Modern Miracles

How do you describe the Hand of God? In countless occurrences through Scripture you see strange and mysterious events, that could only be described as something done "of God."
From the Red Sea parting, bread and birds falling from the sky for food, to walls of a fortified city falling down, the sun standing still for longer than a day, flames descending from heaven upon a sacrifice, a widow's son coming back to life...None of these instances could have happened by chance, or by human strength.  Something far more powerful is at work throughout history, something like the power of an Almighty God. 
There are many believers today who wonder why the God of the Israelites, the God of the Bible, the God who is living in our hearts today, why does he not manifest his presence and works in our midst? 
Suggestions have been made that perhaps God does not show the work of his hand in our generation often due to a lack of faith, or perhaps this generation doesn't provide situations in which he wishes to work.
I'd like to suggest to you that although this may be true, I believe that there is an ulterior reason.  God does still manifest his power and his hand today, just not in the ways we may think.  Many believers look for physical signs and wonders such as people being healed, the elements controlled, and God manifesting himself in our midst.  I would like to argue that God has been physically manifesting himself every day in the lives of those he touches.
As I've been learning to listen to God's voice and serve him in some of the ministries at camp and at my church, I've seen that when I let him use me, I see his hand at work in places I least expect it.
At my church in Crofton (Warmland), I've been hanging out with the youth every Friday night at youth group.  At first, connecting with them was pretty difficult.  I would see them every week, running around, playing games and I would say goodbye as they left.  But as I constistantly showed up these two lovely girls, Ashley and Hannah took to running at me, screaming to greet me every night.  They would climb all over me, pull my hands to come sit with them and as the weeks progressed, I was able to start getting to know each of them and their stories.  Ashley and Hannah continually ask me to come hang out with them during the week or come to their houses, and although I've been far too busy to, just knowing that God has opened doors so much that I have gained enough trust to be invited over to their house speaks volumes.  Even just today when I was at church, before the Sunday School class Mike and I were teaching got under way, we joined the service for some singing.  Ashley and Hannah were on either side of me, beautiful grade seven girls and I put my arms around both of them.  We just stood there, swaying slightly and singing about "How Great is Our God."  How fitting, I thought, that those small girls' voices could carry right to my heart and remind me that I was that small church for a reason, to foster such close friendships that were a testament to the work of God's hand.
Last weekend I had the privilege of serving at the Junior High Retreat here at Qwanoes which catered to twelve to fourteen year-olds.  I had eagerly expecting this retreat because I would be seeing a few returning campers.  I ended up counseling with Lindsey my roommate, which ended up being so much fun in itself, but we also had one of my former campers in our cabin that weekend! Her name is Hannah, not to be confused with the Hannah from Warmland, and her friend Lizzie who I had met at a Qwanoes event a few weeks prior at one of the island churches.  It had been such a joy counseling Hannah during the summer, she had been the light of Christ everywhere she went.  She brought with her another friend Katelyn, who didn't know Christ, nor did she want to.  Throughout the week, Hannah was faithful to keep being a friend to Katelyn, bringing up faith and hoping that through her actions Katelyn would come to Christ, but to no avail.  I had told Hannah at the end of the week in the summer to get involved with a church and youth group in her home town and she promised she would.  As I saw her that weekend, I knew that I wanted to keep building into her and hopefully her friend Lizzie as well.  Throughout those three days, during cabin discussions as well as my own personal time with the girls I got to talk with them, learn about them and build into them.  I didn't really know what was going on in their hearts until our chapel discussion on Sunday morning.  All the girls in our cabin hadn't really been vocal about their faith previously, but that morning they shared what was on their hearts.  All the girls were talking about the speaker who was my former youth pastor, JonnyMo, saying he had really influenced them and got them thinking.  The girls shared about looking at the friend groups they had and seeing how that was impacting who they were, and how they wanted to have Jesus back in their life because they had fallen away.  Lizzie, Hannah, and another girl, Sam all had asked for purity rings from me, a symbol to them of their commitment to stay pure until marriage.  They shared with the group of wanting to stand firm in their commitment and if asked about it, they would tell their peers what it really meant to them and the implications it had.  Hannah and Lizzie also wanted to find a youth group to go to together, as they hadn't done so yet.  We all prayed together and I really felt that the Lord had moved.  Literally the next day, Hannah and Lizzie both texted me, sharing how they had been asked about their purity rings at school and were able to boldly share about what it meant; the girls who had asked seemed fairly interested.  Hannah had shown her parents her ring and especially her dad was very proud of her. They both told me they were standing up for girls that were being made fun of at school and just today, Hannah told me that her and Lizzie had found a youth group which they would both be attending from now on.  God is good!
Another girl who was at the retreat this past weekend was one who I had counseled on a retreat last fall.  Her name is Sarah and she is very dear to my heart.  Ever since last fall, we have had a close bond and I mentor her.  We didn't end up being in the same cabin though, so I was hardly able to see her all weekend.  On Saturday night, though, I ended up staying up late with her and having a good long conversation about where she was at, what she was doing with her life since I had seen her in the summer.  She confessed to me that life wasn't so good.  The foster family she was living with was atheist and they constantly heckled her for her beliefs.  They weren't willing to give her rides to youth group and as a result of that she had no Christian community; she felt so alone.  I encouraged her and prayed for her and told her to be bold for her faith in Christ.  I told her I would be praying for some good Christian friends to come around her and that God would provide a way for you to get to youth.  She asked for a purity ring from me the next day, which I was very encouraged by.  I got a text from her a few days later.  I could feel the excitement through the phone as she explained to me how she was able to talk to her foster mom about her beliefs and although the mom didn't agree, she listened and let Sarah talk.  Sarah said she felt no fear and she knew God was with her.
God works through the mighty power of his hand; yesterday, today, and forevermore.
"The Lord replied, 'Look around at the nations and be amazed!  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." -Habakkuk 1:5