There gets to be so much talk about devotional topics and the 'oh for a prayer warrior....and other topics' mentality that it really gets my head spinning. I begin asking- the point of the statement is........? Sometimes it seems that as christians we bring these subjects up because we are not engaging in these practices ourselves. So, we bring it up in hopes to gathers others around to say yeah, and AMEN and then the thought is simply left there after a quick participation and our emotions are sedated for a time.

What are some life experiences you have had after devotions that have raised your belief in God to a higher level. Personally, I get tired of hearing the above items- I want to hear people stories of what God has done in their surroundings because it then shows me God is working in the lives of people vs being a paper God of our minds.
I am not talking about emotional stuff-that doesn't do much to raise faith within a heart. I am talking about experiences that become signpost for you as times goes on that God met you here or used to there and you saw God work as a result and it left an impression on you/others as to the testimony of God working.

For me, I struggle right now and it may be that God is doing something around me but I am too blind to see it? One example that I can share that I noticed and I am not sure how this came to pass is my job. I work in data entry accounting type of thing with 5 ladies. They know I don't drink because I hate the taste of alcohol. I can take sips but it usualy don't go bast 4-5 drinks. I usually carry a postive attitude and joke alot to deflect aggrivations. Somewhere in there I find that even the supervisor, if she cusses which catch herself and apologizes. I don't know if this is as a result of me doing something that she has noticed along the lines but this happens in those instances that are small yet I really notice it. I don't know if the fact that I don't make a practice of drinking leads her to think that maybe it is because I probably go to church or something. I tend to wonder if there is a God influence in there or something else.

Please share a story of yours. even a few stories of yours.

_________________
John

John, you raised a question that was raised yesterday at a ladies meeting - 'what special Christmas story do you have to share?' was the question. I had one which I will share. This incident has ministered to me many times since.

As long time posters know in January 1996 our only daughter was called home to glory - this is the backdrop of what follows.

Christmas was coming up again and I started feeling a bit sorry for myself because Regina was no long around to give me anything. She was always so good in giving me appropriate gifts - I loved to see what she would come up with next.

Anyhow...

Our family - my parents and all their off-spring, children and grandchildren - were at their house for Christmas. We exchanged gifts, like usual. I was sitting on the floor by the picture window when my sister Helen gave me a box 15"x12"x2" wrapped in plain white paper. She gave this to me after all the other gifts had been opened and appreciated. She said, "Sandra, this is for you." I looked at it, odd as it was and asked, "For me?" "Yes, for you."

All eyes were upon me as I opened it. There in that box were embroidered quilt blocks people had made for me to be made up into a friendship quilt. I was shocked, surprised, astounded to no end. Then Helen explained. Regina had started this project in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary but her sickness prevented her from carrying it through it to its completion. Upon her passing, her mother-in-law found it among her belongings and gave it to my sister and told her to go ahead with the project.

A couple days later, I was sitting on the sofa, going through these blocks, looking at them so carefully, being so awed that so many people would do anything like this for me when suddenly I felt such intense love flow over my body, starting at my head and going to my feet.

God, in his wonderful mercy knew I would need a confirmation of HIS love and he worked to prove it to me once again this Christmas season in 1997. Regina, after being laid to rest gave me this wonderful gift - much more appreciated in this context then had it happened if she would have been alive.

Early, on after being told Regina was terminally ill, I had surrendered her to the LORD and knew then He would comfort me when I needed it and He did in ways far beyond my imagination. Today I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that when he comforts if will exceed our expectations.

This incident comes back to cheer me many times when I start feeling sorry for my lack of having a daughter. God is good...all the time, yes, even when He afflicts sorrow.

Blessings...

I look forward reading other people's testimonies...

_________________
Sandra Miller

I want to add something else to this posting. Along with this thread have you ever taken the time to go to the "miracles that follow the plow" board? Ever notice how few postings there are in there? THere are alot of prayer requests in there but I don't see alot of follow up except for some saying they are praying for these people. I don't see alot of answered prayers or much in testimonies.

Why is this? Are christians too lazy to post anything in there? Do we just forget? Is God not doing much? What is the answer? Are christian passionless as a result?

Just thinking out loud.

_________________
John

hi, i have seen many miracles in my life and could spend the day writing stories but that is history and in the past.if you have ought against a brother or sister get up off your knees and go straighten it out before you pray or give. how can you have your prayers answered when you are forever talking about and condemning joel osteen or benny hinn on this sight or others. how can you have your prayers answered if you criticize your pastor or someone else in the church.we need to pray for those we criticize and keep our opinions to ourselves for faith worketh by love. i have yet to see anyones critical words change anything going on in the lives of those they are gossiping about.i have seen things changed by prayer. aren't you glad that when you stand before God that you only have to answer for your own failures and blessings?jimp

ummm. yeeeaaaah, so the miracles in your life are all but history and in the past? This means they are irrelevent then?

Sounds as if you have a spur in your system with your last 7 lines. I agree with what you are saying, I just wondered where the inspiration for such things are coming from? Or are they just adding to the lack of God moving in the lives of people?

_________________
John

dear deadn, i was going to opine over 2o3 miracles that happened and the Spirit of the Lord checked me and led me to write what i wrote. it might sound like a lot of hocus pocus but i have been following that voice for years and i feel it is the voice of the rama Word of personal direction for me.jimp i would like to tell about something that happened in len ravenhills life...he was in chicago and the hotel caught on fire and he had to jump from the 6th floor into the snow below and broke his back.. while martha was taking care of him in ireland with him flat on his back in bed, everyone brought to him with cancer was instantly healed and that is how he supported his family for the time in bed. when he was able to get up this annointing left and never came back. i share this to show how sovereign God is and how things just don't always seem to fit our biased beliefs.

Ginnyrose

Thank you for sharing this with us. So often when I am struggling and just really feeling lost the LORD has lead me to read something from another sister or brother in Christ that has just helped me so much. Gods love never leaves us, there are times when we may run from HIM but HE never pushes us away....I can not imagine the pain of loosing a child as you have, but I am so encouraged by your testimony. Knowing how GOD works so wonderfully in our lives even in times of sorrows is such a needed reminder of HIS constant care in my life.

God Bless
mj

Oh, dear Ma'am, the pain and the sting of the great, great loss... It lingers at every remembrance, yet our God breaks through the darkness of pain and despair and shows Himself mighty to comfort us in such times.

And we can be a comfort to one another because we know His supernatural love that comes in the midst of the suffering. We can yet stand up in God's strength and bless the Lord for His goodness to us! And in this way, our loss becomes another's gain; our sorrow turned to another's sweet consolation...


"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of ALL COMFORT;

Who comforteth us in ALL our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our CONSOLATION also ABOUNDETH by Christ!" II Corinthians 1:3-5

May God bless you today, a Mother in Israel.
Doug :O)

I have another one.

Several years ago I shared here on SI a situation that concerned my family...in particular my mom. Dad had died and now her anger exploded. She always was troubled with this problem.

Three years ago my SIL left her husband, my brother. This marriage ended in a divorce a couple months ago. This incident about killed mom. We take marriage vows seriously and do not believe marriage is dissoluble except by death. Anyhow, she was grief stricken as we all were.

Today, the anger is gone, absolutely gone. She has become a sweet old lady, one who I enjoy being with. If she were to die now, I would feel comfortable about her destination.

What makes this so remarkable is that the experts say old people do not change. Well! I have news for you - they can and do - mom is 84 YO!

I remind my brother about the scripture that informs us that ALL things work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose. What is tragic is that it took a divorce to bring this about but then who knows what impact this may have otherwise in ways we do not yet imagine? In God's economy no acts go to waste - God will use it somewhere, somehow to bring about glory to Him. It just may take a lot of time for this to happen.

Yes, we saw an answer to a prayer that was a long time a-coming. In fact we had given up! Perhaps this will teach us to be patient with the other prodigals?

_________________
Sandra Miller

Ginnyrose, Thank you for sharing this about your mother. What a precious story. Maybe there is hope yet for my mother. She is 79 - and very crusty!

Actually, in my own faith journey God has used the very things that are not right to draw me to himself. I could provide a long list of these grace-builders: bad sermons, broken relationships, failed ethics among professionals - and certainly my own failures.

Strange - education teaches us how things are supposed to work. But we never learned how to cope when it all fails. I guess we weren't supposed to expect that to happen.

I'm glad that scripture does not gloss over the bad stuff about humanity - but instead shows us how God works through it all - for his glory.

As you say, that can teach us to be patient with prodigals.

Diane

_________________
Diane