April Showers bring May flowers -- isn't that the old saying?? Most of you know that I drive a convertible. But what you may not know is that my convertible has a minor issue -- the top is stuck in the "down" position...in other words, I can't get the top to go back up at the moment. The hydraulic fluid has drained out due to a leak in one of the lines and I would have to take it to Atlanta to get it fixed -- blah blah blah --
So, I've decided to make the best of the situation and just enjoy it and trust that I'm going to be fine - rain or shine!!
Over the last few weeks, I have had so many opportunities to either pray the rain away or praise the Lord during a brief shower. I've had opportunities to cool off from the heat of the day riding along with my sweet dog, Cash (who, by the way is looking at me like I'm crazy when we are sitting at a traffic light getting soaked!) and I've had a chance to have friends pray for my safety and to stay dry when traveling to meet them and a stray shower comes through.
This past Thursday, I was in the grocery store and knew that a storm was looming later in the evening and so I had timed it so that I would finish before the storm got close. I was checking out when my friend, Ginger, came running over to me saying, "Girl! I've been trying to call you -- you need to GO!! There is a major storm coming and it's headed our way NOW!!" So she and her daughter, Rebecca, run with me to the car and help me load all my groceries in and they send me off on my way -- they are praying and I'm looking at the sky -- a HUGE wall cloud is headed right in the direction I'm traveling!
I had just had my hair done the day before (it is Easter week after all) and was concerned about it getting wet too soon -- but I was honestly more concerned that a big lightening bolt or tornado might drop out of the sky at any moment. I looked off to the water and saw this big beautiful full moon and I began to sing -- I sang as loud as I could praising God and trusting Him to carry me home regardless of the storm winds that were blowing...
I know you're all thinking - this girl's crazy!! But honestly, to have my car fixed would cost more than it's worth and to buy gas to travel to Atlanta is just something I'm not quite willing to do right now...so think on...
Anyway -- as I slowed down to turn off the highway and onto the road where I live, I said, "Lord, I trust that you are going to get me home before this thing hits...and I meant it. I DID trust the Lord -- I could still see that beautiful moon and I knew that I was less than a mile from home....sprinkles started and the wind was beginning to blow hard...I kept driving...I kept trusting and singing and praising the God who promised to protect me...even this sheep who was stuck outside in threatening weather...
As I pulled into my driveway, a big drop fell on my windshield. I opened the garage and drove in - lowered the door and there I was, safe and sound -- then I remembered my cats were outside. I jumped out of the car and ran outside only to find that one cat was waiting by the door to get in but the other one was no where to be found....I ran in the house and lowered the windows and let the dog into the garage with the cat and when I got back downstairs I opened the front door and yelled for the other cat and moved the furniture so it wouldn't blow off -- no little cat to be found....
Again, I had to trust that God would protect her -- and I did. I left the door open into the garage and hoped she'd run in while I unloaded my groceries from the car. She never came...I was fighting worry very hard but I kept moving.
About that time, James walked in and told me he had been worried sick trying to find me out in the storm -- (did I mention that my phone battery had died and I had no idea until I got home??) Anyway, I told him I wasn't able to get Mildred in (little cat) -- so he went out to look for her -- it wasn't but a minute and he walked back into the kitchen carrying her -- she was dry and safe. I knew she would be -- God is so faithful.
There have been times in my past where I must confess that I haven't had this much trust in God. I've given lip service to it and just hoped for the best -- but I can honestly say that in this storm - I truly trusted that God would take care of not only me but of my little cat and of James and the house and that all would be well. There was peace I couldn't explain and just a relief of knowing that God had everything under control.
I've said before in situations where I've gotten caught in a shower with the top down on my car -- "Lord! You know my situation!" and just really hoped He wouldn't let me get completely drenched. And even then, He has kept me from harm. There have been times when I knew clearly that I was pushing the boundaries and that I shouldn't be foolish -- and the Holy Spirit has cautioned me of such behavior.
Was this past Thursday one of those days? Well, maybe...but I didn't feel as though I had been foolish -- I honestly thought I would be fine -- it was sunny when I went into the grocery store -- seeing that black cloud was scary and daunting -- but there was still something within me that I knew I would be fine.
So, what is the point of this story -- well first of all, if you are going to drive a convertible, just know that rag tops will break and they are expensive to fix. Spiritually speaking - well, storms in our lives are going to come and go -- some will be dark, dreary and scary -- and others will be short, unexpected and refreshing and there will be some that are in between those extremes. Trusting God to hold us during these storms is the key to peace -- it's not having a nest egg of finances - it's not having close friends or family to carry us through -- it's TRUST -- Trust in God alone. It's fine to plan ahead and it's truly a blessing to have loved ones to stick by us during the tough times -- but if we don't have the Lord to hold onto -- nothing will ever give us the security we truly crave.
When we cry out, "Lord, You know my situation!" He truly does. But He waits on us to trust Him with it. He waits to know that our hearts agree with His Truth. Sometimes we may feel as if He's a million miles away - but if we Trust Him, we don't have to worry about that distance -- we just know that He is there and He truly does know our situations and our every need no matter how great or small.
This Easter weekend, I pray that you KNOW Jesus. I pray that you have Trusted Him with your eternity and that you have invited Him to be your Savior. I pray that you have the peace that can't be explained and that you know beyond any circumstance that your life is secure and resting in Him alone. Don't be satisfied in knowing about Jesus -- do you KNOW Him like you know your mate, parent or child or best friend?
Beloved Friend - Jesus loves you so much that he willingly gave His life for you so that in God's eyes, you are forgiven of sin. He took on your sin, my sin and the sin of the world so that we may live forever if we accept Him as Savior. I pray that if you don't know Him personally -- that you'll ask Him to be your Savior today - don't wait -- none of us has the promise of tomorrow.
If you want to know this beautiful Jesus - let me encourage you to read the book of John in the New Testament of the Bible. I've attached a link to a wonderful video that describes Jesus better than any I've ever seen or heard...May you be blessed in the Name of the Lord -- He is Risen Indeed!!!
Click Here:
Do You Know Him??
So, I've decided to make the best of the situation and just enjoy it and trust that I'm going to be fine - rain or shine!!
Over the last few weeks, I have had so many opportunities to either pray the rain away or praise the Lord during a brief shower. I've had opportunities to cool off from the heat of the day riding along with my sweet dog, Cash (who, by the way is looking at me like I'm crazy when we are sitting at a traffic light getting soaked!) and I've had a chance to have friends pray for my safety and to stay dry when traveling to meet them and a stray shower comes through.
This past Thursday, I was in the grocery store and knew that a storm was looming later in the evening and so I had timed it so that I would finish before the storm got close. I was checking out when my friend, Ginger, came running over to me saying, "Girl! I've been trying to call you -- you need to GO!! There is a major storm coming and it's headed our way NOW!!" So she and her daughter, Rebecca, run with me to the car and help me load all my groceries in and they send me off on my way -- they are praying and I'm looking at the sky -- a HUGE wall cloud is headed right in the direction I'm traveling!
I had just had my hair done the day before (it is Easter week after all) and was concerned about it getting wet too soon -- but I was honestly more concerned that a big lightening bolt or tornado might drop out of the sky at any moment. I looked off to the water and saw this big beautiful full moon and I began to sing -- I sang as loud as I could praising God and trusting Him to carry me home regardless of the storm winds that were blowing...
I know you're all thinking - this girl's crazy!! But honestly, to have my car fixed would cost more than it's worth and to buy gas to travel to Atlanta is just something I'm not quite willing to do right now...so think on...
Anyway -- as I slowed down to turn off the highway and onto the road where I live, I said, "Lord, I trust that you are going to get me home before this thing hits...and I meant it. I DID trust the Lord -- I could still see that beautiful moon and I knew that I was less than a mile from home....sprinkles started and the wind was beginning to blow hard...I kept driving...I kept trusting and singing and praising the God who promised to protect me...even this sheep who was stuck outside in threatening weather...
As I pulled into my driveway, a big drop fell on my windshield. I opened the garage and drove in - lowered the door and there I was, safe and sound -- then I remembered my cats were outside. I jumped out of the car and ran outside only to find that one cat was waiting by the door to get in but the other one was no where to be found....I ran in the house and lowered the windows and let the dog into the garage with the cat and when I got back downstairs I opened the front door and yelled for the other cat and moved the furniture so it wouldn't blow off -- no little cat to be found....
Again, I had to trust that God would protect her -- and I did. I left the door open into the garage and hoped she'd run in while I unloaded my groceries from the car. She never came...I was fighting worry very hard but I kept moving.
About that time, James walked in and told me he had been worried sick trying to find me out in the storm -- (did I mention that my phone battery had died and I had no idea until I got home??) Anyway, I told him I wasn't able to get Mildred in (little cat) -- so he went out to look for her -- it wasn't but a minute and he walked back into the kitchen carrying her -- she was dry and safe. I knew she would be -- God is so faithful.
There have been times in my past where I must confess that I haven't had this much trust in God. I've given lip service to it and just hoped for the best -- but I can honestly say that in this storm - I truly trusted that God would take care of not only me but of my little cat and of James and the house and that all would be well. There was peace I couldn't explain and just a relief of knowing that God had everything under control.
I've said before in situations where I've gotten caught in a shower with the top down on my car -- "Lord! You know my situation!" and just really hoped He wouldn't let me get completely drenched. And even then, He has kept me from harm. There have been times when I knew clearly that I was pushing the boundaries and that I shouldn't be foolish -- and the Holy Spirit has cautioned me of such behavior.
Was this past Thursday one of those days? Well, maybe...but I didn't feel as though I had been foolish -- I honestly thought I would be fine -- it was sunny when I went into the grocery store -- seeing that black cloud was scary and daunting -- but there was still something within me that I knew I would be fine.
So, what is the point of this story -- well first of all, if you are going to drive a convertible, just know that rag tops will break and they are expensive to fix. Spiritually speaking - well, storms in our lives are going to come and go -- some will be dark, dreary and scary -- and others will be short, unexpected and refreshing and there will be some that are in between those extremes. Trusting God to hold us during these storms is the key to peace -- it's not having a nest egg of finances - it's not having close friends or family to carry us through -- it's TRUST -- Trust in God alone. It's fine to plan ahead and it's truly a blessing to have loved ones to stick by us during the tough times -- but if we don't have the Lord to hold onto -- nothing will ever give us the security we truly crave.
When we cry out, "Lord, You know my situation!" He truly does. But He waits on us to trust Him with it. He waits to know that our hearts agree with His Truth. Sometimes we may feel as if He's a million miles away - but if we Trust Him, we don't have to worry about that distance -- we just know that He is there and He truly does know our situations and our every need no matter how great or small.
This Easter weekend, I pray that you KNOW Jesus. I pray that you have Trusted Him with your eternity and that you have invited Him to be your Savior. I pray that you have the peace that can't be explained and that you know beyond any circumstance that your life is secure and resting in Him alone. Don't be satisfied in knowing about Jesus -- do you KNOW Him like you know your mate, parent or child or best friend?
Beloved Friend - Jesus loves you so much that he willingly gave His life for you so that in God's eyes, you are forgiven of sin. He took on your sin, my sin and the sin of the world so that we may live forever if we accept Him as Savior. I pray that if you don't know Him personally -- that you'll ask Him to be your Savior today - don't wait -- none of us has the promise of tomorrow.
If you want to know this beautiful Jesus - let me encourage you to read the book of John in the New Testament of the Bible. I've attached a link to a wonderful video that describes Jesus better than any I've ever seen or heard...May you be blessed in the Name of the Lord -- He is Risen Indeed!!!
Click Here:
Do You Know Him??
