Angels in the alley

ANGELS IN THE ALLEY . . .
Diane, a young Christian University student, was home for the summer.
She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed
quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She
ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone.
She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only
a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God"
to keep her Safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it, however, halfway down the alley she
noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her. She
became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived Home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the
same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by
this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. Thanking the Lord for her safety to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could
identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in
the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately
broke down and confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one
question.

Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him,
He answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her." Moral of the story? Don't underestimate the power of Prayer.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !!
How many times have each one of us been in danger and God send his Angels to Protect us . Praise God the Anchor Holds !!!

As I grow old

AS I GROW OLD

As I grow old it seems that I
Grow old as grows the western sky
When day is coming to its close :
For life takes on a tint of rose
I had not known in life’s hot noon .
I see new stars I had not seen ,
A surer faith ,a peace serene ,
As I grow old .

As I grow old , like men at even ,
I turn my eyes again to heaven ,
That were so busy with the earth :
And there I find the things of worth ,
The things most beautiful of all .
Upon the world a fairer light ,
A golden glean ,a beacon bright ,
As I grow old .

As I grow old the winds of life
Die down ,the hate ,the hurt ,the strife .
The waters calm ,the waves are still .
I want no triumph, wish no ill
To any man . now from my heart
The ancient angers all depart .
New friends I know ,news songs are sung ,
New joys are mine – yes ,I grow young
As I grow old
Jan Bagwell
God Bless!


Mark 6:56
And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Out of the Waiting room

Picture a doctor's waiting room: cushioned chairs, a display of colorful magazines, soothing music wafting above your head, perhaps an aquarium of sparkling fish.
Why does the doctor provide such a calming environment? Because he or she knows that by and large, people do not like to wait there. Truth is, we don't much like to wait anywhere for any length of time.
And we often cringe at the mere idea of waiting on God - more than any other kind of waiting. He is so frequently not in a hurry. We don't want to learn patience by waiting, though it is often the best way to learn it.
But consider for a moment the flipside. Consider for a moment those times when the waiting room door has been thrown open but we're still sitting in the chair by the fish, afraid to get up, get out and get moving. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we sense God nudging us to step out, but instead we're oddly content to just wait it out - perhaps hoping someone else will make the move we're supposed to make.
Just as there are times when God wants us to wait on Him; there are times when He calls us to action. And just as we need to listen for His voice in times of waiting, we need to obey His prompting when the wait is over.
When God told Moses to send spies into the land of Canaan, only two of the twelve came back from the mission ready to do what God was prompting them to do. The others wanted to head back to the waiting room, grab a magazine and hang out with the fish! They were afraid to move forward in faith, even though they had seen God time and again prepare a way for them in the wilderness and then lead them through it. God asked that these people take a step of faith and trust Him for what lay past the waiting room door. He didn't kick them out of the waiting room. He asked them to leave it, and they chose not to. History shows us what they missed (Numbers 13:26 - 14:25).
Are there perhaps blessings you have asked for but then have refused to pursue? Have you been hanging back in the waiting room - perhaps because you've allowed fear to convince you it's better to be safe and ineffective than risk being used by God?
The waiting room has its purpose. It is the place where you get mentally ready for what comes next. You are not meant to live there. You were designed for the world outside. And it waits for you!
Jan Bagwell
Dear Lord, enable us this day to throw off self-doubts and fear so that we may obey You, serve You and live out our purpose for You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and empower us to do all that You have called and equipped us to do. Forgive us for being content with sitting in the waiting room when You've called us to come out. Ignite in us a passion to live our faith loudly. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

I love the Autumn Best

I love the Autumn Best

I love the glowing days of spring
When life is born anew ,
When showers bless the April world
And flowers are blooming , too .
In Summer , fields of golden grain
Are blowing in the breeze ,
And life is such a tranquil joy
With birdsong in the trees .

I love so much of God’s bright world
When snowflakes gently fall ,
So soft and white upon the hills –
A cover over all .

So much that ever thrills my heart
Each season of the year ,
And yet the Autumn colors bright
Are always much more dear .

I love it all – the golden leaves ,
Each sunset glowing red ,
The colors thick and heavy there
Atop the flower bed .
As Nature walks October trails
More precious than the rest ,
Of all the seasons of our year year ,
I love the Autumn best.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !!

Let Me Forget

Let Me Forget

One prayer , of all the prayers ,
My heart might say ,
Is , “Teach me to begin
All fresh today .
Lord , teach me to foget
The worry and the fret
That lie behind .
Each morning , born anew ,
With vigor let me do
What’s right and kind ,
Unhampered by the wrong
Of yesterday ,
Oh , teach me quick the song
To sing today ,
Nor let my heart be sore for what has gone before ,
But cheerful say :
“Today the sun is bright !
Today I will do right !”
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !