You Are With Me

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Rain fell hard as I sped along the interstate. My vehicle was light and would sometimes swerve on wet pavement, so I slowed down my pace. 

Suddenly the car began to spin. My heart leaped into my throat as I drifted toward the center cement barrier to my left.

“I’m gonna die!” I thought. I prayed aloud, “Jesus!”

Driving 55 MPH with traffic all around, I believed my days on earth were ending. My life was in God’s hands. I closed my eyes and took my hands off the wheel.

The car slammed into the center cement. Sliding wildly to the right, I’d be crashing into another vehicle momentarily.

Wham! The car stopped at impact, my chest hitting the air bag. I opened my eyes. Alive! Through the wet windshield, I saw the left front of the car crunched into the low barricade fence on the far right of the highway.

My hands shook as I dialed 9-1-1. How had I missed colliding with another car? I pulled open the Bible sitting on the passenger seat. My fingers trembled and I tore the edge of the page that contained Psalm 23. I read, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

God was right there the whole time. That became abundantly clear as I assessed the damage and realized the car was totaled but I wasn’t.

The police arrived and offered an ambulance, but I deferred. I felt only a small pain where the air bag had pressed a necklace into my chest. The car would be towed. I explained to the officer my need to be 20 miles south of there where I was scheduled to lead a women’s conference. He went above and beyond the call of duty and drove me right to the door of that meeting place. My profuse thank-yous seemed inadequate.

Do you recall a time you took your hands off the steering wheel of your life and trusted God with the outcome? Like my car wreck, He will bring you through, though not without some loss. Yes, we had to replace our vehicle, but life went on. Do I get a little skip in the heartbeat when the weather turns rainy? You might, too. But God is with us. And that’s enough.

Love & prayers,

Lynn

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Listen!

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Missionary friends Jan and Calvin* were staying in the ministry house near church. They’d gotten involved in the weekly routine during their time in the States, and Jan mentioned a group of teen girls she wanted to reach out to. “Will you join me?” Jan asked.

“Sure,” I replied. “Sounds like fun. How about we start next Sunday?”  She agreed, and we set a time. The ministry house would be ideal. Jan seemed vague about what we would do, mostly just listen to them. I decided to write up a lesson to share.

I showed up Sunday with five copies of what I thought would be a helpful teaching topic—reading the Bible and praying. There were verses to look up and questions to discuss. That should help these kids, I thought.

As the young women arrived and Jan passed a plate of donuts, I pulled out my Bible and the study sheets. Jan looked puzzled but let me proceed. I taught the lesson, the girls looking at the papers with disinterest. The lesson fell short of creating any enthusiasm for the topic. I closed with a perfunctory prayer, and the girls left. Only one showed up the next Sunday.

Jan and I talked about the outcome. She expressed her desire again to just let them talk and show them love by listening. If only I had asked God to lead me or help me follow Jan’s lead rather than moving ahead without really praying or trusting the Holy Spirit. Lesson learned. Listen!

*Names changed to protect their identity.

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Waiting for Minions to Move

From our sixth-floor window, we’ve been watching the progress of a railroad upgrade project. The replacement ties got dropped down in stacks along the tracks more than a month ago. When would they begin the process of replacing the old ties? How would that be accomplished?

For the last few weeks, these yellow railroad work vehicles paraded up and down the tracks. We’ve taken to calling them Minions, after the characters in The Despicable Me movies. Finally, today the Minions stopped and worked near our place. Each Minion had a specific job to do, sometimes with help from actual men, and the ties are now securely in place. I have a dozen videos to prove it. Yes, I do have a life, but some days my schedule is flexible.

Can you remember a waiting game you got to play in your book of life? Did Minions in the form of friends and family stand by to help and comfort in the painful process of anticipation? I remember a season when I just couldn’t wait for God to move the way I wished. Rather than seek my Minions’ help, I started the ball rolling myself, manipulating people in the process.

Soon after, I heard God’s still small voice speaking: “You got what you wanted.” Yes, I did. And it came with a very steep price tag that would impact the rest of my life. “Lord, I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” I quietly prayed. I’m forgiven.

Since then, I have become better at waiting instead of controlling outcomes. A favorite passage in the Bible says, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm chapter 27, verse 14.) I am still learning that God has a plan, and I have a purpose in His plan. I daily seek to follow His leading and wait to move until I am sure I’ve heard from Him.