My Take
DiVoran Lites
Photo by Melodie Hendrix
Not long after I became a Christian there was a sort of underground movement to study demonology so people could be delivered and set free of their compulsions. Some of us read books on the subject and even prayed for ourselves and others to be exorcised. That was about the time the movie, “The Exorcist,” came out. I read the book (I was very sorry I did, too because it was scary, and did not, in my estimation carry a true Christian message.) I didn’t see the movie, thank the Lord.
The strangest thing went with the movement, and that was a fear of studying about or even thinking much about angels. The belief was that if we gave much credence to the existence of angels we might worship them and be led astray. Demons okay, angels no. It sounds weird now.
I had a book on my shelf I was going to read someday if I ever got the nerve. It was called Angels, God’s Secret Agents, and it was written by Billy Graham. Now I don’t care what religion you are or what you believe in, you probably understand that Billy Graham would be one of the last people on earth who would lead you astray. But still, there the book sat.. After about thirty years I decided I was never going to read it and I donated it somewhere.
Eventually the adrenaline rush of demons went away leaving in its stead a returning appreciation of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Then one day I had the nerve to pick up a book about angels. It wasn’t very good, just a bunch of second-hand sightings and ancient stories. I wished for my Billy Graham back, prayed for it back.
A few weeks later I had an urge to stop by my favorite SPCA store where I can get hard cover books for 32 cents and there it was. Oh, not the same copy, I’m sure, but just the book I wanted and had prayed for. I started reading it and I wondered why I was ever afraid. There are three hundred mentions of angels in the Bible and Billy Graham told about them in a calm peaceful way that was barely even exciting. They exist, they are God’s helpers, and that’s about it. No adrenaline rush.
I’ve never seen an angel or a demon, but I came to believe that demons loved attention more than anything and that I didn’t have to play their game. I never even think about them any more and that’s just fine. In some places missionaries might have to think about them, battle them, all that. I don’t.
So one day we were on I-4 barreling along 70 miles an hour in heavy traffic and seemingly from nowhere a large piece of metal came bouncing toward us making sparks as it gouged the highway. We thought it had come from the truck ahead and left of us. As Bill swerved, we felt an impact. Thank the Lord there was no one in the lane right of us. The man behind us to the right had to go to the shoulder, though.
We caught up to the truck and looked it over. We wanted to tell the man he might have something loose, but we were all going too fast to communicate.
When we got home we examined the car and discovered a three-foot long crease at the bottom of the driver’s door. That sharp metal bar missed slashing a tire, missed the radiator, missed the windshield and missed us–by inches. What do you do when something like that happens and you know plenty of other people have had bad accidents that day, some even died in them? I don’t know about you, but all I could do was thank God for having his secret agents on the job. I had to give a thought to all the invisible sources that are out there helping us day after day. Sure terrible things happen all the time, but these angelic encounters do too. I don’t think we deserved it, I don’t know why bad things happen to good people. I don’t have nearly as many answers as I used to. I just know to give thanks in everything, good or bad and keep on keeping on. Ministering angels can help with all that too.
Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Luke 4:11 They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
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Tags: Angels: God's Secret Agents, Bible, Billy Graham, Christian, Christianity, Demons, God, Holy Spirit, Lord, Religion and Spirituality
plagued with ongoing physical challenges and a precious uncle went to be with the Lord. The garden I was so excited about in the spring has pretty much fizzled. The weather has included rain most days and when it has been nice, my work with Rebekah Lyn Books has kept me hard at work on my computer instead of chilling on the porch.
once again housing a bird nest. For the past three years we have purchased the same kind of flower basket and each year an adorable bird has nested there. Something about that basket and the new life growing inside of it sparked a thrill of joy. It reminded me that whether I am experiencing mountain top highs or walking down a thorny path it is all a pattern in the seasons of life. I have rejoiced in the glorious days and I will choose to rejoice in these trying days.
Old Things R New 