Date: 6/23/2010
by Anonymous

Our family experienced an unexpected situation that increased our expenses over a period of about six weeks. We were faced with a shortfall of $1,000 in paying our bills. We believed that we were walking in obedience to God's direction for our family and therefore, trusted Him with the provision for our expenses. We made a commitment to continue to obey in our giving even though it was tempting not to. There was an automatic withdrawal set up for paying these expenses that would occur on Monday, June 14. We continued to pray and trust God through the month of May and into June, while watching our spending and taking advantage of opportunities to work. God was faithful! Our checking account had enough money for the automatic withdrawal and even had $55 to spare. Yesterday in Celebration we sang, "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" and today we are turning back to praise Him for this blessing He has poured out.

Date: 11/19/2008
by Alechia

I received a phone call on August 8, 2007, to start a prayer chain because my granddaughter Emily had been "hit" by a bus in downtown Des Moines. This was all I knew. That night on the news we learned more. She had been run over by both sets of city bus tires after being hit by the bus and knocked down. Each day it appeared she would make it! On November 8, 2007, she can home well and healed. She is healed physically - she can walk and her internals work. All her doctors agree on the fact that no one ever before has been hurt that badly and lived. Best of all she is now a lovely and caring person concerned about others who are hurt and who are alone.

Date: 10/31/2008
by Vicky

I have been a big pop drinker. My weight is out of control, as I didn't have a good understanding about food. Susan Freeman talked to me about food nutrition and she and her husband Dave prayed with me. I stopped drinking pop over two months ago, and I started making healthy food choices. I have been losing weight and I feel better. I would encourage everyone to read the food labels and make good choices!

Date: 10/31/2008
by Tania

I have a severe brain injury. I had been feeling depressed and isolated with no hope and no peace. Jan Dreesman recommended to me that I start working with a personal trainer and get lots of exercise. I began seeking the Lord about this and things fell into place. Several people in the family of God have come along beside me to help me accomplish this. I was not able to move and think clearly, and now I am doing both. My healing is on-going, and my fear is gone. There is nothing impossible with God!

Date: 10/31/2008
by Carol

Several things had happened all at the same time. First I got pneumonia, then my brother cut his leg clear down to the bone, then the doctors thought my grandson had cancer. I was waiting to hear from my son about what the doctor said, and I felt I could not take any more. I sat down and had a heart to heart talk with God and told Him I was leaving it all up to Him. It was then that I felt such a peaceful and calm feeling come over me. I felt that if I were to reach out, God would be right there and I could touch Him. It was such an awesome feeling. My health improved, my brother's leg is doing great and my grandson doesn't have cancer.

Date: 12/12/2006
by Tammie

Last Sunday during worship time we had a moment to praise and thank God. I had a burden on my heart and I asked God if he was pleased with the Christmas Play. I only wanted the play to be a song of praise to him and told him that I wanted it to be like a sweet aroma lifting up to him. Moments after praying and still in prayer A.D. walked up to me and whispered in my ear that God had given her a word to give to me. He said that the play glorified him and he was pleased. I started to cry because this was immediate answer to prayer and it lifted that burden from me. I know that no matter what happens I have honored God and he is with me. I am crying as I type this because that was the purpose for the play and I am so grateful to have a living God who speaks to his children.
--Tammie

Date: 12/5/2006
by Jake Allen

For the last 6 to 7 months I have been experiencing horrible pain in
my right shoulder, well about three months ago I was sent to the
physical therapist by my doctor. The therapist then told me that I had
Tendonitis in my shoulder, and that my shoulder was lodged forward and had
been for a long time. At that time I didn't really know what to say, I
prayed about it and I told some friends about it and they tried to
comfort me, but it didnt really help much. As the three months went by my
shoulder got a little better and I was almost fully healed. Football had
just finished as well, so my shoulder was increasing in strength rather
quickly, when Tony, my therapist, told me I could start lifting weights
again. I did as instructed. I took it light. Then I over did it one day
and both of my shoulders popped and it was everything I could do to
lift my arms. This was just after when my mom told me that if I didn't
really need the therapy I shouldn't go because of the expenses. I went
home that night and cried because it hurt so much. I prayed and prayed for
God to heal me.
This all happened up to this last week. Well this last weekend I
attended church and after worship Pastor Phil said that we were going to
have a time of prayer up at the altar. I felt God saying " GO up there
already! Just ask for help!" So I did, Dave and Michelle Wanat came and
prayed with me. Now two days later My shoulders are in PERFECT shape. I
have no pain, no limited motion, NOTHING! I mean like after spending
hours of therapy and doing exersises, I was perfect. Now you can't tell
me that doesn't have God written ALL over it!
It just goes to show how NOTHING is impossible if you give it to
God.
---Jake Allen

Date: 5/27/2006
by L.H.

PRAISE GOD for his incredible, powerful protection of Dave and Anita Duncan, Tom Collins, Lucas Hall, and Jordan Anderson! Thursday night, May 25th, while returning from Marshalltown ministering to boys at the Wolf Ranch, their truck was sideswiped by a Mack dump truck on the highway. Their truck rolled and was crushed, but all five of them escaped serious injury.



Here are some photos of their truck:

Date: 10/21/2005
by L.H.

On July 1, 2005, E. was playing back yard baseball (he was the
catcher) with the neighborhood kids. A foul tip off the bat unexpectedly hit E. directly in the left eye. After realizing that he had no vision in that eye, we took him to the ER. He was sent to an ophthalmologist in Ft. Dodge that same night. The doctor said his injury was severe and he would need to be on complete bed rest and be seen daily. We saw that same doctor the next three mornings and then were transferred to a doctor in Ames for the fourth day. That doctor also concluded that this was a severe injury and E. would need to be seen by a retinal specialist in West Des Moines. After two weeks, E. was able to move around carefully, but could not be active. His vision was 20/400 due to bleeding in the back of his eye where there were many breaks in the retina. The doctor in West Des Moines said that his vision would never return to normal, but it would get better and could be corrected with lenses. He stressed over and over again how this injury was a serious trauma to his eye. We saw that doctor bi-weekly and then monthly. After three months, E.'s vision was 20/25! The doctor said he was shocked and surprised at how his vision had returned to near normal. Seeing this progress, he was certain it would be 20/20 in time. He sent an eye chart home with us for E. to use daily to monitor any changes in his vision. At the last use, he had 20/20 vision in that eye! We praise God for His hand of protection and healing for E.'s eye. We asked for prayer immediately following the injury and received much feedback from people who remembered E. in prayer throughout the whole ordeal. We know God is responsible for this miracle.

L. H.

Date: 10/13/2005
by M.E.

On July 7, 2005, J. burned his knee on a lawnmower. We cleaned it and did not really think much more of it. On the Saturday after, J. got sick. He was saying his side hurt and he was complaining that he was tired. He took a nap, and when I went to wake him, he was extremely hot to touch. We took his temperature, and it was 105°F. We rushed him to the hospital. They did a blood test and a CAT scan and came to find out that he had a blood poisoning in the lymph nodes in the burn on his leg. They kept him in the hospital overnight and he was better the next day. We got a phone call the next week to come in and visit with the doctor about some of the test results. The doctor told us there was an abnormality in the CAT scan that looked like lymphoma which could be a form of cancer. They said they would have to wait for two months and do another test, because they wanted to see if the lymph nodes changed or stayed the same.

On September 14, 2005, we went back to the hospital for another CAT scan. The next day we got a call to meet with the doctor again, and we were told that there was still an abnormal node in his abdomen. The doctor in Boone was really concerned that this could be cancer and made an appointment for us to take J. to an oncologist at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines on Monday. The next day I went to Pastor and prayed with him. I called a lot of family and friends and we prayed. I read my Bible and prayed with J. On Sunday morning B. Br. prayed with J. E. H., Pastor and N. prayed with him and anointed him with oil. E. H. sprinkled him with gold dust that he had gotten the night before at a service.

On September 19, 2005, we met with the oncologist in Des Moines and he was very promising and gave us a lot of hope. He said that it could be any number of things. He took the CAT scan pictures to another specialist and had us wait for him. He came back to us and told us that between the two of them they thought it was a shadow from the Barium that J. drank. He said they would still do one more test just to check from another view. That Friday we went back to Des Moines for a PIT scan. The doctors viewed the results from this scan and could not find anything. He is very healthy and there is nothing wrong with him. Praise the Lord!

The Des Moines doctors were telling us that the Boone doctors misread the test. I believe that it was the power of prayer.

M.E.

Date: 10/5/2005
by T.S.

I went forward for a healing Sunday and Pastor and D.S. laid hands on me. I felt the heat of the Lord come on me. I am like that woman that would not give up, asking the Lord for a restoration in my life. Like it says in the book of Joel, “they will no longer be a reproach among the heathen,” we will be the head and not the tail; not one feeble one among us. When the heathen see us they see Jesus and a miracle. Glory! Anyway, I received a miracle in my mind. It is clearer and I am walking more on my own. PTL for the body of Christ! The family of God is so important. We cannot make it on our own. Thank you Pastor for your obedience and willingness.

Date: 10/5/2005
by L.H.

Last week I went into my daughter's room late at night to close her window. It was dark and I didn't see a 10-inch-long pegboard hook sticking straight out at eye level next to her window. I walked right into it, but fortunately had my glasses on. The impact on my glasses caused my eyelid to close just in time. The lid was cut and bruised, but praise God for his protection over my eye!!! I feel this was God's divine protection over me because normally I wouldn't have my glasses on in the night. This was the second time recently that something almost pierced my right eye, but was glanced off just in time. I praise God for his protection!

I think it's no coincidence that so many eyes have been healed around the same time we are speaking about "vision" for the future. These recent personal incidents have heightened my awareness of the enemy's desire to hinder my vision both physically and spiritually. But I'm also reminded God's authority and protection outwit the enemy's schemes.

Date: 10/5/2005
by D.S.

I injured my arthritic right shoulder joint on Friday afternoon by lifting too much weight in watermelon and squash. It was painful to drive the car home and when I moved my arm a certain way the pain made me cry out it was so bad. Of course, I asked the Lord to take care of it for me. The next day I told S. I thought it would recover (by faith) but it still hurt a lot when I moved it. I even left some clean dishes on the counter because lifting them into the cupboard would have been too painful. During the worship time at the end of Celebration on Sunday, October 1, I realized the shoulder joint hadn't hurt since I'd been there. I began moving it in all the ways that would have been painful before but nothing bothered it at all. When I got home I put those dishes away with no pain. How I praise God for healing me sovereignly. It seems like my testimonies always include food supplements the Lord has directed me to and this one gives glory only to the one who is worthy to receive it.

Date: 9/14/2005
by G.B.

In 2002 I was diagnosed with diabetes while I was in the hospital. When the doctor came in the hospital to tell me I was a diabetic, I rebuked that diagnosis out loud the minute I heard it from the doctor. I told him and B. not to put that disease on me. The Sunday after I was released from the hospital, we had a time of prayer at church with prayer groups. I shared about my diagnosis but that I refused to accept it. The prayer groups prayed for both B. and me. Each member of the group said they would pray for us during the week and hopefully I would get the outcome I wanted. I did however go on the medication but I was determined to prove the doctor was wrong. Well, I had a bad reaction to the medication because it was making my blood sugars too low my number was 14. Coma is usually 20 but I was ok. I had a nurse take my blood sugar to verify that it was indeed 14. She was concerned for me and took me home as she felt I shouldn't drive. I continued to take the medication and document my food intake. One day while I was working for I had contact with Dr. M. and J. C., a pharmacist in town. I explained my situation and what was going on and they both told me to get off the medication is it killing me. Dr. M. said I needed to stay away from doctors because they were going to kill me if I continued. I went off the medication at once. When I reported it to the doctor they put me on another medication because they still felt I was a diabetic. Well needless to say, I had an even worst reaction to this medication, one no one can be allergic too. But I was, after weeks of warring with the doctor and diabetic counselor they finally decided yes I was having a bad reaction and recommended I stop take all medications. I did and haven't had a problem since. They did test my blood sugar each time I have blood work done and as of yet I don't have diabetes. I know if it were not for the prayers for me and my rebuking the disease I would have diabetes today. God does answer prayers even when we follow the directions of a human doctor. Praise God.

In 2004, I went to the doctor again for a check-up and my white count in my blood was high. They did some tests but I told them I have always carried a high white count but the doctor was not convinced so she ordered a bone marrow test for me as she felt I had leukemia. Again I told the doctor she was wrong but that I would have the test done. I did have it done but I had to wait until after Thanksgiving to get the answer, I believe. It was a very uncertain time and I studied and searched the internet regarding this disease. I had most of the symptoms but I held fast to my belief that God did not want me to have this disease. I didn't share my diagnosis with the whole church body but to just a few in the church and each one said they would pray for me. Again, God answered those prayers and I don't have leukemia. I am one of a very rare breed that carries a very high white count but I am normal. Scary to say normal but I am. God is such a wonderful Father to me; it is so hard to express the thankfulness I have.

Thanks for listening and hope this helps.

Date: 9/6/2005
by K.A.

During the month of July 2005 I had asked for prayer concerning my finances at both care groups I was attending. Between August 1 and 17, I received approximately $1400.00 in unexpected income!

Date: 9/5/2005
by J.S. and family

We have taken quite a drop in our financial support this year (2005). Our one time gifts last year never continued into the second year, one church is broke, etc. We told our kids we didn't have enough money to buy them new shoes for the school year and would have to wear their old ratty-tatties. The cash we had left was for groceries. They seemed alright with that. A week before school a guy at church walks up to me unaware of what is going on and hands me this envelope with a strange look on his face. He says use this for your kids to get what they need for school. God is good and faithful. It was enough money to get the kids new shoes for school.

(2005) Our department head of communications was traveling for support raising in Oklahoma and was involved in a head-on wreck with another car which crossed the median. They took him and his family to the hospital. When they got him to the hospital, they found he had a complete heart attack and would have died except he was there in the hospital. He got the care needed and is back working here at Mercy Ships. If he was anywhere else when this happened he would have been in heaven right now.

J.S. and family

Date: 9/3/2005
by R.O.

Another provision God has blessed us with is another car. J. has been looking for a car, and I did not want her to have to make payments for one at this time, so I had told S. I wanted to give her the car my Uncle C. had given me for her birthday which is November 1st. He said, "You're not going to like being without a car," but I asked the Lord for his will and my mom e-mailed me probably within 3 weeks, and she didn't know any of my thinking, and said that my cousin S.'s wife e-mailed her about giving us a car they no longer need. They live in Kentucky!!! So, I knew God answered my prayer....we are getting it this weekend (September 3, 2005), they are meeting us in Moline, IL, which is only a 3 1/2 hour drive for us, another blessing...and my folks are helping with gas money...another huge blessing!!!! So, again, he provided what we need, and NO car payments!!
R.O.

This is helping me build up my own faith talking about all of this!!! That God is listening and answering my prayers!!

Date: 8/29/2005
by R.O.

That is so wild you would write this, I have shared this with my family and had thought about e-mailing the body....anyway, I was working out on Monday (August 29, 2005) , and I had soreness in my left leg as I was lifting it, where the leg meets the torso...and was trying to do step aerobics but was experiencing a sharp pain....so, I resorted to doing the exercise on the ground rather than using the step....again on Tuesday, I started out and it returned, so I said to the Lord, this is ridiculous, I shouldn't have anything hindering me from working out, so I laid my hand on my leg where it hurt and asked God to heal me. He touched it immediately and I was able to workout with NO pain and haven't been bothered by it since!!!!! Thank you Lord!! That was awesome!!! My thinking was, I just need to ask, how many times do I just "deal" with stuff and don't simply ask the Lord to intervene.

Date: 7/11/2005
by M.W.

As many of you already know, D. & I are expecting another baby! Yes, this is miracle baby number 2!! YIPPEE!

We tried to conceive for 5 1/2 years before going through IVF/ICSI procedure. We had 3 infertility specialists tell us we are unable to have children on our own due to male factor infertility. We went through the procedure only to find out I too had major infertility issues. Thankfully, God's hand was on the procedure and it worked. R. is our first miracle baby! And a cutie patootie to boot!!

So, neither D. nor I are able to have children on our own, let alone as a couple...
We believe God blessed us with this baby. There is no other way to explain it! Yes, there are cases that people have had children after such a procedure. The difference between us and them is that both of us have major infertility problems. D. & I were prayed over at our church for a healing to be able to conceive on our own a few months ago and now I'm 2 months along! God is faithful!!

M.W.

Date: 5/25/2005
by B.B.

I have a story of God's divine protection. On 25 May, 2005, we were on convoy north of Baghdad, when my gun truck was struck by IED that contained 300 pounds of explosives in it. The IED literally cut the gun truck in half. My driver pretty much had his left leg torn apart, the gunner had both legs hit with shrapnel, and the commo soldier had a piece of shrapnel in his face. Through all this God's hand protected them all. While they were being pulled from the vehicle another IED went off next to them and didn't even harm them. The soldier(my driver) should have lost his leg, but thru God's miraculous touch he was walking only one week later; of course the doctors don't understand it; but we know God healed him. My other soldier with the face wound should have been decapitated but he only received a small cut. He told me later that when the IED exploded he felt somebody lay a hand on his head and pull him back. My third soldier should have been cut in half by the blast, but he also said that just as the blast went off something knocked his legs out from under him and he fell to the floor as the blast tore through the gunner's well where he was standing. Is this all a coincidence; i don't think so because before we roll out on mission my driver always gets on his knees and says the Lord's prayer in front of our gun truck. Also the Lord covered me because i was not in that vehicle that bay.

Date: 2/25/2005
by D.S.

It was about February 2005 when I attended the Saturday night prayer group at OBC to ask for prayer for a painful neck condition that I'd had for some time. It was really getting to me and they prayed for me. I don't remember how much time went by but while watching a grandson's basketball game, I was amazed when I turned my head to the left without pain. The pain has not returned. The only thing I had done differently was to take two new food supplements, one that is supposed to help muscles, and one cartilage. However he did it, I give God all the thanks and praise. He is the God of all creation and "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James l:16, 17.

Date: 12/29/2004
by D.S.

In December 2004 after I had some growths removed from my neck, I developed a rash close to the wound site. I had it for several days when I showed it to Lisa and she said it looked like chicken pox. Then while at Celebration the next morning, the realization came to me that I had shingles, which come from the chicken pox virus. Because of the stories I'd heard about the severe pain of shingles and not being a person to embrace pain, I asked the Lord to ameliorate the situation for me. I had only heard the word ameliorate once before and thought it meant to make it tolerable. Actually, Webster’s dictionary says "to make better or more tolerable". That afternoon the word "L-Lysine" came across my mind. I had used L-Lysine (an over-the-counter amino acid) before on the advice of a pharmacist to stop cold sores and canker sores. I started taking it and it stopped the shingles immediately. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:20, 21.