How to Ask God for a Miracle

Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Editor's note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Linda Evans Shepherd's new book, When You Need a Miracle: How to Ask God for the Impossible (Revell, 2012).

Since everything is possible for God, you can experience miracles in your life when you invite God to intervene – even in situations that seem impossible. But too often, people neglect to ask God for miracles in their lives, and end up settling for far less than God’s best for them.

You can always approach God with confidence if you trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. So don’t hesitate to pray about anything, including miracles! Here’s how you can ask God for a miracle:

Forget formulas and simply seek God’s presence. There are no magical formulas to use to conjure up miracles. Instead, miracles happen whenever you welcome God’s powerful presence into the situations you face. So don’t worry about trying to pray perfect prayers to convince God to do something miraculous in your life. Simply invite God to work in every situation in which you’re seeking miracles, and trust Him to do what’s best after you ask Him to intervene.

Dog Paddling or Water-Walking? How to Weather Life's Storms

Julie Barrier

Fierce, contrary winds whipped the waves of the Galilean Sea like a frothy meringue. Jesus’ rag-tag team shivered in their sandals as their tiny wooden skiff tossed about on the choppy sea. White-knuckled, Jesus’ motley crew squinted hard to see the shoreline. A ghostly apparition approached the tiny vessel. Wide-eyed, the crew saw that it was Jesus, tip-toeing over the surface of the water. Frozen by fear, the sudden appearance of their Master gave them a glimmer of hope.

Could this really be Jesus?

Peter, the off-again on-again disciple, called out to the Lord and asked Him if he could join his wave-walking. Jesus said yes, and Peter leapt out of the boat. No dunking, no drowning. His cohorts were stunned. Their rough-and-tumble buddy was doing the miraculous. But not for long. Peter, feeling his oats, decided to wave to the other disciples behind him and started gloating over floating.

Potholes

Anna Kuta, Crosswalk.com Editor

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5b

I was driving home late the other night, rolling down the winding, two-lane country road I’ve been down so many thousands of times I could probably drive it in my sleep. I had the radio turned up and one hand on the wheel, and then — CLUNK! Before I knew what was happening, my front right tire thudded through a gigantic pothole that came out of nowhere. The whole car jolted and I just knew a noise like that had to have done some damage.

“Oh, please don’t let me have a flat tire,” I said out loud. Cringing, I pulled over at the next road and worked up the courage to get out and look … and to my surprise, my tire was still intact. I stared at it for a few minutes, waiting until I was sufficiently assured that it wasn’t going to deflate in front of my eyes, and then I breathed a sigh of relief and continued my drive, albeit a good bit slower and more cautious this time.

Chuck Colson's Motto : Faithfulness Not Success

Dr. Ray Pritchard

The news that Chuck Colson died today brought to mind a visit to his office eleven years ago.

It happened a few weeks after 9/11 when a team from Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL spent the night at Prison Fellowship headquarters in Virginia. The next morning we were given a tour of the facilities, including a brief visit to Chuck Colson’s office. Since he was out of town, we were invited to go in and look around. One of us spotted a sign on the wall right above his desk. It was placed at eye-level so Mr. Colson would be sure to see it when he was sitting down. The sign contained just three words:

A Life Transformed: Remembering Chuck Colson

Kristin Wright, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Chuck Colson, the Watergate figure and Nixon “hatchet man” whose prison term and dramatic conversion to Christianity led him to dedicate over 35 years of his life to prison ministry and evangelical leadership, died on Saturday. He was 80 years old.

Once known as Nixon's “dirty tricks” man, a cunning political operative whose ruthlessness earned him both respect and hatred in Washington, Colson made an about-face in 1973 with his conversion to Christianity. Although his “born-again” experience was met with doubt and skepticism at first, Colson ultimately proved his commitment to his new-found faith over the course of decades of work inside U.S. prisons and years of evangelical outreach throughout the world.

When Prophecies Fail (even in 2012) by Elwin R. Roach

"Charity never ⁽¹⁾ faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall ⁽²⁾fail..." 1 Corinthians 13:8 " (even in 2012).

Many people are in quite a stir these days. Calamities have been streaming through the nations that have left them more than a little unsettled. There have been earthquakes, a tsunami that caused thousands of deaths and three uncontrollable nuclear reactor melt downs, political upheavals and corruption everywhere, economic woes, nations going bankrupt, and immorality running rampant in all walks of life. Moreover, many believe that the catalyst for an imminent, worldwide meltdown has to do with the Mayan calendar that ends on this year's winter solstice December 21, 2012. There have been an unprecedented amount of prophecies, fearful predictions, and speculations concerning this upcoming date.

WHO'S WHO IN BIBLE PROPHECY

The individuals listed below are Christians (past and present) who are passionate about their faith.  Some are recognized pastors, scholars and teachers of Bible prophecy and eschatology (study of end-times) who also belong to various denominations.  Also listed here are those from pseudo-Christian organizations (so-called Christian groups that adhere to doctrines outside mainstream Christianity).  This comprehensive list of individuals is meant to help you identify sound teaching on Bible prophecy and prophecy topics only.  Some have devoted their entire lives to teaching Bible prophecy.  Not all are always in agreement, and not all are sound in their doctrines.  Therefore, study for yourselves, and use this as a guide only.

Though there are many good prophecy teachers, some should be avoided.  With that in mind, remember that we are commanded to pray for those whom we take issue with.  Please don't confuse this list with those who claim to be prophets or those with prophetic revelations, dreams, visions or other so-called inspired prophecies.  

The below "apple" rating is solely for the teaching of Bible prophecy and prophecy topics, not for individual ministries or personal lives of those listed.  You might find some listed here who teach sound Bible prophecy, yet to support other doctrines you disagree with.  Their teaching on other important Bible doctrines should not necessarily be confused with the comments here.  Use the Bible as your guide, just as Paul described the Bereans in Acts 17:11, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."  "Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding."  Proverbs 4:7.

Fried food not a direct cause of heart risk, new research finds

By Eric Pfeiffer | The Sideshow 

Let them eat chicken fried steak

A new study has found that there is no direct correlation between the amount of fried food people eat and their risk of heart disease. Instead, the research found that long-term heart risk depended more on what kind of oil was used in the cooking process — olive oil and sunflower oil are considered the healthiest.