RED HAT ANGELS

Helen is approaching age 80 and lives alone. Since she has no children, she is dependent upon the kindness of neighbors. My wife Dolly first met her at a ladies Bible study, but all of a sudden she was missing. Dolly (a member of the Red Hat Society) donned her hat and headed over to her house to check out the problem. When she got there, Helen was soaking in tears. "My money is all gone from my checking account" she cried--showing Dolly her newest zero bank statement. Dolly immediately saw "Red" the same color as her hat. She rallied her "Red Hat" ladies and they stormed into the Bank Manager's office. "What can you do about this poor senior citizen' theft? she asked. It looks like her deadbeat neighbor has been forging checks to herself and cleaned out Helen's account" "How long has this been going on?" asked the off-putting manager. "How old is Helen anyway.? he asked with obvious disdain. "Well, if its over 30 days, we can't help her---Goodbye now ladies!" All of a sudden the Red Hat ladies all saw red again--Red Flags for sure. They prayed to God for guidance. Dolly next led the excited delegation straight to the City Mayor's office--hats and all. She demanded attention to this unfair case. "This is age discrimination" Dolly declared. "Something must be done about it now!" The sympathetic Mayor listened and then promised an immediate investigation into the matter. He ordered that the local Police Department be sent out right away."This is no time to allow a 'naughty neighbor' or a 'brain-dead bank manager" to get away with this" the ladies all agreed---their purple feathers fuming in the wind. When all was said and done, Dolly and the ladies heroically earned their wings. Their heroic

angelic acts helped stop the theft and put the defendant back behind bars. Thank God for "Red Hat" ladies who still want to earn their Angel wings! 2012 by Douglas Raymond Rose Member Academy of American Poets

BACK TO SCHOOL PRAYER

LORD, Bless all dear children going Back to School We cover them with your holy Word (3 John 1:11) As they walk the wide school hallways-- Let your voice be always heard. (2 Tim. 1:9) We declare that they'll be obedient (I Peter 1:14) Not conforming to earthly, fleshly ways-- But remaining pure in their conduct (Hebrews 13:18) ---Keeping a clear conscience every single day. Let their conduct be without covetousness-- Keeping content with what they have (Hebrews 13:5) Doing what is right and wholesome (Heb. 13:16) ---Being doers of your Word---their healing salve. Keep them safe daily within their classrooms Deliver them from all evil too ( I John 5:11) Let guardian angels walk beside them (Psalms 91) ---In all that they say and all they do. Let them walk in light as you are Light (I John 1:7) Cleanse their hands and purify their hearts-- Increasing in favor with God and mankind (Prov. 3:4) From the First Bell's ringing of each day's start. A M E N 2012 by Douglas Raymond Rose Member Academy of American Poets

REPRINT FROM SEEK MAGAZINE, Fall 2012

JAY'S STORY (excerpt) as told to Douglas Raymond Rose My wife's brother Jay lived the life many men dream of. After serving his country in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, he returned to his home state of Kansas and was hired for the broadcast staff of the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL football team.He traveled on the Chief's team jets wherever they went all across the U.S. He enjoyed

the perks and privileges associated with the NFL, as well as the exciting lifestyle that comes with it. All at once his world came to a screeching halt. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early Sept. l998. Jay's family were told that the survival rate for this cancer was only 5 per cent.They responded by praying 24 hours a day. Jay spent over 6 weeks in the hospital. In endless hours when there seemed to be no hope for recovery, Jay remained faithful to God and God sustained him. When he finally completed cancer treatment, players and staff on the K.C. Chiefs rejoiced with him. They saw up close just what prayer and faith in God could do. A major K.C. television station sent a crew to his home to interview him. This resulted in other interviews and many opportunities for Jay to give his testimony of the power of God in his healing. He realized there was a reason for his battle with cancer. Jay saw that he could encourage others who were offered little hope of recovery. One headline read: "Faith and Prayer sill Work Today Jay said: "that even when the diagnosis was 95% negative, God used the remaining 5% to achieve His glory." Jay is till cancer free more than 14 years later. The testimony of James Copeland still encourages others who experience cancer. He had to persevere in the dark night of his soul holding onto nothing but his faith in God, because he knows for sure that God is always enough! 2012 by Douglas Raymond Rose

FROM DEVOZINE MAGAZINE: 8-12 FRIENDS

GOOD SPORTS (FRIENDS) BY Douglas Raymond Rose as printed in DEVOZINE Teen Magazine published by Upper Room Two-faced people are the most challenging to love. I have had friends who seemed to change from day to day--sometimes interested in friendship and other times not so much. Finally, I turned it all over to the Lord. I realized that sometimes we expect more from human friends than they are able to give. I've found more faithful friends, who have renewed my faith in God and in true Friend

ship. Only as we love our Father God can we faithfully love one another.

FROM CREATION MAGAZINE ,Summer, 2012

TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS by Douglas Rose Even a cursory glance at a Biblical glossary clearly reveals that the Creator of the universe places great importance upon trees of many different kinds, roughly 23 species can be found in Scripture. In one instance, Isaiah 61:3 says:" The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called Trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." As I research this colorful tree theme in scripture, I see many comparisons in the men and women of the Bible to the growing of trees. Psal

m 1:3 says people of God will be 'like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. Wow! What a promise to those interested in being Trees of Righteousness!

AMERICAN SOLDIER I AM

I sleep in fox holes With too little to eat; I stand at my post In cold, heat or sleet; My Dad stood watch in the jungles of Nam A faithful American Soldier---I Am. I'm here by my own choice I'm here day and night--- My Gramps died at Pearl Harbor On that now fateful night. I'm taking my turn for one and all Making sure that Old Glory shall never fall. I'm away from my dear family My own kids and my home, My wife sends me pictures Often I'm afraid and alone. All I ask is that you pray for this son of Uncle Sam A dedicated and faithful American Soldier---I Am. 2012 by Douglas Raymond Rose Member Academy of American Poets

FROM GUIDEPOSTS' ANGELS ON EARTH 7-12

ANGELSAURUS REX Eight was an important Birthday, I took my grandson Brennan to the Dollar General to pick something out. "Okay, Pawpy" he said, and ran off to check out the merchandise. A few minutes later, he returned with a toy in tow. Not just any toy---a four-foot-tall stuffed Tyannosaurus Rex. It was bigger than he was. Another customer laughed to see him carry it. "This is what I want, Pawpy!" he said. He loved dinosaurs. "Let me check the price tag" I said. Just as I feared, it was way too much for my fixed income. Brennan picked something less expensive. As we walked out to the car, I heard hurried footsteps behind us. "Stop!" It was the customer from the store. She was carrying the T-Rex. "Happy birthday" she said and handed to a grinning almost eight year old. Brennan hugged his new T-Rex all the way home and I was thankful that Angels aren't extinct. Douglas Raymond Rose Grand Prairie, Texas