GUEST MIRACLES (yours!)
The only way there will be anything on this page is if you send me YOUR miracles. I can hardly wait to hear your witness. Please see the email link on the home page or use this one.
I just had to start this page off with this email that I just got. I am so glad that this website can do this for people; apologies for leaving out names, but the website manager prefers no names.
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Running Wild
I wonder what would have happened if I had been raised in the church. As it turned out, I was a sometimes Catholic. Sometimes I went – more often – not.
I went to two Parochial schools and failed both. I was self-centered and felt the world should revolve around me.
I was born almost a year before the wedding and I grew up gaining and losing seven step dads. A kid really needs a dad and there was no authority figure in my life. I traveled so much I felt at home on the trains that plied the West coast and knew most rail schedules by the age of 12. I got to be an accomplished shoplifter by the age of 8. I didn’t need to steal and can’t tell you to this day why I did. I started smoking grapevine by the age of 12, and stole a car at the age of 14. I was going to drive south, but drove instead into a man’s garage and pushed his car into his back yard, so I went to jail! From that time on I was on probation continuously.
The foster home was five miles beyond the electric lines in the logging country of Washington State. I learned to cut trees over eight feet through. I carried all the water from the spring to the house. I learned to plow using logging horses. Believe it or not, I seemed to like it. I believe now that this was the beginning lessons in discipline.
I went to church there, but I never listened to what the pastor talked about. He seemed to be talking above the kid’s heads. I really couldn’t reach the concept of a personal God.
I was paroled home at the age of 16. One year later I joined the army. I was a demolition man in the Korean War.
I went to a Billy Graham meeting in 1952, in South Carolina, and went forward to accept Christ. I think I really wanted the Lord then, but there were things I didn’t want to give up. I didn’t want to appear different from my friends. Within six months I was back in my former habits. I just wouldn’t listen to God. And God was a gentleman, as always; he didn’t force me.
After the army, I went to another church in Southern California and was rebaptized. I only thought I was serious, so I started playing church, but God knew.
Nothing went right so I went into the Air Force, still running away from myself. I was sent to the Far East and tried to drink it dry, but failed. I was transferred back into the U.S. and fund a beautiful girl and married. Lo and behold, her father was a Pentecostal preacher. Then the change started. I didn’t know that Christ was closing in on me while I was still playing church.
After the Air Force, I had one job after another: salesman, aircraft worker, deputy sheriff, truck driver . . .
One day, working as a life insurance agent in Seattle, my financial world started coming unglued. We had been attending a church close to our home, so I went to see the pastor. I poured out my problems for about 30 minutes. He listened and then, with tears in his eyes, he said, “God sure must love you.”
He explained that sometimes God let our little house of cards get knocked down to show us that He is the One to turn to. So, there with Pastor Jim and God, I gave my life to Christ. In prayer I asked Jesus to save me.
Oh, I lost the job that I had, but God had a better idea. Soon after that, at home, my wife, Joy, and I received the Baptism o the Holy Spirit and a new prayer language.
I realize now that in all those prior years of running wild I was looking for something real. When I stopped playing and came to Christ and let Him share my life, I found that something I had been looking for. You know, I don’t feel unwanted anymore.
Christ is all I need. Praise the Lord.
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Hello!!
my name is …. I am a student at Cornerstone Christian Academy in southern California, and 3 months ago, I was given an assignment in my bible class to write a report on any topic I wanted, so long as it related to the Book of Acts. As I’m sure you know, the Book of Acts tells the history of early Christian faith in 1st century Rome and the struggles of the believers. My paper is due soon. The topic I decided on was the search for God: the 2000 year history of the conflicts between Judaism and Christianity. While I was doing some research I came across your web page on a web search. It would be an injustice and understatement to say I was merely intrigued by your research. In truth, I was looking for more information on the Jewish faith, as I am not very familiar with it. What I found instead was the most compelling evidence of Jesus as the Messiah I have ever encountered in my 16 years. Though I was raised in a devout Christian home, I have been struggling with my faith on an extreme level. I’ve proclaimed my belief in God and in Jesus, but for as long as I can remember I’ve been lacking in true conviction. The purpose of my letter is to thank you sincerely. I have read every word of every page on your website, and I know that I have never been more convicted of anything in my life. So thank you, so very much. I wish you the best, and congratulations on your amazing research.
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MIRACLE #1 (of many…still waiting for yours).
Last weekend we had a retreat weekend at our church. One of my brothers who I met at the last retreat was now on the team putting on the retreat for the “new guys.” He has been organizing bible studies at work, and his fellow workers have been blessed by the time that they spend with each other and the Lord. He just wrote to me and told me that they asked him to lead the bible study that the team is putting together at the beginning of each meeting, as they prepare to put on the next retreat weekend. He was so honored to be asked by his brothers in Christ that he was very deeply touched. Thank you Lord for my brother and all the wonderful work You are doing in his life and the lives he touches with his dedication to our You!
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MIRACLE #2 (from a brother in Christ who I was blessed to meet at a men’s retreat at church a year ago).
I remember the night like it was yesterday. It was late one Saturday
night, in the late fall of 2002 when I attended a Catholic retreat at my
Parish Church. Up to that weekend, I had led a basically faithless life. Although by most appearances, I had it made… A rewarding and growing career, a healthy family and a wife that adored me (in spite of myself). In spite of all this, I always knew something was missing. This emptiness manifested itself in drink, selfishness and other behaviors which nearly cost me my family. During this retreat, I had a life (eternal life) changing experience. I recall the retreat, and the messages I was receiving from those wonderful brothers who conducted the
retreat, growing in my heart and spirit throughout that first Saturday. On that Saturday evening, there was a reconciliation service and I recall with joy, my brother in Christ (who runs this web site) leading us in song as we each awaited our reconciliation time. Can you imaging going to confession, and saying, “Forgive me father for I have sinned, it has been, er, um…. er, um……ummmm 25 years, or was it 30, or… since my last confession”? I remember saying that, and then I remember my mouth opening and then decades of remorse, sin and sorrow came forth in tears. It was the most powerful 10 minutes in my 44 years on Gods Earth. The father was so patient, loving and thoughtful with me as this crushing weight of sin was lifted and I left knowing I was forgiven, but not yet saved.
After confession, I strolled over to the hall where I saw my brother in Christ sitting with some guys and he was sharing the word of God. I sat down and he asked us if we wanted to be saved. I remember thinking, I am in this far, and fresh from reconciliation, I was ready for step 2.
Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Well, I opened the door with his help and received Jesus Christ as my lord and savior.
Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:10 “For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.”
Thank you for leading me through the process of confessing with my lips that Jesus Christ is lord and savior. From where I came from, to where I am spiritually is a miracle. My journey has thus far been brief, and I have much to learn. This retreat and the Christian men I met that night live in my heart.
Vivat Jesus! Your brother and friend in Christ, always!
(Thanks brother for that absolutely beautiful testimony. God bless you and keep you, always, as I know He will!)
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MIRACLE #3 (from a brother in Christ who I met at our last retreat for men. He got turned on to Jesus and what He can do for you when you allow Him into your life and your heart).
It has been a little rough going but I have really made some progress. I am learning how to open up to Christ and I feel that I am making good headway. I was invited to help out with the women’s retreat group serving lunch for them on Saturday etc. It was a lot of fun. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction. I truly enjoy going to church and am listening to some real good inspirational tapes . (Thanks bro’ for sharing this beautiful story. You are a great inspiration to me and others! Keep working for the Lord!)
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MIRACLE #4
The other day my wife wanted me to plow a small garden spot. Our plow was a gift to us and is in disrepair. I plowed for a few furrows and the top got bent. I took it and used a big jack to straighten it back and then put some bolts in where they belonged. The jack is rated at 8000 lbs. and was at its limit as far as bending steel goes. I knew it would possibly jump off when I was removing it, so I stood aside and kinda gave the handle a fling but forgot to move my thumb from a very bad place! Well, the handle flew up with tremendous force and smashed my thumb.
My friends are always joking about having wives that are nurses and can tend to their boo boos. Well I am blessed with a wife that prays. As soon as I appeared holding my thumb she began praying. It hurt so bad I could not even put ice on it. Well the prayers of a righteous wife availeth much. The thumb quit hurting; it did not swell up, and it is not sore in the least. Praise GOD for a wife that knows where to turn in a time of need. Thank you.
I look forward to meeting you. You have been prayers answered in the life of my mother-in-law.