Fear can be a crippling thing....if we let it. Fear can prevent us from doing things, from adventuring out of our comfort zone. If we let fear have control.........we can miss out on a lot! But, if we learn to go to our Father during times of fear, we can gain faith! Psalm 56:3-4 says, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Fear will bring out the faith in your life!! In Psalm 55, David is talking about being betrayed by Ahithopel. Ahitopel had been a dear friend of David's, and he had betrayed him and gone over to Absalom's side. David writes: "For it was not an enemy that reproached me....but it was thou, a man mine, equal, my guide (companion), and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God ..." David is so hurt by Ahithopel's actions. He could see it more if it had been an enemy that had done this, but it was a friend. In vs. 16-17 Davids says, "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice." When fear strikes in your life........it will make you pray more!!!
Okay, so here is my newest fear...........my oldest child is 15 yrs. old, and has her learner's permit. It's not that she is a terrible driver........she's a wonderful driver. I am proud of her, and frankly, very impressed. But, let me tell ya........like ole David, I have certainly been praying more! If you are a parent, then you know that with each new phase in your child's life, comes more things to pray about. If you are a parent of a baby or young child, just fasten your seatbelts, honey! Just when you pray through one phase, another one hits with a whole new set of things to pray about!
Kaylea took driver's ed in school before she got her learner's license. She is prepared and knows the rules of the road. But, as we learn throughout life, it is experience that is the real teacher. She could spend years studying all sorts of books about driving, but until she puts it into action, and experiences driving, she will never get any better!
Same with our spiritual walk. We can read the Bible 24 hours a day........and that would be great.........but until we start putting the Bible into action in our lives, we will be weak, inexperienced christians!
Kaylea is fearful when she gets behind the wheel.........and that's a good thing! When you fear something, you respect it, you do your best, you are alert and on top of things! Just don't let fear take control of you, and keep you trapped! Kaylea improves and continues to learn each time she takes my car for 'a spin'. Her fear.........her respect for driving.........is increasing her faith in what she has learned about driving in class and in the books.
Fear the Lord, respect Him enough to read His Word and pray daily. As you do this, then your faith will increase. It's a wonderful cycle. The more you learn of Christ, the more you want to learn of Him!!! Don't let fear push you into the pit of doing nothing, of bullying you out of your relationship with Christ! Put your trust in God and then, you too, can say, "...I will not fear what flesh can do unto me!"
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Jesus Is Our Heartbeat
Revelation 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup (dine) with him, and he with me." I am so thankful for that day when Jesus knocked on the door of my heart, and I let Him in! What an everlasting, life changing experience!
Now bear with me as I go 'medical' on you, lol.........after all I am a nurse. Early Saturday morning, I was starting my shift at the hospital, as I always do, by getting report on my patients. I have an 82 yr. old woman, who is very alert and frisky, but had been admitted due to possible gallbladder problems, and she also had been passing out. Her daughters had stayed at her bedside. The floor I work on is a cardiac floor, so each patient has a heart monitor on. At 6am, the night shift nurse noted a couple of long pauses in her heartbeat. She checked on her, she was sleeping soundly, but seemed okay. Then the nurse put a call into the doctor. At 6:45 am, she is now giving me report, but the doctor has not called back yet. While I go down the hall to start my assessments, she places another call into the doctor. While I am in her room, she has another cardiac pause.......this time it lasted 24 seconds! Yes, your thinking correctly, that means that her heart did not beat for 24 seconds.........on the heart monitor.......that registers a straight line!!! All the while, my sweet little lady says she's fine, and her daughters tell me they thought she was just resting good. Yeah, too good! I raise the head of her bed, wash her face, and get the doctor on the line!!! He immediately asks for a cardiologist to consult, and we get that doctor on the line. Of course, he orders her to go to the intensive care immediately and get her prepared for an immediate placement of a temporary pacemaker! The patient, as well as her daughters, were shocked with all of this.............as far as looking at her, she looked fine!!! The little lady kept asking why she was being moved to another room, she had no idea about how dire her situation was!
I get her transferred to ICU, and the cardiologist gets there and places a temporary pacemaker on her, and now her heart is beating 83 times per minute, and the monitor is full of those pretty little 'wiggly' lines that we nurses love to see, lol! She is then put on the schedule to have a permanent pacemaker placed (under anesthesia) on Monday morning. She's doing wonderful and as spunky as ever..........not really realizing just how close to death she came.
Well, you know me and my spiritual eye, lol..............I couldn't help but see God all over that one! As far as looking at me before I was saved, I looked fine. I had no obvious signs saying that I was lost and going to hell. Not realizing that I was a heartbeat away from an eternal hell! The world was going on around me with no problems. Just as those daughters were sipping their coffee, talking, and watching the morning news................Mom lay a foot away in a hospital bed with NO heartbeat for 24 seconds..........they had no clue that anything was wrong.
One day, like Revelation 3:20 speaks of.............there was a knock at my door. My 'heart monitor' picked up on something being wrong with my heart! I didn't realize how bad a shape I was in, didn't see my dire situation, but I answered the door. I'm so glad I did! Jesus Christ came into my heart that day and immediately my situation turned around! He became my 'pacemaker'! This old world is temporary, but one day, I'll reach my heavenly home, and live with the 'permanent pacemaker' for all eternity!!!
Now, as far as seeing any sudden changes in this little lady, you couldn't tell any difference. The difference was done on the inside. The heart monitor was the only thing that you could see a change in immediately. But over time, she will gain strength, she won't be passing out anymore, and she'll feel so much better. When I got saved, the world couldn't tell any difference in me.....but if you could monitor my heart, you could see the change..........see that now Jesus was dwelling in me. But over time, as I grew in Christ, I gained strength in Him and you can see a change! I definitely felt better!
Are you having heart trouble today? Maybe it's not noticeable to anyone around you, but your spiritual heartbeat is not beating right. Oh, just answer that door today, He will come in and make you whole! What a wonderful God! It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have or have not done..............it's all about Him, and what He did on that old rugged cross! Let Him in, and He will 'pace' your spiritual heartbeat into a wonderful perfect rhythm that you will never have to worry about it ever stop beating again!!!
Now bear with me as I go 'medical' on you, lol.........after all I am a nurse. Early Saturday morning, I was starting my shift at the hospital, as I always do, by getting report on my patients. I have an 82 yr. old woman, who is very alert and frisky, but had been admitted due to possible gallbladder problems, and she also had been passing out. Her daughters had stayed at her bedside. The floor I work on is a cardiac floor, so each patient has a heart monitor on. At 6am, the night shift nurse noted a couple of long pauses in her heartbeat. She checked on her, she was sleeping soundly, but seemed okay. Then the nurse put a call into the doctor. At 6:45 am, she is now giving me report, but the doctor has not called back yet. While I go down the hall to start my assessments, she places another call into the doctor. While I am in her room, she has another cardiac pause.......this time it lasted 24 seconds! Yes, your thinking correctly, that means that her heart did not beat for 24 seconds.........on the heart monitor.......that registers a straight line!!! All the while, my sweet little lady says she's fine, and her daughters tell me they thought she was just resting good. Yeah, too good! I raise the head of her bed, wash her face, and get the doctor on the line!!! He immediately asks for a cardiologist to consult, and we get that doctor on the line. Of course, he orders her to go to the intensive care immediately and get her prepared for an immediate placement of a temporary pacemaker! The patient, as well as her daughters, were shocked with all of this.............as far as looking at her, she looked fine!!! The little lady kept asking why she was being moved to another room, she had no idea about how dire her situation was!
I get her transferred to ICU, and the cardiologist gets there and places a temporary pacemaker on her, and now her heart is beating 83 times per minute, and the monitor is full of those pretty little 'wiggly' lines that we nurses love to see, lol! She is then put on the schedule to have a permanent pacemaker placed (under anesthesia) on Monday morning. She's doing wonderful and as spunky as ever..........not really realizing just how close to death she came.
Well, you know me and my spiritual eye, lol..............I couldn't help but see God all over that one! As far as looking at me before I was saved, I looked fine. I had no obvious signs saying that I was lost and going to hell. Not realizing that I was a heartbeat away from an eternal hell! The world was going on around me with no problems. Just as those daughters were sipping their coffee, talking, and watching the morning news................Mom lay a foot away in a hospital bed with NO heartbeat for 24 seconds..........they had no clue that anything was wrong.
One day, like Revelation 3:20 speaks of.............there was a knock at my door. My 'heart monitor' picked up on something being wrong with my heart! I didn't realize how bad a shape I was in, didn't see my dire situation, but I answered the door. I'm so glad I did! Jesus Christ came into my heart that day and immediately my situation turned around! He became my 'pacemaker'! This old world is temporary, but one day, I'll reach my heavenly home, and live with the 'permanent pacemaker' for all eternity!!!
Now, as far as seeing any sudden changes in this little lady, you couldn't tell any difference. The difference was done on the inside. The heart monitor was the only thing that you could see a change in immediately. But over time, she will gain strength, she won't be passing out anymore, and she'll feel so much better. When I got saved, the world couldn't tell any difference in me.....but if you could monitor my heart, you could see the change..........see that now Jesus was dwelling in me. But over time, as I grew in Christ, I gained strength in Him and you can see a change! I definitely felt better!
Are you having heart trouble today? Maybe it's not noticeable to anyone around you, but your spiritual heartbeat is not beating right. Oh, just answer that door today, He will come in and make you whole! What a wonderful God! It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have or have not done..............it's all about Him, and what He did on that old rugged cross! Let Him in, and He will 'pace' your spiritual heartbeat into a wonderful perfect rhythm that you will never have to worry about it ever stop beating again!!!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
This Ain't No April Fool's Joke!
April 1st is always full of jokes and pranks.......but it is a place of endearment in my heart. For you see it is my very dearest friend's birthday! I love her dearly. She means more to me than she will ever know. There are not enough words in the english language to describe what I have with her. She is the sister that I never had. We have known each other since the 7th grade. We have so, so many things in common. Today is a very special day, not only because it is her birthday.........but it is her 40th birthday!!! That means that we have known each other for 28 years! We pretty much know everything about each other...........and yet we are still friends, lol! I would do anything for her.........and I know I could call her anytime, for anything. Our friendship has grown with every passing year. She's an awesome lady!
My daily Bible study is now in 1Samuel, it's no coincidence that I am reading about a wonderful friendship between Jonathon and David as I am celebrating my best friend's birthday! Chapter 18 talks about Jonathon and David's bond, the first verse reads "...that the soul of Jonathon than was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathon loved him as his own soul." Because Jonathon loved David so, he made a covenant with him and took his own robe, his garments, his sword, his bow, and his girdle and gave them to David. I'm sure you know the story of how Jonathon protected David from Saul, and helped him many times. What a friendship!!
Proverbs speaks of friendship, in 17:17 it says that "A friend loveth at all times..." A true friend does love at all times. Through these 28 yrs. I've done some unloveable things, but my friend has never once stopped loving me! And of course in chapter 18:24, it says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." You may ask how my friend and I have remained friends all these years. Time has even taken us many miles apart, yet, I feel we are even closer. How can this be?...........it's simple, really, it is the love of Christ working in both of us!
He is the friend of all friends, He is the one that sticketh closer than a brother! We have grown together through and to Christ! The love of Christ that dwells in both our hearts has knit our souls together, like Jonathon and David! I am so thankful to have her in my life! She is a blessing to me, an encouragement, a source of strength and compassion, a constant, a true joy, and always a place of laughter. We have many buddies, pals, in life, but few true friends. I thank God everyday for putting her in my life!
But she would agree.........most of all I am thankful for us both having that relationship with Christ. When I can't be there for her, or she can't come to me.........we always have our Heavenly Father who can be there anytime, anywhere! Do you have that with Jesus? The key to friendships here on earth is this: ask yourself if that person makes you want to be a better christian, do you want to get closer to God when you are around your friend? That is the foundation to our friendship. Jesus Christ is love, you don't know how to love....really love, until Christ lives in your heart!
So today, April 1, 2009, I want to wish Lora Leah Lawson Weaks a very, very Happy 40th Birthday!!! I love you!
My daily Bible study is now in 1Samuel, it's no coincidence that I am reading about a wonderful friendship between Jonathon and David as I am celebrating my best friend's birthday! Chapter 18 talks about Jonathon and David's bond, the first verse reads "...that the soul of Jonathon than was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathon loved him as his own soul." Because Jonathon loved David so, he made a covenant with him and took his own robe, his garments, his sword, his bow, and his girdle and gave them to David. I'm sure you know the story of how Jonathon protected David from Saul, and helped him many times. What a friendship!!
Proverbs speaks of friendship, in 17:17 it says that "A friend loveth at all times..." A true friend does love at all times. Through these 28 yrs. I've done some unloveable things, but my friend has never once stopped loving me! And of course in chapter 18:24, it says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." You may ask how my friend and I have remained friends all these years. Time has even taken us many miles apart, yet, I feel we are even closer. How can this be?...........it's simple, really, it is the love of Christ working in both of us!
He is the friend of all friends, He is the one that sticketh closer than a brother! We have grown together through and to Christ! The love of Christ that dwells in both our hearts has knit our souls together, like Jonathon and David! I am so thankful to have her in my life! She is a blessing to me, an encouragement, a source of strength and compassion, a constant, a true joy, and always a place of laughter. We have many buddies, pals, in life, but few true friends. I thank God everyday for putting her in my life!
But she would agree.........most of all I am thankful for us both having that relationship with Christ. When I can't be there for her, or she can't come to me.........we always have our Heavenly Father who can be there anytime, anywhere! Do you have that with Jesus? The key to friendships here on earth is this: ask yourself if that person makes you want to be a better christian, do you want to get closer to God when you are around your friend? That is the foundation to our friendship. Jesus Christ is love, you don't know how to love....really love, until Christ lives in your heart!
So today, April 1, 2009, I want to wish Lora Leah Lawson Weaks a very, very Happy 40th Birthday!!! I love you!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Glimpse of Glory
Our choir sings a beautiful song called, "Glimpse of Glory". It talks about how our wonderful Father will give His children a 'glimpse of glory' while they are on their christian walk. I praise His name for those glimpses! This week, He surely did this for me. We just finished our 11th annual Jubilee at our church, Bible Baptist Church. What's that you may ask?.... Well, it is one of the best meetings you'll ever be in! We always start it on the 4th Sunday in March, then it goes through Thursday evening. Starting on Monday we have 10 am services. We serve lunch and then have another service at 2pm. Then dinner is provided for everyone from 5pm until 6:45, with services beginning at 7pm. We have hotels available, as well as some dorm rooms. We have people from about 9 different states come in for this meeting. Preachers and singers are just called from the floor, so you just never know what may go on........you don't want to miss a thing!! People bring their video cameras and set them up in the back, wanting to capture the services and take them home with them! Our church records CD's of every service as well. It is a time of rejoicing, reviving, rejuvenation! It is a time to fellowship with fellow christians. The atmosphere is undescribable! It truly is a glimpse of glory! It is a small taste of how it's going to be when we reach Heaven!
Our church has truly been blessed by hosting this meeting. It is expensive, and tiring, but so worth it! In these 11 yrs. I have made some wonderful friends. We only get to see each other during these meetings, but it's like we've known each other all our lives! After all, that's the way it is when you are brothers and sisters in Christ!
So, if you ever feel like you are alone in this world, or you desire some fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ........come visit with us! It is truly a glimpse of glory! I am homesick for my Heavenly Home after enjoying these past few days!!
Our church has truly been blessed by hosting this meeting. It is expensive, and tiring, but so worth it! In these 11 yrs. I have made some wonderful friends. We only get to see each other during these meetings, but it's like we've known each other all our lives! After all, that's the way it is when you are brothers and sisters in Christ!
So, if you ever feel like you are alone in this world, or you desire some fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ........come visit with us! It is truly a glimpse of glory! I am homesick for my Heavenly Home after enjoying these past few days!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
'Well done, thou good and faithful servant!'
This fantastic young lady in red is my wonderful 85 years young mother, Battie Jane Stallings Coleman! March 3, 2009, we celebrated her birthday. And of course, with her in this picture are my beautiful daughters, Riley & Kaylea......and of course Bo.....even with his eyes closed, you have to admit he's a cutie!
Mom is an awesome lady! She lives alone, still grows a garden in the back yard, drives, and takes special care of her 92 yr. old best friend! She is my hero and role model! She married my Dad, Charles Coleman, Jr. at the age of 17. They had the best marriage I have ever seen! They were truly in love........even on that awful day that my dad passed away! They were married 57 1/2 yrs. I never heard them fight.......now disagree now and then...yes, but never fight. They went everywhere together, they shared everything. People always commented that you never saw one without the other. They were lovers as well as best friends. They both worked outside the home, but he was man enough to also pull his share of the weight with the housework as well!! If she got home first from work, then she would cook dinner, and he would clean it up, or vice versa. They were quite the pair! They never made alot of money or were famous..........but, they have riches untold! They kept Christ first in their lives...........the whole time! I never asked if we were going to church.......why......because if it was a Sunday or a Wednesday, it went without saying......we were going to church!!! Mom is still faithful to her church. She's the sweetest most humble person I've ever known!
She's had her share of hardships...........more than her share if you ask me! We all have our mountains to climb. But, she always, always lands back on her feet and what a wonderful view she has on the other side of that mountain! She has struggled over the years with a chemical imbalance that causes her, without much warning to go into a severe state of clinical depression. I won't go into all the details, but God has performed many a miracle for that lady! Thank you, Jesus!! She's never given up, never quit. She keeps on living for Christ.
I'm reminded of the story in Matthew chapter 25, where the servants were given the talents, one 5, another 2 and the last one 1. The first two did well and doubled their talents. The lord proclaimed in verses 21 and 23, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
It's not about what you have.........it's what you do with it! There's no stopping place on your christian walk, folks! Don't give up, it's worth every mile, it's worth every trial! Mom is 85 yrs old, her husband has been gone for 9 yrs now this past January. She could've folded her hands and said, 'That's enough. I've done my share." But the joy and blessings she would have missed out on! If you are tired, if you are weary.........then just look at my mom and say if she can keep on keeping on, then so can I! Yes, she just turned 85, but she's still working for her Lord! She reads her Bible and prays daily, she's at church everytime the doors are open.....that counts all revival meetings as well, morning and/or nights! She is still active in her Sunday school class, and is still the treasurer for it. She cooks and delivers the food for the sick and shut ins. She witnesses to everyone she can, and passes out tracts...........and God bless her heart.........she just a couple months ago, was instrumental in a 68 yr. old man who was dying of cancer, to get gloriously saved before he passed away!!!! His family couldn't thank her enough, for now they know that their father is in Heaven today!
So...........shut your mouth.........when you want to say you are too tired, or too old, or too weary to press on! There is no stopping place, no retirement age for christianity! And if you ask Mom, she'll gladly tell you she doesn't regret a minute of it............it gets sweeter every mile! I know in my heart that God has rewarded her with longevity here on earth, as well as a sound mind and body, because of her faithfulness to Him.
Press on pilgrim, press on! One day let's hear those words from our Heavenly Father ....."WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!"
Monday, March 16, 2009
Even a Pot Belly Pig Can Be Content!
When you are content, you are satisfied and happy. That's something that this old world desperately tries to obtain, but it can never get it! The richer we get..........the more we want! True contentment can only come through the blood of Jesus Christ! We've all been there; it's human nature. We think if I could just get that new car, that new house, that new outfit........things would be so much better, right? Often times we finally do get that new car, or house........and then the bills start coming in, and we are worse than when we started.
God doesn't want it to be that way for us. I was studying on the topic of 'Service that is well pleasing to God', and He wants us to be content in our christian walk! Hebrews 13: 5-6 says, "Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be CONTENT with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
How does a pot belly pig fit into this picture, you may ask? Well, I just love the Sunday morning drive to church. It is the one time during my very busy schedule that I do not have to drive. It takes us around 20 minutes to get to church. We pass a very large horse farm on the way. I've always loved horses, and by not driving, I can really pay close attention to this farm. Almost every Sunday morning, I've noticed that there is a pot belly pig out there in the midst of all those horses. He's as happy as he can be. He is eating right along with the horses, and his tale is wagging as fast as it can. Apparantly he has been there since he was born, and thinks of himself as a horse. He has a particular horse that he runs with, and plays with. It just makes my day to look through the pastures and see him every Sunday morning!
This study on contentment ran through my head this past Sunday morning as I watched the little pig. He's found contentment, and in a place you would never think he should! He looks nothing like a horse! He's short, and very low to the ground, he doesn't have much hair, and what hair he does have, sticks out everywhere, he has a spindly tail, and a short, chubby neck! He has no majestic mane, or elegant gallop! Why is he so happy then? He's satisified with who he is. It doesn't matter what he has or doesn't have..........the horses love and accept him.........God made him a pot belly pig.........and he's happy with it! What we could learn from him! God doesn't make mistakes, and He gently molded and made each one of us! He loves us! We aren't perfect, but as christians, we have someone on the inside of us who is. We can be content in Him, through Him, no matter what our circumstance is.
I couldn't help but smile as we drove by the farm, bow my head, and pray, 'O God, help me to be content with me, with what I have.....because I have You, and You are my helper! I can boldly say that nothing can harm me, for You will never forsake me!' When I was studying contentment, I never thought that God would use a pot belly pig to drive home the point with me.........but I'm so glad he did! God is an awesome God....................and I am content in Him!!
God doesn't want it to be that way for us. I was studying on the topic of 'Service that is well pleasing to God', and He wants us to be content in our christian walk! Hebrews 13: 5-6 says, "Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be CONTENT with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
How does a pot belly pig fit into this picture, you may ask? Well, I just love the Sunday morning drive to church. It is the one time during my very busy schedule that I do not have to drive. It takes us around 20 minutes to get to church. We pass a very large horse farm on the way. I've always loved horses, and by not driving, I can really pay close attention to this farm. Almost every Sunday morning, I've noticed that there is a pot belly pig out there in the midst of all those horses. He's as happy as he can be. He is eating right along with the horses, and his tale is wagging as fast as it can. Apparantly he has been there since he was born, and thinks of himself as a horse. He has a particular horse that he runs with, and plays with. It just makes my day to look through the pastures and see him every Sunday morning!
This study on contentment ran through my head this past Sunday morning as I watched the little pig. He's found contentment, and in a place you would never think he should! He looks nothing like a horse! He's short, and very low to the ground, he doesn't have much hair, and what hair he does have, sticks out everywhere, he has a spindly tail, and a short, chubby neck! He has no majestic mane, or elegant gallop! Why is he so happy then? He's satisified with who he is. It doesn't matter what he has or doesn't have..........the horses love and accept him.........God made him a pot belly pig.........and he's happy with it! What we could learn from him! God doesn't make mistakes, and He gently molded and made each one of us! He loves us! We aren't perfect, but as christians, we have someone on the inside of us who is. We can be content in Him, through Him, no matter what our circumstance is.
I couldn't help but smile as we drove by the farm, bow my head, and pray, 'O God, help me to be content with me, with what I have.....because I have You, and You are my helper! I can boldly say that nothing can harm me, for You will never forsake me!' When I was studying contentment, I never thought that God would use a pot belly pig to drive home the point with me.........but I'm so glad he did! God is an awesome God....................and I am content in Him!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Alone in the Dark
I hate to be scared, don't you? Some love the adrenylin rush from the fear, but I would rather get it another way. Unfortunately, Saturday was one of those times the adrenylin rush was coming straight from the pit of fear. I had worked a very hard shift at the hospital and I was so glad to finally be able to go home. I had driven my husband's Nissan pickup to work. He had errands to run with our children so he would need the bigger car. If you know anything about little straight shift Nissan pickup trucks, then you know that it will do good to hold 2 people.
His truck is always faithful to run and get you anywhere you need to go. On it's last tune up the mechanic said that the engine had plenty of life left in it. The truck is 11 yrs. old. While the engine is faithful, other things are not as faithful. We just replaced a headlight, and the door locks seem to be having some problems. My husband has not been able to unlock the driver's door with the key in a while, and now the passenger side lock is sticking too.
Okay, can you see where I'm headed? It's late, around 7:30 in the evening, and I'm in a back parking lot at the hospital.....alone. Not a good position to be in. My fellow employees have left, and the next shift is hard at work inside. With it being a weekend, and staffing cuts, there are no employees around, and certainly no security patroling. I try the driver's door, but I know it won't open more than likely, it's the one that hasn't opened in a long while. And of course, no luck. So I walk around the truck to the passenger side, feeling in my heart that it will open and 'life will be good'. No luck! Oh boy.........what now? I try, and try, and try again......nothing! I put my jacket and purse........and my full lunch box (I didn't even have time to eat lunch at work) in the back of the truck and begin to do the 'key dance'. You know, jiggle it to the left, then the right, then up, then down, hold tight pressure on the key, hold light pressure, pull on the door handle, release the door handle..............notta, nothing. I can feel that prickly feeling start to run up the back of my neck, my chest starts to feel warm, and my heart begins to pick up speed. I look around, no one is to be found.
Thank God for cell phones!! I quickly call my husband and ask him for the inside trick on how to get into the truck. His answer.................typical male............. "just keep trying the key, maybe it will open." Uh, thanks hon, I'm alone in this dark, scary parking lot, completely worn out, and now hungry since I've eaten nothing all day, and your best advise is to 'try the key'??? What else can he do, though..........really? That's all he can say. Now my mind is starting to turn faster with ideas.............women, you know what I mean! I begin playing all the scenerios in my head. What if someone sees me and grabs me, what if I have to have my husband drive all the way here to pick me up, that'll be at least 20 minutes. What if..... What if..... What if.....
Okay self, calm down!! I whisper a little prayer.........something like, "Jesus, please help me." And, while my husband holds on the line I keep trying the key. A warm breeze begins to blow.........and not outside, I'm talking about the one in my soul! I've been studying in Joshua, and the Lord brought something back into my mind. He began to say....what if....... you trust in ME! I remembered where God told Joshua, just after Moses had died, and he was to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. He said, "....I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Oh, I like those spiritual breezes! The panic that was beginning to rear its ugly head, had to take a step back! God also told Joshua, "Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Could it be? YES, my Heavenly Father is right there with me in that lonely dark parking lot!!!
Something seemed to say, 'go try that driver's door again'. It certainly wasn't my husband, he was silent on the phone, wanting to help, but he couldn't. I didn't question the advise, after all, my Heavenly Father was on the scene! I ran over to the driver's side, and inserted the key...nothing. It won't even try to turn. At least the other side wiggles some. I just kept trying and........pop! The door unlocked and I gladly told my husband that I was headed home!!!
Was it just good luck, was it just a chance, or a coincidence? No way! God was faithful to His Word, and He took care of me...........I give Him all the praise and the glory!!! If I let myself think about all that could have happened to me........it's scary! But God was with me the whole time protecting me.........and then opening the lock for me! I could feel a protective arm around my shoulders as I concentrated on opening the door. He said He'd be with us where ever we go.......and He is! My friends were gone, they couldn't help, no one else was available, my husband was limited by distance and could only give support over the phone. Isn't it so wonderful to know that no matter where you are, just call out His name and He will be there! Let me tell you, the ride home was a sweet one!
Next time you are alone in the dark...............just call out His name........somewhere in the shadows, you'll find Jesus!
His truck is always faithful to run and get you anywhere you need to go. On it's last tune up the mechanic said that the engine had plenty of life left in it. The truck is 11 yrs. old. While the engine is faithful, other things are not as faithful. We just replaced a headlight, and the door locks seem to be having some problems. My husband has not been able to unlock the driver's door with the key in a while, and now the passenger side lock is sticking too.
Okay, can you see where I'm headed? It's late, around 7:30 in the evening, and I'm in a back parking lot at the hospital.....alone. Not a good position to be in. My fellow employees have left, and the next shift is hard at work inside. With it being a weekend, and staffing cuts, there are no employees around, and certainly no security patroling. I try the driver's door, but I know it won't open more than likely, it's the one that hasn't opened in a long while. And of course, no luck. So I walk around the truck to the passenger side, feeling in my heart that it will open and 'life will be good'. No luck! Oh boy.........what now? I try, and try, and try again......nothing! I put my jacket and purse........and my full lunch box (I didn't even have time to eat lunch at work) in the back of the truck and begin to do the 'key dance'. You know, jiggle it to the left, then the right, then up, then down, hold tight pressure on the key, hold light pressure, pull on the door handle, release the door handle..............notta, nothing. I can feel that prickly feeling start to run up the back of my neck, my chest starts to feel warm, and my heart begins to pick up speed. I look around, no one is to be found.
Thank God for cell phones!! I quickly call my husband and ask him for the inside trick on how to get into the truck. His answer.................typical male............. "just keep trying the key, maybe it will open." Uh, thanks hon, I'm alone in this dark, scary parking lot, completely worn out, and now hungry since I've eaten nothing all day, and your best advise is to 'try the key'??? What else can he do, though..........really? That's all he can say. Now my mind is starting to turn faster with ideas.............women, you know what I mean! I begin playing all the scenerios in my head. What if someone sees me and grabs me, what if I have to have my husband drive all the way here to pick me up, that'll be at least 20 minutes. What if..... What if..... What if.....
Okay self, calm down!! I whisper a little prayer.........something like, "Jesus, please help me." And, while my husband holds on the line I keep trying the key. A warm breeze begins to blow.........and not outside, I'm talking about the one in my soul! I've been studying in Joshua, and the Lord brought something back into my mind. He began to say....what if....... you trust in ME! I remembered where God told Joshua, just after Moses had died, and he was to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. He said, "....I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Oh, I like those spiritual breezes! The panic that was beginning to rear its ugly head, had to take a step back! God also told Joshua, "Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Could it be? YES, my Heavenly Father is right there with me in that lonely dark parking lot!!!
Something seemed to say, 'go try that driver's door again'. It certainly wasn't my husband, he was silent on the phone, wanting to help, but he couldn't. I didn't question the advise, after all, my Heavenly Father was on the scene! I ran over to the driver's side, and inserted the key...nothing. It won't even try to turn. At least the other side wiggles some. I just kept trying and........pop! The door unlocked and I gladly told my husband that I was headed home!!!
Was it just good luck, was it just a chance, or a coincidence? No way! God was faithful to His Word, and He took care of me...........I give Him all the praise and the glory!!! If I let myself think about all that could have happened to me........it's scary! But God was with me the whole time protecting me.........and then opening the lock for me! I could feel a protective arm around my shoulders as I concentrated on opening the door. He said He'd be with us where ever we go.......and He is! My friends were gone, they couldn't help, no one else was available, my husband was limited by distance and could only give support over the phone. Isn't it so wonderful to know that no matter where you are, just call out His name and He will be there! Let me tell you, the ride home was a sweet one!
Next time you are alone in the dark...............just call out His name........somewhere in the shadows, you'll find Jesus!
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