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Tender Mercies: The Dancing Fern.

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  • Tender Mercies: The Dancing Fern.

    I wasn't sure which board to post this on, so I'll try this one. I think I experienced something this morning that seemed to defy the laws of nature. I'm out for my morning walk before church in my favorite wood. I was struggling with deep doubt, and for some reason, in that doubt, I just, from the heart, asked God for forgiveness - not necessarily for the doubt, but just in general. Then I had a clear and powerful sense of thankfulness. So I'm walking down this path, about 50 yards past my confession point, and I see a fern suspended in mid air. It wasn't the whole plant just about 6 or 8 inches of the top of a plant. Now it was a mildly windy morning so I thought some kind of wind vortex was holding it there. But as I watched a breeze would come up, the fern would move a few inches with the breeze then come back right in front of me - at eye level. The wind did not take it away, as I normally would have thought. This happed a number of times, so I thought this must be being held by in a spider web that I just didn't see - so while the fern was gently dancing in front of me I ran my hand and arm all around it - it was not connected to anything. This went on for 12-14 minutes. The fern, always standing straight up and down, would move down to about to about a foot off the ground then up again to about eye level. In very gently motions. There was such a tenderness about the movements it is hard to explain. Again a breeze would come the fern would move a few inches to the right, then once the breeze stopped in slowly moved back in front of my eyes. Like I said, I watched this for 12-14 minutes and as I walked away I kept looking back and she was still in her place.

    Now I'm 61 one years old and have enjoyed nature all of my life and I have seen all manner of weather conditions and their consequences - but I have never seen something so seemingly violate the laws of nature. Was it the tender hand of God, I think it was - though I could never prove it.
    Last edited by seer; 07-27-2014, 03:39 PM.
    Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

  • #2
    Hey guys, I would like some comment from mature Christians on this, because to be honest I don't know what to think. Thanks Jim
    Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

    Comment


    • #3
      Seer, I would rather discuss this here than in the other thread in Apologetics.

      I was raised in the Baptist Church and moved to Assemblies of God in my 20's. I consider myself a very level headed, analytical and mature Christian. However, I also know that God will sometimes give you signs or experiences that leave with no doubt. I know things can sometimes be explained away and sometimes not. I rebelled strongly as a teenager, believing that if there was a God, he didn't give a flip about me or his creation...I preferred to believe that he didn't exist. In my case, this led to a life of pain and misery (from my point of view) and I tried to fill the God void with alcohol, drugs, sex and just doing what I wanted that I thought would make me feel good. Nothing worked and I ended up lonely, severely depressed and contemplating suicide. I was living in a shack in the middle of nowhere, and was trying to get something to come on the TV. The only thing that would come on was a TV evangelist. I tried everything to get something else on...but it wouldn't happen. I listened all of about 30 seconds to him and decided to just shut it off. As I approached the TV and reached out my hand to the off button, the preacher looked right in the camera and pointed his finger at "me" and said, "Don't turn off the TV, I need to tell you about my friend Jesus" And he proceeded to tell me about my life, drugs, alcohol, sex, selfish life style and how that was all futile in the end...and the only way I would ever have peace was with Jesus Christ. It shook me enough to listen and I gave my heart to Christ. There are several more instances where God proved he was listening and showed me a sign, and then one night, He "marked" me with an experience that forever kept me in the fold. It was a personal experience of a Filling of the Holy Spirit that was so dramatic and awesome, that I remember the feeling of it this day...30 years later. I don't know if this helps but I know by repeating it, it reminds me of Whom I belong to...

      So, in conclusion, do I think this could have been a real event? Yes! What do you do with it? Internalize it! Realize God gave you a special message, do not doubt me any longer. Go and live for me!

      LJ
      "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

      "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
        Seer, I would rather discuss this here than in the other thread in Apologetics.

        I was raised in the Baptist Church and moved to Assemblies of God in my 20's. I consider myself a very level headed, analytical and mature Christian. However, I also know that God will sometimes give you signs or experiences that leave with no doubt. I know things can sometimes be explained away and sometimes not. I rebelled strongly as a teenager, believing that if there was a God, he didn't give a flip about me or his creation...I preferred to believe that he didn't exist. In my case, this led to a life of pain and misery (from my point of view) and I tried to fill the God void with alcohol, drugs, sex and just doing what I wanted that I thought would make me feel good. Nothing worked and I ended up lonely, severely depressed and contemplating suicide. I was living in a shack in the middle of nowhere, and was trying to get something to come on the TV. The only thing that would come on was a TV evangelist. I tried everything to get something else on...but it wouldn't happen. I listened all of about 30 seconds to him and decided to just shut it off. As I approached the TV and reached out my hand to the off button, the preacher looked right in the camera and pointed his finger at "me" and said, "Don't turn off the TV, I need to tell you about my friend Jesus" And he proceeded to tell me about my life, drugs, alcohol, sex, selfish life style and how that was all futile in the end...and the only way I would ever have peace was with Jesus Christ. It shook me enough to listen and I gave my heart to Christ. There are several more instances where God proved he was listening and showed me a sign, and then one night, He "marked" me with an experience that forever kept me in the fold. It was a personal experience of a Filling of the Holy Spirit that was so dramatic and awesome, that I remember the feeling of it this day...30 years later. I don't know if this helps but I know by repeating it, it reminds me of Whom I belong to...

        So, in conclusion, do I think this could have been a real event? Yes! What do you do with it? Internalize it! Realize God gave you a special message, do not doubt me any longer. Go and live for me!

        LJ
        Amen LJ! And amen seer!
        3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures --1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (borrowed with gratitude from 37818's sig)

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
          Seer, I would rather discuss this here than in the other thread in Apologetics.

          I was raised in the Baptist Church and moved to Assemblies of God in my 20's. I consider myself a very level headed, analytical and mature Christian. However, I also know that God will sometimes give you signs or experiences that leave with no doubt. I know things can sometimes be explained away and sometimes not. I rebelled strongly as a teenager, believing that if there was a God, he didn't give a flip about me or his creation...I preferred to believe that he didn't exist. In my case, this led to a life of pain and misery (from my point of view) and I tried to fill the God void with alcohol, drugs, sex and just doing what I wanted that I thought would make me feel good. Nothing worked and I ended up lonely, severely depressed and contemplating suicide. I was living in a shack in the middle of nowhere, and was trying to get something to come on the TV. The only thing that would come on was a TV evangelist. I tried everything to get something else on...but it wouldn't happen. I listened all of about 30 seconds to him and decided to just shut it off. As I approached the TV and reached out my hand to the off button, the preacher looked right in the camera and pointed his finger at "me" and said, "Don't turn off the TV, I need to tell you about my friend Jesus" And he proceeded to tell me about my life, drugs, alcohol, sex, selfish life style and how that was all futile in the end...and the only way I would ever have peace was with Jesus Christ. It shook me enough to listen and I gave my heart to Christ. There are several more instances where God proved he was listening and showed me a sign, and then one night, He "marked" me with an experience that forever kept me in the fold. It was a personal experience of a Filling of the Holy Spirit that was so dramatic and awesome, that I remember the feeling of it this day...30 years later. I don't know if this helps but I know by repeating it, it reminds me of Whom I belong to...

          So, in conclusion, do I think this could have been a real event? Yes! What do you do with it? Internalize it! Realize God gave you a special message, do not doubt me any longer. Go and live for me!

          LJ
          Thank you Little Joe, I don't feel so alone now. It really helps to hear the experiences of other Christians.
          Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by LostSheep View Post
            Amen LJ! And amen seer!
            Thanks LS...
            Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

            Comment


            • #7
              There are lots of "unusual" experiences around. Some of us are more comfortable discussing them than others. They do actually happen. Even if you are not sure what this experience is telling you, if it is of divine origin it will come to a positive fruition in your life I am sure.
              Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Jedidiah View Post
                There are lots of "unusual" experiences around. Some of us are more comfortable discussing them than others. They do actually happen. Even if you are not sure what this experience is telling you, if it is of divine origin it will come to a positive fruition in your life I am sure.
                So far I only had one fellow Christian wonder if it was demonic. I don't think it was.
                Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by seer View Post
                  So far I only had one fellow Christian wonder if it was demonic. I don't think it was.
                  If it was demonic it would likely have some encouragement for you to reject Christ.
                  Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Jedidiah View Post
                    If it was demonic it would likely have some encouragement for you to reject Christ.
                    Correct and that wasn't the case.
                    Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Jedidiah View Post
                      If it was demonic it would likely have some encouragement for you to reject Christ.
                      Yes, or some sort of temptation. This sort of thing gave you encouragement as a Christian, and I don't know why the devil would want to do that.
                      "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

                      Comment

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