True is My Life

My name is Leslie Pratt and I am 59 years old.   I live in a small town called South Bank just outside Middlesbrough, which is in the U/K I also am a caretaker of a woman called Margaret; who is also my very dear and trusted friend.

On 13-10-1998 I had a vision of Jesus Christ in a dream.   It was only a matter of a few seconds long.   I saw his head, face and shoulders.   He looked me straight in the eyes; and smiled not saying anything; then his face just faded away.   After seeing what I had just witnessed, I looked at the clock in the bedroom and it was exactly 3 o'clock on that Tuesday morning.   Suddenly the strangest thing happened!

Margaret, the lady I assist, was still sound asleep.   I got out of my bed and made my way down the stairs.   I made myself a 9-pint pot of tea then sat down in my chair in the front room looking at the clock again it was 10 past three.   I sat there and wondered what had just taken place; when suddenly with no reason, I got out of my chair and walked into the back room with a sketchpad and pencil.

I sat down at the table and began to draw the outline of the vision I had just dreamed of Jesus Christ.   I never had even considered doing artwork at all, much less drawing, and to draw a face of a vision was beyond me.   When Margaret, after waking up, came to where I was sketching on the pad the first thing she said was, "That is Jesus!"

It seemed like a fictionally story as I described the events of the minutes before.   She left and I continued to draw.   It only took me ten minutes to finish the face of Jesus.   I wrote on the bottom of the paper OUR LORD A VISION IN MY DREAM and my name, then dated it the 14-10-1998.

Not realizing the importance at that time, at the age of 54 there had not been much in my life that scared me, but what I experienced made me think very seriously about life.   I framed the drawing to protect it.

I began to tell others about the event and asked family members their opinion.   The next day I walked up to the library, located then checked out a copy of "The Good News Bible".   After returning, I made myself a pot of tea, sat on the sofa and I started reading from the beginning of the Old Testament.   I never thought even to this day that I would ever be reading a Bible; even though I prayed all through my life.   The strangest thing was the more I read, the harder it was for me to put the Bible down.

Then as I got up to go into the back kitchen to make another pot of tea, I had a strong feeling someone was looking at me! After I sat down again to read, the feeling seemed to be stronger.   I don't know why I did it at that point, but I looked up at the drawing of Jesus and his eyes seemed to be looking straight at me.   I told myself it's only a pencil drawing.   But then I walked around the room keeping my eye on the drawing.   That's when the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.   He was still looking at me!

When Margaret, and her daughters, Sharmain and Samantha, who had already given me their opinion on how strange and incredible it all was, suggested I get advice from their church friend Noelenes' minister; I considered the idea since I was anxious to find answers.

Her Pastor said I had been a very honored man, for there are few people, who''ve had a vision such as the one I experienced.   Then Noelene said to me, "Les, I want you to say these words after me." I then repeated the sinners' prayer after Noelene.   "Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner.   I believe that you died and rose from the dead to save me from my sins.   I want to be with you forever.   Forgive me for all the sins I have committed against you.   I open my heart to you and ask you to come into my heart and life to be my personal savior, Amen.

As time passed, I continued to draw and paint pictures, a thing I never experienced before this time in my life.   I questioned these new talents.   I considered the way it happened, how quickly I picked up drawing and how the paintings were obviously a gift from the Lord and that he has something for me to do with these new talents.   Then as I was sitting on the sofa and started reading the Bible again, it was not until I looked up at the drawing of Jesus that I started thinking about when I was in foster care.   The way people used to give money for the children to go on holidays and also gifts at Christmas time; at that moment knowing what I must try to do! I was to give some of my drawings and paintings to help children, help the sick and help people in need.   At that time I was able and went and bought a dozen frames putting six of the drawings of birds I had painted into them.

When Margaret returned I asked her if she wanted to have a run down town so I could give six of my bird pictures into one of the charity shops.   Upon our arrival in town we walked along New Port Road because there are a few charity shops there.   I chose the Oxfam Shop and the proprietor gladly took the paintings on consignment and set them up on the shelves for sale.

At home again I began to read my Bible again and got another idea about charities.   I then called a church to donate some of the artwork to their work.   Upon my arrival I began to explain to the woman there what had taken place, and she recommended that I write a novel about the entire event.   I then asked her if she knew about someone that could explain the visions to me.

Arriving at home I began to read again when I got a call from another reverend that would explain the vision to me.   So I explained some of it and the answer was that he asked if I thought the vision was only for me.   He said that there were a lot of holes in the story, this happened even after he saw the pictures.   When he left I began to wonder about the vision and the gifts I had been given because he was so negative.   He prayed with me and I would go visit his church and tell the dream on the Wednesday when they were preparing for a sale.   I went alone that next Sunday morning after not entering a church for 40 years.

When I arrived I saw a statue of Jesus on the cross.   A feeling came over me and I cried like a baby.   I returned home and opened my Bible again and read the story about if the Lord comes to you in a vision you should shout it from the rooftops, or go to a meeting place.   So the Jumble sale was coming like a rummage sale, and I donated some pictures and told my vision.   Upon finishing it all they had a look of surprise on their faces when I finished, so then saying good night to them all, I went back home.

The following day I came upon another story it was about when Jesus told his Disciples to go out and preach the Word of God he also told them if no one listened or believed them to walk out of that town or village kicking the dust from their feet then go on to the next town or village it also says that your own family won't believe what you saying also the place where you come from will not believe ether.   After reading that it made me wonder about all the people who I have told about my vision and the way they reacted as if they did not believe me including my own family.

It was a couple of days later when Veronica, Margaret's daughter, came down with her family so I began to tell her about the vision.   As I began to tell her I again became emotional for no reason I could figure out.   To my surprise and delight Veronica said, "Well He must have something for you to do in the future" Then her daughter Ann Marie asked me if I had done anymore, drawings? I showed Ann Marie, and Michael, Veronicas children, the new drawings which I had done, and when they looked at them they commented on the noticeable improvements my art proved, they said, "You are getting better granddad!"

The following day was Sunday and I went to church again and took more artwork with me.   It was an anointing service and I did go up and was anointed with oil and was prayed for.   I followed them and then knelt down after being anointed and offered more of my art at the next sale meeting.   Much has taken place since then some positive and some not.   But I will continue to search for the reasons and purpose Jesus has for my life.

I am still doing the drawings and painting and am having the book I wrote edited for publication.

I noticed many things having to do with numbers during this and that they appear to have some relevance to all that I have experienced.   I will continue to wait on the Lord for more answers from him and continue to do the artwork and writing.

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