The Thread That Doesn't Have a Name!

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

I was organizing some pictures this week and this is something I wanted to share. A few years ago I went to an incredible place called Gatorland in FL. I happen to have a fascination with reptiles (though I'd never want to see one waiting for me on my driveway) and this place is amazing.

I know this is going to sound crazy but... As I was watching a pen of Nile crocodiles, I felt... Well, it's going to seem strange... But I actually believed God was telling me to walk to the other side (where I could get a closer view), because one of the crocs was about to swim across. The only other people there was a family who was standing on the opposite side of the pen (where I was headed), and by the time I got there, they had walked away.

I went to the other side and stood there for several minutes. I figured if I was just going nuts, no harm done, right? Well, you can imagine my astonishment when a croc not only swam to the side I was now standing on, but she did something else that was amazing, too. (Hopefully I can illustrate it in these photos.)

The croc literally came up to where I was standing, lifted her head up, and placed it right against the cage, nearly face-to-face. It's as if SHE wanted to see ME just as much as I wanted to see her!!!! She held that pose for several seconds, then finally lowered herself down and swam away.

I was left... speechless!!! (If you can imagine that. ) No one else saw this except me, and I was SO glad I had my camera! These are some of my most treasured pictures. I've been to several zoos and aquariums, but have never seen anything like this before.

And yes, she really was "this" close to me--about 6 inches away. All that separated us were two wire fences and some wooden posts.











Was it really God speaking to me that day? I honestly believe so. I had even forgotten until I got home, but it was actually the anniversary of a very challenging day in my life, and I truly believe God remembered me on that very day... through a crocodile.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to share this but was unsure of what the theme of the thread would be, so here are some ideas:

1. Is there are time in your life when you believe God remembered you? Tell us what happened.

2. Would you like to share a place you've been to that you loved? Maybe a zoo, monument, or park? Those are just a few ideas--anything you'd like to post is welcome.

3. Was there a special encounter in your life, whether with an animal, human, or nature, that really helped you feel closer to God? We would love to hear the story.

And, as always, pictures are welcome! God bless.

 

[Dino246]

I can't compete with crocodiles, but I can relate to God remembering me...

About ten years ago, my wife was hospitalized for an extended period of time. We hadn't been in this community long, and because of her kind of illness, connecting with people was very challenging. My kids were small at the time, and between caring for them and trying to take classes, I was barely holding things together. My birthday came up, and although I don't normally expect much for it, I realized that nobody was even likely to acknowledge it. I remember praying briefly about it, saying something like, 'Well Lord, You know it's my birthday, so that's enough.'

Sometime mid-morning, when the kids were at school, the doorbell rang. The lady from across the street had made a rice krispie cake, decorated it, and brought it over. She had never done so before, and didn't say Happy Birthday when she gave it to me; I am pretty sure she had no idea it was my birthday. Well, I was humbled, blessed and overwhelmed that my Father had remembered me! I think my face even leaked.

 

[MissCris]

I love this thread Can't wait to read more stories

 

[jennymae]

I went down to a creek with my sister and my brother. It was a nice, sunny day, and none of us could wait to get in the water. I was a bit shaky myself, though, lookin left and right for Water Moccasins hiding somewhere just waitin for an opportunity to strike. Well, we got down to the creek, my brother, of course, was just throwing himself in withouth hesitation, but me and my sister were more reluctant, and we had to scan the area for unpleasant critters. Finally, we went in, it was so cool and nice, like some mountain stream, and I was forgetting all about critters. Then, I can see my brother on the shore, he is like paralyzed, me and my sister, we are rushing out of the water, and he is pointing at something near the water...I'm looking at it...and I'm screaming...it was the fattest WM I've ever seen, all curled up and that ugly white mouth wide open, hissing at us. I couldn't move, I was terrified. The snake was madder than a wet hen and I's sure it was gonna strike. All of a sudden my brother picked it up with a stick. This is making me and my sister scream even more. But he is just carrying it away, like it was some water hose...well...guess who was the hero of the day

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Cool!

1:
I had been quite depressed for some time, and I kept getting these random urges to jump off bridges etc
(I wasn't planning on doing it, it was more as if my body tensed, intending to do it on its own).
Then, in church, as some people were praying for me, one of the said
"I see you standing on top of a tall cliff, but you are secured by a solid rope so you cannot fall"

2
Several places in Scotland:
Newburgh, just north of Aberdeen
The area around St Ninians Cave in the south.
Isle of Skye
Tiree
- I'll see if I can find pictures later.

3: Being outdoors (away from the cities) in general makes me feel closer to God.

 

[JustViv]

Often times when I'm feeling so painful, wounded and broken inside of me, God brings me back to the day I was in the ICU. He will tell me this....

Viv, look at yourself lying on that bed there. You have so many things hooked on you such as the oxygen mask, the IV drip, the clip on your finger, the clips on your chest for the ECG reading, lots and lots more. You lie down there with no strength to move and neither can your mouth utter any words. You are so weak. Yet, these machines that are hooked on you are giving you what you need to live so you can be stronger and continue to survive. Now, I am that life support system for you. I am the One who breath life into you. I am the One who supplies all that you need to be stronger. I will continue to do that for you, My dear one. Come and depend on this, your only life support system.