He Did What!

Psalms 34:6, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles!”

Deuteronomy 30:19, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live!”

Psalms 23:1, “Walk in his ways and keep his commandments!  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Mark 1:15,“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Psalms 37:7, “Rest in the lord, and wait patiently for him.”

Ephesians  4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

Psalms 24:1-2, “The Earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Psalms 32:1, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Luke: 9:56, “For the son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

HE DID WHAT!

Marner Campbell-Benjamin

Copyright 2011, all rights reserved

Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…”

Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Psalms 47:6, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises”

Proverbs 10:15, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.”

Revelation 22:12-13, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me….”

John 1:11, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God; but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

Matthew 10:7, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Author’s Notes

While growing up as a child in Ocala, Florida, it was a joy and delight to sit on my grandfather’s lap. We rocked back and forth while he read the 23rd Psalm to me over and over. It was rewarding to hear him read Psalms every Sunday. It was rewarding, but I used to hate going over it continuously. Grandpa Willie died at 97 years old about the time I had my first child. I vividly remember conversations we shared in the wooden swing every week; I can still recite the 23rd Psalm, 100 Psalm and my favorite one, the 24th Psalm. The Lord is my strength and my delight! He hears me when I pray and listens when I call.

It all started when the ice cream man came ringing his bell near my parents’ home. It was hot as volcanic ash, and sweat was pouring out my pores beneath my spaghetti tank top. Florida is hot in the summer time! If only I had a quarter, I would stop the ice cream man, I could hear his music coming close. Then all of a sudden I spotted a crispy greenback  making a landing on my dad’s tailored Bermuda lawn. What a miracle, this was my lucky day. A whole dollar came out of nowhere, and I would have 75 cents left.

Miracles have happened to me for as long as I can remember. Supernatural miracles  came out of the blue, just by one thought. Jobs, gas, food, clothes, friends, cars, cash, and even ice cream! Matthew 6:25-34 says, “Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father  feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, If God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more cloth you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and  all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

He has it all in control, if we will only believe. John 14:14 says, “If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Yeshua (Jesus) listens to us, hears us when we call, but do we listen to Him?

HE DID WHAT tells about all the testimonies that I can remember from my teen life at the age of 16 up to my late fifties.  I pray that my testimonies will help you make the most important decision in your life, receiving Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, as your Master and Savior:  John 3:16,  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

HE DID WHAT!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

One Friday Night

Jesus Freak

Miracle Mitten

The Vision

The Break of Dawn

Yahweh Owns It All!

The Money Bag

Almost Burger Murder

An Angel of Light

The Perfect Storm

The Printed Page

Riches of Secret Places

All I Need IS $10,000

One Stormy Night

My Beloved is White and Ruddy….

Mighty Everyday Miracles!

Dedication

I dedicate this book to the world and my Savior Yeshua, also

Emory, Auriel, Ethan, and Devin (my grandchildren) and to my beloved families: The Harveys, Gillings, Smiths and my beloved husband, Gene Benjamin II. I want to thank my Heavenly Father for all his goodness and His connections through Dr. Rennie and Marina McLean. Thanks so much Jerry D. Hobbs for encouraging me to finish this for our Savior Yeshua!

Marner Campbell-Benjamin

One Friday Night!

        It was hot and dreary, and the wind was blowing relentlessly. Ocala was boring enough without me having to babysit my younger brother again, on a Friday night. I had turned sixteen 2 months prior and I thought life was going to change, get more exciting and adventurous. It seemed like the only people who were having all the fun were my parents. For the last four summers, all they did was party at someone else’s residence or I was trading off my bedroom for some of their visiting party friends. The barbeques were great, the food fantastic, but giving up my bedroom for the couch was another story.

Tonight I was supposed to have been hanging out with my girlfriend, Sally.  But no, I had to babysit again.  My brother was getting on my nerves, and he wanted to play my stereo. I agreed with him tonight, because that meant I could have the television all to myself. After switching the channels, I decided to listen to a gentleman singing, How Great Thou Art. Billy Graham was going to be preaching to the youth tonight. I was drawn to listen to every word as he introduced himself. After listening to him preach for about 45 minutes, I began to listen to my conscience constrain me vehemently to his voice. Mr. Graham was stating that we all must be born again of water and of the spirit. He repeated Luke 15:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and his mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Then he recited a scripture from Luke 9:24, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosover will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Then he went on with Luke 9:26, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” I was astonished and delighted. I had never heard anyone speak with such authority and power! It was as if the earth stood still. I finished listening just in time, before my parents walked in the door. I was glad to have been relieved from my brother, so I could go to the privacy of my room.

I found myself kneeling down to my God, and asking him to come into my heart and to forgive all my sins as Mr. Graham had addressed. Afterwards, I quietly laid down for a good night’s sleep. The next day as I awakened, I noticed right away that my soul felt alive, my hands looked different, my whole body seemed completely new inside and out. I stepped outside and noticed the sand, trees, and the environment just wasn’t what it was on Friday. I had this awakened spirit that made me reach out to others; I wanted to tell the whole world what had happened to me.

Saturday, I went to the local county fair with my parents and brother, and I could see evil forces around some people, and I could see auras around others that had complete peace. Wow, what excitement I had discovered! My parents just thought I had sneaked some of the liquor out of the dining room bureau. Jesus was alive, he did exactly as he said he would do. I just could not get enough of his holy words. I stay glued to my Bible. When attending church, I was taking part in the Sunday school more and sharing my new conversion. I had a new life in Christ Jesus, this was going to be a great summer after all. Sometimes, I just didn’t even feel like eating. I could understand Luke 4:4 which says, “It is written, ‘That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

Jesus Freak!

        Time flew by the last two years of high school. Graduation day came, and I started college at Santa Fe Community College. It was a thirty minute drive from my small home town of Ocala. Gainesville was a hot town, much larger than Ocala, and folks commuted daily to the University of Florida from all over Florida. My parents had attended the University of Florida, and I attempted but decided to check out the community college before leaping to a large campus.

Santa Fe Community College was interesting, and I began to meet all types of diversities. I met a few young adults who believed in Jesus Christ,  but many were party goers, and drug pushers, and I chose not to mix with them. Charmaine Taylor was smart and savvy, and we had most of our classes together. So I followed her like baby ducks followed their Mommy at the Alachua Park.

I admit I was odd. I was shy, but cute, and the girls on campus were watching their boyfriends whenever I stepped into the study hall or the cafeteria. I hadn’t tried to date after my last episode of disappointment and embarrassment with Dwight Brown. After becoming a born-again Christian, Dwight and I went our separate ways. He just could not adjust to the fact that I loved the Lord and wanted to please God Almighty instead of him. He picked on me day and night and called me “Jesus Freak”. I told him we needed to take some space and really consider if we wanted to continue our connections.

Autumn arrived during the rush of semester exams and I was getting lonely for someone to hang out with, besides my annoying brother. Even when guys tried to date me or would come over to my house, he would turn on the water hose and spray water on them. I was just not interested in anyone since Dwight left the picture. I concentrated on my studies and witnessed to others whom I came across about my testimony of Jesus Christ.

I started a part-time job working in the Student Affairs Administrative Office, so I could have extra spending money for the approaching holidays. I figured this would keep my mind off the boring hours that manipulated my mind continually. Jackie Harris was my new boss. Jackie was full of life and entertaining sequences. She had the real personality of a stand-up comedian that reminded me of Flip Wilson’s character, Geraldene. I was just glad to be on somebody’s payroll since my Burger King days.

College floated by quickly that first year. Charmaine was getting married, and I had met a new candidate for dating. Joe Taylor almost knocked me over in the hall on campus before we became acquainted. He was really good-looking and polite and had that special charm about him. I smiled in my heart and thought it might not hurt to get involved with a new person and take my mind off the past. Joe drove a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle. On Sundays, he would come by, and we would go for rides. I can remember the stick shift and I wondered how anyone could drive that vehicle. It puttered and shook whenever you would take off. It was a light lime-colored car, and Joe always had it clean inside and out. He dressed so nice, and I began to like some of his gentlemen ways.

Joe went to church with me one Sunday and appeared to love the Lord as myself, but he never would talk about Jesus too much but rather his future. He wanted to make a good living. He wanted fine houses and cars. Joe lost a brother at the young age of 30 and would talk about it quite often. “My brother taught me how to drive tractor-trailer and I miss him so much”, he would explain. I could tell he was going places in his life. Joe began to come over often to visit me. He asked my father if he could come sometime on a weekday to see me after he got off from work. Joe appeared like he really was interested in knowing me and my family better. I was beginning to like him, but I just didn’t feel like it was going anyplace. I felt like we would only be friends.

Christmas was coming, and I was so tired of studying. I had attended Charmaine’s wedding and life moved on. Gainesville was lazy and hot even in the winter months, and I needed an extracurricular. I played my music quite a bit. I even played my clarinet with my cousin Kearin the following summer and thought about taking extra lessons. Oh God, why am I so bored? Can’t there be something more to do with my life? Joe and I went shopping for holiday gifts. He wanted to get my brother Gino something special and something for my parents of course. We ended up buying a big fruit basket with oranges, grapefruits, peaches, grapes, bananas, nuts, and candies all in one beautiful wicker basket. Joe surprised my brother with his own stereo so he could stop fighting with me over mine. After driving, walking, and eating ice cream cones, Joe and I went to a movie. I can’t remember what the movie title was, even now. I was tired and wanted to go home.

The holidays passed, and I was now teaching Sunday school classes at my father’s church. I call it my father’s church because he had just received his pastor’s license and was now an assistant minister. The teens in my class loved to hear me talk about Jesus mission. I loved listening to the Sermon on the Mount that my father played on Sunday mornings before leaving for church. Jesus can enlighten you just in the time you need him the most. John 4:14 says, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

April 18, 1972, I became the new wife of Joe Taylor. Joe was excited about marrying me, before he enlisted in the Armed Forces. He enlisted in the Air Force, and I finished my Associates Degree in Psychology at Santa Fe Community College. Time flies when you are having fun! I finished college and attended the graduation ceremonies on June 23, 1972. Joe flew home to assist me, and I traveled with him after his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Texas was hot. Hotter than Florida ever was, and I was decorating our new apartment. After training, Joe and I arrived in Ft Meyers, Florida, to enjoy our honeymoon. My father let Joe borrow his shiny new car, and we rented a cottage on the beach. Life appeared grand, and I was extricated from childhood. My mom was worried about me living away from home for the first time. She was worried, and I felt free for the first time in a very long time, or should I say, since Yeshua freed me with His blood.

After our brief honeymoon, we flew back to our new apartment. I was glad that Joe hadn’t lived on base with all those adventurous army brats. I loved the quaint little apartment we chose, not too far from the seaside. I was looking forward to attending Lubbock University in the fall, when Joe moved to Lubbock. I wanted to maintain my studies in psychology and obtain my Bachelors Degree. Joe was turned down from his job offer as traffic controller and was given a security assignment instead. He wasn’t happy with the decision.

I had met some Christian friends and attended a Jesus group on Friday nights. It was great to be around spirit-filled believers like ourselves. We all would meet together and share items, food, money and go out on the streets to witness on Saturdays and Sundays. The group called themselves, “The Children of God”. We would play inspirational songs with the guitar, drums, and trumpets and lift up the Name of Jesus! We studied the gospels of John, Luke, Matthew, and the Psalms. The ladies would cook, clean, attend the kids, and shop for the group as a whole. I was very happy to have someone to fellowship with in the Lord.

One day while out, I met a gentleman walking in the park, and asked him, “Do you love the Lord? Do you want to know the Lord? Do you want to invite Jesus in your heart? He said “Yes”! I offered him to repeat after me, “Jesus I want to know you, forgive me of my sins as Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shall confess with thy mouth and believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved”. I observed him changing and rearranging just like a lit-up Christmas tree! This was the first time I had led someone to Christ. I was full of the Holy Spirit and I was relieved with joy. I gave the gentleman a Bible tract and sent him on his way. Many others I met on the streets and parks in Texas and led to Christ. Jesus showed me that with him, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Sadly, Joe and I left the Children of God, after finding out that some of the leaders were dealing in drugs. I began to witness to many as I traveled from Texas to Florida.

Miracle Mitten

        Joe obtained conscientious objector status from the military, and we moved back to Gainesville, Florida, and purchased a house. I shortly became pregnant with Joe, Jr. Daddy Joe returned to work at his old job driving tractor-trailer. I adjusted to becoming a housewife and mother. Joe Jr. was born on May 16, 1973, in Gainesville, Florida. I was enjoying motherhood and getting acquainted with my new neighbors. One day, Joe walked in and decided he was fed up with Florida and the occupations and wanted to venture out to Colorado. I have no idea how that decision came about or what motivated the option. When Joe Jr. was 3 months old we visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona and drove through Colorado and that was that. We headed back to Florida and sold our home and packed and moved to Colorado within 2 short months. We sold everything we owned and headed out on the highway in our new 1972 Super Beetle Volkswagen; while in the military we had purchased a brand new Beetle. After arriving in Denver, Joe got a job working with Texaco Oil Company, driving an oily gas truck.

I was visiting the Church of Latter Day Saints and got a part time job teaching the four-year olds. I was getting acquainted with my new Colorado neighbors. The Duncans were a nice people and invited me to their ward. I was impressed with some of their teachings and began to go regularly. Joe wasn’t interested and was taking classes at Denver University. Joe and I bought a new home in Aurora, after a few years passed, and I was pregnant with my second child. Celeste, my second child, and Joe Jr. filled most of my time.

The winter had come again and Joe was 4 yrs old and his sister 3 years old. The two of them were crying to go outside, and I was refusing them, because one of Joe’s mittens was missing. “Mommy, I want to go outside in the snow,” yelled Joe, Jr. “I wanna go, I wanna go”, chanted Celeste. I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and I looked back and the other mitten was miraculously lying on the floor. That red mitten had been missing for 2 years! “WOW” was all I could say. I praised the Lord all day long for that simple, supernatural miracle. I, Joe, and Celeste had a wonderful day and I rested in the Lord.

The Vision

        Revelation 6:12-17 says, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountain; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hid us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

On my 29th birthday I had been struggling to keep my 9-year marriage afloat. Joe and I had been having relational problems. I was happy in spirit and had been studying Revelation and the gospels daily. I had this ‘high’ and felt as though I could fly to Africa. The Holy Spirit had me enthusiastically engaged in Yahweh’s love. I wasn’t hungry at dinner time. I cooked a wholesome meal for my family. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green peas and a garden salad. “Mommy, can I have a cookie, whined Celeste. I was having a hard time getting some space to myself. I read JJ and Celeste a bedtime story and tucked them in at 8pm. Joe was on the road with his company’s oil rig, and I was relieved that I could have the bedroom to myself for a few days.

The third day, I was exhausted from carrying the kids to the mall. I hadn’t eaten in quite a while, but I just wasn’t hungry, but I was full of God’s Spirit. Suddenly at bedtime, I was taken into a deep sleep and awakened to find myself covered in sweat all over my body. Wow, I have to tell you what He did! I was seeing pictures of Abraham, Isaac, Moses and Elijah on an HDTV in living color. Yahweh was talking, his voice was like rolling thunder. “You will see them all alive one day, if you are faithful.” He echoed. Swiftly, the mountains fell into the seas and great thunder caused a mighty earthquake, and the mountains and islands fell out of their places. The earth reeled to and fro like a drunkard as Isaiah 24:19 says. And I lifted up my eyes to heaven and saw the brightness of His coming with all the holy angels. His brightness slew the wicked and I was caught up into the air. He spoke again, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.”  I was so amazed and shaken with his powerful voice.

Immediately, I rushed down the hall. The Holy Ghost flung me down throughout the house, wherefore I couldn’t stand up straight. It felt as though I had drunk four quarts of wine. I tried to get back to the bedroom and noticed Joe had come in from his three day journey. Out of the blue a powerful spirit grabbed me on my left side, and I could hear noises that I could not understand. Then on my right I heard Yahweh again, “Take your hands off of her, she is mine,” shouted the voice of God. The wicked spirit vanished immediately and I was at peace.

I went to my husband’s side and he was tied and in pain. I placed my hands on him and he was relieved. I had the anointing of the glory of God. I tried talking to Joe about my experience and he didn’t comment. The next morning I talked to my children about the love of God and led them to the grace of his salvation. Celeste and Joe, Jr. repeated the salvation prayer with me and asked Jesus into their hearts. Jesus says, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.”  Matthew 19:14.

As we enter the END TIMES, it is good that everyone is familiar with Matthew 24 and Psalm 91. I will copy Matthew 24 below. It reminds me of that great vision I had! Matthew 24, “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before. 26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The Break of Dawn

        It was Friday night and I was excited to begin my weekly Bible studies with the community. I had placed flyers at the local laundramat and in shopping malls, hoping someone would be interested in coming to learn all about my savior, Jesus Christ. Dawn, my roommate, and I had made lemonade and cookies and cleaned all day so the antique house would be inviting for everyone. We sang old gospel hymns and lifted up the Holy Father! We began to read the gospels. Romans 8:35-39 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?” . . .37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dawn and I enjoyed the evening and wondered where everyone was? Why hadn’t they come? Later we were so wrapped up in Jesus’ arms, we remember where two or three are gathered, Yeshua is in the midst! Dawn has epilepsy, a disorder of the central nervous system. We decided to ask God almighty to heal her in the name of Yeshua. “Father come and restore my body, and relieve me of this crazy disease. I am so tired of falling off my bicycle when I ride to work. I want to be set free indeed. Thank you Father, we ask it in Yeshua’s name, amen and amen”, we both shouted together!

The next morning Dawn called to me, “Marner come quickly, see what God has done, I am healed, I am healed!”

Many years passed. I had moved to Florida and remarried. My new spouse, Larry, and I had moved back to Colorado and wanted to visit Dawn. After seven years she was still praising God for her healing from epilepsy, it never tortured her again. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Never doubt—just praise and shout!

Isaiah 53:1-5, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Yahweh Owns It All

I was sleeping in late one Sabbath morning. It was raining, and I was enjoying the moments with my God. I really didn’t have an offering or tithes to give this week and I was upset about it. I felt guilty and ashamed and just decided I wasn’t going to the church today . . . no way! I pulled the bed covers over my head and soaked in my tears. Later, as I drifted off to sleep, I heard a whisper that I had heard so many times before, “I am your God, you are my child. Do you really think that you have to give me something before I give you something?” It was so clear in my mind. The Lord wanted me to come as I was. Psalms 57:1 says, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”  It continues in verse 2, “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me!”

Recently, God showed me in Psalms 24:1 that everything is his! He owns it all……wow! He can send blessings from any area, any person, any entity, anywhere at any time! Look at that verse, I have read it so many times when I was just a four year old kid. Never did I see it the way I see it today! Psalms 24:1 says: “ The Earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”  Yes—He owns it all.

One day I was hurrying to my nursing job. I was living in my rural home near the Sangre de Christo Mountains, about 25 miles southwest of Canon City, Colorado.  It was Independence Day and I was hoping to be free to enjoy the long weekend. But when my employer called, I accepted the assignment, and decided to drive the back way to Green Mountain Falls. Well, as I approached the area, my cell phone rang and the assignment was cancelled. I wasn’t a “happy camper” and told God out loud, “Well that’s really nice, I really needed that job to pay my car payment.” He whispered and told me to pull into a certain gas station in Woodland Park. I pulled off the road and decided to buy a little gas before heading to Colorado Springs. The gentleman inside was nice and I decided to give him a book, The Perfect Storm is Coming, published by IBE, Inc. I usually order these booklets by the box and pass them out. Well, I conversed with the gentleman, and he began telling me about his wife dying of cancer some months back and I told him, funny my spouse had died just last year of cancer as well. It was a divine appointment. Cheerfully, I exited the gas station after pointing to one of the dollar scratch tickets with the red, white and blue colors—celebrating  the 4th of July. I had this strange feeling that came over me to purchase one. Later, as I drove on to Colorado Springs, after almost forgetting about the $1 lotto—I scratched it off. It was $300, just enough to pay my car payment! My car payment is $299.15. Isn’t God good! He even owns lotto tickets!

It was hard times even back in the 90’s. I had gone through another divorce and times were hard. My daughter and I were sharing a 2-bedroom apartment on the west side of Colorado Springs and I was working 2 jobs and tired all the time. I did a morning shift with one company and when it ended at 4pm I came home and ate dinner, and went to my other shift at 7pm to 7am. Well, this month I was short. One of my clients died and I didn’t have enough to pay rent. My daughter, Dione, and I were trying to figure out what we were gonna do to get the $425 for rent, and we needed gas as well. I had one dollar left. We stopped by 7-11 and I purchased one $1 scratch ticket. When returning to the car, fretfully and grieved in spirit, I scratched it off with a worn dime. WOW, I screamed out, Dione, it’s $500! The Lord provides for his children. Just like when Peter in the Bible was told to go to the fish’s mouth to find a coin to pay Yeshua’s and his temple tax! I do believe Yahweh owns everything! Yahweh controls everything! Trust and obey! His voice speaks to us when we listen! Praise God for his faithfulness!

Another lotto story! I  needed to pay rent to a friend that had let me rent a room. It was the year 2009. I had just been paid. I wasn’t happy with my check. I had to make car, insurance, and mortgage payments, and buy food. But my friend had been so wonderful to me by letting me stay at her place and it was time that I give her something to help out with utilities. Well, I gassed up and decided to buy another lotto ticket. It was Sabbath morning and I had just got off a night shift. I rested in the car awhile and scratched off the ticket—praise God, there was $100! I cashed it out and gave the cash to my friend when I walked through the door! The Bible mentions gamblers won’t make it to heaven. I wonder about the excess of it all. But being in His hands and in His control, I feel he supplies our needs through any angle or entity. So I feel we have a living God that responds to us when we ask, seek and knock. I am still praying and asking for guidance in this area . . . but most of the time I am waiting on his response! Let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth. I feel it’s a matter of listening to his voice and direction for all things! The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein!

Habakkuk was one of those prophets that trusted GOD—read one of his chapters below:

Habakkuk 2, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

9Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! 10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! 13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? 14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

15Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. 17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

18What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.”

The Money Bag

        It was a dreary day. I woke up tired from working a long shift with the elderly as a certified nurse’s assistant. My daughter was sick and I needed to visit her at the hospital. The drive to the hospital took half an hour. I normally would have thought nothing of it, but this week I needed gas money. I dreaded getting out of bed, but managed to get up and take a quick shower. I was mumbling to myself out loud, “How am I going to go visit that girl? I just don’t have enough gas and besides that, she needed coca-cola, soap and more personal things, God this just won’t work”.

As I was getting dressed, a voice whispered to me, “Wear your black outfit today, yes , and use your black purse you purchased at that garage sale 3 weeks ago”.  Well, I really wanted to wear my blue outfit, but what’s the use.

The clock was ticking and I just didn’t know what this day would be like. I switched my brown pocket book to the black one that I bought at the garage sale for only 10 cents. As I began moving things into the black leather purse, I zipped one of the inside areas. As I placed my hand inside, I pulled out a bill that was hiding way down deep. “WOW,” I shouted, “Wow, it’s a  $50 bill!” I could hardly believe it, He had answered my prayers again, right in the nick of time—isn’t God good! I rushed out the door, hurrying to Walgreens to get the items I needed. The drive was pleasant and wonderful and my daughter and I even got to have a lunch together. Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Almost Burger Murder

        It was the summer of 1985, in Hollywood, Florida. My three children were relieved that school was out and we all chipped in together to do house work. I loved the mangos and avocados that hung ripe on the trees in my back yard. The birds were chirping and it was the best day that I had had in a long time. It was 85 degrees and I played my stereo most of the day listening to Andre Crouch and the Staple Singers. My only son was preparing for work and was excited about his summer job at the local Burger King. I know he wanted to save money for his first car. As he headed out the door for work, the girls and I watched a movie together. A few hours later, I got this overwhelming premonition that I should pray. The Holy Spirit was prompting me to pray for my son immediately. I asked the girls to join me, and we prayed as commanded by the Spirit of God. I wondered about it, but felt relieved that things would be OK. After the movie, we all climbed into bed. Later I heard my son come in, and all the lights went out for the night.

Next morning as I was preparing breakfast, my son burst into the kitchen doorway. “Mom, you will never guess what happened to me last night at work!” “Well, what happened?” I asked. “Three guys came in and had everyone lay down on the floor. They took off everyone’s jewelry, watches and things. Later, this big guy demanded that I get the money out of the safe that was beneath the floor. Mom, he placed this gun against my head. Then all of a sudden he dashed out of the building as fast as he could and I was OK. Everybody was OK, can you believe it?” “Son, I believe it. Last night, the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray with your sisters and we didn’t have a clue what was happening, but we obeyed. I am so glad I responded. I can see the angels came and rescued you, how happy I am to see that you and the others are fine,” I replied to my son. Isn’t God wonderful and caring?  He protects us in our time of troubles. What a wonderful God we serve!

Psalm 91, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”

An Angel of Light

        Parenting is not an easy job. Ask a number of parents today and I am sure they will agree with me. God made many wonderful people across this planet and universe. The world is full of beautiful, smart, intelligent creatures. I think of Adam and Eve and all the luxury of living they had before the fall. That same serpent, Lucifer is up to the same old tricks today. This story will remind you of the fact.

My son was left behind at home on this glorious day. I had some errands to do and demanded that he stay put until his sisters arrive from school. I will let him tell this story:

“My mother went out. I know it wasn’t the thing to do when Gary arrived at my door. “Man let’s go to the pool,” Gary begged. It was so hot, I  hesitated and let him talk me into it. After all, the city pool was only blocks away and I would get back home before anyone else. The city pool waters felt so good to my skin. There wasn’t anyone else there that day. Gary and I had the pool all to ourselves. Gary was a good swimmer and he paraded all over the chlorinated waters. I was enjoying the moments until I gagged and I lost my focus and pains cramped my legs. I tried to go up to the surface, but  kept going down. Out of nowhere, this figuration jumped into the water and drew me out very quickly. I looked back to observe this person and they were nowhere to be found. WOW! I shouted out loud. Who was that? Then I remembered mom taught me about angels. It was an angel, it had to be an angel of God. Angels are really real and I believe in them today. There are demonic angels as well as holy angels. When Satan was cast out of heaven, a third of the angels came with him. We must always pray with discernment. It’s best to obey your parents as Colossians 3:20 says, “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord (Yahweh).”

I could have died that day. I was saved because God sent an angel.”

Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Proverbs 13:1, “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.”

Proverbs 8:32-36, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”

The Perfect Storm

        It had been a rough year. My husband, Bob, was sick and I thought he was getting better. Bob and I had just celebrated our 6 year anniversary on April 11, 2005. We were making plans to travel to Florida and return and visit his mother in Delaware. After all of these years going to Sabbath school, meeting strangers that he had photography appointments with, it seemed his energy was shot. His name was Robert Lanier Campbell, but he loved for people to call him “Bob”.

Bob loved getting up and rising up to see the sun come up over the hills that faced our mountain home. He just could not stand living in the city after residing here in the beautiful mountains. He talked about how he left the cement streets of Wilmington to breathe fresh air. He loved rafting the white waters of the Arkansas River. I can remember hiking all over 11 mile Canyon and beyond the trails of Cheyenne Canyon and Helen Hunt Falls near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Robert never skipped out of an adventure, and he forced me to go with him. He worked a full-time job, did his own graphics business which he called, “Right Angle Graphics” and nicknamed it, RAGS. He loved photography as well, and enjoyed taking photos of the kids that participated in junior league football or baseball.

Out of all the pleasures in Bob’s life, he loved teaching Sabbath school at Palace of Peace Seventh-Day Adventist Church located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rain, snow, sleet—he never missed teaching if he was assigned, and drove the 75 miles to be a part of that congregation. Robert made many friends and acquaintances while living in El Paso County. He also was favored by many in Fremont county where I still reside today.

I will never forget the last moments of his life on planet earth. During our trip to Florida, Bob was excited to see the ocean once again. He rented a white Dodge Bentley Coupe and took off to Boca Raton to see the white beaches. As we were sight seeing the yachts along AIA, he stopped and took photos with his digital camera. It was a beautiful grand occasion when my brother drove Bob and myself down to South Beach, Miami. The sun was streaming and the waters was glittering as the beaches were full of diverse peoples of all races and ethnicities.

After leaving Florida, Bob came back to his mountain home and passed away on August 28, 2005. I was shocked, I thought he was getting better. He was so full of energy and life. He was gone now and I was trying to cope and get his funeral arrangements in order. It wasn’t easy. I drove to Colorado Springs to talk to Christian friends for some assistance and contacted my professor at University of Phoenix where I had been attending classes for 2 ½ years. I called my son to tell him the bad news. “Mom, I am going to need a suit,” Joe stated. I drove down to meet him at my bank and gave him a check for $150. “Don’t worry about it, God will give it back real fast,” I replied.

I had found letters written by Bob, in the house near his computer. The letters said that a big storm was coming, something that only God could save you out of. I still have the letters, and I can remember Hurricane Katrina came the next day after Bob passed. I was trying to collect his suits that were in the closet to take down to Goodwill to donate to the hurricane victims. As I pulled the suits out the closet, I noticed a long white envelope on the floor of the closet. I quickly picked it up and looked inside, “WOW, I screamed, it’s $150 cash!” Isn’t God good! I had given my son the money to buy himself a suit. Just think, to find an envelope with Bob’s initials on it and $150 cash stuffed inside. God never ceases to supply our daily needs and desires!

Romans 8:35-39, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Printed Page

        Today, I celebrated my 59th birthday. Taking a walk down memory lane came floating through my mind. Remembering all the hot, steamy mornings when I would put on my two-piece suit and go witnessing for the Lord, on the streets divided between Broward and Dale County located between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, Florida, in the summer of 1982. I was slimmer, trimmer and full of life back then. I loved the Lord with all of my heart like I do now, but I just had this song in my heart and dance in my step. I could not wait for the sun to rise so I could go knocking on somebody’s door. Sometimes my legs felt tired and my face was full of sweat, but nothing could take away the magic that Yahweh and I had together. Just when I thought my day was over, Yahweh would bring me to another exciting dilemma.

One time I was waiting in my car after walking all over those long dreary, pot-holed streets. His whisper came out of nowhere, just landed upon my ear, “There’s a man inside the Safeway store that you need to meet and give a Steps to Christ to today”, the Voice echoed, “He will be wearing a polka dot shirt and be with his wife.” I am just like a child. I obey his voice when I hear him. Sometimes I can mess up, especially when I ignore the voice or just get lazy and don’t carry out his orders. Today was one of those days, when I could have made a big mistake. I was tired, I just wanted to go inside and pick up a few items and go home. I had picked up the Steps to Christ  and pitched it into my purse. When I arrived inside the grocery store, I saw this little old lady, and I approached her, and said, “Ma-am, you like to read?”  “No,” she replied, “Honey my eyes are deteriorating, sorry!” I felt like putting my foot into my mouth. And the voice came again from Yahweh, “This is not the person I told you to give the book to.” Wow, what a God we serve. After skipping around the various corners in the store, I spotted the man, described just like the Holy Spirit said. He was wearing a brown polka dot shirt and a lady was with him. I was so excited, I walked right up to the lady, “Hello, I am Marner, and you may think that this is crazy, but the Holy Spirit of God told me to come find this man, and give this book to him, he is your husband, right?”  The lady just jumped with joy, and shouted. “If the Holy Spirit told you to give it to him, well, give it to him!”  From that time on, I try not to avoid the voice of God.

I have had a few more of these experiences. Back in 2008, I had three more of these same type of “divine appointments.” I was restless one morning, tired from working, but missing out on something. I prayed to God for a few minutes that morning. I was still in my sleeping gown. The Holy Spirit awakened me with that voice, “Get up, get dressed, I want you to take The Perfect Storm to someone, do it quickly,” the voice demanded. “When you get in your car, don’t pass them, you may have to make a U-turn; he will be walking with someone or a dog. He will be wearing a red shirt, you can’t miss him.” Isn’t the Lord good? I rushed to my car and drove up the road, and just as he told me, the young man was walking with another guy about his age. He was wearing this red shirt and I stopped to pull my car over, but had to make a U-turn. I smiled, because Yahweh knows us so well. I hopped out of the car, and left it running. “Hey guys, how are you? Boy, you are really special. I woke up this morning and the Holy Spirit told me to come look for you and give you this!” The boys both looked at me with shock, and took the booklets from me. I will never forget the look on their faces.

The following week, I was commanded to go the city park. It was a Sunday, and I was bored. The Holy Spirit whispered and said, “I have a mission for you today. Go to the city park, and you will see a turquoise blue metallic automobile, you can’t miss it. They need these books right away.”

When I approached the park, I saw the car right away, but I didn’t see anyone near or in the car. “Lord, what now?” “Go next door, the gate is open, and you will know what to do.” There was a parking lot full of people getting ready for services at this church that I had never seen. I introduced myself and said, “I was sent here by the Holy Spirit, and the Lord wants you all to have these booklets. The gentleman that I met told me, “We are so happy for these books, we are just beginning to study the Book of Revelation, and Pastor Smith will be glad to have them.”  They received about 25 copies of The Perfect Storm Is Coming. I was beaming with joy and thanked the Lord for using me and uplifting my day.

Note: The booklets: The Perfect Storm is Coming is a book about America headed for Armageddon, and history and biblical facts on ENDTIME events that all of us will be facing soon. Steps To Christ is in print today under the name: Finding Peace Within. You can order these books at: www.theperfectstormiscoming.org

Riches of Secret Places

It had been a hard time adjusting to my new single life since the death of my late husband. I was hoping to find a job in the field of my Bachelor of Science degree. All of my life I had wanted to counsel others to help them in areas of distress. Certified Nurses Assistant work was pleasant at times and I had endured it for over 22 years. The Lord allowed me to meet many wonderful people all across El Paso and Fremont counties. I had met doctors, lawyers, instructors, professors, nurses, ministers, captains of the military, homemakers, artists, policemen, scientists and dozens of dogs and cats. I even met a gentleman who was a second cousin of Abraham Lincoln. Nursing is an exciting and interesting occupation, but it doesn’t pay as much as I was hoping to make.

One day, I really wanted to move back to my country house near Westcliffe, Colorado.  But I was working two jobs trying to catch up on my bills. My roommate was nice and very cooperative in helping me adjust to widowhood. We became friends and life was a little easier than it could have been. Life goes on and Jesus is in control. My 2004 Dodge needed maintenance, so after work one day I dropped it off at a mechanic that one of my clients suggested to me. The gentleman loaned me a mini-van till he finished my car. Well, I received a call from the mechanic; he suggested that I take the car to the Dodge dealership because the part wasn’t available.  After I arrived to pick up the car, I noticed that I could not get the car cranked. I had to call a tow truck to deliver it to the Dodge dealership. I was so frustrated. I demanded my money back since they could not fix the problem. The Dodge dealership solved the problem within 3 hours. I told them I would pick the car up after work that day. When they quoted to me the price, it was more than the other mechanic had quoted. What would I do? No more money would be available until next month.

I was finishing my job at a client’s home in Monument. Snow was on the ground, and I was trying to figure out what to do about paying for my car. I started praying to Yahweh in my mind just briefly. “God, what can I do now, I will need that car to get back and forth to work, and I just don’t have the money, can you help me NOW, I need your help now dear Lord,” I repeated over in my mind. Later, the doorbell rang at my client’s home. My roommate had arrived to pick me up to take me to pickup my car from the Dodge dealership. My client’s mother asked to see me before I left. She handed me a knot full of something in a envelope. “Marner, I have been meaning to give this to you, since this may be the last time we see each other, as I mentioned we are moving back to Iowa next month,” she exclaimed. I took it gratefully and hugged her neck as we approached the door to leave. When I got into my roommate’s car, I excitedly looked inside the envelope and there was cash. I counted it out to be $68.00. I screamed out loud, “Yes, just enough to make up the difference to pay for my car repair. Isn’t God good!” My roommate looked at me and said, “How do you do that? How do you get others to give you money?”

I will call my roommate Lucy. Lucy had remembered another story that happened to me, similar to the one above. I was attending church one Sabbath. As I entered the congregation, the Holy Spirit directed me to sit up front in seats close to the front. It was peculiar because I never sit up front. It thrilled me to sit in the back with my praising buddies. We always would praise God in the highest, raising our voices and singing boldly to the throne of God. But I had learned to listen to that “small still voice”, because it never led me wrong. As the Sabbath services began, a couple came and sat by me and handed me an envelope. I was puzzled because I didn’t have a clue what this could be about. The gentleman and his wife usually affiliate with the prison ministry groups that visit the prisons every other week. I had once asked him to give me an application to fill out so I could minister at the prisons. I had once participated in prison ministry while in Montgomery, Alabama, one summer and thought it would be good to get involved again.

I took the envelope and tucked it in my purse and thought to view it later when service was over. When church was over, I went straight to open the envelope. Inside was cash in the amount of $300. “Wow, Lord, what is this for?” The Holy Spirit whispered, “Remember, you have taxes to pay.” I just almost flipped. I went to find the couple and thanked them. The wife commented, “You are so special, because the Lord told us that it was time to do a ‘thanks offering’ and we were to give it to the person that sat by us at church today.” I was so happy and praised God the rest of that week.

Another time, I needed gas to get to church. My car was on ‘E’. I told Lucy, “Well, it’s on E now, but it’ll be full before I get back”. And sure enough, someone would walk up to me and place a $20 bill into my hand. Lucy just could not believe it. So when God provided my client’s daughter to give me funds to top off what I needed to get my car out of the shop, Lucy just stared at me and said, “How do you do that? How do you get others to give you money?”

Jesus says to ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened unto you. All I ever do is ask. A lot of the time, I praise and cry out to Him. A lot of times HE says no, or wait, but most of the time, if it’s a need—he fills my plate. Isaiah 45:2-4, “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 4For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”

All I Need is $10,000!

The 80’s were tough and the going got rough. I had been working with my spouse doing a janitorial service. The money was good while it was coming. But the times were crazy and spontaneous with hard knocks. The stocks were tumbling and my cleaning contracts were diminishing weekly.

The big boys were buying out the small janitorial businesses in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and my debts were piling up. I loved the janitorial industry but when in Florida, I noticed that the competition was more plenteous and I had many Jewish clientele. Colorado just could not compete with Florida’s tourist trade.

Jesus said many times, “I shall supply your needs.”  Sometimes it seems like the impossible and then you begin to wonder, ‘HOW’ Lord? With all these bills and so few clients to service my pockets, I just scream out and wonder, ‘HOW’ and ‘WHEN’ Lord