Several years ago I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I was scheduled to have the tumors removed. After telling this sad news to my dear husband I went to the kitchen to make some tea for us. As I crossed in front of the fridge, I prayed the most difficult prayer in my life. Knowing I could be dead within a year or so, I still said to God, “Not my will, but thy will be done.” By now I was at the kitchen sink and I guess God knew I meant every word of my prayer because immediately my whole being was flooded with a Peace that surpasses understanding.

This Peace stayed with me and I had no fear at all as I went through the surgery to remove the bladder tumors. Even though I had to wait a month for the bladder tissue taken from me to be examined in a bigger city miles away to see if the cancer had spread through the bladder muscle wall, this profound Peace calmed me and all fear was gone. I had a great appetite and slept like a baby ever since I accepted His will for me.

After a month, great news came. My cancer was confined within the bladder wall. After a year again the cancer came back. No fear came to me and again, with this tremendous Peace I had the cancer removed. Months later my urologist said that I would be a good candidate to have Chemo-installation. Every week on a Friday I went to the Cancer Centre here in our city and a chemo drug was injected into my bladder. This was done each Friday for 4 weeks. It worked and I am now cancer free and have been for many years.

What a wonderful lesson I learned from the above experience. Say "Yes" to what God sends you! He has a plan that is being worked out for you in this life. Now I encourage my dear friends and relatives to accept what is as his design and perfection in our lives, especially in our challenges.

I am tremendously grateful to God for all the challenges sent to me and I have learned to trust, knowing I am a child of God, made in His Image, Loved infinitely by Him. Knowing how very much I love my dear two sons I can only imagine God's love for each one of us. Trust his love and trust his will. May this Peace that I still experience flood your lives too.

Margaret— Canada

Last month, my diabetic grandmother had a stroke. She went to the hospital and they ran many tests to determine her condition. Miraculously, it was a minor stroke but an MRI still had to be done to see if she had any clotting in her arteries. Part of this procedure required that a tiny tube be threaded through her arteries.

My grandmother was afraid to have them run this tube all the way up to her brain. The night before the procedure, we all prayed for her. She opened the Bible and said that God spoke to her in Psalm 63, which talks about thirsting for God and praising him joyfully. That night, God also spoke to me in prayer bringing me peace and assuring me that my grandmother was going to be okay.

After the MRI was done, the doctor came to me and my family and was very confused. The doctor said that he did not find any clotting of the arteries in her brain and wasn’t sure what had caused her stroke. He thought maybe it was a medication that she stopped taking.

Today, my grandmother is gaining her strength back with therapy and her blood-sugar is being controlled. What a wonderful God we serve!

Melaney—Los Angeles, California

On Nov. 2nd I was jolted awake by a phone call from my sister at 3:30 A.M. She said it was about my brother Daniel. I said "Is he in jail?" She said, "No, it's worse.

I asked, "Is he in the hospital?" and again she responded, "No, it’s worse."

I said, "He’s dead?" And my sister said, "Yes, he got into a car accident on South Tropical Trail."

Apparently he was going an estimated speed of 92 mph in a 35mph speed zone with windy curves. He slid sideways around the bend into a huge pine tree on the driver's side. It was a mile from my house, I never heard anything. The accident was reported at 12:38 A.M. My family rushed to my parent’s house and of course we were all frantic and upset. I never cried so hard in my life. The worst was seeing my parents lose their son.

After I sort of calmed down a bit but now in utter shock that I didn't have a brother anymore, I went outside for a smoke at 5 A.M. before the sun had started coming up. While in the driveway I heard this owl in the old Oak tree above me. It was like a little "hoot, hoot, hoot." I felt it was my brother telling me he was ok now. It was very calming and peaceful for me in that moment.

I see my brother's presence in my life in little ways. Like when my mom's cat (very fuzzy) came in with a mouse stashed away in his fur. Somehow it got there and the cat left it alone. My sister went outside and picked up the cat, not knowing a mouse was in his fur. She brought the cat inside the house and set him down. There on her shirt was the cutest and tiniest field mouse ever! It just stayed there and then slowly crawled to her shoulder. We all petted it and held it. Then it snuggled into her arm pit. We had just been upset about Daniel 20 minutes before that. It was like he came in for a visit.

It has only been about 4 months since he died. He would have turned 30 on Christmas Eve. We still can't believe he is gone. It is weird going from shock to reality. I miss you Daniel and your little grin.

Sommer—Florida

I was born at 19 weeks weighing one pound and two ounces. With weighing so little at birth, my lungs never got the chance to fully develop which caused me to have chronic lung disease. This is an illness I will have for the rest of my life. But you see, chronic lung disease isn't the only illness I was born with, I also suffered tight heel cords with a slim chance of ever walking. Luckily for me, as a toddler and trying to force my self to walk, I managed to learn to walk on my toes. My mother and father saw this talent which I possessed and they placed me in dance classes at the age of two.

I am now sixteen and can successfully walk, run, jump, and my favorite: dance like any regular teenager. With dancing from the age of two I have had 14 years of dance experience and I love it more than anything. This miracle in my life reminds me that anything is possible with the loving grace of God. Thanks so much for listening to my story!

Monte'Kia—Florida

Two years ago my grandma had bleeding in the brain and passed out. My aunty and uncle took her to the hospital. The doctors said that if she didn’t have surgery immediately she was going to die. But they didn’t have the proper surgeons, so they had to move her to another hospital in Seattle.

Then they said that her blood was not thick enough and gave her something to make it more thick, which they said would take 12 hours to make her blood thick enough for surgery. I was so worried she would die before she could have surgery, but my grandpa told them, “No, not 12 hours, it's going to be 4 hours. Come and get me out of the waiting room when you are ready for the surgery.”

I will have you know that they came and got him exactly in 4 hours! Because my grandpa had faith in God, God worked a miracle. I ask that you keep me and my family in your prayers.

Isaiah—Washington

A few years ago I had minor surgery for bladder stones. It was a simple surgery but because I'm in a wheelchair it took me a month to recover from it. I had bad headaches and other problems that arose from it. A year later I went back for a checkup.

The doctor laid me on the table and said to me "I'm just going to raise you up a bit."

I couldn't resist saying to him "That's funny, I thought only the Lord can do that." I was saved about 4 years at that point. The doctor examined me and found another stone. I flashed back to my surgery and knew I didn't want to go through that again! I started praying for God to help me and I remembered what my pastor and friend told me, that all you have to do is pray once, and God hears you. So I said my prayer and then stopped, trusting it was heard.

It was not more than a few seconds later and the doctor said that he was able to get to the stones and remove them. I got up and got dressed and got back into my wheelchair. I went down to the hospital lobby where there is a large piano in the front. As I moved off the elevator I was stunned! Sitting at the piano was a beautiful young woman playing "You Raise Me Up." I get goose bumps and tears in my eyes every time I tell this story. Who am I that God is mindful of me? But I know that he is! And He is mindful of all of you too. Praise God.

John—Toronto

Over the Christmas holidays, I was traveling with my family (hubby, 3 yr old, 1 yr old and newborn) to visit my mother. It is a 1500km trip. We started the trip and wanted to stay ahead of the snowstorm that seemed to be heading our way. My husband was a new driver so the plan was for him to drive first so I could be refreshed if we hit bad weather. Shortly into the trip, I developed a really bad stomach flu. I really could not drive. We had to make many stops because I was so sick. As a result, the snow storm caught up to us.

We were traveling on remote roads with lots of mountains and snow everywhere. I started silently praying "Please God keep us safe and get us to Mommy's with an uneventful trip." I didn't tell my husband because I didn't want to have him know how scared I really was.

Over the next few hours of our long trip, my husband kept exclaiming, "What's going on? I am not touching the gas pedal and we are going up hills. The van is driving itself! I could understand if we were going downhill but what's going on?" He said this a few times. At one point, he took his foot off the gas and drove for quite a while. I was sick and stressed so it didn't occur to me until we reached our destination that the van was not driving itself but God was driving the van for us! We got there safely after 27.5 hrs of being in the car.

Miranda

I tried to call my mother and father for what I thought might be the last time on August 7, 2010. Unexpectedly, I became the victim of a violent attack at my girlfriend’s home. An ex-boyfriend had broken into her home while we were away shopping and was armed with a 9mm handgun. As the two of them scuffled, I managed to make my way to the front door. Inside the house, 5 shots were fired at me from approximately 10ft away by this military vet and only my left leg was grazed. Once outside, I jumped over a porch railing and landed about 10ft below in the yard. I darted across the road toward her parent’s house, which was nearly 75-100 yards away.

The shooter had moved outside as well and fired at me 8 more times. I was hit 3 times while on the run but did not go down. The most critical shot went through my back and out my chest, merely inches from my heart and spine. I truly believe that God's angels had to guide these bullets during this attack.

I calmed down as I made my way into her parents home. There was a serene peace that overcame me as I waited 45 minutes on an ambulance. After a bumpy ride, I still felt this peace as I laid in the medic-chopper and took a 30 minute flight to the hospital. I remained conscious this entire time but only due to God's strength. God helped my to keep breathing even though my left lung had collapsed. As I was laid on the operating table in the trauma unit, my body suddenly felt more pain than I could begin to describe. I had lost nearly all of my blood and was bleeding internally.

I awoke the next day, Sunday, in ICU. From that point on, I consider my recovery miraculous. I was released from the hospital after only 10 nights. I walked out with no assistance and my mother and father walking next to me. 1 month later, I was able to walk a mile at our high school track as well as return to the location of the shooting.

On Oct.4th, less than 2 months later, God gave me the ability to go back to work. He also protected my girlfriend during this attack. She was shot at twice and only hit once in the leg that went through and out. Life has pretty much returned to normal for both of us in a relatively short time. I just felt the need to share my testimony and my miracle with others. Thank you.

Lee—Kentucky

When I was in Nepal I met a man and we rapidly fell into a relationship and quickly thought of getting married. 2 months after meeting, I was so surprised to find out I was pregnant and felt deep joy. The father, however, wanted an abortion and took me to a clinic in a matter of fact sort of way.

The day I found out about the pregnancy I came across “Embraced By The Light” and read about abortion, that it is not in God's will. I knew this was God and the angels trying to reach me, but I was weak and feeling very alone. I listened to the father of my child instead of my own conscience.

As I was being wheeled into the surgery room, in my heart I looked to God and said with a pain and yearning beyond words, "God, you see what is happening here. If there is anything you can do here, please help me!" I felt completely lost and helpless. A miracle did take place. The two doctors could find no sign of me being pregnant. They could not find the baby. A week later I had an ultrasound and the baby was still in my womb!

This experience has completely changed my life. I see my weakness in not standing up for my conscience. This has caused great difficulties with my son's father and I am very cautious of my actions now, praying for me to be sensitive to God's will and asking for the power and courage to stand up for what is right.

N.B.—Andover, New Jersey

On August 4, 2004, I went into the hospital for a simple surgical procedure. Unfortunately....it wasn't so simple. You see....I was only supposed to be hospitalized for 3-5 days with a 4-6 week recovery period. I had made preparations and arrangements to make this time of my life as smooth as possible and did everything according to the instructions given by my physicians. My surgery did not go as expected and I ended up spending 45 days in the hospital. The surgery left me completely blind in one eye; deaf in one ear, my lungs were punctured, kidneys failed among other things. According to the doctors, I was not going to make it and my family was advised to prepare themselves for my demise as only a miracle would bring me through my ordeal.

Weeks had gone by and one day, I opened my eyes! God had begun working his miracles and I had begun beating the odds. Many doctors and nurses renamed me “Miracle” as no one expected me to live. Seven years later, I am still alive!! God does perform miracles! Though I am completely blind in one eye, deaf in one ear and still suffer from other ailments as a result of the medical mishaps....I believe that if God performed the miracle in allowing me to live, HE will perform one in allowing me to see and hear again. GOD Bless all who HE has chosen to be a witness of His miraculous powers.

Jubee—Newark, Delaware

My father was dying in 1992 due to alcoholism and various issues caused by too many years of smoking cigarettes. He was in ICU for 2 weeks, and as he neared the end of his life, we all tried to maintain as much normalcy as possible, even though we knew what was coming. His mother, my grandmother, had come from Mexico in 1910, and had never learned English, so communication with her was impossible, since my father never taught me Spanish. She died in 1988 at the age of 98.

The night before my father died, I dreamt of my grandmother. She came to me in my dream, and spoke to me in Spanish...and I understood every word she said to me in that dream! She said to me with a smile, "Don't worry about your daddy, Mija...I am here waiting for him." I woke up in tears and knew he would die that day.

Later, the doctors pulled me aside to tell me the only thing keeping my father alive was the medicines they were giving him. It was my choice...let him go, or keep him tethered here in limbo. I could feel the weight of this decision, but could also hear my grandmother's words in my head...I also felt the warmth of God's love as I looked to my mother for support and told the doctor "Let him go." (my parents had been divorced for many years, but had remained very close...they were each other's true loves but for many reasons couldn't make it work here in this life time. I was his next of kin...so it was my decision to make.)

We gathered around his bed as he lay dying. My mother stood behind me as I lay on the bed next to him. I was whispering in his ear as his spirit was leaving his body, "Its okay daddy, let go...I love you. We love you. Always." I kept saying this as I watched his heart monitor get slower and slower...until it flat-lined and as my father left his body, he left me with the greatest gift he could have ever given me. I felt his spirit move through my body—a rush of joy I had never felt before and have only felt since with the birth of my children. I KNEW his spirit was free and I knew he wanted me to feel this. In that moment, I lost all fear of death. In that moment, my father let me know that we don't die. Though our fleshy bodies may end, our spirits don't.

Love truly doesn't die. In the quiet, a common message among all religions and beliefs in the world is simple, "Love Each Other. Take Care of Each Other." In one moment, my father hammered home this lesson to me in my heart and soul. It was the most wonderful gift he could have ever given me, and I am truly grateful for this experience.

Diana – San Francisco, California

Mom's Halo - I was blessed with a wonderful mother who gently and wisely guided me thru life with love and humor. She was a beautiful spirit who always put others before herself. After dad died, she gradually developed dementia and we had to place her in a home. While there, she fell and broke her hip. My husband was retired and I took a leave of absence so that we could bring her home to care for her ourselves. I was worried whether we were capable of caring for her and had doubts about whether we were doing the right thing.

We had a hospital bed set up in one of the rooms in our house, and one day when I was in another room my husband called out to me, "Honey, come here quick!" Fearing that something had happened to her, I rushed into her room—on the wall behind the head of her bed was a bright circle of light, like a huge halo! It was truly awesome. We couldn't figure out how sometimes her "halo" was on the wall and wasn't there at other times. Then one day we discovered that it was the afternoon sun shining in the window and reflecting off of the metal bedrail of the hospital bed! It gave me reassurance that we were doing the right thing, after all, and we saw to it that she had excellent care and she lived 3 more years with a fractured hip until she was 91 years old. What a blessing!

Carolyn – Defiance, Ohio

My husband and I have six children and were struggling to get by financially. Finally our last child started school and I was able to obtain a permanent job which helped immensely within our household.

I was in my job only five days before I realized the tell tales signs of pregnancy. I was taking a strong pill and didn't want any more babies. I knew I couldn't be pregnant because I was very careful and never missed a day of taking it. When I finally bought a pregnancy test, it showed a very faint line, but it was still a positive result. I couldn't believe it! I was absolutely devastated. I was in my forties and did not want anymore children, but I also did not believe in having an abortion.

I could not get my head around what was happening to me and my husband was worried for my state of mind. I was so angry as now I would have to cease my job because it wasn't fit for pregnant women. The thought of another mouth to feed made me wonder, “How in the world are we ever going to get by?” I constantly cried and when I started to bleed in the early part of my pregnancy, I thought to myself that I might miscarry (how guilty I feel when I think back on it now). I was just plain miserable and when I reached six months I started to bleed profusely. I was rushed to hospital and then transferred to a major hospital. They couldn't find the reason for this to be happening to me. They decided to give me steroids to make the baby’s lungs stronger in case they took the baby early (I had never had a preemie before).

My bleeding would stop every time they began to prep me for a caesarean and so they would cancel the surgery. After 24 hours I had 3 doctors arguing amongst each other about how I was to have this baby. By this time I was absolutely exhausted and I didn't care if I died myself. Finally they rushed me to the O.R. after I had another bleed and started prepping. While the doctor was washing his hands, the anesthetist started to swab my arm to insert the I.V. and put me under. I heard clearly a loud "No" in my head and a nurse distracted him. He turned again to swab my arm for the I.V. and again I heard clear as anything, "No!" so I pulled back my arm. He said, “It's okay, you will be asleep in a minute,” to which I said, “No, I have to push, look!” And with that, my baby boy was born, not making a sound. I had an overwhelming feeling of angels around the whole surgery room and I knew for some reason that everything was going to be alright.

The doctor later told me that my son was a very, very special little boy and that he was truly a living "Miracle". I asked what he meant and he said that I had Vasa Previa and Velamentous Cord Insertion, where the umbilical cord doesn't attach itself to the placenta. The three vessels of the umbilical cord had splayed apart and stretched to the placenta, which leaves the vessels uncovered and extremely vulnerable to damage. This is extremely rare and the doctor said that the miracle was that the body in being such an amazing thing had produced a film of membrane around these vessels to protect them. At 28weeks, the baby was getting bigger and stronger and frayed the membrane and broke off two vessels, leaving only one intact.

My baby was rushed to N.I.C.U for the care he needed from the complications resulting from this condition, which later I found out that very few infants ever survive and that most who do suffer brain damage. My son was in the hospital for two months but surprised the doctors with his strength. I realized after he was born, how very selfish I had been in thinking the way that I did during my pregnancy. This little boy had a reason to be here, and "Oh Boy" did I ever feel guilty for my thoughts of not wanting another baby and cried many tears of thankfulness that he was okay. Seeing him fight for so long in the hospital, all I could do was be there for this little one, and love him with all my heart. I would be absolutely devastated if he was ever taken away from me now, because I love him so much. I thank God so much for teaching me to not question him and for allowing me such a wonderful and precious gift to be given to me, in the shape of my son.

When my boy was four years old, my mother was gravely ill with cancer. One day she was crying so much because of the pain and wondered why she just couldn't just die. My little boy, who was close to her, saw this and jumped up on the bed. Ever so gently he put his little hand on her face and said, "Granma, it's O.K. because God will look after you.” He then jumped off the bed and ran to the door but turned around and came back. He put his hand back on her cheek saying, "Because God looked after me!" We were both astounded and had no idea where this came from because I was not very religious at this stage of my life.

So, I thank you again, God, for bringing me my beautiful little boy! My love is so unconditional because of him and, yes, we are fine now in the family and everyone is content and happy.

God Bless :)

Louise - Innisfail

Thursday September 16th, 2 tornadoes touched down in southeast Ohio. A town called The Plains was hit very badly. I have 3 family members who all live there and they all live in mobile homes. Many of the mobile homes in this town were overturned and many more received extensive damage. All three of my family’s mobile homes were undamaged while many right around them did. God blesses! Thank you Jesus!

Marjorie - Tellico Plains, Tennessee

I thought I would also share with you my miracle which happened three years ago when I was 17 and used to work in a convenience store. I used to work evening shifts with four other members: the security guard, the supervisor, another colleague and myself. I worked a late shift and was the person working at the checkouts while others did their jobs around the store. One day I got into trouble at work over something minor and the manager sent me home for which I was glad.

Then the next day as I was about to get ready for work, the manager called me and told me not come to work that day either. He said he had already found someone to cover my shift and that I should come in the following day instead.

Naturally I became worried that I may be about to lose my job! I replied, “No problem.” and put the phone down still worrying. I went in to work the next day and found out that the store had been targeted by armed robbers the previous night. The poor colleague who had covered my shift working at the checkouts had been threatened at knife point and was in a quite a state! It could easily have been me in her position and to this day I thank God for protecting me. I am strong believer! I believe that everything happens for a reason even though we may not realize it at the time.

M. T. - England

While going to work one morning, my friend Linda and I were running late. The weather was beginning to get terrible as fog, sleet and drizzle made the roads slick. Suddenly I heard a voice in my head say "Jean, go through Orrville." I thought, “Oh no! I'm not turning back now.” And I turned down my normal route.

Immediately I peered through the mist and about 50 feet ahead was a train just sitting on the track in the dark. There were no warning lights, no lantern or anything and two giant drain ditches on either side of the track. I was scared to death because I knew I couldn't stop in time on that slippery country road. I yelled to Linda, "Duck, we're going to hit a train!" Then everything began going in slow motion.

What happened in a couple minutes felt like an hour. I was so scared and afraid to die, which I thought was surely going to happen when we hit that train. I saw my life go by like a film strip above the right side of my head. I became angry because I was not ready to die yet! But then I thought, “There is nothing I can do about it now.” And as soon as I accepted this fate I was enveloped in the most peaceful and loving feeling I have ever had while on this earth! Then a voice said, “Jean, slam on the brake and put your head way down.” And so I did.

The next thing I heard was the windshield glass crashing in over my head with pieces flying everywhere. Yet this was odd. How could I see the glass come in when my head was down and I was looking at the floor? And then came the silence. I know now, that my spirit was already half way out of my body when we hit that train. I have never forgotten this experience through all these years, it stays with me always.

Jean - Canada

Hello! This isn't a story about me, but it is of my mother. About 6 years ago my mother visited Rome. All was good until she got to her hotel. She noticed that her wallet was missing! Her wallet had her I.D, insurance, credit cards and her proof that she was a nurse in the U.S. She was very terrified and so she prayed and prayed. When my mother returned to the States, she got a call from someone who said that they had found her wallet! They said that they had found it on the ground in Rome. And they only lived a couple of miles away in Rockville from our house in Gaithersburg! Only a couple of dollars were taken, but none of the cards were missing! I thank the lord for everything he's giving me and I love him to the fullest! God bless!

B.L.S. Gaithersburg, Maryland

When my step grandpa passed away due to cancer, I was unbelievably sad. Although I was in grade school at the time, there was a horrible effect on me. My grandpa was as important as a real grandparent to me, so I was really upset. One night, when I was going to bed, I felt his presence. He reassured me that everything was going to be all right because God cares about everyone. Occasionally I still feel my grandpa visiting, and I know that he's in a better place where I'll see him one day.

Aidan - Campbell, California

I have struggled with nightmares and sleepwalking (and even acting out dreams in my sleep) ever since I can remember. They are the types of dreams that stay with me for weeks...even years. I can remember nightmares I had at the age of 5. I have done everything (I thought) to figure out why I have them and to get rid of them, finally resigning myself to the fact that restful sleep was just not for me.

I have always been a spiritual person who cherishes my relationship with the Lord. I trust him, I love him and know that he Loves me, however, for some reason, it never dawned on me to ask him for help with these dreams.

Then one day I was sharing a particularly troubling dream with a friend who suggested that, during my prayers, I give myself to the Lord for the night and I pray to him to have a restful, "safe" night, placing my dreams in his hands. So I did. The dream I had that night is one that still gives me goose bumps and makes me cry every time I talk about it. I dreamt that I was being chased by many men (all strangers) who were trying to kill me. I ran through an alley and there was a beautiful little boy about 5 or 6. He was so beautiful, he glowed. I stopped and said, "what are you doing here? You have to go, you will be hurt." He said, "No, I will not. I am here for you, to protect you. Take my hand and no one will hurt you." I asked him, "who are you?" and he said, "I am Michael, your guardian Angel. I will keep you safe, always."

I took his hand, and we walked down the sidewalk together. That was it. Now, every once in a while, I may have a "bad" dream, but NOTHING like I used to! I feel so blessed!

Carrie - Circleville, Ohio