Miracles off the beaten track

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I'd like to hear about any miracles from God that folks have experienced in their lives - those incidents that are so mind-boggling that they would sound far-fetched and outlandish, except for the fact that they are true.

I'll start with something that happened to me just as I was beginning to think about the idea of becoming a Christian.

I was driving on the highway on my way home from work one Friday evening in a horrendous thunder and lightening storm - very uncommon in my area. As I was passing a grove of fir trees, lightening struck the top of the tallest tree and snapped off the top 20 feet of the trunk. It sailed through the air - on fire like a blazing missile - and came straight at me. It landed dead ahead of my car, flames leaping in the air. I was too close to steer around it, and going too fast to stop. My car should've hit it - but it didn't. It didn't touch it. Somehow I and my car ended up on the other side and kept going.

Less than 5 minutes later I was on the winding backroads and the accelerator cable on my car broke. The car was in full throttle and hurtling down the road. I had the brakes to the floorboard and nothing happened. I was afraid to shut off the motor because I'd lose the power steering, and I was having trouble keeping it on the road. I finally got to a long straight stretch of road and put the engine in neutral, and coasted to a stop. By this time the smoke and steam were pouring out of the engine. I later learned that had this happened while I was on the highway at the speed I was driving, I probably would've lost complete control of the car...and crashed.

I've thought about those two incidents from that night, and more and more I realize that yet again, even when I was still pretty far away from Him, God was really pretty close to me.

[Jeannieb43]

What examples of miracles!! Your guardian angel was watching over you, Pam!

I recall one occasion when I was a child and my parents and sister and I were driving late at night in a strange city. In those days there were no freeways, and my father lost the highway route signs as we went through an industrial section of the city. We were just stopped in a dead-end street and daddy was making a U-turn to get out of there, when another car stopped across from us, the driver got out and walked over to our car and asked if we were lost. When Dad told him which route we were looking for, he said, "Follow me; I'll take you there." We were afraid it was some kind of trap. But we cautiously followed. He led us through a maze of buildings and over railroad track sidings and back roads, then finally onto a bridge which had high iron sides so one could not see the river below. We had to pay toll at that bridge, and when we got across to the other side the car ahead of us had disappeared, but we were on our highway route safely again.

We always believed that man was an angel.

[Gail]

Twice a nasty ex-friend of my ex was angrily headed over to our house to do him harm. For some reason he stopped, both times, at the town before ours

I thanked God for that one

[Gail]

My ex used to do a lot of travelling for work. He would drive old, beat up vehicles

Once a trailer hitch broke when he was on the side of a cliff. The loose trailer did not pull him over

Another time he had an axle break on him just as a friend of his, not from the area and coming from the opposite direction, flagged him down toute de suite. So not only did he NOT crash (he was pulling a heavy trailer) but he had help there that really shouldn't have been

I used to ask him how he could NOT believe in God? But to this day I don't think he's given his heart to the Lord

[Morning Glory]

What wonderful "stories" of divine protection!! I have to add mine......

This is back in the day with my "ex." He was driving a van and I was in the front passenger seat. We were at a "T" intersection, and he had already pulled into the intersection to turn when a VERY fast moving vehicle came over the hill to my right. I KNEW that I was dead......but "somehow" he was able to put the van in reverse and get out of the way. I will always believe that he had "help" with that maneuver!! It still gives me the chills to think about that event. And, I thank God each time that I do remember for His loving kindness in saving my life that day.

[Clio]

Last year, during the worst of my husband's health crisis, I purchased a little Toyota Tercel. It's old, beat up, and gets 35 mpg.

But it's worn out. I drove it for 6 months leaking oil like a seive, before I could take it to a mechanic.

I drove it into his garage, and he opened the hood. Then he went outside and looked around the parking lot. He came back inside and said, "How did you get this car here?"

"I drove it," I told him. He shook his head in disbelief.

"This car should not even start. It's missing bearings, seals, and vacuum hoses. How long have you been driving it?"

"6 months".

He about fell over. I then told him that I prayed over my car every day, because we couldn't afford to fix it at all, and I prayed that no mechanical failure would keep me from walking the path Abba ordained for me to walk.

I'm still driving that car, and he's still shaking his head, because it just shouldn't be running... again.

Once, the previous year, another car broke as I was driving home. I was two miles from the house, on flat roads, with multiple stop signs and turns. As I was driving along, all of a sudden the engine started racing, totally unconnected to the wheels. As I realized what happened, I said aloud, "Jesus, I need angel power! Get me home, I can't get there on crutches and it's -20!"

The car slowed to make each turn, then picked up speed to exactly the speed limit 3 times. When W/we got to our driveway, the angel executed a perfect 3-point parking job, and parked right in front of our garage. When thanking Abba, True Jesus and the angel, the distinct impression I got was angels like to flex their muscles occasionally too... with a Holy Spirit bubble of joy.

Once last year, we were in desperate financial need for medicines for my husband. I paid all the bills, and somehow wound up with an extra $300 in our checking account. I left that money there until the very last second, to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and then bought his meds. Nothing ever bounced and there were no extra deposits. I still have no idea where that money came from except from Jesus.

And then there are all the "just in time" basics are a regular part of my life, the spiritual miracles, the casting out of a demon from my husband, Passover mercy for my son, the prophetic gift of my two daughters, me eldest's vision of Jesus as she was baptized, and when He came to save her from becoming a witch. Literally on the day of her initiation.

He's AWESOME!

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/sparkleheart.gif" alt="" />

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/couch2.gif" alt="" /> ::sits back in delight::

I love reading these kinds of stories!!!

[phkrause]

When I was first married I got this bill (can't remember the exact amount anymore, its been way to many years). So we had a choice either pay the bill and not pay tithe or vica versa. So we prayed about it and took that promise in the bible (not sure if its in malachi or where) and told the Lord that we'ed pay our tithe and offerings and the bill and he would have to do the rest. We got a check in the mail for some refund or something that was exactly to the penny. I'll never forget that. It was awesome. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/untitled.bmp" alt="" />

pkrause

[Michelle]

When I was a kid I rode horses--raised with them, and always owned at least one. My favorite was an appaloosa gelding who was so sweet and precious. I had him through high school. My senior year in high school I was cantering him along an unpaved back road I used all the time. We came to a place where it diverged, one place going straight and around, the other place going down a rather steep hill. I had taken him on this many times, so we headed that way again. This time, when we started down the hill, he stumbled. The force and momentum threw me off in front of him. I looked up and saw his hoof coming straight for my head, inches away. I closed my eyes and passed out. When I came to, he was standing at some distance from me, eating. I was in a different location from where I had fallen. I had no marks at all (though was woozy from the concussion). I've always wondered exactly what happened. I think my angel must have moved me somehow. I've always wondered what it looked like from a distance, if anyone was watching (not likely--it was near a recreation area, but during the week there were not many people around). Would they have seen my angel? Would I have floated through the air?

M

[Pockey]

God makes miracles for criminals too. I was 15, not old enough for a license yet, and got into the bad habit of taking my parents car for a ride when they were out. Well, one night while they were visiting their friends, I took their car for a ride, this time I was speeding. It was at night, and I saw the blue lights flashing in my rear view mirror. Too afraid to stop since I didn't have a license, I proceeded to try to outrun the cop. I also thought it was a smart move to turn my headlights off so that he wouldn't see me. So after a few miles of being chased on a dark winding road, basically he ran me off the road into a ditch and I hit a telephone pole with the police car landing on top of my car on its side, missing me by a few inches. I was able to get out of the car with just a few scratches on my legs. Seeing the photographs later of the car I was driving, it is a miracle I am alive now.

[Gail]

Oh, Sid!!!

[Clio]

Yikes!

It's called Passover Mercy, Sid. And only children of parents who pray, and adults who ask specifically by the Blood of the Lamb, are eligible.

You had a praying parent.

[Pockey]

I just got goosebumps. I know my mom prayed a lot for me every night, still does.

[Clio]

Those are Abba bumples, Sid. Learn to recognize them... I've noticed it's how the Holy Spirit kinda "rings the truth bell".

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Another *miracle* - well....series of miracles - that happened to me was how I ended up back in the Adventist church. Here's the condensed version:

I was very content in my pagan pathway - I had a very good job, was almost done with my PhD, I had money, cool car - whatever I wanted, I could get - some things with money; other things through the Craft. In 1999 I got injured on the job, and ended up having surgery on my hands and arm. I lost my job because I couldn't do the exhaustive physical labor it required. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Then my former employer tried to block my workers comp payments. Oh...and I got hit with the Enron debaucle as well...so much for owning 2500 shares. []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_rolleyes.gif[/]

I ended up getting trained on a rather rare piece of medical equipment in 2000, and held that job for two years - still trotting merrily down my witch's path. Then, out of the blue, I got a call to come interview for a job - where I would be using the same rare piece of equipment. I was not interested in another job, but it was offered to me.

Incidentally, the company I began to work for was new. My boss had planned to open it in the Seattle area, but because of unforeseen circumstances, he decided it would be better to open it in the Portland area - in 2002. Now, mind you, I had been studiously avoiding Adventists as much as I could. I didn't like them, and didn't want anything to do with them. So where was this new job? About 500 feet from the Oregon SDA Conference offices.

I thought to myself, well, I'd just come to work from the opposite direction so I wouldn't have to go by the conference. That seemed reasonable. THEN I found out that my new boss was also an SDA pastor. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> THEN I found out his marketing director was also an SDA pastor. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Then pastor friends of *those* guys started to visit my boss....I was getting introduced to the very people I thought I hated. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I didn't like it one bit, no sirree - and I almost quit.

My boss would ask me once in awhile about my spiritual life, but I wouldn't let him pursue the subject. I finally told my boss that I was a witch, and I got to give him credit - he didn't bat an eye. He just started talking to me about Jesus, or as much as I would let him - which wasn't much. But over the course of time I did begin to listen. A little. And here I am - still very much a *baby Christian* - but very teachable, very searching.

I keep thinking of all the different churches God could've dropped me in - and He dropped me right back into the Adventist church. Maybe it's not a miracle......coincidence? []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_confused.gif[/] Man, I don't know. It just seems like too many paths converging all on the same spot for me for it to be just happenstance.. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

(sorry this was so long - didn't mean to ramble) <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

[Clio]

Pam, That is very <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/coolhello.gif" alt="" />

Abba invariably takes us where we need to go, to teach us His Truth we need to learn. The journey doesn't end at the SDA church pew, though.

The journey to true freedom in True Jesus is amazing, and wonderful. Do not worry if He seems to be leading you to places and people that are unexpected. He has amazing and awesome things to show you. When people get in the way, refocus on Him.

Abba's blessings on you Pam. You are very loved.