Living in a miracle

Psalm 27:13
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.


So many days, as I'm wandering through my day, I miss what God is doing.  I'm busy or lost in my own thoughts and fail to see the details that He has orchestrated just for me.  It's not that I don't want to see them, but just that I'm not looking or not listening.  It's a journey - learning to live my life in a way that fully embraces God.  There is just so much more that I have to learn!

Then there are other times when God's hand is visible.  When the details of a prayer are answered.  Sometimes they are answered even if you didn't utter the prayer.  Often it is a sweet reminder that He loves me, knows me and is there for me.

And then there are times that are big.   Times that just leave me speechless.  Times when I marvel at what He has done.  Times when I know that I've just been a part of a miracle.

Last week, was one of those times.

We were on a field trip to a local organic farm.  We split into 3 groups and I was with the group that started off on a hayride.

 We headed across the highway from the place we'd started and were touring a field when it started to rain.  It had been forecasted to be a beautiful, sunny and warm day.  So far it was overcast, cool and now this ... rain.  It wasn't on anyone's list of fun for the day, but it was light and nobody seemed to be minding it.

We stopped to see some rye in the field while the farmer told us about it.

He also told us about the red clover growing amongst the rye.  It helps to add nitrogen back to the soil.  After this learning pit stop, we continued through the field.  We went a bit further and then turned back into the field.  Within a minute, the peaceful scene would change.

My back was to the road, but the gals facing the road yelled and I turned to see a car flipping in the air.   Completely flipping into the air and land in the field.  We yelled at the farmer to alert him to what had happened as he couldn't hear anything above the noise of the tractor.  I called 911.  This was the one scene that we recall with humor.

I explained that we were on a hayride and had just witnessed an accident.  I was asked numerous questions.  How many people are in the car?  I couldn't see because we were in a field on a hay ride.  Could I get close to the vehicle?  No, I'm with 15 young children on a hay ride.

We drove back closer to the accident.  The farmer went to help and returned visibly shaken.  His words then are etched in my mind.

"The vehicle landed where we were stopped just moments before.  If I hadn't taken that detour ..."

This brings back tears just recalling the event.  The car had flipped 2-3 times in the air before landing.  It was really up in the air.

Oh thank you God for the rain that perhaps caused our detour.  Thank you God for moving us from that spot just in the nick of time.  Thank you God for sparing us from what would have most certainly been horrific.

Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 
Psalm 41:1-2
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;

The rest of our group on the other side of the highway heard horrible noises - and the farmer's wife and other workers flew from the barns fearful of what they would find.  Fearful that the crunch of metal was the haywagon.  Fearful of finding a nightmare.  Thankfully the driver of the car was able to walk out!  All of us are safe.

From an eyewitness, the driver swerved in the road, over corrected and then hit the ditch.  This sent it flying into the air - turning and turning before coming to a stop at the edge of the field.

It was all many of us could talk about.  God saved our lives.  God protected us.  God was right there in that moment visible to us all.

I know He is always with us, but this time it was just surreal.  Even a week later as many of us gathered today for co-op, we reflected on that moment.  It's hard to explain to someone not there what a profound experience this was for all of us in that wagon.

And lest that not be enough, many of us again today saw God's hand.  While we were roasting marshmallows in a fire pit in my backyard, the winds started rising.  (We were expecting a storm and were prepared to get out of it as soon as need be.)  While we were all around the fire, a tree fell.  Not far from us and in the opposite direction from where we were gathered.  God's hand pushing it away from us.  Protecting us.

Thank you God for protecting all of us.  Thank you for this amazing opportunity to share with our children about your strength and provision and to point to the miracle that happened.

In some ways it is also hard to post this given the devastation that has occurred in our country with the tornadoes.  I know that there are times when horrible things happen.  Far too often.  I know that life often doesn't go the way that we hope or dream or expect.  Life is often not fair.  Even in the midst of hard times though, or maybe especially so, praise for the One who loves us completely is good for our heart and soul and mind.

Lord I praise you for you are powerful and mighty and good.  Thank you Lord for allowing us to see your hand at work in our lives.  Give us eyes to see more clearly the many ways you are moving and working in and around us every day.

In His Mighty Grip,
Leslie