Monday, October 31st, 2011
Do you believe in angels? I do. In fact, I believe angels are all around us, invisible beings moving in the spiritual realm. For the most part, we—human beings moving in the physical realm—are oblivious to their presence. For the most part, I say, because occasionally we’re privileged to see proof of their existence.
My son and his girlfriend (now his wife) experienced an angel’s protection during an attempted robbery while they were ministering in Jamaica. They were sitting on a park bench when a would-be robber approached and pulled a gun from his pocket. A split second later, a stranger appeared out of nowhere. He planted himself between the kids and their assailant and struck up a conversation with the bad guy—in the native language, nonetheless. His actions enabled the kids to run. Moments later, when they felt it was safe, they stopped and looked back. They saw only one man—the robber. The stranger had vanished.
I have a few stories of my own. Here’s one that’s never been told publicly:
My husband and I lived in Nepal for three years. The first five months were spent on the outskirts of Kathmandu. One narrow motor road ran through the middle of the community. Diesel-spewing buses, battered taxis, and bulls traveled this route. A ditch—an open sewer about two feet deep and 18 inches across—lined one side of the road. With no sidewalks for pedestrians, we felt like we risked life and limb every time we walked from one place to another, especially after dark. One evening enroute to the wee restaurant where we ate our evening meals, the unthinkable happened: I fell into the ditch.
Yuck! This can’t be happening, I thought. God, help! Suddenly and without human explanation, I stood on the road, incredulous and grateful. And did I mention clean? Not a speck of human waste on me. Go figure.
Experience tells me that angels exist. So does Scripture: “Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will” (Psalm 103:20,21).
Too bad we don’t have goggles that allow us to see these spiritual beings. I have a hunch the view would stun us.
How about you? Do you have an angel account, too?
Photo courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: angel, angel's protection, angels, angels exist, invisible beings, spiritual realm
Posted in Devotionals | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom”! Please follow along through Christmas day as Melody Carlson, Lauraine Snelling, Rachel Hauck, Tricia Goyer, Maureen Lang, and more share their heartfelt stories of how God has touched their life during this most wonderful time of the year.
AND BEST OF ALL … there’s also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! You may enter once a day. The winner will be announced on New Year’s Day at the Pearl Girls Blog! Pearls – a tangible reminder of God’s grace to us all.
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The First Christmas
by Pat Ennis
It was October of my eighteenth year of life when my Dad stepped into eternity. As a college freshman I not only had to deal with my own grief, I also was faced with the responsibility of helping my mother adjust to a new lifestyle. You see, when Dad died, she not only lost her husband of thirty years, she also lost her circle of friends. Suddenly the married couples (my Dad was the first of their group to die) didn’t know what to do about Mother—so they did nothing. Her grieving process was actually extended because of the withdrawal of her friends, many with whom she and Dad had enjoyed fellowship for years.
Our plight was magnified by the reality that we did not have extended family and I was an only child. Quite frankly, the outlook for the holiday season appeared pretty dismal!
As the holidays approached our neighbors, who embraced a different faith than we, graciously invited us to share their Christmas celebration with them. The sincere invitation, their effort to fold us into their family, inclusion in the gift exchange, and intentional conversation that focused on recounting the blessings of the year as well as looking forward to the next turned what could have been a miserable day into one of joy. Of course we missed our husband and Dad but the focus on the Lord’s provision for us through the hospitality of our neighbors (Philippians 4:8-9, 19) soothed our grieving spirits.
I have a happy ending to my Mother’s loss of her circle of friends that I described at the beginning of this story! Ever the gracious southern hostess, she did not cease to extend hospitality because of the change in her marital status—in the five years that she lived beyond Dad’s death, we entertained frequently, and eventually our guest list included widows from the group that had earlier excluded my Mother. Though her arthritic condition precluded her engaging in as much of the food preparation as she was accustomed to doing, she continued to help me hone the skills that were second nature to her.
The loving hospitality extended to us on that first lonely Christmas served as a catalyst for Mom and me to open our home throughout the year—especially during the holiday season! Will you consider displaying biblical compassion by including some of the “others”—singles, widows, and the grieving in your holiday celebrations? Who, knows, you might be entertaining an angel incognito (Hebrews 13:2)!
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About Pat: Dr. Patricia Ennis, author of Precious in His Sight, the Fine Art of Becoming a Godly Woman, co-author of Practicing Hospitality, the Joy of Serving Others, and contributor to Pearl Girls, Experiencing Grit, Experiencing Grace as well as professor and establishing chairperson of the Department of Home Economics at The Master’s College. Visit Pat’s blog, Unfading Beauty for more information.
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A PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS will be given away on New Year’s Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!
12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info
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