Julie,

Miracles that the Lord does help all of us, so it's good to share.

Vicki

----- Original Message -----
From: "JULIE MELTON" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 4:38 PM
Subject: Re: Anybody Got a Boat?


> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>
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>
> hat was a real miracle, Vickie!  Thanks for sharing.
>
> Julie=20
>   ----- Original Message -----=20
>   From: Vicki and The Rors<mailto:[log in to unmask]>=20
>   To: =
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]
> U>=20
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 9:38 PM
>   Subject: Anybody Got a Boat?
>
>
>   Phil, Sandy, Lelia and Julie will probably remember this day that had =
> a
>   storm.  But here's just a small miracle God did for us that was big in =
> our
>   eyes.
>
>   Anybody got a boat?
>
>   Have you ever had one of those mornings where you got out of bed on =
> the
>   wrong side and there was no way to crawl back in and get out on the =
> right
>   side?  Well, that was me on Wednesday morning August 18thof 2004.  =
> Woke with
>   a headache in a less than desirable mood. Then I couldn't find this or =
> that
>   in the process of getting breakfast and heading off to work.  Just as =
> I was
>   going out the door, the last straw happened causing me to loose my =
> temper.
>   On top of that, Rory went back to bed and wasn't ready to go to work.  =
> He
>   had to be called several times as well as be gently but firmly coaxed =
> out of
>   his cozy bed.  By the time I got to the bus I really did have a =
> headache,
>   and the loss of my temper had me feeling far less than my ideal =
> picture of
>   how a victorious Christian should feel.
>
>   After boarding the city bus, I pulled out my Bible and began reading =
> from
>   Psalms 86.  Several verses jumped out at me.  Here they are from The
>   Message.
>
>   "Bend an ear, GOD; answer me. I'm one miserable wretch!"    Thinking =
> to
>   myself how true that felt, I came to verse 5. "You're well-known as =
> good and
>   forgiving, big-hearted to all who ask for help. I continued reading.  =
> 6Pay
>   attention, GOD, to my prayer;
>
>   10"For you are great and perform great miracles.
>           You alone are God.
>   11Teach me your ways, O LORD,
>   that I may live according to your truth!
>   Grant me purity of heart,
>   that I may honor you.
>
>   12With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
>   I will give glory to your name forever,
>
>   13For your love for me is very great.
>   You have rescued me from the depths of death!"
>
>   Verse 5 especially spoke to me. In New King James it reads:
>   Verse 5: "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
>   And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You."
>
>   And verse 15. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and =
> gracious,
>   Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
>
>   As a side comment, note the references to truth in these verses.  It =
> is
>   interesting studying truth, as it is referred to, time and time in =
> both the
>   Old and New Testaments.  I've been looking at what God says about =
> truth
>   lately; both by studying it out and by experiential learning.
>
>   Back to my story.  I took time right in the middle of the bus full of =
> other
>   commuters to quietly talk with the Lord, calling on him for his =
> forgiveness
>   which he graciously granted, according to his word.  I began thinking =
> about
>   His goodness, and what he had not only done for me in answering my =
> prayer,
>   but how he had been with me in the past.  How he had been there for me =
> in
>   every way.  By the time I got to work my attitude had completely =
> changed, my
>   heart was lighter, and there was a difference in even the steps I took =
> along
>   the familiar path to the office.  I went through the day aware =
> somewhere in
>   my consciousness that for this day I would trust in his never ending =
> mercy
>   and love.
>
>   Shortly before work ended, the weather changed markedly.  The wind =
> began
>   blowing with determination and big rain drops fell faster and faster =
> until
>   they relentlessly pounded the large full length plate glass window =
> pain next
>   to my desk.  I realized that it was a good thing I hadn't left work at =
> my
>   regular time, and was still able to call my husband for a ride.  We =
> could
>   barely hear one another on the phone as we spoke together.
>
>   The way home was slow going because of the high water and unbelievable
>   traffic.  And the rain kept coming in steady sheets.  It suddenly =
> dawned on
>   me that I never closed the upstairs window, which I'm always careful =
> to do
>   before leaving in the mornings, and my heart almost skipped a beat.  =
> But,
>   not on this day.  I started to feel irritation and concern about my =
> own
>   careless omission.  I thought, "I'm gunna need a boat to clean up this =
> huge
>   mess, and who knows what else I'll need."  I wondered about insurance
>   coverage and cost.  I made excuses for the error and was just going to =
> think
>   all those negative self blame thoughts once more, wondering what a =
> mess I'd
>   come home to when verse 15 suddenly invaded my blame game. "But You, O =
> Lord,
>   are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant =
> in
>   mercy and truth."  I had trusted and relaxed in his mercy all day.  =
> Why
>   should that change now.  Because my circumstances had changed? I =
> resolved to
>   continue to trust in his mercy, and truth,, and take his peace.  Yes, =
> I
>   still felt concern, but no longer did I feel the sting of worry  and =
> blame.
>   I realized that I couldn't do a thing about the open window with the =
> rain
>   pouring in right now.  And how far open was that window, I wondered.
>   However, we were sitting in traffic going nowhere fast.  There were =
> big van
>   shaking booms of thunder and constant jagged flashes of lightning and =
> the
>   rain was continuing to pound on our gold colored van.  It's a good =
> thing it
>   wasn't hail.  I don't ever remember seeing rain come down like that in
>   Colorado.  There was one June first several years ago, that came close =
> to
>   it.
>
>   It was more than an half hour before we could get home.  When we =
> arrived,
>   John noted that the window was definitely wide open.  We made a run =
> for it,
>   from the van to the back door in the deluge.  After getting inside, I =
> could
>   immediately picture the rain pouring down from the open window, which =
> faces
>   north and running down the attic stairs like a river on to the floor =
> and
>   furniture below.  I didn't even want to check on it so I asked John to
>   please check.  I held my breath.  When he returned, he reported that =
> there
>   was just a small amount of water on the window sill.  That was all.  I =
> could
>   hardly believe my ears.  That window faces north and always lets rain =
> in.
>   And furthermore, it rolls off the sill and down the wall in just =
> seconds.  I
>   've been in the kitchen doing dishes when I hear the rain start to =
> fall.
>   Seconds later, when I dash up the stairs to close the window, water is
>   everywhere.   So I asked him what he had said, and he repeated it.  I
>   thought, "incredible."  A few minutes later, I went to see for myself. =
>  John
>   had closed the window.  When I opened it, I found that the screen was
>   absolutely soaked.  The water was still on the window sill, and only =
> on the
>   sill.  I thought to myself how truly amazing that was.  There was no =
> water
>   drenched carpet or ruined furniture.  No mess.  No anything except for =
> my
>   keen awareness of how God had performed one of his miracles for us.  =
> The
>   boat that I thought I'd need?  Well, I didn't even need a bucket.    I =
> only
>   needed just a small cloth to take up the water.  I was the one who had
>   difficulty keeping the water from slipping from the sill to the floor =
> while
>   wiping it up.
>
>   Next time you think you might have some reason for needing a boat, try
>   trusting in the one who says:
>   That he  is a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and
>   abundant in mercy and truth.
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_001D_01C495C2.52ABC780
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> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1458" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
> <BODY id=3DMailContainerBody=20
> style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; =
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> name=3D"Compose message area"><!--[gte IE 5]><?xml:namespace =
> prefix=3D"v" /><?xml:namespace prefix=3D"o" /><![endif]-->
> <DIV>
> <DIV>hat was a real miracle, Vickie!&nbsp; Thanks for sharing.</DIV>
> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
> <DIV>Julie </DIV>
> <BLOCKQUOTE=20
> style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
> BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
>   <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
>   <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A=20
>   title=3Dmailto:[log in to unmask] =
> href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">Vicki=20
>   and The Rors</A> </DIV>
>   <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
>   title=3Dmailto:[log in to unmask]
>   =
> href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
> TJOHNS.EDU</A>=20
>   </DIV>
>   <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 07, =
> 2004 9:38=20
>   PM</DIV>
>   <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Anybody Got a =
> Boat?</DIV>
>   <DIV><BR></DIV>Phil, Sandy, Lelia and Julie will probably remember =
> this day=20
>   that had a<BR>storm.&nbsp; But here's just a small miracle God did for =
> us that=20
>   was big in our<BR>eyes.<BR><BR>Anybody got a boat?<BR><BR>Have you =
> ever had=20
>   one of those mornings where you got out of bed on the<BR>wrong side =
> and there=20
>   was no way to crawl back in and get out on the right<BR>side?&nbsp; =
> Well, that=20
>   was me on Wednesday morning August 18thof 2004.&nbsp; Woke with<BR>a =
> headache=20
>   in a less than desirable mood. Then I couldn't find this or that<BR>in =
> the=20
>   process of getting breakfast and heading off to work.&nbsp; Just as I=20
>   was<BR>going out the door, the last straw happened causing me to loose =
> my=20
>   temper.<BR>On top of that, Rory went back to bed and wasn't ready to =
> go to=20
>   work.&nbsp; He<BR>had to be called several times as well as be gently =
> but=20
>   firmly coaxed out of<BR>his cozy bed.&nbsp; By the time I got to the =
> bus I=20
>   really did have a headache,<BR>and the loss of my temper had me =
> feeling far=20
>   less than my ideal picture of<BR>how a victorious Christian should=20
>   feel.<BR><BR>After boarding the city bus, I pulled out my Bible and =
> began=20
>   reading from<BR>Psalms 86.&nbsp; Several verses jumped out at =
> me.&nbsp; Here=20
>   they are from The<BR>Message.<BR><BR>"Bend an ear, GOD; answer me. I'm =
> one=20
>   miserable wretch!"&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thinking to<BR>myself how true =
> that felt,=20
>   I came to verse 5. "You're well-known as good and<BR>forgiving, =
> big-hearted to=20
>   all who ask for help. I continued reading.&nbsp; 6Pay<BR>attention, =
> GOD, to my=20
>   prayer;<BR><BR>10"For you are great and perform great=20
>   miracles.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You alone are=20
>   God.<BR>11Teach me your ways, O LORD,<BR>that I may live according to =
> your=20
>   truth!<BR>Grant me purity of heart,<BR>that I may honor =
> you.<BR><BR>12With all=20
>   my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.<BR>I will give glory to =
> your name=20
>   forever,<BR><BR>13For your love for me is very great.<BR>You have =
> rescued me=20
>   from the depths of death!"<BR><BR>Verse 5 especially spoke to me. In =
> New King=20
>   James it reads:<BR>Verse 5: "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to=20
>   forgive,<BR>And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon =
> You."<BR><BR>And=20
>   verse 15. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and=20
>   gracious,<BR>Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.<BR><BR>As =
> a side=20
>   comment, note the references to truth in these verses.&nbsp; It=20
>   is<BR>interesting studying truth, as it is referred to, time and time =
> in both=20
>   the<BR>Old and New Testaments.&nbsp; I've been looking at what God =
> says about=20
>   truth<BR>lately; both by studying it out and by experiential=20
>   learning.<BR><BR>Back to my story.&nbsp; I took time right in the =
> middle of=20
>   the bus full of other<BR>commuters to quietly talk with the Lord, =
> calling on=20
>   him for his forgiveness<BR>which he graciously granted, according to =
> his=20
>   word.&nbsp; I began thinking about<BR>His goodness, and what he had =
> not only=20
>   done for me in answering my prayer,<BR>but how he had been with me in =
> the=20
>   past.&nbsp; How he had been there for me in<BR>every way.&nbsp; By the =
> time I=20
>   got to work my attitude had completely changed, my<BR>heart was =
> lighter, and=20
>   there was a difference in even the steps I took along<BR>the familiar =
> path to=20
>   the office.&nbsp; I went through the day aware somewhere in<BR>my=20
>   consciousness that for this day I would trust in his never ending =
> mercy<BR>and=20
>   love.<BR><BR>Shortly before work ended, the weather changed =
> markedly.&nbsp;=20
>   The wind began<BR>blowing with determination and big rain drops fell =
> faster=20
>   and faster until<BR>they relentlessly pounded the large full length =
> plate=20
>   glass window pain next<BR>to my desk.&nbsp; I realized that it was a =
> good=20
>   thing I hadn't left work at my<BR>regular time, and was still able to =
> call my=20
>   husband for a ride.&nbsp; We could<BR>barely hear one another on the =
> phone as=20
>   we spoke together.<BR><BR>The way home was slow going because of the =
> high=20
>   water and unbelievable<BR>traffic.&nbsp; And the rain kept coming in =
> steady=20
>   sheets.&nbsp; It suddenly dawned on<BR>me that I never closed the =
> upstairs=20
>   window, which I'm always careful to do<BR>before leaving in the =
> mornings, and=20
>   my heart almost skipped a beat.&nbsp; But,<BR>not on this day.&nbsp; I =
> started=20
>   to feel irritation and concern about my own<BR>careless =
> omission.&nbsp; I=20
>   thought, "I'm gunna need a boat to clean up this huge<BR>mess, and who =
> knows=20
>   what else I'll need."&nbsp; I wondered about insurance<BR>coverage and =
>
>   cost.&nbsp; I made excuses for the error and was just going to =
> think<BR>all=20
>   those negative self blame thoughts once more, wondering what a mess=20
>   I'd<BR>come home to when verse 15 suddenly invaded my blame game. "But =
> You, O=20
>   Lord,<BR>are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and =
>
>   abundant in<BR>mercy and truth."&nbsp; I had trusted and relaxed in =
> his mercy=20
>   all day.&nbsp; Why<BR>should that change now.&nbsp; Because my =
> circumstances=20
>   had changed? I resolved to<BR>continue to trust in his mercy, and =
> truth,, and=20
>   take his peace.&nbsp; Yes, I<BR>still felt concern, but no longer did =
> I feel=20
>   the sting of worry&nbsp; and blame.<BR>I realized that I couldn't do a =
> thing=20
>   about the open window with the rain<BR>pouring in right now.&nbsp; And =
> how far=20
>   open was that window, I wondered.<BR>However, we were sitting in =
> traffic going=20
>   nowhere fast.&nbsp; There were big van<BR>shaking booms of thunder and =
>
>   constant jagged flashes of lightning and the<BR>rain was continuing to =
> pound=20
>   on our gold colored van.&nbsp; It's a good thing it<BR>wasn't =
> hail.&nbsp; I=20
>   don't ever remember seeing rain come down like that =
> in<BR>Colorado.&nbsp;=20
>   There was one June first several years ago, that came close=20
>   to<BR>it.<BR><BR>It was more than an half hour before we could get =
> home.&nbsp;=20
>   When we arrived,<BR>John noted that the window was definitely wide =
> open.&nbsp;=20
>   We made a run for it,<BR>from the van to the back door in the =
> deluge.&nbsp;=20
>   After getting inside, I could<BR>immediately picture the rain pouring =
> down=20
>   from the open window, which faces<BR>north and running down the attic =
> stairs=20
>   like a river on to the floor and<BR>furniture below.&nbsp; I didn't =
> even want=20
>   to check on it so I asked John to<BR>please check.&nbsp; I held my=20
>   breath.&nbsp; When he returned, he reported that there<BR>was just a =
> small=20
>   amount of water on the window sill.&nbsp; That was all.&nbsp; I=20
>   could<BR>hardly believe my ears.&nbsp; That window faces north and =
> always lets=20
>   rain in.<BR>And furthermore, it rolls off the sill and down the wall =
> in just=20
>   seconds.&nbsp; I<BR>'ve been in the kitchen doing dishes when I hear =
> the rain=20
>   start to fall.<BR>Seconds later, when I dash up the stairs to close =
> the=20
>   window, water is<BR>everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp; So I asked him what he had =
> said,=20
>   and he repeated it.&nbsp; I<BR>thought, "incredible."&nbsp; A few =
> minutes=20
>   later, I went to see for myself.&nbsp; John<BR>had closed the =
> window.&nbsp;=20
>   When I opened it, I found that the screen was<BR>absolutely =
> soaked.&nbsp; The=20
>   water was still on the window sill, and only on the<BR>sill.&nbsp; I =
> thought=20
>   to myself how truly amazing that was.&nbsp; There was no =
> water<BR>drenched=20
>   carpet or ruined furniture.&nbsp; No mess.&nbsp; No anything except =
> for=20
>   my<BR>keen awareness of how God had performed one of his miracles for=20
>   us.&nbsp; The<BR>boat that I thought I'd need?&nbsp; Well, I didn't =
> even need=20
>   a bucket.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I only<BR>needed just a small cloth to =
> take up the=20
>   water.&nbsp; I was the one who had<BR>difficulty keeping the water =
> from=20
>   slipping from the sill to the floor while<BR>wiping it up.<BR><BR>Next =
> time=20
>   you think you might have some reason for needing a boat, =
> try<BR>trusting in=20
>   the one who says:<BR>That he&nbsp; is a God full of compassion, and =
> gracious,=20
>   Longsuffering and<BR>abundant in mercy and=20
> truth.<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BODY></HTML>
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_001D_01C495C2.52ABC780--