On her website, www.destinedforheaven.com, Sarah Jane Doohan has a post taken from Billy Graham’s masterful book titled Angels, first published back in 1975. It is about what happened one night in the lives of John G. and Mary Paton, Presbyterian Missionaries who were serving in the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific back in the nineteenth century.
“Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patrons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.
When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them.
A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Patron, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them.
The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and I.”
The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard – hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack.
Only then did Mr. Patron realize that God had sent his angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation.”
I love this story. It reminds me that, just as Jesus promised, as I live out my life, I am not alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Nor will He put any more on me than He gives me the strength to endure (I Corinthians 10:13).
And if this were not enough, He has given His angels a charge to watch over me, so that I will be protected in all ways (Psalm 91:11).
Because of these things, and numerous other promises from the Word of God, I will not live in fear of what tomorrow may hold. Instead, I will go boldly into the coming year and look to each new day as a blessing from my Heavenly Father, with ample opportunity to glorify Him by the life I live. I wish the same for you.
Happy New Year!
SOURCE: ttp://destinedforheaven.wordpress.com/2010/08
/04/true-account/
“Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patrons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.
When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them.
A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Patron, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them.
The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and I.”
The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard – hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack.
Only then did Mr. Patron realize that God had sent his angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation.”
I love this story. It reminds me that, just as Jesus promised, as I live out my life, I am not alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Nor will He put any more on me than He gives me the strength to endure (I Corinthians 10:13).
And if this were not enough, He has given His angels a charge to watch over me, so that I will be protected in all ways (Psalm 91:11).
Because of these things, and numerous other promises from the Word of God, I will not live in fear of what tomorrow may hold. Instead, I will go boldly into the coming year and look to each new day as a blessing from my Heavenly Father, with ample opportunity to glorify Him by the life I live. I wish the same for you.
Happy New Year!
SOURCE: ttp://destinedforheaven.wordpress.com/2010/08
/04/true-account/