All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Encounter with an angel: "Does He Love God?"
Although I had been saved at a young age, and I knew Jesus as my Lord, my mind was full of confusion and self-serving desires. I knew that many my actions were wrong. I looked for answers in all the wrong places and with each sinful tact, I tried to convince my self its path was the only way, until I started trusting the tugs and pulls of the Holy Spirit. Once I did, I sharply changed my direction. Everything was going well. My spirit was full of a joy that there had not been a logical explanation for. Those little voices of fear began to creep in. I started to question where my life was headed, what I would do next, if I were capable of doing the things the Holy Spirit was directing me to do. Therefore, I veered again, allowing myself to be taken by those nasty little voices that continue out to destroy us. As I was treading the black waters once again, an angel came to my rescue. This is how the story goes.
Loneliness took me down a path I did not want to go. I became involved with a man I thought I loved so very much, and I continued to sin by fornication. The feeling of conviction was very strong at times, but I continued to justify my actions in my thoughts. I told myself things like, "We love each other, and I plan to spend my whole life with him; therefore, God should understand." In time, the excuse just wasn't enough to contend my spirit and I had to get out of the relationship. When I did leave the man, I drew very close to God and depended totally on his strength and comfort to get me through the heartbreak. To my surprise, it didn't take long that I overcame and began to sense the goodness of God in my life to a very high degree. I relate the sensational experience to walking on water. I felt so much peace, a peace only God can give. But those little voices of destruction began to do their business--nagging.
They would tell me, "What are you doing? You are now alone. What will you do now? What makes you think you can do that? Do you really want to remain living with your parents again? You know what that was like." I grew scared as these voices seemed to grow louder.
After a short while, another man came into my environment who inspiringly revealed his interest in me. I was weak at the time, and friends and others urged me to pursue a relationship with him. I listened.
Some time lapsed, and I was now involved with this man (another fornicating relationship) that I did not desire to marry. One Christmas, this man asked me to marry him. Hesitantly, I said yes. Why? Weakness--through fear of being alone again. Then an angel appears out of nowhere!
One day while I was at work (a waitress in a restaurant), a man walked in the building gleaming from ear to ear. I was taken by the amount of joy I sensed radiating from him. I wondered what could have made this man so happy. There didn't seem to be any reason for the abundant joy he expressed on his face. Nothing special was happening and he was alone (from a physical perspective). This man walked straight over to my section (the section of tables for which I was responsible that day), as if he already knew where he would sit. I had an odd sense about this man from the time I laid eyes on him. I walked over to the table to greet him and asked him for his drink order. He drank tea, by the way :) So, I went and retrieved the cup of tea, but when I returned to the table, something I thought to be amazing happened.
The man looked at me without a word, but with a large smile (still). He glared at my hand for a moment (I had an engagement ring on my finger), lifted his head, and looked at me as though through me. I felt strange, still wondering what he could be thinking about that makes him so happy. I also felt a bit funny because he did not speak as he continued to gleam. He lifted his hand in a way that indicated he would not be eating. So I walked away and let him to his tea. He quickly drank his tea. He did not have reading material with him, as some do who just come for a cup of tea or coffee. He just sat there grinning and looking around. Now understand, this sounds crazy, but I did not have an impression that he was crazy. On the contrary, he delighted me. I returned to the table once again with the bill for his tea. He looked at my hand again. He asked me in a gentle voice, "Does he love God?" I almost went through the floor when I heard that. I knew this was an angel sent from heaven to confirm my taunting conviction! I did not know how to respond. I was in a state of awe, as if to say how did you know this issue had been riding my conscience for some time? Furthermore, I did not see this man say those words. I kind of thought I might be hearing things because the man's wide smile never left his face, and I wondered if he really even spoke at all. I was not sure if I should answer what I thought I heard from him, or not. Was it just my imagination that he said that, I wondered? It was so very odd. Before I could get a word out of my mouth, the man rose from his chair, placed his hand on my shoulder, and said, "As long as you are happy (as if he knew I was not)," he continued to smile, but now with more of a compassionate glimmer. He turned and walked away smiling, but a sense of conviction was upon me like the weight of a cinder block. (he was finished and left the building)
I wanted to run after him and hug him, but I did not because that would just be strange. I didn't know this man from Adam, as the saying goes. I just felt so close, or genuinely attracted to this person for reasons I cannot explain. I thought about this man for a long time after he left and what he said to me. I strongly wondered if he was a divine being sent to bring me that message. For it did not seem as though the man had any other reason to come into that restaurant that day. He was alone, he did not eat, he had nothing to read, he knew right where to sit, he was unexplainably joyful, he spoke only the words I mentioned, he never looked at his watch--if he even wore one, I felt oddly attracted to him, no one else in the restaurant saw him. By the way, I asked the other waitresses if they saw the man who sat at that table, because I was going to tell them how he impressed me, but none of them saw, or remembered seeing a man at my table. I pondered this experience for a long time.
It took a while for me to gather the courage to leave the relationship I was in, but with all the conviction I felt and with that amazing messenger's few words of love and compassion, I did finally come back to where I should be--on the path of righteousness. I moved back into my parents' house for help and support and began taking a college course, which is another amazing story that I will leave for another day.
So tell me what you think--was this an angel? I am convinced he was.
Blessings to all!
GinnyBear
Loneliness took me down a path I did not want to go. I became involved with a man I thought I loved so very much, and I continued to sin by fornication. The feeling of conviction was very strong at times, but I continued to justify my actions in my thoughts. I told myself things like, "We love each other, and I plan to spend my whole life with him; therefore, God should understand." In time, the excuse just wasn't enough to contend my spirit and I had to get out of the relationship. When I did leave the man, I drew very close to God and depended totally on his strength and comfort to get me through the heartbreak. To my surprise, it didn't take long that I overcame and began to sense the goodness of God in my life to a very high degree. I relate the sensational experience to walking on water. I felt so much peace, a peace only God can give. But those little voices of destruction began to do their business--nagging.
They would tell me, "What are you doing? You are now alone. What will you do now? What makes you think you can do that? Do you really want to remain living with your parents again? You know what that was like." I grew scared as these voices seemed to grow louder.
After a short while, another man came into my environment who inspiringly revealed his interest in me. I was weak at the time, and friends and others urged me to pursue a relationship with him. I listened.
Some time lapsed, and I was now involved with this man (another fornicating relationship) that I did not desire to marry. One Christmas, this man asked me to marry him. Hesitantly, I said yes. Why? Weakness--through fear of being alone again. Then an angel appears out of nowhere!
One day while I was at work (a waitress in a restaurant), a man walked in the building gleaming from ear to ear. I was taken by the amount of joy I sensed radiating from him. I wondered what could have made this man so happy. There didn't seem to be any reason for the abundant joy he expressed on his face. Nothing special was happening and he was alone (from a physical perspective). This man walked straight over to my section (the section of tables for which I was responsible that day), as if he already knew where he would sit. I had an odd sense about this man from the time I laid eyes on him. I walked over to the table to greet him and asked him for his drink order. He drank tea, by the way :) So, I went and retrieved the cup of tea, but when I returned to the table, something I thought to be amazing happened.
The man looked at me without a word, but with a large smile (still). He glared at my hand for a moment (I had an engagement ring on my finger), lifted his head, and looked at me as though through me. I felt strange, still wondering what he could be thinking about that makes him so happy. I also felt a bit funny because he did not speak as he continued to gleam. He lifted his hand in a way that indicated he would not be eating. So I walked away and let him to his tea. He quickly drank his tea. He did not have reading material with him, as some do who just come for a cup of tea or coffee. He just sat there grinning and looking around. Now understand, this sounds crazy, but I did not have an impression that he was crazy. On the contrary, he delighted me. I returned to the table once again with the bill for his tea. He looked at my hand again. He asked me in a gentle voice, "Does he love God?" I almost went through the floor when I heard that. I knew this was an angel sent from heaven to confirm my taunting conviction! I did not know how to respond. I was in a state of awe, as if to say how did you know this issue had been riding my conscience for some time? Furthermore, I did not see this man say those words. I kind of thought I might be hearing things because the man's wide smile never left his face, and I wondered if he really even spoke at all. I was not sure if I should answer what I thought I heard from him, or not. Was it just my imagination that he said that, I wondered? It was so very odd. Before I could get a word out of my mouth, the man rose from his chair, placed his hand on my shoulder, and said, "As long as you are happy (as if he knew I was not)," he continued to smile, but now with more of a compassionate glimmer. He turned and walked away smiling, but a sense of conviction was upon me like the weight of a cinder block. (he was finished and left the building)
I wanted to run after him and hug him, but I did not because that would just be strange. I didn't know this man from Adam, as the saying goes. I just felt so close, or genuinely attracted to this person for reasons I cannot explain. I thought about this man for a long time after he left and what he said to me. I strongly wondered if he was a divine being sent to bring me that message. For it did not seem as though the man had any other reason to come into that restaurant that day. He was alone, he did not eat, he had nothing to read, he knew right where to sit, he was unexplainably joyful, he spoke only the words I mentioned, he never looked at his watch--if he even wore one, I felt oddly attracted to him, no one else in the restaurant saw him. By the way, I asked the other waitresses if they saw the man who sat at that table, because I was going to tell them how he impressed me, but none of them saw, or remembered seeing a man at my table. I pondered this experience for a long time.
It took a while for me to gather the courage to leave the relationship I was in, but with all the conviction I felt and with that amazing messenger's few words of love and compassion, I did finally come back to where I should be--on the path of righteousness. I moved back into my parents' house for help and support and began taking a college course, which is another amazing story that I will leave for another day.
So tell me what you think--was this an angel? I am convinced he was.
Blessings to all!
GinnyBear
Comment
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Comment by Gayla on July 15, 2009 at 5:39pm -
Oh that warms my heart so!!!!! I am so glad to be able to read each of your stories, Charles, Carol & Ginny... wowo, you have each blessed me.... I will cherish your stories, and remember them often.
Have you thought of submitting your stories, just as they are to Guidepost magazine? Surely you have all heard of it??? If not, it is a small book, of short stories just like yours, of many true encounters of divine intervention.I have read them for years, and all three of your stories would fit beautifully there, and I think they may actually pay you for submitting them.
If you have not considered it, I highly urge you to just copy your stories and send them in. You can find their address online at guidepost.com or I looked this link up, I am sure there is a way to submit a story:
http://www.guideposts.com/faith-living/spiritual-experiences/mysterious-ways
Others would be blessed by reading what you have written, and you all did it so very well....
Many blessings.... in Christ.
Gayla s.
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Comment by Ginnybee on January 22, 2009 at 5:14pm -
Charles, Wow! I am so happy for you that you had such an experience. God truly is amazing in his perfect love and compassion for us. It's awesome to feel him working in our lives! I completely understand how your experience made you feel, as I too felt that way. The Holy Spirit is surely with us, my friend :) By the way, I felt very reluctant to share my experience with any other person, also. As much as I wanted to share the joy I felt by what had happened, I did not think anyone would understand it like I did, and therefore would not believe it like I did. Anyway, I thought this would be a nice place to share my story with people whether or not they share in my understanding of it :)
God Bless You, Brother!
Stay in good faith...I believe your encounter was one of divine intervention. It's so good when we recognize these workings in our lives :) Jesus is Lord! He is always near to us and keeping watch. He will always know when and how to assist us in our journeys here on earth.
GinnyBear
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Comment by Carla on January 22, 2009 at 2:29pm -
Charles... what a beautiful story..and a beautiful glimpse into your heart.. We must come to God as little children, and have faith in all that He has for us.
He has truly shown you that He is Your provider, and He will meet all your needs.
The Lord is in everything...we must simply open our Spiritual eyes to see that. There is always something He wants to teach us or relate to us...or have us rely on Him soley... You have been blessed with a wonderful relationship with our prescious Savior!
Blessings, Carla
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Comment by Charles Burwell on January 22, 2009 at 1:41pm -
GinnyB
Your story was amazing. Thank you for having the courage to share it. I'd like to share an experience with you that had totally left my memory until I read yours. I've not related it before because I thought people would think I was missing a little something in the head.
(not that I'm not missing something , I just don't like to advertise it)
I won't hazard a guess as to what it was that happened I'll just relate it to you. Many years ago. Alittle less than 30. The Lord led me to Washington, DC. I had no indication of what He wanted me to do so I fought going there for over a year. Finally , literally after my health be- gan failing from the stress of not going ,I went.
I got off a bus in the nations capital in one of the not very good sections of town. (bus terminals usaully never are) Anyhow , As I walked out the door of the bus station I was very confused , and quite honestly , frightened . I thought to myself,' you've finally done it you
lost your mind . I thought 'what am I doing here and where I am I going to sleep tonight?
I didn't even know which way to walk. I had been to DC a couple of years before that but only to visit and the ones I was visiting didn't actually live in DC so I didn't know anything about
the city itself except that there is a very large park between rows of the Smithsonian buildings.
But I had no idea where that was from where I was.
Ijust started walking and praying like I had never prayed before . I'm very serious about that.
Anyhow , a man on a bicycle came riding by and asked me where I was going. WHat was I supposed to say ,I didn't know. Before I could answer he said your walking the wrong way . He pointed the right way and as he was riding off he said ' the Mall is that way it's a safe .
'The Mall ' is what they call that large park I mentioned before.. It didn't mean a lot at the time though I was grateful that he helped me. It didn't fully sink in until a few weeks later when I got to know DC better that I realized that I was walking north on 14th st NW in Wash-
ington DC as the sun was setting. To many that probably doesn't mean much , but about 6 blocks north of where I met this man was the drug/prostitution center in the NW section of DC.
IF I had continued that way I would probably not be sharing this at this time.
When I got to thinking about the incident seriously, several weeks later , a real wierd feeling came over me. Idon't mean a spirit or anything like that. I was making a delivery in the area and was trying to figure out where the man on the bicycle went. There is nothing north from there on 14th street for a couple miles that wasn't dangerous during the day let alone at night.. But when he got me turned the right way he headed off in that direction.
Actualy that's not the story I was going to relate but I remembered that as I was starting to
tell the other one . I'm sorry it takes so long for me to say something.
Anyhow, to make a long story a little shorter, I spent the next 10 days living on the streets of DC. I found out of the way places to sleep because I was afraid of being arrested. Later I found out that the police don't bother any of the 'street people' if they don't bother other people. During this whole long period of time I was praying and doubting and literally , at times, questioning my sanity. There was only one response I seem to get from the Lord. He re- minded me to 'seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you'. The only thing I knew for absolute sure was that God wanted me there. In DC that is.
After about the 12th day there I was comming out of the back entrances to one of the
museums and saw over the top of one of the smaller building a 7 story building with a cross on top of it and the slogan' Come Unto Me'. I almost fell down. I had to go over and see what that building was . It looked older that the ones that were in front of it. It Was the Central Union Mission.
I didn't know it at the time but this place would be my home for the next 2 years. But that's another story. I need to finish this one. I went in the mission and found out I could come back that night and get a meal , a bed for the night and a shower. The last 2 I hadn't had for 12 or 13 days. As I left to go kill some time until they let you in at night I decided to go sit in the park and rest.
Some homeless guy sat on a bench across from me and just looked at me for a few minutes with no real indication of why he was staring. I was so hoping I wasn't going to have to fight this guy for some reason because I was in no mood for that.
As it turned out the last thing I would have expected happened. He smiled and said' you'll be going to the mission service tonight won't you?' I acknowledge and he said " how about putting this dollar in the collection plate for me?" I had really relaxed by then and said 'sure'. Then he said' make sure you put it in'. After I assured him I would he go up to leave and smiled and said " God works in mysteriuos ways His wonders to perform". I will never forget those words and the smile on his face.
I had know idea what he was talking about at the time but I found out the next day. I asked to talk to the Pastor at the mission the next morning after breakfast. I related as much of my story as I dared out of fear he would put me out the door. Instead he asked me if I had a valid drivers liscence. I told him I had my Fl. liscense. He said 'how about driving for us until you figure out what you're going to do? ' Then he said' our regular driver went in the hospital the night before last and we don't know when he'll be back. We'll pay for it if you're willing to have youe liscense transfered over and drive for us. '
That was my beginning on a 2 year journey of learning and failing and growing in the Lord. But that's another story.
All I'm saying by this is that I believe it was the 'hand of God' behind all of it. I 'm not saying these men were angels or anything like that . All I know is that' coincience' had absolutely nothing to do with what happened. I know most will probably think I'm strange for believing that , but whether or not you belive it doesn't change the truth of it one iota.
Just wanted to share that with you and thank you for having the courage to tell yours. I have only related this story to one other person before now. I guess whatever people think they'll just have to think but this is one of the many' treasures' God has given me to remind me of His ability to take care of my needs in extreme circumstances and in extreme ways .
GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!
In His service
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Comment by Ginnybee on January 18, 2009 at 12:23pm
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hello Carla,
I did not think that you or Ron were implying anything negative. I was just being highly critical of my self, as always, lol. You are just fine, and I appreciate your comments very much! Thank you, thank you :)
Carol,
That is amazing! wow...so, you repeatedly saw this person, not just one time, but on a regular basis for weeks!?
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, I believe you about the experience..and i don't think you're nuts..but I was wondering the same as Carla was. Can you explain what your perspective is about angels and human spirits? Such an experience might scare me a little. I may be looking at it wrong, but just in case, can you help me to understand your experience and your perspective better? Lovingly!
In Christ Jesus,
GinnyB
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Comment by Carla on January 18, 2009 at 10:22am
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Hello Carol,
What a beautiful story.... Praise God that you are healed from your cancer.
your story would suggest that this man who passed away became an angel...
Do you think we become angels when we die?
Love and Blessings in Christ, Carla
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Comment by Carol Ann Poisson on January 18, 2009 at 1:13am -
Hi GB
I believe it was an angel myself because it happened to me in 2004 when I was diagnoised with Cancer. My doctor said she made an appointment with a Dr, Sheppro, and My Sister said to go see Dr shapprio. So I went to the Hospital for my chemo, and I said My Name is Carol and I have a 10 A.M. appointment with Dr. Shepherd. She looked at the appointment Book and said Yes he will be with you in a minute. ( I have no idea why I said Shepherd) This man came out with a big beautiful smile. His teeth were sparkling white, He had a white robe on, and there was a glow about him. i sat in the seat he took my blood pressure, it was high, and then he started the IV, and He asked me? Are you spreading My Gospel, I said Yes I am everyday. He said yes I know.I just looked at him didn't say a word. I had gone for 6 weeks, and my treatment was over for awhile. He was telling me that He, and His wife were leaving to go to California to do some mission work with a friend of his who is a pastor. So I went to the Christian Book Store, and Bought Him a plaque that says Jesus Christ is Lord on the top, and on the bottom it says over all. I went to bring it to him, and I had asked the nurse if I could see Dr. Daniel P. Shepherd. I had a gift for him, and she looked at me and said WHO? So I told her again, and she said we don't have a Dr. Daniel Shepherd here. My heart sank to my feet and up to my chest again.
A nurse came out and asked me what his name was again, and I told her. She said wait I will be right back. She came back 10 minutes later, and said is this the man, and I said Yes that's him, and His wife. She told me that Dr. Shepherd, and his wife died 10 years ago in an auto accident going to california.
You should have seen me. I was shocked to the point I could not talk or move. I started to shake and then I started to cry. I said this is impossible. It can't be. I came here three times a week in that room, and they opened the door, and it was a Broom closet. I said NO! I WAS IN THAT ROOM 3 TIMES A WEEK.I did not want them to think I was mad.
After the shock of it all I finally got in my car, and drove to see my Pastor Kerry, and told Him what I just told You, and He said Praise God Carol You had a visitation. PRAISE GOD!! i SAID WHAT? WHY ME? He said why not you? You are faithful to God, and you do what is asked of you. Why Not? So he prayed over me. I went back to the Hospital not knowing who I was going to get. They did some tests on me, and when the results came in, the Doctor told me that the cancer was gone, and I cried and said Thank You Jesus.
This man I will never forget. I keep him in my heart all of the time. I wish I could see him again. and I know I will someday. Amen? So yes we talk to angels everyday and we don't even know it. God Blessed you Hon like he Blessed me. I will never forget Him. God is so good. I was afraid to say anything because I didn't want you to think I was nuts. ha ha ha!!!
God Bless You Hon. Be Happy
Love in Jesus
Sis Carol
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Comment by Carla on January 17, 2009 at 7:49pm
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Hi GB......the way you presented your story was just fine.. :)
I didn't think at all that you had innapropriate feelilngs towards this messenger...
Blessings, Carla
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Comment by Ginnybee on January 17, 2009 at 6:57pm
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Hi Carla,
Yes, perhaps :) Whether he was an angel or a man of God, no matter. He was a wonderful blessing to me!
I may have misrepresented some things in the story. Just in case...This person of whom I spoke was not in any way coming on to me, as it may appear from my presentation. His intent, I knew, was of a pure nature, that was obvious. It was his pure and noble nature I think that astounded me. And when I said I was strangely attracted to this person, I meant I felt a peacful connection to him, if that makes any sense, lol, not a lusting attraction. Anyway, I thought I should clarify, becuase I may have misportrayed the encounter for lack of more decisive words. Thanks for your comments. I agree with both you and Ron. My focus is on Jesus, as it was then, too. That was the reason I thought the man was a good messenger for simply confirming what had already been bothering me about the engagement. Peace be with you both!
Love and God bless,
GB
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Comment by Carla on January 17, 2009 at 5:47pm
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Hi GinnyBear,
I like what Ron already said..it could have been an angel..... It sounds like a beautiful experience.
If he wasn't an angel, perhaps a Christ follower who was simply being obedient.
I pray that we will each be so intimately connected to our Lord, that He can use all of us in this way...profoundly to make a difference in other people's lives....For His Glory!
As Ron has already said, keep your focus on Christ.
Love and Blessings in Christ, Carla
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