A Letter to You from Your Guardian Angel July 23, 2009

A Love Letter

By Angela Posey-Arnold

Greetings to you, my charge, in the name of The Lord our God and Creator Who lovingly assigned me to you. There are just a few things we need to clear up. I suppose it is odd for you to get a letter from me, your Guardian Angel, but I can’t wait any longer to serve this message to you.

I bring glorious good tidings of great joy. It is in my job description. I know you can’t see me but you know I am there. Remember just last week you felt my presence? Yes, that was me, sent by God to comfort and protect you. I am always with you. Possibly you know my work.

I want you to know that I am not in the little golden pin you see on lapels throughout your culture. I am surely not a trumpet toting porcelain figurine on the coffee table.  

I am a messenger and a protector for you. Everything I do is by command of God. I am very old according to your standards and I have been there with you through every trail and every joy. I was there to hear your borning cry and I will be there the day you leave earth. I am fascinated with you.

Be confident of the daily care and protection I was created for. You are the reason God sent me. But, make no mistake about it; God is the One worthy of worship. It makes me very uncomfortable when humans set us angels higher than we should be. Your worship and all your love must remain with God lest you be deceived.

Sometimes I ponder as you go about your daily business if you really know me or what it is you think of me. So many years have rolled by and I am concerned that you truly must understand who I am and why God created me. I want you to know God’s truth about angels. God is sovereign, only Him do we worship. You worship Him and I worship Him. I want you to know me because I will be a part of your eternal environment.

I am eternal and I am always pointing you in the right direction-toward God. Remember how we sang when Jesus was born. We were pointing you to Him then.

As an angel I already know the fullness of heaven. Someday, my beloved, you will experience it with me. Angels do God’s perfect will and we do so gladly. You can find everything you need to know about me in God’s Holy Word. Don’t pray to me, pray to Him. And for heaven’s sake don’t set me up as an idol. Talk about uncomfortable—that really gets under my wings. I am just a ministering spirit sent to serve the redeemed.

Some humans see us from time to time and some do not. As wonderful as it would be to be visible in your presence God has given you something better. He has given you the greatest gift of all. His absolute presence through His Holy Spirit.

I am far more involved in your world than you realize. That is why I am writing this letter. I want you to know me and the amazing things God’s Word tells you about me and my kind. Reading and meditating on His Word will bring you closer to Him, and that is what I want for you. His Word has over 300 references to my kind. We know He loves us and created us for a very special purpose.

When you die you will not be an angel. You will still be the redeemed. You will have songs to sing that we can’t sing, but we rejoice with you. Some humans may criticize you for believing in me, but don’t let that worry you one bit. You are in better company than they are.

Oh, and don’t be like those Sadducees. They really were ‘sad you see’. We all know what happened to them and they did not believe in us. We watched as the apostles were brought before the no-such-thing-as-angels crowd. Those Sadducees spurned angels; they also dropped from history within a generation. The imprisoned apostles simply obeyed God’s message delivered by none other than yours truly. They changed history’s course forever.

I love Matthew 25:31 “when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him,” Actually, I can’t wait for this day and we are in constant preparation. You should be too.

In closing, my beloved, remember to worship and pray to God. Only the Creator is worthy of worship, not the created. Prepare for the coming again of your Savior Jesus Christ and listen to the Holy Spirit within you. I will be with you. I think you are wonderful.

Angel kisses from heaven,

Your Guardian Angel

The Hole in Your Soul June 24, 2009

Faith Fills the Hole in Our Soul

Hebrews 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).

Have you ever read this chapter of Hebrews? I counted the word faith 24 times in this one chapter. Paul illustrates historical examples of how faith worked in the lives of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Faith brought down the walls of Jericho and closed the mouths of lions. Faith in Jehovah God can set you free. Faith can make you whole.

Faith works the same way today as it did in the days of Daniel. Can you imagine the faith of Shadrach, Meschak and Abednego? Three Hebrew children, who would not worship the King but held tight to their devotion to Jehovah, were cast into a fiery furnace. They were not burned. When we pray, we are demonstrating faith that God is there and that He hears our prayers.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Without faith what hope is there? Hope is the trust that God indeed loves us and answers our prayers. Without hope there is only doubt, fear and despondency. Consider those who are lost and outside of God’s protection. It is a dismal consideration. Without Jesus Christ there is only hopelessness. Some may put their trust and hope in other people or in money but a hope placed in these can only bring disappointment and grief. Men may disappoint and desert you, but God never will. He is always there. When we need Him He carries us when we can’t even walk. Sometimes, the things of this life are overwhelming. Without hope, faith and trust in Him, how can we possibly hope?

Faith is the knowledge that life on earth is not all there is. Faith is in knowing that beyond this life we have life eternal with God. I know people who believe that this life is all there is, that when we die, that is just the end. How sad it would be to go through everyday thinking that all we had to hope for is nothing. As Christians we have faith that one day we will be in heaven and abide with Him. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Do not be deceived. There is one and only one way to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 is all you have to know to be saved. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son and whosoever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

In this life on earth we have two choices. We can believe and be saved or we can reject Jesus and go to hell. It is that simple.

To have faith there must be belief. Unbelievers have no hope. Faith is so simple. God made His gospel so simple even little children can understand it. It doesn’t take great intellect to understand that God made us. He loves us and He wants to have a relationship with us. Some scholars have tried to disprove God’s Word. They have taken away their own hope. They try to reason too much about this simple story. By picking apart the Word of God they have made it hard. The brain God gave them has gotten in the way of being able to believe.

Humility and faith go hand in hand. There are times when nonbelievers think they have it all figured out and they feel they have out smarted God. This is a major stumbling block for them to believe. It blinds them to the simple faith that passes all understanding. We as humans are not meant to know everything. If God wanted us to know everything now He would have told us in His Word. What He did tell us is He loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us. No one can disprove this no matter how hard they try.

All human beings have a big hole in their soul. People try to fill this hole with many things. Money, prestige, fame, fortune, drugs, alcohol, sex but they will always come up empty. The hole will still be there. The only thing that fits in the hole is God and his love for us.

Faith fills up the hole and makes us whole. Trying to fill this hole in our soul with anything but God is like trying to put a square peg into a round hole. Nothing will fit. Nothing will fill the hole except for the power and love of God. He created us with the hole in our soul. He created us to only be completely at peace when we fill the hole with His love.

What we know as Christians is we have the faith one great day every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now there is something you can put your faith in. There is the hope that fills the hole in the soul. There is the answer.

Dear Lord Help us to demonstrate our faith in You so that others may believe. Help us to help the lost fill the holes in their souls with Your love. Thank you for Your Word and Your peace. We praise You and love you, let Your light so shine that others may see You in us everyday. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

How do you fill the hole in your soul?
Does your faith shine so that others may see something in you that they desire?
How can we reach those who need Jesus the most?

©Angela Posey-Arnold 2008

Searching for Laminin April 2, 2009

I received an interesting email today, with no author attached. This seems to leave me free to post to my blog sites.

As a daughter of God, a whosoever, a believer of all things Godly, and a lover of Jesus Christ, I figure this seemingly new “breakthrough” in science will not make Fox news tonight. The email caused great joy in my heart but no big surprise as I am familiar with the ways and thoughts of God. I don’t understand them all but just by reading His Word and living a Christian life I know how incredibly awesome He is. Because of my relationship with Him I know that I know that I know–He is the One and Only. This new “science” just thrilled me. I love it when science has no other choice than to prove God. It blesses my soul.

 Whatever your belief, your religion, your relationship, I think you may find this interesting and maybe worth some further research. Go ahead–google it, watch the video, go to snoopy snopes.com, see what you find. I find it awesome!! I thank my God Jehovah for again showing us His way, His truth and His plan. I believe He is smiling today as this encircles the internet and causes nonbelievers to pull their hair out–and causes believers to shine brighter, smile bigger, hope fulfilled again.

 I will post here the email I received. This is pretty incredible – the video he speaks of is on the snopes.com website or on YouTube.

  The Glue That Holds us Together 

 You medical, and non-medical, folks – if you haven’t already seen this, you will love it!  This is a pretty neat story and an interesting thing that few of us know. It’s brief, so please read. (FROM A DOCTOR) 

 A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio… And I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned…. But I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway. 

 He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is… How He spoke the universe into being… How He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire.. . Etc. Etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) …. And I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God’s handiwork. I remember so many times thinking…. ‘How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???’ 

 Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart…how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.  And then I lost my breath. And it wasn’t because I was running my treadmill, either!!!

It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how Wikipedia describes them: ‘Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.’ You see…. Laminins are what hold us together…. LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart.

And I knew all this already. But what I didn’t know is what they LOOKED LIKE.  But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)…. Here is what the structure of laminin looks like… AND THIS IS NOT a ‘Christian portrayal’ of it…. If you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see…

Cell Structure Laminin Cross

 

 Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!! Amazing.

The glue that holds us together…. ALL of us…. Is in the shape of the cross. 

 Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind.  ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. > For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible > And invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; > All things were created by Him and for Him. > He is before all things, and in Him > All things HOLD TOGETHER. ‘ > Colossians 1:15-17 >

Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool. Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin,  Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together… One cell to another… By the cross. 

 You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything  other than the mark of a Creator Who knew EXACTLY what laminin  ‘glue’ would look like long before Adam breathed his first breath!!

Jesus Died for You January 27, 2009

In continuation of the series of devotionals for the upcoming lenten book, today’s devotional is a testimony of how God speaks to our hearts. Thanks to Mrs. Freda Crumpton for sharing this.

Jesus Died For All

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies ( John 11:25NIV)

 

Read John 11:25-57

 

 

A mirrored cross graces the First United Methodist Church in Haleyville, Alabama. The front of the cross is smooth and plain but the sides and the top are broken pieces of mirror all glued together. Each broken piece placed side by side and on top of each other with cracks in between both large and small.  We use this cross for many different worship altars.

 

Recently in a service we used this cross. As I sat down I realized I was sitting directly in front of the cross. All I could see was my reflection in the cross. I sat there for a few minutes thinking ‘this cross is for me.  Jesus died on that cross because of me.  He gave His life for me’.

 

Although deeply touched I became uncomfortable, maybe it was mostly guilt or just plain shame, whatever it was I changed seats with someone else.

 

Gaining courage to look again at the cross I could no longer see just me.  I saw the faces of my friends, my loved ones, my church family, some were broken, some were cracked, some small, others larger, then I knew. The cross is ours. Jesus died for all of us.  None of us are worthy, we all are guilty and full of shame but God’s Grace through His son Jesus is free to us all. His marvelous grace makes us free to live forever.

 

Heavenly Father, All praise and thanks be to You. Your grace and love went to the cruel cross of Calvary to save us and set us free. With Jesus we are free indeed. We love you and praise You forever. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen. 

 

Prayer Focus: Those who don’t know Jesus.

 

Thought for today: Jesus died for you.

 

©Freda Crumpton

 

 

In Her Own Words–InkIt Blog January 6, 2009

“Real life in the real world is a tough, nitty-gritty journey that every pilgrim on planet earth must make. Moving to Disney World is not an option. There will be tribulation; Jesus said so. But be of good cheer. He’s still in the business of guiding and strengthening and healing and overcoming.”

~ When the Glass Slipper Doesn’t Fit by Claire Cloninger and Karla Worley~

I got lost at Disney World. I think I must have been 8 years old, my brother 10. My family travelled from Alabama with several other dear friends to Orlando, Florida during spring break. Disney World was a three day adventure.

So excited about the tea cup ride coming up next I did not want to stop to eat, but everyone else did. There I was in my Mickey Mouse ears pitching a fit because I did not want to eat Polynesian food. My Daddy told my brother to hold my hand and we could go to the next booth and get a hamburger. Off we went into the huge crowd of people, loosing sight of Momma and Daddy.

Somehow we got seperated in the crowd and I found myself very lost and very afraid. I stood still as big strange people walked around me. All I could do was stand there and look for my brother. Everyone was a stranger. It seemed like hours I stood there hamburger in hand waiting on somebody to find me.

I suppose it was only minutes but I looked up and saw my Daddy. I still couldn’t move. He picked me up and hugged me, then he did the strangest thing. He spanked me. He spanked ME. I figured it anyone needed a spanking it would be my brother. After all–he was the one who lost me. But, no Daddy spanked me. The two spanks stung a little but what really hurt was the fear I caused him by “getting lost”.

I just remember being stunned. he found me, hugged me then spanked me. Go figure. Then he said, “Don’t ever, ever do that again.” At the time I was not sure of what I had done. Now I know, I had become distracted. I did not pay attention to my brother holding my hand. I had gotten lost because I did not pay attention.

A similar occurance happened to me at about the age of 18. I left home and went to college and I got lost. Not from Daddy or from my brother, but from Jesus. College was very confusing. The world became more important to me than anything else. I lost sight of Jesus. 

Standing there as life passed by in a sea of Babylonian mentality I thought the world was a party and it was all about me. Trials came, I realized I was lost and it took me several years and many falls to find my way back to where I belonged.

I found myself and I found Jesus again. He never moved. When I fell to my knees and ask Him to forgive me, He picked me up, dusted me off, hugged me and has not let go since then. I know what I did wrong and like my Daddy, Jesus lovingly said, “Don’t ever, ever do that again.”

“Oh Jesus, I won’t.”

Angela Posey-Arnold

Angela

Setting Goals for the New Year 2009 January 5, 2009

Setting Goals for the New Year 2009

Full of Sap and Life

A sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley-reproduced and expounded upon by Angela Posey-Arnold

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
         He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
         Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
         They shall be fresh and flourishing,
 To declare that the LORD is upright;
         He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.(Psalms 92:12-15 NKJV)

Setting realistic goals for the New Year remains to be a matter of prayer and listening to God. Many set goals to high to obtain, not realistic and not obtainable. Goal setting requires asking ourselves some questions about the goals we are setting.

God has a plan and purpose for each of us. He will guide us if we let Him. Trying to accomplish task in our own strength will lead to disappointment and frustration. But, if we allow God to guide us, and recognize His leading 2009 will be a year of accomplishments and steps in our journey on this earth.

Through His Word we gain a sense of direction and confidence that we are on the right road. As you set your goals for 2009 consider if the goals line up with God’s Word, His purpose and plan for your life. Ask yourself if your desires and goals fit with God’s will. And most importantly determine if the goal you set is something that you can ask God to help you with.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (Colossians 3:15-17 The Message)

If you are not sure what God’s will for your life is—Ask Him. Read His Word and He will reveal these things to you. Peace that passes all understanding will follow.

From His Word we know He wants us to continue to bear good fruit though out our lives. Running the race He has set before us. There are many things we can do to grow old gracefully and in service to Him. The following list developed by Pastor Charles Stanley is a wonderful reminder of how to live a life of happiness in service and love. It has nothing to do with Botox or nip tuck. It has to do with the heart.

How to Stay Young and Vibrant—

*Keep Learning—stimulate your mind and learn new things. Especially learn new things about God. Discovering God in new ways and letting Him speak to you. God will be as close as you let Him be.

* Keep Loving—Love God and love one another. Love Jesus. A loving spirit flows and gets rid of tenseness and stress. When you find yourself having a pity party, find someone to help. It is amazing how fast your pity party will be over when you help someone else. Take the gift of experiencing God’s limitless love. Love will overcome unforgiveness. Unforgiveness ages you and forgiveness is freedom for you. You can’t forgive if you don’t love.

* Keep Laughing—laughter is good for the soul like medicine-the Proverbs tell us. It is relaxing and gets rid of stress. Just picture in your mind Jesus laughing. He laughed. Just his loving countenance encouraged laughter and it still does. Just laugh at yourself and with others.

*Leave what God has forgiven you for behind—Leave the burdens with Him after you give it to Him, don’t go back and take it back. Drop the sin and leave it behind. God does not want you living in the past. Keep your mind on what God wants you to do in the future.

*Keep longing and dreaming—it is okay to dream. Long for good things in life and reaching your potential. Dream big dreams and give it to God. He will bless you and take you to heights greater than your dreams. He wants is to be blessed. Use the imagination He has given you. God will allow things when you are obedient to Him, more than you ever could have dreamed.

*Keep looking for evidences of God in your life—recognize His hand in your life and the lives of others. Look for Him with a purpose—the purpose of finding Him. What you focus on is what you will become. Focus on being your best, doing your best and the best is what will happen. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

*Keep language—what your mouth speaks, your ears hear, your brain registers and your body responds. Don’t talk yourself into sickness or old age. Evaluate your talents and gifts and get to work. Your attitude makes all the difference in your attractiveness to others. Smile and be happy. Encourage others.

*Keep laboring—we are designed to move and work, 6 days. Do the Lord’s work and give of yourself to the Master. Design your work to be of eternal value. Lay up treasure for heaven. Writing for me is working for Him. I write to change heaven, to populate heaven, to effect heaven, to please heaven and to please God. The same with the gift of music He has blessed me with. These are gifts He gave me to use for Him.

*Keep leaning on Jesus—No matter what we face Jesus is there. Without Him all is in vain. With Him He is our source.

*Keep listening to God—Ask, pray and listen. Shut your mind to ungodly negative people. Be careful little ears what you hear. Don’t fill your mind with the Babylonian mentality of our culture—it is not all about you—it is all about Him. Fill your mind with things of God.

If we apply these principles to our lives our goals for 2009 will be blessed by God—we will be full of sap and fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

Thank you Lord for Brother Charles Stanley who continues to serve you and give us the messages from Your Word that we need to hear. As we begin this new year of 2009 help us to step in Your steps. God before us and prepare the way. Give us the strength to keep our eyes on You. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

©Charles Stanley as related to the congregation—reproduced and paraphrased by Angela Posey-Arnold 2009.

Collections Inc November 1, 2008

Not my Bear--My Bear Still Picks Up Rocks For Me

Rocks of Ages

By Angela Posey-Arnold

Growing up I collected all sorts of things but my favorite thing to collect was rocks. Loved those rocks. At the age of eight I got a rock polisher so I could polish my collection. If I close my eyes I can still hear the sound of the polisher going round and round all night. By morning I had perfectly polished rocks.

The collection of rocks became rather large so in an off season for kool-aid sales, I began to paint the rocks. Employing my friend, Stacey, to assist me, we painted various types of rocks and actually sold them to two ladies. Those ladies happened to be our Mothers but hey, they had money and they liked our rocks.

A prerequisite for dating me during my late twenties was the ability to carry and load large rocks. When I prayed for my future husband to come along and sweep me off my feet I always added, “And Lord please, let him be strong”.

The Lord hears and answers prayers like that. Not long after my prayer, I started dating “Bear”. His football coach had given him the nickname, “Dancing Bear”. If we were Indian by heritage I would have changed it to “Bear Picks Up Big Rocks”. On one journey alone he heaved a large pickup load of sandstone from a nearby creek. Of course, we were newlyweds and he was still showing off his muscle.

I just love different shaped rocks. On trips I will see one that is just fascinating and exclaim, “Oh Bear look at that rock, how pretty the colors are.”

“Do you want it?” He will say.

“Oh yes, will you get it?”

“Of course I will, beautiful.”

 We found one while visiting West Virginia in the shape of the State of Alabama. It came home from West Virginia with us to the state of Alabama.

Being married now for twenty years we have a very nice collection of rocks. He will still get the rocks, but I feel bad asking him now. I don’t want him to hurt his back or anything. But, sometimes I see one I just have to have. I’ll shyly say, “Bear, you hunka, look at that rock over there. Did you see it?”

“No, sweetheart I did not see it, now come on let’s go”

“But..but..but.. it looks like Texas…….”

“Angie, do you want that rock? I mean do you really have to have THAT particular rock?”

“Well, no I don’t HAVE to HAVE it. But, did you see it?”

“Ok, I will get the rock.”

“No, no, I don’t want you to. Just forget it. I am afraid you’ll hurt yourself. You are 48 years old now.” I remind him ever so sweetly.

“No, no. It is fine baby.  I can get the rock. What, you don’t think I can get that rock? Well I can. I’m getting the rock”.

“Okay, thank you sweetie pea”. I smile as he loads it into the truck for the ride back to Alabama from Tennessee.

“You’re welcome. It is not as heavy as it looks”. He says. Then I usually hear something that sounds like, “whew.”  

Our first home we lived in for eleven years. Our big rock collection has taken on many forms over the years. It has been a rock wall, a water feature, a sidewalk and patio. Every time Bear moves the rocks he is a little older and each time he says, “This is absolutely the last time I am moving these rocks.”  If I recall correctly he has moved them five or six times since then and said the same thing every time.

Bear recently built himself a new gunsmithing shop behind our log home. I looked out the window of my office to see him moving my rocks.

“Bear, what are you doing moving those rocks?”

“I just thought I would make a walkway.” He said as he dropped the big rock he was moving with a thud.

“I thought you weren’t going to move them again.”

“I’m not. This is killing my back. I have been moving these for twenty years. This is absolutely the last time I am moving these rocks!”

 “Hey, it was your idea.”

J