Light & Momentary Troubles: Protection from Harm

Do you believe in angels?  Did you know that they protect us from the daily "near close experiences?  Last week, for example, the wind blew a flame from a sterno under a serving tray and caught fire to the cardigan I was wearing.  The fire quickly traveled upward to my armpit and before I knew it, the flame was taller than me.  I could feel the heat from the flame on my face.  I somehow managed to remove the cardigan before any part of my body caught fire.  The nurse who examined me was surprised by my unscathed body; she was surprised that my eyelashes and eyebrows weren't singed, and that the shirt I was wearing under my cardigan didn't catch fire.  We often try to impose natural reasons to explain supernatural protection, when a natural reason really doesn't fit.  The Bible says no harm or disaster will come near us because God sends His angels concerning us (Psalm 91:10).  Just before danger strikes, we are lifted up by angels (verse 12).  So the next time you hear yourself saying, "that was close," remember that God's angels are guarding us in all of our ways (verse 11).

MEMORY VERSE: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him (Psalm 34:7)

Light & Momentary Troubles: The Influence of your Friends

Have you noticed that the the number of friends you have now are fewer than the number you had 5 years ago?  10 years ago?  The circle you had in college probably isn't nearly as wide as it is now, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Our friends have a huge influence in our lives.  One of my favorite examples of the influence of friends from the bible is the story in Luke 5 (verses 17-20) when Jesus heals a paralyzed man.  As Jesus was teaching in a house one day, the paralyzed man's friends tried to carry him into the house on a mat.  The house was too full for them to enter, so the man's friends proceeded to carry him atop the house and lowered him through the roof just to get him closer to Jesus.  But here's the wonderful part to the story: Jesus healed the man not because of his own faith, but because of the faith of HIS FRIENDS!  I don't know about you, but I want to surround myself with people whose faith is so strong that my own healing can come from it.  The bible says two are better than one, and you should surround yourself with people who will help you up when you fall down, keep you warm when you're alone, and defend you when it is important (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).  There is no better time than the present to examine your friendships - you deserve the best.

MEMORY VERSE: A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17)