God Winks–Divine Appointments

This past weekend was indeed a great time if you are a Clemson fan. What an exciting game! I especially enjoyed it because I got to watch it with my dear neighbors whom I love but because of our busy schedules we rarely get to visit. But on Sunday morning we did get time to visit. Our neighbor is a doctor who delivers babies. We were trading stories on the “awesomeness of God,” His supernatural power and PERFECT timing. Mark Salley’s story is too great not to share…so here goes…..

Mark shared that when he has a week off he returns to his grueling schedule often with “snail mail” to sort that is at least two feet high. Add to that emails and voicemails and the stack is even higher. Usually, on his first day back he will see patients and deliver babies….then at night dig through his mail.

Two years ago, as Mark returned to work, it was a call day where he would be delivering babies all day. Before heading over to the hospital he noticed, for whatever reason, in his stack of piled high mail a random letter kind of protruding at the middle of the pile. He said he doesn’t really know why he decided to pull it out and open it but he did. It was a letter from a couple who were unable to have children and were looking to adopt. They were not patients of Mark but he shared with us that he gets this type of letter sometimes.

Mark said he read the entire letter and thought …Wow! They would make great parents…! He said he threw down the letter because his beeper was going off and he had to head over and get busy delivering babies.

His first delivery happened to be a young unwed mother NOT his patient either. It was only after delivery that Mark discovered that this young birth mother was not going to be able to keep the baby and had no plans. He immediately thought of the letter he had just read the hour before. He shared it with the birth mom and she said, “I want them to have the baby.”

Upon a phone call from Mark….you guessed it…the couple said yes. Mark marveled at the timing especially because it was SOOOOO OUT OF ROUTINE AND CHARACTER FOR HIM TO touch his mail after being off for a week and then have to deliver babies all day. He reflected on that moment with us….how big the mail pile was and for the life of him…he didn’t really know why he picked that letter to open and read. WE all smiled …because we knew it was GOD…the Holy Spirit…prompting Mark…..:o)

As believers the Holy Spirit dwells in us and prompts us. “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us,” (Romans 5:5).

I encouraged Mark to remember and take note of the nudge he felt to open that letter. What a great story about God’s timing and provision….for that baby…that birth mom and that couple desiring a child…and God used Mark in a great way.

Reflecting on our morning visit…I remember what led Mark to share that story. I was recommending a great book for them to read…Mark Batterson’s book “The Grave Robber”. Mark Batterson does a fantastic job unpacking the book of John in the Bible teaching about seven of the miracles Jesus performed while on earth. There were many more miracles Jesus performed but I enjoyed reading about the seven he unpacked.

The one thing I love about Batterson’s book is that he clearly helps the reader understand that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and that today…miracles occur on a daily basis. We just have to have the eyes to see them. As I shared this with Mark, I told him that I see miracles performed through great doctors every day. My intent was to encourage him but, as God would have it, Mark Salley shared a “miracle” story with me!

So Back Niners…be encouraged today. Look for Jesus to show up. Ask Him to give you the eyes to see His supernatural hand in your life. Pray with a heart of gratitude and faith.

Isaiah 49:20, “You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.” Oh that we would see and hear what God has in store for us! May we not be hardened but instead see that the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever is still in the miracle business.

“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert,” (Isaiah 35:5-6).

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