Angel Kisses

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ay your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise . . .

Psalm 119:76

A little rain will fall into all of our lives. But God’s grace falls in equal measure.

He has a way of finding us with messages of hope just when we need it most.

In Angel Kisses, beloved photographer Lisa Jane shares beautiful artwork along with Scriptures, quotes, and stories to remind us of God’s goodness and celebrate His grace. The beautiful photography and heartfelt words of comfort will bring peace and joy to your heart, no matter the weather in your life.

Stop and listen for the whisper of angels, leading you closer to God’s unfailing love.

Angel Kisses Copyright © 2008 by Lisa Jane Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson®, Inc. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson®, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other— except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Thomas Nelson has made every effort to trace the ownership of all quotes in this book. In the event of any question that may arise from the use of any quote, we regret any error made and will be pleased to make the necessary correction in the future editions of this book.

We sincerely appreciate Rev. David L. Griffith (www.palletmastersworkshop.com) for allowing us to use his quote, The Difference Between Strength and Courage, © 1997.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from New International Version © 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Other Scripture references are taken from New King James Version (NKJV) ©1979, 1980, 1982, 1992, Thomas Nelson, Inc.; King James Version (KJV); New Century Version® (NCV). Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved; The Message (MSG) © 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.; New Living Translation (NLT) © 1996.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Ill. All rights reserved.

A book of comfort and joy…

Featuring the artwork of

Designed by Lisa Jane with the assistance of Greg Jackson, Thinkpen Design, Inc. Project Manager: Lisa Stilwell ISBN-10: 1-4041-8715-4 ISBN-13: 978-1-4041-8715-3 Printed and bound in China www.thomasnelson.com 08 09 10 11 12—6 5 4 3 2 1

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This book was divinely inspired, and I am honored to be the conduit of it. It is a loving gift from the Father Almighty to His hurting children so that they may have a small glimpse of heaven on earth, and a taste of His enormous love and grace. The quotes, Scriptures, and angelic artwork in this book have had an uplifting effect on my spirit and have aided my healing through painful times. My wish for you is, as you

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journey through life and the challenges it holds, that you will be able to

will turn their mourning into gladness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow,� declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 32:13

receive comfort and joy from this collection.

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ow precious is Your loving kindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.

P sa l m 3 6 : 7 N K J V

Hugs and angel kisses to you!

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criptures and inspirational quotes soothe my heart and

comfort my soul as though it were being kissed by angels.

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ll that happens to us, good and bad,

presents great possibilities for emotional and spiritual growth. You and I have free will. We can pick and choose what better serves our happiness. This is your one and only short and precious life.

It could end at any time. This present moment is really all the time we have to decide to follow God and live in His light.

N ao m i J u d d , T h e T r a n s pa r e n t L i f e

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e will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you

can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection.

Psalm 91:4 NCV

I

know God will not

give me anything I can’t handle.

I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.

Mother Teresa

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rust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:3–4 NKJV

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ow the alternative to despair is courage.

And human life can be viewed as a

continuous struggle between these two options. Courage is the capacity to affirm one’s life in spite of the elements which threaten it. The fact that courage usually predominates over despair in itself tells us something important about life.

It tells you that the forces that affirm life are stronger than those that negate it.

Pau l E . P f u e t z e

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n the giving it

becomes clear that we are chosen, blessed, and broken not simply for our own sakes, but so that all we are about, all that we live, finds its final significance in its being lived for others.�

Henri Nouwen

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he glory of friendship is not in the

outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, or the joy of companionship; it is in the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.

R a l p h Wa l d o E m e r s o n

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ou can never do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon will be too late.

Au t h o r u n k n ow n

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nd we know that all things work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

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et your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.

R o b e rt H . S c h u l l e r

hrough the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

L a m e n tat i o n s 3 : 2 2 - 2 4

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here are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.

One is roots; the other, wings.

H o o d i n g C a rt e r

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he light in children’s eyes is the reflection of heaven peeking through.

Karen Goldman

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e full of joy in the Lord always.

I will say again, be full of joy.

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Philippians 4:4 NCV

ord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live.

Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior.

I trust you all day long. Lord, remember your mercy and love that you have shown since long ago.

Psalm 25:4–6 NCV

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or the Lord God is our sun and our shield.

He gives us grace and glory.

The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

P sa l m 8 4 : 1 1 N LT

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e throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us.

We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand— out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

Romans 5:2 MSG

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hose who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord,

“You are my place of safety and protection.

You are my God and I trust you.”

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Psalm 91:1–2 NCV

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know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans

for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.

Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!”

Jeremiah 29:11–13 NCV

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I brought him inside. After some cuddling and a

my camera. As I put my hand on the door to open

just occurred.

few days before my son Dustin’s second

birthday, as we were all getting ready for his

party, I went to the studio next to my house to get it, a sense of dread came over me, chilling me all

warm bath, I took Dustin out to sit by the pond, so I could pray and try to figure out what had I sat at the water’s edge, thanked God for

the way to the pit of my stomach and threatening

sparing my son, and asked Him to show me what

My mother’s instinct told me that something was

a vision of Dustin trying to climb up the rocks

to ruin what I hoped would be a wonderful day. amiss with my children, and I ran to check on

them. But they were all fine, and I saw that the gate to the pond on our property was securely

closed. Nonetheless, as I approached the studio door a second time, I once again felt overcome with an insistent, sick feeling.

I started praying. I prayed for protection for

my children; I asked God to send extra guard-

ian angels to surround my property. Blessedly,

had happened. As I waited for His answer, I saw on the side of the pond and slipping down into the water; his diaper, soaking wet and heavy,

kept pulling him back down. I then saw an arm cloaked by a white robe reach under his diaper and give him a boost up over the rocks. Very clearly, not in a dreamlike way, I heard these

words: “Because you asked, his life was spared.

My grace is sufficient for thee.”

The vision became my inspiration for Dustin’s

I felt the heavy sense of dread lift and in its

two-year portrait, a “Heavenly Birthday Party.”

control. Slightly relieved, I had picked up my

reminded of how blessed I am to still have him

place a peace and assurance that God was in

camera and was closing the door when I heard the screaming.

Dustin came stumbling through the gate,

soaking wet and covered with pond lilies. He

was hysterical, and by the time I reached him, so

was I. I held him close and tried to calm him as 22

Every time I look at this special portrait, I am with me. I marvel over the mysteries of time,

of angels and of premonitions, and how they all came together in prayer that day. I am aware of the awesome grace of God, and His power to intervene in our lives in amazing ways.

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how Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.

Psalm 17:7–8 NKJV

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or I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

P h i l i p p i a n s 4 : 1 3 N LT

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e takes care of his people like a shepherd. He gathers them

like lambs in his arms and carries them close to him.

He gently leads the mothers of the lambs.

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Isaiah 40:11 NCV

he LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul...

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Psalm 23:1–3 NKJV

hen God has become our Shepherd, our Refuge,

our Fortress, then we can reach out to Him in the midst

of a broken world and feel at home while still on the way.

Henri J. Nouwen

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