It's a Christmas Miracle
Dec
23
Written by:
12/23/2008 1:39 PM
It’s been a while since my last blog. Life sure gets busy doesn’t it? I look back on the month of December and think about how I’ve truly enjoyed the Christmas season with my family and with NVM.
One thing that really sticks out in my mind is the Amplify Youth Group at New Vintage Ministries. I never thought I would be in such a role as a “youth leader” but for now that is where God has put me along with my other Worship Leader responsibilities. Actually, I am so thankful because it has been great spending time with all the kids! The more I am around them, the more I see their beautiful hearts and how they are open to meeting new friends, learning more about God and serving the community.
We had a youth group gathering at our house and the kids made fleece tied blankets and Christmas cards for people in need. As I dropped off the items at a ministry downtown in Kalamazoo, I remembered all the fun we had at my house that night. We had super adult volunteers who came over to help the kids with their project because I had no idea how to cut the blankets, measure them correctly or anything like that! The kids were very serious about their blankets and cards but when it was over they had fun and did everything from the Limbo to the Macarena! Good times, good times!
Just recently, some of them gave out NVM gift bags with me in the community during their winter break and as I watched them serve they were happy and full of energy. They were determined to get the bags delivered even if the snow on the sidewalks was over 2 feet deep and the driveways were slippery. They even had to talk to complete strangers!
It was a bright day and some of the kids had sun glasses on. My son put his eye glasses on his shirt collar and wore his sun glasses instead. We went into Biggby’s (a favorite coffee place) to hand out NVM gift bags to the employees and he noticed his eye glasses were missing which created quite a panic for all of us. After searching everywhere, we decided to go back to the scene where he had slipped and fell earlier to see if they were still there. (I’m sure he is really stoked about me sharing this!)
We had no such luck. I quickly gave one of those SOS prayers to God! “Please help us; please show us where his glasses are!” One of the other girls had a great idea which was to check a sidewalk near by that was over 2 feet deep full of snow that they had walked on earlier to deliver the gift bags. Get this - would you believe that on a side walk over 2 feet deep of snow with fresh footprints she spotted his eye glasses with the brown frames sticking out just a wee tiny bit? You should of heard the squeals of excitement and seen the happy dance in the middle of the street! Like one of the girls said, “It was a Christmas Miracle!” I said, “Thank You Lord!”
Then we joked around about how much money we could have spent on purchasing a new pair of glasses and how we were not going to mention that to his dad! Well, of course we told his dad but actually we told our heavenly dad first and he provided for us by answering our prayers! You know, even in the middle of everyday moments like handing out gift bags a miracle was given. Think about it. We had NO idea where the lost glasses were. We were taking a huge chance trying to find them on snow covered roads while retracing our steps.
However, God knows every step we make. He hears our every call, our panic cries, our SOS prayers and he answers them to show his children his love and that miracles are still made even today. We just have to keep our eyes open to see them. You know, I didn’t think of something like finding a lost pair of eye glasses as being “A Christmas Miracle” until one of the girls pointed it out to me. I am learning from Amplify just as much as they are learning from me the “youth leader”. Hello! We celebrated that miracle with a happy dance. Think of all the “happy dances” that go on in heaven each time a lost child comes home to Jesus. Wow! I thank God for all the kids in Amplify at New Vintage Ministries. They are a true blessing to me.
As I see the “2008 Recap Amplify Photo Gallery” on the NVM website Teen page, I realize what a great year of growth it has been! If you have a chance, check it out for yourself! I look forward to what 2009 has to offer and I look forward to what God is going to do…..including the miracles!
4 comment(s) so far...
Re: It's a Christmas Miracle
I remember a time when Sean was in pre-school and a fellow student lost a favorite toy somewhere in the classroom. He was in a panic. The teacher gently took him aside and said, "Let's pray about this" and the two of them prayed that God would help them in this situation. I was totally taken back when about 5 seconds after they said "AMEN," another student yelled out "HERE IT IS!" and waived the action figure in the air. I thought to myself--"What a fantastic lesson that little guy just got. He's only in pre-school and he has learned that God truly does hear our prayers!" You know, I've never forgotten that either. I suppose that was a lesson for me just as much as it was for that little boy.
By Kelly on
12/25/2008 9:06 PM
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Re: It's a Christmas Miracle
tammy i cant believe you got all the detaails right on that.lol, but you're right it was a christmas miracle we had a slim chance at finding those glasses and god pointed in the direction i needed to go. i thank god for all the things he does in our life for us, right down to the little things like helping us find glasses in some VERY deep snow.
By kara on
12/25/2008 9:06 PM
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Re: It's a Christmas Miracle
what a great picture ... "happy dances" in heaven!!!! It never ceases to amaze me who or what God uses to reach us or teach us a lesson....Sometimes I feel like the our kids in Amplify have taught me more things then i have taught them!!!!! I am very excited to check out the web page in 2009 to see what miracles he provides through Amplify
By Mary on
12/25/2008 9:06 PM
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Re: It's a Christmas Miracle
God is GOOD! It's wonderful to experience answers to prayer. We need to keep trusting God in everything!!!
By K on
12/26/2008 11:46 AM
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