Tag: faith

A FIRESIDE CHAT

Blog 203

June 28, 2021

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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 FIRESIDE CHAT

Only a divine intervention can tell us about the other side of life. Scripture gives only small hints. However, there are surprises along the way that give us pause to consider. I first discovered this story when I was in London some years ago.  It still gives me pause to think.

Then, everyone knew who C. S. Lewis, the famous Oxford Don, was through his writings. J.B Philips is not as well remembered today, but the Anglican Clergyman translated the New Testament into the Philips Translation. This first retranslation of the King James Version was a major success for decades.

Rev. Philips had drifted into poor health and felt he might not be able to continue the modernization of the Old Testament. He left his desk and sat down by the fireplace to consider his dilemma. As he was pondering the problem a familiar voice said, “I want to encourage you. You have important work to do.”

J.B. Philips had not heard his good friend C.S. Lewis enter. He assumed he had been so consumed with his personal issues that he had missed hearing the door open. He and Lewis had been close friends for years.

Dr. Lewis told Philips that he underestimated the impact his translation had all over the world and that the work was more significant than Philips realized and he must continue. The possibilities were enormous.

Philips was startled and realized that he must reconsider. Perhaps, he had allowed his health problems only to obscure his perspective. He assured Lewis he would rethink the matter. He looked back into the fire and then turned to speak. Lewis was gone.

J.B. Philips called for the housekeeper. Where had C.S. Lewis gone? She knew nothing about what he was asking. She did not see him come or go. Philips demanded she call Lewis residence for an explanation. She returned ashen-faced.

“I talked to his housekeeper,” she said. “Mr. Lewis died an hour ago.”

No one would question the integrity of either C.S. Lewis or J.B. Philips. It just happened. What shall we say? Perhaps, the unseen is more real than what we see.

By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention.

Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , Leave a comment

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

Blog 202

June 21, 2021

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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.

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

When Janet Wagner awoke in the middle of the night, she had a head-splitting headache. Janet never had headaches and knew something must be wrong. Abruptly she started to vomit.  For the first time in her life, Janet felt like the top of her head would explode. Janet knew she was in trouble.

The next morning Janet was suppose to be a Bible Study Fellowship teacher, but she knew she could not make it. When she called the supervisor, Janet discovered the woman was a nurse who told her to immediately see the doctor. No telling what the problem might be.

The doctors immediately ordered an x-ray. The tests came back quickly. Three trouble spots on her brain looked suspicious. They had to be tumors and cancer was a real possibility. The internal medicine doctor sent her to a neurologist who quickly called for an MRI. The noise and the tight space of the machine left Janet feeling terrified.

Originally from Ann Arbor, Janet had lived in Denver, Colorado for years. She was raised a Methodist, but attended a Roman Catholic Girl’s prep school. When she grew up, Janet became a successful banker. A quite capable person, Janet Wagner wasn’t easily frightened. She was now.

To confirm his suspicions, the neurologist ordered a biopsy. The medical ateam would drill three holes in her skull to access what looked like tumors at the least. Janet was rightly terrified. Her friends gathered around her bed and prayed.

At 4:00 in the morning, she felt weight settling on her bed like someone sitting down. Instinctively she said, “Lord, is that you?” The voice said, “Yes.” Janet said, “I am really scared.”

“I know and I am with you to the end of time. You won’t have to have the biopsy.” Janet stammered, “Are you sure?” The voice answered, “Yes,” and was gone.

When the doctor walked in, he told Janet that he had changed his mind. An uncertainty had surfaced. They would wait and see what developed. Janet was sent home with some steroids.

Thirty days later, she returned for another MRI. This time they shot dye in her arm and the procedure  seemed to last forever but at least an hour and a half. Janet felt like she was in a coffin and began to be really afraid once more. Already knowing how to pray, she called out for spiritual help. When she looked up, Janet saw a figure standing by the machine. With brown hair to the shoulders and piercing eyes, she knew the person was Jesus. He said, “I am with you. Be not afraid.” And then he was gone.

The x-ray technician had been certain there would be a tumor or evidence of a stroke. He kept ex-raying. Nothing. The three tumors had simply disappeared. The doctor finally came in and said, “You’ve had a miracle! This just doesn’t happen.”

Janet still had the x-rays and showed them to me. I’m certainly no radiologists, but I could see clearly the before and after. The spots were gone;

Janet Wagner did have a miracle!

By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention.

Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , Leave a comment

A GENTLE NUDGE

Blog 198

May 23, 2021

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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 GENTLE NUDGE  

Many of my blogs convey stories of dramatic encounters that bring surprising changes and unexpected results. Miracles can certainly be like that.  However, divine interventions often occur without people realizing what is happening.  Sometimes we need to be alert to the possibility that God is working when we aren’t aware. This was the case with Lois Stagner.

Lois was a member of a local congregation and had been for years. She began to notice that her arm felt “funny.” Something wasn’t quite right.  She ignored the problem believing whatever it was would soon pass. Two and a half weeks went by. The arm didn’t get better.

Finally, Lois went to a hospital and her arm was checked out by the professionals. They didn’t find anything and reassured her there was no problem. Next Lois turned to a scanning machine that again reported she was okay.  However, Lois felt uneasy. There was an internal nudge that suggested she pay attention.

Once more Lois was sent back to her primary doctor who ordered another scan. Possibly the first one had missed something. With all of the back and forth, Lois’s arm continued to ache like there was a problem no matter what had not been found.  The next step was to see a neurologist.

The internal nudge persisted. Lois knew something more was telling her to pay attention to this irritation.  The neurologist agreed and ordered an arteriogram. Sure enough! There was blockage at a 50% rate. Usually, an operation isn’t performed until there is a 60% block, but the issue suggested that more needed to be done. They decided to operate. When the doctor came in after the procedure, they had found a more serious situation than expected. A tumor was abscessed and flaking off pieces that floated through her blood stream. Not only did Lois have a strange feeling in her arm, those pieces of the tumor could have killed her. Even though all those other medical procedures had missed it, her constant pursuit of the problem saved her life.

When I talked with Lois, she told me that she was convinced that the hand of God had been on her life all along. The unseen nudge had kept her searching. Although unexpected, the hand of God had prevailed even when medical diagnosis was to the contrary. Her experience can teach us to appreciate how the love of God is constant.  Even with people who aren’t spiritual attuned, He is at work. We should always be alert to those gentle nudges that can make such a difference.

By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention.

Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, Dr. Robert Wise interview, faithTags: , , Leave a comment

NEVER QUIT   

Blog 197

May 16 2021

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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.

NEVER QUIT   

Last week, I shared two events from Leslie Draper’s  ministry that demonstrated the gift of divine intervention d. Leslie’s history also helps us develop insights into the possibilities that come with an increased awareness and dependance on the interventions of the Holy Spirit. Rita Jester is an example.

Rita shared her encounter with me the other morning. From her Choctaw Indian father, Rita inherited a problem with her heart and lungs. Her father died with the same condition. These issues increased until she was forced to seek medical help. The doctor quickly detected an internal issue that was diagnosed as Stage 4 lung cancer. A tumor had grown between her heart and lungs putting pressure on both systems. She was given 90 days to live.

Rita knew she was faced with a decision about living or dying. She had lived through a terrible trauma when her son was killed in a horrific traffic accident. Rita’s grief had been overwhelming. Constantly waking in the middle of the night crying, she wasn’t sure she could go on. But Rita did and now she was faced with another life-threatening decision. Would she acquiesce to the diagnosis or seek a divine intervention? She remembered the inspiration Leslie Draper had given her earlier. Rita turned to see Leslie.

Leslie had Rita lay flat on a massage table and close her eyes. Rita could barely hear Leslie praying when a burning sensation shot through her body. The pain became so forceful that Rita felt like her chest was being ripped apart. She opened her eyes to see what was happening.

Leslie continued praying and moving her hands back and forth above Rita’s chest. Although Leslie never touched her body, Rita felt like something was being pulled or burned out of her.  With her eyes closed and her hands moving back and forth, Leslie seemed to be in her own private space. Rita closed her eyes and hoped the burning sensation was positive.

Returning for her medical appointment, Rita was x-rayed again. The doctor was floored and insisted it couldn’t be! The tumor was gone and equally baffling there was no scar tissue.  The doctor was adamant and almost angry. Such didn’t happen!  They turned to the radiologist in case there was an error in the x-rays. After a second reading, his answer was clear. There was none.

Rita Jester had a miracle.

What can we learn? Rita refused to accept a medical diagnosis of death as final. She pressed on seeking life. Moreover, she stepped over the boundaries and reached out to someone who had a special healing gift. A divine intervention followed healing prayer. Of course, everyone’s problems are unique and individual. However, Rita Jester’s story demonstrates that seeking the hand of God is never a wrong turn in the road.

By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention.

Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

More Miracles Here!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , Leave a comment

A LIGHT FROM BEYOND

Blog 195

May 2, 2021

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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 LIGHT FROM BEYOND

When Jana Branson was four-years-old, she had an usual playmate. Actually, she thought he was her brother. They would sit and talk. If she became afraid, he would always comfort her. Even at night as she was going asleep, he would sit on the bed as she dosed off. At one point, he told her someday Jana would become an Episcopal Church priest. Oh, yes, his name was Jesus.

As Jana grew up, her friend faded away and she realized he was not as real as some of her other acquaintances. Nevertheless, Jana knew he had been a reality in her life and took him seriously. When she told her parents about wanting to be a priest, they informed her that such didn’t happen in the Episcopal Church. One had to be a man. Of course, Jana was angry. However, with the passing years, that rule changed and today woman are clergy.

Much later in life with grown children, Jana went to seminary and became an Episcopal priest. Her childhood relationship with Jesus continued to guide her life. While the revelations might have faded for a time, the special dimension remained in the back of her mind. Today, it is difficult for her to put these discoveries into words, the numinous is in many ways beyond words. Nevertheless, spiritual openness has guided her life.

More than interesting, you may find Jana’s experience to be helpful to you. Perhaps, you’ve had something similar and doubted the reality. Jana’s continuing spiritual encounters can help you find reassurance. I’ve found that experiences with God break in unexpectedly for many people. Here’s more of Jana’s story.

When Jana begins to reach beyond her daily experience, a bright white light often appeared. While she could only see an outline of a figure in the bright while light, she intuitively knew that once again she was communicating with Jesus of Nazareth. She was touching an adult expression of her childhood experience. The bright light guided her away from some detour situations. These flashing moments were revelatory and got her back on the right track again.

When Jana prayerfully meditates on her life’s decisions, the light often breaks in and brings insight. Today, one of the most important moments comes as she is officiating during Holy Communion. The Sanctus prayer proclaiming “Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might …” can become a moment of encounter. During the prayers of consecration when the celebrant prays, “With Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven who forever sing the hymn…” is such a special moment. Often the white light breaks in and Jana will see parents, friends, people who have passed on standing around her as she prays. In these moments of Holy Communion, heaven opens its doors to Jana.

Seeing the unseen? That’s been Jana’s life experience. She doesn’t talk about it often, but it has defined her sense of reality.  Jana’s special ability gives us encouragement in our own journey forward. We may not see what she does, but we can have the same assurance of what is there.

That’s what divine interventions are all about.

By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention. Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, Miracles, VideoTags: , , , Leave a comment

WAITING WAS THE KEY

Blog 194

April 26, 2021

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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.

WAITING WAS THE KEY

I met Sam Matthews on a wet, cold Oklahoma afternoon. His Family of Faith church was out in the country near Shawnee. At first glance you wouldn’t know he was responsible for and an overseer for over 10,000 churches across the world. In addition, Sam operated a school and a seminary. A busy man, none of those concerns defined him. His main concern was prayer. Sam Matthews is an intercessor.

His personal account of divine interventions makes a better book than a blog. Nevertheless, here’s what happened to Sam and his wife Kathy.

During a Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Sam was startled to hear the voice of God say “I am not the Lord of your Life.” Highly committed and devoted to the scripture, Sam heard a voice. He and Kathy heard the challenge that they did things out of their own power instead of out of the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though seminary trained, Sam had never studied I Corinthians 12-14 and was challenged to recognize the gifts of the Holy Spirit. From that moment forward, his wife and his ministry changed.

However….

Shortly after that profound commitment, Kathy became ill and was diagnosed with an ulcerated colin and a deadly condition. Sam went to his knees and was spiritual lydirected to read Matthew 8 and read the story of the woman healed after touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. The words “only believe” leaped out. Not only did Sam have reassurance, he knew he wanted a ministry where people knew how to listen to the voice of God.

But Kathy didn’t get well. Every morning Sam and Kathy sought a Word from the Holy Spirit, a unique and special Word of guidance, but Kathy’s condition didn’t change. For 18 months, Kathy’s condition worsened.

Once more Sam was directed to read Matthew 8: 16-17 …”he healed all that were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Sam was impressed he had to make a decision between that doctor who wanted surgery and the Gospel of Matthew. Sam chose Matthew.

On that Sunday morning, Kathy started improving. Her fingernails began to grow again as well as her hair.  When they returned to the Medical Clinic for tests, the technicians came running out shouting, “It’s a miracle!”

The trial? Certainly, Kathy’s illness was a struggle. But what about waiting and trusting God to do what He said? It’s easy to read about someone else’s difficulty until it’s our problem. Waiting on God to fulfill His Word can be excruciating. Waiting is hard. Waiting is exasperating. Finally, waiting became rewarding.

The Bible says, “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”

In your struggles, could you wait out 18 months?  It might just be a life and death decision.

By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention. Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

An Angel?
by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , Leave a comment

SILENCE BECAME SOUND

Blog 193

April 19, 2021

Faith heals

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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.

SILENCE BECAME SOUND

Lee Strobel writes in The Case For Miracles about miraculous events that changed his mind from skepticism to faith. These stories were picked up from his experience and journeys. Here is another one of those events that created a new hope for Lee Strobel.

A well credentialed physician, Dr. R.F.R. Gardner had the opportunity to review the medical evidence both before and after the miracle occurred. This is unusual since circumstances don’t usually produce the same occasion for confirmation. However, the medical records for the nine-year-old British girl diagnosed her with untreatable lateral sensorineutral deafness.  (For personal reasons we will only call her Annie.)

Once diagnosed, Annie was fitted with hearing aids that helped her to a limited degree. However, Annie didn’t want to wear these devices all of her life. She went on a crusade to ask friends to intercede for her. Annie constantly prayed for herself and her parents joined in.  She was soon surrounded by intercessors.

“I kept feeling God was telling me to pray especially for healing,” Annie said.  “Passages kept coming to me.” She read in the Bible, “If you have the faith of a child … if one among you is ill lay on hands… And you shall receive …. Your faith has made you whole.” These scriptural verses encouraged Annie not to give up and keep praying

Unfortunately, Annie’s hearing aids were damaged at school. She had no other recourse but to return to the audiologists. She was examined and the devices refitted. Satisfied with the adjustment, she went home.

The following morning when Annie awoke, she knew something was different. Suddenly, she realized she could hear. Jumping out of bed, she rushed down stairs to tell her parents. Bounding down the stairs, she cried out, “Mummy, I can hear!”

The mother called the audiologists. “I don’t believe you,” he said dogmatically. “It’s impossible.” Finally, he hesitantly acknowledged it would take a miracle to restore hearing and wanted another audiogram done immediately.

To the astonishment of everyone, Annie could not only hear words and sounds, but whispers.  The audiologist concluded “I have no explanation for this. I have never seen anyting like it in my life.”

What happened? The medical profession had no answer. Annie did. People prayed. She constantly interceded and believed in biblical passages.

Can it still happen? It does everyday.

 By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention. Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

Are there Angels among us? Hear for yourself.
by Categories: Divine Intervention, Dr. Robert Wise interview, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , Leave a comment

LOURDES 

Blog 191

April 5, 2021

Bernadette Soubirous en 1861

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

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.

LOURDES 

I am fascinated by the remarkable events that continue to arise out of the life of Bernadette Subirous of Lourdes. In 1858, she and two companions were gathering sticks when Bernadette disappeared. Found in a small cave, Bernadette seemed to be lost in a spiritual experience. Crowds followed her to the ghetto where she prayed. In one of her sessions, she was told to dig in the soil and a spring sent a new stream of water down the hill. From that pool of water, a man had his blind eye cured. A woman with a paralyzed hand regained its use. Five more miracles occurred that Spring.

The grotto of Lourdes still records such miraculous events even to this day. A clergy friend recently shared his experience of wading in the water (which he found to be very cold) In fact. The 70th miracle was recently recorded. The miraculous event involved a French nun, Sister Bernadette Moriau, who went on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in 2008. She had been suffering from spinal complications which had rendered her wheelchair-bound and fully disabled since 1980. She also said she had been taking morphine to control the pain. For the Roman Catholic Church to accept such events as divine they must be spontaneous, complete cures, and permanent.

Sister Moriau’s healing fit that criteria. “I felt a [surge of] well-being throughout my body, a relaxation, warmth…I returned to my room and there, a voice told me to ‘take off your braces,’” recalled the now 79-year-old nun. “Surprise. I could move,” Moriau said, noting that she instantly walked away from her wheelchair, braces, and pain medications.

However, many other cures have followed that don’t fit their tight definition but are just as real.  Nevertheless, each of these stories remains fascinating. For example, The first documented miracle at Lourdes occurred in 1858 when Catherine Latapie felt a sudden urge to travel to Lourdes in search of healing.  Two years prior, she had fallen from a tree and severely injured her right hand.  The accident left two of her fingers entirely paralyzed.  Latapie met Bernadette at the grotto and very simply washed her hand in the small spring that had formed.  Instantaneously, the paralysis of her fingers was gone, and she could move them just as she could before her accident.

Another cure related to restoration of vision is attributed to Blaisette Cazenave, a woman who suffered from chronic conjunctivitis and an infection that left her eyelids scaly and sore.  Her condition was labeled incurable when she, at the age of 51, used the water at Lourdes as a lotion on her eyes.  Immediately, the scales fell from her eyelids, and her vision was completely restored.  Even the pain and inflammation she suffered was entirely gone.

The stories go on and on.  Lourdes appears to be a portal into eternity where the power of grace comes through. Even the skeptics have to admit that the Roman Catholic Church has an impeccable process before an event is accepted as a miracle.

                        By the way, I’d love to hear your story if you’ve experienced a divine intervention.

Send it to me at Wise on Miracles@gmail.com.

Please watch and subscribe to my new YouTube channel MIRACLES NEVER CEASE, where I post interviews with people sharing their experiences with divine encounters!

Let the miracles begin!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, Miracles, VideoTags: , Leave a comment