The Journey: of a Normal Christian Life

By R. Stephen Bolles

The Journey---;a personal expedition that provides a transformation from an ordinary life to one that is extraordinary---;simply by recognizing the wonderful promises, power, and provision God has provided for His children. These short stories will catapult your desire to embark on a journey of your own. Welcome to this exciting trip!The

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: May 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948962933

R. Stephen Bolles

R. Stephen Bolles is a servant of God, willing to believe Him at His Word. He has lived and served as a missionary in Mexico, Ghana (West Africa), the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Turkey. He has also witnessed many miracles and wonders right here in the United States.

Book preview

The Journey

Of a Normal Christian Life

R.Stephen Bolles

Copyright © 2018 by R.Stephen Bolles.

Paperback: 978-1-948962-92-6

eBook: 978-1-948962-93-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Prologue

Preface

Bible Read in Hospital

Atlanta, a New Beginning for Our Journey

Provision Misused in Atlanta

Hippies in the Sixties

The Wallet

Instant Miraculous Protection

Vision of Trials in America

Roaches in Pensacola

Provision of Fish

Food in Pensacola

Provision of Soap

Pecans in Pensacola

Standing on the Word

Healing of Man’s Ears

Man in New Orleans

Gnats and Dogs in Mexico

Village in Mexico

Instant Answer in Frigid Waters

Icy Baptism

Counsel for Woman in Portland

Water Baptism in the Columbia River

The Bathtub (A Matter of Heart)

Deliverance from a Mole

Young Man in Nigeria

Scriptural Answer for Man in Ghana

Village Witch in Western Ghana

Word of Knowledge in Ghana

Scriptural Answer for Woman in Accra

Police Stations in Accra and Kumasi

Two Wonderful Provisions

Deliverance, Salvation, and Baptisms in the Czech Republic

Simple Belief

Mules Yoked Together

Servants in the Orient

Excellence vs Perfection

God Is No Respecter of Persons

Discernment vs Judgment

Truth vs Fact

No Substitute for Belief

Forgiveness Is Forever

Children or Servants?

Bedbugs, a Trial of Faith

The Last Chapter, or the First of Many More?

Scriptural Foundation

Prologue

From the moment of our conception to our last breath, we are continually on our journey home; that is, to be with our designer and creator. Our Heavenly Father, Jehovah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity) have designed and created us to be in a family relationship/fellowship with them (Genesis 1:26-27: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them.) The Holy Spirit so graciously and gently draws us into and encourages us within that relationship. Our triune makeup of body (physical), mind (mental), and spirit (emotional) are completely congruous with the design to be in the image of our Creator.

All of the accounts set forth in this book are intended to serve as simple pictures of Scriptural principles, just as Jesus used parables. Each account is a true story from my own personal experiences.

Preface

Hello! My name is Stephen. I have a wonderful companion in my wife Denise and two precious children; a gentle daughter, Kim, and an energetic son, Steve, both adults now. The only names of people mentioned in this journal are those already mentioned, because this is the path we have taken together as a family. It is not intended to glorify any individual, but rather to glorify God and His provision to all who choose to be faithful servants of the Almighty. Jesus makes it plain in Mark 16:15-20 that miraculous signs would follow them that believe; in my name (Jesus) and John 14:12 also states that he that believes (implying obedience) would do the works that Jesus himself was doing.

I thank God for the opportunity to record these experiences and wish to gratefully acknowledge the gracious input of my family, friends, pastors, teachers, and even those who at times have opposed me. All of the accounts contained herein are to be a reflection of the parables of Jesus; that is, true stories from my own personal experiences, presented to clearly demonstrate a snapshot of a portion of truth given in the Scriptures. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Please note that experiences are valid as examples only as far as they line up with the Scriptures. Also note that in John 14:6 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the father, but by me.

Acts 10:34 states that God is no respecter of persons. Therefore, whatsoever we read in the Scriptures is available to all of us who meet the same conditions. From the moment of our conception to the last breath we take, we are continually on our journey home to be with our designer and creator. (Psalm 139;13-16 says, For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well, My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. And Genesis 1:26-28 says, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Our whole lifetime is meant to be utilized to build a fellowship/relationship with God.

Bible Read in Hospital

Recently, it has become disturbingly clear to me that a large percentage of people that call themselves Christians really do not know much about the Bible or what it actually says. This would tend to intimate that many in this category have never read the Bible through; i.e., cover to cover. Of course, this does not necessarily mean in sequence as