GRAMPA SAW AN ANGEL

      Stella Peterson had just come from visiting her grandparents and was aching to find someone to talk to, to tell them the story she had just heard. She tried finding Bernadette, she tried finding Tracy, She tried finding Mindy and Cindy she even tried to talk to her brother but no-one was around and if they were they didn't have time to listen but then she bumped into Gladys.

      “Do I know you young lady?” Gladys said and than finished her sentence before Stella could answer, “You're Hero Harold's sister aren't you. Stella, I think. Do you always walk around bumping into people?” “I'm sorry.” Stella said and then burst into laughter. “You think that's funny?” Gladys said in disgust. “No.” Stella said “But what I heard was.” and then Stella started snorting she was laughing so hard. That was the wrong thing to say.

      Gladys, being the town gossip and all, was all ears when she heard that and couldn't wait to hear more. “What's so funny?” she asked. “You won't believe it.” Stella said through her laughter, “ Grampa ... said .... he ... saw ... an ... angel.” and then started to snort again. “Is that so..” Gladys said thoughtfully, “And why is that so funny?”

      “Silly.” Stella said, “Nobody sees angels they only saw them in the Bible and Grampa isn’t in the Bible.” “Looking fo a good story Gladys prodded Stella along, “How do you know that?” She asked. “ I thought it was pretty obvious.” Stella said no longer laughing, “Besides, Grampa was a bit hysterical when they got him out.”

      “Got him out.” Gladys thought to herself, “That sound good. Maybe he was drunk and fell in a hole...” “Got him out of where?” She asked out loud. “Out of church!” Stella said, “Didn't you hear about the tornado?” “Oh, that.” Gladys said a bit disappointed. “Well,”Stella went on, “He was one of those trapped in the building and that is where he said it happened.”

      “Where he saw the angel?” Gladys asked. “Yeah.” Stella said and then let out a snort, “He said it told him they would all be safe and that things would be worse on their mission trip but they were not to worry only trust in God and He would see them through.”

      “Sound like some good advice.” Came a man's voice. “It was Randy Smith and apparently he had heard the whole conversation. “You don’t believe he saw an angel, do you?” Stella asked. “I wasn’t there but I don’t see why not.” “Are you cracking up?” Stella asked. “From the way you sounded.” Gladys butted in, “You were the one cracking up.” “Besides,” Randy went on, “An angel appeared like that to Paul, and the Bible says that some people see angels and don’t even know it. In fact, they’re probably all around us.”

      When Stella heard that she started to cry. “I missed seeing an angel?” she said and then ran off. “Are you sure he wasn't a little, well, you know...” Gladys said to Randy but Randy gave her a stern look back and then she ran off.

      Have you ever felt like a stranger in a new place? Sometimes we are strangers, sometimes we see the strangers and sometimes we want to avoid them. In the Bible we see times when strangers showed up but, were they really strangers?

      In Genesis 18 we read of the appearance of three men to Abraham .... He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, "O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. … They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent." The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. … Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Genesis 18:1-22 (ESV)

      In Genesis 32 it is Jacob's turn .... And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."

Genesis 32:22-30 (ESV)

      Hebrews 13:2 says Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (ESV) Have you ever wondered if the strange that just walked by or that you just walked by may have been an angel. If if the strangers around us are not angels we do have a duty towards them.

• Leviticus 19:34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)
• Leviticus 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)
• Exodus 22:21 "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (NASB)
• Deuteronomy 24:17 You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow's garment as a pledge. (NKJV)
• Deuteronomy 26:11 So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. (NKJV)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• What would you do if an angel did appear before you as a stranger?
• When you have been a stranger how have you wanted to be treated?

SUPER HERO NEEDED

      Thing were looking pretty bad for Pupperville. Ever since the conspiracy of rebellion took over things have been getting worse and worse. You couldn't go anywhere in Pupperville without hearing about something that had gone wrong but you couldn't always tell if what you heard was true or not, especially if it came from Gladys Fisher.

      “Well, I'll be.” Gladys said as she entered the beauty parlor, “Is that you Daisy Smith?” “I sure hope it's me.” Daisy answered “Just getting my hair fixed up for the graduation ceremony tomorrow night.” “Does that mean you haven't heard yet?” Gladys said “They called off graduation because the kids quit going to school.”

      “I'd be tempted to not believe you.” Daisy said to Gladys, “But the kids have quit showing up for Sunday school and youth group at our church. Makes me wonder where the kids are going?” “Well I've heard plenty of stories as to where they are going but I won't bore you with that.” “Thank you, God” Daisy mumbled quietly under her breath.

       “But, I will tell you this.” Gladys said, “Things are getting worse.” “That.” Daisy responded, Is something you don't need to tell me because Louie ended up in the hospital.” “But, do you know why he ended up in the hospital?” No that was something Daisy didn't know and when Gladys said that here ears perked up.

      “Things around here have been getting worse, and they have gone beyond vandalism.” Gladys said, “Now things are being destroyed.” “Like what?” Daisy asked, “And what does that have to do with Louie?” “I heard it had something to do with the old abandoned warehouse on main street.” Gladys said. “It was burned to the ground. Two days ago.”

      “How does that affect Louie?” Daisy asked “Louie was in the hospital almost a week before the fire.” “I don't know everything.” Gladys said, “But I know the town is at its wits end. They've tried everything to put an end to the rebellion, but nothing has worked. Maybe they need some kind of super hero like you see in the movies.”

      “You can say that again.” Daisy said in agreement.” “So,” Gladys went on, “What is your church doing about the problem?” “What?” Daisy said “If the entire town can’t seem to stop it, how in the world is the church going to do anything?” “Well,” Gladys said, “From what I hear, the battle is probably a spiritual one. You need to be praying.”

      Thinking about it for a while Daisy said “For once, Gladys, You might be right. We should be praying for a miracle. And who know, maybe God will send us some kind of super hero to help us.” “There's only one way to find out.” Gladys said as her head was dunked under a flow of water in the sink. And without waiting for her to finish, Daisy said “I’ll go talk to my husband right now and see what he thinks. Maybe he will call a special prayer meeting?” and then she left with out getting her hair fixed up.

      In Exodus 12:33 we read All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, "We will all die!" (NLT)

      After being slaves in Egypt and cruelly suffering at their hands. The Israelites were being FORCED to leave. God had plagued the people of Egypt so bad, they were afraid they would die. But Israel's troubles were not over.

      Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: "Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, `Those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!' And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told. … When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. "What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?" they asked. So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot. … As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help. Then they turned against Moses and complained, … But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!" … Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers—followed them across the bottom of the sea. But early in the morning, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw them into confusion. Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. "Let's get out of here!" the Egyptians shouted. "The LORD is fighting for Israel against us!" When all the Israelites were on the other side, the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back over the Egyptian chariots and charioteers." … This was how the LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites could see the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore.

Exodus 14 (NLT)

      Could Israel save it's self from Egypt? Sometimes we need God / hero to save us. When troubles that seem overwhelming, like being backed against a sea with an army closing in or a town's kids are out of control we need to remember we have a super hero and about that super we need to remember...

• Matthew 6:8 your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (NLT)
• Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. (NLT)
• Psalm 34:17-19 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one. (NLT)
• Isaiah 40:31But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (NLT)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• At what times or in what ways have you needed a super hero because things looked impossible?
• In what ways have you been a super hero to others?