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

A Child of the King June 24, 2009

A Child of the King

By Angela Posey-Arnold

See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children—think of it—and we really are!……(1 John 3:1 The Living Bible)

I sit here this morning at my desk and look at a picture of myself and my husband made twelve years ago. I am amazed as I reflect upon all that has happened in our lives since then.

Recalling memories of the past, twelve years ago seems like another life time. Since that time we have been through an intensive and heart breaking court battle leaving part of our family in shambles. We survived a horrible wreck and its aftermath. Our family has experienced illnesses and betrayals that took their toll on us all. There has been heartbreak of family division and the sudden unexpected death of a dear friend.

As I reflect on the trials I realize after every trial came spiritual growth. After every pressing came blessing. Perseverance and faith in God’s promises rang true each and every time. He never let us down and our faith grew. We came through the storms and on the other side of the storm was a rainbow and sunny skies, every single time.

In the trials, in the suffering we saw miracles, one after another. Maybe we did not see the miracle at the time it was happening, but in reflecting the miracles are brought to light. It was a miracle just to have survived some of those things. I am not surprised that we were brought through each trial. Coming out on the other side of each trial brought us closer to God. He promised He would be with us. He was. He never moved. No matter what life has thrown at us—God has kept His promises.

With each trial we had the choice of whether to turn to Him and trust Him or tread water in a desperate attempt not to drown. Too many times I first chose to tread water, leaning on my own understanding and strength. It was a bad choice every time. The bad choices were nutrients to my growth as a Christian. Through trials and tears I learned to pray first. Always pray first.

While going through the extremely difficult court battle with my husband’s ex-wife I felt like I was under attack. She was relentless in her aggressions motivated only by greed and hate. I remember being on my knees in the bathroom of the court house praying for strength. Other than our pocket book being lighter for her efforts—we survived. We grew, learned and continued to love. God never put us down. He carried us right through it.

I am blessed with a family of missionaries. One year while they were on mission I found myself alone in the midst of a storm. Again I was on my knees in a bathroom. (My husband says I could probably find a more sanitary place to kneel and pray).

This time down on my knees in a hospital cardiac unit bathroom. My husband was having an emergency heart catheterization. I cried out to God again. He, so loving and kind, answered me. He strengthened me and carried me through to the other side of the storm. The doctor said that my husband had the cleanest pipes he had ever seen. The problem was misdiagnosed acid indigestion, Praise God.

Have you ever watched a father and a child? The father picks up the child; the little one starts to squirm and is ready to go again. The father keeps his watchful eye on the child because he knows even though he must let the child learn by his own mistakes, he will stumble and fall. The father knows he needs to be there to catch the baby.

It won’t be long until the child stumbles and the father is picking the child up again and again and again. God is like that with us. He picks us up and lifts us up when we choose to let Him. He allows us free will but He keeps a watchful eye on us knowing that we will learn from our mistakes, but we will stumble. And when we do He is there. He sees us stumble. He hears our prayers. He picks us up and dust us off and heads us in the right direction.

When life gets so heavy that we can’t move He is faithful. The miracle of it all is He is always there. Oh, I may loose sight of Him and try to fix everything on my own. He understands. I think He just shakes His head and says, “There she goes again.”

So when life throws me another curve what am I going to do? Am I going to hit my knees first and turn to Him or will I worry, fret and freak out until finally as a last resort I fall on my knees and pray?

I think I will look back on all the times His love has seen me through. I have learned. I hope next time, I will seek Him first. Next time I will rest in His arms and quit squirming so much. In doing so, the next 12 years will be so much better.

Thank You God for Your everlasting love. I know that I am just as a child, lost without You. I am so thankful for Your love. It is so awesome to know You are always there. Help me to always look to You first knowing Your love is there, all I have to do is reach up. Wonderful it is to know I am a child of the King!! Glory and praise to You. In Jesus Holy Name I pray. Amen.

©2008 Angela Posey-Arnold

God’s Eyes May 19, 2009

God’s Eyes

By Angela Posey-Arnold

The eyes of God are firmly set
To see the things of earth
Unknown to me how He can get
So much without a search.

I do not know how He can see
All things, all hearts and knows
The sadness, pain and sorrow
What I do know is He does.

His eyes are ever seeing
The sad, the bad and pain too
And always in His Being
Is love for me and you.

He knows the burdens are heavy
He sees, He feels, He moves
To show us how His love responds
When we can’t see, we lose.

Beyond the pain and heart ache
God of Heaven wants us to know
He sees, He cares for our sake
He wants our faith to show.

Hold on to your faith, the truth, and the life
Think on those things of Him
Replace the thoughts of sadness and strife
With thought of pure grace given.

He lives in your heart forever now
Nothing can separate the bond
Seek Him, find Him, while here below
Heaven’s home is where we belong.

The thoughts of Him seeking discovers
More of Him closer in time
To know His eyes look over
The earth just for me and for mine.

You seek what you need, you find what you seek
Seeks His eyes and His glow
In all the strength of the weak
Renew your mind and His love you will know.
There is no time for sorrow and woe
Those are the devil’s tools
God loves you, hears you, strengthens too
Spend your life contented by beautiful pools.

Don’t let bad thoughts grow
Cry and He will dry your tears
So He can just bless you again, you know
He always sees, He always cares.

In any circumstance that hits
There are three ways it will be
As His child He will deliver you from it
Or through it you and He will see.

Heaven is the destination
This earth is not our home
The third way He delivers
Is to Jesus’ arms at the Throne.

So please don’t be sad, God never lies
He never leaves you there
I don’t know how He sees me
But I’m so thankful for His eyes.

©Angela Posey-Arnold 2009

Sweet Surprises and Little Pecan Pies February 5, 2009

This devotional is the last in the Lenten Book series. It has certainly been a joy and blessing for me to be able to edit testimonies written by my Mother, and two dear dear friends, and last but not least–my brother. Today’s message comes to us from the inspiration of Stan Posey, my brother, and Pastor of New Harmony United Methodist Church.

Sweet Surpise

 

Read Psalm 119

 

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”  Psalm 119:103 (NIV)

 

Those little pecan pies call to me from the check-out counter at convenience stores.  From my growing up years, I remember them as “Bama” brand pies; it’s hard to find those in north-central Florida.  But a reasonable substitute, homemade by different people, appear late fall in stores. Happily just before Christmas, one of those treats made by “Aaron” jumped into my hand when I stopped for a cup of coffee.

 

Climbing into my jeep and opening the pie as quickly as possible, I peeled off the plastic wrap and a small Christian tract dropped into my lap. “Aaron’s” had carefully folded the tract underneath the little aluminum pan.  Who knows how many others with a sweet tooth got tapped on the shoulder in the same way?  Aaron’s extra treat was a special blessing, all the sweeter in the surprise.

 

Aaron’s ministry is a reminder for us. We should always be sharing the Word of God, and always ready to hear it for ourselves in a new way.  The Word of God  refreshes us and strengthens us, with sweetness greater than any other treat – even a little pecan pie.

 

Lord, remind me my real hunger is for You.  Keep me open to Your Word, and always ready to savor its sweetness. Help us to bodly share Your Word in new and creative ways. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

Prayer focus: Creative Ministries

 

Thought for the Day: Share God’s Word

 

Stan Posey

Live Oak, Florida

 

awesome–thanks Stan!!