  Does God talk to people on
earth today?
I am happy to share what God has done in the sky in rainbow colors to comfort me when weeping like Joseph, when struggling on a mission like Paul, and when I needed comfort at death of loved ones. |
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Welcome to the the continuation of I praise God for His Faithfulness to Me! He can do the same for you. The faithful householder represents what every teacher of the children and youth should be. If he makes the word of God his treasure, he will continually bring forth new beauty and new truth. When the teacher will rely upon God in prayer, the Spirit of Christ will come upon him, and God will work through him by the Holy Spirit upon the minds of others. The Spirit fills the mind and heart There are 60 + more recent stories of answers for 2002 & 2003 (India 18 cities, and more) are on illustratedbible.com We have nothing to fear for the future except we forget what He has done in the past. These 88 stories are all true. They are my personal experiences. These are the answered prayers I can share publicly. There are many more large and tiny miracles which if shared might cause embarrassment to others. The embarrassment would be if I revealed how cruel a person had been, the agony and tears God saw in me throughout many nights, and the serious punishment God put on them until I prayed for God to spare them a little longer. I prayed for God to give them more time to ask forgiveness and change their ways. If I shared that, it might discourage those people. God cares how his friends are treated. It is like a loving parent feels when an obedient sweet child of theirs is treated mean. The texts included are the Scripture texts God gave to comfort me. Many times, when desperate for help, I would sit down with my Bible, and it opened to exactly the text needed for my difficulty. I am moved to tears to see how much God cares. The answers to prayer that come quickly in a way you understand and hope for, are really fun. These stories were easy to write. The stories where grief and sorrow were involved, were the hardest to write yet often turn out to be the most helpful lessons. There are so many times in my life where Jesus wiped away my tears and eased my pain. He so often used people to do this. As I have kept records of His help to me, I have the details to refer to when memory fails me. My journal includes prayers, insights from Bible study and God's answers. It has been fun writing these stories up for the WEB site. It has brought back to me memories of countless times God has touched my life and always stayed with me providing for all my needs. We have nothing to fear for the future except we forget what He has done. In Malachi 3 God says He is very pleased with those who remember and speak often to each other of what God has done for them. He enjoys giving to them.
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| "As those who have spent their lives in the service
of Christ draw near to the close of their earthly ministry, they will be
impressed by the Holy Spirit to recount the experiences they have had in
connection with the work of God. The
record of His wonderful dealings with His people, of His great goodness in
delivering them from trial, should be repeated to those newly come to the
faith. God desires the old and tried laborers to stand in their
place, doing their part to save men and women from being swept downward by
the mighty current of evil, He desires them to keep the armor on till He
bids them lay it down." {AA
574.1} Acts of Apostles by Ellen White
I had so much fun writing up all my true stories. It made my faith increase as I read through all my journals and saw how My Jesus has led all through my life. I love Him more now that I have done this review 6 times. (Each time the web site crashes and has to be redone) We have nothing to fear for the future except we forget what He has done for us in the past. 3SM 162 |
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This is another story in my book of answers to prayer. God wants us to share how He has blessed us personally. As I share this one, I want you to see it in context with what the Bible says. Also I have included quotes from one of my favorite authors, Ellen White. |
| "God, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets." Hebrews 1:1 |
| Make a list of all the ways you
can think of that God spoke or communicated to people. God has a bigger
mind that you can imagine. During our family reading
time, all six of us called to mind all the stories we could think of for
this list. Once you get through
my list and add yours to
it, you will be convinced that there is no limit to ways God can use to
talk to you if you want HIM to. He is not going to share new
things with you if you reject things He already told you. If you pick and
choose the things you want to obey, He knows that new light will also be
trampled on.
Think of all the ways God spoke in times past. I have a small list of 50 different ways. Remember always start Bible study with prayer. Only the Holy Spirit can help us see the deep truths God wants us to understand. When you have read through the different ways, I will share several different ways He has led me in my choices. You can read of a special way God helped me know HIS will. It is important to think through the list of Bible story ways God talked to others, first. At least think of 10 ways. If you do not know your Bible, just read through my list and look up 10 of these 40 Bible stories. You will be glad you did. It helps to see how there is no limit on God's imagination! Your faith in God will increase by the time you have finished this amazing Bible study. It sure increased mine! I spent months on this story and study. That is why it is so detailed. Take your time and have fun with this one!!!!! |
| Here are a few of the ways we
thought of. I present part of my list then put in my story. At the end of
my story the list goes on. This is done to increase your understanding of
the fact that God has thousands of different ways of talking to us. I
placed a text near each one so you could read the story.
1. Face to face in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8) 2. Animal and bird parade into ark (Genesis 7) With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he (Noah) entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found. Again they rejected his words, and raised their voices in jest and scoffing. Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. Beasts of every description, the fiercest as well as the most gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, birds were flocking from all directions, their numbers darkening the heavens, and in perfect order they passed to the ark. Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient. {CC 39.2} 3. Translating Enoch Genesis 5:23-24 Enoch was a marked character, and many look upon his life as something far above what the generality of mortals can ever reach. But Enoch's life and character, which were so holy that he was translated to Heaven without seeing death, represent the lives and characters of all who will be translated when Christ comes. {ST, November 11, 1886 par. 6} Enoch's translation to Heaven represents the commandment-keeping people of God who will be alive upon the earth when Christ shall come the second time, and who will be glorified in the sight of those who hated them because they would keep the commandments of God. These also will be translated to Heaven without seeing death, as Enoch and Elijah were. {RH, April 29, 1875 par. 8} 5. Rainbow (Genesis 9:13) Covenant sign God would never leave anyone in their struggle with evil. Promise to comfort father Noah's worries over choices of grandchildren. 6. Demonstration of God's control when He Confounded languages and toppled the tower of Babel (Genesis 11) 7. Silent Wrestling match of God with Jacob teaches persisting (Genesis 32:24) Don't let go of God's arm too soon. Keep asking and Wait for your answer. While Jacob was wrestling with the Angel, another heavenly messenger was sent to Esau. In a dream, Esau beheld his brother for twenty years an exile from his father's house; he witnessed his grief at finding his mother dead; he saw him encompassed by the hosts of God. This dream was related by Esau to his soldiers, with the charge not to harm Jacob, for the God of his father was with him. {CC 70.2} 8. Life of Moses: Turning hand to leprosy and rod to snake, Burning Bush, Plagues, Parting Red sea, Bronze serpent on pole, Tree in bitter water, sanctuary in the wilderness full of symbols, pillar of cloud (Exodus 1-40 and Leviticus) Teaching obedience, faith, trust 9. Salt in bitter Jericho water by Elisha Teaches God's willingness to heal of sin. (2 Kings 2:19-21) Go to the end of this story section to see the rest of my Bible list. |
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More Ways God has communicated to people in the past. |
 Many have asked me how they can know what God wants for
them in their lives. God has many ways of
speaking to us. He uses dedicated parents, the Bible, dreams, animal
parades, bird air shows, talking animals, sheep wool, the pillar of
cloud, three times opening the sea and rivers for a path to walk,
the enemies words, bread, bread supplies that never run out, water out of
a rock, Elisha's bones, fire, thunder, earthquakes, lightning, impressions and special signs. In the Bible are some very
interesting stories of how people heard God's will and followed it. Then
also there are the volumes
of the writings of Ellen White from the eighteen hundreds. For Ellen,
God communicated in visions, dreams, fragrance of roses, angel visits,
providential events such as keeping a wild horse quiet, moving her to a
train car near the end of train then unhitching that car, sending someone
to pay her train fare last minute as the whistle blew.
Lets look at one percent of the ways God has used to communicate. Look at these Bible records. Then I will tell my story. |
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| The
talking donkey was one way God got Balaam finally to listen when he was in
such a hurry to get money. Balaam was offered a huge sum of money, and
great honor if he, a prophet would come and curse all of God's people led
by Moses. God had a tough job getting the attention of stubborn Balaam who
loved money. Peter explains the actions of this prophet as
"madness". Again, "in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left," the angel appeared, as before, in a threatening attitude; and the poor beast, trembling with terror, made a full stop, and fell to the earth under its rider. Balaam's rage was unbounded, and with his staff he smote the animal more cruelly than before. God now opened its mouth, and by "the dumb ass speaking with man's voice," he "forbade the madness of the prophet." 2 Peter 2:16. "What have I done unto thee," it said, "that thou hast smitten me these three times?"
Next God opened the eyes of Balaam and then he saw the angel with a sword. |
| Also in Bible stories of Gideon, David, and Enoch, we see a HUGE variety of ways God communicated with people on this earth. |
 Gideon in the Bible was given a
sign. The angel had come to him and asked him to deliver his people from
the Midianites yet Gideon had always been a loser. He had not been treated
very well in his own family and did not have much confidence in
himself. It is often the timid, and insecure people that God can use the
best for they wait for HIM to help them. Gideon wanted to make
absolutely sure it was God leading Him. He asked that the fleece be wet in
the morning that he left on the ground.
When it was, he decided it was a normal thing so he asked that the fleece
be dry the next morning and the ground wet. Since wool always attracts
water, it would be a good sign for him. Then when he was ready to go into
battle, there was another sign given him. It was the drinking test. The
men who put their face into the water to drink were to be sent home. The
men who kept their eyes toward the enemy camp were to be kept. There were
only 300 who were kept. Gideon needed another sign of God's leading. He
went by night into the enemy camp and   God had one of the Midianites
have a dream of a barley loaf rolling into camp and destroying them.
On the other side of the tent Gideon listened to these soldiers declare
that he, Gideon, would destroy the Midianites. So
all together, Gideon saw and heard an angel, he had the fleece sign,
the drinking test and the barley loaf dream. He had many signals! God does
what is needed to help convince people of their jobs for HIM. (Judges 7) |
For the third story showing God's different ways of talking
to people, look at this story from when  David
needed help. A jealous man, king Saul, kept trying to destroy him.
David lived during the time when there was a tabernacle that had been
started in the days of Moses. The high priest had garments which had a
unique breast plate that was helpful in getting "yes" or
"no" answers from God. David was living in caves, betrayed
by his own people hiding with others running from the law. He had done
nothing wrong. Saul just saw how much God was with David and he was
jealous. People are like that today. They may call every one from Main to
California to cause people to hate you if you are working for Jesus.
David had been
anointed the next king and he sang through his trials. He sang in those
dark cold caves. There were
different ways that God told him when to run to another cave. The Bible
tells how he had
messages from prophets and from the breast plate. |
 David
had just helped the people in the city Keilah by defending them from the
enemy Philistines who were robbing them. He had asked God twice if it was
God's will to help the people in Keilah. Then he worried that Saul would
show up and lock him into the city and the people he had just helped might
kill him to please king Saul. Don't be surprised if people do this to you.
You can always trust God but people you help may be your worst enemy just
like they were to Jesus. Saul was offering money and rewards for anyone
who would kill David. David asked God about it. Look at what the
Bible says. |
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"At the right and left of the breastplate were two large stones of great brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. By them the will of God was made known through the high priest. When questions were brought for decision before the Lord, a halo of light encircling the precious stone at the right was a token of the divine consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at the left was an evidence of denial or disapprobation." {PP 351.2} If there is a sincere desire to do God's will, He will never allow Satan to deceive us when we ask God for directions. David was getting answers from God and Saul was not. It made Saul furious and jealous. When you get answers from God, it makes people very angry if they are not hearing from God and are getting no prayers answered. Keep your eyes on Jesus and HE will tell you when to flee to a safer place and when to stay and face the anger. He did it for David. He will do it for you. |
 There
is a promise that even the anger (wrath) of man will be used to praise
God. When it has gone past a point of being useful, God will put a
restraining order on the angry person. Look at Psalms 76:10. It is my
comfort. I know that God will raise up a standard against the angry people
and there is a point where they can not go any farther. (Isaiah 59:19) I
trust God with that detail.
When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. Is 59:19 Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
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Why King Saul had trouble getting any information from God The Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 1 Sam. 28:6. {CC 171.1} |
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Before the flood, the Bible speaks of a man who loved to talk with and obey God. His name was Enoch. After his son was born, he watched the simple trust of his boy in him as dad. Then he began to understand his dependence on God. He had a closer friendship with God after that. It is a simple matter of faith to walk and talk as Enoch did. If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. |
Abraham's servant asked for
a sign that the girl he was to get for Isaac's wife would give him a drink
and then water all his camels. Hezekiah
asked for the sun to drop backwards ten degrees. Gideon
asked for his sheep skin to change. God honored these sincere requests for
HIS leading to help their faith. You
see, it is an individual unique relationship with Jesus that led to these
requests. |
 If
you are open to Jesus, you give your life over to Him every morning
and throughout the day want to do HIS will, He will tell what His
will is. He is just as willing to talk to you as anyone else in the Bible
if you want to follow Him in everything. |
| It is Written: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that i might not sin against Thee." Psalm 199:11 | ||
 "through
neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible the tempted one cannot
readily remember God's promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons.
But angels are round about
those who are willing to be taught in divine things; and in the time of
great necessity they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which
are needed." GC 600 |
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My Story |
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| God speaks to us through his providential workings, and through the influence of his Spirit upon the heart. In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily taking place around us, we may find precious lessons if our hearts are but open to discern them. The psalmist, tracing the work of God's providence, says, "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." [PS. 33:5; 107:43.] {CE 56.1} | ||
 Jesus has awakened me and given me urgent impressions to
pray for certain people. One time my brother a missionary in New Guinea
was in danger and in crisis as the school he was principle of was being
burned. I did not know why but felt urgency to pray for him. I found out
why later. I learned my husband's grandma had an urgency to get up and
pray for her son. She did this and later found he was being taken as
captive to prison camp during the war. Our prayers for those in crisis
were answered.
As other times, while I was preparing a Bible presentation, I felt urged to pray for my children. That story of the cave adventure is written up in the Mexico mission stories. The Bible has the clearest information in directing
my paths. I love to pray and read God's precious Holy WORD. If I say
anything contrary to the WORD of God, I have no light in me. I pray that
God can say of me like He did of Job that she has spoken right of ME. There have also been times he gave me a duck when I was trying to draw one as I have written these stories up in this web site. When I have needed to ask Him a "yes" or "no" question I have asked Him. I read how Jonathan asked God for a sign of his enemies saying a certain thing. I read how God made the rainbow for a sign that He would never leave His people in their struggle with evil. In Revelation 10:1 Jesus has the symbol of the rainbow about Him. When He will come in the clouds He will have a rainbow about Him. Many promises about the rainbow are listed at the end of this story. God called me in a dream to share these Bible lessons for the world. I saw thousands waiting to hear the gospel. |
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| Because of my background, I appreciate God
for creating laws of physics that baffle the geniuses of mankind .
I wanted a unique signal from God that took the laws of physics and set them up for my answer to prayer. I did not want to put out a piece of wool like Gideon. I know this is easy for God. Being extremely timid and shy lady, I needed to make sure I was doing God's will when agreeing to do mission work in certain areas of the world. Paul and other Bible missionaries asked God about their mission plans. Just like I do not expect you to put lambs wool out like Gideon, or ask the sun to go back 10 degrees like Hezekiah asked, I don't expect you to ask God for the same things I ask Him for. Be the unique different person He made you to be and ask Him for just what you need in your own special way. |
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(Genesis 9:13) God said this was his sign to us that He would never leave
us in our struggle with evil on this earth. It is a sign of His love and
justice. God answered me with the requested sign. I needed God's
directions because it was not easy to go on missions. God saw every
mountain of difficulty. He marked every action and word spoken to
discourage me from obeying God.
Like Gideon, I wanted to be sure it was God's call for each of the missions. Jesus gave me whatever I needed to know His will for me like He did Gideon. How precious is our Heavenly Father. He knew Gideon had felt like the least in his family. He knew the circumstances that had shaped my life. He knew I had always been very timid and afraid. Whenever I got on the platform just to sing I trembled and felt like I was going to faint. He gently, like the sweet FOREVER FRIEND He is, gave me assurance over and over that He treasured me and wanted me to share my story. He has seen everything.
Even though Satan has tried to counterfeit God's signal, I see the Bible account of it's real significance. (Genesis 9:13, Revelation 10:1, Ezekiel) Satan has tried to destroy all of God's symbols of hope to this world. He has tried to destroy marriage, the 10 commandment laws, and many other things. |
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| This law of physics brings the light
waves back to your eye at a certain angle. This is the only law of physics
that I know of that was designed for our comfort as a sign of God's love
and a promise He will never leave us.
Let us look at this law of refracting light. Ice has different shapes at different temperatures. There are fabulous rainbows in the sky that pass through little ice crystals you don't even see because they are so tiny. Pilots have seen many of these. I have spoken with crop dusters who have told me they can tell the approximate temperature by the ice and light refractions they see. |
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The laws of physics in the rainbow are fabulous.
There are ice crystals in the 22 degree halos that must be turned just
right to get the rainbow reflected to the eye. |
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| In the Scientific American Journal, the complicated physics of this process are explained in great detail. Because this web site is designed for children and teens, I will explain it very simply. For the more sophisticated mind schooled in physics, I highly recommend you study this article in Scientific American it's entitled, "Light from the Sky". | ||
 These
rings of rainbow light are created by refraction of sunlight passing
through the sixty degree face of ice crystals. For the ring that you see,
it takes sunlight passing through a certain shape of a
crystal. When you see this ring, you can tell the temperature and
the humidity because scientists have discovered just what shape an ice
crystal is with different temperatures. |
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 With
this type A shape of ice crystal, the temperature is from -5 degrees
Fahrenheit or -20 Celsius to 15 degrees F or -10degrees C. The degree of
water saturation of the ice crystal determines the type.
Another feature is the direction of spin on these crystals. |
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 This
cute little crystal is called type C in the diagrams. It looks like a
nail. Ice crystals usually responsible for beautiful rainbow patterns are
from four types. However, there is no end to the shapes of ice and
no end to the patterns in the sky as well as spins of crystals. This field
of study is fascinating and I have captured many of these on film. The
color is not near as bright as seen in the sky. |
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 This
type D crystal forms in cold minus 15 to minus 5 degrees F. It's water
saturation is from 100 to 108 percent water. |
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 At
15 to 25 degrees F (-5C), type B crystals form with water saturation from
105-135 percent. |
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 Now
that we have looked at the four common crystals making light halos, look
at this complicated picture of different halos. To see all of this at one
time is a complicated work of spinning crystals, temperatures, and water saturation.
The labeled parts show you where the different shape of crystal fits
in. |
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 In
the Bible, Ezekiel speaks of a wheel within a wheel. Perhaps he was
looking at the patterns we just described. It is so very complicated. It
is really fun to study the physics of all the rainbow spheres possible. He
was talking about God's work being very complicated. He saw creatures
besides the wheels. Beryl is a red color. I do not know what he saw
exactly. It may have nothing to do with this law of physics. But when I
saw this pattern in the sky I thought of this passage of Scripture. Ez.
1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work [was] like unto the
color of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. |
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 Now,
let me ask you this. How hard is it for God who made these laws of physics
to get the ice crystal saturation just right, spin them, keep them
spinning, and put the temperature where it is needed to give you an answer
if you asked Him? |
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 God
used the rainbow colors in the sanctuary with significance to each color.
When He looks at the rainbow He thinks about His promise to never leave
us. He will finish the work He began in us. (Phil 1:6)
If you have learned first, the meaning that the fallen angel, angry Mr. Satan has placed on this rainbow, you can realize that it is a counterfeit. When people make false money, it is called a counterfeit. Bankers teach what the true money looks like and then it is easy to detect the false or counterfeit money. Satan has made up ugly meanings for the rainbow to take away from God's hope to us. He did this with the counterfeit Sabbath. He has made a lot of counterfeits. But the Bible is the answer for helping you see past all counterfeits. Like studying true money, you study the Bible and it is clear what is true. |
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There are many spheres
involved if the ice crystals are lined up just right. Since God loves to
answer our prayers for direction, I sometimes ask Him for a rainbow signal if there
is not one already in the sky about the sun or from rain, or about the moon. I ask
Him for this when I am invited to do a mission project. He always
answers. Sometimes I have to pray seven times, searching my heart for sins
to make right before I get an answer. That is just like Elijah had to pray
seven times for rain. Jesus prayed 7 times over Mary. There was more than one time God said, "NO".
Later I saw the reason why. I never venture out without God's directions.
I must be sure that He has asked me to do the project. Knowing He has
called makes the trials easier to bear. |
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 I
get down on my knees, confess my sins and unworthiness. Then I thank God
for hearing me and for all He has given me. I then ask Him to tell
me His will. Just like Gideon, Jonathan, Hezekiah, David, Elijah, and others in
the Bible, I keep asking till I get His answers. I keep reviewing the
promises in the Bible. I keep a collection of them handy. Sometimes He has made me
wait awhile. Like Jacob, I just keep hanging onto HIS arm by asking
and asking again. He does not get tired of us asking unless we are hiding
sins. If there is some sin we love doing and keep on then God will not
hear. If there is meanness of a man to his wife or wife to her husband,
the Lord will not hear. If there is neglect of children or meanness, the
Lord will not hear. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not
hear us. If there is anything blocking the answer, Jesus will show it to
me if I ask. If I ask if I have grieved Him , He will tell me.
Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me] but He has heard me: Believing His promises, we walk with Him and talk with Him as did Enoch and Elijah and the faithful of all the ages past. They were called pilgrims and strangers in the earth, because they had so much faith in God that they would follow His instruction so completely that they became very different from the world in their plans, and their objects in life were also different. {BTS, November 1, 1911 par. 1} Bible Training Sch |
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  Mexico
Rainbow Story
The children prayed for a rainbow to the right of the sun if we were to drive to Mexico for a mission project I had promised the president of the SDA conference I would return and do. We had been in that place 7 months earlier with a Maranatha church building team. We had a promise to keep, but were depleted of funds. My sis Julie had died right after the March trip into Mexico. Then we had moved to Washington. We were totally dependant on God to provide transport. One of the children prayed that there would be a rainbow to the left of the sun if we were to wait for funds to fly. WE already knew we were supposed to go and had prepared. A bright rainbow appeared instantly to the right. I was driving the jeep home that God had just provided. From the back seat one little boy was praying about which car. It seems to me those with the simple faith of a child, get quicker answers. He asked that a rainbow be at the top of the sun if it was the jeep and at the bottom if it was the Pontiac. The colors at the right faded to nothing and at the top was a bright light. Obviously God was choosing the jeep. This jeep was leaking oil so bad that in Arizona the police gave a warning for polluting the air. It took faith in God to keep on knowing the engine could fail. By reaching the boarder 36 bottles of oil had been used to keep the car going. Crossing into the unknown tested my faith. The next thousand miles down into Mexico and 5000 back home were in a healed car. That car served us till it had 220,00 miles on it. (A record for us) It was like my feet had to go into the river Jordan before God worked on my car. The clinics and gospel meetings were a great success. Details of this amazing trip are in the "Healed Car" story. My children had picked this way of asking God because of what we had studied in the Bible and in the writings of Ellen White. |
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| Russia Rainbow Story
We had finished difficult gospel meetings in Astrakhan. I had brothers in the faith seize my equipment and not allow me to transfer it from one airplane to the other. They intended to send by truck but charged more than I could pay. I was satisfied with what God did to get me a translator Nickita from the college, he was so thrilled with the Bible lessons that he gave his heart to God and now is an evangelist in Russia. There were others there that God touched. I was exhausted from having to hold the meetings in a very primitive location right next to the bathrooms in the hall down stairs under where the adults were meeting. I had to hurry home for I had to get home to my doctor's office business and home duties then turn right around and head into Belarus with another evangelist. God had sent me out on this mission with very short notice. He often does that and explains in the writings of Ellen White that He has to do this so Satan does not have as long to mount his opposition. It seems Satan increases his opposition the more I spend time with Jesus. I know Satan is worried when people come to trust in Jesus. We arrived at one airport and needed help transferring to the other port. I had been promised that brother's would meet us and transport us to the other port. I waited and no one at all came. As I saw it was not their intention to pick us up, I burst into tears. A Russian lady who did not know English pulled me to where I could change my money and catch a bus. She saw how frightened I was to even get on a bus not knowing the language. She found an airport official who knew English and he assured us the bus driver would let everyone out down town but knowing we could not speak Russian would take us over to the bus we were supposed to get on next and put our luggage on it. We were not to leave that bus (even to go to the restroom) till it reached the other airport. As I rode along watching the time, I began to see that we would not get onto our flight in time. The tears rolled out of my eyes. I felt so lost and alone. I had no extra funds for the new plane tickets. How could I ever get home? I was so helpless with my 7 year old boy and my lady missionary friend Nan. The tears upset the driver. He worried he had done something wrong. He asked if anyone on board the bus knew English to find what was making me cry. A black man from Morocco stepped forward and asked as we reached the airport. He said he would help us run through the airport. Picking up our bags and our passports he and a helper ran through the airport to check to see if perhaps the plane was delayed. It was, yet just as we arrived at the counter, it lifted off. The gentleman Omer, took my arm and begged me not to cry. He took me up stairs and he talked to men in the pilot's headquarters. He made them set up another flight out to America for us free. Then he told us we would be safe to wait in a chair near the departure gate until the next day when we could leave. He said he would be in the building but we never saw him again. He told us where to safely store our equipment over night and he paid for storage. I know God sent him. We saw gypsies and heard they steal. We wondered how we could keep our projector equipment while we fell asleep. As I felt so afraid and alone, I looked out the window. There was a set of 3 bright rainbows. One big one, a second and then duplication at the lower edge. It pulsated in brightness. As I watched this evidence of the comfort and nearness of Jesus, my fear left me. There was a bow for each of us. Soon a man came over with a big heavy home made bag on his back. When he set it down, it sounded like dishes inside. Then other men that looked like brothers and an old man and lady came. It seemed a big family was moving. Not being able to speak or understand their language, we just had to guess. My 7 year old son gave them his water bottle for they were dripping with sweat. My son's kindness, was repaid as these strong men guarded us all night. It looked like we were part of their group. They took turns all night guarding. The grandpa kept reaching over to cover my little son when he squirmed in the uncomfortable chair in his sleep that night. God was near me and I know His rainbow for me in the sky was His tender way of telling me He had seen all that had happened on that trip and he knew the emotional pain we had experienced at the hand of those who did not understand what God had done in sending us to do the work we did. |
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| Belarus Rainbow and tornado
Story
We were setting up the sanctuary model about day number 9 of our gospel meetings. It was our day off and we were using it to get ready for this difficult section of Bible stories. Suddenly the sky grew dark. My two little boys ran to the window and announced the trees were bent over sideways. Then we heard what sounded like a train. It was the sound I had heard in Kansas when a tornado was ripping through. I urged them away from the windows. Then it became light again and things seemed just normal. Soon the evangelist arrived and his wife and little boy. Their faces were white. They explained having shut the motel door and suddenly all became dark and windows on our 11th floor were breaking about them. They wished to return to their room to keep their clothes from flying out the window. Their door was under tremendous suction and no matter how hard they pulled it would not open until things became light outside. Upon entering they found clothing had gone out the window. Electricity failed as power lines were down. They had to take 11 flights of stairs out . Immediately I thought of my slides in the window ledge of my room. The day had been so hot and I had rested this box up there to hold open the window. I worried that this box was taken out the window by the tornado and scattered slides were washing down the gutters in the drenching rain that followed the tornado. I wanted to go see. Running up all 11 flights of stairs, I entered my room to discover all slide boxes neatly on the floor, windows were shut and there were no broken windows. These were giant windows on two sides of my corner room. We praised God as we learned a maid had rushed in to shut our windows when things got dark. God sent her. Shortly after this event we saw a rainbow and were comforted that God would never leave us or forsake us in our struggle to share the gospel for Him. He is such a dear FOREVER FRIEND. He never leaves HIS missionaries. We knelt and thanked Him. |
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| One time while getting ready for a mission, I had tremendous opposition at home. Awful things and threats were said. I won't say who it was but it was enough to cause my very soul to tremble. As I prayed for reassurance that I was doing exactly what God wanted me to do, there in the sky was three different sets of rainbows coming from different angles. I took pictures of each event that has happened to me if I had my camera. These pictures reassure me when many come and question me about what God did. I can show them the picture. | ||
| Another time when my friend lost her baby, I shared with her the quotations of what God meant when He designed the law of physics and put rainbows in the sky to comfort others. Then I asked God to give her a rainbow. As she closed the casket on her baby, and her eyes were wet with tears we looked up and though it was not raining, there was a bright rainbow of light to the right of the sun at three o'clock position. We were comforted. | ||
| Another time as my missionary friend Nan was loosing her husband from cancer she was weeping at his bedside. He had been very cruel to her on her trip into Belarus. He had said he did not love her and would not be her husband. She did not tell me all that happened but like the beautiful person she is, she was there to take care of his every need as he died from leukemia. Her weeping broke my heart. It seemed I had nothing I could do to comfort her. She was whispering promises of heaven into his ears and saying that she loved him as he struggled to breathe and suffered. She was a beautiful example of God's way of forgiveness. I stepped outside for it seemed I should not watch. The room was full of watching relatives and friends. I looked up and there was her rainbow. God was weeping too. I hurried out to get it pictured. I developed the pictures a mile away at the one hour developing and hurried back with the evidence in large 8 by ten pictures. I put them in a folder by the bed where the couple lay. My dear friend was in too deep of grief to leave her post of comforting her dying husband yet afterwards she treasured the pictures knowing it was God's support to her grief. | ||
| Another time God sent a rainbow
just before I knew I needed it. I took pictures, developed it, and
discovered that rainbow happened exactly at the time my favorite lawyer
friend was being buried. He had committed suicide for some deep sorrow had
plagued his heart. He had been such a help to me when Dr. Kai had abused
me and threatened to shoot me with his gun. I had been urged to pray for
my lawyer friend and wished I had gone in to visit him the days
before. When I found out at church that he had died, I about
fainted. Sorrow rolled over me for I wondered if he had given his heart to
God. He had been so close. I wept buckets of tears and kept looking at the
rainbow pictures I had seen. God knew the grief I would have because I had
prayed daily for this prince of a man to turn from his drinking and go to
the evangelistic meetings being held. He had been too busy but almost
went. Almost was not enough. How my heart longed to see him start going to
church. How I wanted to be sure that he loved God. He kept teasing me
about believing that there is a heaven. I knew that down deep inside, he
wanted the assurance of salvation that I had. He always listened very
carefully when I told what God did for me. I knew he was close to
accepting Jesus for himself. One time he said little do people realize how
a person is tempted under stress to end everything. I missed that strong
man's cry for help. He often remarked that I had an unusual amount of
strength as I dealt with major crises of abuse at work and had little
babies to care for at home also. When I told him I would be moving away
and doctoring the Indians at Monument Valley, he became very discouraged.
I don't know what he was so deeply sorrowing about.
The picture of the rainbow God put in the sky, was taken over to the lawyer's widow to comfort her. Now every time she sees a rainbow, that is linked to her experience of the hope God gave to her. She said she would not let any Adventist preacher into her home for everyone was telling her that God could not save her dead husband because he had ended his life. God is judge. He knows chemical imbalance in the brain can cause actions normally one would never do. God only sees it all. We have to trust Him to be fair. He knows if Martin would be happy among angels and people who love to sing praises to God and talk about Jesus every day. Martin's widow let me into her home with this rainbow picture and promises of hope, a video of comforting music, a shirt with a rainbow on it and a hug. God is full of love and understanding. It seems this prince of a man was in great sorrow and discouragement over finances. He had hours of suffering before he died from his self inflicted gun shot wound. God knows all hearts and knew how kind this man had been in helping me and thousands of others. God knows all the opportunities to know and obey truth. He saved the dying thief on the cross, he can save anyone who turns to Him even in the last minutes of life. This kind man kept me on track when all my life turned up side down. God remembers who is kind and loving. He is the best judge. I hope to see Martin again in heaven. Because he encouraged me, I have reached out to millions around the world encouraging them to trust in God. In that way this kind lawyer has also shared the gospel by helping me through a devastating crisis that eventually cost me the loss of all I had. God doesn't forget kindness shown to His servants the missionaries. The mission of Christ's servants is a high honor, and a sacred trust, "He that receiveth you," He says, "receiveth ME, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me." No act of kindness shown to them in His name will fail to be recognized and rewarded. DA 354-358. When work is harder because of opposition and hearts more hardened, God will step in with more gifts."At the eleventh hour, when the work grows harder and the people are more hardened, there will be a variety of talent brought in. These workers will prove faithful and receive their penny. Sacrificing men will step into the places made vacant by those who would not be fitted for a place in the heavenly temple. These resources will continue to come in. The Lord will provide openings and facilities. He will call upon the youth to fill up the places made vacant by deaths and apostasies. He will give young men and women, as well as those who are older, the cooperation of the heavenly intelligences. They will have converted characters, converted minds, converted hands, converted feet, and converted tongues. Their lips will be touched with a living coal from the divine altar. If they will learn the lesson of walking humbly before God, if they will not seek to invent new plans, but will do that which the Lord has appointed them to do, they will be enabled to carry God's plan onward and upward without narrowing it. . {10MR 170.3, written by Ellen White} (This promise is fulfilled by the talent gifted to my children to design graphics, do web sites, and help with illustrating Bible stories. God has heard my cry for help. He has seen and heard all that goes on and is said about His workers. There are no secrets from His tender watching eyes. How I love Him. He has done so much for me. I will sing His praises till I see Him come. I thank Him for all the ways He has comforted and encouraged me.) |
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 Genesis
9:13-15 God gave the bow as a signal He would never leave us in our
struggle with evil.
Revelation 10:1 Is a picture of Jesus in a pillar of cloud with a bow above Him. He is in control of all things happening on earth and sea. The pillar of cloud in the wilderness made some afraid it was a symbol of witch craft or doom. But it was Jesus in that pillar. In Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen White, it says the text Isaiah 4:5 promises again Jesus will be present in the pillar of cloud for His people. In one of the most beautiful and comforting passages of Isaiah's prophecy, reference is made to the pillar of cloud and of fire to represent God's care for His people in the great final struggle with the powers of evil: "The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for above all the glory shall be a covering. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain." Isaiah 4:5, 6, margin. {PP 283.1} |
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 Rainbow
above each praying company
With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a
rainbow . . . spans the heavens, and seems to encircle each praying company.
. . . {FLB 347.4} |
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| Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company. The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. Their mocking cries die away. The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of God's covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness. {GC 635.3} | ||
 Rainbow
will surround our coming Jesus
We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, lighter, and brighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire, a rainbow was over it, around the cloud were ten thousand angels singing a most lovely song. And on it sat the Son of Man, on his head were crowns, his hair was white and curly and lay on his shoulders. His feet had the appearance of fire, in his right hand was a sharp sickle, in his left a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched his children through and through. |
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| Does this
surprise you?
You may be limiting what our BIG GOD CAN DO! Take a look at the long list of Bible stories of unique ways God communicated! Look at the Bible stories of how He has done it in the past. |
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| Study the Word
of God carefully and as heaven's help to follow all that it teaches. Jesus
can remind you of promises that will help you be faithful. David said if
we hide God's word in our hearts it will help keep us from sin.
Keep the true Sabbath. Keep the health laws. Obey in every way. If you are really honest, God will lead you. Commit your way to HIM. Do not rob HIM of time, money or influence. We all make mistakes but it is the treasured sins, those we do not want to give up that block God from answering our prayers. Be the unique different person God made you to be and ask Him for just what you need in your own special way. My God shall supply all your needs. Phil. 4:19 |
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|
Rest of the List of Bible stories and references where God communicated in different ways |
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| Here is the rest of my list. If you thought of more,
send them to me and I will include them on this. I think it is fun to do
this exercise. My eyes were opened to the tremendous variety of ways God
communicates to us. He is not limited to these. He probably has thousands
more
13. Floating ax head Elisha 2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 14. For Elijah in the cave :Earthquakes , Fire, Thunder, Still small voice, I Kings 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 15. Little cloud in the East signal of rain for Elijah. It was enough I Kings 18:43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 16. Syrian Army blinded 2 Kings 6:18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 17. Opened eyes of servant to Elisha to angel
army (2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that [be] with us [are] more than they that [be] with them. 18. Dumping over Philistine god Dagon and making rat plague. God will not tolerate other gods honored instead of HIM. He is the only true GOD. I Samuel 5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 19. Lots wife turns into a pillar of salt punished for looking back. Really her heart was in Sodom anyway. God respected her choice. Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 20. Angel visits 21. God's finger writes commandments (Exodus 19 & 20) The law was so important, God wrote it out. 22. Bloodless hand speaks to king Belshazzar Daniel 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 23. Exploding army shows God a defender 2 Kings 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 24. Whale express of Jonah to mission field; talked to Jonah using a gourd ("the bloody city . . . full of lies and robbery." Nahum 3:1. Those in a position to know, acknowledged that one of the leading characteristics of its inhabitants was violence. Jonah 3:8.) 25. Sign of the Sun backwards 10 degrees Hezekiah Isaiah 38:7 And this [shall be] a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; 26. Mulberry bushes moving 2 Samuel 5:23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 27. Plagues were directed at objects of Egyptian worship and progressively became more severe giving many chances for repentance. (Genesis 12) 28. God created a mirage in Morning sunrise when He makes ditches full of water look like blood 2 Kings 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 29. God directs through signal of comments from the enemy. Jonathan climbs and hear signal "come up" 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 30. Parable of king stealing poor man's lamb for feast (God's justice) 2 Samuel 12:4 And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 31. Oil and flour supply never dwindles throughout famine (God is willing to take the old wormy flour and let us have new fresh food if we trust. I Kings 17:12 And she said, [As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 32. Ravens communicates God's care I Kings 17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that [is] before Jordan. 33. Burning ropes off 3 brave men in furnace (Deliverance) Daniel 3:17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. 34. Closed lions mouths in lions den Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 35. She bears teach respect for God's worker. 2 Kings 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. 36. Two guys going to bury a friend but threw him into Elisha's cave and man came to life and went home. 2 Kings 13:20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 37. Obedience and humility taught to arrogant Naaman with leprosy to dip in muddy Jordan (2 Kings 5) 38. Bread from heaven and Water from the rock to supply million people plus all their cattle Nehemiah 9:15 And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should go in to possess the land which thou had sworn to give them. 39. Sign for Abraham's servant to find a wife
for Isaac was if she would water the camels. Genesis
24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: [let the same be] she [that] thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master. 40. God communicated need to care for parents
using Joseph example: Genesis 47:11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 41. Star communicates location of new born KING OF HEAVEN Mathew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 42. Blinding light on road to Damascus blinds
Saul. Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 43. Voice directly from the ark to Moses (Numbers ) 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that [was] upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him. Sign of the withered hand, torn up altar and ashes I Kings13:3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This [is] the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that [are] upon it shall be poured out. Making this list was fun and a great faith builder!
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| List Summary of ways God communicated
In all ages the Sabbath has been the test of loyalty to God. "It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever," the Lord declares.--Gospel Workers, pp. 148, 149. (1915) {Ev 226.1} God desires fellowship and friendship with us. He wants to communicate to us as to those named in the Bible. Here is a summary of some we thought of. 1. Face to face in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8) 2. Animal and bird parade into ark (Genesis 7) 3. Translating Enoch Genesis 5:23-24 4. Dreams: Jacob's Ladder, Jacobs spotted sheep dream, Laban's dream not to hurt Jacob, Esau's dream not to hurt Jacob, Joseph's dream of stars and wheat, Potipher's dream of fat cows and skinny, fat corn, and skinny, Daniels dream of goats (8), Daniels beast dream(7), Nebuchadnezzars image dream. (Daniel2) 5. Rainbow (Genesis 9:13) Covenant sign God would never leave anyone in their struggle with evil. 6. Demonstration of God's control slowing down sin when He Confounded languages and toppled the tower of Babel (Genesis 11) 7. Silent Wrestling match of God with Jacob teaches persisting (Genesis 32:24) Don't let go of God's arm too soon. Keep asking and Wait for your answer. 8. 10-20 signals and signs in the Life of Moses: Saved as babe in a basket on River Nile, Escape from Egypt, Turning hand to leprosy then healing it, rod becomes a snake and eats other rod snakes, Burning Bush, God's VOICE, Plagues, Parting Red sea, Bronze serpent on pole, Tree in bitter water, sanctuary in the wilderness full of symbols, pillar of cloud (Exodus 1-40 and Leviticus) Teaching obedience, faith, trust 9. Salt in bitter Jericho water by Elisha Teaches God's willingness to heal of sin. (2 Kings 2:19-21) 10.
12. I Samuel 23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. He gained his "YES" and "NO" answer from the breastplate. 13. Floating ax head Elisha 2 Kings 6:5 14. For Elijah in the cave :Earthquakes , Fire, Thunder, Still small voice, I Kings 19:9 15. Little cloud in the East signal of rain for Elijah. It was enough I Kings 18:43 Elijah prayed 7 times for that signal. Jesus prayed seven times over demons to leave Mary. 16. Syrian Army blinded 2 Kings 6:18 17. Opened eyes of servant to Elisha to angel army (2 Kings 6:16 18. Dumping over Philistine god Dagon and making rat plague. God will not tolerate other gods honored instead of HIM. He is the only true GOD.I Samuel 5:2 19. Lots wife turns into a pillar of salt punished for looking back. Really her heart was in Sodom anyway. God respected her choice. Genesis 19:26 20. Angel visits: To Abraham, Mary and Joseph, to Daniel, Lot, Sampson's parents, Gideon, 21. God's finger writes commandments (Exodus 19 & 20) The law was so important, God wrote it out. 22. Bloodless hand speaks to king Belshazzar Daniel 5:24 23. Exploding army shows God a defender 2 Kings 19:34 24. God called, then made storm, then Whale express of Jonah to mission field. Book of Jonah 25. Sign of the Sun backwards 10 degrees Hezekiah Isaiah 38:7 26. God's signal of Mulberry bushes moving 2 Samuel 5:23 27. Egypt Plagues were directed at objects of Egyptian worship and progressively became more severe giving many chances for repentance. (Genesis 12) Communicated God's power and mercy. 28. God created a mirage in morning sunrise when He makes ditches full of water look like blood 2 Kings 3:16 29. God directs through signal of comments from the enemy. Both in the story of Gideon listening at the tent and when Jonathan climbs and hear signal "come up" 1 Samuel 14:6 30. Parable of king stealing poor man's lamb for feast (God's justice) 2 Samuel 12:4 31. Bees are used to chase out inhabitants of Canaan- A quiet natural way 32. Ravens communicates God's care I Kings 17:3 33. Burning ropes off 3 brave men in furnace (Deliverance) Daniel 3:17 34. Closed lions mouths in lions denDaniel 6:16 35. She bears teach respect for God's worker. 2 Kings 2:24 36. 2Kings 13:20 Man revived When dead person thrown in on bones of Elisha 37. Obedience and humility taught to arrogant Naaman with leprosy to dip in muddy Jordan (2 Kings 5) 38. Bread from heaven and Water from the rock to supply million people plus all their cattle Nehemiah 9:15 39. Sign for Abraham's servant to find a wife for Isaac was if she would water the camels. Genesis 24:14 40. God communicated need to care for parents using Joseph example: Genesis 47:11 41. Star communicates location of new born KING OF HEAVEN Mathew 2:2 42. Blinding light on road to Damascus for Saul. Acts 9:3 43. Voice directly from the ark to Moses (Numbers 7:89) 44. Earthquake when Paul and Silas sang in prison The keeper of the jail had heard with amazement the prayers and songs of the imprisoned apostles. When they were led in, he had seen their swollen and bleeding wounds, and had himself caused their feet to be fastened in the stocks. He had expected to hear from them bitter groans and imprecations, but he heard instead songs of joy and praise. With these sounds in his ears the jailer had fallen into a sleep from which he was awakened by the earthquake and the shaking of the prison walls. {AA 215.2} 45. Earthquake at death and also at resurrection of Jesus The multitude stood paralyzed, and with bated breath gazed upon the Saviour. Again darkness settled upon the earth, and a hoarse rumbling, like heavy thunder, was heard. There was a violent earthquake. The people were shaken together in heaps. The wildest confusion and consternation ensued. In the surrounding mountains, rocks were rent asunder, and went crashing down into the plains. Sepulchers were broken open, and the dead were cast out of their tombs. Creation seemed to be shivering to atoms. Priests, rulers, soldiers, executioners, and people, mute with terror, lay prostrate upon the ground. {DA 756.4} 46. Earthquake when Jonathan went alone with armor bearer to fight the Philistines 47. Earthquake is to come at the end of the world. There is a mighty earthquake, "such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." Rev. 16:18. . . . The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving way. . . . {FLB 182.3} 48. Heaven's thunder storm kills an army. (1 Samuel 7:10) 49. Sign of the withered hand, torn up altar, ashes, and prophet man killed by lion (1 Kings 13)
All Scripture is given to instruct, encourage and train us in God's ways. God will bless every sincere teacher. The work of teachers is an important one. They should make the word of God their meditation. God will communicate by His own Spirit with the soul. Pray as you study, "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law," Psalm 119:18. When the teacher will rely upon God in prayer, the Spirit of Christ will come upon him, and God will work through him by the Holy Spirit upon the mind of the student. The Holy Spirit fills mind and heart with hope and courage and Bible imagery, which will be communicated to the student. The words of truth will grow in importance, and will assume a breadth and fullness of meaning of which he has never dreamed. The beauty and virtue of the word of God have a transforming influence upon mind and character; the sparks of heavenly love will fall upon the hearts of the children as an inspiration. We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will work for them.--Special Testimony to the Battle Creek Church; written at Cooranbong, N.S.W., Australia, Dec. 15, 1897. {CT 172.2} Every soul that names the name of Christ should be under service. All should say, "Here I am; send me." The lips that are willing to speak, though unclean, will be touched with the living coal, and purified. They will be enabled to speak words |
| There are more than 158 references to the rainbow and its meaning in the writings of Ellen White. She shares many precious insights into the intent of God in designing this law of physics. It is a symbol of hope in His mercy and justice. It is always noted as above the throne and about the head of Jesus. This shows His attitude toward sinners. He will never leave us in our struggle. We will know it is Him coming in the clouds not Satan by this signal. This great symbol is our sign of Him. What a precious hope we have. Below are a few of the precious quotations from the writings of Ellen. I have gained such a rich assurance that our KING has placed this symbol of His love in the sky for us. Ignore Satan's counterfeits. |
 It was His design that as the children of after generations should see the bow in the cloud, . . . their parents could explain to them the destruction of the old world by a flood, because the people gave themselves up to all manner of wickedness, and that the hands of the Most High had bended the bow, and placed it in the clouds, as a token that He would never bring again a flood of waters on the earth.
This symbol in the clouds was to confirm the belief of all, and establish their confidence in God, for it was a token of divine mercy and goodness to man. . . .
{AG 159.2}A rainbow is represented in Heaven round about the throne, also above the head of Christ, as a symbol of God's mercy encompassing the earth. When man by his great wickedness provokes the wrath of God, Christ, man's intercessor, pleads for him, and points to the rainbow in the cloud, as evidence of God's great mercy and compassion for erring man. {AG 159.3} Angels rejoice as they gaze upon this precious token of God's love to man. The world's Redeemer looks upon it; for it was through His instrumentality that this bow was made to appear in the heavens, as a token or covenant of promise to man. God Himself looks upon the bow in the clouds, and remembers His everlasting covenant between Himself and man. . . . As we gaze upon the beautiful sight, we may be joyful in God, assured that He Himself is looking upon this token of His covenant, and that as He looks upon it He remembers the children of earth, to whom it was given. Their afflictions, perils, and trials are not hidden from Him. We may rejoice in hope, for the bow of God's covenant is over us. He never will forget the children of His care. {AG Amazing Grace |
 The rainbow of promise encircling the throne on high is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. It testifies to the universe that God will never forsake His people in their struggle with evil. It is an assurance to us of strength and protection as long as the throne itself shall endure. {DA 493.2}
Desire of Ages |
 As we look upon this bow, the seal and sign of God's promise to man, that the tempest of His wrath should no more desolate our world by the waters of a flood, we contemplate that other than finite eyes are looking upon this glorious sight. Angels rejoice as they gaze upon this precious token of God's love to man. The world's Redeemer looks upon it; for it was through His instrumentality that this bow was made to appear in the heavens, as a token or covenant of promise to man. God Himself looks upon the bow in the clouds, and remembers His everlasting covenant between Himself and man. . . . The bow represents Christ's love which encircles the earth, and reaches unto the highest heavens, connecting men with God, and linking earth with heaven. {OHC 314.3}As we gaze upon the beautiful sight, we may be joyful in God, assured that He Himself is looking upon this token of His covenant, and that as He looks upon it He remembers the children of earth, to whom it was given. Their afflictions, perils, and trials are not hidden from Him. We may rejoice in hope, for the bow of God's covenant is over us. He never will forget the children of His care. How difficult for the mind of finite man to take in the peculiar love and tenderness of God, and His matchless condescension when He said, "I will look upon the bow in the cloud, and remember thee." {OHC 314.4} Oh, how easy for us to forget God, while He never forgets us; He visits us with His mercies every hour. {OHC 314.5} Our High Calling Our High Calling |
 The rainbow round about the throne is an assurance that God is true, that in Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We have sinned against Him, and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, "Do not abhor us, for Thy name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us." Jer. 14:21. When we come to him confessing our unworthiness and sin, He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us. {COL 148.1}
Christ Object Lessons |
 Those who are self-sufficient may be apparently active in the work of God; but if they are prayerless, their activity is of no avail. Could they look into the censer of the angel that stands at the golden altar before the rainbow-circled throne, they would see that the merit of Jesus must be mingled with our prayers and efforts, or they are as worthless as was the offering of Cain.
ChS 264 Christian Service |
 John
the Baptist saw these: "But above the desert the heavens bent bright and beautiful. The clouds that gathered, dark with tempest, were arched by the rainbow of promise. So above Israel's degradation shone the promised glory of the Messiah's reign. The clouds of wrath were spanned by the rainbow of His covenant-mercy." {DA 102.4}
Desire of Ages |
| Rainbow
over our coming Jesus in the clouds of glory {EW 15.1} Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man's hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand angels, 16 singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man. His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand was a sharp sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, "Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?" Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: "Those who have clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for you." At this our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sang again, while the cloud drew still nearer the earth. {EW 15.2} |
  Through Christ was to be fulfilled the purpose of which the tabernacle was a symbol--that glorious building, its walls of glistening gold reflecting in rainbow hues the curtains inwrought with cherubim, the fragrance of ever-burning incense pervading all, the priests robed in spotless white, and in the deep mystery of the inner place, above the mercy seat, between the figures of the bowed, worshiping angels, the glory of the Holiest. In all, God desired His people to read His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit: {Ed 36.2}"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. {Ed 36.3} Great was the privilege and honor granted Israel in the preparation of the sanctuary; and great was also the responsibility. A structure of surpassing splendor, demanding for its construction the most costly material and the highest artistic skill, was to be erected in the wilderness, by a people just escaped from slavery. It seemed a stupendous task. But He who had given the plan of the building stood pledged to co-operate with the builders. {Ed 36.4} |
 The rainbow spanning the heavens with its arch of light is a token of "the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature." Genesis 9:16. And the rainbow encircling the throne on high is also a token to God's children of His covenant of peace. {Ed 115.1}As the bow in the cloud results from the union of sunshine and shower, so the bow above God's throne represents the union of His mercy and His justice. To the sinful but repentant soul God says, Live thou; "I have found a ransom." Job 33:24. {Ed 115.2} "As I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah 54:9, 10. {Ed 115.3} |
| Ezekiel 1:4, 26, 10:8. The wheels were so complicated in arrangement that at first sight they appeared to be in confusion; but they moved in perfect harmony. Heavenly beings, sustained and guided by the hand beneath the wings of the cherubim, were impelling these wheels; above them, upon the sapphire throne, was the Eternal One; and
round about the throne a rainbow, the emblem of divine
mercy. {Ed 177.3} As the wheellike complications were under the guidance of the hand beneath the wings of the cherubim, so the complicated play of human events is under divine control. Amidst the strife and tumult of nations, He that sitteth above the cherubim still guides the affairs of the earth. {Ed 178.1} |
 With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a rainbow . . . spans the heavens, and seems to encircle each praying company. . . . {FLB 347.4}By the people of God a voice, clear and melodious, is heard, saying, "Look up," and lifting their eyes to the heavens, they behold the bow of promise. The black, angry clouds that covered the firmament are parted, and like Stephen they look up steadfastly into heaven, and see the glory of God, and the Son of man seated upon His throne. In His divine form they discern the marks of His humiliation; and from His lips they hear the request, presented before His Father and the holy angels, "I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." John 17:24. |
| Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne . . . and there was a rainbow round about the throne. Rev. 4:2, 3. {AG 70.1} The rainbow of promise encircling the throne on high is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). It testifies to the universe that God will never forsake His people in their struggle with evil. It is an assurance to us of strength and protection as long as the throne itself shall endure. {AG 70.2} As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow of promise above the throne; man could see only the penalty of the law. Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the government of God. {AG 70.3} It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation full and complete. It is the blending of the two that leads us, as we view the world's Redeemer and the law of Jehovah, to exclaim, "Thy gentleness hath made me great" (2 Sam. 22:36). We know that the gospel is a perfect and complete system, revealing the immutability of the law of God. . . . Mercy invites us to enter through the gates into the city of God, and justice is sacrificed to accord to every obedient soul full privileges as a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. {AG 70.4} Amazing Grace By faith let us look upon the rainbow round about the throne, the cloud of sins confessed behind it. The rainbow of promise is an assurance to every humble, contrite, believing soul, that his life is one with Christ, and that Christ is one with God. The wrath of God will not fall upon one soul that seeks refuge in Him. God Himself has declared, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." "The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant" (Ex. 12:13; Gen. 9:16). {AG 70.5} |
 The rainbow about the throne is an assurance that God is true; that in Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We have sinned against Him and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas: "Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us" (Jer. 14:21).
He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry when we come to Him confessing our unworthiness and sin. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word to
us. {AG 157.3}To everyone who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results. The Lord God is bound by an eternal pledge to supply power and grace to everyone who is sanctified through obedience to the truth. {AG 157.4} Nehemiah pressed into the presence of the King of kings and won to his side a power that can turn hearts as rivers of waters are turned. [See Nehemiah 1 and 2.] {AG 157.5} To pray as Nehemiah prayed in his hour of need is a resource at the command of the Christian under circumstances when other forms of prayer may be impossible. |
| Rage incurred when we believe and obey
With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when, lo, a |
| We must gain courage and strength from
the coldness of others as we see the final signs of the end of the world
When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.--5T 136 (1882). {LDE 180.4} What a support Christ would have found in His earthly relatives if they had believed in Him as one from heaven...their unbelief cast a shadow over the earthly life of Jesus. It was a part of the bitterness of the cup of woe which He drained for us....His motives were misunderstood, His work was uncomprehended." DA326 |
| The One who has stood as our Intercessor; who hears all penitential prayers and confessions;
who is represented with a rainbow, the symbol of grace and love, encircling His head, is soon to cease His work in the heavenly
sanctuary. Grace and mercy will then descend from the throne, and justice will take their place. He for whom His people have looked will assume His right--the office of Supreme Judge.--RH Jan. 1, 1889. {LDE 240.3} In all the Bible, God is presented not only as a Being of mercy and benevolence, but as a God of strict and impartial justice.--ST March 24, 1881. {LDE 240.4} |
| Mercy and justice
|
| The eternal God has drawn the line of distinction between the saint and the sinner, between converted and unconverted. The two classes do not blend into each other imperceptibly, like the colors of a rainbow, but are as distinct as midday and midnight. God's people cannot with safety enter into intimate associations with those who know the truth, but do not practice it. The patriarch Jacob, when speaking of certain deeds of his sons, which he contemplated with horror, exclaimed, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly mine honor, be not thou united." He felt that his own honor would be compromised if he associated with sinners in their doings. He lifted the danger signal, warning us to shun wrong associations, lest we become tainted with evil. And the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, utters a similar warning, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." --The Youth's Instructor, February 4, 1897. |
| In heaven the semblance of a rainbow encircles the throne and
overarches the head of Christ. The prophet says, "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about [the throne]. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah." Ezekiel 1:28. The revelator declares, "Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. . . . There was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." Revelation 4:2, 3. When man by his great wickedness invites the divine judgments, the Saviour, interceding with the Father in his behalf, points to the bow in the clouds, to the rainbow around the throne and above His own head, as a token of the mercy of God toward the repentant sinner. {PP 107.1} With the assurance given to Noah concerning the Flood, God Himself has linked one of the most precious promises of His grace: "As I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah 54:9, 10. {PP 107.2} |
| Aren't these beautiful promises? You cannot go wrong if
you stand on the promises of God. God will protect and guide all who
sincerely desire to obey and serve Him. If you have read this far
on this long long page and have any questions, I would love to hear from you.
Trust in the Lord 2 Samuel 22:31 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him. Psalms 18:2 The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower. Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psalms 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Write to me, Dr. Rose at tetracha@aol.com |
88 stories of answered prayer in the life of Dr.
Rose from youth to the year 2001
As
you can see from my sanctuary model and robes, there were detailed
garments the high priest of the tabernacle wore. On the chest was
worn a judgment plate from which they were given signs from the Urim and Thummim on
this
breast plate. David received messages from prophets and answers from the
breast plate of the High Priest robes while he was fleeing from jealous
king Saul. He had access to these because Abiathar had fled for his life
and took with him this ephod. King Saul had killed the high priest and his
son Abiathar fled to hide with David.
That
same voice that called the fish into the net, calls people to be fishers of
men and calls people to listen. There is nothing impossible to the Creator
who designed all the laws of physics. When I cry in agony of soul and
pray for those who misunderstand and speak evil of me, He often paints a
rainbow in the showers to tell me of His love. He who can calm the storm
on the sea, is in control of all the rage in this world against His
workers. I am HIS FOREVER FRIEND.
God
promised in the last days to give dreams, visions and prophesies. He has
done and is doing that. Even today there are stories of people having
dreams that helped them with what they should do. Look in Basic Bible
lesson 29 for a most interesting story of when God looked for a person to
speak for Him in the 1800's. God asked different people who told Him
"NO"! They were afraid they would be made fun of. When God asked
Ellen, a teenager that had been seriously injured in a school accident,
she agreed to do what God wanted. In Joel 2:28 God said He would give
dreams and visions in the last days. When you read the 2,000 visions and
dreams she has written, you can tell it is from the same author as the
Bible. The best book to start with is DESIRE OF AGES. I begun
reading these when I was fourteen. I loved to study these in addition to
the Bible..
Enoch
In the rainbow above the throne is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." . . . {Mar 326.1}