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Entertaining Angels Unaware

Stanfi

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The Bible talks about how we may be entertaining angels unware. It also instructs us to help those in need. Feed and clothe those in need. However, in todays world, I find it hard to trust people. If I see someone in need, I am many times afraid to go over and help them (especially if I do not know the person). I'm afraid that they may take advantage of my kindess. I remember that my dad said years ago he never passed up a hitch hiker. If someone needed a ride, he would stop and pick them up, even with his kids in the car. He said he remebered what it was like to be walking somewhere and need a ride. However, anymore, none of us dare to stop and pick someone up, for fear that the person may attemp to harm us.

I know the bible says the God does not give us a spirit of fear. However, I think he does give us good common sense. I always have a desire to help people, but so many times I am afraid to. How do you all handle these situations?
 

Quiet Storm

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I'm going through the same thing. Last year, because the university didn't give me housing, I was forced to live in a horrible neighborhood. Part of the "package" so to speak was that there were times when I literally couldn't take three steps out my house going to class without people asking me for money. Over time it got greatly annoying, but I thought God was working on my patience (well, He was, but nm). Anyway, I got so sick of it because I thought that certain people were just trying to take advantage of me but at the same time, we're instructed to help the poor. I love helping people, but most of the people I saw day in and day out at the same corner always asking me for money over and over and I'd give it to them over and over. I didn't know if they were genuinely hungry or if they were going to use it for drugs. Now, I find myself always looking the other way when I think someone maay stop me to ask me for money because I don't know what to do and honestly, it's still annoying because certain people who just don't want to do anything with themselves are confusing the genuine people who are trying to help those in need. Sorry if you feel a hint of frustration in my tone, but....I guess I just need discernment.
 
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ZiSunka

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mrstace said:
The Bible talks about how we may be entertaining angels unware. ...
I know the bible says the God does not give us a spirit of fear. However, I think he does give us good common sense. I always have a desire to help people, but so many times I am afraid to. How do you all handle these situations?
My dad grew up next to some railroad tracks, so there were always bums coming around to the house looking for something to eat. Grandma always made them a meal and served it on the back porch (it was an enclosed porch so it was out of the weather in all seasons), saying that any or all of those bums could be angels coming to test her love for God and her fellow man.

In today's world, I keep a big bag of prepackaged food in my car for times when someone asks me for money for something to eat. I tell them I don't have any money (usually true), but that I can give them food. No one has ever refused. There's usually enough for three meals and three snacks. In the bag, I have a card with the address of a nearby homeless mission and a New Testament.

As for hitchhikers, I can't imagine stopping, because you hear alot about single women being killed or raped by strangers in the same situation, and God doesn't expect us to do anything stupid to put ourselves in unnecessary danger.
 
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Galadriel

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lambslove said:
My dad grew up next to some railroad tracks, so there were always bums coming around to the house looking for something to eat. Grandma always made them a meal and served it on the back porch (it was an enclosed porch so it was out of the weather in all seasons), saying that any or all of those bums could be angels coming to test her love for God and her fellow man.

In today's world, I keep a big bag of prepackaged food in my car for times when someone asks me for money for something to eat. I tell them I don't have any money (usually true), but that I can give them food. No one has ever refused. There's usually enough for three meals and three snacks. In the bag, I have a card with the address of a nearby homeless mission and a New Testament.

As for hitchhikers, I can't imagine stopping, because you hear alot about single women being killed or raped by strangers in the same situation, and God doesn't expect us to do anything stupid to put ourselves in unnecessary danger.
Hmm, that is very kind of you to do Lambslove. :)
So "entertaining angels" means that one of those people who you come across could be an angel in human form?? Interesting...
 
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Terri

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I once had a bicycle accident in the street right in front of my driveway. It was the middle of a week day. There was absolutly no one around. I sat in the street stunned--with a big gash on my face.

Then there was a man standing there. He helped me to my front steps. He asked if I had any antibiotic cream. When I said no, he went and got some from a neighbor. He applied the cream. He told me to keep putting the cream on the gash to prevent scaring. He said he had been a medic in a war.

He asked if he could have some of the camelia blooms off of the tree in my front yard--he asked if he could come back and get more at another time because he liked taking them to people in the hospital. I said sure.

The funny thing is, I don't remember him approaching me when I was sitting in the street, and I don't remember him leaving and I never saw him again. Of course I had just literally fallen on my face! ;)

He was right though, even though I had a big piece of flesh missing, keeping the antibiotic cream on it prevented a scar.

Now, I don't know if he was an angel--but, I certainly felt I was in the presence of someone very special. I have never met anyone who exuded such love.

This was many years ago, but I will never forget him or his kindness!! :)
 
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Galadriel

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Terri said:


I once had a bicycle accident in the street right in front of my driveway. It was the middle of a week day. There was absolutly no one around. I sat in the street stunned--with a big gash on my face.

Then there was a man standing there. He helped me to my front steps. He asked if I had any antibiotic cream. When I said no, he went and got some from a neighbor. He applied the cream. He told me to keep putting the cream on the gash to prevent scaring. He said he had been a medic in a war.

He asked if he could have some of the camelia blooms off of the tree in my front yard--he asked if he could come back and get more at another time because he liked taking them to people in the hospital. I said sure.

The funny thing is, I don't remember him approaching me when I was sitting in the street, and I don't remember him leaving and I never saw him again. Of course I had just literally fallen on my face! ;)

He was right though, even though I had a big piece of flesh missing, keeping the antibiotic cream on it prevented a scar.

Now, I don't know if he was an angel--but, I certainly felt I was in the presence of someone very special. I have never met anyone who exuded such love.

This was many years ago, but I will never forget him or his kindness!! :)
That is TOO COOL!!!! :clap: Looks like you had a brush with an angel maybe!! Wow, maybe someday I will too. I have heard about how they just seem to appear out of no where and then after ministering seemingly dissapear. :angel: TOO COOL!!!
 
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erinm

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When things go wrong in our lives we find it hard to trust people. people will always let us down, but what do you think God does when his children let him down?

I never really considered that until i really started growing in my relationship with my savior. people have hurt me, circumstances have made me weary that God wasn't there. I'd always find myself asking for his forgiveness in me, but my trust deals with others continued to be "unhealthy" for me.

Consider praying and really trying to work on your trust relationship with the Father. He is so much bigger than i am, than we are. we will fail each other, but God will never, ever fail us. He has promised us and we trust that he will fulfill his word to us, by reading the bible. if we can trust God, trust that he can give us the trust we can find in others.
 
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desper84unity

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I wanna tell my story about angels, which is spine chillin' to this day for me.

But first what can we do, to help people that are maybe pretty disgusting? Well, I find that I feel I am pretty short on cash, so I can't do much that way. Sometimes I give 'em food. But I think giving them the time of day, a kind word for a change, and smile, is always affordable. Winter's comin' on, go to the store and buy the guy with the worst lookin' bed roll a new sleepin' bag! They cost about $20 now days. Coffee on a cold morning is good. A knit hat, some cheap gloves. Don't forget to listen, if they are chatty. Tell 'em kindly about the Lord. Grap their grubby hands (if their dry) and pray to God for 'em.

Now one of my suspect angel in disguise stories.

Years ago, my now ex-wife, and I were climbing a cold snowy mountain, Mt Adams, 12,500 feet or so. My wife was fit, and strong and had been doing energetic toe kicks with her crampons into the ice near the false summit at 11K, making good time. I was, as usual takin' short breathers, and side steppin to get up. When we crested the false summit the wind was became very cold and powerful, yet the sky was sunny. There was a set of icicles coming off a large crag near the top that had formed horizontal, and crystal clear.

We huddle together to get our bearings, then head down the crater to the base of the true summit. Then spindrift began to throw up in the wind of about 50 knots. I couldn't see that well, and couldn't really make out the true summit, and barely able to distinguish the form of my wife ahead. Then suddenly out of nowhere, came two friendly climbers wearing kinda outdated gear. One guy was skinny and energetic, said hi and ask me how I was doing, then went a head and caught up to my wife. I was glad she had someone to assist her, and guide her since I could hardly see her, a could not have yelled to her because of the wind noise. The other guy was so friendly, I thought it was odd, because I just don't normally attract any interest from anybody. He was very strong, and very fit looking, but had the oddest, oldest gear. He asked me if he could tag along with me, and reassured me that his was buddy was a very experienced climber, and would make sure my wife was okay. I was very happy, what a comfort! And the guy who was so strong, he wanted tag along with me! I was somewhat shaky, and pretty doubtful as to how to get to the summit, which I could no longer see, yet was where my spouse was headed.

The wind was so strong my friend pointed out a way to walk along the crater crestline in order to avoid most of it. I was bushed, and felt like I need breathers periodically, yet this new friend would always just feign his own tiredness and kneel or crouch down just before I felt I needed a break, thus sparing my need to ask. It was like he knew what I was thinking. When we huddle together during these short breaks, he would tell me reassuring stories about his own tough climbs, and tell me how good I was doing.

Then somehow, even though we could hardly see, we were in the clouds then, we mangaged to find the summit and his partner and my wife. They even offered us canned food, and even graciously took some our yogurt almonds we had. There food choice even seemed odd, it was like they so Loved to eat that canned chicken breast they had. We all set together at the summit, it seemed like a dream, to be in their company. I was so grateful.

Then we headed down. (I'll try to speed this up) The clouds had totally socked us in a white out, the crater being fairly big, I thought we were lost. But somehow these surprise guys convinced us which was was correct. Our faces by this time looked frozen with icicles on our beards and eyebrows. We were altogether at the false summit, and my wife being very fit decided to take off full blast glacading the 1,000 foot drop to base camp, with the same guy trailing right behind. I having an iffy knee, decided to take it slow at first, and decided to carefully step down the icy first 100 feet. By the time I started glacading, my wife was out of sight in the clouds below. My new buddy stuck with me until I came to a halt from glacading, and when I looked up to see him he was gone. Nowhere to be found. After a considerable while, and fair amount of calling out I located my wife who was CRYING. She had realized how dumb it was to seperate as much as we did, had remembered my semi-bad knee, and gotten some guilt feelings for leaving me after her 'guide' asked her if she had a lot of insurance on me, and asked if she was trying to let me fall off the mountain! He disappeared into the mist next, no trace or sound thereafter.

Because of the love from nowhere from these too sudden helpers, I really suspect I have been entertained by angels, unaware.

Sorry, this was so long.
 
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