A Glimpse of God and Dr. Joe

Miracles all around us often come through skilled, caring hands. A heart scare, two stents, and a grateful birthday point us to Christ’s greater works.  Some weeks begin with worry and end with worship. This was one of those weeks for our family. Before it was over, I found myself praying, then thanking, then humming an old hymn of praise I could not get out of my heart. Today I want to share what God did, and what He may be showing you, too.

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Opening Worship Song

George Strait’s gentle country song reminds us that God’s handiwork is never far away. In fact, it is often right in front of us, in the people and moments we pass every day.

I Saw God Today – George Strait

Scripture Focus

Jesus spoke these words just after healing a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years:

“For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” — John 5:20 (NIV)

Later, on the night before the cross, He passed that same promise of greater works on to everyone who would believe in Him:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” — John 14:12 (NIV)

Those greater works began with the gospel spreading to the ends of the earth, and they continue in many forms. One of them is the surgeon’s skilled hands, the researcher’s long nights, and the nurse’s steady care. Through these, God still restores sight, mends hearts, and raises the sick from their beds. Every day His people do works Christ’s first followers could hardly have imagined, so that we too may be amazed.

Life Application: Miracles All Around Us

A Different Kind of Pain

Last Monday night, my brother-in-law, Dr. Joe Logan, was driving to a faith-based halfway house. He and my sister started that ministry years ago. It helps people recovering from addiction return to society with faith, work, housing, and transportation. Joe leads a Bible study there three nights a week, and he has done so for many years.

As he approached the home, however, he felt an unusual pain in his chest and left arm. It was not severe. Still, it was different from normal. So Joe called the home and told them he was going to the emergency room instead of coming inside. One of the men followed him to the hospital.

Joe pulled up to the entrance and walked into the hospital where he had worked for over 40 years. Meanwhile, his friend parked the car. The staff gave Joe an aspirin and a nitroglycerin tablet, and the nitro eased the discomfort. His EKG showed no change from earlier ones. His blood enzymes were normal, too. Even so, he was admitted to cardiac intensive care for overnight observation.

Two Blockages and Skilled Hands

On Tuesday, a heart catheterization told a different story. Doctors found an 85 percent blockage and a second large blockage in the artery many call the “widow maker.” Then the skilled hands of his interventional cardiologist placed two stents to open them, all while Joe’s heart kept on beating.

Joe was released from Self Regional Hospital on Wednesday. That happened to be my birthday. It was the best birthday present ever! Clearly, God has more work for our precious Joe to do.

Greater Works Through Ordinary People

Think about how many hands God used that week. There was a man from the home who followed Joe through the dark. Countless nurses and lab technicians who gave calm, steady care and careful analysis of bloodwork.  A cardiologist whose training took years and whose work took minutes. Behind them stood researchers who spent long nights developing the very tools that saved a life.

None of that replaces God. Instead, it is one of the ways He still mends hearts today. That is part of the “greater things” Jesus promised.

Of course, not every story ends like this one. Some prayers are answered in ways we do not understand, and God is no less good. Nevertheless, when He lets us glimpse His hand, we should never miss it.

From Prayer to Praise

The first part of my week was invested in praying for Dr. Joe and the very special team at Self Regional caring for him. The second half has found me giving thanks. Over and over, I have caught myself singing and humming the Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”

Perhaps your week holds a quieter miracle. Maybe it is a good report, a safe trip home, or a friend who simply showed up. So let me ask you gently: what has God done for you lately that you have not stopped to notice?

Today, let us recognize the miracles all around us and never take them for granted. Then let us praise God for those who so faithfully do His work every day. Above all, let us praise Jesus, the Great Physician, who holds every heartbeat in His hands.

A Song of Gratitude

Brandon Lake’s song is a heartfelt offering of thanks from someone who knows he can never repay God’s goodness. Because gratitude was the song of my week, I wanted to share it with you.

Gratitude (Chosen Performance) – Brandon Lake

A Word from C. S. Lewis

C. S. Lewis once explained that the miracles of Jesus are not strange interruptions to God’s world. Rather, they are close-up views of what God is always doing:

“The miracles in fact are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” — C. S. Lewis, Miracles

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Heavenly Father, thank You for the miracles all around us, both great and small. Thank You for sparing Joe and for giving him more days to serve You. Lord, bless the doctors, nurses, and researchers whose hands You use to heal. Forgive us for the times we rush past Your goodness without a word of thanks. Open our eyes to see Your hand at work today. Give us wisdom to notice, strength to serve, and hearts that overflow with praise. Above all, thank You for Jesus, who mends broken hearts and gives us eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Closing Worship Song

The Doxology has been sung by believers for more than three centuries. Therefore, it seems only right to close with the hymn that has filled my heart all week: praise to the God from whom all blessings flow.

The Doxology – Anthem Lights ft. Selah

Postscript:

I shared a draft of this devotion to make sure it was ok to publish Joe’s medical information.  As always he added valuable insights as follows:

“”Bill,  the first enzyme blood test was normal or negative. The next 3 were positive. It’s interesting that I have had sciatica pain in my right leg for 6 weeks. With out that I could have had the problem with my heart far from my friends and the Hospital. I try to look at how God frequently uses things that appear bad to us…  that we fail to recognize as his hand getting us where he wants us to be when those really bad things arrive. All healing is from God. Doctors are people he frequently uses as instruments when he heals, but all healing comes only from Him. This has become clearer to me as I have been involved with Ann’s medical problems up close,  and yours at some distance,  and I can see how Ann and you have  been used as a way to help many people by allowing them to see Jesus in you and the miracles in your lives making you more productive in doing His work in this life.  Love Joe❤️🙏😊”

Keep Growing in Christ

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Acknowledgments

We thank:

• Pixabay for free, high-quality artwork.
• AZ Quotes for inspirational quotations.
• YouTube Gospel Music for timeless worship songs.
• We recommend GotQuestions.org for further Bible study.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflections are shared as a glimpse of Christ in my life, in hope that they might further kindle glimpses of Christ in yours.

Have a wonderful day and keep your eyes on Jesus and your spirits high.

Bill

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)