For a while I fell back from church and stopped walking with Jesus. My life turned into shambles. A lot of “firsts” happened during this time period. I began doing a lot of things to fill the God-sized void in my life. I started smoking mild cigarettes and ended up smoking marijuana. I started associating with drug dealers, and found myself hanging around gang members and criminals. Of course I took part in whatever activities they participated in. On one night, in particular, God showed me that he needed me for his purpose and how much he LOVED me.

One day I came home after a long day and decided to have something to drink and took a pill for my headache. The pill combined with the alcohol was a horrible combination. I was in my brother’s room talking with him, just having fun until I fell asleep. This was not sleep and I died! I died from the combination of the two, right their in my brother's bed! He dozed off and fell asleep while I lay there dead. Next, I heard what sounded like two-by-fours breaking as I detached from my body. I stepped up and out of my body, standing on top of the bed. I stared down at my body and my brother asleep next to me. At that split second I heard a loud booming voice, nothing like I have ever heard. It was loud and powerful—yet gentle at the same time. It was God, who declared to me, “You have sinned, but I will give you another chance.”

Instantly I was thrown back to my body and as soon as I re-entered it I awoke violently. This is my testimony: God Lives, God works in mysterious ways! Accept Jesus before it is too late and go to church. You don't need to change to come to God. He will take you as you are. He loves you SOOOO Much. He died for all of us. He thought about you and saw YOUR face when he was on that cross. I cannot begin to describe how much he loves you.

Dallas, Texas

I was separated from my husband and had jobs cleaning houses for others. My son was in college at the time. We didn't have a lot of money and I, myself, only having a high school diploma—didn't make much. Being depressed and scared led me to contemplate suicide. One day, while at my cleaning job, I began to rehearse in my head how and where I was going to take my life. Sobbing hysterically, I heard the door bell ring. I went downstairs to peek at who could be at this house. I could see my son at the door! Opening the door, I hugged him tightly, telling him what I was thinking. He had never come there before, and today, he thought he would surprise me! I know God sent him to me. How could I leave the best thing I had in this world. God's gift,: my big miracle! Thank you, God!

Ellie - Canada

My beloved dad has passed on after a battle in the hospital from post operation complications. My family and I were with him the whole month, right by his side, never giving up.

The Lord took him on the day of the calendar date which matched the number of my dad's favorite number played for many years of his life. It's been so emotionally difficult for me. Physically I feel such a strong pain in the center of my chest. If that's where the soul is, then I know what love can feel when hurt. I miss him so much and it's only been a month since he's passed. I've been talking to my dad in prayers and asking my dad to give me a sign.

Well, since my dad has passed away, my dog has acted very strangely! I went to walk my dog in the front yard as usual. I stepped outside and my dog first walked but then halted to a stop. Next he literally walked backwards, heading for the front door and scratching to go back in. I've had my Labrador about 5 years now, and he is usually fearless about anything. What kind of reaction was this? Four random times since my father passed in the same section of the front yard? I sensed my dad had visited and was so comforted that I didn’t cry any tears for the next few days.

The yearning to have him back is so great, but one thing I remember from his funeral mass, is the priest saying we can't be selfish, we need to give our beloved back to God and that things happen for a reason. All I know is that in the end, the only thing that matters is love and how someone can have such a profound effect on us. It's never about work, nor the busyness of life that matters, but to keep focused on what really matters and forget the distractions.

Miss u dad and love you for eternity.

Jean 'Ski' Curry

I was in Atlanta and about to enter a Van to go to work. I noticed Christ on the other side of the Van and, at the same time, caught sight of a Jeep coming in my direction at what looked like 90 mph! I was quiet and still with my left side facing the oncoming jeep. Suddenly I was swooped into mid air and remained suspended there for about 10 minutes at a very great height. I saw a woman below. Next, two fully armored angels seemed to fight over my return. Then I was back and being taken to Ga. Baptist Hospital there in Atlanta.

Joseph Ray Aaron - Canada

February 27th of this year, my life was truly touched by my Father. I’m 17 and was raised Christian but never took it too seriously. At one point I stopped going to church and praying all together because I questioned the entire belief. Eventually I realized if I wanted to know if it was really true then it was stupid to just run away, so I started reading my bible for about 3 to 4 hours a day. I came to a place in Romans where it talks about God's divine sovereignty and how he'll harden the hearts of who he chooses... and it terrified me. I began praying and crying for about a half hour begging God to not harden my heart because of my doubt. I tried to comfort myself by imagining a vision of bright light or something but then realized that it was just me trying to create that.

Suddenly my whole head was still and I felt a voice say clear as day “The devil will try to turn you away from me. Be strong, holdfast, and stand up for my name. I am with you.” I was in shock. I felt safe and knew my Father would not let me turn from him. But then I became very worried about everyone else. I walked back to my bible, opened it up, and the very first thing I saw was John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth, spoke to me and my life is forever changed.

abbey

When I was about 11 years old, my friends and I were swimming around a water hole that runs off a mountain range just outside of town. The main swimming area was relatively safe, level, not too deep with many large rocks you could perch on if the current was too strong. Downstream was a different story, a combination of boulders and rocks created rapids and channels that ranged from 1 to 3 meters deep.

I knew I was not supposed to swim unsupervised in a notoriously dangerous spot, however, the bike ride on this day was long and hot. We all decided that a dip in the chilly water would be a perfect way to cool off! Like adventurous and daring kids we put good judgment aside and jumped right on in. I stubbed my toe underwater trying to jump up a large rock. I completely lost my footing and was swept into fast flowing water. I exerted all my strength frantically swimming to the bank before being dragged downstream to the point of no return.

The panic and icy water sapped my strength quickly, I couldn’t even scream out to my friends! Fighting the current was impossible. The water in the first channel seemed to have sped up as it flowed between two large boulders. I tore skin off my palms as I tried to stop myself from being sucked further into a dangerous area with a steep decline. My efforts were to no avail, so instead, I used what stamina I had left to keep afloat. The second channel spat me out into deeper pool with another formation of rocks, but the decline was even steeper and I was swept into a 3rd channel. Next I was quickly sucked under the surface and pinned on my back about 2.5 meters underneath the raging surface of the current.

I can still clearly recall the pressure on my chest — it was like a giant pushing down on my body against a smooth rock at the bottom. I felt I was being crushed. I tried moving but could barely straighten my arms. After a few moments, all I could do was look up into the sky through the over-hanging tree branches above the river. I’ll never forget the image of spots with color; light and dark blues; greens from the turbulent water flowing above. It was while looking up at this site that I was overcome with a calming sensation — I accepted my death. I told myself that I was going to die. I relaxed and lost myself in the image above.

A moment past and I heard a voice so very clearly! It said, "All you have to do is tuck your legs and feet under your body and push with all your might! Don’t stop kicking until you break the surface!" My calm instantly changed into determination and my muscles felt as if they were full of fire and electricity! I pushed off as hard as I could and did not take my eyes off the surface. I can still recall the pressure on my face after launching off the bottom. I just kept shooting upwards.

When my momentum slowed I heard the voice again, "Use your arms and thrash as hard as you can! Aim for that rock!" My mouth and nose felt glued shut. My lungs felt like they were screaming, trying to open up. When I surfaced, I was fast approaching a large rock that had a slanted side with a lower edge underneath the water. I steered to its path and let the water pressure and my hands push me up the side which was rough enough to keep me from slipping back into the water. This rock was so warm! Even now I can recall the sensation of the warm rays of sun on my cold skin.

I laid there taking in what had just happened, not moving a muscle until I could recover. Climbing back up to the main area was a challenge with my cuts, bruises and exhausted muscles — but it didn’t matter — I was alive! I didn’t tell anyone about the voice that I heard because I knew I would be in massive trouble for swimming unsupervised in such a dangerous spot. I lied and said I fell off my bike but told the truth a few days later. Despite my injuries, my father still spanked me!

Obviously God kept me here for a reason. I am still trying to work out that reason! Everyday that I see my wife and daughter; I thank God for keeping me here with His not-so-tiny miracles!

TNM - Townsville, Qld, Australia

My story is not about how God saved me from sure death or anything truly amazing like that. My miracle was finding God — finding hope and love unlike anything I have ever felt before! Whenever I am sad or lonely, I always remember my favorite quote, “Just know that I am here...Always.” Then suddenly, I can take whatever the world throws at me. In my mind, there is nothing more amazing than this!

R.M. - Canada

A miracle happened in my life in 1986 that let me know I was always being watched over. I was in my mid twenties and living in Texas.
I am from Idaho and my mother and 3 siblings all still lived there in the same home town outside of Coeur d' Alene. I had not seen them in 5 years and my mother had married a truck driver recently. He drove for a moving company and my mother talked on the phone about how much she enjoyed going with him and helping the people they would move.

One day unexpectedly, my boss and I had a fight. I yelled "I quit!" about the same time he yelled "You're fired!" So I decided that was it. I would move back to my beloved Idaho and be reunited with my family. I started packing and giving my furniture away while I waited a week to get my last paycheck. Now, it is quite a distance from Austin, Texas to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho to drive an old Ford. I was undaunted until the day I picked up my last check. It's funny how they seem to find ways to pare your last check down to a much smaller number than you expected. But I was already committed. I had given away my furniture which was nothing special. I had my car packed with the rest of my worldly goods. I was excited to be going home. I was sure the puny paycheck would get me there if I managed it properly.

I called my mom and told her I was coming home! She was happy and surprised but told me that she and her new husband, Clyde, were leaving the next day and would be on the road for about two weeks. She reminded me where the key to the door of her house was hidden and told me she loved me and she would see me when they got back. I didn't think to ask where they were going and she didn't tell me. I left the next morning in my '70 Falcon with a song in my heart and a spring in my step. Being young and impatient to get home I was cruising 75-80 miles per hour, burning up my gas much faster than if I would have stayed to the speed limit. About half way thru the 3-4 day trip I did some calculations and was dismayed to realize that I would be about a tank to a tank and a half of gas short of making it home! I was scared! I quit eating and slowed down trying to conserve money and fuel. When I had to stop and rest I would drink a cup of coffee and a carton of milk and quickly move on.

Finally, I made it into Wyoming. I had to stop and get gas. I stopped at a town called Walcott. I'll never forget the name of that town! It was just a wide spot in the road. It had a gas station, a restaurant and a bar. I was exhausted and hungry. I filled the tank and went to the restaurant to have a cup of coffee. I was sitting at the counter and was really freaking out! I didn't have enough money to make it! What was I going to do? I had always called myself a Christian but had never had much faith in prayer. I sat there in that restaurant thinking that I would use the last of my money to buy a garden hose and a gas can and steal the gas if I had to! I argued with myself that this would be wrong but what else could I do? I sat there wringing my hands and then a heartfelt prayer went out. "Please God! Help me get home!"

At that moment the door of the restaurant opened to my left, I looked and could not believe my eyes! My mother walked in through the door with her new husband, Clyde! I was in shock! I hadn't seen her in five years and had no idea where she and Clyde were headed when they left. She was of course as shocked as I was and we must have made some scene — crying, hugging and then laughing. They bought me a big fried chicken dinner and gave me money to make it home. They told me how my mother had been after Clyde to stop somewhere so she could take a bathroom break. He didn't like to stop but finally my mother had insisted that he pull into the small town of Walcott! That was some 22 years ago and my mother and I still talk about it and we both consider it divine intervention if not an outright miracle!

Dennis Colligan - Hayden, Idaho

My son, Joey, a two and one-half year-old, very healthy boy, passed away from SUDS which is a form of SIDS on August 6, 2006. For about ten days afterward, my son would visit my oldest daughter who was home with him at the time of his passing. I was so upset that everyday my daughter would get this visit from him and he didn’t visit me! One night before my daughter went to sleep she told him, "Joey, please visit mommy tonight instead of me. She needs to see you." Well, sure enough, that night Joey came to visit me — but he was not alone!

I had just laid down in my bed. The lights were off and my husband had already fallen asleep. I had just closed my eyes but had to open them again because it was so bright. I thought my daughter had turned on the light in my room. But it wasn’t light from any room. Standing above my bed was this huge bright light! In the light was my son, Joey, holding the hand of Jesus. Joey was smiling at me! Jesus said, without even moving his lips, "You could be at peace. He is with me. Everything is okay. "

I felt such a sense of relief. I told my daughter that Joey finally came to see me. She was amazed because he did not come to her that night. She then told me what she had said to him the night before. Now, whenever I get really upset, I go back to that night and remember. It always calms me. Thank you, God!

B Quinn - SI, NY

A message from God that took me by surprise… Being a teenage mother of three children was very difficult. When I had both my daughters I promised I would teach them all the right things; 1) Don’t have sex, 2) Don’t worry about boyfriends, 3) Focus on education, and 4) Always put God first in your life. So, imagine the horror I felt when my young, and just out of high school, teenage daughter told me she was pregnant.

I have never been so devastated in all my life! All I could think of was wondering where I went wrong. I cried for three solid days. I couldn’t even look at my daughter. I wasn’t angry, I was heartbroken for her. I wanted her to go to college, have time to enjoy her life and to do things I never had the chance to do. That night I was sitting in my room sobbing. I laid my head back in my chair and just cried… I was wide awake and had nothing on my mind but her future.

Then, as if time stood still, I stopped crying and opened my eyes.. I was standing in the most beautiful white room with the most beautiful woman. She and I both were dressed in long white robes. We were standing beside a white marble desk in a room full of books and she had one open in front of us on the desk and I noticed it had my daughter’s name on it. She never opened her mouth but I heard everything she said.

She pointed down at the page and said word for word "Fret not, for she has written this in her chart and it does not concern you." I looked up at her and knew I had seen her before. I also knew I had been in that room many times before this.

Then, just as quickly, I was back in my room sitting in my chair with my eyes wide open. I had the most profound peace come over me and have not shed one tear from that day on. I will be a Grandmother August 20 of 2008 to a beautiful little girl and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you God for reminding me you’re always in control no matter what!

L.J.W. - Muscle Shoals, AL

In June 2007, I was 5 months pregnant. One night my water broke and I was taken to the hospital. For 3 weeks I lay in the hospital until one day I started having labor pains that continued all day. Around 3am I fell into a deep sleep and had an amazing dream! It was as if I were at a church meeting with people I don’t know. Everyone was busy praying.

I was in a room with some women when a man clothed in all white invited me to come with him. I hesitated and at that moment he said, “If only you knew who I am you would follow me without hesitation.” I followed him outside and he told me I should thank God because my baby could have died but God had mercy on me. I fell down and started praising God, speaking in tongues and feeling God’s overwhelming grace. I woke up in my hospital bed and my pillow was damp with tears. I realized that what had just happened was an extra ordinary dream!

I continued to praise and thank God. I called some of my prayer partners and we all prayed together and thanked the Almighty. My son was born the same day weighing only 600 grams. He is now 5 months old and a bouncing happy baby boy. This is my big miracle and it’s not little at all! I thank God all the time, amen!

M. - Norway

A few years ago I heard about an open market in Arizona that one could go to sell. I made carved wooden bear lamps, so I loaded up my little van and took the 2 day trip to Arizona. In the booth next to mine was a woman whose voice box was gone due to smoking. She talked with a raspy sound through a hole in her neck.

She was very friendly and helpful. I did not sell a single lamp that day so I decided to close shop and go back home. She was sorry that I had not had success and tried to encourage me. In our conversation she said that God did this to her because she talks to much! I felt moved to tell her, "God allowed this so that people will listen more closely to you. " Her eyes lit up and she got a very big smile!

On the way home, with a fully loaded van, I decided to stop for fuel some distance from the town where I would be staying. It was Sunday afternoon at 5PM. The gas attendant pointed out one of my tires. There was a huge bulge at the rim and it looked like it was about to explode! I looked toward the little store and attached to it was a tire store with 2 fellows sitting on chairs like they were waiting for me! If the tire would have blown while I was on the highway I could have had a bad accident.

Since then I’ve known I had a guardian angel looking after me. I also felt the purpose of the trip was just to give a little lift to this friendly and kind lady. I sometimes think that if I went back to this remote service station with a tire store open on a Sunday afternoon, it wouldn't really be there!

Bill C. - Kalispell, Montana

All I have to say is "God is who he says he is." I just recently ended a relationship with this guy I had been dating for 9 years. The relationship wasn't the greatest, but there are ups and downs in any relationship. I had a set of 6 small angels that I favored very much. I often sat them in different places in my office and home as if they were watching over me. At this time, they were sitting wedged on the front of my kitchen sink. Three on each side of a rock that read: "The Lord is my Rock."

When I washed dishes I would often talk to them. My favorite was one who held up a bible. One day my boyfriend and I had a dispute which erupted into things being thrown around the kitchen. He broke my angel! This was the last straw and he moved out. I felt sort of empty because of the distance I had from God being involved with this person. I sometimes felt that the spirit of God wasn't near me like it had been before. About a week had gone by, and I was standing at the sink washing dishes. I told my angel, "I haven't forgotten about you, I know I have to glue your bible back on."

Then I noticed that my angel was back in its place, bible in hand! I looked harder and noticed that the broken one was still sitting there too, with the bible lying next to it. I couldn't believe my eyes! I knew that God was letting me know he was there with me the whole time, protecting me. I found the box that the angels came in. I read the box and it said, "set of 6." I have seven angels now and everyone who comes to my home gets told about my miracle! God is good! Praise God!

Kiesha - Rochester, NY

My boyfriend and I went to the beach and borrowed surf boards to go surfing for the first time. The waves were very large and we were having lots of fun. We were both on top of our own surf boards when the waves started moving us further and further toward the ocean. We were enjoying ourselves so much that we didn't notice we were going so far out.

Finally, I put my foot down to try to walk but my body dropped and I couldn't reach the bottom. We tried to paddle towards the shore but the winds were too strong and kept pushing us further toward the ocean. No lifeguards were on duty because it was a private beach, but I serve a Greater Lifeguard! I started calling upon the name of Jesus and started paddling more towards the shore. Suddenly, I felt the wind reverse its direction and start pushing me towards the shore. Finally I could stand on my feet again in just minutes, something I knew I couldn't do on my own.

My boyfriend, however, was still behind me and was still being carried out to sea. I could tell he was becoming weary and I cried out to God. My boyfriend left his surf board and went below the water. I cried bitterly for Jesus to save him! Just then, someone that was lying on the beach ran into the water and pulled him in with a surfboard that had a rope attached to it. He pulled my boyfriend into the shallow water. We were so tired we nearly fainted on the beach, but we weren’t too tired to thank God for saving us! If it wasn't for Him, we would still be on the bottom of Melbourne Beach.

Sophia R. - Kissimmee, FL

I was going through a really bad patch in life emotionally and financially. It just seemed like one thing happened after another. Through all this I prayed to God and knew he was there for me which gave me strength. Things were starting to look up when one particular weekend there was a power cut in our area that lasted for a couple of days. All the food in my fridge and freezer were lost. This was at a time when I couldn’t afford to go shopping so I was living below the breadline.

I had £10 to buy a few bits and pieces but it wouldn’t have gone far. I went to the supermarket and got enough to last me through the weekend. When I got home, I was searching through my bags for a document. In one of the pockets of the bag was £10. I felt so much gratitude for God! This is not the first time something like this has happened.

Going through the problems has allowed me to get so close to God that I don’t regret any if it! My advice to anyone who is facing life’s challenges is to place all your trust in God. He will not give you anymore than he thinks you can bear and with God's love you will never be alone.

LD - London

My miracle might be a little different from all the stories but I think it's going to bless someone. I have come a long way since leaving home to pursue studies, I’ve applied for all my scholarships, and I’ve filled out all my financial aid applications. I am now in a Graduate Program with no money. I entered it with a leap of faith and a voice in my heart telling me this was the thing for me. I prayed every night for the first 2 terms and did very well. However, since I hadn’t paid my balances at some point the reality struck and I am finding myself in a deep hole where I feel all my dreams are about to slip out of my hands. I don’t know what is going to happen within the next week, probably I won’t be allowed to stay here anymore, but I know that God has a plan and I refuse to give up or lose. I have often gone days without eating since I had no money, but have studied and prayed my way to good grades regardless.

Even though I feel I'm at my wits end I am holding on tightly to God. The miracle is that I believe in my heart God is here. He's made a plan, and he's going to prosper me and have me touch the lives of many people in his name and glory. Never give up on your dreams! I wouldn't say this if I didn't believe it. He's there with you, and you're going to come out better and stronger!

PW - Washington DC

On a Friday night in April we came home to find that our seven month old kitten, Tobey, had been hit by a car. He was in a lot of pain and was screaming; calling out as I had never heard a cat do before. We rushed him to the vet where they treated him for shock and pain. On Saturday he had major surgery. They told us they did their best but warned us that it didn't look good.

I was hysterical, this was my baby! I begged God to save him. I just couldn't stop crying. I spoke to my mom and she comforted me by telling me to be positive and to believe. I tried to stop crying but couldn't. That night, lying in bed crying, God spoke to me! The thought just popped into my head, "The meaning of his name."

I googled Tobey and it means: God is Good. I then calmed down for the first time since the accident & just had faith. I praise Jesus for giving his life so that we can have life, so that we can believe & receive. Tobey is healing fast & gets stronger every second! Later this week our little miracle will be returning home!

m bunting - Cape Town, South Africa

I had just arrived in the US after winning a Green card lottery from my country. My husband and I went to the local community college to register for classes. I had to carry my green card and passport with me. After registering, I had to leave to go somewhere and I didn't feel safe carrying these vital documents around with me. I handed my handbag to my husband as he was going straight home. He, however, decided to pass through the local library to search for jobs. I got home before he did and wondered where he was. He didn’t come home till dusk and was pained to tell me that he had lost my documents! I cried the whole night not knowing what to do. I knew Identity Theft was high in the US and knowing this made me cry more. The next few days were a mess. I didn't have any form of identity and so could not go anywhere or do anything.

I got on a bus one of these days and met a girl that was in school with me. I told her my story and she gave me a paper with a Novena prayer to St. Anthony for lost items. That night I said the prayer. The next morning at about 8am I received a call from my country's embassy in another state informing me that my documents had been mailed there! Somebody apparently had found them and mailed them to this embassy. The embassy mailed them back intact. I was overjoyed! To me and my husband this was a real miracle!

Petra O. - Ca

2008 has been a very trying year for me because of trials that were brought on by myself. My finances have been in horrible shape and the more I seem to try and pray, the less seems to happen for me. I know that God is a merciful God and He hears our prayers even when we don't think that He does. My children were in need of school clothes for the new school year. I made some sacrifices at a church that God told me to stop in and pay my tithes to. I'd never visited this church or anything, but God told me to stop by this church and make a sacrifice. I was obedient and did what I was instructed to do. God came in and blessed my children with school clothes for the year. I praise God for the miracles that might be small to some, but are enormous to me. Praise God! I give Him all the glory!

Carol J. - Dallas, Texas

My truly divine miracle came about one year ago. I had lost my grandmother due to diabetes. The night before she died, the hospital had told us she was doing fine. When I woke up the next morning I heard crying coming from the living room. It was my mother. My grandmother had passed away. I went off to school with that in mind. The following months were torture. I felt like I had nothing to live for. I started cutting myself. One day I received a call from an old friend. He asked me why I had been cutting myself and I told him that my life was horrible. He explained to me that life can sometimes seem unbearable but "God always is there for you! " Now that I look back I see this was a sign to me from God and thank him for it. I love God and everything he stands for.

Manuel Cruz - Raleigh, NC

My story begins April 20th 1999. The day Columbine happened. Two of my cousins were in the School. The gunman shot my precious cousin, Cass, at point blank range with a sawed off shot gun along with thirteen other precious souls that day. I fought a courageous battle and worked my shift at the local grocery store, hoping and praying all the way through the shift that my cousins were okay. I received word that one cousin was still missing. I went home that night and searched the news for anything to tell one way or another if she was alive and hiding or had gone home to GOD.

My mothers house has a living room that stretches into a dining room and then on into a hallway. I was sitting at the very back of the living room where you just can't see down the hall, you have to get up. In the middle of watching the news I heard this voice tell me to get up and look down the hall I dismissed it and continued watching the news. Again this voice told me to get up and look down the hall. I finally got up looked down the hall and very slightly saw and felt this figure standing in the hallway and it moved into my bedroom and all was still after that. I didn't think much of it until the next morning at 9 am when I finally got a call from my dad saying that Cass had passed away. We were later to find out that this brave forever seventeen year old girl stood up to the gunman and said, "Yes I believe in God."

What happened next was a slow awakening to God’s beautiful love. I became so sick with grief I barely ate slept or thought. I barely graduated from High School because of my lack of attendance and barely hung onto my job. Four months after she had passed away I had a dream. In this dream I stood in front the Columbine library holding a baby and watching this class in session. Cass looked up at me came out and said “Hey I'm okay I've got to get back to this class and what a cute baby” and she walked back in to the class.

Seven months after her death the grief and loss was just hard to manage and I was ready to end it all. The grief and endless in-your-face media was too much and I wanted out. On the night I planned to end my life God sent another dream. In this dream I stood on a black box. For miles there were tons of people dressed in rags and hungry, some in pain and lots of it. Babies screamed and people were tired. I got down to help these people but with so many people I finally just said, "God, I can't do this by myself! I need your love and guidance! " His reply was, "I will always be there."

A year later my brother murdered a little girl. I went back to Colorado and started feeding 40 to 50 men on the street a week. I found a copy of Embraced By The Light and read it from front to back in four hours. In those four hours I found that my life was meant to be of service and that without my cousin’s death and resounding confession of faith I might not have figured this out. The book finally put a peace to my grief and heartache knowing Cass was okay.

I further figured out that if I had taken my life those few years earlier, I would not be fulfilling my duty here on earth. If I had taken my life I would not be here to teach lessons or receive them. There are people all the way through our lives who depend on us. There are people who unknowingly need us specifically to be there. If you commit suicide, you've just gypped them out of an experience or lesson.

Today I am divorced and have just come out of hiding in the desert where I was recuperating and learning to love again. It is a miracle of miracles to say that the people around me see my "glow". In spite of all that I've been through, I have maintained a soft heart and am a gentle soul. A few have referred to me as being pure. Oh, and the little girl that my brother murdered rests on the other side of the road from where my cousin rests. Thank you

Tracy - Longmont

A very recent miracle has also occurred. I have been instructed to pray for a very good friend of mine when I see the number 11. It's God's way of instructing me. I see the number everywhere; clocks, addresses, random movies, and numerous other ways. This friend took me to a beautiful meadow and often times I revisit it to pray and think of my friend. Once, I took a picture of the meadow. When I developed the pictures, God instructed my mom “Look in the picture and you will see my face.” Sure enough the Lord put His face in the sky! I am so extremely grateful to God for this picture. It reminds me that he is always there.

Ashley - Winter Springs FL