Makayla Thom - Olympia I, Washington Convention - 2018

I’ve been thinking about miracles.

Genesis 6:5, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

Amidst a world of evil, Noah was found faithful and found grace. That’s a miracle.

Genesis 6:22, “Thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”

That’s a miracle.

Daniel 3:6-7, “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not fall down and worship the golden image, and men brought them before the king, who was enraged. They were given another chance to do it.

Daniel 3:16, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.'”

Despite a difficult situation where it would be easier to bow down, they were willing to serve God! Also Daniel continued to pray when he knew it would mean facing the lions’ den.

Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Amidst facing possible death, Daniel was still found faithful in praying. He knew what that meant but he served God. These four men were willing to do whatever it was to keep true to God, despite the circumstances.

I’ll tell you a little of my testimony. For about four years, I owned a flower shop in the Renton area. I loved it so much! I thought, “If God ever called me into the Work, I don’t think I could go!” By the third year, I was kind of miserable. I decided to be done and sell my flower shop. After I put it up for sale last year, I wondered, "What I would do now?" I actually prayed about the Work. In a Sunday morning meeting, I felt the call, “Yes, that is My place for you!” God was changing my attitude so that what I once loved, I no longer loved. I thought, “How can I not go when all that matters is salvation?” I must go and do the Will of God. I offered last year in person at Milltown. God can help us with anything! Not once did I feel regret!