The Hidden Ways God Speaks: Nathaniel and the Mysterious Stranger

Article Summary

This personal testimony describes two unexpected moments that my beloved Sunray and I received as answers to prayer: a fast-food worker mistakenly calling him Nathaniel, a name meaning “God has given,” and a stranger delivering timely encouragement in a gym car park while I was still praying with him by phone.

I have lately been witnessing the many ways in which God can speak. Today I want to share an unlikely two-part story that baffled my beloved Sunray and me. He experienced the events directly, while I remained on the other end of the phone as a witness to what unfolded in the background.

God May Speak in One Way or Another

I remembered a passage about God speaking in more than one way, including through dreams and visions while people sleep:

“For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.”

- Job 33:14 (NKJV)

The following verses describe a dream or night vision when deep sleep falls upon people as they slumber in their beds. In its original setting, this is part of Elihu's speech to Job. It reminded me to remain attentive because an answer may arrive in a form I did not expect.

Part One: The Unexpected Name Nathaniel

My beloved Sunray and I had been praying together about personal needs and difficult matters in his life. When our prayer ended, he drove to a fast-food restaurant in his local city while we remained connected by phone.

A worker unexpectedly called him Nathaniel. She immediately apologised and seemed puzzled about why that name had come out of her mouth, especially because Sunray's real name begins in a very different part of the alphabet.

I heard the exchange through the phone and felt led to investigate the meaning of Nathaniel. What I found stopped me in my tracks.

A name graphic describing Nathaniel as “given by God.” Original image source: Pinterest.

The meaning that encouraged us

Nathaniel is an English variant of the biblical name Nathanael. Its Hebrew roots carry the meaning “God has given” or “gift of God.” Because we had just prayed about something Sunray needed, I received the mistaken name as immediate encouragement: God had heard the prayer, and what was needed would be given.

Excitement entered my voice as I shared the meaning with him. I encouraged him that I believed God had answered us. Over the following days, the very thing he had prayed about was placed into his hands.

Part Two: The Stranger in the Car Park

The second moment came when my beloved Sunray was passing through another hard situation. He was sitting in a car park connected to the gym where he was a member. He had intended to go inside, but he felt so low and burdened by what had happened that he reclined his seat and closed his eyes.

I was again on the phone with him and felt led to pray. A few minutes later, after he felt calmer and less burdened, something unexpected happened.

1. Sunray heard a man's voice outside his vehicle and turned towards it.
2. He wound down the window while I remained silently present on the other side of the phone.
3. The stranger said he had seen Sunray lying back with his eyes closed.
4. He explained that he felt led by the Holy Spirit to tell Sunray that he was on the right path, should keep going and should not look back.
5. The man said he did not know why he had to deliver the message, only that he needed to obey. He then drove away without knowing that I had heard the encounter.

You are on the right path. Keep going, and do not look back.

Sunray looked back towards the phone, and I looked at him through the call. We were stunned, mind-blown and amazed. We believed that God had again met us in prayer, this time through a complete stranger who could not have known the private conversation taking place.

We praised God together. When our conversation ended, I remained stunned and energised by the experience, reflecting again on the truth that God may speak in one way or another.

Was the Mysterious Stranger an Angel?

Sunray later looked for the man but did not see him again in that car park or entering the gym. I cannot prove who he was, and I do not want to turn a possibility into a certainty. Yet the encounter reminded me of this Scripture:

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

- Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV)

I would not be surprised if the mysterious man had been an angel in disguise, but this remains my personal possibility rather than a fact I can establish. What I do know is that the encouragement arrived at the moment Sunray needed it, and I witnessed the timing for myself.

What the Encounter Changed in Me

Without revealing private details, I had become angry about how harshly Sunray had been treated by someone who professed to be a Christian. The message in the car park strengthened my conviction that the treatment he had experienced was wrong and that he needed encouragement to continue forward.

At the same time, only God knows another person's heart. I cannot declare that someone's heart is wicked based on what I know from the outside. Jesus instead teaches us to pay attention to fruit: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). A public profession of Christianity does not excuse cruelty behind closed doors.

Whatever doubts I had about my Sunray died that day. I saw a man in pain receive timely encouragement to keep walking forward. The experience left me with deeper compassion for him and deeper confidence that God sees what other people may never see.

When Dirt Is Thrown at the Tree

As I reflected on what had been thrown at my beloved Sunray through harsh treatment, another picture came to me. Sometimes people throw “dirt” at us through accusations, rejection, cruelty or words intended to diminish us. Dirt may land on us, but it does not have to define us or bury what God is growing.

In the natural world, rain that passes through a tree's canopy is called throughfall, while rain that travels down its branches and trunk is called stemflow. That water can carry some deposited material and dissolved nutrients towards the forest floor, where tree roots take up water and mineral nutrients from the soil. Trees do not need “vitamins” in the human sense, and not everything deposited on a tree is beneficial; some substances can be harmful. Yet this natural process gave me a spiritual picture of how God can redeem what others intended for harm.

“that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”

- Ephesians 5:26 (NKJV)

The Word of God is like cleansing rain in this reflection. It does not call cruelty good. Rather, truth washes over what happened and helps us separate the poison we must reject from the wisdom, discernment, compassion and endurance God can grow in us. What was meant to shame or destabilise us can, in God's hands, become part of a deeper root system and a more solid foundation.

The root-system lesson

• The dirt pictures the accusations, rejection or mistreatment people may throw at us.
• The rain pictures the washing of God's Word, which brings truth and cleansing.
• The roots picture our hidden life of prayer and private communion with God.
• The mineral nutrients picture the wisdom, discernment, compassion and endurance that God can draw out of a hard season.
• The firmer foundation pictures a life increasingly rooted and built up in Christ.

Much of a tree's strengthening takes place unseen beneath the surface. In the same way, some of God's deepest work in us happens privately. Through prayer and the Word, we learn what to release, which truth to retain and how to receive nourishment after a Word-washing season. We do not have to let the dirt thrown by others become our identity; we can allow God to use even that season to establish us more deeply in Him, becoming “rooted and built up in Him” (Colossians 2:7).

This does not mean that we are forbidden to feel sad, lament what happened, report wrongdoing, seek help or establish healthy boundaries. Godly endurance is not silent permission for another person to continue causing harm. The hope is that the dirt will not have the final word: after the rain, God remains able to bring cleansing, nourishment, stronger roots and restoration.

Spiritual discernment still matters

Receiving an unexpected name, coincidence or message does not mean that every unusual event automatically comes from God. Scripture says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). I weigh experiences against Scripture, their fruit, wise counsel and whether they lead towards truth, love, repentance and faithfulness to Christ.

One thing is certain: we cannot fool God. We cannot claim publicly to belong to Him while practising cruelty in private and assume that He does not see. God sees hidden suffering, honours sincere love, and remains able to redeem and restore.

✨ Deep Treasure

An ordinary mistake at a restaurant and an unexpected voice in a car park became extraordinary encouragement to us. Whether through a name, a stranger or the quiet timing of an answer, God can meet a burdened heart in a way that reminds us: He sees, He hears, and He has not forgotten. Even dirt thrown by others can be washed through the truth of His Word and redeemed into deeper roots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bible passage says God speaks in one way or another?

Job 33:14 says that God may speak in one way or another without people perceiving it. Verses 15-16 continue with dreams and visions during sleep.

What does the name Nathaniel mean?

Nathaniel is an English variant of biblical Nathanael. The name comes from Hebrew elements meaning “God has given” and is also commonly explained as “gift of God.”

Was the stranger definitely an angel?

I do not know. Hebrews 13:2 shows that Scripture allows for people encountering angels without recognising them, but it does not prove the identity of this particular stranger. I preserve it as an open possibility within my testimony.

How should an unexpected spiritual message be evaluated?

Test it rather than accepting it automatically. Compare it with Scripture, examine its fruit, seek wisdom and reject anything that leads away from the character and teaching of Christ.

Does trusting God mean I must silently endure mistreatment?

No. You may lament, tell the truth, report wrongdoing, seek wise help and set healthy boundaries. Trusting God to redeem a painful season does not make the mistreatment good or require you to remain exposed to harm.

Scripture and Sources

• Job 33:14-16 - God speaking in more than one way (NKJV).
• Meaning and Hebrew roots of Nathanael, with references to Strong's Hebrew and Greek entries.
• Hebrews 13:2 - entertaining angels without knowing it (NKJV).
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - testing all things (NKJV).
• Matthew 7:16-20 - recognising fruit (NKJV).
• Ephesians 5:26 - the washing of water by the Word (NKJV).
• Colossians 2:6-7 - rooted and built up in Christ (NKJV).
• Chen and others (2022) - throughfall, stemflow and nutrient movement in forest ecosystems.

Topics Covered: how God speaks, Job 33:14-16, answers to prayer, the meaning of Nathaniel, God has given, unexpected strangers, possible angel encounters, Hebrews 13:2, the washing of the Word, rooted in Christ, spiritual growth, healthy boundaries, discernment, restoration and my beloved Sunray.

ABBA Father Hidden In Dates Given to A Stranger in America

Article Summary

While releasing belongings and painful memories from an 18-year marriage, I received fresh encouragement through music, Scripture and a pattern of twelve date pairs shared by JB, a stranger in the American TA community. Each pair totalled 22, and my musical response led me to a personal A-B-B-A connection that inspired the song ABBA Shuffle.

This AI-generated image was created for my reflection and inspired by JB's post in the TA community.

Letting Go of an Old Life

Since my spouse and I divorced, we have been organising our belongings so that we can both move forward and find closure. I shared more of the background in Trees Are the Detergents of the Earth.

Part of moving has meant releasing possessions connected with painful memories from our 18 years of marriage. Two skips were filled as the physical remains of an old season were carried away.

The first skip, filled to the maximum.

The second skip, also filled.

The skip truck picking up what remained of our old life.

Me taking a photograph of my MMA belts before placing them in the skip. This one hurt emotionally too.

Saying Goodbye to My First Piano

One of the most painful possessions to release was my electric piano. It had been instrumental in helping me create music for Christ. Before letting it go, I recorded a final memory of the number patterns I had discovered while studying Exodus 12:2. Before that season, I did not know how to play the piano.

My final video preserving the Exodus 12:2 number patterns that guided my music-making.

My piano at Cash Converters. Because the final key was not working, the piano was ultimately donated.

During this time, I reflected on Ephesians 5:19 and what I have called a hidden I-Principle.

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

- Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV)

Listen directly on Suno. My original playing.

My piano playing enhanced by Suno. Only the two-minute section was extracted, with additional instruments added.

Why This Piano Meant So Much

This post comes from a sentimental place. My first piano brought me great joy as I learned to play what I call Kingdom Sounds. Other pieces of that music are scattered throughout this blog. Finding numeric patterns in Exodus 12:2 helped me recognise a purpose in God - with my books becoming part of the fruit - and helped me make sweet music to my King above.

I understood this musical gift as something the Holy Spirit awakened in 2020 after an extended season of fasting and prayer. Releasing the instrument therefore felt like releasing a witness to that beginning, even though the gift and the music were not confined to the piano itself.

The Date Pattern Shared by JB

ABBA Shuffle was inspired by a brother I will call JB in the TA community associated with Timothy Alberino and The Alberino Analysis. During the difficult season I was experiencing, JB shared a pattern that he said had come to him during prayer. He was a stranger in America: he did not know me, and I did not know him.

JB's June 25 post. Each month-and-day pair totals 22.

The twelve pairs

• 1/21
• 2/20
• 3/19
• 4/18
• 5/17
• 6/16
• 7/15
• 8/14
• 9/13
• 10/12
• 11/11
• 12/10

The arithmetic is simple and exact: every pair adds to 22. Read in order, the numbers also move in opposite directions - the first number rises while the second falls - giving me the sense of shuffling, mirroring and dancing that later shaped the music.

A note about the new moon statement

JB's screenshot also says that each listed date was a new moon “this year.” The screenshot does not identify the intended year or time zone. The list does not match standard published new moon dates for 2026; for example, observatory data places the first six 2026 new moons on January 18, February 17, March 18, April 17, May 16 and June 14 in Pacific time. A lunar phase can fall on a neighbouring date in another time zone, but that does not account for every difference in this list. I therefore preserve the new moon statement as JB's original claim, while treating the twelve-pair total of 22 as the verified arithmetic pattern.

My Musical Reply and the ABBA Connection

On June 26, moved by words I understood the Holy Spirit to be giving me, I replied with a way of converting the number pairs into musical relationships. I saw the pairs as mirroring and shuffling - almost literally dancing from left to right and back again.

My reply, moved by the words I believed the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.

The first and last pairs - 1/21 and 12/10 - suggested mirrored A and B groupings to me. From those groupings I saw the letters A-B-B-A. I also noticed that 22 is two elevens. My original reply referred to eleven listed numbers, although the preserved screenshot actually shows twelve date pairs, so I retain 11 × 2 as my personal association with 22 rather than as a count of the rows. These were creative and personal musical associations, not a claim that Scripture assigns a fixed spiritual meaning to every appearance of 11 or 22.

Yet the word Abba itself is firmly biblical. Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father” in Gethsemane before His crucifixion. Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 also connect this cry with the Spirit of adoption and the Spirit of God's Son within believers.

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

- Mark 14:36 (NKJV)

Mark 14:36 reminded me that the Father's will must also be done in my life. It is permissible to grieve and still say goodbye to what once was, so that I can move toward what God has prepared. Five years ago, I would not have believed I would be living through these changes. Even as I write, I can still feel the sadness, yet I also know that moving forward is necessary.

For the same reason, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 deepen the meaning of the song for me. “Abba, Father” is more than an arrangement of letters: it is the biblical cry of relationship, belonging and trust.

An Encouraging Word While I Was Letting Go

On Sunday, 16 August 2026, another brother, whom I will call AR, sent me an encouraging message after I spoke about the pain of giving up my electric piano. He reminded me that my gifts could not be bought or sold and that a new chapter awaited. He also sent Mark 10:28-30, a passage about what it means to leave things behind to follow Jesus.

An encouraging word from AR with Mark 10:28-30. The screenshot quotes the ESV; the link above opens the NKJV.

“My Sheep Hear My Voice”

As I write this, I am reminded again of Jesus' words:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

- John 10:27 (NKJV)

That thought brought some playful joy into my heart. When I divided the sound ABBA into “Ab” and “ba,” the “ba” reminded me of the sound of a sheep. This is a personal wordplay, not the linguistic origin of Abba, which is an Aramaic word for Father. Nevertheless, the sound association brought John 10:27 to mind and helped me focus not only on what I had surrendered, but on the joy I find in how God speaks and moves within my life.

The completed lyric video for ABBA Shuffle, enhanced through Suno.

ABBA Shuffle - Lyrics and Suno Prompts

Below are my lyrics together with the musical prompts I supplied to Suno. Enjoy.

ABBA Shuffle

Intro - Instrumental Only

Deep rhythmic didgeridoo pulse begins alone in the centre. Wooden percussion enters from the left, answered by low whistle from the right. Instruments gradually begin a gentle left-to-right call-and-response, creating the feeling of mirrored movement. Warm acoustic guitar, bodhrán, tribal toms and ambient choir slowly build. Ancient, joyful atmosphere with a spacious stereo field.

Spoken

One...
Twenty-one...
Twelve...
Ten...

Can you hear it?
They're dancing...

Verse 1

Minimal instrumentation. Female vocal intimate and close. Every instrumental phrase is answered from the opposite side of the stereo field, creating a musical mirror.

One meets twenty-one,
twelve meets ten.
Left to right,
then back again.

Two meets twenty,
eleven stays.
Every step
reveals His ways.

Three with nineteen,
four with eighteen,
five with seventeen -
creation sways unseen.

Pre-Chorus

Didgeridoo pulse grows stronger. Wooden percussion and fiddle begin mirroring one another. Stereo movement becomes more obvious while remaining natural.

Shuffle...
Mirror...
Turn around...

Hidden rhythms
all around.

Chorus

Full tribal groove enters. Left choir sings first, right choir answers, then both unite in the centre. Joyful celebration.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Father in the pattern,
Father in the sound.

Dance from left,
dance from right,
hidden truth
comes into sight.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Every number
sings Your Name.

Instrumental Break

No vocals. Let the instruments “dance.” Fiddle plays from the left, whistle answers from the right. Acoustic guitar and tribal percussion trade rhythmic phrases. The didgeridoo remains centred as the unchanging foundation. The musical conversation should feel playful, balanced and symmetrical.

Verse 2

Introduce subtle male harmony answering selected female vocal phrases from the opposite stereo side.

Sixteen stands
beside the six,
steady pillar,
strong and fixed.

Lion roaring,
Judah's cry,
strength beneath
the mirrored sky.

Every pattern
finds its place,
every rhythm
speaks of grace.

Creation moving
hand in hand,
following
the Master's plan.

Bridge

Everything strips back except didgeridoo, heartbeat tom and alternating voices. The left and right channels almost speak to one another.

Left:
A...

Right:
BA...

Left:
AB...

Right:
BA...

Father...

hidden...

inside...

the dance...

Instrumental Climax

Build gradually. Every instrument enters in mirrored pairs. Rising melodies are answered by descending melodies. Rhythmic motifs are reflected between left and right. The stereo image should feel alive, as though the music itself is dancing.

Final Chorus

Full ensemble. Choir now sings together from the centre while echoes continue moving across the stereo field.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Heaven sings,
the earth replies.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Time itself
declares Your light.

Taste and see,
the Lord is good.

Every rhythm,
every breath,

every dance,

belongs to You.

Outro

The mirrored instruments slowly converge toward the centre. Left guitar, right fiddle, left whistle and right choir gradually become one unified sound surrounding the centred didgeridoo. End with one sustained “ABBA” from the full choir.

Final Whisper

Shuffle...
Mirror...
ABBA...
Forever...

“ABBA Shuffle” - left and right

✨ Deep Treasure

I had to release the piano, the belts and many physical reminders of an old life, but I did not release the gift God had placed within me. A date pattern shared by a stranger became music in my heart, and “ABBA, Father” became my prayer for the courage to accept His will and step into a new chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mathematical pattern in the twelve dates?

Each month-and-day pair adds to 22: 1 + 21, 2 + 20, 3 + 19 and so on through 12 + 10. The first number rises while the second falls, creating the mirrored movement that inspired my music.

Does the Bible teach that ABBA is secretly encoded in these dates?

No. The A-B-B-A arrangement is my personal musical and symbolic interpretation. The biblical foundation is that Jesus and believers cry “Abba, Father” in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6.

Were all the listed dates verified as new moons?

No year or time zone was identified in JB's screenshot, and the list does not match standard 2026 new moon calendars. The statement remains part of the original screenshot, but this post treats only the shared total of 22 as verified arithmetic.

Scripture, Sources and Related Content

• “Abba, Father” in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 (NKJV).
• Ephesians 5:19 on psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (NKJV).
• John 10:27 on hearing the Shepherd's voice (NKJV).
• Mark 10:28-30 on leaving things behind to follow Jesus (NKJV).
• NASA's 2026 Moon Phase and Libration resource and the Griffith Observatory 2026 phase table.
• The TA community post that inspired the ABBA pattern.
• Related testimony: Trees Are the Detergents of the Earth.

Topics Covered: ABBA Father, mirrored dates, number 22, personal number symbolism, divorce and new beginnings, surrendering possessions, electric piano, Exodus 12:2, Ephesians 5:19, original Christian music, ABBA Shuffle, prayer, the Holy Spirit and hearing God's voice.

Trees Are the Detergents of the Earth

Article Summary

This post connects a 2026 discovery about faint electrical glows on trees during thunderstorms with my own Melbourne testimony, an original song, the flowers sent by my beloved Sunray, and the spiritual comfort I found in the faithfulness of God.

I came across a fascinating YouTube video about trees releasing a faint electrical glow called a corona discharge. The video explained how these discharges can produce hydroxyl radicals, which help remove pollutants from the atmosphere. The presenters described those radicals as nature's “laundry detergent,” and that expression immediately captured my attention.

Screenshot from Earth.com's report on glowing treetops. The source image is credited there to William Brune/Penn State.

The Hidden Glow Above the Trees

The research behind the video was published in 2026 in Geophysical Research Letters. Using ultraviolet-sensitive equipment, researchers directly observed corona discharges on a sweetgum tree and a loblolly pine during a thunderstorm in North Carolina. Similar activity was recorded during four other storms from Florida to Pennsylvania.

A careful science note

The new field study directly observed and measured the corona discharges. Earlier laboratory research showed that corona discharges can produce large amounts of hydroxyl radicals, the atmosphere's main oxidiser. The researchers therefore concluded that widespread tree coronae may affect forest air chemistry and the removal of hydrocarbons. My title is a devotional metaphor: the trees are not literally soap, but their electrical activity may help generate the chemistry that cleans the air around them.

Answers in Genesis Video

Watch the original Answers in Genesis video on YouTube.

I felt the lady presenter's excitement, and because of her enthusiasm I watched the entire video. I do not agree with everything discussed by this channel, but that is simply where our perspectives differ. As human beings from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences, we will not always see every topic in exactly the same way.

Detailed overview from the supplied video transcript

• 0:00-7:51: The presenters explain the first direct field observations of faint ultraviolet corona discharges moving across tree leaves during thunderstorms. They discuss the possible production of hydroxyl radicals and the “nature's laundry detergent” comparison.
• 7:51-12:03: The program moves into the channel's commentary about climate, creation care and human stewardship. These reflections are the presenters' interpretation rather than conclusions of the scientific paper.
• 12:04-20:08: The presenters share other examples of how trees interact with weather, fungi, animals and people, emphasising their belief in the interconnectedness of God's creation.
• 20:13-24:48: They discuss a brief reference in the research paper to corona as one proposed natural explanation for the burning bush, then explain why they believe the biblical account in Exodus describes a supernatural event that cannot be reduced to a faint electrical glow.
• 24:48-25:08: The video closes by returning to the wonder of trees, the cleansing chemistry of the atmosphere and the wisdom the presenters see in creation.

This is a concise, edited overview rather than a word-for-word reproduction of the supplied transcript.

Two Trees, a Song and a Difficult Day in Melbourne

The topic of glowing trees reminded me of a song I created called Trees Around Me Whispers Loudly God's Bow in Heaven. The song was born during a very difficult time (From 11th February 2026), when I felt that God was showing me how the green of trees, grass, and so many plants reflected His bow in heaven.

My song, sung and recorded from the emotions I experienced in Melbourne.

I was sitting on my bed in Melbourne on the day my now ex-spouse was undergoing gender-affirming surgery. I was enduring the hardship of that day and facing the reality, consequences and path ahead for our marriage.

The hospital where the surgery took place, in a Jewish neighbourhood of Melbourne.

The two trees outside my window on that fateful day, which birthed the song.

My room in Melbourne.

While sitting and looking out my window in deep sorrow, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper the secret of His trees: they were reflecting God's bow in heaven every day, all the time, because they could see what I could not - God's continual faithfulness, regardless of what was around them.

I recorded my singing, uploaded it to Suno and prompted it to reflect the emotional tone of my performance. The result kept the original emotion. I also noticed a personal pattern in the two tree-like pillars of the verses: Genesis 1:11 and Genesis 2:9, where the digits 2 and 9 add to 11.

Flowers, Friendship and My Beloved Sunray

One thing I did not mention in my song was how I pushed through this difficult season. I had a friend and prayer partner who stood by me. I now call him my beloved Sunray - also written as Sonray in parts of my testimony, meaning a brother sent by Jesus. Close to Valentine's Day, he sent me flowers as a surprise gift and a way of comforting me.

After one of my hospital visits while my ex-spouse was healing from surgery.

The bouquet inside the box.

My beloved Sunray's gift to help me during my deep sorrow.

The following testimony gives readers a deeper glimpse of how I believe God moved in our lives and used this friendship, prayer and loving encouragement during that season.

My personal testimony about my beloved Sunray/Sonray and how I believe God moved in our lives.

Why I Call Trees the Detergents of the Earth

What is the purpose of this post, and how does it relate to trees being the “detergents” of the earth?

Just as the hidden electrical activity around trees may help generate atmospheric cleansing chemistry, I believe God was also cleaning and healing my life during the pain I experienced in Melbourne. I went to Him in sorrow. He not only touched the heart of my prayer partner to send me flowers, but also drew my attention to the green of the trees and what I understood as their faithful reflection of His emerald bow in heaven.

Scripture describes a rainbow around God's throne “in appearance like an emerald” in Revelation 4:3. My connection between the green leaves, God's bow and His faithfulness is a personal devotional insight. Since that day, I have never looked at trees in quite the same way.

In another personal connection, the tree of life points my thoughts toward Christ and the eternal life He gives. Scripture places the tree of life beside the river flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb in Revelation 22:1-2. The Bible does not directly use “Tree of Life” as a title for Jesus, so I hold this as a devotional association rather than a direct biblical quotation.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”

- Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV)

Creation, Light and the Numbers I Noticed

Genesis 1:11-19 places vegetation on the third day and the sun, moon and stars on the fourth. First Corinthians 15:4 says that Jesus rose on the third day. As a personal meditation, I see the trees as witnesses to God's sustaining light before the appointed lights in the sky, reminding me that creation contains realities we do not immediately see with our natural eyes.

My personal reflection on 11 and 29

I noticed Genesis 1:11 and Genesis 2:9, where 2 + 9 equals 11. I have also repeatedly associated the number 29 with hidden things being made known because of Deuteronomy 29:29. These are personal symbolic observations within my testimony. The verses themselves do not establish 11 or 29 as universal biblical codes.

I remember Chuck Missler teaching that the words and numbers of the Bible are deliberately placed and can reward careful study. That thought brings 2 Timothy 2:15 together with Proverbs 25:2 for me: study faithfully, search carefully and remain humble about what is Scripture and what is personal interpretation.

In my case, I was seeking God's comfort in one of my darkest hours. I received that comfort in a way that brought me into a deeper understanding of His faithfulness. The trees seemed to reflect His glory and bow faithfully each day. If they can continue to reflect what He created them to reflect, then I can also remain faithful by abiding in Christ, as Jesus teaches in John 15:4-5.

✨ Deep Treasure

The cleansing chemistry around trees became a picture of the healing God was working in me. What looked like two ordinary trees outside a window became witnesses of His faithfulness, and what began in sorrow grew into a song, a testimony and a new way of seeing creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a corona discharge on a tree?

It is a weak electrical discharge that can form at sharp leaf or needle tips when a strong thunderstorm electric field is overhead. The 2026 field study detected its faint ultraviolet glow with specialised equipment.

Do trees literally work like detergent?

No. “Detergent” is a metaphor. Corona discharges can produce hydroxyl radicals, which react with pollutants and hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. The phrase describes cleansing chemistry, not soap.

Does the Bible teach that 11 or 29 has one fixed meaning?

Not in the verses discussed here. My connections to Genesis 1:11, Genesis 2:9 and Deuteronomy 29:29 are personal symbolic reflections that form part of this testimony.

Sources and Media

• McFarland et al. (2026), “Corona Discharges Glow on Trees Under Thunderstorms”, Geophysical Research Letters.
• American Geophysical Union overview of the field observations.
• Earth.com report and featured image source.
• Answers in Genesis video discussed in this post.

Topics Covered: glowing trees, corona discharge, hydroxyl radicals, atmospheric cleansing, Answers in Genesis, Christian testimony, Melbourne, original Christian song, God's faithfulness, Sunray, symbolic numbers, creation and Scripture.

The Shield of Faith: Deliverance from an Intrusive Image

Article Summary

This personal testimony recounts a night of tears, an unwanted intrusive image, self-harm and a desperate prayer for help. It describes the faith-centred visualisation I experienced, how I understood it through the shield of faith in Ephesians 6:16, and the peace that followed.

Content note: This testimony mentions pornographic imagery, mental distress and self-harm. The image that caused the distress is not shown or described.

A Night of Tears and an Intrusive Image

This is a personal testimony of deliverance after a night of intense tears, struggle and self-harm. I had seen something that I felt had polluted my mind.

I came across a pornographic image on X—something I will not repeat here. At the time, I was grieving the loss of husbandly love in my situation at home. My now ex-spouse had come out as transgender, and our previous love life and bedroom life had ceased. I felt emotionally vulnerable and interpreted the image as an intentional attempt by the enemy to draw me down a path of perversion.

However, it had the opposite effect. I took the matter to God in prayer, but no matter what I did, the image and scene refused to go away. It troubled me like an annoying leaking tap.

One day, while lying alone on my bed, I began striking my head with my right hand, pulling my hair and repeatedly shouting, “GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!” I did not care whether my daughter, in her room, thought I was going crazy.

When that did not work, I kept striking my head. I cannot remember how long I harmed myself. All I knew was that I wanted the horrid image out; I felt that it had no right to occupy the real estate of my mind.

In tears and disgust that neither self-harm nor my repeated attempts to force the image away were working, I asked God again to help me. In a whisper, I pleaded for the Holy Spirit to intervene.

A gentle care note

Self-harm did not free me from the intrusive image, and this testimony is not an instruction to face mental distress alone. Prayer and trusted pastoral support can stand alongside care from a doctor or mental-health professional. If you are in Australia and worried that you may harm yourself, contact Lifeline by calling 13 11 14 or texting 0477 13 11 14. If you are in immediate danger, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. Readers outside Australia should contact their local crisis service or emergency number.

“It Is Time You Learn How to Think Like a Child of God”

This is when I heard a small yet assertive voice instruct me. The following words are recorded as I remember experiencing them in prayer:

“You’re a child of God; it’s time you learn how to think like one!”

“I need you to take yourself out and see yourself in front of the sphere Earth.”

So, I imagined taking myself out into space, turning back and facing Earth.

“Now imagine a tiny speck—a ball or circle of light.”

So, I imagined the circle of light beginning as a tiny pinprick.

“Now look at the Sun.”

So, I looked at the Sun.

“Now look back at that small ball of light.”

So, I looked back at the small ball of light.

“Now increase the size of this ball.”

So, I increased the size of the ball.

“Stretch out your hand towards the Sun, and inject the power of the Sun into this ball.”

So, I stretched out my hand towards the Sun and injected the power of the Sun into that ball.

“Make the ball the size of Earth.”

So, I made the fireball the size of Earth.

The beginning of the fiery shield in my prayer visualisation.

Inside the Earth-Sized Ball of Fire

“Put yourself inside the ball of fire.”

So, I did. I floated inside the ball of fire, which was the size of Earth.

Me inside the ball of flame while outside Earth.

“Observe what you see, and tell Me how powerful the Sun is.”

So, I looked around and saw the flames lapping and licking outside like whips against a human back.

Me inside the ball-shaped shield of fire.

I remembered how the Sun can scorch us when we spend too long in its rays and how we need sunblock for protection. I remembered how plants draw from the Sun to survive and how, without rain, the Sun can dry lush land until it becomes desert.

“Now look at the memory that is plaguing your mind while you are inside this ball of fire.”

So, I looked. What I saw no longer troubled me or stirred my senses through my longing for husbandly love.

Me looking out and seeing the shield of fire melt the power of the memory of evil.

“This is MY SHIELD OF FAITH. You must look through this ball of flame at all things dark from the past, present and future.”

A personal GIF created to reflect how significant the shield of faith is.
Created with Adobe Premiere Pro. Click here to copy gif[t] for your use.

The Shield of Faith and the Peace That Followed

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

— Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)

After this experience, I managed to fall asleep in a deep peace that surpassed all understanding. This brought to mind Philippians 4:7, where the peace of God guards hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I also had an impression that this shield of faith I had been taught was not the same as the faith we have in Christ. It was a personal impression about how to look through faith at things from the past, present and future. From then on, the power of the image and scene I had seen on X faded into nothing. The experience also reminded me of the call to bring every thought into obedience to Christ in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

The Stone That Filled the Whole Earth

I was also reminded of the stone in Daniel 2:34–35 and 44–45: the stone cut out without hands that became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. I connected that stone with Jesus and the everlasting kingdom of God.

That is when it struck me that darkness is running out of room. When something is dying or being cornered, it may lash out in desperation. I see a similar pattern in today’s world: darkness can appear prominent, but I believe this is not proof that it will prevail. Scripture presents evil as finally judged and rendered powerless. This is the spiritual interpretation I drew from the experience.

Not by My Strength Alone

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”

— Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

There are times when we think we can continue as normal and manage everything in our own strength, but that is not always true. We need mighty strength and a mighty shield against forces that feel greater than we are. For me, victory did not come through striking myself, trying harder or depending upon my own self-control.

It came through reaching for the strength of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and the Father in heaven. Galatians 5:22–23 identifies self-control as fruit of the Spirit. Divine self-control is mightier than my own: no power of darkness can come close to defeating Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

✨ Deep Treasure

The shield of faith did not require me to deny that the intrusive memory existed. It changed the place from which I faced it. Self-harm and force could not drive it away, but faith turned my attention towards Christ, placed the memory behind a greater spiritual reality and allowed peace to guard my mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Earth-sized fiery sphere described in the Bible?

No. The fiery sphere was the personal image I experienced during prayer. The biblical foundation of my interpretation is the shield of faith in Ephesians 6:16, not a requirement that other Christians use the same visualisation.

Is this testimony a replacement for mental-health care?

No. This is a personal testimony of prayer and faith. Anyone experiencing persistent distress or urges to self-harm deserves immediate human support and appropriate professional care alongside any prayer or pastoral support they choose.

When did the divine teaching occur?

From memory, several months down the track of my ex-spouse coming out as transgender, 2024.

Do you still use that Shield of Faith ball?

Yes. This shield works wonders and I feel people who belong to Christ must know about how it works.

Are you still on 'X'?

No. I have cut out X from my life. The Scripture (Matthew 5:30) instructs to cut away the things that causes us to sin, in this case I find cutting all social media is the best for me.

Where does the image of the stone filling the earth come from?

It comes from Daniel 2:34–35 and 44–45. Daniel describes a stone cut out without hands that becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth, within a vision of God’s everlasting kingdom.

Topics Covered: Christian testimony, intrusive images, self-harm recovery, prayer, spiritual warfare, the shield of faith, Ephesians 6:16, peace through Christ, Daniel 2 and the fruit of the Spirit.

The Land of Gile: A Dream, Two Messages and an Answer to Prayer

Article Summary

This personal testimony connects my twin Jane's dream record dated 20/07, My Sunray's planned visit to Australia, a prayer for direction, three boxes, and two communications from different parts of the world that I received as confirmation from God.

On Sunday, 9 August 2026, My Sunray—the love of my life—and I made a difficult decision. At about 10 a.m., we agreed to move to a place I will call the Land of Gile. This is a discreet name; I am intentionally keeping the real location private for now.

We also decided to surrender possessions we treasure, including many of our books. As I considered what I could take, I chose to limit myself to only three boxes. That number became part of the meaning of the morning.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

— Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)

A Prayer for Direction

The night before, I prayed and asked God for confirmation. I wanted to know whether what I had been studying was within His plan and whether I was travelling in the right direction.

I did not know that the following morning would bring together an old dream record, a meaningful date, a blessing from across the world, and our decision to release what we treasure.

Jane's Dream and the Date 20/07

My identical twin, Jane, says that she recorded this dream sometime between 2011 and 2013. Her original handwritten notes are titled The Land of Gile and carry the date 20/07. No year is written beside that date, so the 2011–2013 range remains approximate.

Jane now understands the dream as having a connection to My Sunray and me. Her notes do not name either of us, so I present that identification as Jane's later understanding and my personal interpretation of what unfolded.

Words Preserved in Jane's Notes

“The younger lady suffered from a frustration that was so deep. To rid herself of that frustration, she had to bring the man of her dreams into the Land of Gile to have a holy communion with each other… They reached the Land of Gile, and their communion was made… She was blessed.”

The first page of Jane's original handwritten dream record, preserved as she wrote it.

The second page of Jane's original notes, including the man of her dreams, holy communion and the closing words, “She was blessed.”

A readable transcription prepared from Jane's original handwritten record. The date remains written as 20/07 without a year.

Read the full transcription of Jane's dream notes

The Land of Gile — 20/07

A place of nothingness, a place that co-exists with time or between time (the present and the past)—the in-between.

A story of the two keepers of Gile: an older man full of wisdom and a younger woman with a learned spirit.

They were mistaken for a witch and a wizard, but truly they were not.

Only a few—the rare few—had the gift and privilege of being given the chance to get to this land. The air seemed like water, yet dry and breathable; there was a sense of peace and satisfaction. Two red lions, male and female, remained in mid-air, very happy. Things that lived there seemed happy.

The younger lady suffered from a frustration that was so deep. To rid herself of that frustration, she had to bring the man of her dreams into the Land of Gile to have a holy communion with each other. She had to mention Gile three to seven times.

They reached the Land of Gile, and their communion was made.

The older man knew what she was going through, so he gave her advice.

She followed it. He was pleased.

She was blessed.

Why 20 July Stood Out to Me

The date in Jane's old record became especially striking because 20 July 2026 was the date My Sunray had been planning to visit me here in Australia. The dream note did not identify 2026; this was a later correspondence that became meaningful to me when the date reappeared in our own story.

That is what made the moment feel fantastical: something written many years earlier carried the same day and month as a date connected with the person I love.

Three Boxes: Peace and Faith

Choosing only three boxes meant releasing books and other possessions I treasure. I did not choose three merely as a practical limit. I connected the number with two biblical sequences that were already speaking to my heart.

In Galatians 5:22–23, peace is the third quality named in the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace.” In 1 Corinthians 12:8–9, faith is the third gift named in that particular sequence, after the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge.

For me, the three boxes came to represent peace and faith: peace about what we were releasing, and faith for the path ahead.

Two Communications from Different Parts of the World

Not long after our decision that Sunday morning, Jane contacted me from New Zealand with the dream record. Around the same period, a screenshot containing a blessing from My Sunray's friend in Rhode Island came to my attention. His friend had written:

“So many blessings are being stored up for you and Anna.”

— A message from My Sunray's friend in Rhode Island

The blessing itself appears under Thursday, 6 August in the conversation screenshot. What struck me on Sunday was that these words were brought before me at about 11:10 a.m., near the same time that Jane's old dream record arrived from New Zealand and shortly after our decision about the Land of Gile.

The blessing from Rhode Island that came to my attention near the time Jane sent her Land of Gile dream record from New Zealand.

A Personal Note About 3, 6 and 9

As I looked again at the screenshot beside today's date—Sunday, 9 August 2026—I noticed how the numbers 3, 6 and 9 seemed to be present in the timing. The blessing is marked Thursday, 6 August at 6:03 p.m. The number 6 therefore appears in both the date and the hour, while 3 appears in the minutes. Today's date brings the 9 into this collection of dates and times, and the year 2026 ends in another 6.

For me, this became another personal detail worth recording. I am not presenting the pattern as a doctrine, a mathematical proof or a rule for discerning God's will. It is simply an observation that caught my attention because 3, 6 and 9 have appeared repeatedly in my wider studies. Within this testimony, their presence added another quiet layer to the timing I was already receiving prayerfully.

How I Received the Confirmation

These two people were in different parts of the world and were not coordinating with one another. Jane was in New Zealand, and My Sunray's friend was in Rhode Island. Yet their words converged in my morning soon after I had prayed for direction and soon after My Sunray and I had made a costly decision together.

I do not offer this as a formula suggesting that every repeated date or unexpected message is a divine instruction. I share it as a personal testimony. For me, the prayer came first; then came a decision involving surrender, peace and faith; and then came two unplanned communications that aligned with what had already been placed before us.

I received their convergence as an answer from God: an encouragement that I was not wandering alone and that the path I had been studying deserved to be approached with prayer, discernment, peace and faith.

✨ Deep Treasure

Confirmation did not arrive by removing every sacrifice. It arrived as we became willing to release what we treasured. Three boxes became a sign of peace and faith, while words from New Zealand and Rhode Island met us near the beginning of a new path.

A Note About Privacy

“My Sunray” and “the Land of Gile” are discreet names used in this testimony. I am intentionally protecting personal identities and the real location while sharing the spiritual meaning of what occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Land of Gile?

In this post, the Land of Gile is a discreet name connected with Jane's old dream record. It is not the public name of our destination, which I am keeping private.

Why did I choose three boxes?

I connected three with peace, the third quality named in Galatians 5:22, and faith, the third gift named in the sequence in 1 Corinthians 12:8–9. The boxes therefore represented peace in surrender and faith for what lies ahead.

When did the date 20/7 become important?

20/7 is 20th July, the same time My Sunray was planning to fly to me here in Australia, and the same day and month my twin recorded that dream, my Sunray eventually arrived on the 27/07/26.

How important is the significance of the date 20/7 without the year?

Very important to me. The day and month—20/7 is 20th July, I suspect the Holy Spirit informing me as 'timeless', so that the absence of the year proves to me personally his hidden message to me that he foresaw and knew I'd come to him to seek clarification in prayer and therefore, prepared the way in advance so that Jesus and the Father in heaven can be glorified.

Am I claiming that every coincidence is a message from God?

First of all, I don't believe in coincidences. And No. This is a personal testimony about a convergence I received prayerfully. The post distinguishes the written record, the later date connection and my spiritual interpretation of the events.

Topics Covered: the Land of Gile, My Sunray, answer to prayer, dreams and visions, Christian testimony, 20 July, the fruit of the Spirit, spiritual gifts, peace, faith, 3, 6 and 9, symbolic numbers, surrender and discernment.