Alive From The Dead

A Testimony of God's Miracle Working Power

    My testimony begins in the mid 1960's when I was an infant.  I was so severely ill that I had dehydrated to the point of death,  at the time of my illness my mother was a backslidden pentecostal.  She had received the Holy Ghost as a young girl and knew she'd "someday" return to the Lord after leaving Him as an adult.  My illness progressed until one day I was taken away by the Lord --- I died.

    My mother later explained this story to me.  She, along with her close friend, frantically rushed me to the hospital.  My father was away at work, therefore was unable to witness the miracle the Lord was about to perform.

    On the way to the hospital my mother and her friend drove very fast even going through red lights.  When a police officer saw the look of desperation and panic on their faces he began to escort them as they sped down the road with lights and sirens going.  He lead the way for the car that carried my little dead body, cold and blue, lifeless and not breathing.  All the while my mother and her friend were crying out for my life, you see - backsliders never forget about Jesus!

    My mother out of the depths of her soul asked the Lord to save her baby!  Jesus immediately heard her cry!  He told her to breath into my mouth, "The breath of life".  (It could be very dangerous to blow into an infants mouth & lungs with force.)  When my mother knew she had heard from the Lord and because I was already lifeless at this point, she obeyed Him and blew.  Suddenly I began to cry - I was breathing again!  My mother had made a promise to Jesus, that she would give her life back to Him in exchange for my life to be returned to her.

    It was because of the abundant grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that He heard the desperate cry of a backslider and rushed to her need.

    What a sight it must have been for those at the hospital to see my mother holding me in her arms, running in, crying, "My baby!... Thank you Jesus!... My baby!... Thank you Jesus!... My baby!"  while my mother's friend laughing and laughing with tears of joy because of this miracle!  A mother's sorrow turned to joy--a dead child's life restored--all because of  a mother's desperate prayer and obedience to God.  Later, my mother gave her life back to Jesus just as she had told Him she would.  This is a double miracle, not only because I came back from the dead, but also because my mother came back to the Lord.  It was also quite a testimony to God's greatness to those who were there that day:  the police officer, the doctors, the nurses, the patients and my father who was not pentecostal.  But dad knew the Lord raised me to life again, his very own flesh and blood was a miracle of God.  Thank you Jesus!

    Since my mother, Virginia Bentley, told me of my miracle I have always felt such a gratitude and wondered about my purpose in the kingdom of God.  Since that day the hand of God has always been on mine and my mother's life and for that I felt like I should write a book just to say, "Thank you Jesus! I love you Jesus! Today and everyday I live my life for you. Amen!--Cindie Stokes

-This scripture I dedicate to my mother-

        "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
            Proverbs 31:28