Images

Every once in a while something happens to you that makes you say, "You know what? Everything is going to be o.k."

Whether your bills are paid, or you had a fight with your spouse or parent or friend, or you have to go to the hospital for a "test"...there are things in life that supercede all those. I believe these are moments from God. And I believe that He shows these things to believers and un-believers alike. Those who do believe in God and those who do not believe in God are equally likely to see these small touches of His goodness.

I remember when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was on a camping trip in the Blue Ridge mountains in northern Va. We had spent the night on the top of a mountain and were coming back down the other side. It was early morning and we were crossing over a stream. We were walking on a natural "bridge" made by a tree than had fallen across the stream. The tree was so large that two people could walk side by side across it without any real fear of falling off. I was walking across this tree and stopped right in the center of the stream. I looked and could see down the stream, into a valley and could see some foothills in the distance. The early morning mist was rising and the sun was beaming through the treetops. The mist was creating these shafts of light that were so soothing to my eyes. A sense of peace overwhelmed me. I just stopped and stared for a few moments. I thought to myself, "How can I look at this and say there is no God?" It was the beauty of God's nature. In my own way, at 9 or 10, I just worshiped for a few moments. Not in song, or gesture, but in heart.

A few weeks ago I took vacation to the outer banks of North Carolina. My mother and I walked out and sat on the beach late one night and were just making small talk. After a few minutes of silence, she just began praying. Nothing extravagant...she just prayed. Right in the middle of her prayer the sky lit up with the largest shooting star we'd ever seen. It was not a moment that was frozen in photo, but a moment that was imbedded on my heart. An emotion...a piece of time...a memory that stands as an internal photo.

I was in Africa in February 2006. The area of Kampala, Uganda had been suffering a drought that had been ongoing since June or July of 2005. There had been a short rain in November of 2005, but nothing of any significance. It was so dry that it was suggested we stock up on dust masks, cough drops and sinus medicine before leaving for Uganda. We did. The night we arrived we were talking with a local pastor about the drought and the effects it was having on the community. We were staying in a resort located very near Lake Victoria. The surrounding areas depended on hydroelectric power, but due to the drought, that was in short supply. Power was cut off every evening and turned back on every morning. All water had been shut off to the hotel and we bathed with buckets. We prayed the second night we were there that God would bring rain. Not for ourselves, or because we didn't like to bathe with buckets, but because we could see the toll the drought was taking on the people and the land. Later that very night, with no rain in the forecast, it began to rain. In fact, it began to pour. Of 16 days we were there, it rained 10-12 of those days. Don't get me wrong. Was it because of our prayers? Probably not. How dare I think that the people of Africa, who had been praying LONG before we got there, weren't "doing it right", and that our prayers actually made the difference. How dare I think that we brought the rain. The fact that God chose to answer the prayers of the people of Africa while we were there was a moment in time that will forever be imbedded in my heart. I lived a two week miracle.

Throughout Israel's history God gave the people "things to look to" to give themselves reasons to hope and trust in Him. He gave Adam & Eve the garden. Land was distributed by sight. The Israelites followed a literal cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Joshua laid stones in the Jordan, and on it's banks. The Israelite tribe looked upon the serpent on a pole for healing, until they turned it into an idol. Elijah saw a cloud forming off in the distance. Moses saw a burning bush. John the Baptist saw a dove descend. Hundreds of people saw Jesus ascend. Saul saw a bright light. Today we are to look to Jesus. Look to the cross. John 12:32 says "But I[Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself."

Isaiah 44 says mountains, forests and trees will burst into song. Isaiah 55 says the trees will not only burst into song, but will clap their hands. Psalm 69 says the heavens and the earth will praise God. Psalm 93 says the seas will lift up their voice to God. The heavens, the earth and all that are in them will praise God. One day EVERY KNEE will bow (and if you don't have knees...?) and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

Try to take a moment each day and reflect on God's goodness. Take note of the tiny things. Allow God to work in you in His own way; through a shooting star, through a whisper in your spirit, through another person...God is not limited how He shows Himself to us. When He does, it requires a response. That response is worship. Respond.