Witness to a Miracle

I don't even have the words to describe what happened at church today.   Can you believe it?  A miracle at church? 

Now, isn't that funny.  Most miracles that I have actually seen with my own eyes have happened not within the church doors, but out in "real" life. 

A little background to the miracle:  Approximately, a couple of years ago, in our town there was a man and his son in an automobile accident.  It was rumored that there was alcohol involved, but this hasn't been proven by the courts.  His son ended up dying as a result of the accident.  Anyway, family members and the community at large pretty much judged and shunned the guy.  They would NEVER sin like he had.  BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!

I remember the day after the accident, I was speaking to someone on the phone and I said, "This is the time to lift him up, not reject him. He belongs at the feet of Jesus just as much as the rest of us do.  He has to live with the guilt for the rest of his life (whether he is actually guilty or not, I don't know, but I mean because he was the one behind the wheel).  Just because our sins haven't been revealed to the community, doesn't mean we are perfect."  I chose to pray for him.  I had never seen him, so I didn't know him, but I knew his son.

Recently, my husband and this man started restoring my husband's old car.   My husband asked him if he'd like to go to church with us a couple of weeks ago.   He said, "Not this week, but maybe next week."

We went through church service.  Our preacher, our Sunday evening worship leader and myself were talking about the music for this evening.  My preacher then said, "Tell your husband thank you for bringing this man to church.  It is an answer to many prayers."  Then it was time for Sunday School.

We went to Sunday School and the man went with us since he was my husband's guest.  The topic was evangelism (speaking to others about Jesus).  We happened to be talking about every day miracles that happen, but people don't realize it's the work of God.  So, the Holy Spirit moved in one of our students.  About 3/4 of the way through our study she said, "You know how a few years ago when _______   ________'s dad was in the accident and the community judged him."  SILENCE in the room because 2 out of the 7 of us knew the "Dad" was sitting right next to her.  My husband is pointing at him.  But she can't see him because she is looking at me.  I'm sitting there with tears coming down my face.  I think I must have been pointing and nodding also.  The student realized that he was in the room so tears started coming down her face, but I was urging her to go on with my eyes, heart, and soul.  She turned to him and said, "He needs to know that God forgives."

I pointed to the girl sitting next to me (today was her first day coming to our class) and said to the man, "She doesn't know the story."

She said, "I don't know the story, but I can feel the love." 

WOW!  He had a tear that ran down his face.  Thank you, JESUS! 

After Sunday School, the man hugged her.  I hugged her, also.  I thanked the student for saying the words that I always wanted to say to him, but couldn't (didn't, wouldn't). 

I also reassured the man after church that she really didn't know who he was.  I wanted him to know that we weren't trying to pull anything over on him. 

It was truly the Holy Spirit.

After we got home, the man called us and he thanked me for letting my husband take him to church.  I said, "I didn't have anything to do with it." 

He said,"That was really ironic what she said."

I said, "No, that was a miracle."

I invited him to come next week.  He said he would.

Our church isn't perfect, but our Heavenly Father is.  Sometimes He lets us glimpse His perfection.  This man may never again step foot in our church, but at least he knows he is welcome.