God Speaks: Real Stories of God's Guiding Hand through Dreams or in Life

The book "Treasuring Grace" was inspired by a dream in which co -author Tracy Roberts feels that God spoke to her and directed her hand in the writing of the story. Many people feel God's special influence in their lives in direct or indirect ways.  This column seeks to bring you some of their inspirational stories.

The below story is that of John Gage, who is the talented & humble author of "Moved."

"God Literally Spoke to Me"

One is not required to believe, but I believe this story to be true.

Having been recently remarried and on a remote tour for a year away from my family, I was stationed in Korea, the Land of the Morning Calm. It was here that God humbled me a peg or two by showing me I was an alcoholic for over 16 years. That's right, I am John and I am an alcoholic. (Hi, John!) I am grateful for this knowledge because it led me to the root evil of all my unhappiness, all my confusion, my anger, and all my "emotional baggage".

I had been sober for about 4 months and had begun my "4th step" which is where one is to identify the wreckage in our lives and seek its' basic root evil. I quickly realized that I had a lot of anger, resentment and "stuff" to deal with. There was a lot of "emotional wreckage" tormenting me. I didn't do emotions in a healthy way, and had no idea of how to handle them. Overwhelmed and trying to get a foothold in this avalanche of realizations of sin in my life and how evil I was within, I was desperate for God's wisdom. On my knees, I cried...and I cried out to God. I literally begged Him - God to speak to me. "God, what is my number one problem?". I wanted to know so badly. I listened... and nothing. I still believed God would show me eventually, but I really wanted Him to speak to me. I laid down assuming I couldn't handle His truth or that God wasn't going to speak to me. I grew tired and was worn out, emotionally.

Tear soaked eyes and partially conscious, mostly asleep, my request was answered by Him. In His majestic and stately voice, God spoke to me. My first reaction was trembling for I knew I was in the presence of something Great... God... His voice; His Majesty; His Righteousness!! Awesome, simply Awesome!!! Hearing His voice made things explode in my mind. I reacted in a sort of gleeful panic, scared, excited, sorrowed, and overjoyed all at the same time. And I cried REALLY, REALLY hard because I was so honored to hear His voice, and at the same time, frightened because God revealed to me in a single word, the very nature of my misery.

God said the word, "John."

"John?" I thought and a little scared.

"John?" I thought and a confused momentarily.

"John!" I thought in a shocked state. "God means me? Am I my own worst enemy?"

"John...It's me?.... It's me..... It's me!" I thought. "Wow!" God told me and I understood right away the magnitude of His message. In a word, he told me that I am my own worst enemy.

Overjoyed and scared.... I had to call the one and only person I knew would believe me and understand me, and she did, of course. I am grateful that my best friend is and always will be my beautiful wife.

God revealed to me something that I really needed to know, and I want to share. I learned that yes, indeed, I am my own worst enemy. Now, I have a definition of pride which I feel is useful: "My thinking I am in charge."

This caused me to take a key step in my faith as a Christian. I made a complete surrender to Jesus. I got to take a good look at what God meant about my evil (John) in all aspects of my life. I saw my true nature and I am so much more grateful for God's gift of Eternal Salvation. I also realized I couldn't earn my way to heaven, nor intellectualize my way to heaven. I realized that God held me in the same regard as the rich man and the poor man, and that my sinful nature was no better and no worse than any man's. I could no longer judge others. A life of daily obedience to God has freed me from the bondage of alcoholism, and more importantly, myself.

To learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous, visit http://www.aa.org

John Gage is the talented & humble author of "Moved" http://www.2theheart.com/inspirational_stories/ is a devout Christian and family man; he teaches Sunday school and leads two fellowships in his home in Utah. He also performs duties as a Major in the United States Air Force. Email John and let him know how his story affected you!  John.Gage@HILL.af.mil

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God Speaks: Real Stories of God's Guiding Hand...

The book "Treasuring Grace" was inspired by a dream in which co -author Tracy Roberts feels that God spoke to her and directed her hand in the writing of the story. Many people feel God's special influence in their lives in direct or indirect ways.  This recurring column seeks to bring you some of their inspirational stories.

"John's Story"

“ I remember it was a Dark street with a lot of people walking, looking for something.  Jesus looked at me and asked “what do you see John?

 I said, “I see a lot of people who look poor and need help.”

Jesus said to me “you’re right, these are my children. What they are looking for is help.” A tear came to my eyes because I could not help his children.

I saw next to this street a series of brightly lit yards and nice sidewalks leading to the doors of churches. Each one was beautiful, covered with gold and embellishments, filled with followers. At that time that gave me hope in my heart.  

 Jesus said to me “John, look.” and some people came out with food and gave to the street people and then they were walking back to their church’s very happy with what they have just done.

They were being followed by a few of the people. Now, they were not dressed nicely and they asked if they could come in, they wanted to belong to the churches on the block but they didn’t know or look right for the church they were asking to enter and after a while the doors were closed and no one enter from the street. 

Now it was raining and terrible weather outside and I ask Jesus what happen? He said to me “Is it the children in the church or the children in the street who need to learn?”

Just after he said this I didn’t have time to ask him enough questions when a chariot landed right in front of us.  The doors opened and the doorman held them open then all the Church doors opened and the people inside came out to see what was going on.  They quickly jumped into the chariots, pushing the people who were on the streets off.

 As the last car was being filled Jesus reached out his arm, saving the last seat for me and said “John, do you wish to go with them? 

I waited for a short time and said “I don’t deserve to go Jesus I am not worthy” and I backed away from the car I turned to Jesus and ask if he was going he said “No John, My children need to learn and there is still time” and then The Chariot lifted off the ground and soared into the sky. 

A bright light began to build in the sky and the people in the chariot were excited because they were going to Heaven. Suddenly the bright light turned into a hot and fiery Volcano, and the Chariot rode right into the middle of it, with all the Church people inside.

 After I saw what had happen I didnt know what to say, so I asked, “how do we enter into heaven Jesus”. 

As tears ran down my face and I found my self kneeling in front of him for I was one of those people doing what was being ask of me. No more but no less. In my heart I know I was doing works just to get my place in the chariot to heaven.

As Jesus leaned down to me he asked me to stand.  As I look through my tears I could see we were no longer on the street.  It was still raining and windy but in front of us was a rocky mountain with water running down it and a cable like off a crane but it was frayed he told me to grab the cable and put my hand on it and said “John this is the only way.”

 So I started to pull my self up the cable it was ripping through my skin on my hands and the sides of my feet were bare and the rocks did not help much.   

 “The road to heaven is not easy John it takes a lot of hard work and must give your body and soul to your work” that was the last thing I head from Jesus.  

  As I was squeezing through a tight hole I could see at last a bright light and I felt peace falling through the hole onto me. My hand was ripped up and bleeding but as soon as it reach the light it was healed and then I woke up feeling the pain in my hands and turning on the light I could see little cuts all over my hands. I fell to the floor and prayed.   The next morning I showed my wife and told her of what the dream was and where I thought the cuts came from .”

Have you been touched by God or inspired by a dream? Share your story with us here.