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A Morning View Between the Wood Stove and Patio

The NCAA March Madness Championship picks back up today. There are teams still playing who have upset higher ranked teams and are the underdog to win it all. It is exciting when the unexpected happens and miracles on the court take on a new story line. Historically there are a few upsets in the tournament, but usually some team from the 10 topped ranked teams will be crowned champions. 

Miracles during the tournament are fun and challenging in our bracket busting moments. Where are the miracles in our lives? Are they there and we do not recognize them? Perhaps do we have the faith and practice it? We read about the many miracles that happened in the Bible. Many were performed during the life of Jesus, but many took place in the Old Testament stories as well as after Jesus was resurrected. In John 14:12 Jesus tells us that any who believe in Jesus will be able to do the same and even greater works than he has done. Perhaps I miss the greater works around me, but I struggle to see or perhaps recognize such greater works.  

College basketball teams practice for the games. They go over the fundamentals of the offense and defense. If I were the coach, we would practice foul shots until we were sick and tired of standing at the line shooting them and then we would shoot 10 more. Basic fundamentals are the foundation of winning basketball games, especially when you are not supposed to win as the underdog. 

Basic fundamentals of Christianity are the foundation laid for doing the works greater than Jesus did. Miracles happen when we seek deeper love connection with God. We experience and see the hand of God working in our lives when we are truly in our best love relationship with God. This does not mean God is not otherwise working, we just may not experience the glory of God in the moment because of spiritual blindness. For us to be the best Disciples of Jesus Christ, we must practice the fundamentals of our faith walk with God. Prayer, study, action and surrender of ourselves to take up the cross of Jesus and follow him. 

Walk the walk and do not just talk a good game. Practice, go and make disciples for Jesus Christ, do greater works in His name and see the miracles happen right before your eyes! 

Peace,
PB


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