ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME

 

 

This is the 138^th letter:

 

Text for the day: Psalm 34:7

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

 

Our Theme for the day: Angels watching over Me

 

Our Devotional

 

I heard my friends and sister screaming and I looked out the bathroom window and saw the chimney fall a meter away from me. These are the words of a lady from Chile, where a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 just hours before hit. On that Saturday morning February 27, 2010 while people were sleeping, very early in the morning the ground started to move causing death and damage affecting about two million people. But through it all lives were spared, Maria Ojeda, Santiago is one of those whom God sent His Angels to protect that morning. In her own words she said, “We were sleeping, and suddenly a strong noise woke us up, like cars being crushed and bombs. It was like a nightmare. I thought it was the end for us. I got dressed and took my son's hand as we tried to get to the door and go downstairs, but it was impossible.

 

Everything was like in a horror movie. And the sound! Oh... I thought the earth was mad with us. Nature showed us her fury. We are ok; thank God for that, but our brothers and sisters... they are suffering.” For the next three days we shall speak to you about the work of angels. Have you ever wondered what part heavenly angels play in the affairs of the lives of mankind? What about evil angels, does God permit them to do as they please, or is it a limit to what they are allowed to do to the children of men? The Bible teaches that God is constantly working on behalf of His people, through the Holy Spirit and by angels, which are heavenly messengers. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

 

This encampment of angels around the faithful followers of Christ is a 24 hour circle of protection while we live in an attitude of prayer. This is the Christians sweetest assurances that they are filled with the Spirit of God and protected by His angels. This assurance of God's approval in the heart of the Christian promotes physical health. It fortifies the soul against doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief that so often sap the vital forces and induce nervous diseases of a most debilitating and distressing character. The Lord has pledged his unfailing word that his eye shall be over the righteous and his ear open to their prayer, while he is against all them that do evil. We make very hard work for ourselves in this world when we take such a course that the Lord is against us.

I must stop by asking a question to all. When was the last time you thanked or gave God credit for protecting you by His angels? It is sad but true, most people who name the name of Christian could not even tell you the last time they thanked God for the work of angel’s. Angels of God are all around us. You do not discern them with your human vision, but they are there. Satan and his angels are near also, but they can’t touch you. Only those who place themselves under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel will be protected from the powers of darkness. Today as in days of old, angels of God are commissioned from heaven to guard the children of men.  Today Jesus is longing that we come to Him and be converted from evil, but many draw away from His restraining influences and go where they are unprotected by holy angels and left to communication with the evil angels.

 

Today evil angels are longing to fasten their impressions in the minds of the children of man.  Today Satan is trying to keep God’s children down by theater going, billiard hall, bar going, and all things that lead from the path of God. Many today have fallen into the sad error in the belief that they may violate the laws of nature to gratify pride in dress, to indulge depraved appetite, or to find enjoyment in sensual pleasure, in the days of their youth and prosperity, and then stop when they please. They will not find it an easy matter to change the current of their thoughts to divorce themselves from their frivolous pursuits, and become sensible, candid, and thoughtful.

 

Today many are squandering precious time, and losing valuable experience. Many are listening to the wrong messeger with a message of death. The characters of many profess Christians are warped and deformed by years of crooked growth. Remember, in our strength it is impossible to change. We need Jesus. Oh, that we might all obey the injunction of the apostle Paul as found in 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

Our Prayer for today: Lord thank you for your Love, and in sending your angels to   watch over all your servants.   Prayer Request Thank you for your prayers for me over the last two week.   I am getting better but still need your prayers.   Elder Kevin Santucci   A person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible.   We are into our 41st week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs?                                                                         Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

 

We still Believe Part 3

 

 

This is the 137^th letter:

 

Text for the day: John 16 (King James Version)

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

 

Our Theme for the day:  We still Believe Part 3

 

Our Devotional

 

In 1956, the pastor of San Pietro in Vincoli, the Roman church that houses Michelangelo's ''Moses,'' decided that the basilica needed a new pavement. So he ordered the old floor taken up, to be replaced by the polished travertine marble found there today. Before the digging had gone very far, the workmen came upon some ancient remains; and the simple replacement of the floor turned into a complex project of excavation that went on for several years. Like almost every building in the heart of Rome, San Pietro in Vincoli was built over layers of other constructions. Somewhat to his dismay, the pastor found a cross section of Roman history beneath his feet.

Everywhere in Rome there are patches of the subterranean city, or rather cities: a special world, of catacombs, of which the grandest of all excavations lies beneath the shabby gardens on the eastern slopes of the Esquiline Hill. It is here, where now homeless immigrants sleep and children play soccer against the startlingly big backdrop of the Coliseum where Christians if found were fed to lions or killed by the spear. Years ago these places provided shelter for thousands of people. It is said these subterranean areas or catacombs were the connecting link with the city. Histories say long galleries had been tunneled through the earth and rock to procure material for the vast structures of the capital, and the dark and intricate network of passages extended for miles beyond the walls. In these underground retreats, many of the followers of Christ, when suspected and proscribed, found a home; and here also they buried their love ones who had died. The apostle Paul in his discourse to the Thessalonians reminds us that soon the life giver shall awaken those who have fought the good fight, many a martyr for Christ's sake will come forth from those gloomy caverns or grave. (Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Today there are Houses and workshops in the older neighborhoods of Rome where massive granite columns sprouting from basement floors, Roman brick archways ridging foundation walls. The inhabitants, often elderly Romans whose families have lived in the same buildings for generations, guard their secret subterranean area carefully, fearing eviction by government authorities if word gets out. These elderly Romans are acutely aware of the lower city beneath their surface lives where their love ones of years ago hide in the earth for their faith in Jesus, for fear of their lives.

Persecution is not a good thing, but history reminds us that under force persecution, the true followers of Jesus kept their faith unsullied, and the Lord added to the church in its growth. Though deprived of every comfort, shut away from the light of the sun, making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth, they uttered no complaint. With words of faith, patience, and hope, they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress. Let me pause by asking this question. What do you do when things are not going right? Do you complain or do you seek God for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding? Or are you like most people that complain at every thing that seems to be going wrong?  If you fall in the later, and do nothing more than complain, then learn a lesson from those Christians in enchant Rome. Although they loss every earthly blessing, this could not force them to renounce their Faith and belief in Christ. Trials and persecutions were but stepping stones, bringing them nearer to their rest and reward.

As they recalled to their minds the words of Jesus that they must suffer for His sake, they were not just glad, but exceeding glad. Knowing that great would be their reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets that were before them. (Matthew 5:11-12). Like God's servants of old, remember you will be misunderstood, disliked, talked about, not accepted, tortured, and some of you killed. "All this I have told you, said Jesus, so that you will not go astray or in other words, give up the faith. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. (John 16:1-4). Deliverance from this earth my fellow servant leaders was not their cry, instead they counted it great joy to suffer for Christ sake. Today let us ask God to help us do the same.

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

Our Prayer for today: Lord help all your servants be content with what ever state their in, in Jesus name Amen. Prayer Request Update.    Thank you for your prayers for the Amory Family.   Daily the Amory family are seeing the power, love and   healing of God in their son Shakir's life.    On Wednesday his blood pressure was a concern and   his breathing was very rapid.  He would become more   agitated when the nurse had to suction his mouth.   (The family tried to calm him by talking and reading to him.)   Then the doctors asked them to leave so that a chest x-ray   could be completed and a cat scan was also required later   in the day.  When they finally got back to see him, the tube   that was draining his collapsed lung had been removed   and one less machine was noticeable (Praise God).    Yesterday Shakir had surgery around 12 noon to correct   both of his legs.  Thanks again for your prayers. Our   God is an Awesome God, He reigns from heaven on   high with Wisdom, Power and Love, Our God is an   Awesome God.     Our teams are praying for you, so send us your prayer request. Remember a person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible.   We are into our 39th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs?   Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

 

 

We still Believe Part 2

 

This is the 136 letter:

 

Text for the day: Hebrews 11:37- 38 (New International Version)

 

They were stoned^, they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated, the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

 

Our Theme for the day:  We still Believe Part 2

 

Our Devotional

 

When Jesus revealed to his disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes of the world just before His second coming, he foretold also the hard experiences his people shall go through for their faith, until his return in power and glory for their deliverance. On the mountain called Olivet, the Saviour sat and looked at the city with its beauty and grander.  As His disciples looked at the city they thought all was well, but they could not see that a storm was about to fall upon the apostolic movement with in the city. As the savior penetrated deeper into the future with his eyes, He discerned the fierce, tempest that was to beat upon his followers in the coming ages. As Christ suffered for the church, so must the followers of Christ suffer through humiliation, reproach, and pain, but they shall be saved.

The history of the early church testified to the fulfillment of the Saviour's words, when in 70 A.D their faith was greatly tested, but not one Christian was lost. In those days the powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves against the followers of Christ. Paganism foresaw that should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. These were the days of persecution when Christians were stripped of their possessions, and driven from their homes. They "endured a great fight of afflictions." They "had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." [Hebrews 11:36] The Bible says great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, were alike slain without mercy.

     Wherever they sought refuge, the followers of Christ were hunted like beasts of prey. They were forced to seek concealment in desolate and solitary places. "Destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." [HEB. 11:37, 38.] As Servant leaders remember, you may find it hard today because of the many trails that come your way, but hold on. Help is coming to you like it did for those Christians of the early church; Jesus promised that not one of you will be lost.

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

Our Prayer for today: Father I ask that you bless my fellow servant leaders with faith to hold on to thee today in their trails, in Jesus name Amen.   Prayer Request Let us pray for the entire Amory family of Bermuda today.   Their son, Shakir Amory, was involved in a serious road   traffic accident around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday evening   on his way home from a family gathering.    According to the report, he was struck by a lady under   the influence of alcohol.  He is in the ICU of KEMH and   has been in a paralyzed state for his safety.    He has multiple fractures and injuries - both legs,   left wrist, jaw, collar bone are broken, a collapsed left lung,   and head injuries. Where there is much prayer there   is much POWER!! God is so in control. The parents   are hanging in strong but let us continue to pray for   strength on their behalf. Also continue to pray for the   young lady involved in the accident as she has to   come to the reality that alcohol only harms those who   you love. When you pray, please pray specifically   that the pressure in his head stays down, that there   will be no more swelling and that when they bring him   out of the paralysis that he is cognizant of his   surroundings, and also that he does not develop    lung infections as he asphyxiated and swallowed   some of his vomit.        Our teams are praying for you, so send us your prayer request. Remember a person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible.   We are into our 39th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs?   Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.