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GPiper
October 21st 2003, 09:11 PM
On September 20, 2001 as I stood alone on the front porch of our Cabin "Angel Haven" in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee the earth suddenly seemed to stand still, it was as if God had stopped it long enough to reveal himself to me. Here is a record of that experience.

In the blink of an eye, in less than a heart beat. Earthly time gave way to Celestial Time and the earth stopped. The wind did not blow. The trees on the mountainside stood still. The white clouds were held motionless against the blue sky. And all sounds ceased.

And I stood alone with God and I knew I was in the presence of greatness beyond all greatness, I knew I was in the presence of a power beyond all power, and I knew I was in the presence of a love beyond all love. Suddenly I also knew I was created with greatness, with power, and with love.

As I stood in the presence of God suddenly I knew God was standing in my presence as well. Instantly I knew God was real, instantly I knew I'd been blessed beyond my ability to comprehend, and instantly I knew my life would never be the same.

Then as quickly as it stopped the earthly clock started ticking again. The wind blew, the trees swayed, and the clouds began moving. Suddenly the earth was alive with the sounds of nature. Instantly I knew God had not abandoned the earth, and instantly I knew God was still in control.

And the words of Ezekiel echoed in my memory. "I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your filth and of all your foul idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws, and respect and practice my judgments. You will live in the country which I gave your ancestors. You will be my people and I shall be your God." {Ezekiel 36:25 - 36:28 NJB}

As the words of Ezekiel filtered through my memory I felt higher than the highest mountain and instantly I was filled with humility and with tears in my eyes I thanked God.

If you have not stood in the presence of God, and felt His presence in you then pray that he does.

If you have stood in the presence of God, and if you have felt His presence in you then praise and thank Him and share your experience with others.


God says, "Hi!"
Gary

Xmansmommy
October 21st 2003, 09:39 PM
Awesome post Gary! :thumb:

JardinPrayer
October 21st 2003, 09:57 PM
Gary, I sat here and cried my eyes out reading that. Thank you for sharing it.

I had a similar experience, but with far less dramatic surroundings. For me, it was the still small voice, heard for the first time, never having been taught that it existed. I was an unbeliever for 40 years and in that same instantaneous way, God let me know he was ready to call me to service. My only concept of God until that moment had been the Cecil B. DeMille version...thunderous, booming voice kinda thing. When I told my husband what I had experienced and he told me about the still small voice, I knew my life had just changed forever.

I am so thankful that He chose me. I am so thankful that He pulled me back from a very nearly successful suicide attempt three years earlier because He knew - as I did not - that it's not up to me and that there was a purpose for my existence.

I'm so grateful that He fills me with so much Holy Spirit that my body hums and my mind soars whenever I invite Him - and sometimes when I have forgotten to invite Him. I am so thankful He has planted me in a church where I feel fed and has led me to the music ministry where I can glorify Him with all my heart and soul while ministering to others at the same time.

I am so grateful that He led me to the man He wanted me to spend eternity with and that He answers our prayers consistently to help us always improve the example of His grace, mercy, and love we try to make our marriage.

Most of all, I am so grateful that He had such great plans for me when I was wandering in the wildnerness being a clueless sinner...that He forgave me and has rewarded me so richly for my faith.

:garden: