pondering miracles...

Today I'm left pondering miracles, healings and resurrections...

As a Christian we're taught of the many great things Jesus did while on Earth, as well as the glorious power of God. It is not at all uncommon that when someone becomes ill, people pray for them to recover quickly, or to be healed and restored to health. Even when faced with serious illnesses people pray in faith for miracles ~ and this is common.

Even people who are not grounded in faith and who may not know Christ will stop and pray for great miracles when faced with illness and death.

So why then do we not pray for resurrections? Why when this is mentioned do people doubt or question?

In John 11 we learn the story of Lazarus.
^"1Now a man named Lazarus was sick." When Jesus heard this he said, "⁴This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus told his disciples that they should go to him in Judea, but his disciples had fear as they had already faced persecution there. Jesus told them, ""Lazarus is dead, ⁵and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

When they arrived they were greeted by Lazarus' sister. '²¹"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." ²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." ²⁴Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." ²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" ²⁷"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,^b]">[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world." '

Though at first she didn't understand, she never doubted Jesus.

When they took Jesus to see Lazarus' tomb, Jesus wept. Many people wondered why Christ hadn't come to heal Lazarus before death. Jesus asked to enter the tomb, despite the odor or death and the doubts of some of the mourners.

^"40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" ⁴¹So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." ⁴³When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

We read of another resurrection in Mark 5.

Mark 5:35 "While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Their faith had expired when the girl died, they lost all hope of seeing a miracle. Then (Mark 5:36) Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

5:41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” and (verse 42) Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

We see here that people had faith Jesus could heal illness, but then doubted that he could resurrect the dead. But really, how can we distinguish what miracles are "rational," "believable," or "common" and which are not? Are any miracles described as "rational," "believable," or "common?" No, because then they wouldn't require faith.

In James 5 James writes, ^"13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. ¹⁴Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

We are called to pray continuously, to pray in faith and to bring everything to our Father... so why not bring our deepest requests, fears and sufferings to him? Why not pray for miracles?

If we can believe in the works on Christ and his disciples on Earth, and if we can believe in the power and glory of God, why can't we truly believe that all things are possible through our Father?

For more listen to John Piper talk about (briefly) about miracles on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgs38_x1XJg

Lack of fear = faith...

God is good.

Every time this year a need has come up, finances or other means always accompany it.

Earlier in the year, the old car we'd been given finally died ~ which was a comedic night in itself. Ryan picked me up to head to the grocery store after work, once there we noticed a LARGE pool of engine oil on the ground. We followed a long trail all the way out of the parking lot, so who knows when it began. We ended up calling roadside assistance from our insurance company (and they DID speak English) and asked for a tow-truck.

While waiting, several of our friends were in the area so they came to help. Jason, a Canadian who doesn't speak Korean, came but so did Dave and Eunji, and Sudip and his wife who all speak Korean.

After some time a small, pink (which I enjoyed) car arrived with a car service man. He had brought gasoline. We tried to tell him that we didn't need gas, we needed engine oil. He checked the gas and saw it was full, and he was confused. Several Korean speakers tried to explain. We pointed at the brown liquid sea on the floor, and he came to the conclusion we needed radiator fluid. (how did this guy become a car service man!?!?)

He checked the rad. fluid and it was full. He actually scratched his head.

We all tried again to explain we were leaking engine oil. So he proceeded to finally check. He wiped the dip-stick clean, then dropped it in and pulled it out again...

At which point his eyes popped out, he turned to us and literally exclaimed, "WHOA! THERE'S NO OIL!!"

We then literally applauded. >.<

The car was sent to the wrecker the next day... and we were at a loss. We didn't NEED a car, but it was certainly a big help. That week I got an offer for a temp job that lasted a few weeks and payed well. We also began car shopping and fell in love with an LPG-run 6 seater. It cost the exact amount that the temp job paid.

God provided. God is good.

Last month Ry's school noticed that they'd been paying him at a higher pay grade than they had documentation to justify. The management and accounting people had made an error during his application process and were blaming him. Yet the school refused to take responsibility, and they demanded he pay back the money from the previous 15 months or resign. After two weeks of meetings and negotiations they finally demanded his resignation immediately, effective within the month.

Ryan's last day of work was this past Thursday. As his visa is being canceled, we are (forced) to leave the country. We're heading to Hong Kong and plan to shop for baby items ~ which is actually nice, as we weren't planning to take another trip before the baby at all!

Ryan needs a job; we need secure visas and finances; we need insurance... but I feel comforted today in knowing that God will provide, as He always does when we come to Him and rely on Him.

Recently I said to Ryan that I have this unnatural lack of fear in the midst of all of this. His response? "That's called faith."

9 weeks

I know it's been a while since I've written anything... but to be honest, it's been so difficult to do anything! Morning sickness has hit, and it's a real bummer... it's not as bad as many others have it, and I'm not throwing up THAT much, but I sure feel like I'm about to every other minute!!

On top of that I feel like I can smell every bad smell within a kilometer... and I've recently decided that my bedroom is the only room that doesn't have strange smells (it's also the room with the most openable windows). So each day I've been bringing in my laptop, a mini table, and all my books and setting up a work space here. >.<

All the books and websites advise people to eat dry foods like crackers often... but I am very much hating eating anything. Last night Ryan had to guilt me into taking my vitamin. (to the baby: I'm so sorry that I'm not eating much now, but I really am trying hard!)

I was reading yesterday that in this stage of pregnancy I really have control over nothing... not over how I feel, what I can or can't eat, if I can keep food down, how I act (or overreact!), or what my mood will be... and that it should be a blessing! What?!? you may ask... but it's in these times that we have no control over how we feel or over the development of a little one that we already love so much, and only then can we fully lean on our Father to be our support and provider.

I desperately worry that things won't go well, but I know that through whatever circumstances that I will be thankful for God's leading in my life, knowing that in all things He gives me strength and that He works for the good of those who love Him. Which means that good days and bad, He has a plan for me. So I will keep rejoicing in Him and trusting in His plans...

And this is yet another time that God continues to teach me patience and trust. I wonder if it will ever stop being so hard for me....