Customer Reviews

Then Along Came an Angel: Messengers of Deliverance

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have never cried through a book as much as I did with this one. They were tears of motivation, joy and heartfelt been-there emotion. At one time in my life, I seriously considered suicide and was also waylaid-not by a real angel-but by cicumstances (perhaps sent by my angel). There are two stories in this book of angelic intervention during suicide attempts. One girl really struggles with depression due to past abuse and I'm so grateful that her story is out there to help other survivors of this, and me too. The authors have done an outstanding job of writing and presenting their stories to encourage others. I will be buying this book for everyone on my Christmas list this year. There is at least one story, if not more than one, that everyone can relate to.

There are angels out there. And they do intercede. These stories show the love of God. I think Christians always need to be reminded about God's love and about how God has worked and does work in the lives of people. The stories in this book helped remove a lot of my anxiety and helped me to remember that God is always with us, whether we can see Him or not. Definitely a good Christmas book or graduation present.

This is a compelling collection of stories written by people who have encountered an angel. The main thing I noticed as I read was that I kept thinking "this is my favorite story" and then a few pages later "no, wait, this is my favorite."

Several favorites did emerge, beginning with "An army outside my window", by Lea Peters, which starts "Gunshots rang just outside the front wall of our home. I plucked my 10-year-old son off the bicycle." I got goosebumps reading about the powerful protective angels surrounding a missionary's house during civil war in Burundi in central Africa.

Another story "The freeway, His way" is told by a senior citizen who arrives late to church, and takes the only seat she can reach with her walker. The writer, Marilyn R. Prasow, is very worried about her finances and specifically how she will pay for gas and for a prescription she needs. Her neighbor in the pew is a young man she has not seen before, and he turned to her and said "God has put this need in my heart to help you."

The young man insisted on writing a check and giving it to her. When she finally dared to look at the check, she thought it would be for a helpful amount like ten dollars, but her spirit leapt with joy, when she saw how much larger the amount was. This reminds me that God is like that, often giving us so much more than we can even dream.

Growing up Catholic, including parochial school all the way through junior year of high school, we heard much about angels. Indeed, the name of my high school was "Our Lady of Angels." The nuns told us from first grade the awesome stories in almost hushed tones of angelic appearances to common humans.

These stories in Then Along Came An Angel attest to that presence during modern day perils and struggles. While I've never actually seen one of the beings in bodily form with my own eyes, I have indeed felt the presence of the Almighty, and I know he can take any shape he chooses whenever he chooses. For that reason, because I do believe, I loved reading these stories.

Thr book is divided into three parts: "Heavenly Intervention," "In Earthly Form," and "Life-Changing Direction."

The first account in Heavenly Intervention, the "Dream Warning," hit a note with me because I've had such warnings. In this story, a father is shown a "young girl" in mortal danger, and an angel tells him to pray for her. When he awakes, he and his wife do pray for this unknown child. It turns out to be their own daughter they pray for who narrowly escapes an accident while traveling with her church youth group. I believe the power of a praying parent, the closest relationship to a child, is powerful, and God urges us intercede in their lives.

The story reminded me of a dream I had recently where I saw my oldest son in danger, and I knew before he called me a few days later that something was wrong. Sometimes God does give us warnings. If you're a believer you recognize them.

Part II, Earthly Form, the story "Angels Among Us" reminds me that sometimes God sends certain people into our lives at just the right time. They are real human beings like us. I've had more of these type angels than any other kind. In this story, a mom of two children has a stroke while grocery shopping. She and her children believe it's another of her migraines. As she is led outside by her daughter to get air, a woman and her sister are entering the store and take charge of the situation. Someone at just the right time who knows what to do. Those are God's angels.

In Part III, Life-Changing Direction, I loved "The Shivering Angel" because it so matches my own life. Stuck in her vehicle on icy roads, Joie prays for an angel but realizes in the same breath how unrealistic her wish is. She mentally compares her life with being stranded in middle of the road and, admitting her unworthiness, asks God to send help because she believes him to be "good."

Help arrives in the form of her own husband, the angel sent from her loving Father. This is a reminder to me that angels are among us in the persons we see every day, and God uses them when we need them most.

This is a heartwarming collection of stories. I recommend this book to all of you who need to refresh your faith, who need healing and a reminder of a real God who cares, to those of you who just need some happy reading, and as a good gift to someone you care about.

I found this book to be sad and at the same time inspirational. To read the stories of miraculous things happening was a wonderful thing to me. I do believe that there are angels sent from God to help us when we need it. They speak to us for God. We don't always realize it at the time but He is there for us.
I was touched and awed by how Julie organized and compiled all of these stories into one book. Some of the writers are easier to read than others but all are equally compelling and uplifting.

"Julie, much congratulations. 'Then Along Came an Angel: Messengers of Deliverance' is a wonderful book, great stories. . .(I know you didn't ask for a critique but I had to put my oar in. I get very excited about good angel books. They fill a tremendous hunger, and keep the topic alive, and we can't get too many of them)...ALL the stories are GOOD!" Joan Wester Anderson

this book was somewhat boring to me. i love angel stories but this one just didnt do it for me.