Category: Miracles

MEET MIKE AND BETH Part Five

BLOG 50 August 7, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE! Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world? Read and you’ll find new insights.

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            While Mike and Beth were pastoring a church, much of Beth’s time was given to pastoral care. A young woman came for counseling because she and her husband had not been able to conceive a child. She was coming to the end of her rope and beginning to believe it would never happen. Despair had settled in. Let’s return to a story from the July 12 Blog.

After anointing her with consecrated oil, Beth laid her hands on the woman’s head and prayed. Much like the story from I Samuel 1:11-20 when Hannah came to Shiloh to pray for a child, the young woman earnestly pleaded for God to work. Beth had an unusual feeling that as she interceded, she sensed the woman would conceive.

Nine months later, a beautiful baby was born. During the next few years, the couple had more children. The family was convinced that the turning point came during those earlier moments of prayer. Always hesitant to share this story because of how it might be received by other parents seeking a child, Beth believes the anointing, laying on of hands, and prayer provided a special encounter with grace as the Lord of life brought forth new life. After the child was born, Beth celebrated the baptism of this child.

The gift of life had been given and consecrated.

New life came in a different form for Mike. In 1983, as he was preparing for the morning Easter service, he knelt down at the church’s altar rail to thank God for the resurrection of Jesus and for the impartation of new life to His people for over 2,000 years. He was praising God for setting believers free from fear when he had a distinct sense of someone standing with him.

Mike looked up and on the other side of the rail the risen Christ stood with his hands extended. Mike stared in astonishment. The Christ said, “I am alive forever.” Mike’s heart pounded as he stared at the figure that was clearly there and yet transparent. As he watched, the figure of Jesus faded.

The encounter burned a new level of conviction into his mind. A higher degree of assurance had been established. A monumental landmark gave birth to a new boldness in proclaiming enduring hope. He had seen a miracle.

Beth initiated a divine response; Mike received a direct intervention. Two forms of heaven touching earth. Pay attention. The Holy Spirit is still at work.

 

 

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MEET MIKE AND BETH Part Four

BLOG 49 July 31, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE! Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world? Read and you’ll find new insights.

set-free

            Alcoholism is a disease for which there are significant medical treatments. At the same time, some forms of the addiction become a vehicle for evil. Alcoholism is not the only problem that is both a medical problem as well as the tool for evil intrusion. Often at the root of the problem are experiences that have created guilt or anxiety that the victims use alcohol to cover. In the last blog, I reported how the Bishops Mike and Beth Owen encountered evil and began a ministry of defeating the demonic invasion that has swept across this country. Here’s another example from their experience.

Mike’s father called about him and Beth ministering to a fellow worker whose addiction to alcohol was destroying the man’s life and pushing him to contemplate suicide. After picking up a friend who had experienced a miraculous recovery from addiction before entering the ministry, they went to the man’s house. Their friend was always soft spoken.

The curtains were drawn and the unkempt house was cold, and dark. A stale heaviness hung in the air, making the room smell like a dilapidated bar. An evil aura seemed to hover around the house. When the door opened, the blurry-eyed man stood there extremely drunk. At once, he dropped to his knees and grabbed the Owens’ friends around the legs.
“Christ forgive me,” the drunk sobbed. “Have mercy on me.”

In contrast to what they expected, Mike’s friend shouted with sternness, “Come out of him you spirit of addiction and you spirit of alcoholism!” The minister kept demanding release to break the hold Evil had on the drunk.

“Do you want to relinquish your life into the hands of Christ?”

“Yes!” he cried. “Oh, yes!”

“Be set free!” the minister exclaimed.

The drunk stopped sobbing and abruptly stood up. The awful odor and stench of alcohol seemed to float away from the room. His face cleared and brightness returned to his eyes. Peacefulness settled around him. In a matter of minutes, he had gone from complete intoxication to sobriety and a countenance of contentment.

The possession by Evil had been broken.

Whether the release would be considered a miracle or not, it was certainly a divine intervention. In these incidents, Mike and Beth realized that they were growing in their ability to minister with empowerment. Their ability to enter into the realm of the miraculous was increasing.

In the days ahead, they would be a formidable foe of evil. Their path is not unique. Anyone can decide to stand against evil and learn how to become a vehicle for divine intervention.

 

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MEET LESLIE Part 7

BLOG 44 June 26, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

miraclesandhope

           Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world? Read and you’ll find new insights.

My blogs not only offer my findings with people who had divine intervention experiences, but analyze what occurred so you can learn insights that will apply to your life. I hope to bring a return of the miraculous to the local church. I began because of the realization that local churches have often lost touch with appropriating the empowerment and gifts that our heavenly Father offers.

Was there ever a time when we needed the insight more?

Because Leslie Draper has an ongoing ministry with hurting people, we have looked at her work for a number of sessions. This is the final opportunity to discover her insights. Take another look.

Sensitivity to Others

Her own struggles made Leslie highly sensitive to hurting people. She is immediately available to ease their pain. She will quickly tell anyone that her ministry is not about her or her needs. Her focus is on others and her concern is key to her ministry.

Do we have the same focus? The vast majority of the population would have to answer no. Recently, a friend was having lunch in a public restaurant when an elderly man began choking. With people all around him, no one moved and most looked away. Finally, my friend jumped up and performed the Heimlich Maneuver that saved the man’s life. Apparently, he was the only one in the restaurant focused on the man’s obvious need.

Because the heavenly Father is concerned for the well-being of every living creature, our concern for others brings us into touch with His work in the world. We are moved closer to an experience of divine intervention. Sensitivity to hurting people helps to position us to discover the miraculous.

 Intuition

Intuitiveness is an internal part of knowing. Our personal, inner mental resources inform us about reality and we rely on the internal insights to guide us. That’s how intuition operates. Leslie Draper has always been a highly intuitive person. On the other hand, people who are extroverts develop their sense of reality from outside themselves. They look around and observe what they can see beyond themselves and then make decisions. They are outer-oriented. However, prayer and meditation cultivate intuitiveness. Leslie’s talks with angels grew out of her listening with an “inner” ear. Reconsider your own intuitiveness as a factor in ministry.

The Holy Spirit

            While Leslie’s earliest experiences with church people gave her problems, they also imparted an extremely important dimension to her life. The Pentecostal Church emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit. Early in her development, Leslie learned to listen inwardly to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking in her mind. Guidance came much like her thought processes operated. She had learned to listen with attentiveness to the inner voice that came from the Holy Spirit – and angels.

Leslie would tell you that being attuned to the Holy Spirit is the key to all of her other divine intervention experiences.

 

 

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MEET LESLIE Part 6

BLOG 43 June 19, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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Robert Wise explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. Can 21st century people believe the hand of God still touches people today? Read and you’ll find new insights.

A number of important insights can be discovered through previous blogs describing Leslie Draper’s ministry. Let’s take a last look. Five words can define some of our discoveries. This week we’ll examine two of those insights and finish the other three words next week. While much of what Leslie does is unique, anyone can develop similar skills by working down the same path she has followed.

  1. Struggle

Leslie’s childhood was filled with difficulties. There is a dictum in psychology that creativity arises from pain. Suffering enlarges the soul with new openness. Leslie’s difficulties are an important part of what developed her ministry. Divine interventions often occur during hardships and pain.

Everyone has struggles they don’t like to remember, but possibly yours has more value than you realize. Could there be significance in returning to the past and examining how your soul might have been opened with a far a greater potential than you recognized?

A Confederate soldier’s prayer has been on my desk for so long that I no longer remember where it came from, but it presents the possibilities in our struggles. We may have overlooked important insights in many of our previous battles.

I asked for strength that I might achieve; He made me weak that I  might obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given grace that I might

do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that

I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy

all things.

I received nothing that I asked for, all that I hope for.

My prayer was answered. Amen.

Take a second look at your life. There may be more there spiritually than you expected. Pain can be the source of gain.

  1. Openness

Even a brief conversation with Leslie leaves the impression that fidelity is an essential part of her existence. She is a spiritually obedient person. Highly instructive for us!

It’s common for people to say, “Oh, I’m quite open –but I wouldn’t do that.” Whatever that is, points to the fact they’re actually not as open as they thought. It’s important to examine our ideals and convictions. Some people never experience the realm of divine happenings because they live inside closed boundaries.

Leslie’s recommendation? Open your heart and eyes to people who are around you. Don’t be afraid to pray with them and for them. We all grow through such encounters. No one knows what their capacities might be except as they reach out to anyone in need.

 

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MEET LESLIE Part 3

BLOG 39 May 8, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world? Read and you’ll find new insights.

Leslie is a graduate of East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma and attended law school for a year but a severe relapse in her Multiple Sclerosis condition ended her studies. Always highly intuitive, she had natural insight. For a period of time, Leslie worked as a Social Worker with the Child Welfare Department in Oklahoma. But that was only a backdrop for what she does today.

Leslie receives angelic messages and passes them on to struggling people.

For example, a lady came to see Leslie and was obviously skeptical. She would tell Leslie nothing about herself and only asked if the angels had any information for her. The lady sat across the desk with a look that almost dared Leslie to say something.

When Leslie is helping people, she makes it clear that she personally has nothing to offer. In a straightforward manner, she explains that Leslie Draper is highly fallible. All she can do is convey an angelic message that she probably doesn’t understand. In my private conversations with Leslie, she explained it is possible for her “to mess up” what the angels are communicating. Sometimes she may seem to have “static” in her mind and be a faulty link. However, what the angels are communicating is never wrong. All of this understanding was communicated to the lady.

The client listened and silently nodded while her eyes conveyed doubt.

As she usually does, Leslie leaned sideways and silently listened while nodding slightly as if overhearing a conversation in the next room. (She says the angels speak very softly) Finally, Leslie straightened and told the lady that the angels said, “Find the ring.”

The women’s face turned white. Her mouth dropped. She appeared ready to run for the door. Startled, Leslie had no idea what had occurred.

“What’s wrong?” Leslie asked. “I have no idea what the answer meant.”

The lady caught her breath. “Twenty years ago. I was going to marry a man who died one week before our wedding. I was devastated and of course, no rings were exchanged. Recently, I started wishing I had a ring simply to wear. I never found a ring that I liked, but I kept the search a secret. No one knew. Today, the angels told me to ‘find the ring.’”

Leslie’s ministry was authenticated for this doubter.

Do angels attempt to help us live our lives? Leslie’s answer is an absolute “yes.” While many people will not have the depth of experience that she has, they are still directed by angelic beings.

Our need? Practice tuning in!

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MEET LESLIE

BLOG 37 April 24, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world? Read and you’ll find new insights.

Leslie Draper remains a most interesting person.

Unfortunately, Leslie Draper was born into a world with problems. Her country church was primitive, fundamentalist, and Pentecostal on the crazy side. They taught that it was the husband’s duty to discipline his children – and wife. And the result? Horrendous fights at home! Beating the wife was acceptable because he would only be straightening out a problem. His wife!

Leslie Draper’s father was an oil field “rough neck” and her mother a homemaker, living in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. The mother and father ended up in violent brawls as she tried to protect herself while he was throwing anything in sight and screaming at her. Awakened at night during one of these fights, Leslie peeked around the corner as plates and glasses sailed through the air. A flying glass of water hit Leslie. The thump on the head and their shrill free-for-all’s terrified the little four-year-old child and sent Leslie running for cover. The panicked child scrambled to her bedroom where her two-year-old brother lay sound asleep. To her astonishment, in the corner stood a massive female-like figure with long flowing hair. Leslie stared in amazement. The figure smiled and suddenly Leslie felt safe. No one spoke aloud, but Leslie knew this figure was there for her well-being and she could go back to sleep with the assurance she was protected. Only later did Leslie come to understand who this figure was.

She was communicating with an angel.

As Leslie reflects on those earliest years, she now realizes that those angelic experiences were actually preparing her for the future and a ministry. The problems had a purpose, but it took time to understand what this difficult period meant.

When she was in the first grade, Leslie’s parents divorced and her father quickly remarried, giving Leslie a stepmother. For a period of time, she did not experience what she had seen in those earliest years. Leslie was in the third grade, when the angelic appearances began again. Leslie wasn’t sure what to think but her “friends” had returned. The challenges were starting all over again.

When I met Leslie, she was introduced to me as a person who talked with angels and conveyed their messages. Of course, I was skeptic. However, as Leslie shared her work with troubled people, I realized she was devout, sincere, and really did have a direct communication with angels. She loved God and was devoted to Jesus Christ. Her personal theology and life style was as authentic as they come.

In the following weeks, I will share some of her encounters that will help you gain new insights into the world of miracles. You will find the journey fascinating.

Stay tuned!

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MEET SUSAN THE NEXT CHAPTER

Blog 33 March 27, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world? Read and you’ll find new insights.

Last week, I shared Susan Conway’s first encountered divine interventions. A hard-working, mother of three grown children, she is now a successful businesswomen. However, her personal life continues to be open to whatever her heavenly Father wishes to bring. Her experience of divine gifts continues and is an encouragement to anyone seeking the door that opens for discovering the miraculous dimension.

Susan became aware that she loved the attributes of God, but didn’t really love the person of God. While she didn’t know how to reach further, she wanted more of a relationship. Often she cried about her limitation. Susan wanted to be honest but wasn’t sure how to proceed to a more loving connection.

Unexpectedly, Susan’s mother was moved to the hospital because of her serious heart trouble. Susan’s spiritual struggle was becoming even more intense. She wrestled with the possibilities of what might be happening to her mother. In the middle of the night, she awoke. Going into the bathroom where she could be completely alone, she got down on her knees and cried out, “I need to hear from you, Lord. I have no qualifications for you to talk to me, but I must know what is ahead. Please tell me.”

This was her first experience of talking directly to God in such a straight-forward manner.

Because Susan grew up in a church that put a strong emphasis on the scripture, a Bible was at hand. She picked it up and it fell open. Susan immediately read Isaiah 14:3, “It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow and from fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve …” Another translation said, “her hard service is completed, comfort, comfort …”

Susan knew her mother was going to die. And she did.

The voice of God had come to her through the printed words of scripture. She had been taught this was the way God continued to speak, except this incident was different and far more personal. The words were out of the biblical context and yet they fit her perfectly. She knew God Himself was speaking directly to her. Later she realized that as strange as it sounds, she had actually given God permission to speak. Another passage came to her mind. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in …” Susan realized that people have free will and the Holy Spirit waits for us to use that capacity of invitation before He enters someone’s life. We have to open the door. She had invited God to speak and He did! Another new dimension of spiritual insight had been give to her.

WHEN THERE IS NO MIRACLE
Robert Wise’s classic on overcoming pain and suffering
For help with struggles: get a new copy

 

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I am the way…

BLOG 30 March 6, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world?

Read and you’ll find new insights.

For help with struggles: get a new copy
WHEN THERE IS NO MIRACLE
Robert Wise’s classic on overcoming tragedy

            And how do we pray for miracles? Intercession is more like wires hooking up electricity to a house. The power was always there but it had to be transmitted to the point of need. Praying and laying on of hands has not only been following a scriptural directive, but are also making points of connection.

I have watched a number of ministers visit in hospital rooms. Most often, they offer a perfunctory prayer for well being and then leave. Actually, placing one’s hand on a person in need and praying for divine activity to flow into the person is an entirely different matter. The intercessor becomes a divine connection of renewing spiritual electricity.

When people pray with such intent, they send life to the places where destruction has been at work. I have never found anyone who could tell me what “life” is. My daughter-in-law is a medical doctor and we’ve had this discussion before. Death is easily described but defining life is elusive. With new life in our physical system, we can fight off cancer; without it, a simple infection can destroy us.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In an indefinable way, Jesus was the embodiment of life. What we have labeled as miracles are experiences infused with the substance we call life. The recipients are filled with a new possibility. Life!

Life is embodied in many additional entities that are all around us. Flowers, trees, nature are alive because they contain life. A walk through a primeval forest energizes one because the shrubs, ancient trees, animals, all contain and convey life. As people age, it is important to stay in touch with such living entities. Those who lock themselves up in empty rooms are allowing life to slip away. The opposite is true with people who play with children, hug pets, and revitalize themselves with on-going sources of vitality.

Life comes to us from the source of all vivification. Divine intervention imparts life. We grow up hearing people talk about “the God world” as if it is up there, beyond the clouds, or “way over there.” Eternity is always someplace far, far away. Fortunately, the stories of the resurrection of Jesus give us a different picture. As he abruptly appeared to the apostles and then disappeared, Jesus demonstrated that heaven is “right here,” in our midst (John 20:19-23). On the Emmaus road, Jesus appeared and talked with the two men. After breaking bread (Holy Communion), when the men recognized him, Jesus disappeared, but they had experience him and that imparted life. (Luke 24;13-31) The resurrected Lord moved back and forth between these two realms, heaven and earth. That movement continues and imparts life.

I conclude that these stories demonstrate that divine intervention continues to impart life even to this day, even to you.

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