MEET MIKE AND BETH Part Two

Blog 47 July 17, 2017 MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

angel

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.

We are currently exploring the experience of persons with consistent divine intervention in their lives and ministries. The Reverends Mike and Beth Owen are one of those couples who daily touch many lives.

Beth’s first angelic encounter came when she was fifteen-years-old and her aunt Barbara was dying. The family had already felt the impact of the death of her mother’s brother as well as two sisters and now another sister stood at death’s door. After an urgent phone call, Beth and her mother rushed to the hospital. As they stepped out of the elevator door, the announcement of a “Code Red” rang down the hall. Attendants rushed passed them but they were too late.

As they were leaving the hospital, Beth and her mother were standing at the street corner when Beth looked up. To her astonishment, she saw two massive white angels hovering above them. The angels stood on each side of Barbara.

Beth exclaimed, “Look, Mom! They’ve come to take Barbara home!”

Taller than the city street light, Beth could see the massive size of their waist, legs, and feet as they ascended vertically upward. As they disappeared out of sight, Beth knew her understanding of God’s loving care was forever changed. The comfort of an all comprehensive peace settled over them.

These early experiences caused Michael and Beth to anticipate divine interventions in their ministries. They were conditioned to expect far more than simply sharing theological answers and teaching children about the faith. Their ministries have encompassed a number of miraculous events.

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.

After anointing her with consecrated oil, Beth laid her hands on the woman’s head and prayed. Much like the story from I Samuel 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.

 

 

WHAT HISTORY REVEALS

BLOG 28 February 21, 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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           Let’s step back from contemporary stories and put what I’ve been reporting in Biblical perspective. People often forget to look for how the miraculous revealed God’s plans. For example, consider the history of the Jewish people.

The Old Testament is filled with many incidences when the grace of God restored life. For example, the accounts of Elijah and Elisha demonstrated the work of miracles. When Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, fire fell from heaven. This was followed by the miracle of the return of rain that ended a terrible drought. These were examples of miracles of nature where the elements of natural process were affected by the hand of God. The book of II Kings begins with the story of an angel speaking to Elijah (II Kings 1:15) The Old Testament was keenly aware of incidents when angels were involved. We might call these angelic miracles. These events displayed that God continually works in human history. He will use whatever is at hand whether it be the poorest of the poor or slaves in captivity.

The authority of Elijah was passed on to Elisha. Immediately Elisha brought healing to the water supply of the city of Jericho. Again, a miracle of nature. (II Kings 2:19-22). This event was followed by the miracle of the increase of the window’s oil. (II Kings 4:1-7). Perhaps, the most dramatic event was the healing and restoration of the Shunammite’s son who had died. The scripture is clear that the boy was dead, but Elisha covered the boy’s body with himself and the lad was soon alive. Elisha was involved in a miracle of the restoration of life, a resurrection. (I Kings 4:32-37). Elisha’s ministry continued with many such events. Each of these occurrences were examples of redemption.

The Passover celebration marks the extraordinary happenings when the entire nation of Israel was saved from the army of Egypt. The Sea of Reeds (The Red Sea) parted so Israel could cross and closed in on Pharaoh’s military, wiping the army out. The point is that the Jewish people knew well that their history was a story of God bringing justice and equity into the world.

These were not slight-of-hand tricks performed in the desert. Each event was in someway tied to the long range plan of God. In our quest to understand the miraculous, we must keep this history in mind and ponder what it tells us about our own needs. Some of those purposes were understood immediately; others became clear only in retrospect. A few transcended the centuries and are still pondered today. Three thousand years later, scholars still attempt to fathom the full meaning, the nature, and lessons of the Exodus. All of these historic interventions are demonstrations of a divine blueprint for creation.

Your life is part of that plan.

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