“HERE I AM, LORD” - The Call of Isaiah 6:8 for Believers Today - Love goes to great lengths. And our God is love. Our faithful Father continues to reach out to people with His love even today, His desire to draw them near burns bright as it did generations ago. God continues to use believers who are willing to trust and be obedient to Him. Because He desires that none should perish. “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Will you be one who whispers Here I am, Lord? - “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ – They stand as four simple syllables, Here I am, Lord. They sound easy enough to offer to God, but what about the story behind those words? Are they really applicable for believers today? I desire to follow in the faith of Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet who offered those words centuries ago, as God’s obedient, trusting mouthpiece voicing loud and clear the will of her Father. Maybe you do too? I’ll admit, however, there are times when I read Isaiah’s story and fear echoes in my ears, drowning out courage. And when God calls me to do something hard, something far outside my comfort zone, I’m tempted to stutter step. Perhaps Here I am, Lord isn’t as easy as it seems. But then again, maybe God’s ways are higher than our own, and He can be trusted.

 

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“Here     I am, Lord”

The Call of Isaiah 6:8 for Believers Today

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Love goes to great lengths. And our God is love. Our faithful Father continues to reach out to people with His love even today, His desire to draw them near burns bright as it did generations ago. God continues to use believers who are willing to trust and be obedient to Him. Because He desires that none should perish. “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Will you be one who whispers Here I am, Lord?

Kristi Woods

KristiWoods.net

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ – Isaiah 6:8

 

They stand as four simple syllables, Here I am, Lord.

They sound easy enough to offer to God, but what about the story behind those words?

Are they really applicable for believers today?

A churning deep within me longs to hear God clearly and walk in obedience to Him.

I desire to follow in the faith of Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet who offered those words centuries ago, as God’s obedient, trusting mouthpiece voicing loud and clear the will of her Father.

Maybe you do too?

I’ll admit, however, there are times when I read Isaiah’s story and fear echoes in my ears, drowning out courage.

And when God calls me to do something hard, something far outside my comfort zone, I’m tempted to stutter step.

Perhaps Here I am, Lord isn’t as easy as it seems. But then again, maybe God’s ways are higher than our own, and He can be trusted.

Shall we dig further into the meaning of Isaiah 6:8 and its call for believers today?

Who Was Isaiah and What Was His Message?

In times before Jesus came to earth, God searched for a willing servant to speak His message. Hello Isaiah.

He was called to deliver a hard message of accountability, one folks refused. And the kicker? Isaiah knew he and the message would be rejected.

The Old Testament prophet stood in front of the temple as a vision from God unfolded with clarity undeniable. Call it a one-on-one with the Almighty.

“Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up, His splendor filling the temple. The majesty of this scene rose even more when one of the seraphim, a majestic, winged being attending God, cried, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!’” (Isaiah 6:3 WEB)

Isaiah soaked in the vision. The magnitude of it caused him to consider his own sin, a sense of doom coating his thoughts.

After all, how could a sinful person see the perfect, sinless God and survive?

God's Asking "Whom Shall I Send?" Today

As Isaiah pondered the vision, one of the seraphim touched his lips with coal, assuring his guilt had been removed and sins forgiven.

Many see this as symbolic of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection – His forgiveness of our sins when we are washed clean and made acceptable in His sight.

In that moment with the seraphim, Isaiah’s doom lifted.

He turned from his human insufficiency to the overflowing, temple-filling awesomeness of God. And he heard God.

“I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’” (Isaiah 6:8a WEB)

“Then, these words filled the prophet’s mouth: ‘Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!’’’” (Isaiah 6:8b WEB)

God is asking that question to believers today: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Are you willing to answer?

Here I am, Lord. Send me.

The Context of "Here I am Lord" Versus Society Today

During Isaiah’s time, the Israelites lived life knee-deep in the muck and mire of their sin and wayward acts.

They mocked the “Holy One of Israel,” simply failing to grasp the severity of their unrighteous and less-than-praiseworthy decisions.

To top it off, they simply didn’t care, liking how life flowed and refusing to change.

Does this sound similar to society today? Perhaps…

Even in their rebellion, however, God cared for His people.

He desired to reach them with His love, drawing them back to the safety and hope found only in Him.

And so God sent His message via Isaiah, knowing full well it would be refused.

But still, He offered it.

"Even in their rebellion, however, God cared for His people."

The prophet realized it would be rejected too, but he still offered his heart, mind, mouth, and feet as a messenger. Because God was worthy, the message of hope was as well.

Holy, holy, holy…

Believer, can you imagine?

This message of God is worth the carry — regardless of society’s response.

The hope found with the Almighty justified Isaiah’s journey. Hope through Jesus validates ours today.

The slight hint of even one person turning from their wicked ways and toward God, the true giver of hope, makes every bit worth sharing.

Are you willing to answer?

Here I am, Lord. Send me.

What Does the verse Isaiah 6:8 Mean for Believers Today?

Love goes to great lengths. And our God is love.

“We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” (1 John 4:16 WEB)

Our faithful Father continues to reach out to people with His love even today, His desire to draw them near burns bright as it did generations ago.

God continues to use believers who are willing to trust and be obedient to Him. Because He desires that none should perish.

“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 WEB)

"... this dying world needs the everlasting love of Jesus."

Consider Billy Graham, David Wilkerson, Joyce Meyer, Priscilla Shirer, and Lysa TerKeurst.

They’ve spread the message of salvation in Jesus Christ to people who are walking in sin and in their own ways, not God’s.

They’ve been mouthpieces to sound warnings and encourage men and women — even children — to turn toward Jesus.

Consider also the Sunday School teacher, a janitor at work, the woman or man who conducts Bible studies in prison, the country preacher, parents, grandparents, artists, or teachers called to walk the halls of and instruct in schools daily.

Each houses a message, whether widely offered in the public eye or tucked somewhere behind the scenes, one-on-one.

I’ve personally been ministered to and encouraged in the Lord by several noted above.

In fact, I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and be my Savior due to the fervency of a messenger like Isaiah.

It required many conversations and tenacity on her part, but I thank God for my pastor’s wife at a small country church in Newnan, Georgia.

Because of her desire to spread the message of Jesus Christ, I will enter heaven for eternity.

(See these scriptures for more on salvation if you have questions or want this assurance of heaven.)

How about you, believer? If you’re saved, you carry God’s message. Whom shall He send? You?

Whether small reach or large audience, this dying world needs the everlasting love of Jesus.

Whom will go and deliver the message?

Are you willing to whisper, Here I am, Lord?

Offering the Hard Message that Scripture Brings

Sometimes people don’t want to hear God’s truth, like I responded initially with my pastor’s wife and certainly how the Israelites did in Isaiah’s time. The struggle continues today.

As long as people walk on earth, sin will exist. But so does the offer to turn back to God.

When called to share the message of hope, we might be scared of how others will refuse that news or how we’ll look to them. Fear causes our knees to knock a bit.

And so we struggle to offer the hard message.

But we can take courage from Isaiah. He delivered difficult news anyway, setting hope in front of a people unwilling to listen.

He warned of devastation as a result of waywardness. In the midst of it all, he trusted God. After all, perfect love casts out all fear.

Trust in God stands key. Will we?

The Important Scripture message for You

An important message awaits delivery — the one relaying the intensity of God’s love and promise of eternity in heaven through salvation in Jesus Christ.

Also, there’s deliverance and healing while here on earth, encouragement and courage in the face of discouragement, and much more in life with the Lord.

God’s healing on earth, whether emotionally or physically, is life-changing. I’ve experienced it. Perhaps you have too. Others are waiting.

People are grateful after a touch from Jesus. They stand changed. They live free.

Just look at the man who found healing in the pool (John 5:1-15), the paradise-bound robber crucified alongside Jesus in Luke 23:39-43, or Mark 7:24-30, a passage in which a Greek woman’s daughter was healed of a demon.

His hope for today and eternity still stands.

Our Lord scours the earth for messengers to offer His truth, to speak life to those walking in rebellion, dancing with death and destruction — folks in need of healing and hope.

Who will go?

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36-38 WEB)

Will you be one who whispers Here I am, Lord?

A Prayer to Begin the Journey

Father,

You are a holy, patient, and loving God, and I love you.

Thank You for the hope of heaven through Jesus Christ. I’m so grateful You loved me even when I was unlovely.

Send me with Your message, Lord. Here I am. Use me to spread Your news of love, encouragement, or correction to the recipients you’ve ordained.

I will go and trust You. Endow me with wisdom to discern Your voice and the courage to complete the journey.

Prepare those who will hear. All glory to You.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Kristi Woods, writer and speaker, is passionate about women walking deeper with God. She writes regularly and offers faith-building tools at www.KristiWoods.net. She contributes monthly at iBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com and is published in three Chicken Soup for the Soulpublications. Kristi, her husband, and their three children survived a nomadic, military lifestyle, and have set roots in Oklahoma. Connect with Kristi here: Facebook and Pinterest

https://www.ibelieve.com/faith/here-i-am-lord-the-call-of-isaiah-6-8-for-believers-today.html

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Here I Am, Lord

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/08/here-i-am-lord-daniel-l-schutte-i-lord.html

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STANDING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD - Can You Imagine Standing in Front of the Throne of God? - Though we don’t know how we would actually respond when standing before the literal throne of God, we can see what it’s like to approach the throne of God. The prophets shared with us their vivid visions of His throne. And the apostles told us how we can enter His presence with confidence. One day all of us will approach His throne. Whether God’s throne is literal or allegorical, the language of the throne in the Bible emphasizes God’s authority. Just as a king has authority over his domain, so God has authority over all creation and beyond. Living a holy life is not always easy, but it is what God calls us to. It takes work by spending time with God in prayer and in His presence. A day will come when we will stand before the throne of Messiah and be judged according to His word: “When the Son of Man comes [Messiah Yeshua] in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.

Throne of Sapphire

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Standing Face To Face With God

Can You Imagine Standing in Front of the Throne of God?

Messianic Prophecy Bible

“Above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire stone.” (Ezekiel 1:26)

Can you imagine standing face to face with God?

Would you shout Halleluyah! or not be able to speak at all?

Would you dance for Yeshua or fall to your face before the Lord?

These are the questions the American Christian music band called Mercy Me asks in their hit song, “I Can only Imagine.”

Though we don’t know how we would actually respond when standing before the literal throne of God, we can see what it’s like to approach the throne of God.

The prophets shared with us their vivid visions of His throne.  And the apostles told us how we can enter His presence with confidence.

One day all of us will approach His throne (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25 31-40; Revelation 20:4,11).

So, let’s discover what His throne is, what it means for each of us today and on the day that we will appear before His throne.

Gold throne in the clouds with gold stairs leading up to it.

Can God Really Sit on a Throne?

In the Tanakh (Old Testament), and in modern Hebrew the word כִּסֵא (pronounced keesay) is a chair. But most often in the Bible, it refers to a throne.

While God is our King of kings, He is also Spirit, so can He really sit on a literal throne? 

One of the most influential Jewish scholars and sages of all time, Maimonides also known as the Rambam (12th century) said, no.

He believed that God showed the prophets a literal throne only as a way to help the Israelites (who were accustomed to seeing kings and statues of pagan gods in Egypt and Canaan sitting on thrones) identify with Himself as the King of all kings, whose glory, reign, and authority are above any other throne on earth.

Whether God’s throne is literal or allegorical, the language of the throne in the Bible emphasizes God’s authority. 

Just as a king has authority over his domain, so God has authority over all creation and beyond.

It’s also important to keep in mind that the word for to sit in Hebrew is shev, which can also mean to dwell or inhabit.

So, perhaps God dwells wherever His throne is.

As we’ll see, His throne could be anywhere and everywhere at the same time.

Let’s start to understand what the throne of God means to us by looking at the robe that our King of kings wears as He sits upon His throne.

The Glory, Exaltation, and Authority of Our King

“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train (hem) of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)

No matter how wealthy and splendid an earthly king was, none of his robes could outdo the Lord’s, which “filled the temple” in Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne.

The length of a king’s robe represented the level of glory and splendor he wanted to portray among his subjects. 

Keep in mind that in ancient Israel, elaborate robes would have been painstakingly woven together by hand one thread at a time with great precision and craftsmanship.

The Lord’s robe is so expansive that His glory and splendor covers His entire house, summoning worship and praise from everyone.

But, of course, His glory is not limited to a building made by hands.

In chapter 6, God shows Isaiah another dimension of His throne.

This time, Seraph angels are attending to the Lord, calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

And in Chapter 66, God says that “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is My footstool.”

Even the clouds of the sky, the rain, the thunder, the air we breathe declare the glory of God, as if His robe extends around our earth and over each of our homes. (Psalm 77:13–19)

As David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

“They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1–4)

A king’s robe was not the only symbol of his glory.

The height of his throne represented the level of authority and power he possessed and commanded.

High above all other kings and kingdoms, God’s throne is in the heavens and the earth is but one of a vast array of creations.

“All these things My hand has made, and so all these things are Mine, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:2)

What can anyone do in the presence of such power?

“Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,” writes the psalmist. (Psalm 114:7)

Let’s see how even the holy prophets of God, who warned Jewish people about their severe sins ― and were also human beings who sinned ― entered the presence of such a holy, omnipotent, omnipresent King and left empowered and emboldened to serve Him.

Isaiah and Ezekiel Approach God’s Throne

When Isaiah entered the presence of God’s supreme power and majesty (Isaiah chapter 6), he was suddenly aware of his own sinfulness and did not understand how he could be in the holy presence of YHVH Sabbaoth, the Lord of Hosts.

“Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips.” he cried.

Just then, one of the Seraphs took a hot coal from the altar in the Temple and touched Isaiah’s lips:

“Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out,” said the angel.  

With a clean slate, so to speak, in the eyes of YHVH, Isaiah could embark on His commission.

“Hineini – Here I am,” he told the Lord, ready to serve You.

When the Prophet Ezekiel approached God’s throne in all its splendor, he fell on his face.

But the Ruach or Spirit entered him and put him back on his feet so he could proceed with his unique commission. (Ezekiel 2:1-3)

What God did for Isaiah and Ezekiel, He makes available to each of us.

Aware of our sin, He has removed our guilt and given us His Spirit so we can embark on our own unique commissions.

How Can We Approach God’s Throne?

Just as God dealt with Isaiah’s sinfulness and Ezekiel was filled with God’s Spirit, so we too must come into God’s presence to be cleansed and filled with His Spirit.

We know that living a holy life is not always easy, but it is what God calls us to. It takes work by spending time with God in prayer and in His presence.

But what can we do when we fail?

The words of the song by Dave Browning help us understand how we can deal with our sin and how God has provided for us.

We still need a High Priest to make atonement for our sins, as Israel did.

This High Priest who would atone for our sins once and for all “had to become like His brothers and sisters in every respect, so that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God; to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)

That High Priest is Yeshua (Jesus)!

Through this eternal High Priest, we have access to the throne of God!

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Understanding His mercy and receiving His forgiveness is humbling.

Filled with His Spirit, we can humbly but also boldly approach our King on His throne with praise and worship, asking Him for help and guidance in our lives.

“This is the one to whom I will look,” God said on His throne, “to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

The Jewish apostle Matthew wrote his book to the Jewish followers of Yeshua explaining that the true children of God have responsibilities to follow God’s word, His house rules. That’s the deal.

A day will come when we will stand before the throne of Messiah and be judged according to His word:

“When the Son of Man comes [Messiah Yeshua] in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. …

“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Get away from Me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!” (Matthew 25:31–41)

Let us pray that the Jewish People will come to the knowledge of their Messiah and be counted as one of the sheep who will enter eternity with Him in heaven.

First and foremost, our mission is ministering to Jewish people with love and comfort.

“Comfort, comfort my people (Israel), says your God.”  Isaiah 40

Located in the Holy Land, the Bibles For Israel ministry is producing the first-ever Messianic Prophecy Bible.  

We educate Jewish people on the prophecies about the Messiah in the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures), showing the truths by defining the Messianic and rabbinical points of view.

Not only are we creating the free Messianic Prophecy Bible in print form, we are tirelessly working on the creation of free Bible software for mobile and computer devices. 

This free software will be used by everyone – from seminary students to Sunday school children in African villages,  and those who are scattered around the four corners of the earth.

Our Bible will reach millions of people in hundreds of languages, spanning all 257 countries and territories in the world.

We also minister to the spiritual and financial needs of the elderly, poor, and single parents.

https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/throne-god/

These two 60 ft (18 m) high statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (14th century) have stood for 3,400 years in what is now Luxor, Egypt.

King George V wearing his royal robe (1911), by Sir Samuel Luke Fildes

Isaiah’s Lips Anointed with Fire, by Benjamin West (1738–1820)

LET'S BE THANKFUL FOR ANGELS - That new face you greet next Sunday could be one of the cherubim or seraphim . . . one of Michael's colleagues or one of Gabriel's teammates. Angels look and sound like one of us, but they are not human. They exist as supernatural creatures in and about heaven, and they are frequently dispatched to earth in human form to bring encouragement, assistance, and protection. If you have ever encountered the sudden appearance and/or departure of an angel after receiving one's help, you are never the same. Often they leave telltale signs that they are not of this earth. God's special messengers, dispatched from His heaven, are often invisible but never impotent. Have you counted your blessings lately? Express your gratitude for each. Don't forget to give thanks for your health, your eyesight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. We dare not forget the Bible and those who teach it, music and those who sing it and play it, worship with others of the faith, and a few moments of leisure during each week that enable us to release our anxieties and gain fresh perspective. There is one more blessing that can easily be overlooked — one you may not have considered. I feel especially grateful for those unseen guardians who work overtime, who actually never slumber or sleep. That's right; I'm talking about the angels, God's special messengers. What a busy year they have had!

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Let's Be Thankful for Angels

That new face you greet next Sunday could be one of the cherubim or seraphim . . . one of Michael's colleagues or one of Gabriel's teammates. 

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Angels look and sound like one of us, but they are not human. They exist as supernatural creatures in and about heaven, and they are frequently dispatched to earth in human form to bring encouragement, assistance, and protection.

If you have ever encountered the sudden appearance and/or departure of an angel after receiving one's help, you are never the same. Often they leave telltale signs that they are not of this earth. God's special messengers, dispatched from His heaven, are often invisible but never impotent.

by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

 

My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, is upon us.

As I've said for years, it's Thanksgiving, not Thankskeeping.

So, let's go there. Now is the best time of year to give thanks . . . to count our blessings.

Have you counted your blessings lately? If not, allow me to prime the pump.

Start with broad categories, such as family members, close friends, and fellow Christians who help take the sting out of life.

Tell the Lord how thankful you are for each person, naming them one by one.

Next, think of significant places you often find yourself: home, church, school, car, service stations, stores, restaurants, fitness center . . . you complete the list.

Express your gratitude for each.

Don't forget to give thanks for your health, your eyesight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. How easy it is to take these sensory gifts for granted.

Of course, there's clothing to keep you warm, sufficient food to nourish your body, a job that pays the bills, good books that stimulate your mind, laughter and tears, many comforts undeserved, dreams that keep you going, and memories that bring delight.

We dare not forget the Bible and those who teach it, music and those who sing it and play it, worship with others of the faith, and a few moments of leisure during each week that enable us to release our anxieties and gain fresh perspective.

There is one more blessing that can easily be overlooked — one you may not have considered.

I feel especially grateful for those unseen guardians who work overtime, who actually never slumber or sleep. That's right; I'm talking about the angels, God's special messengers.

What a busy year they have had!

Think of all the accidents they have prevented, all the little kids they have protected, all the enemy assaults they have shielded us against.

Motorcycle riders keep a host of angels on their toes!

So do bungee jumpers, sky divers, stunt people, window washers, single-engine pilots, fast drivers, and rock climbers.

Preachers are probably in there somewhere as well.

Scripture speaks very clearly of angels.

As the thirteenth chapter of Hebrews opens, we encounter a series of commands, among them: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).

If we took that verse seriously, we could revolutionize a church's friendliness.

Think of it this way: that new face you greet next Sunday could be one of the cherubim or seraphim . . . one of Michael's colleagues or one of Gabriel's teammates.

Angels look and sound like one of us, but they are not human. They exist as supernatural creatures in and about heaven, and they are frequently dispatched to earth in human form to bring encouragement, assistance, and protection.

If you have ever encountered the sudden appearance and/or departure of an angel after receiving one's help, you are never the same.

Often they leave telltale signs that they are not of this earth. That always puts a chill down my back.

Many years ago some of our church's high school kids and their leader went on a mountain-climbing excursion.

What began as a fun trip and relaxing time together led to a frightening experience.

Up at that elevation the temperature can drop rapidly, covering everything in a blanket of snow and ice in no time . . . and that's exactly what happened.

The ranges of white peaks and slopes became beautiful scenes to behold.

While taking in the breathtaking sights, the leader realized he had lost the trail.

The heavy snowfall had completely covered the path, and he didn't have a clue where they were or how they could get back to the main camp.

His fears weren't helped by the realization that sundown was not that far away, and they were not equipped to spend the night on the craggy, windswept slopes where the temperature would soon drop into the teens.

The boys in the group became aware of their plight, which only intensified the leader's worries. In situations like that out in the wilderness, prayer flows freely.

A dependence on God to rescue is not merely a convenient option; it's a foundational survival technique. As with men in foxholes, you rarely find atheists among lost mountain climbers.

While trudging through the snow, entertaining thoughts just this side of panic, they suddenly heard someone on the slopes above them yell down: "Hey — the trail is up here!"

They glanced up and to their relief they saw another climber far in the distance. He urged them to climb up to where he was if they wanted to get back on the trail.

They realized if they had continued in the direction they were going, they would have become hopelessly lost.

Without hesitation, they made their way up to the large boulder where the stranger was sitting.

The climb was exhausting, but their relief in finding someone who knew the way gave them an adrenaline rush.

Finally, they arrived . . . but to their surprise, the one who had yelled at them was nowhere to be found.

Furthermore, there were no traces left in the snow that anyone had been sitting on the boulder, nor were there footprints nearby.

The trail, however, stretched out before them and led them to safety.

The boys not only learned a valuable lesson about the wilderness but also confirmed their belief in encountering "angels without knowing it."

Think of several occasions in your own life over this year when you had what you would consider "a close call."

Or, how about one of your kids or friends—can you remember a time or two that, in some incredible manner, they were shielded from harm or delivered from danger?

God's special messengers, dispatched from His heaven, are often invisible but never impotent. As the psalmist wrote:

“He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.” -  (Psalm 91:11–12)

And then, writing of an individual who loves the Lord, he added:

"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high. . . . I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him." (Psalm 91:14–15)

A fascinating topic of conversation around your Thanksgiving table would be stories of how and when some surprising deliverance, some heaven-sent rescue mission, occurred.

It is amazing how many of us have stories to tell but seldom take time to do so.

This holiday season, take time. As we eat our meals and offer our thanks for God's blessings, let's add one more category to our list.

Let's be thankful for angels. Doing so will strengthen our faith . . . and we could all benefit from a boost in that area, couldn't we?

Pastor Chuck Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. Since 1998, he has served as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry.

https://insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/let's-be-thankful-for-angels

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I Hear Angels

Marty Nystrom

CLICK HERE . . . to view complete playlist . . . 

https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2017/12/i-hear-angels-i-hear-angels-singing.html

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