God got a hold of his heart and told him that he witnessed a miracle. He's not been one to believe, he said, but he believes now, that gave him a glimpse of the hand of God! He had a spiritual experience from it, and if anything, that accident saved this man's soul from hell.
The damage done to Tom was not visible. You would have thought he would be bruised or scratched up. He wasn't. When he laid down to rest, I prayed over his wounds. And no bruising happened at all, yet his back was in such pain. And he didn't go to the doctor. I hear some of you saying, "He should have gone to the doctor." Well, you and me both know that, but he wouldn't and you can't make someone do anything they don't want to do, especially a husband. So I prayed over his body and left him in God's care, keeping him in prayer daily.
Then he shared with me more things that happened. He had just bought a new helmet because he was wearing one of those beany helmets. And frankly, the only reason he bought the new one was because his friend just got a helmet ticket for the same helmet he wore. He felt it was time to get a proper helmet. He said that when he bounced on his back, his head bounced like a ping-pong-ball. He recalls saying to himself, "I'll be all right because of this new helmet." And that was true. He knew his head would have split like a melon if he had been wearing that other helmet. A hardcore biker himself, he got a new respect for the helmet and one thing he said he would never say is that "this helmet saved his live and he believes in them now."
As the days went on, we both realized the severity of this accident. I remember going to the refrigerator and seeing his lunch he made for work the next day, and imagining him not being here just made me want to cry. I can't even imagine what it would have been like if he didn't make it home. All I could do was hold him, love him, help him, caress him more than ever. My love was rekindled toward him; I no longer took him for granted. God gave him back to me.
We both came to the knowledge that this was the day he was supposed to die. But it all changed because of the obedience of prayer. He even told me later he sensed it as well when he was riding, but he pressed on anyway. He even told me that before he left from his friends house that morning, he gave his friends grandson his favorite beanie! We knew that the specific prayer caused the bike not to skid! That they didn't actually run into each other, they breezed by each other. That the prayer prevented worse things from happening. This I can attest to. Because something he said really convinced me of that. When I prayed that he wouldn't skid, there was no way that bike shouldn't have skidded. In fact, it came to a dead stop when it dumped, and so Tom didn't skid either! He was in the middle of a busy intersection, the light just turned red his way, and so traffic was moving right to left. He could have slid out there and could have gotten hit by a car on top of all this, but he didn't. He didn't slide at all! To each man's amazement, they saw things that should never have happened. They had witnessed a miracle. The fact that Tom bounced up off the ground and was able to move the bike off the road was evidence of that too!
As it was, the bikes weren't totaled either. All of them were able to get the bikes started and back home again with fixable damage to each bike.
This morning as I was thinking about these past several weeks, I was reminded of a scripture in the bible where a man was destined to die. But he prayed to God, and God gave him 15 more years. Prayer changes things. Those who think everything is predestined and unable to change what God knows to happen, is very mistaken. Yes, God can see what is going to happen if we continue down the road we are on. But if we change that road through prayer, through obedience, whatever, it will also change the outcome. Nothing is set in stone; it's not that God changes, it's that we change.
I'm so very thankful my husband is with me today! As my husband is more of a believer in helmets and I'm more of a believer in prayer.
Fear Not, Only Believe Pete Plitt
I can't imagine that there could be a more terrifying moment than to be told, "Your child is dead!" Wouldn't that be any parent's worse nightmare, to out live their baby? This is the horror that was about to grip Jairus on the way back to his home with Jesus. His 12 year old daughter was sick unto death and this Ruler of the Synagogue had a choice to make - comply with the Pharisees' orders to renounce Jesus as a God sent Prophet on pains of excommunication, or believe the reports that this same Jesus had raised the sick, even the dead. When Jairus saw the two messengers, he likely read the news on their faces before they even spoke. Jairus knew that these two recognized what death looked like, but what they didn't know was what Life looked like, even when He was staring them in the face.
Lu 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. Death wasn't the enemy here - Fear was! Jesus could get past the death issue with a Word, but fear has an interesting way of neutralizing faith. Fear of death, as in this case, is saying that one has confidence in death to have final say. In line with Proverbs 18:21, say instead, I have more faith in God to keep me safe than I have fear in the devil to cause me harm, or "Fear not: believe only." Jesus shut down the true enemies, fear and unbelief, so He could give this daddy back his child.
Many of us have been in a situation where we wished to God that Jesus had been next to us like Jarius, ready to take charge. We emptied our faith sponge to the last drop, made every confession, begged, cried, yet tragedy struck. Maybe it was some hidden, sovereign plan of God? Yes, God has a Sovereign plan for us all right. Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. God is always good and gives us life. The devil is always bad and is a murderer. They never trade places. Jesus evidenced the Father's perfect will in His life here as detailed in the Gospels.
"But I know I prayed in faith!" we might say. Over 2000 years ago I'm sure the disciples thought the same thing, but instead, learned how stealth unbelief can be. Jesus had just descended the Mount of Transfiguration. Mt 17:14-21 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
What goes not out but by prayer and fasting? If you said, this kind of devil, then let's read the question and answer again. Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief. Jesus didn't say, "because this is a bad to the bone Ahnold type devil that won't listen to you unless you fast and pray first." He said, it's your UNBELIEF, and THIS kind [of unbelief] goes not out but by prayer and fasting. Remember, fear and doubt are the true enemies, not death and devils. But what kind of cloak does this kind of unbelief wear, in what dark corner of our being does it hide, that even the disciples that walked with Jesus couldn't figure it. They had already been given all authority over all the ability of the devil, and had personal successes with the demons being subject to them in Jesus' name. However, this time it didn't work, and had they understood why, they would not have pulled Jesus off to one side to ask. What's more, if Jesus told His disciples that unbelief blocked their best efforts to deliver that young boy and that fasting and praying is the method for dealing with the unbelief, would He tell us different?
Given the fact that fear and unbelief are the obstacles to all faith success, if we can find remedy by implementing the direction of Jesus to fast and pray, then no devil, sickness, need, tragedy, etc., will stand against us. "Nothing shall be impossible to him that believeth." It's not emotion, it's choice. Faith is substance and faith is evidence. This is the reason God encourages us to Worship Him, Pray in the Spirit, Fast and Study Scripture. It helps us inch closer to that relationship of trust where peace and faith can reside in the midst of turmoil, replacing fear and doubt. It produces tenacious confidence in the absolute, non-negotiable, perpetual safety and provision for our families. Amazingly, it provides us the tools to intentionally, purposefully assume the responsibility for faith success. Faith really does come by hearing, and hearing by the Word [Scripture, Still Quiet Voice, Revelation, etc.] of God!Tight Rope Of God's Love Linda Lange
I find that every day my walk with the Lord narrows. What I mean is that I sense his promptings ever so gently as I begin to fall from one side to another. He has taught me how to acknowledge Him in all my ways (Proverbs 3:5) so that He can direct my paths. Sometimes it isn't so clear to see the next step, but I can recognize when I've fallen off the "tight rope of His love." And these are the indicators that I'm out of balance and falling from one side to the left: When I feel frustration, confusion, anger, fear, feeling unfulfilled, requiring attention and acceptance at any cost, needy, ashamed, prideful, wrong words coming out of my mouth, hard time believing God, feeling alone, or that I've just lost my peace (I think that can cover the rest.).
Sometimes these things come on gradually and before I know it I'm having a tizzy fit! But then at that point I realize what has happened. I've fallen off the tight rope of God's love. I went from one side to the other, and the only place that is safe and full of stability is being in the center of His love. The Bible says to be sober and vigilant because the devil roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8) He's looking for people that are "out of balance, or not standing on the tight rope of God's love." There is no room for error. We've been told to walk the straight and narrow path, and I know why. This helps us to recognize when we've swayed (or drifted) just a little. If our path was wide, we wouldn't know it until it's too late.
Individuals who have been given much responsibility in the Kingdom has a narrower path to walk that those that don't. There are things that I just don't believe I can do any longer because of the call on my life. But on the other hand, my husband doesn't have a problem at all. I'm not talking about obeying the Word, we both work at that, I'm talking about things that aren't exactly spelled out in the Bible. And because I know this, I don't
judge" him when he's doing something I wouldn't. His walk is between God and He, and as long as it doesn't affect me adversely, I leave it alone. If it's something I hope that would change in Him, I commit it to prayer and trust God to do the changing if needed. That way Tom and be Tom and I can be me. We both respect each other's walk. We have an accountability to God, I won't be hanging on Tom's shirt tails nor he on mine when we meet the Lord and discuss our lives. We are solely responsible for our own. As married couples, we are here to help each other excel and be all we can be in the Lord, not take away or control the other. Ladies were put here to be a "help mate" not a "controller." And since I have tended to be more of the controlling type, God had his work cut out for me.So now 17 years later in our marriage, I'm more of a help-mate than a controller. I still tend to try to "tell him what to do" but now if he doesn't do it, I don't let it bother me. Now it's just a suggestion or a comment, not a "you have to do this or else." And of course controlling others is an indicator of falling off the "tightrope of God's love." Because we are trying to control our situation, when the Lord says, to acknowledge Him and He'll direct our paths. Which is it going to be?
Toms TIDBITS
"Equal Sign"
Tom and I were talking the other day and I was working on some things that needed my action. I would want to see a start and finish on everything, I wanted a plan. I would say, OK, when this date happens, then we'll do this or that. Tom said to me, "You want an exclamation point at the end of everything, when what you need is an equal sign." Then he explained that I want everything cut and dry, no room for transition, no room for coming and going - that is represented by the equal sign. Sort of a two way street. I had to agree, but that is a new way of thinking for me, yet it is correct. That way it leaves room for miracles, for change, for new things to happen, but as long as I have my exclamation points I may be closing the door to many things God wants to bring about.
Let me share it in a personal way: Tom and I enjoy riding our motorcycles. When we set out for a ride I want to know our destination, but Tom just wants to ride and see where we end up. I live by an "exclamation point" he lives by an "equal sign."
See you next month!