I am actually wondering about something from you all. I do feel led to ask this: What are miracles that you have experienced or know of?
Could be physical miracles, Spiritual miracles, dreams, random experiences, etc. Could be something really trivial to you or really big. Not really concerned with how meaningful it is to you, but rather for edification of the Body of Christ.
Colossians 3
1If, then, ye were raised with the Christ, the things above seek ye, where the Christ is, on the right hand of God seated,
2the things above mind ye, not the things upon the earth,
3for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;
4when the Christ — our life — may be manifested, then also we with him shall be manifested in glory.
5Put to death, then, your members that [are] upon the earth — whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry —
6because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,
7in which also ye — ye did walk once, when ye lived in them;
8but now put off, even ye, the whole — anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking — out of your mouth.
9Lie not one to another, having put off the old man with his practices,
10and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him;
11where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, servant, freeman — but the all and in all — Christ.
12Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,
13forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any one with any one may have a quarrel, as also the Christ did forgive you — so also ye;
14and above all these things, [have] love, which is a bond of the perfection,
15and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body, and become thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord;
17and all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, [do] all things in the name of the Lord Jesus — giving thanks to the God and Father, through him.
1 Peter 2
9and ye [are] a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous light
1 Thessalonians 5
8and we, being of the day — let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet — a hope of salvation,
9because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10who did die for us, that whether we wake — whether we sleep — together with him we may live
OK, those verses aren't exactly(I think) related, but felt moved to list them.
Huh. Not even one of those of you have viewed this so far has even one thing to share?
Oh well, I'll be waiting for someone to respond. Blessings.
I keep thinking about it, but am hesitant to go into a lot of specific detail (for personal reasons). I will just say there have been various times when God very obviously, specifically, and in perfect timing has provided things I and my family have needed. His hand was obviously behind it. May share more later :).
Okay Connor, you got one to share?
Pat
I tend to think outside the box on a lot of subjects, so, for me, the subject of miracles is no different.
Language itself, I consider, to be at the top of my list of miracles.
The means by which a thought or desire can be communicated (from one heart and mind to another) and be understood
(but we also know that thoughts and desires can be misunderstood).
And to take it a step further, What isn't a miracle?
my :2c:
Quote from: jugghead on July 13, 2018, 12:00:27 PM
I tend to think outside the box on a lot of subjects, so, for me, the subject of miracles is no different.
Language itself, I consider, to be at the top of my list of miracles.
The means by which a thought or desire can be communicated (from one heart and mind to another) and be understood
(but we also know that thoughts and desires can be misunderstood).
And to take it a step further, What isn't a miracle?
my :2c:
Good thoughts Jugghead. Although, out of all people, I would have thought that you would have been the one to say that being transformed from being carnally minded to Spiritually minded is a top miracle. Isn't even the existence of life itself a miracle? Or even Consciousnessness, or Logos, etc.
And yes, when God guides every little thing, where nothing is out of His hand, why only think that some cases He is involved and others He isn't? Probably due to thinking that God is "somewhere" instead of "everywhere." People also say a lot that God is everywhere, but they don't seem to mean or believe it! Else they would not think that God is this old man with a beard in the sky watching from afar, instead of where everything consists and is.
Quote from: Patinak on July 13, 2018, 09:26:50 AM
Okay Connor, you got one to share?
Pat
Oh, I have 2 actually! You share first though. I want people to contribute in this discussion. Not just look at this for 5-10 seconds, leave and then forget about it. Unless you don't have anything to say.
That would be strange though. Who led you here?
ML, I have some but I have zero time lately with a 6 year old, 3 year old, and 3 month old! So I'm one of the ones who came and read the thread but didn't respond. I will though.
Miracle- 1/ an extraordinary event attributed to some supernatural agency
2/ any remarkable occurrence.
Whilst driving my car one day I had a seizure and went totally unconscious for a few minutes.
My foot went flat to the floor so said car was accelerating on a downhill run towards a building. The car crashed into a brick wall.
If I had been conscious there would have been many severe injuries caused by the stiffness the fear inflicts to the body.
All I received was some bruising.
I consider this a miracle that I am still alive today.
Said event caused me to make changes I had not even considered before going through this "life changing" experience.
This has also raised the awareness of how many times I could have died through my life.
I put the number up around seven specifics, and a few minor as well.
Every day is now a miracle for me and an ever increasing love for my Father and Christ for their mercy to correct my values and stimulate the brain to ask questions about what life is truly all about.
If one considers Miracles as beating the odds, then I have had a tremendous amount of miracles, in my life. Some of my friends and family will say that every time I make it to my destination when I drive.....It is a miracle! Seriously.
I have seen miracles in my own life, as well as in other's lives, around me. This is also true in my profession, as a Special Education teacher.
Allow me to take you on a bit of a journey.
When I was a little girl, my family bought the A&P books, at that grocery store, for a $1.00 each. One such set that was available was a Medical Encyclopedia. I was a voracious reader as a child. I would look at books and read them at a very fast rate. One day, I was looking through the Medical Encyclopedia, as I often did, and I read about Multiple Sclerosis, known also as MS. For those of you who don't know, it is a degenerative neurological condition, in which an autoimmune response triggers your own body to attack your nerve cells, and strip them of their protective coating, thus causing something similar to a short circuit in your body. It can be very devastating and unpredictable. That day, as I sat on the floor in my parent's bedroom, I looked up to God and pleaded in a silent prayer, please, not this.
Fast forward, approximately 40 years later. I had, unknowingly, stumbled into a situation in which I had all the factors for getting MS. I did not realize this, at the time. In hindsight, I see that everything was positioned for me to get this disease. And, I did. On my way to work, one morning, I had a mild MS episode. Now, even a mild MS episode will stop one in their tracks. It is an experience like no other.
But, as many of you already know, I come from an abusive background. So, instead of sitting down and calling an ambulance, or going directly to the ER, I continued on to work. I did not just work one day, but continued to work everyday, through the entire episode, which actually lasted about a year and a half. I did call my doctor, but not until a few days. And, he told me to call back in a few weeks, which I did. Then he told me to make an appt. with a neurologist, which I did, for a month away. During this time period, of a year and a half, I also returned to Graduate School, and received 2 more state certifications for my field.
What does my background have to do with the way I handled my attack? Well, I was taught, very carefully, by both parents, to never stop and consider my own discomfort or feelings. Just keep going. You are fine. There is nothing wrong with you.....do the laundry, do the homework, cook your dinner, be available for whatever you are asked to do. The fact that I kept going might have contributed to my good outcome. No one knows, really. I say, beauty for ashes.
When I finally got to the neurologist, after several MRIs and nerve conduction tests, plus a spinal tap, she concluded that I had MS.
Of course, I was quietly devastated. MS is extremely unpredictable. The results are very diverse, depending on many factors. There is no cure. There are many medicines to lessen the symptoms, and many hospital treatments, but the medical profession is still very far from a cure. I had no sympathy at home. Soon after my diagnosis, my ex-husband told me that there was nothing wrong with me. I didn't really have MS. You guessed it.....just keep going. My children were used to me being expected to just keep going, like the Duracell Bunny Rabbit....so, they expected it, too. Here, I should mention, that one of the overall symptoms of MS, is extreme fatigue, which I actually was experiencing....although no one would have guessed......because I just kept going. Besides teaching, I was also a Deacon at a Lutheran Church, during this time. My own and my family's ignorance of the fact that I should rest, was probably beneficial, as it inspired me even more to look for a way to lessen or eliminate the symptoms.
I was always a church goer....still am. I went to healing services at my own church. I prayed, earnestly. I would put myself in the position of the many people in the Bible who were healed of their illnesses, and picture myself, reaching out to Jesus. I did this, daily.
Then, after a short while, I began researching on the Internet. This was a very hard journey. Many times, through the tears, as I read of the devastating possible effects of MS, I had to stop reading, only to start again the next day. In a relatively short time, I had composed a diet for myself to follow. I felt this was a path I was supposed to take. I began the diet. It is an extremely limiting diet.
Now, at the time, I was a Junk Food Queen. Food was comfort and fun and something I thought a lot about. So, this was not easy. But, I was determined to stick to the diet. That was about 12 years ago. I am still on the diet. My MS doctor is amazed. He is a staunch ally, now. My doctor is an Orthodox Jewish man from Russia. He had a young woman, an intern, examine me one day, for training purposes. I believe she was also an Orthodox Jew. Now, Orthodox Jewish men are not supposed to shake hands with woman out of their religious community. And, up to that day....and after that day, he never had or did again, shake my hand. But, that day, as I was leaving his office, he extended his hand and shook my hand, in front of the young intern. I was very honored. Still am!
So, I have not had another episode. I do not show the regression most people do. I am able to do everything that I did before the diagnosis. Actually, my doctor has changed my diagnosis to "Isolated Cerebral Incident".
I am so very grateful, and so very blessed, that God allowed me to find a way out of this very frightening diagnosis. At least, up to today. And, in an unexpected way, He did answer my prayer, of very long ago.
Now, some might call this a miracle.....some not. I will let each of you decide for yourself.
Definitely one of my longest entries here, in quite a while. Love this icon. It is so ME. :drama:
D.
Quote from: MusicLover123 on July 13, 2018, 08:29:07 PM
Quote from: jugghead on July 13, 2018, 12:00:27 PM
I tend to think outside the box on a lot of subjects, so, for me, the subject of miracles is no different.
Language itself, I consider, to be at the top of my list of miracles.
The means by which a thought or desire can be communicated (from one heart and mind to another) and be understood
(but we also know that thoughts and desires can be misunderstood).
And to take it a step further, What isn't a miracle?
my :2c:
Good thoughts Jugghead. Although, out of all people, I would have thought that you would have been the one to say that being transformed from being carnally minded to Spiritually minded is a top miracle. Isn't even the existence of life itself a miracle? Or even Consciousnessness, or Logos, etc.
Hi Connor, I chuckled a little bit when I read your reply to me, I did say those things, you just didn't see them.
Is it not language (words) {Word} that comes out of the mouth of God that transforms the carnal mind to a Spiritual mind?
Is it not language (words) {Word} that comes out of the mouth of God that brought the physical (physical life) into existence?
Is it not language (words) {Word} that comes out of the mouth of God that we can even become aware that consciousness exists?
And I did add at the end: What isn't a miracle? and that itself includes all of the above as well as Logos and etc.
Christ is the Word .... Christ is the language of God. :thumbsup:
I do absolutely believe that miracles are all around us, through us, and in us.
God is in the business of miracles, everyday, in our lives. From the sunrise, to the waves of the ocean, to a baby being born, to the Holy Spirit teaching us, to the love between people, to the sun giving us heat and light, and on and on and on. And, of course, our Salvation through the cross.
The joy of the Lord, is my strength.
Amen.
D.
Quote from: Dandelion on July 14, 2018, 03:01:07 PM
I do absolutely believe that miracles are all around us, through us, and in us.
God is in the business of miracles, everyday, in our lives. From the sunrise, to the waves of the ocean, to a baby being born, to the Holy Spirit teaching us, to the love between people, to the sun giving us heat and light, and on and on and on. And, of course, our Salvation through the cross.
The joy of the Lord, is my strength.
Amen.
D.
Amen D :iagree:
Quote from: jugghead on July 14, 2018, 06:55:17 PM
Quote from: Dandelion on July 14, 2018, 03:01:07 PM
I do absolutely believe that miracles are all around us, through us, and in us.
God is in the business of miracles, everyday, in our lives. From the sunrise, to the waves of the ocean, to a baby being born, to the Holy Spirit teaching us, to the love between people, to the sun giving us heat and light, and on and on and on. And, of course, our Salvation through the cross.
The joy of the Lord, is my strength.
Amen.
D.
Amen D :iagree:
Amen!
Hey Dandelion, have anything more to write? That seemed pretty short to me(maybe because I enjoyed it a lot.) I like reading about these things. Unfortunately, not sure where to look for more, and haven't read much of them, without getting into the "fake" healers and scammers.
QuoteAnd I did add at the end: What isn't a miracle? and that itself includes all of the above as well as Logos and etc.
Christ is the Word .... Christ is the language of God. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
I just wanted to give specifics, even knowing that everything is a miracle. Wouldn't you like to know specifics of something general? For example, If I said "Everything in Scripture is the Word of God" wouldn't you want to know
what that "everything" is?
Here is a quote from Ray that seems pretty fitting to put:
"The Scriptures together make the biography of God while Jesus Christ is the auto-biography of God."
Ross: Thanks for your testimony! These events do (usually) make one grateful for everything, and I don't think that you are an exception.
Oh, and "any remarkable occurrence" would still be Divine Involvement, would it not?
GodisLove: No worries. Take your time; I think your kids are worth more time than writing a couple paragraphs on a website.
Quote from: MusicLover123 on July 14, 2018, 07:12:42 PM
I just wanted to give specifics, even knowing that everything is a miracle. Wouldn't you like to know specifics of something general? For example, If I said "Everything in Scripture is the Word of God" wouldn't you want to know what that "everything" is?
Yes, I totally agree, and that is because the more detail the clearer the picture is.
It is like saying (in general terminology)
"I almost drown once, but I didn't" (which did really happen to me when I was younger)
But now, in what I have come to understand about God and what He is capable of doing through others, I can expand on that and give more specifics by saying "I almost drown once, but by the grace of God I didn't"
Now, specifics:
One day my brother and I were down at Park Point, a beach on the Duluth side of Lake Superior. I don't remember how old I was or how we actually got there, because I don't even remember if my brother was old enough to drive, he is two and a half years older than I am.
Anyway, we were there for a day of fun, enjoying the sunshine and doing some swimming, despite the fact that I didn't actually know how to swim. I could move through the water by going under the surface and swimming underwater, but I did not know how to actually move myself across the surface of the water.
Large bodies of water, like Lake Superior, are known for their under currents, which, for those who do not know, when waves come up on shore and then recede back into the lake, the surface of the water is moving towards the shore while at the same time, the receding water is moving back into the lake below the surface.
I had waded out a little to far to where my feet could no longer touch the bottom of the lake to try and move myself back towards the shore, so I had to try and swim back toward shore the only way I knew how, not knowing that every time I would go under the surface to try to swim forward, I was actually putting myself into the under current and being swept farther from the shore.
It wasn't until I started to get real tired and realized I was in a losing battle that I started to panic and started screaming for help, as I think any child would. From what I can remember, I wasn't screaming for help to anyone in particular, even though I knew I was there with my brother. But when I reflect back on it now, I now know God heard me.
Knowing my brother and the way he was back then and still is for the most part now, he is constantly cracking jokes, and doesn't take some things very seriously. I didn't find out until later that he thought I was faking it when I was screaming for help. It was because someone else took my screaming for help very seriously, that this guy came running out into the water and saved me from drowning.
To this day I do not know the name of the person who saved me that day, but I do know the Person that worked through this man to save me from drowning, for it was not yet my time to be taken from this world. For all I know it was for the purpose of sharing this experience with others to understand ... in a spiritual aspect ... that God hears us even though we may think He doesn't.
And by this story, the end becomes the beginning in that I could have titled this story as:
God hears us even though we may think He doesn'talso when I was younger, I almost slid off a decline of a cliff that was about forty feet high while climbing with my oldest brother, who is four years older than I am and he risked his life by coming down to me to pull me back up to safety.
Blessings to all and like Connor and others, I too love hearing details of experiences, because I believe all experiences are miracles. :beach:
Quote from: GodIsLove on July 14, 2018, 12:28:08 AM
ML, I have some but I have zero time lately with a 6 year old, 3 year old, and 3 month old! So I'm one of the ones who came and read the thread but didn't respond. I will though.
Amen girl! Not a whole lot of free time left I'm very sure! :gsmile:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :HeartThrob:
And amen Dandelion! And Jugghead! :cloud9: :cloud9:
:Chinscratch: To be specific.. after agreeing with all that all things are miraculous.. "the small child will be able to play at the entrance to the viper's nest" - that's how totally subdued all this imperfection, vanity and disobedience will be subdued! He will make all things new and fully and firmly set into HiS blueprint and purpose.. even after this twilight zone reality of less than perfect..
:Chinscratch: I did experience a lot of inner healing. One of my first memories is of my mom holding my head under water, heard my dad say, that's enough hon. That was a repressed memory. Both parents were abusive in their way.. I do believe I would have died of drugs or at the least become a raging alcoholic.. But Jesus saved me. :gsmile: Now been happily married going on 40 years and raised two healthy minded individuals. I consider all of that definitely a miracle. I was before BA (born again) very dysfunctional.. happy marriage.. good/okay raising of kids, never could've happened. Then how He guides, teaches and transforms us throughout our life and following Him..
Twenty plus years ago I was painting the trim in my kitchen a sort of maroon color - the scheme has always been gray, and wallpaper and the maroon accents (not a miracle :laughing7: )- when I got a phone call. My baby sister, late teens, had been diagnosed with leukemia! Somewhat of a death sentence.. sometimes even today! So I prayed heartfelt prayer for her healing with tears and the accompanying trepidation/dread, etc. Heartfelt. When I noticed the painting - which our mom painted many years ago, of Jesus with His lambs - it is in a prominant place in our kitchen, likely the 1st thing one sees upon entering the house.. and it seemed as though the Lord said, 'see that lamb in my arms? that's your sister'. And I noticed His robe in the painting perfectly matched the color paint I had been painting the kitchen trim in. And yes, my sister made it.. and we had her for another 22 years.. (But miss her now.. until our Lord's return.)
I had some minor miracles when first coming to believe. I didn't find the Lord in a church or over the back fence or anything.. But in the Rocky Mountains. I had been studying up on world religions and then astrology (and some new agey stuff). I was looking for the "truth of life"/truth. I was also studying meditation which was supposed to "quiet the mind in order to hear the voice of God" an eastern religion concept.. yogi's etc. (I read some of Paramahansa Yogananda's writings and poetry who did sort of believe concerning "Christ" ....Anyway, I was looking for God, I had learned that much! ..that truth had to do with God.)
And one sunny day I was sitting in the mountains, when it seemed like a thought drifted across the very blue sky and hit me in the head! ( :laughing7: ) What the thought said was 'you've been learning about the different forces at work in the universe, what about the force that created the universe? And what if that force has consciousness?" And it struck me like a light turning on, and I thought "God!" And it was like I could feel a Presence which had always been there.. but i had not perceived.
A bit later, back in the suburbs of Denver - we went camping into the Rocky foothills most weekends - and it got so when in the mountains, could feel that peaceful presence but when not in the mountains not so much! Then I found a bible tract titled "God's Great Plan of Salvation" // (great plan!). And I kneeled down in the bedroom and said the "sinner's prayer" that was at the end of it. Four times. And would ask, "is this true?"... "for me?"
After the fourth time, I walked into the living room - I was home alone, not very usual in those days - and when I walked into the room I saw a stream of light shining through an inch gap in the drapes, from the sun's setting over the mountains in the west. The light streamed across the room and filled the off tv screen with my symbol I had been using in meditation - an brilliant 8 rayed star.
Kind of strange miracles.. But convincing! I converted! And began to read and study the bible, especially the new testament.. :cloud9: oh happy day! :banana:
I know the Lord is very faithful. I don't think He lets us down, and I think that covers many miracles. I think we've all had many answers to prayers and needs which of course are miracles.
I can't right now, think of anything else specific.. Except feeling the Lord had told me I was having a second child, who would be a girl.. it was so strong I thought I was expecting right then, but wasn't until a couple of months later, but all nine months wondering, was that the Lord's 'voice'? or imagination? or what? Up to that crucial moment when Doc said "it's a girl". [We had one boy and one girl and having cared for 3 younger brothers and only one youngest sister, I very much wanted a girl, but knew two was our limit, having surgery afterwards -> no more babies. Plus! I very much wanted to be sure of what is and what isn't our Lord's 'voice'!]
I'm very thankful that when I prayed one day sitting at my mom-in-law's dining room table, over a list of questions concerning the bible, and bible prophecy... And how the Lord answered all those listed questions.. I regard as a warm and fuzzy miracle..
So many miracles for us all.. every day.. :dsunny: :cloud9: :HeartThrob:
..did i ever mention how about 20 years ago our son asked me 2 questions which i answered but was not happy w/ my answers so I prayed heartfelt for better answers and "bam!" they came back in a series of bam like insights.. the questions were "why was the tree of knowing good and evil in the garden?" and "Isn't it great we get to be an ant farm?" - a cynic is a frustrated idealist...
Quote from: MusicLover123 on July 14, 2018, 07:12:42 PM
Oh, and "any remarkable occurrence" would still be Divine Involvement, would it not?
Absolutely; our Father's attention to detail is awesome.
I.M.O The provision for us by Christ is for our development/growth to learn to value our God/Father as the ONLY true God.
Hi! I enjoyed reading everyone's stories!
I'll share some and maybe come back to share more...
Just things that come to mind:
I often open my bible or bible app randomly, and start to read. Many times I would read what I *needed* at that moment, for example reading 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" when up one night with anxiety, or reading "Every knee shall bow..." scripture when asking God for the truth of UR, etc. it doesn't always happen but when it does I know it's meant for me.
Little things too...like once I dropped my car off to be fixed and I knew it needed something expensive done costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars and at that time we didn't have any extra money...my son and I prayed (he was probably 4 at the time), and when we picked it up it was less than 100 dollars.
My mom has been living with ALS for many years when usually people die within 2 years of a diagnosis. We pray for her often and my grandma prays for her daily.
My brother turned his life of addiction and destruction around and we were reconciled together after 2 years of not talking to each other.
I've been delivered from all sorts of disfunction including being bulimic for over a decade, substance abuse, recovery from past trauma through definite events/people in my life etc that were God's doing, such as a therapist who was a former deacon who helped reignite my faith and introduced me to UR with a seed planted "the Bible names no one who is or will be in hell, not even Judas."
Other people in my life who are here for a reason and we have spiritual connections and I feel God's hand in our relationship.
God led me to Tentmaker!
I had a vision where I knew I'd marry my husband and have two boys even though at the time we were just getting to know eachother, not even dating yet.
I KNEW my first son was a boy as soon as I found out I was pregnant, and I knew again that my youngest son was a boy when I found out I was pregnant last summer. I even had a vision of him with wavy blond hair as a toddler and he was born with long wavy hair (my other two had just fuzz for the first year of their lives).
All 3 of my kids' names I was sure of well before they were born and they are all unique biblical names.
I felt moved to give an old man money on the street (he wasn't begging or anything but was clearly not doing well financially or was homeless) and he asked my name and I said Angela and he said "I'm John, we are both in the Bible."
We were driving home from a trip with two little kids (3 years old and 3 or 4 months old) and the car was acting weird, we kept stopping but couldn't figure out what was going on, finally we were exiting the highway and a wheel flew off the car. Because we were slowing down we survived just fine but if we were going full speed on the highway like we had been for the past few hours who knows what would have happened, I think the car might have flipped or crashed for sure.
I am pretty shy but I felt moved to boldly befriend a near stranger who is ten years younger than me that I met out and about and she ended up becoming one of my closest friends and we are both Christian (I didn't know that at the time) and we support each other spiritually and emotionally and even supply needs for each other like child care and sharing food/material needs.
Once my mom's parakeet (budgie) flew out the window and into the sky and vanished like a tiny speck. She loves that bird and was devastated. I wandered around the neighborhood and found the bird several streets away in someone's backyard high in a tree, it flew down to me and I put it in its cage.
I had an experience when I was seeking the truth and for years did so through drugs, new agey stuff, various religions. Then one of my clients started to talk my ear off about Jesus and I thought she was a weirdo at first but then I got interested...one evening we talked for a while and she mentioned the sinners prayer. I went to my car and cried the whole way home feeling God's love and forgiveness wash over me. I then felt changed and though I couldn't describe it I felt interested in reading the Bible (I didn't own one so I went to a book store) and other things changed as well. I felt very pure and felt I could discern things, it felt like my conscience was powerful and was leading me. I think it was a taste of the Holy Spirit, which I sometimes still feel to this day but like Rosered says, I go in and out of it now. I'm far from perfect but I have a desire now to chase what is good even though I fail a lot.
Every time I asked for prayers here on TM they were answered.
I have had other experiences that feel too intimate to share, and others I am forgetting.
Cool thread though, I like it and look forward to hearing more stories. Forgive the typos I'm writing on my phone while in bed!
I don't do it enough, but praise God!
Bummer, I was writing more and my phone died and I lost the text. It's meant for another time i guess!
I.M.O what we go through is to bring us to the point where we are convinced of the need for a saviour! The process needs to be significant enough to show the true course Christ uses alongside the personal efforts we try- just like explaining to a child what they did was okay, just there is a lot better way.
P.S sometimes I post stuff which is different to what I intended: our Lord literally looks over every thing we do and say.
Quote from: Patinak on July 13, 2018, 09:26:50 AM
Okay Connor, you got one to share?
Pat
Oh Pat, I was actually serious when I asked you if you had anything to share before I share a couple of my own. I actually meant you specifically :icon_jokercolor:
Okay Connor, here is a recent one:
My 35 year old daughter had been living in Texas for about 4 years with my 2 grandchildren and her husband. The marriage went South, and things got tough for her, so she decided to move back to AK mid-May last year. She moved in with her mother (my ex from 30 years ago), and started to get settled in. About two weeks after she arrived my youngest grandson (6 yrs.) suddenly became very lethargic, and she ended up taking him in to the E.R. Luckily (if you believe in luck), Anchorage has modern medical facilities and great practitioners. It didn't take long before he was hooked up to an EEG, to find he was in constant seizure. The neurologist put him into a coma, using all kinds of medications and tests to try to figure out the source of the problem. I am self-employed and have some good helpers, so I was able to spend a lot of time with my daughter. We watched Ash in his bed hooked up to so many tubes and wires, lifeless. After six weeks, the doctors decided to bring him out of the coma and see how he would do. For the next six weeks he was in the PICU, in and out of seizures. My daughter was 24/7 researching and taking care of him, never leaving his side for one moment. The staff decided that she could take care of him as well as they could, and let her take him home. Still no diagnosis, he still has seizures, but sometimes will go a few days without. I don't know if he will ever be 'normal' again, there is so much damage. Of course, he is my daughter's full time job. He is lucky (if you believe in luck) to have her.
I must say (my lack of faith, I guess) that I thought we were going to lose him in the hospital when he was in the coma.
Sorry, I got distracted, so I can't finish my story the way I was hoping (I left so many gaps in the story), but even in all of this suffering, there is good that has come out of this.
My daughter is still atheist (although I don't worry about her eternal destiny), but she has gotten to experience so much love from so many people while going through this, that I can't help but think she has to know where it comes from.
As for myself, one of things I learned was that there are people out there that are so dedicated to helping others that it really humbles me. I am so selfish, I could never be a doctor. They don't have a life. They are always 'on'; and Nursing is not a job, it is a lifestyle. There is no facade to a nurse. Thank God for all these servants. Many of them realize it, but even if they don't know it, they are working for the Lord.
Okay Connor that's it for now. See how many miracles you can find in the little I've written (hint: the miracles began when God sent them back here where they had family support to help go through this)....
"There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25
Pat
Very interesting posts on this thread. And thanks for your story Pat. Very refreshing and positive with God working with you and your family. Trials are our lot in this life. All things work together for ultimate good. Cannot always see this from our vantage point, but we know God is for us and is with us. Yes we still have miracles today, not like those described in the first century which were intended to reveal the and power of God to many. Today these are less obvious, not mean't for a general audience, but usually occur among God's elect.
I was in rehab a couple of years ago after spinal fusion surgery and I got to see nurses doing their job every day for the 6 weeks I was in rehab. A nursing career is one of the most noble of all professions. They are not given enough credit and recognition for their dedication and service. Florence Nightengale. She was a pioneer in the field of nursing in the mid- 1800's and also was a believer in the salvation of all.
Joe
Quote from: MusicLover123 on July 12, 2018, 02:01:02 AM
I am actually wondering about something from you all. I do feel led to ask this: What are miracles that you have experienced or know of?
Could be physical miracles, Spiritual miracles, dreams, random experiences, etc. Could be something really trivial to you or really big. Not really concerned with how meaningful it is to you, but rather for edification of the Body of Christ.
Colossians 3
1If, then, ye were raised with the Christ, the things above seek ye, where the Christ is, on the right hand of God seated,
2the things above mind ye, not the things upon the earth,
3for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;
4when the Christ — our life — may be manifested, then also we with him shall be manifested in glory.
5Put to death, then, your members that [are] upon the earth — whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry —
6because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,
7in which also ye — ye did walk once, when ye lived in them;
8but now put off, even ye, the whole — anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking — out of your mouth.
9Lie not one to another, having put off the old man with his practices,
10and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him;
11where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, servant, freeman — but the all and in all — Christ.
12Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,
13forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any one with any one may have a quarrel, as also the Christ did forgive you — so also ye;
14and above all these things, [have] love, which is a bond of the perfection,
15and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body, and become thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord;
17and all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, [do] all things in the name of the Lord Jesus — giving thanks to the God and Father, through him.
1 Peter 2
9and ye [are] a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous light
1 Thessalonians 5
8and we, being of the day — let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet — a hope of salvation,
9because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10who did die for us, that whether we wake — whether we sleep — together with him we may live
OK, those verses aren't exactly(I think) related, but felt moved to list them.
I've had many at times when I needed guidance (which I probably wouldn't find answers to anywhere else) or help (crisis points in life) but I don't share them for many reasons.
There isn't a need for me to share my experiences as people can have their own with God which will convince them far more than I could (or would want).
It's between that person and God and some wouldn't believe 'even if someone were to be raised from the dead'.
Many scoff at miracles, some get envious, some believe them 'satanic' etc etc. - It's a personal thing (for me) now.
I believe God is more likely to answer us when we humble ourselves and pray in sincere love and for the right reasons 100%. I'm talking real prayer...
"He who is having my commands, and is keeping them, that one it is who is loving me, and he who is loving me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." What I will say regarding miracles I have had from God is this...
He sometimes answers in 'threes'.
He has a great sense of humour.
He seldom answers the way you think He will (I don't think He ever has with me)...
He always seems to go one better...
What a feeling...To know you are THAT loved by the creator of everything that He would take time out to help you out or give you an answer... :HeartThrob:
Yes, I believe sincere prayer is so important. the Bible says that God knows our hearts, and I believe that when we pray so earnestly, from the heart, he responds, accordingly.
And, yes, I believe miracles are all around us. We must see by faith and not by sight.
D.
Thanks for the testimony Pat. And, thanks for your feedback Dandelion and Marc.
Now, I'll mention 2 short ones that I had when I was a child. I have been having miracles a bit more recently, but they are more "Spiritual" miracles. I won't share them, because as Marc notes, they are between me and God. I will comment this though. God seems to deal with me in visions, dreams, and signs around me.
When, or at least, before I was born, my Mom was pregnant with me. Apparently, they were talking to the doctor, and he mentioned that they should abort me, as he said there was a 100% chance that I would be born with defects(missing arms, legs, etc.) So, my parents got together with the church they were going to, and prayed with them a majority of the time. Miraculously, I was born. Though i was premature, I was OK. And, to top it all off, I came out on Thanksgiving Day.
Second one, is when I was walking down some concrete stairs, starting from the top, and at this time my shoelaces were untied. So, as you would expect, I tripped on them! Now, up until recently, I was thinking it was around 15 steps I fell down. But, surprisingly, it was actually over 100! My head never split open, thank God for that! I do have some scar tissue on the front top of my head, that leaves a little bump around there.
Told ya they were short!
Quote from: Patinak on July 18, 2018, 09:43:10 AM
Okay Connor, here is a recent one:
My 35 year old daughter had been living in Texas for about 4 years with my 2 grandchildren and her husband. The marriage went South, and things got tough for her, so she decided to move back to AK mid-May last year. She moved in with her mother (my ex from 30 years ago), and started to get settled in. About two weeks after she arrived my youngest grandson (6 yrs.) suddenly became very lethargic, and she ended up taking him in to the E.R. Luckily (if you believe in luck), Anchorage has modern medical facilities and great practitioners. It didn't take long before he was hooked up to an EEG, to find he was in constant seizure. The neurologist put him into a coma, using all kinds of medications and tests to try to figure out the source of the problem. I am self-employed and have some good helpers, so I was able to spend a lot of time with my daughter. We watched Ash in his bed hooked up to so many tubes and wires, lifeless. After six weeks, the doctors decided to bring him out of the coma and see how he would do. For the next six weeks he was in the PICU, in and out of seizures. My daughter was 24/7 researching and taking care of him, never leaving his side for one moment. The staff decided that she could take care of him as well as they could, and let her take him home. Still no diagnosis, he still has seizures, but sometimes will go a few days without. I don't know if he will ever be 'normal' again, there is so much damage. Of course, he is my daughter's full time job. He is lucky (if you believe in luck) to have her.
I must say (my lack of faith, I guess) that I thought we were going to lose him in the hospital when he was in the coma.
Sorry, I got distracted, so I can't finish my story the way I was hoping (I left so many gaps in the story), but even in all of this suffering, there is good that has come out of this.
My daughter is still atheist (although I don't worry about her eternal destiny), but she has gotten to experience so much love from so many people while going through this, that I can't help but think she has to know where it comes from.
As for myself, one of things I learned was that there are people out there that are so dedicated to helping others that it really humbles me. I am so selfish, I could never be a doctor. They don't have a life. They are always 'on'; and Nursing is not a job, it is a lifestyle. There is no facade to a nurse. Thank God for all these servants. Many of them realize it, but even if they don't know it, they are working for the Lord.
Okay Connor that's it for now. See how many miracles you can find in the little I've written (hint: the miracles began when God sent them back here where they had family support to help go through this)....
"There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25
Pat
Okay guys, time to count!
Miracle 1: You got my name right
Miracle 2: The marriage went South, and not East, West, or North
Miracle 3: I don't believe in luck
Miracle 4: They found a very good medical facility with modern equipment and good nurses
Miracle 5: Your Daughter, by God's Grace, had the kindness to take care of your Son 24/7, despite not knowing God
Miracle 6: Your Son was able to come home
Miracle 7: Your Son still never had a diagnosis
Miracle 8: The seizures somewhat decreased
Miracle 9: You learned through these trials, and God gave you the power to humble yourself
Miracle 10: That God did not take your Son at the time
Speaking of John 21:25, have you ever compared it to the 1st verse in John?
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Posted by God is Love
"I had an experience when I was seeking the truth and for years did so through drugs, new agey stuff, various religions. Then one of my clients started to talk my ear off about Jesus and I thought she was a weirdo at first but then I got interested...one evening we talked for a while and she mentioned the sinners prayer. I went to my car and cried the whole way home feeling God's love and forgiveness wash over me. I then felt changed and though I couldn't describe it I felt interested in reading the Bible (I didn't own one so I went to a book store) and other things changed as well. I felt very pure and felt I could discern things, it felt like my conscience was powerful and was leading me. I think it was a taste of the Holy Spirit, which I sometimes still feel to this day but like Rosered says, I go in and out of it now. I'm far from perfect but I have a desire now to chase what is good even though I fail a lot."
How long after this experience did you come to believe in UR and how did that happen?
Thanks
I'm always interested in hearing the timeline between born again experiences and UR revelation because if the seeker is sincere between the time of those two events happening then it should proof of UR. Only if the seeker backslides between that time could the UR revelation be seen as false. That's why i would be curious to know if the seeker's experiences are of the same substance between the time of the two events. And I pose this question to everyone as any information would be helpful in me being able to sleep better at night.
Andrew
Quote from: Andrew on August 04, 2018, 07:40:31 PM
Posted by God is Love
"I had an experience when I was seeking the truth and for years did so through drugs, new agey stuff, various religions. Then one of my clients started to talk my ear off about Jesus and I thought she was a weirdo at first but then I got interested...one evening we talked for a while and she mentioned the sinners prayer. I went to my car and cried the whole way home feeling God's love and forgiveness wash over me. I then felt changed and though I couldn't describe it I felt interested in reading the Bible (I didn't own one so I went to a book store) and other things changed as well. I felt very pure and felt I could discern things, it felt like my conscience was powerful and was leading me. I think it was a taste of the Holy Spirit, which I sometimes still feel to this day but like Rosered says, I go in and out of it now. I'm far from perfect but I have a desire now to chase what is good even though I fail a lot."
How long after this experience did you come to believe in UR and how did that happen?
Thanks
I'm always interested in hearing the timeline between born again experiences and UR revelation because if the seeker is sincere between the time of those two events happening then it should proof of UR. Only if the seeker backslides between that time could the UR revelation be seen as false. That's why i would be curious to know if the seeker's experiences are of the same substance between the time of the two events. And I pose this question to everyone as any information would be helpful in me being able to sleep better at night.
Andrew
:cloud9: I was very blessed by GiL's story! :girlheart:
I have a feeling Andrew you will likely find more folks who have had a "walk with the Lord" in sincerity, though none of us are perfect of course. Which makes me think some perhaps have - or might appear - to fall away, or hesitate?
I don't know why some come awake to the full gospel. :dontknow: (Glory! God is good! Perfect as a matter of fact. And perfect, surely, can make no mistakes, and cannot lose anything! :faint: )
As for me, I was never really taught by a church. Tried some churches.. don't know if the flaw was me or them, but it didn't take.
I always thought it likely that His Great Plan of Salvation would include all.. Hell, it seems obvious, is a pagan myth, a power trip. But since finding out about UR, because of Tentmaker, wow! It's been great.. Strength in numbers I guess.. Besides the longer time goes by, the more obvious the UR message is in His Word! It's all over!! Directly and indirectly.. [God is awesome! yes?!]
I suppose I should reply to the question in the thread since I was out for my own benefit in my last post.
Miracle #1
My born again experience. I was literally full of demons through my participation in some very evil new age material. So i cried out to Jesus to save me (I think it was this time as I said the sinner's prayer twice like within a week) and Jesus completely restored me. I was also extremely indecisive and full of fear and that was taken away. Although I do have some fears now.
Miracle #2
There's a specific type of smoke that has special meaning for me. It's called a Nano. It's how I got my rap name. But this cigarette appeared to materialize out of thin air. There's seems to be no explanation how it got on my dresser. I know it's not your typical miracle story. And for the record I didn't smoke it and I still have it.
Miracle #3
After attending a church meeting with a guy who was a follower of Todd Bentley, oil materialized out of his hand and he rubbed my bald head with his hand and it messed me up. I went home and picked up the Bible and turned to the first letter of John and I started crying and I was healed.
Miracle #4
This one is too personal to talk about but lets just say that Jesus saved me and if he wouldn't have, my life would have been over.
Quote from: Andrew on August 04, 2018, 07:40:31 PM
Posted by God is Love
"I had an experience when I was seeking the truth and for years did so through drugs, new agey stuff, various religions. Then one of my clients started to talk my ear off about Jesus and I thought she was a weirdo at first but then I got interested...one evening we talked for a while and she mentioned the sinners prayer. I went to my car and cried the whole way home feeling God's love and forgiveness wash over me. I then felt changed and though I couldn't describe it I felt interested in reading the Bible (I didn't own one so I went to a book store) and other things changed as well. I felt very pure and felt I could discern things, it felt like my conscience was powerful and was leading me. I think it was a taste of the Holy Spirit, which I sometimes still feel to this day but like Rosered says, I go in and out of it now. I'm far from perfect but I have a desire now to chase what is good even though I fail a lot."
How long after this experience did you come to believe in UR and how did that happen?
Thanks
I'm always interested in hearing the timeline between born again experiences and UR revelation because if the seeker is sincere between the time of those two events happening then it should proof of UR. Only if the seeker backslides between that time could the UR revelation be seen as false. That's why i would be curious to know if the seeker's experiences are of the same substance between the time of the two events. And I pose this question to everyone as any information would be helpful in me being able to sleep better at night.
Andrew
Maybe 4 years between both experiences. I never "back slid" in the sense of straying from my faith since that initial experience. I was however still learning and trying to develop my personal beliefs based on reading the Bible and praying and talking with Christians and attending a couple churches here and there. The Bible and prayer were sources of peace and other Christians were sources of stress.
But while I think my faith has remained strong to this day (its been about 7 years since I prayed to God asking him to come in my life) and God healed a lot, I still face issues in my life like anxiety that seems to ebb and flow with some sort of rise and fall that I can find quite figure out the meaning of. I know I don't know the right answers and ask for guidance, but I don't seem to get consistent answers, and so I stress about decision making especially in regard to parenting or marriage.
Hi GodisLove
Hope this helps. Blessings:
Philippians 4
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice;
5let your forbearance be known to all men; the Lord [is] near;
6for nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer, and by supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God;
7and the peace of God, that is surpassing all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as [are] grave, as many as [are] righteous, as many as [are] pure, as many as [are] lovely, as many as [are] of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;
9the things that also ye did learn, and receive, and hear, and saw in me, those do, and the God of the peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 12
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God—
it is you I seek!
For you my body yearns;
for you my soul thirsts,
In a land parched, lifeless,
and without water.
3 I look to you in the sanctuary
to see your power and glory.
4 For your love is better than life;
my lips shall ever praise you!
5 I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.
6 My soul shall be sated as with choice food,
with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you!
7 I think of you upon my bed,
I remember you through the watches of the night
8 You indeed are my savior,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
9 My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
:Chinscratch: miracles.. I had quite a rough and sad upbringing.. so much so that now when I was born again (back in 1979) I think of it as my adulthood and the years between 18 (1973) as my childhood. (But alas I was born in 1955, but the first 18 years are mostly a blur.) I came of age in the 70's part of the age of drugs, rock and roll and 'free' love/the breakdown of the family.. So it was a confusing time, and also, I was a product of my childhood which was drink, drugs and I'm thinking dysfunctional.
The Lord healed me! I have been happily married since 1980 (37 years) and raised two well adjusted individuals.. all of which I consider a miracle. Truly. I do not think I could have been at all well adjusted without Jesus, His healing and His Word and Spirit.
Also I found the Lord in the mountains.. the Father that is. I'd been studying world religions, astrology and was taking meditation classes. And I guess I still think, for example, Yogananda Paramahansa (who died in 1953) is a good writer, poet and philosopher. But although I came to understand meditation as simply the attempt to quiet the mind (enough to sense God's 'voice') I now understand that all religions may seek the Light, but Jesus is the Light ~ the doorway to Father God in heaven, but whom is coming to "tabernacle with mankind upon Earth, made new and pristine, 100% goodness.
But I like to tell the story, how I was sitting in the Rocky Mountain foothills (camping weekend) when all of a sudden it seemed as though I could 'see' (in my mind) a thought come drifting across the very blue sky and hit me in the head! Yep, it ht me in the head. And what it said was "you've been learning about the forces at work in the universe" (astrology, as a science? not foretelling) "and what about the force that created the universe? And what if that force has consciousness?"
And it was like a light turning on and I thought "God!" And it seemed as though I could feel a presence that had always been there but I had always been unaware of - :dontknow: hard to explain..
Then there was a short time of when in the mountains, there was that sweet and peaceful Presence.. but when not, and at home in the suburbs (at the time) He was not there. I could not feel that peace and 'presence'. Then I found a bible tract titled "God's GREAT Plan of Salvation" - I capitalize Great because of UR.
I read the tract about four times, each time saying the sinner's prayer and then asking "can this be true?" .."and for me?" Then after the 4th time I came into the living room - the house was empty which was a bit unusual. A stream of sunlight came streaming just then, through a one inch gap of the curtains, as the sun was setting over the mountains in the west. It streamed across the room and filled the unlit tv with a radiant 8 rayed star. Now this star was the symbol I had always used in my meditation practicing/attempting. (I have since of course gone over completely to prayer, albeit, with listening.)
As a 'miracle' a little strange or different I suppose, but it convinced me! Someone gave me a New Testament. I decided early on to read it for myself - beFore allowing others to tell me what it says. From Christianity/churchianity(?) I was getting different signals than what I believed I was getting from the Lord. Which from the Lord was the 'command' to "love". But from believers, or so I thought, looking on from the outside(?) was more in the line of be sort of stuck up(?) so folks will know they are sinners.
! :faint: This was nOt jiving with me.. either in my spirit or in God's Word.. So over the years, I've not been taught much by others, and when I do read up on commentaries and the like I think I can take the wheat and toss the chaff.. I think I'm 'freer' than many believers, as I've learned to let myself be free from any yoke of laws and rules - other than to love him - which causes one to love (truly) others. True affection! And "love works no ill" and the fruit of His Spirit in us is love, gentleness, humility, patience, faithfulness, moderation, self control, and "against such there is no law". I've let myself be free from the pressure to "conform" - real or imagined.. That freedom of His yoke is easy, His burden is light, i believe is a true miracle for all. Free to be one's self in Jesus.. The Lord, after all, has the truest blueprint! The one which makes for peace and yes, happiness.
As to UR/CU, I always figured it likely God would save all.. And now of course I see it every where in His Word, and coming across UR on Tentmaker and some few other places (though growing! all of it being miracles..) on the web, has been awesome! And very strengthening, thus gives a lot of peace and its fruit(?) joy. Even when life is tough and on hard days.. there is the great peace and joy of knowing Him and just how 100% GREAT His Great Plan of Salvation is.. Also His Great Plan of Teaching "ALL" / writing His laws/spirit, deeply, upon every heart and mind.
:Peace2: :girlheart: