Hi! I really believe in miracles! So much has happened to me that I could not put everything here. But briefly, after years of being lost, I was saved. Not only this but throughout my whole life, my physical life has been spared and saved again and again. In the 70's when I was a freshman in High School I lived the miracle of a spiritual awakening among the youth in my city and nearby cities that I have never experienced before or after. Too much to describe briefly even there. The whole time I had fallen away from Jesus, he kept sending Christians to me to tell me to come back to him, strangers that I didn't know but they were led to reach out to me. Some doors slammed shut hard in my life, but Jesus opened other doors for me. One spiritual experience leads to another and and they always are connected and a journey seemed planned(by the Lord). Even in my trials I can see the Lord working, for instance, I haven't been able to get a job for several years, I lost my job and home five years ago, and had to move in with my mom, she is a widow on social security and we have had to move twice and she no longer has the money to move and the landlord is trying to sell his house, It's all very scary and depressing and yet, I had a dream a while back, a year or so ago, that I would make it through school and it was because of Jesus, and so far I have. I only have one semester left! I can't find a church to worship the way I truly want to in my little city/village, and I can't even afford to drive to the old highway anymore; on which I had miraculous worship time, but when I can find a place or when I can drive my car alone, my worship is powerful. Well, those are my miracles plus some I have not related. God Bless!
[send green star]
[
accepted]
Hello all! I am glad to find this group. I would like to share my good news! I have felt the strongest desire to follow Jesus and put the love of God back into my heart. I had not been to church in a long time, and I cannot tell you exactly when, but recently I had felt the strongest desire to go back to church and start praising the Lord again. I found a little Lutheran church across the highway from my college and I went by myself to their evening service a few weeks back. I was so glad to have gone back, I felt good, and I felt more at peace than I had felt in a long time. I purchased myself a brand new Bible from the local bookstore so that I could start reading it again. As I said, it's been awhile. I am now a member of said church and I attend every Sunday. I even brought my mother back to the church. I know that God is always there, and anything I have ever needed, He has always provided. Anytime I have been in distress and prayed to Him, He has always answered. I don't know why I took so long to get back on the right path, but I am glad I did. There was just something, something unexplainable, that I felt inside me and I needed to do this. It was like an epiphany. I am renewing my baptism and I am looking into attending Lutheran Catechism classes to become confirmed. It is something I want to do for myself. I received Holy Communion for the first time in a long time, and it was wonderful. I feel so much more peaceful, joyful, and unstressed than I have in years. I know that if it wasn't for Him, I wouldn't have made it through my bachelors degree in geology. Now I have completed my first year as a grad student. I owe it to Him for helping to get me through it all. I felt the pull to come back to Him and I am so glad that I did. And now I want to share that with everyone!
Our God is an Awesome God! April 26, 2009 10:31 AM
The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by a surgeon named Joseph Bruner.
The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta. She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.
During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr. Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile.
The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, Hand of Hope. The text explaining the picture begins, The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life.
Little Samuel's mother said they wept for days when they saw the picture. She said, The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person. Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful.
Now see the actual picture, and it is awesome...incredible....
In 2002 after divorcing a verbally & physically abusive man I was on my own, had to find f/t work and my pre-teen son decided he wanted to live with his dad for a change.
Alcohol became my best friend. Finally I fell to my kness drunk, in tears, thinking about taking my own life and just plain lost one night. I cried to God asked for his help and kind of forgot about it........Until......I started to drink again and ran into an illegally parked van 2 streets over from my house. That was it !!
I was so spooked since I have been told/read that God will answer you but maybe not the way you want him to. SHEESH !!! Well I'm happy to say that I called my dr. the next day to get into therapy and started AA that same day. God answered me and I thank him that I didn't hurt anyone innocent while I was floundering in my life. I took it so seriously that I bought the easiest bible I felt for me to read (I always had a hard time understanding the bible whenever I tried to read it)which was a life application NLT study bible. I did the counseling and kept going to AA and to my amazement when I got a call from a woman recruiter for a company looking for help we started talking and went on and on. We had so much in common we somehow got into how we found God. We both found him the same way. We are still best friends to this day. (even though I didn't get the job LOL)
It took 6 moths for me to go in front of the judge for sentencing. I was scared out of my wits. My AA sponsor went with me. I had a letter from the woman who had counseled me as well as 11.5 signed meeting pages from AA. I prayed that God help the judge see how serious I took what I had done. Everything was cut in half and the judge even told me that he wished others took this type of thing serious enough to get going in their recovery right away.
God has resued me in other ways. Although I feel that this is the biggest. I slipped a couple times and drank at home. But it just never was the same. THANK YOU GOD
The Best way I can discribe the power of healing is in our situation. We all go through trials, the Lord never promised if we chose to follow him our life would be simple; in fact just the opposite. Look at the Apostle Paul.When Jesus chose him he sent the prophet Ananias to tell Paul of the suffering he would go through.
I know in our situation that the same is true, but I also know that when Jesus said all things work together for good to those that love the Lord. When you learn to forgive, doors open and the road leads to places that can change your life. God will use that situation to help others.I believe that experience is what God uses to help others. So when you go through the valley, be patient because there is a mountain top in which you can reach down to help others.
"Sept 17 2005. This is only one of the many times God demonstrated his ability to save. I was stationery on my scooter at a busy traffic intersection,when suddenly from behind a Tempomini truck with a break failure hit me at a high speed,throwing the scooter from under me smashing it to the ground before it hit another tempo to finally come to a halt. Absolutely shocked I then realized, I could come out a cripple with a broken spine or could have been killed instantly,But God did not allow either one except to bring me out mentally shaken. Its a joy to look back now and see how good our God is, My prayer is that his praise would never run dry on my lips. Your life is valuable dont waste or destroy it. Give Jesus all the glory"
The Power of Brotherly Prayer March 10, 2009 9:34 AM
The Power of Brotherly Prayer From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More
When he was seven years old and the second of six children, our son Teddy began adding a special request to family bedtime prayers: And, God, please send us identical twin babies, and please bless them if you do.
It wasnt too long before I was pregnant, and Teddy insisted these were the twins hed been praying for. But my doctor, who had extensive experience with my pregnancies and their outcomes, assured us it was a singleton. He was a rare gem, this doctor, a family practitioner who also did obstetrics, but as a GP he didnt have ultrasound equipment in his office. And without seeing shadow pictures to prove that there was only one, Teddy refused to relinquish his dream of twin babies. Every night, we heard the same thing: And, God, please send us
The rest of the children were frankly excited about a single new baby because he or she would break the tie between our three boys and three girls. They took turns talking to my belly, encouraging the life within to Cmon, be a boy! or crooning, Girl girl you know you want to be a girl.
Whichever sex, the baby was big but the others had been big, too. I asked the doctor again, Are you sure theres only one? He spent an extra fifteen minutes palpating before giving me his answer. Yes, theres only one. See? Heres the back and the head. No room for anyone else.
Still, Teddys faith in Gods answer never wavered. And my faith in our doctor never wavered until one night, at thirty-six weeks, I was driving down the interstate and felt the baby hiccupping under my rib cage. Then I felt the baby hiccupping against the base of my spine. At the same time. In a different rhythm.
Yes, one baby can fool a mom and her doctor by being especially big or especially active. But one baby cannot hiccup in two different places in two different rhythms.
My doctor was out of town, but he arranged for a high-risk OB to give me a sonogram at the hospital the next week. For almost an hour, I lay flat on my back with (as it turned out) thirteen pounds of baby between my spine and my full bladder, as the OB and the tech tried to count femurs and ulnas in a too-small space. Finally, they pronounced their decision: I was indeed having twins.
They were born six days later, one boy and one girl, perpetuating the gender tie. The first night we were all home together, saying bedtime prayers, my husband and I were stunned to hear Teddy add his usual petition: And, God, please send us
But, Teddy, we exclaimed, your prayers were answered! Even though everyone kept saying there was only one baby, we really did have twins! He shook his head. Yes, I know, and I like them just fine. But theyre not the ones I asked for. Theyre not identical.
After ten more years, hes finally given up that prayer. I cant shake the hunch, though, that hes going to get those identical twins eventually but theyre going to be his children, not his siblings!
MIRACLES for BABES too?/ How my 4 year Son accepted CHRIST February 17, 2009 1:48 AM
There was a Christian summer Camp for Kids in Limassol(where we stayed then),& both My older Daughter "Sema" (7 years old) & my Son"Jad"(5 years old),accepted CHRIST in Their Hearts there; but My youngest "Sermad"(4 years) was head strong ,even at that age, & resisted All efforts of the Camp Counselers.
As they came back home, Sermad was with his sister in the Living room when Suddenly a CRACK appeared in the WALL ; Sermad got very scared & screamed that the House will fall Down & that he was afraid to die, so Sema told him :"Why are you afraid of Death?...That means you are NOT SURE That You will Go to HEAVEN if You Die now",He agreed & both went Down on their Knees & HE Repented & Asked JESUS in His Heart & Was REBORN right there & then...Praise GOD.
When i came Back home & Sema told me what Happened , i went to the Living Room & there WAS NOT a TRACE Of ANY CRACK in the WALL......
Testimony of AMY & request for PRAYERS February 13, 2009 12:42 PM
Amy D. - I was abused as a child and my Grandparents were Christian, my Grandfather was a Pastor/Rev. and they brought me to church every Sunday. My Grandmother knew I was troubled and showed me how to say the Prayer and ask the Lord into my heart. I did. I still searched through - out my life and looked for God and how to be at peace and have joy. I asked God to come into my life in 1991 during Desert Storm because I was scared and desperate. The Lord was good. I had faith and the Lord brought my husband back. After that things got really challenging and we went to Quantico Va. for the basic school for Marine officers called TBS. That was 6 months and then off to Pensacola for flight school. He was extremely abusive and I left to stay with my parents for a bit and he filed for divorce. He got word that I wanted to leave him and yes I thought about it but was afraid because I read the bible and knew it was wrong. I had a fellow christian talk to him and it didn't work. That was in 1996. I had experienced brow beating as well as the little ones did at 4 & 2. He was emotionally abusive, mentally and I experienced marital rape, our divorce was in 1998 after I was told I had cancer and my Grandfather passed away. I lived as a single mother for 8years and then met the man that swept me off my feet and after I had been praying that God would send me the desires of my heart to marry. We did Dec. 18th,2004. I am recieving counselling now weekly and we go to Standish Baptist church now which we are members of and my husband was saved the first day we went. I was so thankful and shocked. We went because I told him we had to because he was a drinker and a complete jerk when he did. I prayed so fervently and earnestly for him to be saved. My goodness he was. When they were doing the invitation Ken said well we all know I need God. He went up and then was baptised. Praise God.
Now my daughter needs prayer as well as Ken and I do. Drug addiction for my daughter and she is saved. Ken and I for peace and joy. That God will intervene with our home and for fear , sadness, anxiety, because of the troubles with my daughter Elizabeth. She thinks she is Gay as well and just came out of the hospital for drug use. She is doing outpatient therapy three times a week. Ken and I have fear and anxiety also because of the uncertainty of his job and mine. He is an electrician and I am working at a Chiropractic Ctr as office manager and that has dropped in business so much I only work on average 1-2 days a week. We had car issues and this month we were not able to pay our electric bill or last month. Our oil is almost empty and we are paying our rent late. Our phones were shut off. My husband is forgetting about God or loses faith when he thinks the Lord isn't listening or acting on his prayer. I trust God. Please pray for us. We have a 3 and a half year old son named Leon as well and my oldest is 18 , his name is Jason.Your sister in Christ, Amy.
PRAISE GOD for HIS CONTINIOUS PROTECTION January 31, 2009 9:42 AM
This is the Fourth Time that the LORD intervened & saved me from a Horrible accident as i Drove from work after a tiring Day i Fell asleep at the wheel (same kind of attack was on 3 of these occasions) & found myself going down the Slope at Edge of the Drop;the ANGELS of the LORD intervened in a split second & the wheel turned back to the road again & Just missed an incoming Truck...ALL GLORY & PRAISE to HIS LOVING HOLY NAME
[send green star]
[
accepted]
Baby born with foot in brain January 16, 2009 6:38 PM
Get him baptized On Oct. 2, Tiffnie and her husband, Manny, got the news no parent wants to hear: Their newborn son had a large tumor in his brain. A neurosurgeon asked them if they were religious. When they told him they were Roman Catholics, he advised them to get Sam baptized immediately.
The Esquibels had waited what seemed like forever for a child, and now that they had a son, they were being told he might not survive.
TODAY
Tests showed a large mass inside baby Sam Esquibels brain.
That was the toughest part that I went through when they started saying, You might want to get your son baptized. That was very hard to take, Manny Esquibel told Lauer.
Sam was transferred to the pediatric center at the Memorial Hospital for Children in Colorado Springs On Oct. 3, neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Grabb led a team that operated on Sams brain to remove the tumor. When he opened the tumor, a tiny, perfectly formed foot popped out.
A lot of us who have been in practice long enough like to think weve seen everything, Grabb told NBC News. Well, we havent. The foot quite literally popped out of the tumor. I stopped operating, since Im not used to seeing a foot in the brain.
Jesus's NEWEST Miracle in Egypt / RAISING DEAD EGYPTIANS January 12, 2009 3:57 AM
A Muslim man in Egypt killed his wife because she was reading the Bible and then buried her with their infant baby and an 8 year old daughter. The girls were buried alive! then He reported to the police that an uncle killed the kids. 15 days later, another family member died. When they went to bury him, they found the 2 little girls under the sand - ALIVE! The country is outraged over the incident, and the man will be executed. The older girl was asked how she had survived and she says 'A man wearing shiny clothes, with bleeding wounds in his hands, came every day to feed us. He woke up my mom so she could nurse my sister,' she said. She was interviewed on Egyptian National TV, by a vailed Muslim woman news anchor. She said on public TV, 'This was none other than JESUS, because nobody else does things like this!' Muslims believe Isa (JESUS would do this, but the wounds mean He really was crucified, and it's clear also that He is alive! But, it's also clear that the child could not make up a story like this, and there is no way these children could have survived without a true miracle. Muslim leaders are going to have a hard time to figure out what to do with this, and the popularity of the Passion movie doesn't help! With Egypt at the centre of the media and education in the Middle East, you can be sure this story will spread. Christ is still turning the world upside down! Please let this story be shared. The Lord says, 'I will bless the person who puts his trust in me.' Jeremiah 17. Please forward these to all on your list and GOD will reward you abundantly!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been very sceptical about miracles and stuff like that, even though I am a born-again Christian. The past few months have been very streinous for me as I pondered where I'd get school fees for my lil' one. My miracle happened yesterday. My adorable sister heard me (over Christmas)talking about getting a loan from somewhere to raise the money required. Yesterday, she sent me the full year's fee plus one month's transport & lunch. Praise God! I cried for 2 hours. That was a major uplifting and I pray that God will continue to bless her in every possible way.
Hi! I have struggled with depression for most of my life; & one day in the early 80's when I was feeling pretty low I asked God to give me some sign if he was listening to me for help. I looked out the window & saw two Sun Dogs in the sky. I had never seen anything so beautiful before. I had a feeling then that he was there for me. After a few years had passed my depression seemed to be easing up & I was guided to read a Bible verse. It was rather perplexing & I'm not sure if I understood what it was saying to me, but I was amazed just the same. It was then that I started going to church & I accepted Jesus into my heart.
Then In 2003 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was told that I had stage 2/3 & 4 lymph nodes on my left side that had to be removed. I didn't want radiation; so I decided on a masectomy. I can say now that I made the right decision; as I am a 5 year survivor.
In 2004 I started writing poetry & one of my best ones came from my struggle with depression that I call "Out of Darkness". I wasn't a writer before this; so I feel I was given a gift after my cancer; & I have been writing poetry ever since. I have it in my sharebook if anyone wants to read it.
My faith gets me through anything now & I don't let things get me down anymore.
Praise God for his Miracles I know a Doctor Ventro in the town next to mine called Norton Va. He came down with Cancer big large Tumors all over his body he was Christian. He said it was an Attack form Satan he was so sick he was about to die with the cancer for over some time. And his Family and lots of people Prayed for him a healing touch from God. God sent him a healing it was remarkable he to day is cancer free. I saw the tumors in his body hanging like Big lumps it was terrbale. And I see him lot on Living Faith Tv program amazing what God can do.
Youth healed of "dis-located" shoulder. December 26, 2008 9:10 AM
"At our youth kick-off night we had two young girls come out for the first time and give their lives to Christ. At the same service at the end one of our young guys who is our drummer hurt his shoulder badly a year ago and then recently really dis-located it. We prayed over him I was speaking as I am the youth pastor but I was also on drums that night and so at the end of the service he went up on his own to play so that I could minister while he was playing the drums and we could feel his shoulder clicking back into place and He banged on those drums just like normal... I asked him at the end of the service if he was healed and he said "It is and it will be..." SO PRAISE GOD He is still a miracle working God AMEN"
"Praise The Lord, We were on vacation in Orlando, FL. Sept 28, and spent 3 day 2 nights there. On the way back a car pulled over in our lane a put on brake so fast and my husband put on brake so fast and it caused our car to spin in a circle so fast about 4 or 5 times and the back of the car were going forward and threw us from the Expressway in the woods and landed there. It was a miracle cause nooone got hurt. The car scratched on the left side a little bend under the fender on the side., and we were hurting from the impact of the car. People were stopped and running cause they though we killed and I told them that we were alright. The road master asked me do I have roadside service, and has it on my cell phone, We called for roadside service to come and pull us out of the wood. Thank God, Thank God, we drove our car back to Georgia where we live. My family owes all praise to GOD. Praise God for his protection and sheild over us." Posted on 2007-10-09 by johnnie mae smith
[send green star]
I love all your testimonies. I have a few my self. Have placed a large portion of them in my book" Night Visions from God." You can read a little about it at Amazon.com. Beleive me, I am not trying to push my book on you and would love to give all a copy at this time but just not possible right now.
God told me to write it , I did, now it's up to Him to get it to the world. At least you can read a little about on Amazon.
God reveales things to me through dreams. My future and the future of many others. It is simply a gift. And a cherished one at that.
MIRACLES AT BERUIT AIRPORT - LEBANON October 06, 2008 12:50 PM
I want to share with you all a testimony of God's grace that showed itself in the Beruit airport on my way back to Bahrain.
God's Holy Spirit is working in us all the time when we obey his voice.
I
was in the queue at the checking in desk at the Beruit airport last
Thursday and I noticed an Indian woman in a gold patterned scarf (this colour is important to me because many times I have been shown by God that gold signifies his presence)
at the counter in front of others in the queue and the lady in charge
was agitated telling her her suitcase was still overweight and that she
would have to unpack more things. Next to us many clothes were lying
piled up that had already been left behind. The Indian lady took
her case away from the check in desk and began unpacking more clothes.
There was a man in front of me, I waited for my turn then asked the
lady who was assisting the check in lady at the desk (she had obviously
been brought in to help deal with this situation) how overweight was
the case this Indian lady had because I wanted to pay for her.
The lady told me it was 8 kgs overweight and would cost $250. The
Indian lady had money in her hand - I had no idea of the denomination I
just saw 50. I said I would pay the $200 dollars. Because Father Eli
Nasr had paid for my hotel room I had enough money :0) I did not
hesitate because I wanted to give back in gratitude.
At the time of this conversation I was standing next to the Indian
lady who was about to unpack her case yet again, she stood up when I
told her to stop and I gave her a hug to comfort her. She started to
cry. The lady in charge came across and asked this lady why she was
crying. I said it is very hard for these ladies.
The lady in charge
asked why I wanted to do this and I told her I was in a Christian
prison ministry. The first miracle is that the lady in charge had good
English and understood immediately what I was saying Next miracle,
the lady in charge understood the word Christian straight away and
responded quickly (was she too a Christian or did God touch her heart at that moment?) She said she would see what
she could do.
We waited a matter of minutes together and the lady came back saying it was
okay, that they would accept the case and the rest of the rejected
clothes free of charge - wow!!! It doesn't end there
A
little while later after going through customs I arrived at the gate
for my flight a little late because of the situation I have described.
There was still quite a queue. The lady in charge who had been at the
check in desk was waiting for me - she escorted me through the queue
straight to the front after first taking my boarding pass and passport
and handed them to the desk then smiled and said goodbye.
We have no idea how many hearts are touched and changed in obeying
the promptings of God through these simple acts when we step out in
faith. I am still in awe! There is more :0)
When
I boarded the
plane the lady whom I had assisted (with God's help) was sat very close
to me. When I sat in my seat I could turn to my left and look
diagonally at her. I knew she was talking about me because a group of
girls (not sure of their nationality - Asian) who sat all around her
kept smiling at me. Another miracle. The Indian lady and the Asian
girls understood each other. They had also taken her under their wing.
I looked across at this Indian (Bangladesh) lady and she smiled, I then
asked the other ladies what her name was - it was Miriam. I blew
a kiss and she blew one back .Then I got out my mobile and took a
picture of her. In the seat sat next to her was an Arab
gentleman - he saw this whole exchange and I'm sure he was puzzled :0).
The
rest of the flight was taken up with watching the staff hurry up and
down the aisles feeding a full plane. When it came time to land it was
a bit turbulent and on landing the whole plane applauded and the Asian
ladies said "Thank you God" that's when I knew they were Christians, there was so much joy on that plane that it was without doubt
because of the presence of God. On standing up to collect our bags from the overhead compartment
the Indian lady was agitated because she wanted her bags. The Arab
gentleman who could make her understand (another miracle), reassured
her that her luggage would be waiting for her. I left the plane and
that was the last time I saw her but I knew she would be well taken
care of. What a mighty and awesome God we serve !!!!!
Thank you dear friends for your testimony. Thank you to my Father to show me how great is your faith and your work to transmit the "Good News", without compromise. You touched my hearth. Maybe later I will talk about mine. Be blessed forever.
[send green star]
[
accepted]
God's presence in Lebanon September 29, 2008 5:08 AM
Virgin Mary, Harissa,
Jounieh
..... ....Since the sanctuary of Our
Lady of Lebanon was erected on the top of Harissa, visitors come from the
whole world and from different religions and beliefs. The most important event
was especially the visit of the Pope John Paul II in May 1997. Coming from
the Pope Embassy he entered the Basilica and saluted the handicapped people
in the front than he went outside were 150.000 people gathered waiting for
him. Then his holiness addressed a message to the Lebanese youth. Thousands
of visitors come everyday to Harissa, especially in feasts and remarkable
events like to welcome the relic of St Therese in October 2002 and when the
sanctuary received the statue of the virgin of Fatima in August 2003. For
that, Harissa will always remain a place of holiness and reverence..... ....
The place where I am staying is called Bethainia, Harissa and from the steps of the meeting place of the conference hall I can see a statue of St Paul looking down over the Mediterranean. Later I will post photos of this reverent picture.
My testimony is to what happened yesterday that was a moment in history. Many of us went to a men's prison both men and women volunteers of various countries in prison ministry. There was a mass held with many dignitaries of many churches and denominations present and a youth choir of teenage boys and girls from the Maronite (Catholic) church of Lebanon. It was held in the courtyard where the prisoners normally walk. We sat very close to the men prisoners and God prompted me to go and sit in amongst them. I chose to sit right at the front and next to me was a man unshaven of about 50. I said Hallo and he said Hallo in perfect English. Wow! He was from Cyprus but had never had the desire to learn Arabic. I learnt that his father had been in the second world war and had settled in England where this man was born. I asked his name but it was difficult to pronounce and I couldn't write it down at the time. God makes it so easy when we step out in faith and in His strength Next I looked back and saw a man just behind me. I asked him his name and it was Elias, he readily told me he was a condemned prisoner and serving 20 years and that he had already done five. Later after communion (a piece of bread but no wine) he came to sit down next to me. I told him that Jesus loved him and so did I - he thanked me. I said this as well to the other gentleman from Cyprus and he teared up. Most of these prisoners were carrying Bibles with them and were sincere in their reverance to God. Praise the Lord that you prepared the way through the servants here in Lebanon that you called to Prison Ministry at this prison and the fruits in these men that are ripening.
Whilst I was sat in the hot sun along with many others I looked up at the sky and saw a lone bird flying around below the clouds and I prayed that these men would be freed to fly high and spread their wings for God. I saw leadership in Elias and told him so and also said that he must share his faith in God with other prisoners - I saw the gratefulness in his eyes that I didn't think of him merely as a prisoner. Of course this way of thinking has come about through my voluntary ministry at the ladies prison in Bahrain. Thank you Lord for preparing the way.
Are you ready for this This service was conducted during Ramadan - the miracle is that this was granted during this "Holy" month. Of course there were prisoners of that faith shouting from behind the bars of their rooms down onto the courtyard. Some people were disturbed by this both amongst the prisoners and the clergy. I felt that it demonstrated the powerful presence of God that was reaching to the lost and they responded!
Another miracle! British and American are seen as "foreigners" and are not welcomed at the prison, yet we were granted permission. We had to show our passports and interestingly the foreigners were called first before the Lebanese, Syrians, Sudanese, Mauritania, Egyptian volunteers. Our passports were held by the prison guards until after the service when they were returned.
My heart was breaking as I left the prison. No one else seemed as affected though that didn't mean they weren't, but held it in. Later I was shown a scripture by the Lord in Isaiah 63 :9 where he says
" In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
This gave me peace that these men would be restored in His time and for His plan and purpose.
History was made in that television cameras were waiting as we walked out of the gate - a precious and maybe pivotal spiritual moment - it certainly was for me. Thank you Lord with all my heart for the gift of this godly time here in Lebanon. Amen.
I want to share just one story that has touched my heart deeply. In the prison is a lady who is serving 25 years. I learnt this only a couple of weeks ago. When I first met this lady 2 years ago she was sullen, did not meet my eyes and kept her head down, I also sensed an unease amongst the other ladies when she was there. Gradually after staying away once or twice she began coming regularly to the meetings and she started to smile now and again. One day I gave her a big hug and told her to keep strong and that I loved her.
Since that time she gives the most amazing hugs and tells me she loves me. Moreover the other ladies respect her and give up their seat for her when she comes in the room. This lady did something very bad and had I known that right at the beginning and being very new into this ministry I would have had a hard time loving her unconditionally. God guards our hearts and in His perfect time reveals the truth. God has changed her heart, now His heart of love beats in her. What an awesome God we serve!!
I send out a newsletter each week after visiting the prison, that circulates all around the world. There are many prayers from many different nations that are the foundation and guidance through the Holy Spirit, of this vital ministry.
When you are called to a ministry, whatever it is, you recognise God's voice calling you. Best of all you realise that God has been fully equipping you over many years for such a time as this.
God Bless to you all, it is truly an honor to be amongst so many dedicated to a ministry closest to God's heart.
I and my family lived in Qatar for five years before moving to Bahrain. During the last year in Qatar God led me to the scripture from Isaiah 61 - verse 1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners
I put a date against this scripture each time the Lord guided me there
17 Feb 06 - I arrived in Bahrain in May 06 and within three months of arriving the doors to the prison ministry were opened.
God moves in mysterious ways. This prison ministry came about through another church not my own. I felt compelled to leave my church where I had been only a matter of months, for a period of two weeks, to attend the services at a church that happened to be in my compound. This enabled me to join the home group just around the corner from my home, where I put down my name on a list to volunteer for the prison ministry. I then returned to my church. God's grace was evident in the love and understanding that I received from my church when I left and when I returned.
One day in August (3 months on) I received a phone call from the church secretary asking if I was still interested in volunteering and I said Yes. From the first month of visiting the ladies I found myself heading up the prison ministry and those that had made the arrangements with the prison to open its doors, fell away.
The ease with which all this came about was without doubt pre-destined by God. The lack of suspicion when we first went through the doors told me without a shadow of a doubt that God was walking by our side and had gone ahead before us to prepare the way.
Within a month we brought in Bibles which at first were scrutinised by the Captain and put away on a shelf because they couldn't interpret the different translations. I spoke to them and told them that each book said the same as the English version. Still they were suspicious but allowed us to hand them out to the ladies and then they would hand them back to the guard at the end of the meeting. One meeting during the second month some of the volunteers handed out Bibles in the meeting and the ladies were allowed to take them back to their rooms - that was the breakthrough and we have not experienced any resistance since even when books had been banned at the men's prison because they had found drugs inside them. Praise the Lord!!!
Each Thursday morning those volunteers who are rostered come along, sometimes we have interpreters but not all the time. We are always greeted with smiles by the Captain and prison guards as we walk in the door. We are known as Discover Christians The Discover Islam people come on another day of the week.
After greeting each lady with hugs or touching cheeks we open in prayer then use a story from the Bible along with pictures and role play. Each time I lead, the theme of the lesson has come through prophetically .I give God ALL the glory! The ladies love the role play and it raises some much needed smiles. Songs they have grown to love are simple songs Jesus loves me and How great is our God. Sometimes the ladies sing songs in their own language.
We then split up into groups and listen to individual prayer needs. Whenever someone asks for clothes, air-tickets or any monies we always say that God will provide. Something we have learned recently is that the needs become greater and greater so now we say that we will speak to the authorities. The ladies at this prison are well looked after with clean peach coloured uniforms, good food, radios and a regular hospital checkup. It is obvious from the talks I and other volunteers have had with the prison staff that they care and want to help in any way they can.
The benefits that have come from this prison ministry are many. Unity amongst the churches has come about through the prison volunteers from the various churches in Bahrain. God gave me this word UNITY before I arrived in Bahrain. In the first home meeting the prayer time was given to unity amongst the churches. How awesome is that??
Most importantly the ladies do not feel abandoned, they feel God's love in a desperate time of their lives. We never ask any questions about the details of their mistakes - because that's what they are -mistakes, a wrong choice. God has impressed on me time and time again that we as volunteers are sinners too and we are to go into that prison humble and grateful for every moment He gives us to spend with these precious children of God. This is our time to make a difference - to usher the lost into His Kingdom.
Now you have moved me to tears Gasen - Praise His mighty and wonderful Name that he never leaves us or forsakes us and that his love endures forever. Thank you Lord that when we turn back to you and surrender ourselves to trust and have faith in You that you use us in greater measure for Your plan and purpose.
On Friday 26/9 - 2/10 I will be flying to Lebanon to take part in a Prison Training Conference run by Prison Fellowship International, for six days, to represent the Gulf and Bahrain. The site where the conference hall is situated is in Harissa. Over the six days many of us will do a prison visit as well as visit historical and Christian sites - what a photo opportunity
Taken directly from e-mails.
Roy who has co-ordinated this conference is the Regional Envoy for Prison Fellowship International - website www.pfi.org
The support PFI can provide is thru the network and fellowship between the national ministries (over 100 countries worldwide) as well as in training and development etc...
Thank you Lord - it is all for YOUR glory!!!!
This year we will concentrate more on Leadership and resources, although we will have an introduction on Restorative Justice and a day of Retreat (with the participation of the Lebanon volunteers), with a time to address specific questions and concerns.
This training time covers the five foundations (Spiritual-leadership - Programs - Organisation - Resources) or focuses on one or two of them.
The Theme chosen is : "Let us be transformed and renewed"
Countries participating are : Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania and Bahrain.
Trainers will be local but also Singapore, USA, UK, from PFI. Tim Khoo the PFI vice president will be a main trainer.
I was GREATLY moved by the Testemonies of my VERY Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Drove me to tears of Joy & Marvel at What the Lord has Done in their lives. So i feel i too should give Glory to God. I turned off Religion early in my life & developed finally to a FANATIC Atheist & VERY Anti Christ & the Bible.i would pick on Christians to Attack them & try to Disprove their faith & convince them of the Non Existance of God & that there is no life after death & that we all came about through Evolution ( i was affected by Darwinism & Neo Darwinism). Deep inside though, i was Really Searching for a meaning in life & thinking that Since Death is the End, why live Longer...I mistook Pleasure for Happiness & immersed myself in that...But All was Temorary & the more the more depression. One day i met a Young Vibrant Christian Believer & as Usual started attacking his faith & to prove a point i was making against Christ,i took out a Big Anti Christian Book i had & wanted to quote from it Against Jesus.... But when i opened this Book....SUDDENLY ALL THE PAGES TURNED WHITE....Even my Handwritten anti christ Notes at the Books' Margins...WERE ALL WIPED OUT...I Was SHOCKED ( even NOW my hair stands on end). It was as if the God i SOO much Hated was telling Me:" Gasen, who do you think you are to try & Disprove ME, i WIPE out ALL your so called Proofs". i lay awake All night thinking" then there IS a GOD & the BIBLE IS TRUE & JESUS IS REAL after all..." And then i made my Decision & told HIM: GOD i don't know YOU & have attacked you allways ,I am NOT Good ...I DO NOT DESERVE Your Grace...But Please Do take over My life & Forgive Me for all the Bad things i did." Instantly i felt The Great Presence of GOD in the Room FILLING me With JOY JOY i was Floating from Happiness...And I felt JESUS coming & Hugged me.....I slept then 2 hrs & got up A NEW PERSON....Life , the World ALL looked Good ...Everything fell into place.I KNEW i was FORGIVEN & WILL BE WITH the LORD IN HEAVEN. I went around to my Friends, relatives Telling them that THERE IS A GOD...they were STUNNED ,since i was always trying to prove the opposite...Many Came to Christ in time...Including both my parents & Also my Atheist Brother(DR Surgeon)..That increased My Joy a lot. True i am now an Engineer Building Bridges , But My real Goal is Building Bridges between People & CHRIST.
I created this space so everyone could share there story of how and when they became a Christian. Mine is extremely simple and boring I'm afraid. I became a Christian while studying the cell in 8th grade when I realize that no one had an accurate answer for "So what makes it living?) Or (How do the atoms know what elements that they should join with so they can create a living cell?). And then it hit me that someone had to design it all (write the laws and build it from the ground up) and maintain it for it is so complex. This led me straight to God as all as the line of work that I am aiming for.
Whats your journey/story? We would love to here it for if we could perhaps it might inspire and encourage us to continue down the steep and narrow road known as Christendom.