Unusual Signs and Wonders Today? - True Incident
In the year 2002, the state of Texas, didn't issue social
security numbers, birth, or death certificates to parents of
stillborn babies. On October 25 2002, my third daughter was
stillborn In TX.
The realization I wouldn't be given any official documents left
me numb. I reasoned the rest of the world considered my child's
life and death were insignificant. My nine long months of
pregnancy, the pain of labor, and delivery was all in vain and
the baby had no identity.
About a month after her funeral, I found an internet company
that created "unofficial certificates of life" for stillborn
babies. I immediately gave them my baby's information- her DOB,
weight, time of birth, length, hospital name, and placed the
order.
A week or so passed, and I received a package in the mail with
the company's name imprinted on the front.
I tore into the package and pulled out a "Certificate of Life"
with my baby's information written in beautiful calligraphy.
At last, something to acknowledge her existence. The certificate
looked almost identical to my other two daughter's birth
certificates. At the time, I was a work- at- home mom with a lot
of free time on my hands (at least while my older girls were in
school), so I decided to use my free time learning to write in
calligraphy (inspired by the beautiful handwriting on the
certificate).
Learning something new was therapeutic during this grieving
period, but the pain of her loss was still fresh. I had to rely
solely on God to help during the weak and lonely moments.
I knew I had to pray, listen to the Holy Spirit and read my
bible. I searched the scriptures night and day for answers, and
the Holy Spirit was finally able to calm my spirit. He reminded
me of God's grace, and God's grace was sufficient for me.
Now that I was experiencing peace, I began asking my husband
what he thought about trying to have another baby. He said he
wasn't sure. He wanted to try again, however he thought it was
too soon. (It had only been about 4 months).
He was afraid something terrible could happen again. He also
made the comment "I'm just too old to have anymore children".
True, he is older than I am, but I believe he only said this out
of fear of the unknown. I disagreed about the age comment, but
decided not to push the issue any further (because I knew he was
still grieving too). I continued practicing my calligraphy,
praying and reading scriptures.
On March 7, 2003, five months after the funeral, I picked up my
bible and prayed, asking the Lord to direct me to the scripture
He would have me read. Leaving my bible open, I decided to wait
and see if the Holy Spirit would give me scripture guidance.
While waiting for an answer, I noticed my calligraphy pen and
paper sitting on the table in front of me.
I picked up the pen (thinking I might take notes on my bible
study), but as I pressed the pen down on the paper, no ink came
out. I shook the pen, tried to get the ink to come out, but
nothing.
Frustrated with my pen, I shook it harder and tapped it against
my leg. Finally, I saw ink starting to flow through the end. As
I placed the pen on paper, the ink flowing from the tip of the
pen made a dark impression on the page that looked like the
number 2 with the letter K next to it. "How Strange" I thought.
I put the lid back on the pen and placed it back down on the
table. As I picked up the bible, I scanned through the contents
page, trying to decide which book to read.
I looked at the bible's contents, then, glanced back at the
paper with the 2K on it. My mind made a strange connection. The
connection was between the 2K marking on the paper, and the
bible book 2nd Kings.
"That was it!" I needed to read 2nd Kings. I began flipping
through the pages and finally made it to 2nd Kings Chapter 1. As
I began reading, I discovered I had never read this book.
When I made it to Chapter 4:8, I read these words:
One day Elisha went to Shunem and a well-to-do woman was there,
who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he
stopped there to eat. [9] She said to her husband, "I know that
this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. [10]
Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a
table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there
whenever he comes to us."
2KI 4:11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and
lay down there. [12] He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the
Shunammite." So he called her, and she stood before him. [13]
Elisha said to him, "Tell her, `You have gone to all this
trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on
your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?' " She
replied, "I have a home among my own people."
2KI 4:14 "What can be done for her?" Elisha asked. Gehazi said,
"Well, she has no son and her husband is old."
2KI 4:15 Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, and
she stood in the doorway. [16] "About this time next year,"
Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms." "No, my lord,"
she objected. "Don't mislead your servant, O man of God!" 2KI
4:17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that
same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
After reading these words, I knew in my heart this message was
for me, and my situation. The Spirit reminded me of the writings
that appeared to Daniel (see Daniel 5:5).
Why would God bless me with a son? I had already given birth to
three girls and my husband had a girl from a previous marriage.
It would seem impossible we would ever have a son, but I claimed
these scriptures for myself and kept them in my heart.
On January 19, 2004, I gave birth to a healthy 7lb 12 oz baby
boy approximately 46 weeks after reading 2Kings (Note: An
average pregnancy from conception to due date takes approx 40
weeks). Was this just a coincidence? I don't think so. To my
husband and I, this incident was a gracious sign from the Lord,
a gift, and miracle I didn't ask for or expect. (I assumed I
would never have a son). My conclusion: Is it possible God still
moves in people's lives the way He did in the bible? Of course
he does. Jesus Christ is Alive. God still does amazing things as
signs for us. He also does many things outside of His Word, just
never contrary to His Word. John said in John 21:25- Jesus did
many other things as well. If every one of them were written
down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room
for the books that would be written. Am I being arrogant because
I believe He can bless me in the same way He blessed the
Shunamite woman in 2nd Kings? I don't think so, the people of
the bible were just men/women, just like you and I. God uses the
weak to confound the strong. We shouldn't glorify any people in
the bible; they were nothing but clay in the hands of The
Potter. Millions of people around the world from all different
backgrounds find miracle healing, forgiveness and love through
Jesus in our day! What the Lord did for others, he can still do
for you. He is no respecter of persons. Should it surprise a
true believer in God that God is working miracles and showing
signs of His power today? According to the Bible, "Jesus Christ
is the same, yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). If
Jesus was ever a miracle worker, He is today. Did He ever say He
would stop doing miracles? To deny miracles, is to mock prayer
today, since even the slightest true answer to prayer involves a
measure of divine intervention. God can do whatever He wants at
any time. Jesus is not dead. He is a risen savior- our high
priest. While there is order in the Universe, there is also
plenty of room for the direct involvement of God's Spirit. I do
know one thing, I'm going to get my son, hold him in my arms,
praise God, and give Him the glory.