Personal Stories about Your Encounter with God!

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When my husband was sent to defend Kuwait (he was a Chaplain) in 1997, I thought I would be OK. The night he deployed, it rained so hard, that the back room of our "garden" apartment (really the slaves quarters from the 1800's.) flooded. We were really poor, (still are), and someone had given us a phantom vacuum cleaner for Christmas. I dried up the carpet the best I could - and not being familiar with a moist climate, sprinkled carpet cleaner smell good stuff on the carpet to prevent the mold smell I knew was coming. A day later I vacuumed up the sprinkles and clogged the vacuum cleaner. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I cried like a baby. I didn't yell at God for sending my husband to war (even though I'm sure that was the real issue I didn't want to face). Instead I prayed at God at first, being very mad at Him for making it rain so hard. Then I (like a brat) told God that if He would only send me an engineer I would be ok. I figured an engineer was the only person who could figure out how to fix the machine. One hour later, LeAnn knocked on my door. When I opened the door, I was so shocked to see her. LeAnn was married to a guy in my husband's battalian. In our 3 years of friendship, she had only been to our current home 1 time. LeAnn lived in Hinesville & I lived in Savannah (they are about an hour from each other). LeAnn's husband had been deployed the same day as mine and she had been in South Carolina visiting his family. As she was driving on the HWY that led to Ft. Stewart she was praying and heard God tell her to go to my house. So she did. LeAnn is a graduate of West Point with a degree in engineering and worked for the Army as a engineer in the Corp of Engineers. God answered my prayer in 1 hour! I don't remember if we fixed the vacuum or not. God is so Good!

anecdotal evidence.

My husband lost his job two weeks after my son was born. It took him a year to find a new one that was any good. My daughter was a toddler and asked me for an apple. I didn't have an apple and she started to cry. I cried to, not because I didn't have an apple, but because I couldn't buy her even one apple. I remember asking God to please give me enough money to buy her an apple. My husband and I didn't complain about our situation and know one new how desperate we were. But a friend of mine called me and she said, "I know what it's like to have no money and very young children. Please, after bible study tonight stay after everyone leaves. I'm cleaning out my cabnets, and I'm going to give you some food. Please don't be embarrassed. I remember one time when we had no money asking God for help, and I promised him if he helped us I would never allow a friend to go hungry. I know Hernando lost his job and you just had a baby, so please let me do this for you." Well sure enough after bible study she gave me like 4 bags of food. When I took the bags home and looked in them, imagine my surprise when one large grocery bag was full of apples. You are right...God is good. Exceedingly,abundantly all that we ask or think. AMEN

Yeah, getting vacuum cleaners fixed is the #1 priority for the almighty God. He does not answer the prayers of people starving to death in poor African countries, but he does answer the prayers of a housewife with a broken vacuum cleaner. You and your vacuum cleaner are top priority for God.

Yesterday I was thirsty and so I looked into my fridge and discovered that I had NOTHING to drink! So I prayed to God to quench my thirst. Then I opened the fridge again, and lo and behold, at the very back of the fridge I discovered a bottle of OJ that I had forgotten about! Thank you God! You're the best!

Emp, you are so threatened by us. Can't help yourself, you have to respond to just about everything we post. Thats ok...it's just a reminder for us to keep you in our prayers.I think you know God is real, otherwise, you wouldn't be so bothered by us, nor so angry with God. And you wouldn't feel such a need to respond to us. Thats cool Emp. You need to remind us you are here, and in desperate need for our prayers.

oh just an FYI, i don't believe in reverse pychology. So no, i didn't write what I just said in order to keep you from bugging me....I really mean what I said.

You seriously think that God is involving himself in your mundane matters, your DOMESTIC CHORES?? Meanwhile God ignores the plight of thousands of people in far worse situations than yourselves, people in dire need of help, praying to God in desperate need but being ignored because God is too busy organizing the fixing of your vacuum cleaner. You two should be ashamed of yourselves! From a humanitarian point of view, both of you have an appalling selfish attitude.

Even if a God does exist, you disrespect him to think he involves himself with your frickin' domestic chores -- your vacuum cleaner for crying out loud!! Basically your idea of God is your own Personal God who looks out for you above everyone else. You treat God as a Personal Assistant, your lackey! I am disgusted that people think this way. It is an incredibly self-centered attitude.

And furthermore, if a God really did exist, here is how I would pray to God:

"Dear God, please do NOT help me fix my vacuum cleaner, because I know that there are many people who are in MUCH greater need than myself. Please give your attention to them instead of me, because they need it much more than I do."

In other words, I would not be so selfish.

Following is the sort of thing I am talking about. If you must pray, at least pray for a worthy cause.

Meanwhile, you are praying to God about your VACUUM CLEANER!! !! I am DISGUSTED by this behavior. Many religious people should be ashamed of themselves. I am regularly shocked by the low standard of humanity displayed by religious people.

Emp,,
I am very selfish, as are you. I agree that my prayer was stupid and selfish. But the point is, God loves me anyway. He loves you too. He knew my real need was to know He loved me because I was scared for my husband who was going off to provide ministry to those in the Army. Yes, that is selfish, I need to know God loves me. But God, is love. And love is endless, so He doesn't have to work on one person at a time, He is loving everyone all the time & that is where you put Him in a human box. Like He has to set priorities of who deserves love more than another, or that He is on a schedule to fix people's problems. You don't even believe in God - so why would it bother you if I asked Him for something & not African's? He's not real to you, so why does it bother you?

But if you were so good as you proclaim to be, you would not be on the internet talking about Africa, you would be doing something about it. The funny thing is that I am. I am part of a group that brings Sudanese political exiles to the US and privides for their every need. But I'm sure you will find something wrong with that. If your sooooo concerned with humanity, why don't you tell us what you are doing to fix things.

Why do any of you find it necessary to attack my beliefs? Why does it bother you? Do you think your perfect & everyone should think as you? I specifically started a new post with a very specific title - thinking that if it grossed you out so much - you would be warned and not read. Just like I can't change your beliefs, you can't change mine. Please stop hurting my feelings by posting critical things.

Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love anyone?

Emp,,
I am very selfish, as are you. I agree that my prayer was stupid and selfish. But the point is, God loves me anyway. He loves you too. He knew my real need was to know He loved me because I was scared for my husband who was going off to provide ministry to those in the Army. Yes, that is selfish, I need to know God loves me. But God, is love. And love is endless, so He doesn't have to work on one person at a time, He is loving everyone all the time & that is where you put Him in a human box. Like He has to set priorities of who deserves love more than another, or that He is on a schedule to fix people's problems. You don't even believe in God - so why would it bother you if I asked Him for something & not African's? He's not real to you, so why does it bother you?

But if you were so good as you proclaim to be, you would not be on the internet talking about Africa, you would be doing something about it. The funny thing is that I am. I am part of a group that brings Sudanese political exiles to the US and privides for their every need. But I'm sure you will find something wrong with that. If your sooooo concerned with humanity, why don't you tell us what you are doing to fix things.

Why do any of you find it necessary to attack my beliefs? Why does it bother you? Do you think your perfect & everyone should think as you? I specifically started a new post with a very specific title - thinking that if it grossed you out so much - you would be warned and not read. Just like I can't change your beliefs, you can't change mine. Please stop hurting my feelings by posting critical things.

Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love anyone?

Paula,

That is so cool. There have been many times we didn't have enough money to buy groceries and some how money came in just in the nick of time. I love how God is able to put that extra special touch in to let us know how much He loves us. Just recently, my uncle was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He is a recovering alcoholic - who stopped drinking when his first grandchild was born. He was not a Christian and was a self proclaimed bad ass. I prayed for him and as I was doing so, realized that what I really wanted was for him to know God. He had always been loving to all his nieces including me. I told God that I wanted Tommy to be in heaven with the rest of his family when he died but that I knew I didn't have the ability to convince him. The doctor gave him 6 weeks to live, and Tommy went to some Mexican Cancer Clinic. While there, he went to a prayer meeting (shock #1) and experienced the Holy Spirit (shock #2). He gave his life to Christ at that very moment. He still has his cancer, 2 years and 4 months now. But now he goes to a non-denominational church on Saturdays and says he loves life. He has changed so much and seems so much at peace now.

Do you live in California? We were just in San Diego for a conference, it was so beautiful, and the people were so laid back and nice. However, I could not believe how expensive housing is. I'm in Texas now and you can buy a brand new 2,500 square foot house for $150,000 - $200,000. Not that I could afford that, but my husband's aunt & uncle live in a 1500 square foot house in Seal Beach that was built in the 70's and it is on the market for 1.2 million. WOW!

Yes I live in San Diego Calif. And whenever I have a need I ask God for help because thats what God tells me to do. It's not selfish it's obedience. And I do all I can for my children, and they've grown up to be wonderful caring adults. California is very expensive to live. We thought about moving, but my husbands parents are elderly and my mother in law is not doing well, so we need to stay here and help with her care. When I get off work I go over there to help, and then my husband shows up and we stay 'till after she finishes her dinner. I work in a residential care facility with children who are emtionally disturbed, usually do to abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents. They are also developmentally,and neurologically challenged and all of the ones I have now are in protective custody of the state. Alot of people leave this field or move out of state where the pay is better. I love my job, but sadly the group home is closing...California cut backs. I will be working at another facility over the summer. It's a larger facility so it won't close down. It's a level 14 which means the children go to school on campus where they live, they are more severally damaged then the children I work with now. Where I'm at now it's a level 12...the boys go to school off campas. I pray before I go to work, it's not always very safe because the kids can be very violent, I have a capped tooth to prove that. But I see how great they can be and love the phone calls I get from them...expecally after they have grown up. So Exciting.....So sad how our country don't see the importance of our children. But it don't. Thanks for the comment on California......yeah...we are a bit layed back...yet rushed at the same time...go figure.

God loves selfish people ? It is OK to be selfish because God loves you anyway ? That is a horrible thing to say.


God loves everyone? You are effectively saying that God even loves the people who kept those Romanian children in filthy and degrading conditions. Thus God effectively condones their actions. That is a HORRIBLE thing to say. HORRIBLE.

Does God also love pedophiles? And murderers? Apparently God DOES love murderers considering that the christian bible contains multiple passages where god murders the people of entire cities just because they had a different opinion to him.

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Your god is your own invention who behaves exactly as you wish him to behave. So when you say you are obeying god, you are really obeying yourself. It is DISHONEST to claim that you are only obeying god when in reality it is YOUR CHOICE. It is like a murderer saying, "God told me to do it", as if that makes it OK.


Do you try to convert these susceptible and vulnerable children to your religion? Do you mention God to them?

Actually they mention God to me. I'm not allowed to try to convert them. If they want to go to church, then their social workers have to put it in writing that it's allowed. Legally they cannot be denied their rights to worship. They have their own churches, those that go, none of them go to mine. There is a Christian based camp that they go to every year. They always beg to go to that camp. It's either free, or very inexpensive, and it's for Foster Care children and children in Group homes.There is also one run by Department of Social Service, that one they don't care for. They don't like being checked for lice before they get on the bus. School camps don't check them, and neither does the Christian camp...Camp Alandale.So they feel very offended, they feel if they weren't living in a Group Home or Foster Care, they would not be checked for lice. I don't know what Christian faith Camp Alandale is, all I know is the results.....my boys come back happy and excited and hopeful. Most people who are interested in volunteering for these children are Christians. They have to go through finger printing and back ground checks and lots of paper work. They have to check in with us at all times when they have any of our children, and subject themselves to our rules and regulations, and yeah we are over protective. Are you willing to volunteer???? Or would you just rather complain about how selfish Christians are????