Do YOU believe in miracles?

I have to tell you, it is a struggle for me sometimes. Not because I doubt God can, but because I wonder often if He will in this situation. It is as if my natural skepticism kicks in and I begin to concentrate on the perseverance through the battle than the possibility of victory. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "We live by faith, not by sight." For me, I worried that if I asked to "see," then I was relying on my sight, not on faith. But then...this morning...THIS morning (yes, that is significant) I read I John 1:1.

"That which is from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." (NIV - italic emphasis mine)

God did not ask us to believe without evidence. Christ is the evidence! He could have come to save our souls and that would be enough, yet, God had Him do miraculous things so that their belief would not be because of the miracles, but that the miracles would reinforce and encourage their faith. They heard, they saw, they examined, and they touched. The early believers then took that evidence and shared it with other so they could believe, too! John was not afraid to say "I know because I saw it! I tell what I saw, so you can share in what I know."

When it comes to my relationship with Christ, I have always been firm in this principle. I know my belief is in the One God because of what I know I have been given that I didn't have before. I know peace in the midst of chaos. I have confidence that death is not a thing to fear because of what my Savior has done for me. Tammy shares in that same confidence (remember Ps 27?) and that is the only foundation of any peace that can be found when staring at a young woman fighting for every breath. BUT, when it comes to asking for a miracle - a miracle that confounds the scientific principles that He created. When it comes to asking Him to break the parameters that He sat into place at creation ... I waver.

But today I found myself praying like the little girl who is at the store begging her father, "Please Daddy, just for me!" or the little one in the crowd at a parade who tugs on her dad's hand and says, "I wanna see. I wanna see." Because, my friends, I really, really want to see a miracle in Tammy's life. I want to watch incredulous faces when great things happen. I want to see hope restored when we were pretty certain we would be using this blog for other purposes only 5 days ago. I know many of you, if not all of you, would like the same thing. So my question to you is ... do you believe?

Well, let me share with you what I know has happened so that, like the people John was writing to, you can join me where I am right now! All last week Tammy's oxygen output from the machine was at 100% oxygen, and she was struggling to keep the oxygen saturation in her blood at an acceptable level. For a few days they had her down to 75% output from the ventilator. Today, at 5:00 am it was at 70%. By noon, 60%. By 5:00, 50%. My friend, that is 10% away from normal, and if she maintains tonight, they are going to start lowering her dependence on the machine! On THIS day, the day I asked, "Dear God, please show me." He did!

Though I am not saying we are home free or even that she will be off the vent. by Friday, I can with confidence say that God has shown me that He just may have stuff to show us yet! He is not bound by our rules. His understanding of the situation is not ours, and only He, despite our best guesses, knows the outcome. We still only wants what His best is for her, so keep confidence in His goodness and we keep on waiting for Him! But today... I dance a little!