God Incident

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. (Philippians 3:1, NIV)

Good Morning!
We have celebrated Tim's graduation. There have been a series of events that could be interpreted as "God incidences." These are the kind of events that can't be considered as mere coincidences or accidents. The incidences give a glimpse of the heart of God.

A power pole went down causing a power outage in a three block radius on graduation night. While termed an accident, the events thereafter can be considered a God incident. . .
After several hours the power had been restored with the exception of the building in which the graduation ceremony was to be held. Public safety requirements prohibited the graduation ceremony to be held in the dark building. Within 45 minutes of the ceremony time everything was moved to the school football field. Scheduling the ceremony on the football field has never been inadvisable due to the possibility of inclement weather, difficulty with sound equipment, and lack of appropriate seating. Before anyone could complain, people began to realize that something incredible had occurred. The fingerprints of God seemed almost visible.

Only a few months before, the high school principal had spent his last moments of life on the specific part of the earth that became their graduation site. Incredibly, the grieving students were able to honor their never-to-be-forgotten principal, a man of God who championed teenagers. They stood on the hallowed ground in their last official moments as high school students with an observable new joy—a God incident!

The new administrator opened the evening with the acknowledgment that God powerfully orchestrated the celebration. In turn, the graduates' love for their principal had been honored. A powerful sense of the presence of God rippled through the crowd evoking an overriding joy, setting the tone for the evening.

Only God can give joy in the midst of sorrow and suffering--an intervention--a God incident.

Despite the suffering of being imprisoned, the Apostle Paul told the community/family of faith, to rejoice. He used the word, "finally," to underscore that when all is said and done, that Christ-followers need to rejoice. Knowing the presence, power, and peace of God--seeing life as a series of God incidents--produces joy despite suffering or sorrow. Paul, aware of the presence of God, told the people to rejoice--or to repeatedly experience the joy of living in the presence of God.

Take time to be aware of God incidences.
Celebrate moment-by-moment God incidences.
Rejoice.

Learning with you to experience God incidences and rejoice,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)