On Angel's Wings

We should take a break from guardians, and look at musicians. They can also be guardians though. Many people believe when they die they become an angel or earn their wings. The Bible does say that you become like angels, but it means, you are a spirit.

I once knew lady who had been in church her whole life think that heaven would be sitting on a cloud with a harp. She’s there now, enjoying her friends and probably learning what she didn’t in church. She was a dear lady, don’t get me wrong, I made angel stationary on the computer for her, she sent it everywhere. She was my last letter writing friend, she brought me soup and cornbread when I had worked all day, so it is not a criticism, she just did not know.

What she did was to encourage people with her letters. Ask for prayers, include a verse, the time date and weather. Just like back in the war days. She thought I was her angel, but I dubbed her, the Stationary Angel. And now she understands what they really do, and if she wants to learn an instrument she can.

She would not be old or sick, but she doesn’t have wings or sit on a cloud plucking away all day either, but has joined a great cloud of witnesses. Angels do sing, I believe there are some who sing to babies or children and definitely with people who are praising God.

Surely, they sung with me on the painful and tearful nights when Amazing Grace would be the best prayer and intercession. They rejoice over sinners and always behold the Father.  There are choirs and choruses going day and night and seraphim around the throne, holy, holy holy.

You are also like an angel because they do not marry, imagine being in heaven with your ex and getting along, with the old girlfriends or even someone you have lived in sin with but now being saved, it will now  no longer be awkward in heaven. You’re still not an angel on a cloud, there will plenty to do.

Lots of teaching and learning, singing and praising, the Stationary Angel, Frances, is still making soup and cornbread. There will be lots of feasts. many things you did here, you will do there. Writing, reading, children to watch over as they pay on streets of gold. Just no more doctors, nurses or undertakers. There will things to do for craftsmen and creatives.

I have heard of a girl who saw her grandmother with angels, but while I don’t discount her story, it was a traumatic experience. Her grandmother was not technically an angel. I advise people to avoid trying to contact loved ones, and any occult practice. They are dangerous. The Holy Spirit gives discernment but the enemy will deceive. Just ask Jesus to say hello or something and be happy that there are angels around us and guardians, heavenly harpists and musicians. And we might all want to take lessons from angels.

 

Lovely spring angel,

Sowing seeds,

As the Holy Spirit waters,

And you pluck the weeds.

Sow in me His Word,

The promises He’ll keep.

Know me, Holy Spirit, remind me what I’ve heard.

As all who are in Him, the beloved, sleep.

Lovely spring angel, bring us grace.

Warm us with sunshine,

For the Son, the savior is mine.

And His love in His face.

Altogether lovely, ever divine.

How the Lord’s love makes us grow,

Completes us in grace.

Holds us in His embrace.

Spring angel, plant with care,

His roses bloom everywhere.

His peace,

I just love this painting, I used it on one of my angel posts for the Writer’s Challenge. It is by Joseph Karl Stieler 1781-1858. He was a Neo-Classical portrait painter. Isn’t this a beautiful picture of a guardian angel  with a child asleep on her lap? I try to picture myself like that or with Jesus, when I have trouble sleeping.

It has a wonderful portrait quality about her blue, almost periwinkle robe and white night dress on the girl are perfect in keeping an airy and light feel to the painting, like a cool breeze on a warm summer night. His peace. Rebecca Jones

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

Another guardian angel watch over children as they sleep. They watch over adults too. Psalm 127 reminds us that it is not a good idea to get up too early or stay up too late, that God gives rest or sleep to the beloved.

Christ is the beloved Son of God and we are in Him, accepted by the Father, into the beloved because of His sacrifice. He watches us sleep. We need not worry or fear. Our mind does not have race through tomorrow’s plans or rethink yesterday’s mistakes.

Yet, for so many of us it is hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Believe me, there is peace in Christ, but you have to sow His words and promises into you heart. I hope you sleep well, angels are watching. His peace.

” Touch me not. ” They were the words of Christ who had just risen from the dead early in the morning and did not want Mary Magdalene to touch Him for He had not ascended to the Father yet.

Noli me tangere (“touch me not”) is the Latin version of  John 20:17, by Jesus to Mary Magdalene when she finally recognized him after His resurrection. The Biblical scene has been captured by several artists  from Late Antiquity to the present. The original Koine Greek phrase,  Μή μου ἅπτου (mē mou haptou), may better represent the translation as “cease holding on to me” or “stop clinging to me. ” But I think He meant He could not be touched before going to the Father. Here is the whole painting, it hangs in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

Marcantonio Franceschini

Please read the whole story, here is a link.

https://biblehub.com/esv/john/20.htm

 

Another Agony In the Garden by Phillipe Champlaine. I seriously doubt any of the masters could have captured the true agony.

I prefer not to post the medical examiner’s results of the crucifixion here but focus in the risen Lord. But I have read them. The last thing is suffocation. As the saying goes, it may be Friday but Sunday is coming.

In the Catholic tradition, Matthew 26:40 is the basis of the Holy Hour devotion for Eucharistic adoration. “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful even to death; remain here, and watch with Me.'” Matthew 26:38 Coming to the disciples, He found them sleeping and, in Matthew 26:40, asked Peter:

“So, could you not watch with Me one hour?”

The tradition of the Holy Hour devotion dates back to 1673 when Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque stated that she had a vision of Jesus in which she was instructed to spend an hour every Thursday night to meditate on the suffering of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Hematidrosis is a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress. Severe mental anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system to invoke the stress- Fight-or-flight response to such a degree as to cause hemorrhage of the vessels supplying the sweat glands. It has been suggested that acute fear and extreme stress can cause hematidrosis, I would say that is a possible explanation of Luke’s description of Christ, he was a physician.

Though that term was not in use, I have heard that His heart was exploding, but that would have probably killed Him and it was not time. When it was pierced, blood and water came forth and even the centurion, said He was the Son of God.

Another version of Agony in the Garden by Frans Schwartz, from Denmark, painted in 1898. This one has a bluish tint and I have seen it with a whiter or lightened filter perhaps, I’m sure the copies differ from the original.

I thought this gave it a sort of a shadow, the protection of God and the devilish scheme for Him to die too soon. The plan of redemption must not fail, and God had every detail in place.

In honor of Good Friday and the crucifixion, I want us to take a moment of silence to remember Him, amid all the service and celebrations, give Him some quiet time and reflect on what He has done for you.

https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Schwartz

Looks like this may be the original.

I did not find an artist for this one but it is  beautiful and a portrays Jesus agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He faces the cup and prays for His father’s will to be done even as all of His humanity fights against Him.

The disciples are nearby and cannot stay awake, ultimately soldiers come with torches and He is betrayed with a Judas kiss even as He calls him friend. Peter, in anger, strikes Malchus ear off, Jesus heals it. That is power that His glory can knock over soldiers who come for Him and heal even after the agony.

No one could take His life unless He gave it willingly. And that is perfect love, and why we should walk in ways and not be afraid. His body and blood sealed forever our salvation in a covenant of peace. An He willed us His peace in John 14:27.

I hope you read John’s account of the events this week, or even the whole book. For it is the true book of love, because it is all about Jesus. I pray we remember the cross, but more so the risen Lord, Sunday is coming.

I especially like this one from Mattheus Stomer, another Agony in the Garden, like El Greco, he has the disciples in the background, although they don’t appear to be asleep. He has captured the angel pointing to the cup that Jesus will eventually drink.

I like Hebrew Studies and they can deep, I like to keep things simple. Remember, Jesus said traditions made God’s word of no effect in some instances. Many religious people go through the motions and many more don’t even understand why we do what we do.

To celebrate the Passover there are four cups of wine or grape juice poured, the reasons are much the same, though they vary in explanations. Passover commemorates the freedom from captivity, there is the Passover lamb which for us is Jesus. Like the lamb’s blood was put on the doorpost for death tp pass, it is like His blood over us.

The four cups of Passover are an integral part of the Passover celebration. They stand for each of the four promises the Lord makes to His people in Exodus 6:6-7. And there is even a fifth one, we will talk about later.

The Cup of Sanctification

I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. This is also a healing promise.

The Cup of Deliverance

I will rescue you from their bondage.

The Cup of Redemption

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.

The Cup of Praise

I will take you as My people.

Jesus ministry on earth defined all these promises, and He actually fulfilled all the law and promises, the only perfect man and worthy sacrifice.

Jesus sanctifies us. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:19).

Jesus delivers us. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32).

Jesus redeems us. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5).

Jesus is our joy. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11).

And that last cup which I believe may relate to the one in the Garden of Gethsemane, was the cup of Elijah. It was pour in the ceremony and left in the center of the table for Elijah. It is was left for the children to watch to see if Elijah was there drinking it suppose, much like looking for treasure in the afikomen bag, hidden in the matzah bread, which is a symbol of His body, pierced, bruised, looking a little scorched. Jesus did not remain in hell, He took the keys and was raised from the dead.

When John the Baptist came, they thought He was Elijah, they thought Jesus was. They were disappointed, although he was the Messiah, He was not delivering them they we they thought He would. So He drank the cup , whether or not it was Elijah’s. I don’t know for sure.

Elijah and Enoch never died, Elijah left in  a chariot, and Enoch just disappeared, all a type of Rapture or cating away, which is what I believe Jesus will do before His Second Coming and defeating the AntiChrist. these events are ever closer, so don’t be afraid of Communion.

Just know you are a believer, entitled to the promises, heirs of salvation. You inherited because He died not when you do. Remember to proclaim His death until He comes, know it is for healing and forgiveness, don’t be a willing sinner or abuse His grace.

There is also the phrase Dayenu, pronounced di- ay- nu. It is a song sung at Passover, it means that it would have been enough. And it it would to be freed from slavery, but God did more. Much more. And so did Jesus, His last word, tetelestai, ” It is finished. “, paid in full, would have been enough, not going to hell, but like His Father He did much more.

And also I do believe Elijah and Enoch will be the two witnesses of Revelation, who come to teach the Jews and are executed.

May God bless you and I hope this explains, Passover, and the Lord’s Supper.

 

 

 

They are above His throne, crying, holy, holy, holy. Revelation 4:8