AWAKENED BY ANGELS

AWAKENED BY ANGELS

It was my first day at St. Louis Christian College. I was a student and a girls' Dorm Mom while there. There were no scheduled classes, but I had to talk to a counselor, revise my study load, purchase books, etc. I had thought about setting my alarm the night before but didn't since I wasn't on a set schedule. Amazingly, at the very time I would have set the alarm, angels woke me up. Yes, it's true. You see, I have these large, 3-dimensional Siamese twin angels that were hanging on the wall above my bed. Promptly at 7:05 am they fell on my head and woke me up. Not at 3:00 in the morning, or at 5:00 a.m., or even later at noon. No, it was 7:05 a.m.

If they were made of ceramic, I would now have a big scar across the top of my head. The emergency room report would read, "Deep laceration of the upper cranium as a result of a blow to the head said to have been caused by angels." In laymen's language, it would read, "She was knocked up the side of the head by angels." Few would be surprised because I can be very stubborn. 

If the angels were made of cast iron, I would be dead right now. The newspaper headline would read, "College student killed by angels as she slept." As it was, the angels were only paper mache and no harm was done. In fact, the humor of it took a lot of stress off my first day jitters.

After it happened  I began to wonder if God was trying to send me a message. I silently asked, "Is that you, God? Are you trying to tell me something? I'm listening." Nothing. So I got ready and went over to the college, still pondering my religious experience, giggling within at the type of angels God sent forth to minister to me. I had to be careful not to laugh out loud because it would leave a bad first impression on my fellow students and others who might witness my seemingly unexplainable outbursts of laughter.

I was feeling pretty good about my importance to the Lord. After all, could any of the other students say they were awakened by angels on the first day of college? No, just me. I was really proud. Then it hit me. I don't mean the angels this time. The thought hit me: they were

fallen angels. Uh oh! My whole perspective changed. There could be some real meaning behind this. After all, God is very symbolic. Was I being punished by God? Was there a sin in my life I needed to give up? Or maybe this was the equivalent to a slap in the face from Satan. Maybe he is angry at me for going to a Christian college. He thought he had beaten me down with life's problems. If so, 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮 I'm ba-a-ack 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮!

Eventually I began to mutter constantly to myself -- God or Satan? -- attended to by angels? -- punished by God -- persecuted by the devil? I looked for other clues the rest of the day, but nothing, good, bad, or eventful happened that day except I fell on some icy, concrete stairs. That's bad, especially if Satan caused me to slip, but I wasn't hurt. That's good. Maybe an angel cushioned my fall. Discerning these matters proved too much for me. I was driving myself crazy trying to figure it all out.

If I have learned any lessons from my awakening, if there was any revelation (certainly not a new one), it is to be careful how I discern things. What I think is from God may be from Satan. What I think is from Satan could be from God. Or it could all be sheer coincidence. From now on any angels on high at my house will hang high above the computer table and not high above my bed. I'm not taking any chances.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matt. 10:22),

 
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...(Mark 16:16),

 
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (John 10:9),

 
...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21),

 
there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13),

 
...hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord (I Corinthians 5:5). Note that the point isn't that Satan is allotted his punishment but the intent of punishment is that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (I Corinthians 15:2)

it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:5)

 
...women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (I Timothy 2:15)

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good. (Titus 3:1)

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5),

 
And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (I Peter 4:18)

What are the 5 steps to salvation?

Hear the Gospel. ( Romans 10:17, John 8:32)
Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6, John 20:31)
Repent of past sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30)
Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10, Matthew 10:32)
Be Baptized (Galatians 3:27, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
Be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)

(The above verses were taken from the internet and were compiled by Gateway Baptist Church.)

MOM'S QUIPS & QUOTES

 

MOM’S QUIPS, QUOTES & WISECRACKS

(I didn’t want to forget her little sayings, so I wrote them down.)

I’m gonna kill two stones with one bird.

Pake your tick. (Take your pick.)

You zig and I’ll zag. (when about to bump into someone)

Would you like to say a few words before you speak?

Every silver lining has a cloud.

Why do things the easy way when you can do them the hard way?

Pull up a chair and sit in the floor.

If you worked as hard as you griped, you’d be done.

Anybody that believes that, stand on your head.

Aaaaah, shaddup.

“I’ll swan” “By cracky.”

"For heaven's sake!"

There’s not enough room in here to change your mind.

There’s not enough room in here to cuss a cat without
getting hair in your mouth.

When told to watch out for a puddle she said, “That’s alright.
I can swim."

When someone accidentally stepped on her foot and apologized,
she would say “That’s alright. I walk on them myself.”

When Mom couldn’t get her words out right, she would say,
“My tangue is tungled.

Dad was feverishly getting ready for a fishing trip one day.
Casey said, “Dad those fish will still be there when you get
there to which Mom responded, “Yow, and they’ll still be
There when you get back. (They were fishing competitors.)

When a bug splattered on the windshield, Mom said, “It took
guts to do that. Then she said, “I bet he doesn’t have the guts
to do it again.

Mom improvised the Hickory Dickory Dock rhyme to go "Hickory, dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one and the other two got away with only minor injuries."

Another rhyme she butchered went "T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house, was the smell of fresh meat; they were cooking a mouse."

I need some chips to wash my Coke down with.

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. (In other words, speak softly and lovingly.)

No one ever flies so high that they don't have to come down to earth to poop.

Mom and her 8 siblings used to sing this little ditty that they improvised:

"In the sweet by and by,
Gimme some pie.
We shall meet on that beautiful shore,
Gimme some more."

Big "I", little "u."

You'd better be careful crossing the street or you will just be a greasy spot on the road.

Mom's diet: Eat anything you want; just don't swallow.

When someone would get excited over a sale price, Mom would say "Well, you can't beat that with a stick."

Varicose veins became "very close veins."

Simmer down!

MY SISTER, MARILYN, AN AMAZING OVERCOMER

 

My sister, Marilyn, an Amazing Overcomer

My sister, Marilyn Cockrum, is a twin. Her twin, Carolyn Petersen, is still living but in a different location: heaven. They are/were identical. (Carolyn has a new body and a new name.) They were born premature and weren’t expected to live but they did. The earliest memory I have of them was them jumping off of our tall piano onto a wooden rocking chair. They were as cute as could be but were hyper and needed constant watching when they were little. Even so, they got through their childhood without any broken bones or major injuries. Carolyn did have encephalitis one summer and spent time in Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. She was about 8 or 9.

                They were femme fatales in high school but they were still fun-loving daredevils. They loved riding motorcycles. Both of them were witty and they were good singers. Carolyn sang lead and Marilyn sang harmony. Mom sang too and played the piano by ear. The twins enjoyed each other’s company, never wanting to be too far apart.

                After high school life took them down harder roads. Marilyn married and her husband, Larry, had to go to Vietnam. Carolyn’s husband escaped the draft. When Larry returned, he had a difficult time adjusting to a normal life. He slept outside with his rifle by his side for a while. He turned a room into a Vietnam and army museum. He had been around agent orange in Nam so when Marilyn got pregnant, she lost the baby. It was perfectly formed but teeny tiny. She went on to lose three more babies and then she lost Larry. The babies included twins and she lost them a month apart. As a side note, she and Carolyn were twins, our dad had a twin, I married a twin, and Dad’s twin’s son had twins. Marilyn’s losses continued because she lost a good job, a nice house, and her health. She later was unable to drive so she lost her car. A few years later she (we) lost a brother, our parents, a nephew, and then her twin. We have since lost another sister, Linda Overturf. Marilyn has had more diseases than I can name and yet she conquered most of them against all odds. She is now 72 and still going, though on an electric scooter.

                Although Marilyn has suffered so many losses in life, she will cheer you up if you go visit her. She has had her bouts of depression and still does, of course, but she has still got a quick wit. She’s at Heritage Woods now and is President of the residents’ committee. That’s not the correct title but I’m adlibbing it. I’ve always wanted to tell her story because it is such a testimony as to what an overcomer she is and how she never lost her faith and never had a fear of proclaiming the name of Christ. She deserves a pat on the back or a hug here on earth and heaven in the afterlife where she will have a big family and reunite with her twin.

(See Part 2)

FORTY WAYS TO KEEP HER LOVE

 40 WAYS TO KEEP HER LOVE

1. COMMUNICATE. This is a big one.
2. Tell her "Good Morning" when you awaken, good-bye when you leave, and at least "Hello" when you get home.
3. Ask her how her day was. 
4. Kiss her when you leave the house and when you get home.
5. Tell her the highlights and lowlights of your day.
6. Never humiliate her.
7. Build her up; never make fun of her ambitions.
8. Don't use her to get your laughs.
9. Compliment her often -- and mean it.
10. Don't use crude or filthy language in front of her. Show respect to her.
11. Be truthful.
12. Don't yell.
13. Be a good listener. Don't focus on one point and ignore the other points.
14. Don't begrudge the money you spend on her and/or the kids.
15. Be the spiritual leader of the family.
16. Don't show dislike for her meal(s).
17. Buy her a present on special occasions such as Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
18. Don't oogle at other women. Ignore them. Have eyes only for her.
19. Never make her walk behind you.
20. Do your part in raising the kids.
21. Include her in your activities when possible.
22. Take her on a mini-vacation or short trip to a special place.
23. Be transparent. Let her know where you are going and when you will return.
24. Spend time with her and the kids.
25. Don't criticize any part of her appearance.
26. Pick up your clothes and put them where they belong.
27. Don't cause her extra work.
28. Help her with her work when you are truly free to do so.
29. Don't put her way down the list of priorities. Certainly don't put sports first.
30. Don't hang out with men of bad or even questionable character. 
31. Don't often go to the bar after work instead of going home to your family.
32. Don't complain about her little pretties when you have a garage or basement of man-type paraphanalia.
33. Don't be pennywise and pound foolish. 
34. Don't make decisions about the house, furnishings or children without consulting her first.
35. Don't flirt. Reject any advances from women in any form. 
36. Don't discuss your emotions with another woman.
37. Don't run to help another woman out. Make a joint decision with your wife and taka her along. If taking her isn't possible, grab another man or make different arrangements.
38. Go on walks with her; hold her hand.
39. Always be gentle and kind to her and the kids.
40. Show the kids respect.

--Becky Wall

HEADED FOR HELL?

 

HEADED FOR HELL?

Matthew 5:21 - “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’" (This is a more specific verse compared to the commandment given to Moses, "Thou shalt not kill." KJV. Killing was allowed in war.)

Matthew 5:22 - But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:29 - If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Matthew 5:29 - If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Matthew 7:13 - Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 10:28 - Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 13:40 - “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Matthew 13:49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 18:9 - And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Matthew 23:15 - “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

Matthew 23:33 - “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

Mark 9:43 - If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

Mark 9:45 - And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

Mark 9:47 - And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

Luke 12:5 - But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

John 5:28-29 - “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned." 

James 3:6 - The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

2 Peter 2:4 - For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Old Testamentd.

Psalm 9:17 - The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.

Psalm 55:15 - Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

Psalm 86:13 - For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Proverbs 5:5 - her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Proverbs 7:27 - Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 9:18 - But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Proverbs 15:11 - Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Proverbs 15:24 - The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Proverbs 27:20  - Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Isaiah 14:15 - Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Ezekiel 31:16 - I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Ezekiel 32:27 - And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

Amos 9:2 - “Though they dig into hell, From there My hand shall take them; Though they climb up to heaven, From there I will bring them down;

Habakkuk 2:5 - Woe to the Wicked“ Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples.

Definitions for other words for "hell".

Hades - The unseen world, translated "hell" in A.V., but Gehenna 
Satan - Gates of hell (Hades) (Matthew 16:18)
Sheol - See HELL (Hades)
Second Death - See HELL
Furnace - Figurative of hell - (Malachi 4:1; Matthew 13:42,50; Revelation 9:2)
Gates - Figurative of the powers of hell (Hades) - (Matthew 16:18)
Hades -The realm (state) of the dead » See HELL
Hades - The unseen world, translated "hell" in A. V., but See HELL
Vision - Of John on the island of Patmos » Death and hell (gehenna) (Revelation 20:14)
Wicked People - Punishment of - See HELL
(Definitions copied from Bible Gateway), internet

MY TRAITS LIKE BIBLE CHARACTERS

 

These are not truly my traits but are pretenses of the traits of Bible characters

MY TRAITS LIKE BIBLE CHARACTERS

I’m like Moses; I sometimes argue with God.

I’m like Noah; No one listens to me.

I’m like Elijah in a dark cave—depressed.

I’m like Joseph; life sometimes hands me a raw deal.

I’m like Deborah—ready to take on an army; don’t mess with me.

I’m like Gideon; I have no self-confidence.

I’m like Jacob; I’m a dreamer, but some of my dreams turn to nightmares.

I’m like Jonah; I sometimes have an attitude and when I do, I’m going the wrong direction.

I’m like Peter—sometimes hasty in speech and action.

I’m like John the Baptist; I sometimes wear tacky clothes.

I’m like Stephen; I sometimes make people angry by trying to do the right thing.

I’m like Solomon; I have spent much time chasing the wind but have found true happiness
lies in knowing God.