Edward's experiences with God (Sep 09)

Late in 1988 while living in Bolton, God made it absolutely clear that he wanted me to move to South Liverpool. Whilst looking for a house I lived with my mother in Prescot.

One evening while praying, I had a clear vision/picture in monochrome of a house with a leaning tree outside of it. The vision disappeared then reappeared. I had many estate agents leaflets and found that this house was on one of them. When I went to view it, the seller was a ‘born again’ Christian. I bought the house and moved in.

In August that same year, 1989, I experienced the worst case of flu that I had ever known - I’d spent 14 days in hospital in 1957 with Asian flu. I was drinking copious amounts of fluids and using towels rather than tissues or handkerchiefs. I knew I was going to end up in hospital again. I knelt to pray and said, “Lord, I am not going to make a habit of this but would you please touch me, otherwise I am going to end up in hospital”; when I stood up, I no longer had flu!

In June 1991, I went to my normal Sunday morning meeting. I was really ‘hard up’ and had about £1.20 in my pocket. It really hurt but I put it in the church offering; by 7.00pm, I had been given £20 and it came from 3 different sources.

In December 1994, I was really ‘hard dup’ again and it was freezing cold! So; I prayed and said “Lord, I am not whinging or complaining but this house is freezing cold and I am cold, Lord!” Forty minutes later, there was a knock at my front door and a man stood there having brought me four large bags of smokeless fuel – I was almost in tears!

In mid-1997, I wanted to attend a 3 week course at a Bible college in Yorkshire where I had previously been a student. I did not have the full fee but when I rang them they said they would give me a bursary for the remainder. I later prayed “Lord, I don’t need the money to go on this course because I have been given a bursary. But, to assure me it is your Will that I go, would you please send me the full course fee. Also, I need to know quickly to finalise my arrangements”. Within 24 hours I received a phone call followed by a cheque for the full amount within a couple of days.

I have had many other faith building experiences with God, all of them clear and logical, many of them being deeply personal and private.

Finally, my mother became a born again Christian when she was 87years old; she fell asleep when she was 89yrs old. The last words I spoke to her were, “Mother, are you still trusting Jesus?” and she replied, “I am that!”

My question is – How about you?

E Patterson. August 09.