{"id":24931,"date":"2019-01-28T03:30:14","date_gmt":"2019-01-28T11:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24931"},"modified":"2019-01-25T14:25:04","modified_gmt":"2019-01-25T22:25:04","slug":"january-28-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2019\/01\/28\/january-28-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"January 28, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBut God\u00a0<\/strong>demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u201d <\/em>Romans 5:8<\/p>\n

Celebration of Miracle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I saw a miracle today. I saw what God could do when all else has failed, when everyone else has given up, when every door is closed, when all the chances are used and gone, when only ashes remain.<\/p>\n

Thirty-five years ago I met a young man who was deceptive and cared for little else than his own pleasure and whose life was focused on just getting to the next high. I watched him through the years as he stole what others had earned and tore down every attempt to build a better life. He became a danger not only to himself, but to those who loved him. Nothing touched him, nothing reached him. He descended into darker and lonelier places with each passing year.<\/p>\n

Many prayed for him, many shared the truth of God with him, many gave and gave again. Glimpses of hope sometimes appeared for a short time. He prayed the prayer of salvation. He was baptized. He held a job for a week or a few months. He would go to rehab. Then he would return to the old ways and do again those things that only destroyed.\u00a0He burned every bridge and abused every relationship.<\/p>\n

Many long years passed. Often no one even knew of his whereabouts.\u00a0Was he in jail? Was he dead? We all gave up.\u00a0We quit praying. We dreaded seeing him. We didn\u2019t hear him when he spoke to us, because no one believed his lies anymore. Utter failure. Complete defeat. Forgotten. H,opeless.<\/p>\n

But God!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>One day, miles from home, God got through to this battered and shredded soul. He heard the voice of God and believed. The transaction was just between his heart and God\u2019s. And everything changed. All those prayers over the years were answered in a moment. The dawn had come and darkness was fast fading. He left it all behind and began to pursue God with a holy passion.<\/p>\n

He learned new ways\u2014God\u2019s way. He turned his back on his old life. He got a job. He paid debts and restored relationships.\u00a0He kept his word. He became dependable and productive.<\/p>\n

Today I watched, with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart, as he walked across a stage and received a Bachelor\u2019s Degree from Simpson University. He now owns his own home.\u00a0He is a father to his children. He is a son to his aging parents. He is a miracle of God.<\/p>\n

I write this to give glory to God who never stops loving and never ever gives up on us.\u00a0There is no place too far or sin too great.\u00a0It doesn\u2019t matter how long it has been or how often the failure.\u00a0He is so much more. God is our only salvation and His love endures forever.<\/p>\n

The other reason I write is to encourage you. Even when you have given up, He hasn\u2019t. Nothing is impossible.\u00a0Take heart and look to God\u2014even now.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy flesh and my heart fail, but God\u00a0<\/strong>is the strength of my life and my portion forever\u201d <\/em>(Psalm 73:26).<\/p>\n

\u201cBut God<\/strong>, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) <\/em>(Ephesians 2:4-5).<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, what can I say? I am overwhelmed with wonder and gratitude. With all my heart, I say thank You. In Jesus\u2019 name and Amen!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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