Do You Believe in Miracles?

I'm not talking about what so many perceive as miracles in Christendom from charlatans like Oral Roberts or Benny Hinn. But true miracles granted by our heavenly Father in response to fervent prayer from His saints. Here at Oakland we've seen 2 miracles from God this week.

Homeless Couple Has a Home

A few weeks ago I wrote of a homeless couple we encountered and led to Christ. For the past 2 weeks through the generosity of several sister churches we have managed to provide a hotel room for the couple. Through a Christian auto dealer in Wallace today, also with the help of some sister churches, we purchased a motor home for the couple. They have a place to connect to power and water and for the first time in their lives they have their own home. Two weeks ago this couple was living in their car, and had been for 2 months during this harsh winter. Friends, this is such a testimony to the body of Christ working together to do the will of Christ, and "love each other" as He has loved us.

Our sister churches: in Ruby, Crossroads Baptist and Clanton Plains Baptist; in Cheraw, Freeworship Cheraw and Westside Baptist; and in Chesterfield, Chesterfield Baptist, Hopewell Baptist, Pine Grove Baptist, Pine View Baptist, Westfield Creek Baptist and of course Oakland Baptist yoked together to provide the lodging and ultimately purchase the motor home. Through my brothers and sisters in Christ at each of these houses of God, this couple has been abundantly blessed and shown the love of Christ in a time of great need. This outpouring of love has also opened the door for their walk in faith and discipleship, as we will baptize them Easter Sunday.

And also Affordable Auto Sales in Wallace, who cut their price in half to help this couple put a roof over their heads. These Christian business people practiced their faith and provided a sustainable roof over this couples head. When the body of Christ works together, God can indeed do miracles!

Baby Hannah

In our church we have a beloved couple J.C and Libby Hannah. 5 months ago their son Billy and his wife Sherri had twin baby girls several months premature. One of the babies before birth was determined to have a birth defect where the brain was actually forming outside the skull. Billy and Sherri chose to trust God and have the baby with the birth defect.

Alexandra Grace was not given much of a chance, as doctors warned Billy and Sherri her chances of survival were slim. She was born and the brain area outside of the skull filled with fluid and literally became larger than her head itself. But month after month Alexandra Grace survived.

Doctors determined it was wise to perform surgery to try and address the situation. Once again, Alexandra Grace was given little hope. On Thursday, after 7 hours of surgery, the brain outside of the skull has been fully re-inserted into the skull. The doctors said all of the blood vessels were intact and that the surgery went better than anyone could have expected! Alexandra Grace now has a chance at a normal life!. What a testimony to an all powerful "Great Physician!" And what a testimony to faithful intercessory prayer. The baby is still not out of the woods and the risk for infection is there. She will be in the hospital another 7-10 days but doctors said this morning she would probably be moved from I.C.U. later today.

God may not be parting the Red Sea today, or raining manna from heaven. He may not be feeding thousands upon thousands with 5 loaves and 2 fish. But, if we look around us, we can clearly see the miraculous work of God in healings and provision, and many other things. We serve a loving, merciful, God who wishes to show Himself today. He will show Himself through us when we show His love to each other. And He will show Himself in response to faithful prayer for His will to be done. What a great week serving our Lord, His power and presence were clearly visible to us!