by Dale Russell
“He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.”
Job 5:9
God loves to show His unlimited power and we should shout, “He is a God of miracles!” He is constantly up to something wonderful and it happens much more often than we can count. Sometimes, it happens in an instant, catching you completely off guard.
This past weekend we completed the seventh occasion of doing a special presentation at prisons all over the state. This set was very unique, as our guest speaker was grandson Clay, sharing his stories of amazing miracles and the awesome stories of God saving him, both physically and spiritually this past summer.
God operates in ways that are far beyond our limited human understanding. God’s wonders are too great to fully grasp, and this is precisely what makes them miraculous. When we encounter situations in our lives that seem impossible, we must remember that nothing is too difficult for God to do. Clay did a wonderful job of bringing this message to the AIC (Adults in Custody) and the response (read that as moist eyes) was overwhelming.
Clay’s story starts with a number of impulsive moves, including placing himself 3000 miles from home. A major dirt bike accident does enough injury to stop his heart twice, maybe three times in the first couple of hours. The rest of the story revealed the marvels. This verse above speaks of God performing so many miracles that they can’t be counted. As Clay revealed his story, God’s miraculous power multiplies as the hours, days and weeks go by in the ER, ICU, trauma unit and recovery. God was constantly doing miraculous work in such abundance that we can’t even understand or count it all.
From Clay, the questions and strong statements to the AIC included;
When were you so close to death that you can now say, “I shouldn’t be here.” At the very least, bones should be broken, but God…..
Have you wandered from God, or maybe known He has chased you for a long time?
What about that, “just in time” or “just the right amount” situations that shout miracle.
To think about the depth of God’s care is to fully trust He is always working behind the scenes and that does not depend on our performance or skill set. Clay mentioned his own drifting from God, but finding out the drift did not matter to His creator. His saving is done because His love is beyond measure. In Clay’s case, the result is a new relationship with God. It was a wonderful invitation for the AIC to find a way back.
It prompted the AIC to personally consider how many times they had been protected, provided for, or blessed without even realizing that it was God at work? The easy answers include, “just lucky, a close call, or stuff happens”. The breath in your lungs, the beating of your heart, and the peace that sustains you through difficult times are all evidence of God’s wonderful work in your life. You could sense a room full of contemplation.
Clay stated that God is always ready and willing to do something wonderful. He is approachable, compassionate, and eager to intervene in your life. At only age 19, Clay has a lot of time to collect even more miracle stories. Those AIC, many being much older, considered the time they might have left in their own lives.
The final question to the AIC was,” Who is your rescuer?” Some can answer this easily and acknowledge the power of God, but for those who might struggle with the concept, let’s change that today! Opportunities were given to accept the Lord as that “rescue” or pray with someone to help carry pressing burdens.
The final few minutes of the chapel service were saved for questions and comments from the AIC. In every service we ran out of time! These men and women could identify with Clay’s experiences, hopefully answer the personal questions, and consider how to go after the Lord’s promises.
For many, the God of the Bible never escapes the pages of the Bible. We end up with God who can never amaze or overwhelm. That’s when we need to rebuild our understanding of who God is.
“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.
Is anything too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32:27
IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of you help provide the funds that allow us to travel to these eight prisons. Each time we go there is a strong sense of thankfulness in our own hearts, knowing you were agreeing with the purposes as we minister to the AIC and seeing this as a worthy investment in lives in state prisons AND Otino Waa Children’s Village, Uganda. We stand amazed, humbled and joyful because of YOU!
