Tim DeTellis

If I can explain it, then I did it. If there is no human way to define how it happened, then it is a supernatural miracle. Do you believe in miracles? When do miracles happen…and why? There are three stories I want to share to answer these questions. One story is about my mother, the other about Jesus, and the last is about a New Missions donor.

My mother has been in front of more miracles than anyone I know. She has walked the front line of ministry for 50 years, and has seen the miracle of lives changed through the working power of Jesus. I believe in miracles–mostly because of her example in my life. I remember when we began New Missions in Haiti and I lived in a small, yellow canvas tent with my mom and dad.

If living in a tent was not a difficult enough adjustment, walking down the three-mile dirt road with my mom was a journey to remember. I remember how she and I would then get on a taptap (local transportation) loaded down with people and animals–as we traveled to Port-au-Prince (Haiti’s capital city). The tap-tap would stop along the way, as passengers would jump on and off at their destination. It’s not like a bus route which has scheduled places to stop. If you tap on the side of the truck, it stops. The miracle was not just the safety of travel, it was what happened at our destination. We would walk into a Haitian government office to do business for the mission, and my mother without fear would share about New Missions, and find God’s favor. A miracle indeed! At first I thought it was her tasty treats she would bake and pack in her bag to share at the meetings. Then I realized it was God’s favor upon her. My mother showed me that it’s not about looking at what we are doing; it’s looking at what God is doing through us when we see the miracles.

The first recorded miracle that Jesus performed is found in John 2. Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” Then, she told the servants to do whatever He tells you. In verse 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” After the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine, he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; you have saved the best for last. Two observations: First, who was most amazed? The master or the bridegroom? Actually, it was the servants. Near the end of verse 9 it says: “He did not know where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.” What role did the servants have in the miracle? Obedience. They did what Jesus told them to do. When we obey, God does the supernatural. The second observation is that after this miracle was performed (at the end of verse 11) His glory was revealed and his disciples put their faith in him. The miracle draws glory to God, and increases our faith.

Just recently I was speaking at a home group during a missions emphasis weekend for the First Baptist Church of Oviedo–located in Central Florida. They welcomed guest missionaries to speak throughout the weekend in their home groups. When I arrived at the first house where I was scheduled to speak, I asked God, “Why am I here?” Within twenty minutes the house was full of guests, and it was time to share. At the end of my message I mentioned two prayer requests. One of them was the need we had for a 4,000-5,000 square foot warehouse space for our Christmas shoebox drive. I closed in prayer and asked God to work in each family’s home and individual lives…and for them to be missionaries right where they are. After the prayer a gentleman in the back raised his hand. He responded, “I have your warehouse space!” Wow–what a miracle! Thanks to Jeff Cashion, his company (Labels USA) donated space for us to process shoeboxes this season. He was part of the miracle.

Why do miracles happen? They increase our faith in God. I came away from that meeting believing God for miracles in other people’s lives too.

This year, may we look for miracles around us each day. God is at work as we give ourselves to be part of his supernatural work. Do you see a miracle?