Angelic Encounters

 

Do you know that you have angels watching over you? Did you know there are 365 references to angels in Scripture? I looked it up. Why mention angels that many times if their existence were not true? The Bible assures us that there are angels so why should we doubt their presence? Psalms give me great comfort to believe that they are always with me, encamped around me and delivering me from different situations I have found myself in (Psalm 34:7) AND THEN THERE IS THIS  “For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11). I love to hear people tell “angel stories” or read about the way angels have intervened in people’s lives. We would all feel a little more secure if we would realize the constant presence of loving heavenly angels. I think it would be really helpful for others reading this blog if they volunteered to share their "angel story or stories" in the comments below. 

I am going to share three of mine with the intention of giving hope to the nonbeliever that God indeed sends help in times of trouble.  I don’t know any way that we could prove an angel has intervened in our lives except to share the following 3 of many I have had. Maybe when God wants us to know His angels have helped us, He makes us aware of it? Paul said, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” That tells me angels can appear as people! Doesn't that verse lead you to wonder if angels appear to us in human form at times? I know they can because of my experiences!  We know that angels appeared to many in human form in the Bible I can certainly remember times when someone would appear in my life just when I needed them and they were gone when my needs were met. Were they “angels unawares”? For lack of space, here are three of my personal encounters.

EXPERIENCE #1.

One day after school and walking toward home,  Karen and I stopped at her house for a quick snack and to discuss some algebra problems I needed help with. After the study, we were in her front room goofing off, dancing to some of our favorite music on the radio, gossiping about other girls, discussing what was expected of us in gym class, etc. All of a sudden, Karen began choking on the Jeno's pizza rolls we heated up after sneaking them out of her freezer. I was frozen. I had no idea what to do! There was no Hymlick manuver then. I watched her face turn a light blue as she frantically grasped at her throat. I shout out, "Oh God. Karen! What can I do??" Karen stood silent gasping for air. In my terror I yelled out, "JESUS!! Help us!!" (I had been raised a Catholic so I knew about God, Jesus, prayer, and frankly angels). No sooner had I shouted out, a tall figure appeared against the wall behind Karen. The odd thing was, the figure was about 9 feet tall and Karen's ceilings were only about 8 feet tall. In other words, this "figure" went about a foot above the ceiling in my vision. The figure was white in color, semi-transparent, but clear enough to see wings folded down to the sides of its body. I could not see a face, but if I had to guess I would say the figure was male by its build. Intuitively, I KNEW it was an angel, not a ghost, nothing evil, not a figment of my imagination.

"Karen! There's an angel behind you!"

As I watched in amazement, this "angel" reached out one of his arms and placed it on top of her head. Suddenly, Karen inhaled deeply and began coughing. She had her breath back! "There's an angel behind you," I repeated. "Don't turn around, he's huge!!"

By now Karen was more frightened by what I was telling her than the fact she had choked and was unable to breathe. 

"STOP IT," she shouted, "you're scaring me."

I'll end this experience here but add, it wasn't until I reached my late 40's that I learned from other people's experience with angels reporting from what they saw, also guessed angels to be about 9 feet tall as well.

EXPERIENCE #2.

My best friend Debbie introduced me to a lady at a Bible study class she conducted in her own home. This lady was as poor as poor gets and living in a run-down rented home although she kept the inside clean and tidy. At the time, she had 4 children living in the home, one was in and out of the home, and the oldest was in the Army. Sadly, her husband was an alcoholic, couldn't keep a job, and physically and verbally abused her. She had a wretched life but loved the Lord and showed it. She was the lady that introduced me to the bible and eventually was the one that led me to the saving grace of Jesus. Often times I would sneak food into her home so she could feed her kids and now and then I would slip her $20 that she would temporarily slip down her bra so her husband would not know and spend on booze. I recall one day I came to visit, bringing bread, eggs, cereal, juice, and other items. One of the kids wanted milk which I was not aware they were out of. I don't know where this came from, I really don't, but I was a new Christian and had not had time to build much faith in God's provision. Nonetheless, I looked with compassion at all those adoring eyes who nicknamed me Aunt Pat, and said, "let's all go to the kitchen." Thinking I had a new game to play 2 of the youngest children happily grabbed my hands as we skipped into the kitchen. "Is there any milk? Any at all?" I asked. There was one glass bottle in the refrigerator with about 1/4 cup in it. It wasn't even enough for a bowl of cereal. I instructed, "Everybody grab a chair and sit down. We are going to pray." Without question, they did what I asked. "Someone bring the bottle of milk over here and each of you get a glass."  In short, with little eyes watching I prayed aloud over the mostly empty bottle of milk. I recall asking the Lord to fill the little children's tummies, that I knew He loved them, etc etc etc. I am not exaggerating when I say I began to pour the 1/4 cup into a glass but it kept pouring until it filled the glass. Then I moved to the next glass and the next until everyone's glass was filled to the top with milk!! When all glasses were filled, guess how much was left in the bottle? The original 1/4 cup! After that happened one of the kids shouted, "I saw an angel." No one paid attention to his words but I knew there had to be an intervention. I'll end this experience here and add the children kept asking, "How did you do that?" Of course, we know it wasn't me.

EXPERIENCE #3.

One of the varying jobs I've had in my lifetime was employment with the Independence, Missouri Police Department as a Desk Officer, badge 1099.  As one officer on the force of 300 the City employed, many privileges were given to us that regular citizens didn't get. Many retailers would give me free items or not charge me at all when checking out with a few items as long as I was wearing my uniform.  I once stopped at a convenience store on the way home from work to put air in a low tire. This was only after being 2-3 days on the job. I entered the store to pay the 25 cents to get the cashier to turn on the air but he said, "No. Air is free." I said, "The sign says 25 cents for air and pay the cashier." He responded, "You're a cop! It's free." I had no idea of all the privileges that would come my way simply because I had a uniform and badge! I honestly thought to myself, "This isn't fair. I'm a person  like anyone else." Some of the privileges I remember besides free air was, no taxes on purchased items, free car washes, excellent and fast service anywhere I went, free Sunday papers, etc. BUT ONLY if I was wearing my uniform which was always to or from work. I could not wear my uniform willy nilly on any given day or just because I wanted to enter a store. 

Here is a third and most memorable angel encounter. I was on my way to work in a terrible snowstorm. Most people stayed home that day because the snow was so deep. I was trotting along in my SS El Camino approximately 1o miles from work. I had taken the back roads to avoid what backup hi-way traffic there was being reported on the news. I was on a stretch of road away from any house lr place of business. In fact, there was a cornfield on either side of me when my vehicle spat and sputtered, and then died right in the middle of the road! OH NO. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? was my first thought. I did not own a cellphone in 1987! I saw no houses I could walk to for help. It was COLD. I felt I was doomed. There was no way to call a friend for help, call my employer to say I would be late, and no way to contact a tow truck. Honestly, I was scared. As the inside of the El Camino grew colder, I bowed my head in despair. Straight away I was startled by a tapping on my driver's side window!! Wiping off the fog that had formed inside, I saw a man in a coat, hat, and scarf around his neck. Raising his voice said, "ARE YOU STUCK?" Shaking my head, "No, not exactly. My car died."

Him: Release the hood. I'll take a look.

Me: Okay. (thinking who is this guy He could be a rapist)

With the hood up I could see him, though not totally, but between the dashboard and where the hood raises.

Him: Try to turn your ignition!

NOTHING.

He walked back to my window ...

Filled with uncertainty and fear of who this guy was, I only rolled my window down about 3". With his warm breath billowing out like a car's exhaust...

Him: "Do you happen to have a screwdriver?"

Me: Sorry, no. I don't have any tools on me.

He went back under the hood. He was there for what seemed like 15 minutes or so. That seems like a really long time when you cannot observe what's going on.

Him: "Try it again."

NOTHING.

Another minute or so passes.

Him: "One more time. Give it some gas this time when you turn the key."

I wrapped my cold fingers around that key and pumped the gas peddle as he instructed praying my car would start.

RRRRRRRuden, MY CAR STARTED!! And with a few more pushes against the gas peddle for good measure. Ruden ruden! Then a nice smooth idle.

Minutes had gone by. What was he doing? My vehicle was running now. Why is the hood still up? I wanted to thank him and be on my way to work. I kept thinking to myself in silent frustration, 'hello? hello? Let's go. I have to get to work!'

I was afraid to open my door to a stranger even though he had helped me. (Women will understand my apprehension.)

Despite my fear, I opened my door to speak and thank him.

HE WASN'T THERE!!! What? Where was he? He was just under the hood. Where could he have gone? How did he appear? Looking out, there were no tire tracks on the road in front of me and a single row behind me leading to the tracks made by my own vehicle!

Too, there were no footprints around the front of my car or at my driver's side window except my own right outside the door!

THIS WAS AN ANGEL UNAWARE HELPING ME.

I've had other encounters in my life and I am totally convinced there are angels that help us in this world even without scriptures speaking of them.

In conclusion, we know that every major event recorded in Scripture involved angels, and we are told that angels will play major roles on Earth up until the last days. When Christ returns – the most glorious day of all - angels will herald His return. “…They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:30-31). If we believe what the Bible says, we can have the assurance that they are there. There is most likely an angel looking over your shoulder as you are reading this.

Until He comes, 

-Pat-