Here is a story I wrote in 1997. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then! There has been much pain and sorrow, but also joy and happiness. Such is life as we get older. At times I don't understand God's ways and plans. There have been many tears at saying goodbye to loved ones as their road has ended here on earth. Sometimes God says yes to my requests, sometimes he says no, and sometimes he says wait. Sometimes evil has it's way, but through everything, I can still say God is good. In the end, He will make all things right. He is always with me, still encouraging me and still performing miracles. I hope you get a small glimpse of His infinite goodness.
God is Good
(A Memorial to how great God is)
(A Memorial to how great God is)
God is so good. I am awestruck at the miracles He has performed in my life. I am amazed when I think of how the Lord gave me the precious gift of His son and eternal life. I am astonished at how I have moved from darkness to light and new life. I have seen the hand of God busy working in my life – leading up to my salvation, and now shaping, molding, and chiseling away to complete the good work He has begun in me.
In the Bible, God exhorts us to remember His deeds. The writer of the book of Exodus commands the Israelites to remember what God has done for them by celebrating many festivals including the Passover. Next in Deuteronomy Chapter Eight, the writer warns us not to forget all the Lord has done “lest our hearts become proud."
Old Testament believers were often commanded to erect a pile of rocks at certain spots in memorial to God. Such was the case when the Israelites finally entered into the promised land after God parted the Jordan river:
In the Bible, God exhorts us to remember His deeds. The writer of the book of Exodus commands the Israelites to remember what God has done for them by celebrating many festivals including the Passover. Next in Deuteronomy Chapter Eight, the writer warns us not to forget all the Lord has done “lest our hearts become proud."
Old Testament believers were often commanded to erect a pile of rocks at certain spots in memorial to God. Such was the case when the Israelites finally entered into the promised land after God parted the Jordan river:
“to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7)
However, I must confess, I become like the Israelites who were delivered from Egypt. They witnessed miracle after miracle. Yet they forgot their God. Smugly I think I would never forget the power of God after seeing the parting of the Red Sea – not to mention God’s wrath unleashed on Pharaoh. My miracles might not seem so grand in your eyes, but in my eyes they are every bit as powerful as any biblical miracle. Yet during the times I walk through the valley, I forget every one of them. I forget who God is. I forget His power. I forget He is concerned with the intimate details of my life. So I am writing this story as a memorial to God’s mighty workings in my life. I am writing this so that when the next dark days come, I will remember and be encouraged.
Miracle number one: My salvation. God was there at every turn. One of my first feeble prayers was during the time I lost a cherished family heirloom. My mother had given me a beautiful pendant and matching earrings encrusted with diamonds and heart shaped opals. It was appraised at about $3,000. But who can put a price on something that once belonged to my great great Grandmother at the turn of the century? Foolishly I had kept it in a jacket pocket. Even more foolishly I donated the jacket to the Salvation Army. About eight months later I discovered the missing pieces when I went to put them on during my wedding anniversary. How could I face my mother? How could I face my grandmother? Ahhhhh! I get an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it now.
“God. If you are really there and really exist, do you think you could find this jewelry? It’s not really even for me. I just need it back so I don’t upset my grandma,” I prayed. I placed an ad in the newspaper. The clerk laughed at me. “You’ll never get it back. Not after this length of time.” I went to all the Salvation Army stores in the region. No one remembered them. I mailed flyers out to local jewelers. God is so good. One week later, God answered my prayer. A jeweler remembered the pendant and to whom he sold it. It was recovered. My mother and grandmother were none the wiser. I guess they’ll know when they read this.
Was finding the pendant and earrings pure luck? No. It was God revealing to me His presence. He was wooing an unbeliever into the fold. This was just one in a series of God orchestrated circumstances that led me to find Him. Sometimes God does say no to our requests, but in this case He knew what I needed to help me find salvation. God is good.
Shortly after, I became a Christian. All kinds of bad things began to happen to me. I didn’t know there was really such a thing as a devil back then. He certainly didn’t want me to stick to my decision to follow Christ. I couldn’t understand it. It was like I was cursed all of a sudden. Then one night, a book and chapter number from the Bible popped into my head. Ephesians Six. Ephesians Six. Since it was two in the morning, I just rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. I was pregnant and feeling tired after chasing a two-year-old boy all day. But the words just kept popping up. Ephesians Six. Ephesians Six. What in the heck was an Ephesian anyway? At this stage of the game, I certainly knew nothing of the Bible. Irritated by this prompting (I love sleep) I got out of bed. “All right, All right. I’ll get up and look up this chapter.” I grumbled to myself. To my delight, this is what I read:
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)
Miracle number one: My salvation. God was there at every turn. One of my first feeble prayers was during the time I lost a cherished family heirloom. My mother had given me a beautiful pendant and matching earrings encrusted with diamonds and heart shaped opals. It was appraised at about $3,000. But who can put a price on something that once belonged to my great great Grandmother at the turn of the century? Foolishly I had kept it in a jacket pocket. Even more foolishly I donated the jacket to the Salvation Army. About eight months later I discovered the missing pieces when I went to put them on during my wedding anniversary. How could I face my mother? How could I face my grandmother? Ahhhhh! I get an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it now.
“God. If you are really there and really exist, do you think you could find this jewelry? It’s not really even for me. I just need it back so I don’t upset my grandma,” I prayed. I placed an ad in the newspaper. The clerk laughed at me. “You’ll never get it back. Not after this length of time.” I went to all the Salvation Army stores in the region. No one remembered them. I mailed flyers out to local jewelers. God is so good. One week later, God answered my prayer. A jeweler remembered the pendant and to whom he sold it. It was recovered. My mother and grandmother were none the wiser. I guess they’ll know when they read this.
Was finding the pendant and earrings pure luck? No. It was God revealing to me His presence. He was wooing an unbeliever into the fold. This was just one in a series of God orchestrated circumstances that led me to find Him. Sometimes God does say no to our requests, but in this case He knew what I needed to help me find salvation. God is good.
Shortly after, I became a Christian. All kinds of bad things began to happen to me. I didn’t know there was really such a thing as a devil back then. He certainly didn’t want me to stick to my decision to follow Christ. I couldn’t understand it. It was like I was cursed all of a sudden. Then one night, a book and chapter number from the Bible popped into my head. Ephesians Six. Ephesians Six. Since it was two in the morning, I just rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. I was pregnant and feeling tired after chasing a two-year-old boy all day. But the words just kept popping up. Ephesians Six. Ephesians Six. What in the heck was an Ephesian anyway? At this stage of the game, I certainly knew nothing of the Bible. Irritated by this prompting (I love sleep) I got out of bed. “All right, All right. I’ll get up and look up this chapter.” I grumbled to myself. To my delight, this is what I read:
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)
Continuing on, the passage explained that the armor of God included the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.
God had given me the weapons I would need to withstand attacks during those early months of being a Christian. This helped me to understand the war that was going on around me in the spiritual world. Was this my subconscious latching on to an exact chapter of the Bible that was floating around from some prior teaching? No. God was preparing me for the future. He had shown me His presence, care and concern. God is my Father and He will always take care of me no matter what happens.
At this point in my walk with the Lord, I’m probably at miracle number twenty. If I wrote them all down, it would take hundreds of pages. Some miracles are too personal to record here. They deal with my husband, friends and relatives, and I wouldn’t want to make them uncomfortable by making them public. But I with his approval, I will mention my husband. He was what he would term a “lapsed Catholic.” In 1995, he neither went to church nor read his Bible or so much as talked of spiritual matters. Today he attends church, reads his Bible, and we pray together as a couple. He says he has come back to the Lord, like the prodigal son. God is so good!
God has also totally healed me from my fear of flying. This is a genuine miracle! It took two years of prayer. It wasn’t instant. For any of those who know me, you know this is a miracle! If I had an impending plane trip, fear would have its hold on me. For several months prior to leaving, I was filled with dread and impending doom. Nightmares, fears of crashing, lack of sleep, were my constant companions. Getting on the plane itself was indescribable. Prior to becoming a Christian, pills and alcohol got me through it. As a Christian, I would forgo the drugs and clutch my Bible. Yet I still fought the indescribable fear. Have you ever seen a car passing and coming at you head on while you were driving? That’s how I used to feel the entire time on the airplane. Turbulence? I would almost pass out. I knew all the statistics on how planes are much safer than driving, but my body wouldn’t co-operate. I would sweat cold perspiration and clutch my seat. My heart would beat erratically. I aged several years each flight. I kissed the ground when I disembarked. I have faced death a million times. I am not exaggerating.
Today I take my children on airplanes. I can talk with them and play with them! I don’t even break out in a sweat. Not even during the turbulence! Take off and landings are exciting and I enjoy looking out the window. Could I do this all on my own? Never! God did it. He showed me how my lack of trust was allowing fear a foothold into my life. God has all my days numbered. He doesn’t want me to live in fear all of the days he has allotted me. Jesus has broken the power of the devil – that is the fear of death. God is so good.
God also sends His Holy Spirit to encourage us through other people. God is patient. If He wants to make sure you get the point, He will reinforce it over and over. What a relief. Being human, I often fluctuate from being too full of myself, to beating myself up for not being good enough. For this miracle, I was at the latter end, a place many Christians tend to hang out in. After four years of not bearing any fruit (at least in my own estimation) I was ready to pack it in. Any growth I saw was at a snail’s pace. God saw my need and rescued me. Within a few weeks, there were three times people came forward with a word of encouragement. There was no connection between these people, nor did they know of my situation or feelings.
The first person told me she received a word from God, that there would be fruit from my labors in two years. Funny how she used the same word “fruit.” Next, a couple from my church (whom I had never met before) was praying for members of the group I attend. Since I was busy in the kitchen helping with the kids, I thought I would escape their notice. Not so. They called me over, saying they felt a need to pray for me. They told me that God is busy at work, even though I can’t see anything happening. The final incident happened at a parenting course when another couple prayed over my husband and I. The specific picture given to me by the couple was one of a bicycle gear. Although the pedals are hard to turn and it doesn’t look like much is happening, the gears are turning fast. I was not to worry because God had made it that way.
Would you give up after God used his followers to relay such personal words of encouragement? I’m sure those people have no idea how powerfully God used them to keep me on track. Was this random chance that they all said the same thing in different ways? I don’t think so. I haven’t given up. I have stepped it up, choosing not to believe those lies being whispered in my mind. I keep praying for others, telling others about the good news and planting seeds where needed.
I will always cherish the time God encouraged me with his words through another believer during a funeral. For months my fervent prayer had been that I would be a shining light. Matthew 5:16 says “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Philippians 2:15 says that we should do all things without complaining “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
These verses had so captured my imagination. Oh, how I longed to be a shining light. “Lord let me be a shining light,” I pleaded day in and day out. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own, but that with Christ living in me, the world could see my light shine. But all I heard was negativity. I was called a hypocrite. “Don’t you think you are going a little too far with this stuff?” I was told. People became offended over my beliefs, in spite of my efforts not to condemn or judge others.
Several months later I attended a family funeral. The brother of the deceased (whom I didn’t know well) wanted to know if I had been a Christian at the time of my wedding. I told him no. “I knew it,” he said. “You can see the change. I can tell by looking at your eyes. They shine.”
Was this just a fluke? No. In His infinite love, God wanted to encourage one of His children. Though I will hear a thousand more criticisms, I will always remember these words this man spoke to me.
Finally, I would like you to ponder this story. During my first six months as a Christian I became really depressed and began doubting all of it. “God, if you’re real, show me!” I cried out. My stereo, which had been broken for months, mysteriously began to work. A wonderful Christian song began to play that ministered to my soul. That stereo hasn’t worked since. Some people might argue that God had nothing to do with it, but I know better.
Who can doubt the Almighty God’s hand on our lives? How can I ever doubt his existence, or His word, or His son, which is truth and life? When the silence comes, I will remember it is but for a time. When I endure hardship, I will remember that it is a hardship being filtered through the loving hands of a loving Father who disciplines those He loves. I will remember and never forget. I hope you too will remember what God has done for you and never forget. God is good. He cares intimately about every aspect of your life.
God had given me the weapons I would need to withstand attacks during those early months of being a Christian. This helped me to understand the war that was going on around me in the spiritual world. Was this my subconscious latching on to an exact chapter of the Bible that was floating around from some prior teaching? No. God was preparing me for the future. He had shown me His presence, care and concern. God is my Father and He will always take care of me no matter what happens.
At this point in my walk with the Lord, I’m probably at miracle number twenty. If I wrote them all down, it would take hundreds of pages. Some miracles are too personal to record here. They deal with my husband, friends and relatives, and I wouldn’t want to make them uncomfortable by making them public. But I with his approval, I will mention my husband. He was what he would term a “lapsed Catholic.” In 1995, he neither went to church nor read his Bible or so much as talked of spiritual matters. Today he attends church, reads his Bible, and we pray together as a couple. He says he has come back to the Lord, like the prodigal son. God is so good!
God has also totally healed me from my fear of flying. This is a genuine miracle! It took two years of prayer. It wasn’t instant. For any of those who know me, you know this is a miracle! If I had an impending plane trip, fear would have its hold on me. For several months prior to leaving, I was filled with dread and impending doom. Nightmares, fears of crashing, lack of sleep, were my constant companions. Getting on the plane itself was indescribable. Prior to becoming a Christian, pills and alcohol got me through it. As a Christian, I would forgo the drugs and clutch my Bible. Yet I still fought the indescribable fear. Have you ever seen a car passing and coming at you head on while you were driving? That’s how I used to feel the entire time on the airplane. Turbulence? I would almost pass out. I knew all the statistics on how planes are much safer than driving, but my body wouldn’t co-operate. I would sweat cold perspiration and clutch my seat. My heart would beat erratically. I aged several years each flight. I kissed the ground when I disembarked. I have faced death a million times. I am not exaggerating.
Today I take my children on airplanes. I can talk with them and play with them! I don’t even break out in a sweat. Not even during the turbulence! Take off and landings are exciting and I enjoy looking out the window. Could I do this all on my own? Never! God did it. He showed me how my lack of trust was allowing fear a foothold into my life. God has all my days numbered. He doesn’t want me to live in fear all of the days he has allotted me. Jesus has broken the power of the devil – that is the fear of death. God is so good.
God also sends His Holy Spirit to encourage us through other people. God is patient. If He wants to make sure you get the point, He will reinforce it over and over. What a relief. Being human, I often fluctuate from being too full of myself, to beating myself up for not being good enough. For this miracle, I was at the latter end, a place many Christians tend to hang out in. After four years of not bearing any fruit (at least in my own estimation) I was ready to pack it in. Any growth I saw was at a snail’s pace. God saw my need and rescued me. Within a few weeks, there were three times people came forward with a word of encouragement. There was no connection between these people, nor did they know of my situation or feelings.
The first person told me she received a word from God, that there would be fruit from my labors in two years. Funny how she used the same word “fruit.” Next, a couple from my church (whom I had never met before) was praying for members of the group I attend. Since I was busy in the kitchen helping with the kids, I thought I would escape their notice. Not so. They called me over, saying they felt a need to pray for me. They told me that God is busy at work, even though I can’t see anything happening. The final incident happened at a parenting course when another couple prayed over my husband and I. The specific picture given to me by the couple was one of a bicycle gear. Although the pedals are hard to turn and it doesn’t look like much is happening, the gears are turning fast. I was not to worry because God had made it that way.
Would you give up after God used his followers to relay such personal words of encouragement? I’m sure those people have no idea how powerfully God used them to keep me on track. Was this random chance that they all said the same thing in different ways? I don’t think so. I haven’t given up. I have stepped it up, choosing not to believe those lies being whispered in my mind. I keep praying for others, telling others about the good news and planting seeds where needed.
I will always cherish the time God encouraged me with his words through another believer during a funeral. For months my fervent prayer had been that I would be a shining light. Matthew 5:16 says “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Philippians 2:15 says that we should do all things without complaining “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
These verses had so captured my imagination. Oh, how I longed to be a shining light. “Lord let me be a shining light,” I pleaded day in and day out. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own, but that with Christ living in me, the world could see my light shine. But all I heard was negativity. I was called a hypocrite. “Don’t you think you are going a little too far with this stuff?” I was told. People became offended over my beliefs, in spite of my efforts not to condemn or judge others.
Several months later I attended a family funeral. The brother of the deceased (whom I didn’t know well) wanted to know if I had been a Christian at the time of my wedding. I told him no. “I knew it,” he said. “You can see the change. I can tell by looking at your eyes. They shine.”
Was this just a fluke? No. In His infinite love, God wanted to encourage one of His children. Though I will hear a thousand more criticisms, I will always remember these words this man spoke to me.
Finally, I would like you to ponder this story. During my first six months as a Christian I became really depressed and began doubting all of it. “God, if you’re real, show me!” I cried out. My stereo, which had been broken for months, mysteriously began to work. A wonderful Christian song began to play that ministered to my soul. That stereo hasn’t worked since. Some people might argue that God had nothing to do with it, but I know better.
Who can doubt the Almighty God’s hand on our lives? How can I ever doubt his existence, or His word, or His son, which is truth and life? When the silence comes, I will remember it is but for a time. When I endure hardship, I will remember that it is a hardship being filtered through the loving hands of a loving Father who disciplines those He loves. I will remember and never forget. I hope you too will remember what God has done for you and never forget. God is good. He cares intimately about every aspect of your life.
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| These stones are to be a memorial... |
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