Religion column: God's angels are among us

There are many scriptures about angels in the Bible. I love to read Psalm 91:11: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (NRSV).

Another favorite is Hebrews 1:14 "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

In Luke 4: we can read that "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Many books and magazines have been about angels. We are not to worship angels but we are to thank God for sending angels to help us.

I read a book about a little boy who had been in an accident. He told his parents about an angel that took him to heaven. He also told them things he could not have seen or heard anywhere else.

I have had some incidents too. My mother saw heavenly lights as an angel guided her to heaven. Several months later I had a dream about my mother. I miss her so much. She said to me in the dream, "Don't worry about me. I have just begun to live!" That dream gave me peace.

One night being extra tired I went to bed early. I prayed to God half awake and half asleep. "God," I prayed, "I feel like a little bird with a broken wing." Immediately I saw a beautiful package. I had never seen a package so gorgeous before. It was wrapped in shiny silver paper with golden bows. I hurriedly opened it. There lay a little silver bird with one broken wing and a golden ribbon. I just knew that had to be somewhere in the Bible and I found it the next day: "Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold" (Psalm 68:13 NIV). I didn't see an angel but I know one must have been there.

Have you ever met an angel? I think sometimes they are human. I have many friends who I think could be angels because of their comfort and help. They make me want to be an angel to others.

Why have I told you all of this? I tell you because God's messengers help you and me. "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways," (Psalm 91:11, KJV).

What a God! He loves all of us. I want to praise him, love him and thank him.

He will never leave you or me.

I will always want an angel on my shoulder.

Portales resident Joan Clayton is a retired teacher and published author. Her e-mail address is: joan@yucca.net