How do you imagine a miracle? Do you see it as some far away happening, that only affects others' lives? Something I've noticed about them is, God picks unexpected situations and places to bring them to us.

Most of us know about Moses by the burning bush, and Peter's vision on religious rules, and who does not know about Daniel in the furnace, or Elijah's whirlwind journey to God. Of the four of them Moses was the least cooperative. All of them wanted to do God's Will, but sometimes let themselves get in the way.

Other instances showing God's Power unfold all around us in ordinary people, ordinary places, and ordinary circumstances. In this process some have hosted angels without knowing who they are. Miracles may be a little like that, and sometimes just as illusive. So we should look closer at everyday happenings. Someone misses a bus, and learns of the wreck that flattened it into the ground. A flight's not taken, with the same disaster, and that person survives. and we call it a miracle.

I needed a house to sell in a small town in Kansas. It had been on the market for about three years. Houses aren't selling very well out there. But my church prayed for me about it, and a couple came from the Philippines, and bought the house, and before the year was ended I was two hundred miles from Denver, and needed to move back. The first huge winter storm arrived, and in between it and the next one, help I so needed arrived, and moved me back in between the storms, on dry roads. Ask me what I believe!

When people talk about miracles today, they sometimes say something happened because of fate, as if it was bound to be. Long I've heard of the magical powers attributed to rabbits' feet, or horse shoes nailed up above our doors. Lately we hear much about the power of rubbing Buddah's belly, as if an inanimate object can do anything. Down in Louisiana they paint their door frames blue, to keep evil spirits away, and if that doesn't work they sprinkle huffy dust where you'd walk.

How serious these practicies are, I'm not sure, but even if they're only make believe, they still lean heavily towards witching craft; assigning to sticks and stones, what should be credited to our Lord. He doesn't need applause about His infinite Power, but we still need to show Him a trusting heart.

Civilizations thought to be free of destruction, eventually killed themselves off, one little bit at a time. The next time you cross your fingers behind your back, to cover up telling a little white lie, or when you won't walk under a ladder, because it brings "bad luck", remember those harmless gestures that become accepted as fact.

The world could use a few more Abrahams, Isaacs, and Sarahs. Lives with purpose more important than only themselves. Centuries later my people began to come here, and left some important milestones along the way. But nothing unusual announced when I was born. Like Sarah in the pages of the old Testament, my purpose in life may have been to help someone else arrive.

On a pleasant day in 1955 a child, a girl was born midst much confusion, when frightened nursing students ran out of the delivery room. "Get them back in here" the doctor called out, as he held my baby up high. "This is a miracle here." he said. "How can anyone look at this child, and not know there's a God."

The baby's name wasn't taken from the Bible, but if futures could have been known, she might have become an Elizabeth, or maybe a Rebeckah, instead of Beverly.

This vessel that delivered her almost obsessed about getting the family to Colorado. At the time I thought it was for other reasons: Wanting to leave a place, and falling in love with a beautiful state. Whatever it was, I couldn't let go of the dream. It took four years to get us here.

I thought it was so long because of opposition. But now I understand. Coming to Denver was part of a much bigger plan.

That little girl would have daughters, and some years later a brother was born, and they named him Daniel.

One might think nothing unusual happens in ordinary times, just generations coming on after another one. But the Bible explains God ordained our being here long before that. So wouldn't it seem our lives are also planned.

This Easter as we celebrate the resurrection, the little boy baby, whose name was shortened to Dan, is on a business trip somewhere in Japan, with his boss, the president of a well known Christian College. Accomplishing this did not happen quickly. In fact, it didn't just happen. Years of work molded this young man. The process wasn't easy. But mold, his parents did.

As your children grow, take care how you touch their souls. Not many earth shaking events transpired between Dan's conception, and his growing into a man. But many ordinary people and what they did melded into God's plan for him, and it's more than beautiful seeing it lived.

Although it might seem we and our world sometimes flounder, and even fail, our Risen Saviour directs it all, and when we need some help, He makes a miracle.