2012 by James L. Garlow and Keith Wall
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-6094-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Two of the stories in this book, Tonight Im Going to Take You to Heaven and The Scars to Prove It, are taken from James L. Garlow and Keith Wall, Encountering Heaven and the Afterlife, Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2010, and used by permission.
For more about Jason Black, featured in chapter 16, go to www.jasonblacklive.com.
For more about Willie Beeson, featured in chapter 20, go to www.impossiblemiracle.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In a few cases, names and small details have been changed to protect the identity of people involved. Any resemblance to a specific real person the reader may know is purely coincidental.
Cover design by Gearbox
Contents
Prologue: Miracles: Gods Personal Love Letters
1. Youre in for the Ride of Your Life
On United Flight 811, an extraordinary message saved Shari Peterson in more ways than one.
2. A Long Time Gone
Dr. Sean George had been clinically dead for over an hour. His wife prayed for a miracleand a miracle happened.
3. Voice of Life
Kris Sorensons choice to obey a mysterious command meant everything to a dying wife and mother.
4. Roadside Assistance
When Steve Smith fell asleep at the wheel, he woke to a life-savingand life-changingrealization about guardian angels.
5. Second Life
Stabbed three times with a butcher knife, Bill Purvis should have died. God had another plan.
6. Speaking to the Mountain
After he survived a horrific accident, doctors told Bruce Van Natta his reprieve from death was fleeting. But Gods power would prevail.
7. Diamond in the Rough
After a motorcycle crash nearly claimed her, could Deborah King find a precious object the wreck had taken?
8. I Want You to Climb the Stairs
Without supernatural intervention, Bob Henkelman faced a future defined by the ravages of multiple sclerosis.
9. Angels on Alert
Caleb and Penny Norton bought a house in the valley of the shadow of deathand learned to fear no evil.
10. I Can Hear!
For Noelle Abbott, a generational affliction of silence was vanquished in an instant.
11. A Reason to Live
After three thwarted suicide attempts, Jamal Dawson heard Gods message of hope loud and clear.
12. YHWH on the Way
When Lorraine Potter thought shed lost her mom to heart failure, she found renewed hope in an unlikely place.
13. Giggling Angelsand a Second Chance
Trent Levins road to recovery and redemption led through hell.
14. In the Nick of Time
Erinn Schalm was minutes from losing his colon to ulcerative colitis when God gave him a new one.
15. JumpGod Will Catch You
Jerry and Tina Landrys reward for following God into uncharted territory was manna from heaven.
16. After the Guillotine
A freak accident destroyed opera singer Jason Blacks voice. But then God turned permanent into temporary.
17. For the Love of Kristin
Richard and Helen Myers learned that miracles dont have to be big to speak volumes about divine grace.
18. Darlin
Linda (Dunn) Sasser knows firsthand that time is no obstacle for God.
19. An Appointment with the Great Physician
With her life hanging in the balance, Gracie Rummel received help from a supernatural source.
20. You Will Not Die
It took around seventeen months for Willie Beeson to lose everything. It took a few moments in heaven to get it all back.
21. A Voice in the Wilderness
Caught in a Colorado blizzard, Marco and Freddie Alvarez found out just what it means that God is an ever-present help in trouble.
22. Live by the Sword
A life-threatening tumor pushed Greg Kirk to the brink of death. Divine intervention pulled him back.
23. His Heart Stopped on Valentines Day
After Jeff Buchanan suffered a massive coronary, the restoration God granted was surprising and far-reaching.
24. Nothing Too Difficult
When Tim Nowaks brain tumor mysteriously disappeared, his father knew why.
25. From Someone Who Cares
An empty pantry and a heartfelt prayer taught Kelly Knauss a lesson in miracles.
26. Rise Up
Unaware of her life-threatening disease, Rosanne Marshall acted because of divine direction. Just in time.
27. A Matter of Life or Death
During the birth of her son, Mary Towns found herself transformed in ways she would never have imagined.
28. No Explanation
Megan Conners X-rays showed as many as eighteen back fractures. So why did the MRI show nothing wrong?
29. Tonight Im Going to Take You to Heaven
Grieving the loss of his son, Trevor Yaxley didnt have to die for a visit.
30. The Scars to Prove It
After being electrocuted and pronounced dead, Art Walters returned to lifeand the miracles didnt stop there.
More Miraculous Moments
Further Glimpses of Gods Grace and Greatness
Epilogue: Whats Your Story?
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Miracles: Gods Personal Love Letters
I magine youve fallen on hard times. Youve been laid off from a good job, and for the first time in years its uncertain how your bills will get paid. At the kitchen table, buried under statements and notices, numbing despair begins to take hold. Several payments must go out today to cover this month if youre to avoid a deeper hole of late fees, increased rates, and compounding interest. Youve done the math, and the figure keeps knocking the wind out of you.
In recent weeks your initial determination to pray and hope for the best has steadily lost ground to doubt and a growing sense of isolated loneliness.
You stand up and walk to the mailbox, knowing it probably contains more bad news, additional evidence of your perilous predicament. Its a beautiful day, but to you the world looks dull and gray, matching how you feel. Your whispered prayer is earnest and simple: Please help.
At first glance, todays post looks like the usual: ads and invoices. Then beneath it all, you notice a handwritten, personally addressed envelope. The return address is from a treasured friend who moved away years ago. Contact has grown sporadic over time but is always a pleasant surprise.
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