Miracles Defined by the Beholder

Madonna, Kimball Art Museum Fort Worth, TX

Miracles are defined by the beholder. Only the one who knows the back story can identify that there is miraculous energy imbedded in seemingly common events.

Only such a beholder can identify long-ago dream content that is now occurring in real time; prophetic foreshadowing now firmly believed as having been prophetic.

Only the beholder can witness to verbal remarks that display a dramatic change of heart when compared to preceding history.

Only the beholder can witness to the comfortable, bonded, even affectionate interchange between those who no longer are burdened by the despair of estrangement.

Only the beholder can witness to a long journey of pain and trauma that has reached a plateau, turned the corner, and taken on elements of joy, laughter, and deep regeneration.

I am the humble beholder of such miracles. I have experienced the great good grace of our Lord working toward wholeness for His people. In an earlier time in circumstances only God ultimately understands, my child and I were estranged.

Today many years past pain and unceasing prayer, the child has become a beautiful woman devotedly mothering her own babies. We have found and recognize ourselves within each other; divinely bonded by common characteristics, shared preferences, remembered history. Together we talk over morning coffee, we share magazines and books, we laugh about our pets, we critique houses on HGTV, fuss over her grandfather, and we’re equally besotted with her precious babies.

Blessedly, we have reached a new plateau, turned a corner, and we dream joyously of the future we intend to share.

“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten … And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you…” Joel 2:25-26 KJV

Posting here to join the Gratitude Community, numerous journal entries trace some of the miracles mentioned in today’s post and my occasions for bowing before the Lord in unending thanksgiving.

45 ~ Daughter calls with baby updates

46 ~ Grandsons’ mirror Mama's and Nana’s azure blue eyes

86 ~ Daughter and son in-law banter over supper dishes and baby bottles

198 ~ Daughter’s voice soothing her babies

205 ~ Opportunities to tell her stories of her own babyhood

265 ~ Opportunities to pray over my grandchildren

269 ~ Mother - daughter early morning coffee and laughter as babes play

272 ~ Making memories with grandma visits

289 ~ Long visits, the heart swells, wounds heal  

462 ~ Gratitude Lord to be with daughter and babes for memory precious visit

474 ~ Early mornings in the glider swing with babes & their mama

556 ~ Grandsons’ babbling over the phone

Father of our Spirits

Setting aside the sandstorm whirl of dominating thoughts,

Grasping online, like for air, for the writings offered at Christian sites,

The mind gradually redirects, calmed, and invites the spirit to settle alongside as the heart begins to find nourishment.

Eyes scan, mind muses, reads on until caught by a scripture reference,

Scramble over to Biblebrowser to linger there over deeper reading of scripture.

 God beckons and I trudge away from the demands on my mind to converse with Him in a rambling manner, Him hovering just beside my ear as I shuffle through various resources in search of holy nudging. On this occasion I was seeking inspiration to prepare an opening prayer for the first session of a Women’s Bible Study Monday morning. This Spirit walked, wandering process is often fruitful for me and thus it was that day as 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 was brought to my attention.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the [people] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

The scripture was beautifully aligned with the study the women would be embarking on the following day.

Moving forward to compose the prayer, I was noticeably halted over selecting the initial address to our Lord. Going this time to my bookshelves to search through resources unearthed these names for God, ones I have not commonly used; Father of our Spirits and Author and Perfecter of our faith. Adding these to the prayer’s address seemed to meet an intentional message for the study.

Indeed as I viewed the initial video lecture with the class the following morning, it became apparent how specifically matched the 2 Timothy verse and attending to the names for God, matched the first verses of Revelation and Beth’s emphasis for the first lesson of the study.

My eyes tend to grow WIDE with awareness of God’s leaning and leading. The heart swells and leaps with recognition of the Holy Spirit’s presence. In closing the class time, I suggested to the women that Our Lord had prepared for their work through this study before they ever entered the room.

God’s work in my life in matters such as the process of writing this prayer consistently charms and conquers my heart in abiding belief.