On Angel's Wings

How lovely is this angel to go along with our proverb today with the sun behind him or her, The colorful and golden angel carries a sceptre and has red and gold wings, a blue and red robe with a golden sash. It is from the Vatican Museum in Rome.

It appears the angel is explains something about the sun or perhaps is a messenger of the Son of God. Whatever the case, it is a lovely work of art. And our proverb is a lovely and poetic one from Solomon, that may be it, the angel could be delivering a kind word to a soul in need. No doubt they do, through the Spirit and using believers to share God’s love.

Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Proverbs 25:11

How precious is a word of hope, have a blessed Mother’s Day week. I will post some other guardian angels this weekend.

Bernhard Plockhorst, the Guardian Angel, from 1886 influenced many other guardian angel painting and postcards. The colorful lithograph, has an angel watching over two children precariously close to a cliff, others, some I have posted range from bridges, to streams or lakes. The same God who created the earth and laid it’s very foundations can surely protect us.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Plockhorst

Since children are a joy for us, it should give mothers a great joy to know that they can pray for their little ones and teach them about Jesus, the sooner the better. I have sung Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like Me to so many children and babies.

I charge them with your child’s care in His name and with His authority. Keep them from harm and danger, and from evil, let them sleep in heavenly peace, let them be taught by the Lrd and have great peace. Give them favor and fill them with your Spirit.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10

Despise, to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain; scorn; loathe are some definitions. And to regard as bad or worthless, to look down on. Now please don’t misunderstand as some of have me, it is the bad behavior I despise, in anyone. We can all have our moments, but all day or everyday, you would have to rethink that.

And this verse also applies to God’s children, people should take care as to how they look at fellow believers and what they say. Love requires discipline, and it should be consistent, it should be with words and not in anger, that’s why the Holy Spirit is the teacher and we should listen and learn.

 

The Angel with the Lamp was painted by Viktor Vasnetsov. He was famous for mythological and almost fairy tale like paintings. He worked in Paris and painted in a cathedral in Kiev. Two of his sons were artists as well. I particularly love the angel’s expression, head down and eyes upward.

She is holding a small lamp on front of her. It was done in 1896. Is she guiding us through life, the night or even the Psalms? It is a great representation and reminder of how He lights our way, with His word, angels and the most importantly the guidance of His precious Spirit.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

And of course, we are to keep our lamps or spirits lit or filled with His Spirit.  We must not let our oil run out as we study and obey His word and do His will.

The lamp is also mentioned in Proverbs, and we can hear, learn and increase in wisdom. 1:5

For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life. Proverbs 6:23

The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being. Proverbs 20:27

We are using the NIV, lamp is also translated as candle, the Hebrew word is ner. Have you ever seen those tiny clay lamps? Not really a lot of light, so there was need of a lot of oil.

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. Proverbs 31:18

That Proverbs 31 is real, she puts her hope in God, and even if it take s a lot of oil for the light to not go out whereas she relied on olive oil or else it would have really been dark at night, we have a constant supply of His Spirit.

 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Vasnetsov

I have heard it said that music,

Is angel speech.

Waves of praise, to amaze us,

All of us and each.

All with different instruments,

From flute to lyre,

And add the singers, and harps.

A purely, heavenly choir.

If we speak with tongues of angels,

At times when the Spirit prays,

We also speak in song,

Worshiping Him in many ways.

Heaven is ablaze with seraphim,

Holy, holy, holy, above the throne.

And a rainbow round it also shone,

Gentle faces, praising Him.

If music is indeed the speech of angels,

Why not just sing along with them?

 

“Music is well said to be the speech of angels; in fact, nothing among the utterances allowed to man is felt to be so divine. It brings us near to the infinite.” Thomas Carlyle

 

 

This famous work, of a cherubic angel plucking the strings of a lute, is a fragment of a lost altarpiece. Isn’t that a shame? So many pieces of art and sculpture even bood have been lost to history.

The dark background was  added retrospectively, however studies have revealed a building in the background. It resembles compositions by Fra’ Bartolomeo or Raphael.  It is in the Uffizi, the signature was also discovered Rosso Fiorentino and the date of 1521, but conservators are not sure if it is his writing or someone added it when the altarpiece was broken or destroyed, or just dismantled, for posterity.

This painting is Rosso Fiorentino’s  reinterpretation of a traditional theme where the notably modern brushstrokes give the work a particularly vivid effect. Can we begin to imagine paintings something like this and signing and dating it 1521? MDXXI.

I’m sure the artist may have thought of museums or cathedrals but not someone researching it for a blog and sharing it around the world on the internet. I love these image of cherubs and have used them as Christmas cards. Many are available online or even perhaps at the museums. Rosso Fiorentino (Florence 1494 – Paris 1540)

I hope this little musical angel blesses your heart.

 

Here is another example of a guardian angel on a bridge protecting two little girls, perhaps friends or sisters who have been out picking flowers. It was a common postcard scene in the late 1800’s through the Victorian Era and beyond. Guardian angels are definitely a mother’s helper.

Collecting postcards is a hobby for some, many of us just like the angels or ephemera that is used to scrapbook, even if it is online. Many times you will see old scrapbooks in tatters filled with scraps of pretty girls or angels. Mothers who do these sort of crafts or collecting will like these angels.

Some of the most colorful and beautiful ephemera, picture girls or children, selling everything from perfume to sewing items, baking goods to coffee, and even soaps. I will definitely add some of those.

But the bridge is still a wonderful symbol of our relationship to God. And He is still sending His angels to sisters and friends, and helping us pass over many troubled waters.

 

I know so many women have miscarried, lost babies at birth or even as children. I can promise God was still there and He has the answers. He is not trying to fill the tables for the marriage supper or in need of angels, He knows your pain and sorrow, and would offer His peace.

It may look like an impossibility to have joy or hope again. You may even feel guilt or shame. He will wash you in forgiveness and love, and heal the deepest of wounds. Will you let Him?

Let’s pray for babies, children and mothers this month and expect God to move in lives like never before. We pray that He covers us with His feathers, and protects us under His wings. He is the healer and restore and is close to broken hearts.

Mother’s Day can be a difficult time, but I want you have joy and peace in whatever you are facing because He is the God who sees, and He will take care of you, if you can believe and He will even help you to do that too. Isn’t He a wonderful God?

God planted a garden, and called it Eden.

It pleased Him and was His delight.

Angels tended the flowers,

Some even closed their petals at night.

It was peaceful as they slept.

God was creating, creatures of all kind.

But in their image, He had one one in mind.

He called forth Adam, from the earth,

And from his side, Eve, his wife.

Fully grown humans at their birth.

And they too, tended the garden that God kept.

And the flowers sang praises,

With folded petals they slept.

The garden was still a place of joy,

Solitude and peace.

Yet, that forever changed,

When human knowledge was increased.

For they knew nothing,

But love, joy and cheer.

There came one night into Eden,

The fallen angel that brought fear.

The wicked one whispered,

Calling out to Eve,

She ate forbidden fruit,

Gave it to Adam,  for they believed,

A twisted lie, that tricked her,

” You’ll be like God. ”

When they already were.

Adam ate too and was deceived.

Driven from the garden that they kept,

The flowers hid their faces and wept.

It had begun, God’s plan to send His Son.

Though it would take many years,

For the flowers to recover,

They fought back their tears.

Lilies of the valley,

Sharon with a rose.

Longed for the day of the Messiah,

Awaiting sweet repose.

Then came Jesus as a baby,

The flowers shivered with chills,

The earth laughed flowers,

Wildflowers covered the hills.

More time passed,

God promised hope,

His promise was kept, Gethsemane.

The cross was carried,

Once again, the flowers wept.

Suddenly…..

Their tears were dried!

Jesus was alive,

And they knew He had died.

They gathered near Mary Magdalene.

He was not in the tomb!

The flowers praised God,

And started to bloom.

Aren’t we like God’s flowers?

He wants to bring us,

To His garden, in grace we are kept.

His Spirit is not grieved.

In Jesus we believe, awakened.

To bloom, restful, having slept.

And we receive His peace and grace.

Warmed in His Son’s loving embrace.

For God so loved the world, a promise He kept,

Made in Eden, when the flowers wept.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image. ” Genesis 1:26, We are spirits, with a body and soul. Jesus came in human form, gives us the Holy Spirit.

The world laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Bettie G., who inspired this.

We will get to more angels, but since it is May 1st, May Day,  I wanted to give everyone a bonus post and we can celebrate what is considered a pagan tradition by giving flowers or planting them.

As we close out our first month of my angel blog, here are couple of more lovely angels. watching over sleepy heads. I hope you have enjoyed it so far and there are many more coming.  I have been search through art.

The Bible stories have been quite well documented in history. Angels have been here from the start, and will always be near to us as believers.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7

Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. Job 1:10

It has been my belief for a long time now that angels are the hedge. As well as the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus. Let’s keep praying He charges them and the enemy can’t get in. We have a better covenant that Job, he lived in Joseph’s day. That’s why he accuses us so much, now that Jesus blood is on the mercy seat. It’s not like when he ran to and fro looking for righteous men, and picked Job or even asking for Peter. Jesus was not yet crucified.

So he can only go after us so much as a believer, the blood of Jesus and angels hedge us but we have to guard our heart and let Him also. Phillipians 4:7 We want to have the mind of Christ renewed, not hear lies and accusation of what has been forgiven.

You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

He’s watching, so be safe in Jesus name.