Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Chapter 1- What Is an Angel?

Our last post was brought to us as the introduction to "Everyday Angels" by Karon Phillips Goodman.  I will be quoting her enitre book in hopes to help each of us be more of an everyday angel in our every day lives.  I will put my own thoughts down below each post and encourage each of you to comment in the comment section so we can discuss each chapter together.  :o)  I am also going to start trying to put my thoughts in "italic" writing. 

CHAPTER ONE
"What Is an Angel?"

"We've all read of those angels that foretell historic events or deliver messages in dreams or proctect believers from harm.  They are immortal, supernatural, intangible--and quite scarce.  They are angels of the heavenly kind, but they aren't the only kind of angels.  Thankfully, we live in a world full of a far more common kind of angel, those everyday angels that are completely mortal yet undoubtedly spiritual, no less sent by God than those of Abraham's day.

An angel is sometimes defined as 'a spiritual being' or 'an attendant spirit'.  I like those definitions.  they're easy to understand and not limited to the surreal angels of biblical lore.  You and I are both 'spiritual beings'.  The life God breathed into us is not only a physical thing, but compassion and love and empathy and soul.  It's our birthright, one of the joys this life offers abundantly to all who will take it.

Some of the 'angels' pull people from burning buildings, donate organs to dying children, or give vast amounts of money to worthy causes.  Thankfully, not every day is a 'burning building' kind of day!  But the opportunity to be an agel in some way does present itself daily.   It's a never-ending opportunity.

You know those people who have mastered the art of everyday angel blessings.  They have a peace and joy and serenity about them that shows.  They live their lives and make their choices by reaching out to others first, in patience and acceptance, not judgement.  They make mistakes, but they know how to correct them.  They are always looking forward, not back.  They see the best, take it, and leave the rest behind.

On a very basic level, we are all alike--in need of affirmation and acceptance, desiring peace and joy and someone to help us when we're down.  We want to see goodness in the humanity around us and believe that people do care.  We want to be touched by others with that spirit of giving that defines the everyday angel.  We need to both give and receive. 

We can be the kind of 'attendant spirits' that others need if we recognize and seize those opportunities that God puts before us.  We can reach out, spiritual being to spiritual being, every day, in small ways, passing on time and thoughtfulness, compassion and strength.  You don't have to have wings or a halo!

Being an everyday angel isn't hard, time-consuming, or expensive.  It often takes just a minute and seems completely insignificant.  It's a matter of giving what you have and listening with your heart.  It requires no advanced degree, but it does take intuition and attention.  The rewards are not mantel-pieces or public recognition--they are far greater, and you'll reap surprising benefits long after your actions are over.  Give, and it will come back to you.

God didn't breathe life and spirit into you only to have you become a doctor or teacher, artist or singer, mom or dad.  He's also given you  an 'attendant spirit' to do the real job we all have here every day--to reach out to others, to meet needs and touch hearts, to be everyday angels."

I know God knows the intent of our heart.  In saying that I encourage you to not think about "what can I get in return?" and think more of "what can I do for or give to someone else"?  I'm going to give you "homework" this week.  I want to strongly encourage each of you to pray this week and ask God to lay someone on your heart and send them a card.  Maybe you know someone who is sick, depressed, lost a loved one, or maybe they've just been a great friend to you.  Maybe it could even be someone you don't normally get along with.  Maybe it's someone you look up to but have never told them.  Whoever God lays on your heart.  Send them a card btwn. now and next Tues.  Let's try to reach out and encourage someone this week.  It doesn't have to stop with one.  I encourage you to do whatever God lays on your heart.  :o)  I can't help but think about the angels sent to different ones around the time of Christ's birth and there after, spreading the Good News:  "Jesus Christ, our Savior is born!"  Don't forget to spread the Good News of our Lord along the way!  Have a blessed week! 

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Everyday Angels

The book I mentioned from our first post is titled, "Everyday Angels" (Simple ways to be an angel for others every day.), by Karon Phillips Goodman.

Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble &; gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Introduction:

"Do you know an angel?  Maybe you know several.  Do you want to be one?  Maybe you've been an angel thousands of times.  I'm sure you can remember times when angels reached out to you---not angels in the visionary, miraculous sense, but angles in the tangible, earthly sense.  Those were everyday angels.

You know those people---the ones who have entered your life at good times and bad, who have been just the godsend that you needed right when you needed it.  Maybe your angel  was your spouse or you child or a friend or even a stranger.  All of these people have probably been angels to you at one time or another, & when it happened, you counted yourself richly blessed.

No doubt, you've been someone's angel, too, when you shared and helped and guided and loved, or maybe just listened.  Somehow, you knew just what to do to touch someone's life.  You probably didn't think of yourself as an angel at the time, but that's exactly what angels do---touch peoples' lives & make a difference.  And here's the good news.  You can do that every day.

Our lives are filled with stress & fear & disappointment.  But the everyday angels get us through with that interaction that says, "I care---you're not alone."  These simple acts of kindness often take no more than a few seconds, but they bind us together in a troubled world.  They help us see beyond ourselves.  They give us hope & joy.  There is nothing more angelic than that.

You can be an angel every day---giving & sharing, & receiving a blessing in the process.  Everything you give comes back to you over & over.  Try it & see, with the one hundred ways suggested in this book.  They're just a smattering of the countless ways you can join the Everyday Angels."

Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble & gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Notes from Jules*  Sadly enough, sometimes we want to lash out at ppl in anger.  And sometimes we speak to quickly, saying what's on our mind at the moment, when in fact we shoud take the time to think things through.  Too often we tend to "abuse" those we love the most, verbally, taking them for granted.  As women, our moods can swiftly change causing us to feel peaceful one moment and irritated the next.  But that is no excuse.  Not even for me!  We must be careful at how we treat others.  Don't take those close to us for granted.  For example, just b/c Lori's my sister doesn't mean I have the right to treat her how I feel at the moment and hope she forgives me.  Though, for myself, I have lashed out.  I'm not perfect, I can reasure you of that.  But I also have a soft heart.  It usually doesn't take me long to realize my error and apologize.  Our scripture here says we are to be completely humble, gentle, & patient with each other.  Showing love one to another.  How often do we do that?  And not just with our family, but to everyone around us in our daily lives?  How can we be an "Everyday Angel" to those around us on a daily basis?  It is definantly a challenge that I think we all could work on.

Again, please leave comments ladies.  You don't have to have a blog to leave a comment.  For those of you who don't, you may have to use the "annomous" account to leave a reply, but please SIGN your name after your comment.  Be open.  Be real.  But remember, we're not here to gossip or tare anyone down.  Let's keep it positive.  Let's help build each other up.  Ask questions.  Encourage each other.  That's what this is for.  Do you see yourself as an "Everyday Angel" or is this something that you could work on? 

Hope you have a blessed week!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Welcome!

Welcome to our new site set up especially for our women's group at church.  This first post is an introduction of what I hope to accomplish here on this site.  First off, I hope it is a place where we can gather and fellowship and encourage one another.  This is not a site I plan to use for gossip or daily life updates, but a place to gather and learn from the Master, Jesus Christ.  A place where we can grow in Him and encourage each other to be better Christians.  It is my hope, as your women's group leader, that I can be a help and an encouragement in one way or another in your lives.  Grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and let's sit at the Master's Table!


I hope to have a scripture posted each week along with a thought, something we can meditate on, study on, & practice throughout the week and then come back here and leave comments that will hopefully leave us open for discussion.  If not weekly, bi-weekly.  Just like we would if we were meeting for a Bible Study at church. 

I can't take full credit for this idea.  My Mom & I actually discussed this some time agao, before I became the women's group leader.  She had mentioned it would be nice to have an online Bible Study or something along those lines so that those who have a hard time making it out to the church for a study, could have access here on the Internet.  I've thought off and on about what she said, and just over the past couple of months have really felt the burden to start this blog.  Just yesterday, I talked with her again about it and told her what I was thinking.  She seemed to think it was a good idea, and I hope you do too! 

I encourage each of you to partake in this blog by leaving your comments at the end of each post.  I have a book here at home, one I purchased at NQC, that I would like to start with.  It is called, "Everyday Angels".  I've been encouraged by what I've read so far and think you would be blessed by it too.

In closing I want to share a scripture that has been on my heart this morning.

Matthew 15:22-A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 23-Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24-He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25-The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26-He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." 27-"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  28-Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  (NIV)

I guess my thoughts come from verse 27..."even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  As I was going through some pictures from a tea I had earlier this year, there was a picture of a table with several settings placed on it.  I couldn't help but think that if I only get the crumbs that fall from my Master's table, then it is enough.  Another thought that has come to mind is from Luke 14:23; "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Are we willing to compel them to come in?  Are we willing to reach out to even one lost soul so that they may sit and eat at the Father's Table?

Come, let's sit at the Master's Table, drink a cup of tea, & eat, even if it is just the crumbs (of), what He has to offer us.