Tag: faith

AN ATTACK IN THE NIGHT

Blog 183

February 1, 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.

AN ATTACK IN THE NIGHT

Douglas Connelly analyzed what the Bible said about angels illustrated with stories he discovered about the subject. His book Angels Around Us tells amazing stories. Here’s an example.

In 1950 throughout the African nation of Kenya, the Mau Mau were angry with British Colonization of their land. An uprising had begun. While American missionaries tried to help the tribe, they had become a target for violence. The African Inland Mission in Kenya became venerable.

Soon the missionaries learned that the Mau Mau were planning to strike their area and kill them along with anyone who believed the Christian message. The clergy immediately gathered their families together in the mission compound.  While they intended to defend their families as best they could, the missionaries knew that they would be greatly outnumbered.  Rolls of barbed wire were strung around their camp and lights were fixed to come on at night when anyone came into their camp.

On the night of the attack, the missionaries and their families gathered in one of the buildings and began to pray.  Men stood at the door with the few weapons they had. All through the night they interceded and pleaded for God’s provision. As the sun came up, they realized that the attack wasn’t coming. No one could explain why, but they were grateful.

Several months later, one of the missionaries met with one of the captured Mau Mau warriors and led him to the Christian faith. After his conversion, the native told him the rest of the story. A large contingent of combatants had surrounded the missionary village on the night planned for the attack. Just as they were about to strike, large fiery creatures suddenly appeared in front of them, coming out of the dark. Frightened by what they saw, the warriors ran and refused ever to come back.

The missionaries concluded that while they had not seen anything, their heavenly Father opened the eyes of the attackers to see God’s band of angels. Douglas Connelly believes the “fiery creatures” were protecting angels sent to save them.

What can we learn? Is it possible that when we put ourselves in the hands of God, He continues to work behind the scenes in ways we never know about? Is it possible that the Almighty works removing obstacles that we didn’t even know were there? The African missionaries would say so.  Don’t only trust what you can see: trust what may be unknown.

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

Robert Wise, PhD presents stories of divine encounters!

My Books!

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A VOICE IN THE NIGHT

Blog 181

January 18, 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 VOICE IN THE NIGHT

Might God be at work when it s not clear what is going or the situation is not definable? Consider Jennifer Groesbeck’s story.

The twenty-five-year-old mother had been studying to become a medical assistant and was driving home on a dark night. The car struck a concrete barrier, went out of control, and careened off the road. Her sedan flipped over and landed upside down in a cold river that was not visible from the highway. No one saw the wreck.

Fourteen hours later a fisherman spotted the car and immediately called the police. The officers hurried to the scene and tried to ascertain what had occurred.  When they looked into the car window, they could see an arm floating in the water but little more. The severity of the wreck left the impression that no one could have survived. They started to back off and wait for a wrecker.

At that moment, they heard a woman’s voice softly pleading, “Help me, we’re in here.”

The officers immediately stopped. The words were completely clear. One man shouted back, “Hang in there! We’re trying what we can!” Other rescuers heard the plea. The police immediately plunged into the tide, trying to open the wrecked car.

With water up to their necks, the officers pushed on the overturned car trying to upright it. Slowly, they were able to tilt the car back on its side. When they looked in the windows, they were shocked. Jennifer Groesbeck had died on impact, but in the backseat was an unconscious eighteen-month-old girl hanging upside down in her car seat. The top of her blond-haired had been just inches about the water line.

But the mother died on impact. Where did the woman’s voice come from?”

Officer Tyler Beddoes maintained other rescuers had also heard the voice. Beddoes said he wasn’t a particularly religious guy but when he tried to understand what the heard, the only answer that came up was a miracle.

By the way –ever have an important hunch run through your mind in the night and wonder where that thought came from? Might surprise you if you knew.

Let The Miracles Begin!

Robert Wise, PhD presents stories of divine encounters!

My Books!

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A NEW YEAR OF EXPECTATIONS

Blog 179

January 1, 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 NEW YEAR OF EXPECTATIONS

Our heavenly Father is a creator who always brings newness into being. In my past years of researching and following people who had divine experiences, I’ve learned how unexpected His work can be. You can’t figure out the comings and goings of our Creator, but only hang on for the ride. We can live in hope and with expectation. My prayer is that these weekly blogs have increased your sensitivity to His hand working in your life and developed a greater anticipation of the possibilities.

I have noticed that having experienced one divine intervention does not exclude other problems and possibilities. I’ve seen persons with extraordinary healings have a recurrence of problems or similar issues later. Often the problem was whether the person was open and stayed open to the Holy Spirit’s work. Remember that we all have free will. Our resistance can keep the door shut. God made us this way. Obviously, we pray for the will of God and seek to pursue it. However, I’ve observed some good people with faith praying, “I know you can if it is your will which amounted to saying, “I’m not really sure about your interventions so I’m going to play it safe and hedge my bets.” Is not that the opposite of faith?

My discovery is that the most important way to pray is, “… ask in my Name and you shall receive.” (John 16:23-24) This passage is not some kind of heavenly slot machine that only requires you to pull the lever. A mystery always remains in the working of God and predictability is hidden in the many other purposes of the Father. At the same time, the ministry of Jesus demonstrates that we must come seeking while we remain open to alternatives that may later surprise us.

The miracles of God are part of the mystery of redemption. This impenetrable fact is difficult for a secular society to grasp. Americans have been raised in a society that philosophically rejects the reality and immediate presence of the Divine. At the same time, as noted in an earlier blog, 67% of Americans believe miracles are possible. My desire is that these weekly blogs have encouraged you to accept the miraculous as beyond your ability to comprehend while still walking into the enigma with hope. We find balance and maintain stability through hope.

Paul wrote, “…we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope.  And hope  does not  disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

As we launch into a new year may this Divine hope lead us onward to grasp the hand of God and walk with Him expecting the highest and the best.

My latest books:

I Marched with Patton: A Firsthand Account of World War II Alongside One of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Generals!

by Frank Sisson (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle!

by Art Shaw (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA on Amazon.

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A SURPRISE AT A TRUCK STOP

Blog 178

December 21, 2020

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 SURPRISE AT A TRUCK STOP

Archbishop Michael Owen has been my dearest friend for a thousand years. We eat lunch together every Tuesday and have been doing so for over twenty years. Last week we were sharing stories from our past and he began relating his experience with Junior Neece.

Junior had a deep and unique love and concern for the poor. Having grown up under difficult circumstances, he knew how hard poverty can be. In the 70’s even though he could neither read nor write, Junior went off to a southern university to play football. Because he was unusually big and strong, they weren’t worried about something as unimportant as going to class or passing a test. So, Junior rocked along knocking people out of his way on the gridiron.

Rev. Michael knew about Junior’s work with the poor and invited him to speak in a church he was pastoring. The effect was electric as Junior’s message was so powerful and personal that people were moved to be more generous than usual. Mike wondered where this capacity had come from. Junior told him this story.

He stopped at a filling station to fill up for the long trip to Alabama. Junior figured that ought to take him maybe to Memphis, Tennessee. A deshelled looking old man walked up and ask if he could catch a ride south. At first, Junior was hesitant. Hitchhikers weren’t particularly safe, but something nudged him to give the man a ride.

“Sure,” Junior said. “Get in my pickup.”

As they rode down the highway. The old man began to ask questions. “Did you ever tell your wife and boys about your struggles growing up?”

Junior stared. How could this guy know he was married and had children?

The old man kept pressing. “You’ve had lots of painful experiences, haven’t you?”

Junior could feel his words cutting into him. The man began describing in detail some of Junior’s hardest moments. Tears started running down his face. He coughed and sputtered. This old man had touched the deepest places in his life, places he had tried to avoid. Junior began to feel the love of God shinning into his heart and moving him deeply. His road trip had turned into an epiphany.

Finally, the gas gauge indicated a need to fill up. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he pulled into a gas station and got out. “I’ll be right back,” he told the old man. He hung up the gas pump and got back in the truck. The old man had disappeared.

Long ago, the Apostle Paul told us to pay attention because some of have been visited by angles unaware. Such a visit forever changed Junior Neece’s life. By the way, Junior learned to read and write through studying the Bible.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’ll be back in 2021

My latest books:

I Marched with Patton: A Firsthand Account of World War II Alongside One of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Generals!

by Frank Sisson (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle!

by Art Shaw (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA on Amazon.

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

EVIDENCE FOR DIVINE INTERVENTIONS – 2

Blog 177

December 14, 2020

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.

EVIDENCE FOR DIVINE INTERVENTIONS

Part 2

In Lee Strobel’s The Case for Miracles he explores both the doubts and experiences of people who experienced divine interventions. He found that 67% of American believe miracles are possible. Only 15% said no. An eye popping 94,792,000 believe they have experienced a miracle. If you have doubts, Strobel’s book will prove helpful. Here’s an example of his findings.

Mayo Clinic diagnosed Barbara with multiple sclerosis. Board certified surgeon Dr. Harold Adolph said she was the most hopelessly ill person he had ever seen.  She continued to deteriorate, spending significant amounts of time in hospitals.  Eventually Barbara lost all control of her bodily functions and became legally blind, seeing only shadowy figures in the dark. She ended up bedfast with her hands permanently flexed. Her life expectancy was less than six months.

Someone called in her condition to the radio station for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. A request for prayer was sent out with 450 people resounding that they would pray for Barbara.  On Pentecost Sunday, her aunt came over to read those letters from people who cared. During a lull in the reading, Barbara was sure she heard a man’s voice. The words were clear and filled with compassion.

“My child, get up and walk,” the voice said.

Barbara became agitated and reported what she heard. She called for her family to come in and gather around. She felt compelled to do what she heard. The oxygen tube was pulled out.  Barbara stood on legs that had not supported her for years.  Her mother ran into the room and screamed, “You have muscles again.!”

The family moved to the living room to rejoice and pray, but Barbara found it hard to sit still.  When her mother returned to the Wheaton Wesleyan Church, the pastor asked if there were any announcements. Her mother stood and reported the miracle’ the congregation broke in clapping and cheering.

On Monday, Barbara returned to the doctor’s office for an exam. When he saw her walk down the hall, the doctor said, “I thought I was seeing an apparition. No one had ever seen anything like this before.” The doctor told Barbara, “This is medically impossible. But you are now free to go out and live your life.”

Barbara has now lived forty-five years with no reoccurrence of the illness.  

Lee Strobel started out as an atheist. He no longer is.

My latest books:

I Marched with Patton: A Firsthand Account of World War II Alongside One of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Generals!

by Frank Sisson (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle!

by Art Shaw (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA on Amazon.

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

EVIDENCE FOR DIVINE INTERVENTIONS

Blog 176

December 7, 2020

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Robert Wise explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Church with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

EVIDENCE FOR DIVINE INTERVENTIONS

Lee Strobel started out as an atheist. Along the way, his investigations of miracles turned him into a believer. A journalist with a Master of studies from Yale, he became a best-selling author. In his The Case for Miracles Strobel explores both the doubts and experiences of people who experienced divine interventions. He found that 67% of American believe miracles are possible. Only 15% said no. An eye popping 94,792,000 believe they have experienced a miracle. If you have doubts, Strobel’s book will prove helpful. Here’s an example of his findings.

A nine-year-old British girl was diagnosed with deafness. Apparently, a virus had damaged the nerves in both of her ears. A well-credentialed physician examined the girl and certified her condition. The records indicate her diagnosis was untreatable bilateral sensorinetural deafness. The girl was deaf … end of story … until…

Because she didn’t want to wear hearing devices, the girl began to pray specifically for a healing. Family and friends joined her. Her mother felt a definite prompting to ask God to help her daughter. The girl felt that God was specifically telling her to ask for release. She kept reading passages in the Bible like, … if you have faith like a child, … if any among you is ill, lay on hands… ask and you shall receive.

The girl had to return to an audiologist because one of her hearing aids was damaged at school. The problem was fixed and she went home. The next evening, she realized something was different. Jumping out of bed, she ran down stairs proclaim, “Mummy, I can hear!”

When her mother tested her, she discovered her daughter could even hear a whisper. The audiologists refused to believe her. But after she was tested, the audiologist confessed she had never seen anything like what had happened. Both ears tested normal.

Lee Strobel’s conclusion is believing in the miraculous is intellectually acceptable.

Can 94,792,000 people be wrong? I don’t think so.


My latest books:

I Marched with Patton: A Firsthand Account of World War II Alongside One of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Generals!

by Frank Sisson (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle!

by Art Shaw (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA on Amazon.

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

REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

 Blog 177

 November 30 , 2020

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Robert Wise explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Church with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

Yes, it’s been a hard year. On this Thanksgiving Weekend, many, many families will be aware that there is an empty chair at their table. The COVID-19 virus has certainly taken a toll.  Many businesses are closed never to reopen.  Cars line up across town at Food Banks because personal funds have run out. Politics and political differences have split the country down the middle to the degree that you can’t have a conversation with many people without the roof getting blown off.

And yet ….

On this weekend, we pause to remember our blessings.  We are a country that provides food for the hungry and hospital beds for the sick. Even a volatile political campaign will be followed by a peaceful transition. Even with political differences, we live in a country where we can express our opinions. Hey, vaccines are on the way. With the dawn of another year, new possibilities will appear.

Miracles still going on? Yes, they are. Possibilities out there? Multitudes! Even if we struggle, we bend the knee to thank our heavenly Father for His eternal love. Not hopeful thinking… just the facts. We still live in a land of promise and have the freedom to continue on. Yes, we have much to be grateful for.

Thank we all our God.

We have been calling on America to pray for the spiritual condition of this country. This is a serious hour for this nation Please read II Chronicles 7:14 and then join us in a daily prayer for the next year.

My latest books:

I Marched with Patton: A Firsthand Account of World War II Alongside One of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Generals!

by Frank Sisson (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle!

by Art Shaw (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA on Amazon.

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

WHEN PEOPLE PRAY

Blog 175

 November 16,  2020

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Robert Wise explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Church with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced divine interventions.

WHEN PEOPLE PRAY

Recently, I was talking about the power of prayer and a pastor friend corrected me. He suggested that I was talking like prayer was a good luck charm, a talisman of some sort. He wanted me to remember that the results of praying were the work of the hand of God. Prayer is only an access to that divine intervention.  God is not a rabbit’s foot. He really had a point.  Often, we lose sight of what divine intervention is all about.  We don’t make something happen just because we prayed, but our praying does open a door that invites the hand of God to come in.

As we have said a number of times, free will remains a key factor in approaching our heavenly Father. We have been given a great gift. We have the capacity to accept or reject the work of God in our lives. Effective prayer is opening our lives to his intervention.  That’s using free will in the most constructive way.

Douglas Connelly in his book Angels Around Us, has an example of intercession making all the difference by focusing the power of God on human need. A member of his congregation, Carol Sintay was diagnosed with a tumor on her ovary. As her doctor worked with her, he could see that the cancer had spread and affected her colon and possibly other internal organs. Another surgeon performed ultrasound projection as well as x-ray, confirmed the diagnosis. Carol Sintray was in trouble.

The problem could not have come at a worse time.  In her Master’s degree program, Carol was halfway through the semester.  She protested that her research and master’s dissertation would be disrupted by such a serious surgery. The doctor’s understood but felt her life was in danger. The surgery could not wait.

The Elder’s of the church gathered around her. She was anointed with oil and they prayed fervently for her condition. The pastor and friends joined in the prayer. While it certainly wasn’t what she wanted, Carol left her life in the hands of God.

When the procedure began a few days later, the doctors were shocked.  They found nothing that was abnormal.

Confounded, one of the doctors asked Carol. “Why didn’t you tell us that you were anointed? If we’d known, we’d done the tests over.” Carol only smiled. She had received a miracle.

Does prayer work? Most certainly when we remember it is opening a door and we are inventing the Holy Spirit to work. Prayer is a connection that brings change.

We have been calling on America to pray for the spiritual condition of this country. This is a serious hour for this nation Please read II Chronicles 7:14 and then join us in a daily prayer for the next year.

My latest books:

I Marched with Patton: A Firsthand Account of World War II Alongside One of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Generals!

by Frank Sisson (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle!

by Art Shaw (Author), Robert L. Wise (Author)

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA on Amazon.

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