Speaking of Miracles...

yesterday me, both of my brothers and both of my younger sisters were at WalMart doing our Christmas dinner and some last minute gift shopping. We were there for a long time. The first place we went was to the hair-styling aisle to get a straightener for my older sister, Lexi from Jason. Then we went to the clothes to buy her a shirt, also from Jason, where we met my mother. When we were leaving that section a we were walking and a lady says to me while we walk by, "looks like you're having fun!" or something like that. I thought that was kinda wierd, but I said "Thanks!" and kept walking, wondering if she was serious or not. I didn't remember looking happy or looking unhappy, so I was a little curious as to what she meant. We were all around WalMart for the rest of our shopping trip. We went from aisle to aisle in the food section, which was way busy. There were so many people and our family was seperated every once in a while by the bustling shoppers. I saw the lady again in the last place we went before checking out in the chips and Little Debbie area. She didn't say anything to us, but when I saw her she was watching our family, so I smiled at her and went back to my business. We headed to the front of the store to check out and pay for our goods. We found a suprisingly short line of 0 people and got our stuff loaded onto the belt. This woman and a man came and got into line behind us, but I noticed they weren't buying very much, if anything. I felt bad that they were behind us since we had so much stuff and they had so little. As our stuff went through the scanner and most of it was in the basket bagged and ready to be taken home, the couple approached my mom. I didn't hear what they said. Later my mom told me they said they've been very blessed this year and was looking for a family they could help bless. They handed her a WalMart gift card and my mom went to shake the man's hand and he pulled her in for a hug. Then the woman hugged my mom too. She said she was impressed with our family because we were patient the whole time we were shopping and helpful and happy. I remembered seeing this woman pretty close to the beginning of our trip and asked if they had followed us the whole time. She said they had tried, and they thought they had lost us and missed their chance with our family when they found us again. We thanked them with, I hope, a heartfelt and sincerce thanks, then they left. When all of our groceries were scanned my mom gave the cashier the gift card. It had $100 on it. They truly made our day and our season. My mom had been worried about having all the money we needed to get through the next couple of days and the next two weeks. This gift card was a huge blessing to us. That couple were angels in disguise to us and we are all very grateful for their service. It put me in the Christmas Spirit of Giving.

Wonder of Wonder, Miracle of Miracles!

So, you're probably thinking this means that I'm dating someone/getting married. It doesn't have anything to do with that. Sorry....

Last week I was subbing at Heath Middle School and was having lunch in the teachers lounge with a bunch of other teachers. One of the teachers, the choir teacher, was talking about how she doesn't like people saying "Merry Christmas" because she's Jewish and she thinks it's rude for people to assume everyone celebrates Christmas. She says she appreciates the Merry part, but would rather someone just say, "Have a good evening!" or something like that. I guess she has a point, but that's not the point I want to make. The story continues. Someone asked her about Hanukkah and what she did to celebrate it. First I want to share what Hannukkah is, since most/all of my readers are Christians/LDS.

In between the Old and New Testaments there is missing Jewish History found in the Apocrypha, including the story of the first Hanukkah. What happened was that the Jews re-took the temple from the Syrian King Antiochus IV. The temple was cleansed and prepared for dedication. At the dedication the Menorah, a sacred Candelabra, was lit in the Temple. I'm not sure what it symbolizes, probably the presence of Christ/God in the temple, His Holy House. The Menorah only had enough holy (consecrated) oil to burn for one day and night, but it burned for eight days and nights until more holy oil could be gathered. Hanukkah is celebrated to remember this miracle. The Jews celebrate for eight days by lighting one candle on their Menorah's every night, along with gifts and other games and traditions.

Anyway, back to my story. The choir teacher said that she didn't do much to celebrate and that it's mostly for the children. She said it wasn't a big deal because it's just a story for the kiddies, like Santa. She said that it was impossible for one days worth of oil to burn for eight, so it couldn't have happened.

While I'm not Jewish it shouldn't have mattered to me what her views are about Hanukkah, but it made me sad that she thinks this. I believe in miracles and I'm positive that God did allow the oil to burn longer than it should have. At this time the Jews were God's chosen people and they were doing His work. They came back to Jerusalem and rededicated themselves and the temple to God and His work. God was showing them their work was acceptable to Him and that He would again dwell in the temple. I was sad that she didn't have faith in her own history and her God to believe that He could do miracles. She didn't believe that God loved His people enough to perform miracles for them.

It reminded me of Moroni 7:35-38

35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you [answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him, and advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens and ascended to Heave to take His place next to The Father], and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased? 
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he witheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?

37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.

38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.

So, Miracles have not only existed, they don't cease to exist. Because some of His children have faith. If you don't see miracles in your life, you're living incorrectly and you lack the faith to have miracles exist. Or you lack the wisdom to see them. God still loves us. He always will. He will never give up on us. He desires to bless us with miracles in our lives. He's granted miracles in my life, and not a few. Quite a lot, actually. And He will continue to do so.