Indeed God in Deed
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.~Rom 1:20 NIV
Please share your experience of His invisible qualities in your life as a God inDeed Testimony! Come as a witness to testify concerning God’s light so that through you others may believe. (John 1:7)
Even if you were not in the middle of formal prayer time, has a whisper of wisdom, direction or encouragement ever come to you from out of “nowhere” that was indeed just what you needed to hear?
Have you ever been set on doing or not doing something and an unnaturally explained timely deed took place to change your decision or course of action for the better?
Has someone you know, or perhaps a stranger, spoken something to you or did a deed for you that was indeed an unexpected divine help?
Do you know…that you know…that you know…that it was not coincidence and definitely not of your own will or power, but rather indeed God in deed?
Please share your story as a witness as we build a God inDeed Testimony Chain by posting comments as often as you’d like to entries in this blog category I’ve titled God inDeed or sending me an email message to post. But don’t stop there! Let’s not keep these practical miracles to ourselves! Let’s fellowship and build community and witness for Christ! Share your posted story and others submitted with 1 or more people (how about 7 people–God’s perfect number…my favorite!) who may want to share their own testimonies of God’s work in their lives or perhaps may receive great encouragement and hope from the evidence of God moving.
Not only give testimony of the big miracles He may bestow upon your life, but tell of His works in even the most detailed or seemingly insignificant areas of your life. And if you feel that you don’t have anything to share, keep looking and listening…God is in deed! No matter how small or perhaps even silly your experience may seem–if it is God, it is magnificent! Together let’s confirm to ourselves and show others that God is interested in the details of our lives and that He even sometimes has a sense of humor–that He is real to us…and can be to them! Let’s boldly and passionately give glory and praise to Him who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us–and all around us! (Eph 3:20-21)
(If you want to tell anyone else’s story, please seek their permission first to honor their privacy.)
The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me…believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father…You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
~John 10:25, 27, 38; 2 Cor 3:3 NIV
Moment to moment in your life, I encourage you to find time throughout each day–even if only for 30 seconds–to quiet your mind by shutting down all thoughts and just looking to Him with your spirit. You don’t even have to know what to ask or say. His Spirit knows. And not only hear…but listen intentionally to His whispers to recognize His gentle shepherding, to know indeed that it is God in deed directing your steps–and if He is not, then realign yourself with His will as you hear His voice.
So often we are so preoccupied in thought, so busy going through life on autopilot, so focused on the natural world, that we forget to look for or don’t even notice what is going on in the spiritual realm within us and all around us. We are citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20-21), ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20), God’s fellow workers (2 Cor 6:1)–and must set our minds on things above (Col 3:1) to become wholly aware of God’s presence and guidance in all things in our life–as big as a career decision, as small as a choice of whether to run an errand or stay home to attend to other things; as spiritual as seeking deliverance from a stronghold, as practical as how to better balance your budget.
And because we don’t see or hear God in things, we may forget to even seek His help or maybe even assume He doesn’t care about our situation–but He may have been whispering the answer all along, but we just weren’t tuned in or were not
aware of how God personally speaks to us because we have not yet built that intimate of a relationship with Him yet. How much more powerful and encouraged would we be if we were tuned in to the multitudes of interventions God made or is trying to make in our lives!
I have journals full of all of the revelations He’s given and changes I’ve made–even things my mother shared with me that occurred when I was too small to write or read. And it is amazing how it is evident that God is directing my steps. And there is no way I could ever not believe and trust in Him in any part of my life. Take seriously your becoming…leave nothing to chance. It’s never too early…and never too late. God is always on time!
Christian Life Coaching Call to Action:
1. Think back on your life, even since you were a child–journal the things you have gone through, how you’ve changed, the path you’re taking and what role you believe God has played in these things.
2. Share with your children, no matter how young they are, how God is working in their lives–journal it for them so they can read it when they are older and see who God is shaping them to become. If you don’t have children, share your observations and insights of God working in the lives of the rest of your family or friends. Be a “seeing eye Christian” for those around you to help sensitize them to God’s existence and works!
3. Share your story with others as a witness for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at work and relevant to our lives today. I’ll start by posting a comment to my own entry to start off our God inDeed Testimony Chain!
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I had been perplexed for several weeks about how to get my three year old son to eat his breakfast in less than an hour(!) so that we can all leave the house together to get his brother off to Kindergarden and then him to preschool right after so I could start my daily activities early. I’d been bringing his brother to school and then coming back to get him ready just to give him time to eat breakfast because I didn’t want him to be hungry. I had read some things in books, gotten advice from friends on “to go food” and “tough love”, and made my own plans as well…but nothing seemed to work…not for him…and not for me.
So one morning I just threw my hands up and gave up…but not like giving up the battle, but giving it up to God. I didn’t do the usual thought juggling of human strategies in my mind or feel the frustration of the moment. I just looked to God–literally tilted my head up and just stared with a blank mind. I was at a loss. I didn’t even have time to ask. God knew what I needed. Three little words came to me “SET THE TIMER”. I immediately knew it was an interjection from God as I know how the Spirit speaks to me vs. my own thoughts. I said, “What? A timer…to eat?” And then I just tried it. I’m into obedience! I had a timer I never used in my drawer. It looked like a chicken and makes an annoying ringing sound.
Well, my three year old found it annoying too! The first time he heard that timer go off and he wasn’t finished, he not only realized I was getting him dressed and his breakfast would be discarded, but he realized he didn’t like the sound of the timer! He tossed a shirt next to him up onto the mantle where the timer was and said, “I don’t like it. I want it to be quiet so I can watch Godzilla!” (He watches the old Godzilla movies and I put it on foreign language so he doesn’t hear anything inappropriate for him developmentally or spiritually. I am his rewind and fast forward servant for his favorite scene!)
Anyway, from that day on, whenever I put the timer up on the mantle and set it, he eats right away so he doesn’t have to hear it! Yes, it is a silly story. And yes it is such a detailed and practical thing. But God knew it was important to me, important to our family life, and He had probably been waiting all those weeks for me to just quiet myself and hear His solution–which was THE best slution for me! Lesson learned => seek Him in ALL things!
So what has God done in your life lately?
Comment by Arris — October 5, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
It seemed as though the past two years of my life had been plagued with pain and disappointment. October 2005 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had surgery in January of 2006 and endured three very long months of radiation. Things began to look up in May as I was finally strong enough to back to work. Then, May 29, 2006 my mother was struck by a car while crossing the street after work one day. I spent that entire summer away from my husband and children to take care of her during her lengthy recovery. I returned home just in time to prepare the children for the beginning of school. Our family’s finances suffered tremendously. My business had gone to nearly nothing since I had been out of work most of the year. November, 2006 my youngest son broke his arm. February 2007 my husband shattered his ankle and was out of work for 2 months. At this point I’m beginning to ask myself and God- “What have I done so wrong to deserve all this?” May 2007, my youngest son was expelled from school and sent to juvenile detention center for 9 days. A mother’s nightmare! July 2007, my 18 year old daughter comes to me in tears after just receiving 2 track scholarship offers and tells me that she might be pregnant. Here I go again asking-God where are you?????? I went from feeling like I was such a strong believer to having many doubts(Something I am ashamed to admit). Where was God???
During the breast cancer battle- He was everywhere! First of all- I survived. Beyond that, My husband was there, everyday, working, taking care of me, taking care of the kids, the house, dinner and everything else in between. My children showed tremendous strength and support. God had his hand in every minute of it.
During my mother’s recovery- He was everywhere! She survived! I was now healthy enough to make the trip to Atlanta to care for her. She is now walking again!!!! God was there!
When my husband got hurt- I again was healthy enough to care for him and the rest of the family as he recovered. Even though we were in a major financial bind we were blessed with the best surgeon in this area.
When my youngest son got into trouble, i thought it was just the last straw for me. Amazingly I saw this family pull together and pray for him like never before. We were disappointed at the things he had done-but realized so that what he needed most was his God and his family. It was God’s way of letting me know that my child was headed in a bad direction and we needed to pull together as a family to turn him around!
As for my daughter- I was pained and disappointed about how her life was about to change. She had so much going for her- She was a state champion in track in field, Prom Queen, college bound- her whole life ahead of her, she was everyone’s poster child. And now- she’s pregnant. I felt so sad inside, but never as sad as when God made me wake up! She came to me and said she wanted an abortion. Then I knew what sad and hurt really felt like. I spent the whole night crying & praying, crying & praying! The very next day-she came to me and said-”moma, I can’t do it. It’s just not right and I feel so sad even thinking about it!” All I could do was thank God! I hugged her and we cried together-knowing that with God-we would be alright! Guess what, she still has so much going for her. She started college in August!
I finally learned to stop asking God where he was and started opening my eyes to see him everywhere in my life!
September 16th 2007, My oldest son was in a 4 wheeler accident and suffered a broken foot. All I could think when the doctor came out of the ER was thank you Lord, It’s only his foot!
Everytime, Everywhere- I KNOW THAT I KNOW “HE” is there!
-Tammy Charles-
Comment by Tammy Charles — October 6, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Tammy, You have been through so much. And I praise God for bringing you through this victoriously…to not only survive…but to have built your faith in Him. And isn’t it just like God even in all of those back to back trials to put His hand in the middle of everything to allow everyone and every situation to be supported in just the perfect timing needed?! Thank you for your intimate personal testimony of realizing God’s footprints were in the sand the whole time. A strong illustration of 2 Cor 4:6-18 about how we are hard pressed, but not crushed. May this encourage others to look for God’s healing light even in the darkest of times.
Arris
Comment by Arris — October 6, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
The other day when our Bible study group was going to clean the house of one of the lady’s neighbors who has cancer, I was on my way to Bible study to bring refreshments while driving my husband’s truck which was on below E. The truck stalled at an intersection before I got to Sandy’s house where I was to meet the group. The truck restarted and I was able to make it to her house - all the time praying for it to make it to Sandy’s and then on to the gas station and then on to the grocery store. The truck stopped twice on the way there (to the gas station and grocery store). I was praising the Lord once I got to the gas station…I call that DIVINE INTERVENTION.. since the truck started up three different times…What an awesome God we serve.
Comment by Darlene George — October 15, 2007 @ 6:12 am
Yes, Darlene! Now that really is divine intervention! I’ve seen many on the side of the road with no restarts! It makes me think, isn’t it just like God to give us second, third, fourth….chances! He loves us so much and is walking besides us, lending a “physical” hand when He knows it is best…and even though sometimes He may not lend a “physical” hand, He may offer a “spiritual one” if He knows that is best. It’s just up to us to know the presence of His hand and take it. Thank you for your story that reminds us to make sure our Spiritual Tank is not on E! But if it is, that He will help us to get where we need to go in our hearts and minds to get back to F…if we only ask and believe!
Arris
Comment by Arris — October 15, 2007 @ 6:18 am