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{Straight From the Heart} *Entertaining Angels* 2/19/01
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We conclude our series of stories about Angels today with one by
Maria Carey. We are sending this out a little earlier than usual
because of the prayer requests....
May all of you have a great week!
Michael
P.S. I will be sharing a brand new story on Tuesday about
someone who is very special in our lives! Stay tuned!
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Entertaining Angels
By Maria Carey
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares." -- Hebrews 13:2 KJV
"Lord, forgive me; I had missed the opportunity." There he was holding
the door open as people continually passed by to enter. I hurried
through the door but did notice him. He was slovenly dressed and looked
quite disheveled. He also looked as though he could have used a meal.
A thought so brief popped into my head; "Could this be an angel?" I
can't explain why the thought came to me but it did. I rushed through
the opened doorway-trying to beat the others into the line for service.
Lord, I did look back and how long was it before I did? Surely it could not
have been more than five seconds, but I was already too late! He was not
there.
Again, the thought came to me, inspired by the Bible: "Could this have
been an angel?" "What did God say?" Something in Hebrews about
entertaining angels unawares. "Could this have been an angel?"
I returned outside minutes later with bags of hot food for the family.
I asked my husband, "Did you see a man standing there holding the door
open?"
He said, "No, he hadn't seen anyone holding a door open."
I tried again. I said, "Honey, did you not see him? He held the door
opened for me when I went inside. He was holding the door open for
everyone. You had to have seen it!"
Again, he said, "He hadn't noticed anyone holding a door open. I
didn't ask again. He "hadn't" seen it. Perhaps, he was not paying
attention. I found it hard to believe that he didn't see it because he
was standing directly across from the entryway of the place. He could
not have missed it.
I will never be sure if this was a mortal or an angel that held the door
open for others and me that day. He had stood there and not asked for
anything. I do not even know if I said thank you as he held that door
open. I think he was waiting for someone willing enough to stop and
reach out to him.
Some weeks later I received another chance. This time it was a woman
rummaging through a trash Dumpster outside of a restaurant. I did not
wait. I went up to her and pressed something into her hand.
But I couldn't leave and she wanted to talk and she wanted me to know that she
hadn't always been like this. She had been a "somebody" once. Although
I was in a hurry, I stopped and I listened. It wasn't so much about
what she said. It was the way that she said it. She was so
brokenhearted and despondent. She wanted me to know something about her
as a person. By the end she was sobbing and I was practically in tears
myself.
I told her that every thing would be OK. I told her that God loved her
and that he would make a way for her. I didn't know what else to say.
I felt a little awkward but she didn't seem to mind. She just wanted
someone to share with. Someone to listen. The last thing that I said
was to dare to believe God. I hoped she heard me as she started up
those steps leading into the restaurant. I just wanted her to know that
there was still hope despite her situation.
On this day, I am quite sure that this was a fellow human being that I
talked to but that I may never be 100% sure of that. She was
destitute and even though she was; that she had asked me for nothing.
Maybe she was waiting for someone willing enough to stop and reach out
to her. Thankfully, I had the good sense to stop and to do that. Just
maybe she was able to reach out and catch a hold to "hope" of a better
tomorrow once more. She in turn blessed me by giving me another chance
to honor the thought of entertaining angels unawares.
I wasn't just willing to stop and reach out to another soul. I DID stop
and reach out. "Thank you God for giving me another chance."
"I am so glad I did not blow it twice."
Maria Carey, 2000
mcarey@greenwich.lib.ct.us
Send Maria an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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I am happily married with 2 grown children. I am a self-taught writer. I
had started writing at an early age and then stopped for many years. I
am starting again to write and this time I will not stop. I want to
write true stories that end happily such as this one for His Glory.
Pray much for me that I continue.
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REQUESTS:
From: tinifer@yahoo.com (Christina Miller)
My friend Sally's Mom, Rhoda, had a major stroke last
night. I'm taking her to the airport this morning to fly out to
Florida. Her Mom is in a coma and the doctors want talk about her
living will, etc. Sally is distraught because her Mom is not a
Christian and Sally is very concerned. We are asking God for a miracle
in preparing Rhoda's body, mind and spirit to hear and except Christ
before she leaves this place. Thanks.
Christina
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From: JCH8871@aol.com
I would like prayer for my son Montie, he is an insulin dependent diabetic and is having problems with his stomach and can't eat a lot which is not good for a diabetic. He loves the Lord and works hard for his family and church. His wife has heath problems also and she Loves the Lord and works so hard to take care of their son Ryan Caleb and Montie. Their son who was born with many problems has bronchitis and they have to watch that it does not turn into pneumonia, With his lung problems they have to be careful of him. His mommy takes such good care of him and catches him being sick very quickly. Thank you for your prayer from grams and Montie's mother.
Judy S.
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From: Sweety5877@aol.com
My 13 year old sister suffers from Bipolar Disorder. Today she was readmitted into the psychiatric ward at Roger's Memorial Hospital in Oconomowauk. I would like every one to pray that the doctors there can help her work through her depression so she can come back home a lot happier than she was when she left.
Sarah B.
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Thought For The Day:
"No man knows his true character until he runs out of gas, purchased something
on the installment plan, and raised an adolescent." --Lorene Workman
Verse for the Day:
"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith, produces endurance." --James 1:2,3
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was
interrupted by a little girl about six years old. Looking up end down at
my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?"
"Yes," I answered and continued writing the report."
"My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right," I told her.
"Well, then," she said as she extended her foot toward me, "would you please
tie my shoe?"
Parent's Thought For The Day:
ALBERT EINSTEIN'S MOTHER : "But it's your senior picture. Can't you do
something about your hair? Styling gel, mousse, something...?"
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"When I did this three years ago, it was like death. When I did it last year, it was
like near death. This year, it was just really hard."
John Howie, wheelchair athlete, describing his Charlotte Observer 10k
races from 1990 - 1993
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Just before someone gets nervous, do they experience cocoons in their
stomach?"
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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