Rescued Again

Today I got up early. It was raining, and I had a twinge of anxiety because I don't like driving in the rain. But, I had plans to go to a celebration of life for a man whose sister is in my Sunday School Class, so I just prayed God help me get over this anxious feeling. By the time I left to pick up two other members of m Sunday School Class, the sun was shining, and I said "Thank you, Lord!"
  
The other thing that makes me anxious when driving is going somewhere I have never been (Creedmoor, no less…I have been in this area for 36 years and I have never been to Creedmoor). And I had no clue as how to get there. I googled directions that really didn't make sense to me, but I took the directions with me, picked up the ladies and off we went.   We made it to Oxford and turned everywhere we were directed to get on HWY 96. Then that's when we felt like we didn't know  how to read the directions.  We went about 5 miles down the road and didn't see the landmark the directions said we would see. So, we decided to turn around and start again. All of a sudden, I said, you know what, I'm going to stop and ask…I'm not a man, and I am not too proud to ask. (No offense to you men, but you know you hate to have to stop and admit you don't know where you are going). 

So I stopped at a Mini-Mart and the other two ladies were going to go inside and ask for directions.  A nice Black man came out of the store, and they stopped him to ask directions.  They told him we needed to get to a funeral at a church in Creedmoor.  At that time, I got out of the car to listen. He  asked the name of the church. I told him. He laughed and said," I know exactly where that is, that's my old stomping ground."  He told us to take a right back onto 96 and keep going straight for about 12 miles and we would see the church on the left.  He said we did not have to make one single turn until we got to the church.  He was exactly right. 

My point in telling this story is that though I didn't know how to get where we needed to go, God was with us directing us. I truly believe he led us back to that Mini-Mart, and that he knew that we would meet that man who knew how to give us the directions we needed. The thing that stands out in my mind the most is that I didn't have any anxious feelings before that time when we were seemingly going in circles. Not to many years ago, I probably would have gone into a full blown panic attack.   

As I grow in the truth of His Word, I know that he is always with us if we believe in his promises, specifically, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.  

So we got to the church, had some time with our friend who lost her brother, and heard a sweet celebration of her brother's life. After the service was over, we left and enjoyed each other's company on our ride back to Roxboro. We exchanged funny stories in our lives , and laughed until we hurt.  It is always good to be in the company of Christian friends.    

Thank you Jesus for your presence in our lives and  for your direction always. Thank you for giving me  the strength and determination to face my fears knowing that you are always by my side.  Thank you for my Christian friends. Help me to be a living testimony to your saving grace.  Thank you Jesus for giving your life so that we may know that we will live eternally if we accept you as the Alpha and Omega, and believe your promises. Thank you for your forgiveness of our sins and for saving us even though we don't deserve your grace  and redemption. I love you Lord. Amen.

Christmas - 2011

I enjoyed Christmas  so much, even my last minute shopping.  I didn't like the stores that didn't have shopping carts though. What's an old lady supposed to do, buy one thing at a time?  I dared not drop anything because there was a chance if I stooped down to get it, I couldn't get upright again…it could happen! 

         

One of my most frustrating shopping trips was going to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things in the grocery section. I went down one aisle and there  appeared to  be a family reunion going on. They were all talking and laughing. I was tempted to stand and listen, but instead, I turned my cart around to go down the next aisle and then back up that reunion aisle to get what I needed. Alas, it didn't work. They had moved down to where the products that I needed were. So, I politely said "Excuse me, may I get by?."  Didn't work.  So, I got the attention of one of the youngsters with them, and asked him if he would get me a can of Coffeemate.  He said, "What's that?"  I tried to explain to him what it was and where it was on the shelf.  He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and turned and tugged on his mother's shirt and said,  "That lady needs something to help her drink her coffee."  The lady looked at me and I smiled and asked for a can of Coffeemate.  She laughed and handed me a container of the stuff that helps me drink coffee.  I said "Thank you, and  Merry Christmas."   But they didn't move. (sigh)

 At that point my patience was running thin.  But, I needed to get a few more things. I got all of the items that I needed, and started to check out.  When I walked in, there were maybe two registers that were busy, but when I got up to the front..well almost to the front…the lines were long  at every register that was open.  All I could think was that God was chuckling  at my impatience, knowing I would have to wait.  Hey, He has a sense of humor. ..He made me. :) 

Every time, I became frustrated, tired, and even a little angry, it seemed to me I could hear Him whisper in my ear, "All you need to do for the Son's birthday is to love me, do the work that I have laid out for you, and give thanks to Him who died to give you eternal life."  And I would answer, "Thank you Lord for your understanding, and your Son, He is the reason for the Season."