God brought the words back from a powerful song written by Andrae’ Crouch—"My Tribute—To God Be the Glory!” I would like to begin by quoting some of the words from that tribute. “How can I say thanks for the things You have done for us? Things so undeserved, yet You give to prove Your love for us. The voices of a million angels could not express our gratitude; All that we are and ever hope to be, we owe it all to Thee. To God be the glory; To God be the glory, To God be the glory for the things He has done. With His blood He has saved us, With His power He has raised us, To God be the glory for the things He has done!” I substituted “us” for “me” because God’s love and blessings extend to each of us as His children! We know God is there for us. He calls to us and encourages us to entrust our troubles and questions to His care. It is our awesome and all-sufficient God that we give thanks for the amazing way that He harkened to the prayers of His people and brought a miracle of His healing power to Tommy! We give praise and honor and glory to our Great God who hears our prayers for He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble! (Ps. 46:1) We can never thank you enough for the powerful prayers poured out for Tommy! “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.” (Ps. 66:20) Yes, God heard the cries of His people and in His mercy brought about a miracle that all could see! To God be the glory!
Each of you that lifted up prayers for Tommy are a part of this miracle so I would like to share some of the details for “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Ps. 46: 7) On Saturday, April 13 we were at an auction near our home when Tommy experienced a lack of control of his left arm. Truly God went before as our daughter and her husband, our son and his daughter were all there and He immediately sent two close friends who are paramedics to minister to him! Within 30 minutes after the episode, we were in Russell Medical ER being attended by 6 nurses and a doctor! We saw God moving on every hand as He provided all the medical attention for the stroke and made the way to be transferred on Sunday to UAB. We saw the wings of angels transport him and Audra and me safely to the hospital. He received outstanding quality care under a neurological team who performed the right tests to diagnose and confirm his problem as an 80% blockage of the right carotid artery. He went through a battery of tests on Monday and all day Tuesday—some several times. He was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday morning, prep began, and we were informed about the risk factors following surgery of increased stroke risk and no pain meds as they would mask stroke symptoms. Then we were informed that the medical team was in consultation reviewing all his test results as there had been a marked improvement. The team nurse asked if we had powerful prayers being spoken and we confirmed that 1000’s of prayers were going up in his behalf. Before the time of the scheduled surgery, the medical team of six came in which included two Hindu interns. The lead team member told us that all the narrowing of the artery was gone, and they had no medical explanation! I said: “It is a miracle!” and they all nodded and said they had never seen that happen before! They indicated that they would be processing the paperwork for his release! The surgeon later came in and said there would be a three-week med and a change of his statin and make routine follow-ups since it was a stroke. All his attending medical staff witnessed and recognized that it was a miracle from God! (The manifestations of God’s hand in all the details are too numerous to mention but there was no doubt it was Him!) It was indeed a celebration of God’s goodness and on our son’s birthday! “Oh, that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Ps. 107:8) “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” (Ps. 126:3)
What is God’s message to each of us through this miracle? Whether the circumstance is large or small, God is in absolute control. God’s power is limitless, and thus His promises are providentially secure, therefore, there is no promise too hard for Him to keep. In the Bible, there are over thirty thousand promises, and God will keep His Word. There is no prayer too hard for God to answer. Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” When we ask in prayer and believe, we will receive. What happened with Tommy is proof to all of us of the validity of this promise! If we have an unwilling spirit, or an unconcerned attitude, we can limit our Almighty God. Because with such an ungodly attitude, we are binding the hands that want to bless us. We must realize that nothing can touch us except what the Father allows. God has His purposes and with perfect timing will bring blessing from tribulation.
In life there are lessons to be learned, and no matter what the circumstance might be, God is molding and shaping us for His purpose. Faith is the channel through which the risen Lord pours His life into us. If we refuse to believe, we refuse God’s entry! Far too long we have been people of little faith and consequently have missed some of God’s greatest blessings and His supernatural power. God specializes in the impossible! He is an all-sufficient Father, and there is nothing too hard for Him! Jeremiah 32: 17-20 gives us courage and hope: “Alas, LORD God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You—You who show lovingkindness to thousands, but recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosoms of their children after them. The great, the mighty God; the LORD of hosts is His name—Great are You in counsel and mighty in deeds. Whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to reward or repay each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of His doings. Who wrought signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day continues to do so, both in Israel and among other men, and made for Yourself a name, as at this day.” Verse 27 declares: “Behold, I AM the LORD, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?”
It is time for us to set our hearts and minds on our Father who is able to keep us until the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13,14 says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” Instead of focusing on a steady diet of bad news and ever-changing broadcasts of the media, let us tune in to the Living Word—the One who is always the same. Let Scripture saturate our minds and hearts, and we will walk steadily along the path of Life. Even though we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, we can be absolutely sure of our ultimate destination and that God is in control!
Let us remember that God goes before us to guide and make the way. Isaiah 41: 13 gives us hope and assurance: “For I the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.” DO NOT BE AFRAID, for God is with us! (Read Ps. 60:4-5) God’s right hand is His hand of favor—direction—help—strength. He will take us by the hand as our guide; lead us in His way; will help us up when we are fallen or prevent our fall; when we are weak, He will hold us up from wavering; He will fix us, and He will encourage us. Let us embrace His hand today as we continue this journey of Life!
To God be the glory for the things that He has done and for the things that He is going to do to reveal His glory! “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice; for the LORD will do great things.” (Joel 2: 21) “Yet even now”—it is a declaration of the LORD—‘turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting.’ Rend your heart, not your garments, and turn to the LORD, your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abundant in mercy, and relenting about the calamity due.” (vv. 12-13) Truly, we are undeserving yet God promises that nothing will separate us from His love! Praise You Father, Son and Holy Spirit as You make Your Name known to all! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!