Living in Miracles

What is a miracle? To me, a miracle is an act of God that glorifies His name and spreads the faith. Whether these are natural or supernatural acts doesn't matter. And to me, miracles could be either spontaneous, or could be brought about through an agent, like a person.

Some may argue that miracles don't happen in our time, that the era of Spiritual Gifts ended with the Apostles. I don't agree. I believe that miracles are happening all around us, or could, but because we have lost sight as to the purpose of miracles, they don't. Like I said earlier, I think the purpose of miracles is to bring about God's glory. It is our fault if we don't recognize a miracle and attribute it to God.

Jesus himself was only able to perform miracles if the people had faith in him.

And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:30, 31 ESV)

Same with the Apostles.

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (Acts 3:1-8 ESV)

The miracles brought about the glorification of God's name and nature. It was a healing just for the sake of healing; miracles were performed with a kingdom purpose. I think we could all use a little more faith and prayer that miracles will occur to further the Kingdom.

Living With a Goal

Reading up on my old/new church in Illinois last night, I happened upon their resource tab. One of their resources lead me to the M'Cheyne Read the Bble in a Year schedule. Program. Whatever it's called. I thought it looked manageable, especially since I can access it right onmy ipad, which I use everyday. So why not? Who wouldn't want to read the bible 1.5 times a year?

The main layout of the schedule, as I understand it, is to read the OT once in a year, and the NT and Psalms twice in the year. Each day, there are four reading sections: two from the OT, one from the NT, and one from either the Psalms or the Gospels. Make sense?

Of course there are differnt reading plans. I originally became more motivated when I discovered my second brother diligently reading through the Bible with his church/small group. They are using something that's called "The Slacker's Plan for Reading the Bible in a Year," or something to that extent. It was just so encouraging to see the change in my brother, the maturity that grew since he moved out, and I was a little jealous, to be honest. Jealous that he's learned to be in the Word, where I have never been able to dwell for an extended period of time. I mean, in 12th grade I decided to read through the Bible in its entirety. To this day, I am still only in the minor prophets.

Hopefully, this reading plan will not only set the pace for me, but the little daily checklist will help keep me accountable. I hope to post a blog on August 12, 2013 announcing my success in sticking with and completing this goal. Pray for me!

Come near to God and he will come near to you. 

Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 

James 4:8-10

James is perhaps my favorite book of the Bible. It's so practical, so applicable, speaks straight to the heart of the matter. And though I picked these verses for my high schoolers to memorize this week, I should really take a long, hard look at my own life. 

I know I say that I want to grow in my relationship with God, and yet I do nothing to cause a change. I know I need to get my act together, that I need to really seek God, but I'm so lazy, I'm so comfortable right now that I don't do anything but make up excuses. I've been at this place enough times to know that I can't make a broad declaration of turning over a new leaf, of igniting a flame from this spark of inspiration. I know that a true desire to grow is more than sheer will-power; there must be a thirst for the word, a hunger to know him. I should want to be with God more than with any boy who may (or may not) come my way. I want my every thought consumed with God, my every action geared towards serving Him. And in order for me to get to that stage, I must sober up, really want to do this for real, and not just pay lip-service to this. 

One concrete thing that I can do towards this end is to work on the flower garden(s). I discovered last year that when I am out there pulling weeds, tending to the plants, so many Biblical truths come alive. Being out in the fresh air and warm sun somehow brings me closer to God, makes me more receptive to hearing his Word. I always have this image that, as I pull weeds from the flowerbed, I am pulling out heresies from my heart, preparing my soil for the good seed. I hope that I can keep myself disciplined enough to see this through.