HEALING THE MEMORIES

Blog 140
November 18, 2019

savior

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Often, I hear from people who have experienced miracles or divine interventions. I look forward to receiving these accounts as they deepen our understanding of how these experiences occur. Could you be like that? If so, please share your story with me. Drop me a note at revwise@att.net.

HEALING THE MEMORIES

A number of decades ago, a ministry called “Healing of the Memories” swept across America. The mother of this movement was Agnes Sanford who had first discovered that prayer could reach back into a person’s childhood and bring healing to destructive experiences and old memories that had haunted people for years. Unfortunately, the ministry was misused by people who didn’t understand the sophisticated dynamic involved in bringing recovery.

Because I had prayed for inner healing with people across America, I knew the power of such prayer and had seen surprising recovery. For years Judith and Frances MacNutt have used this practice in their Christian Healing Ministries work in Jacksonville, Florida. I have been on their board and know the extraordinary results they had. In their Healing Line newsletter, Judith shared one of these stories.

Judith had been in private practice in Clearwater, Florida when a client came in to see her. A doctor had advised John (the name we’ll use) that if he didn’t go in for counseling he was going to die. John had suffered a serious heart attack that left an ominous cloud hanging over his head. In addition, although he was only in his 40’s, he was also battling arthritis throughout his body. This problem caused such pain in his feet that walking was painful. John really needed Judith’s help.

As they talked, John shared that at age three his father had abandoned the family. The result was that he was raised by his mother in a household with two aunts. All three women were extremely controlling and made his life miserable. Their own pain was visited on John. His problems began in that house.

When Judith prayed for John, she asked the Lord to bring back to John’s mind a memory of where he had suffered. John began to remember a large round dining room table with a tablecloth hanging down the sides. He could hide underneath and play with his toys undisturbed.

As the memory evolved, John realized how broken he had been. He suddenly blurted out, “Why did my daddy leave me?”

Judith’s prayer opened a door in John ‘s childhood past and he prayed for Jesus to join him under the dining room table. In his imagination, John could see Jesus there talking with his childhood self. Jesus said to him, “Would you let me hold you?” John agreed and finally heard the voice of Jesus say, “Will you forgive your daddy for leaving you?”

The adult John began sobbing. With tears running down his cheeks, he cried and cried, but finally reached the place where he could genuinely forgive his father. He released his anger and hurt. When he left Judith’s office that day, the arthritis was gone and his physical heart healed.

Does prayer still heal the past? John would certainly tell you that it does.

You might find my collection of Holy Land experiences to be helpful.
BIBLE LANDS: An illustrated Guide to Scriptural Places
Barbpir books Publishers

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.

jesus-savior

            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.

 

 

LIFE!

BLOG 31 March 13, 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…

          What happens when gifted people pray for intervention and recovery in an ill person? When people pray with such intent, they are actually sending life to the places where destruction has been at work. I have never found anyone who could tell me what “life” is because death is easily described but defining life is elusive. Nevertheless, with new life in our bodies, 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. The people I’ve interviewed who experienced miracles discovered that his life was conveyed through his promises and by prayer. Keeping those promises constantly before them, imparted vitality. The healing eventually followed. What we have labeled as miracles are experiences infused with the substance we call life. The recipients are filled with new possibility.

Life is also 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.

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. (Luke 24;13-31) The resurrected Lord moved back and forth between these two realms, heaven and earth.

I conclude that these stories demonstrate that eternity is always in our midst. The God world is constantly present to us when we know how to access it. In these blogs, we explore a number of different ways people have found entry. In order to access the power of God, one must discover the path that leads to these entrances. The final entry into this ultimate and transcendent world comes when we die. Death becomes like waking up from a nap only to discover that what we called life was actually living in a dream and now we have come into the full reality of existence where there is no time, but only eternity, no shadows but only light. A miracle occurs when we access this same eternal reality while still living in this dimension of time.

TAKE A LOOK AT ROBERT WISE’S LATEST BOOK
FOR A 3,000 YEAR SURVEY OF THE HOLY LAND
BIBLE LANDS: An Illustratrated Guide to Scriptural Place
Barbour Publications

 

 

 

BERNICE MCSHANE

BLOG 29 February 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.

People seeking divine intervention often ask, “Where do we aim our prayers. Are we praying in the right direction?” And often they sound like they are telling God something He doesn’t already know. Rather than a personal conversation with their Creator, the prayers sounds like their feverish cry for help to a God who has no idea they are in trouble. Can that be right? Let’s take a different look at our prayers.

Bernice McShane learned to tell the difference. She was relatively new to the Christian faith and in her forties. With four children, Bernice had her hands full with the kids and a full time job. After a long day, she was relaxing in bed but not quite asleep. What followed did not arise from a dream. She saw herself sitting on a sofa with her daughter and a hostess. Five other people were gathered around in some sort of home meeting.

The hostess announced, “We’re going to talk to Jesus today. Let’s listen and see what he has to say. Let’s all picture Jesus standing in this room.”

Bernice turned to listen and imagined her idea of Jesus standing there. Abruptly, she knew what followed hadn’t risen from her imagination. Jesus of Nazareth was actually there. He was so real that Bernice started to cry.

Jesus extended his hand as if to say, “Come with me. What I offer is free and you don’t have to do anything but accept.”

Bernice was so shaken she couldn’t stop crying. Her daughter came over to comfort her. She asked Bernice if she was alright. All Bernice could do was shake her head and mumble, “a-ha.” Her eyes were closed now, but an inner eye continued to see the scene. When Jesus extended his hand, Bernice realized that she had reacted. As the scene disappeared, Bernice knew it had been one of the most real experiences of her life.

That night, Bernice discovered that her son had gotten into drugs. She found him smoking marijuana and was terrified. He was getting ready for bed and Bernice knew she had to discuss the problem with him. Obviously, the boy was highly uncomfortable. As she tried to find the right words to say, Bernice became aware of someone standing behind her. When she looked, Jesus of Nazareth was there. His beard and long hair were as she thought he might look.

He said simply, “I will take care of this boy.” And then he was gone.

Her son worked out his addiction as a result of that presence. Bernice was sure she had experienced a miracle. Never had it been a matter of “aiming” a prayer, but accepting how her need was met.

Want to get up to date about the Middle East?
From nearly 50 years of involvement
Robert L. Wise shares current, important insights
drrobertwise wordpress.com
WISE ON THE MIDDLE EAST