Transported To Lumberton

My friend, Cathy and I went to see a writer buddy of ours for the weekend. We traveled from Spindale to Lumberton where Jamie lived and then on to Wilmington for the girl’s weekend away. Friday and Saturday we had a wonderful time shopping, laughing, eating and seeing the sights. When Sunday came though, I knew we needed to get our friend Jamie back to her church by 9:45 am because she had to sing in the choir. We got up early and wasted no time getting ready. Yet in spite of our best efforts to get away by 8:15am, we were not able to leave until 8:30 am. We packed the car and I put the address into Rosie (my GPS). Rosie said we would not arrive until 10:00 am. Ok, I thought, we’re going to get there late and I hated to disappoint Jamie. So…I said a simple prayer, “Lord give us traveling mercies back to Lumberton and Lord…(feeling bold) transport us if You will. We are late and we could use Your help getting there on time. Amen.”

Not long after we had started our hour and a half trip, the low fuel light flashed on my dashboard. We should have filled up last night, I thought. Knowing there was no way I had enough gas to make the trip, I stopped for fuel. Feeling defeated again, I pumped the gas and prayed again, “Lord please help us.” When I got back into the car, I checked Rosie for an updated time of arrival, 10:10 am. Suddenly a scripture flashed through my mind, John 10:10.

“...I have come that you might have life

and have life more abundantly.”

Ok Lord, I thought, there is no way I can make up the time we have lost. It is in your hands. I will accept what you provide. I started the car and off we went.

When we were about 20 miles from our back roads destination, something unusual began to happen. Minutes started melting off of Rosie’s estimated time of arrival. I began to wonder what was going on. Nothing else seemed unusual. More minutes melted away. What’s going on Lord? I asked. No answer. More minutes melted off. When we finally arrived at the church, it was 9:43! That was 27 minutes faster then what Rosie herself had said AND 2 minutes faster than our original planned time to arrive. The Lord had transported us on time. Stunned and overflowing with joy, we popped out of the car praising Him for His wonderful answer to our simple earnest prayers. WOW, Lord! Thank you!

Later, while I was studying the scriptures for confirmation, I asked the Lord where was He during this event. He answered by showing me a vision of the side of my car. A large angel the length of my car was flying near the roof. I could see the air moving so fast past the angel and car that it looked as if we were traveling at a high rate of speed. That was all the confirmation I needed.

Some may choose not to believe or explain my excitement away. However, I believe we are coming into a time where God is waiting for us to advance our faith and accept miracles like this in our everyday lives. For those who are willing to believe, training has already begun. The time we have left to proclaim the gospel is short. For me, this incident was actually the second transportation in the last 2 months. The first one I questioned. The second one got my attention. I don’t know all of what God has planned for the future. But, I am excited and expectant. I want to do the great works He promised us. I pray each of you will become expectant, expand your faith and advance too.

Scripture references: Acts 8:39, John 6:21, John 14:5-18 
Recommended reading: Transported by the Lion of Judah by Anne Elmer

Bird Poop Happens

                                                 This past weekend, my daughter, Kristen and I made the long trip up to Kentucky to visit my son, Dave and his wife, Leslie. Being Memorial Day weekend, Kristen had an extra day off from school so it made the trip worth the eight hours to get there.

Saturday morning, we three girls went out on the deck to enjoy the sunshine and the nice breeze. This is the kind of weather I like to sunbath in because you do not feel the heat so badly until later in the afternoon. I was content with the calmness as I relaxed and soaked up some rays.

We were laughing and joking about this and that, when something out of the blue happened. Suddenly, I felt a plop of bird poop hit my left arm. It was not to the left or right but slap dab in the middle near my watch. At first, I could not believe the bird, which I never saw, could have had such perfect aim. Then, I wanted to tell that bird a thing or two. Finally, I merely went inside and washed it off. When I came back out, the incident became the joke and our laugh for the day.

 

Later, I asked the Lord if there was something he wanted me to see since the bird’s aim was so sharp. That is when I hear Him speak to my heart.

“Don’t allow sudden negative actions of others steal your joy.”

This has been a difficult lesson to learn. Suddenly, a phone call or friend would come by and upset my day with their attitudes or actions. I would mull over the situation again and again. At first, I wanted to lash back or cultivate self-piety but I knew neither one of those answers was a positive solution. After I started praying, God began inserting this phrase into my thinking.

“Are you going to let them steal your joy?”

When the Holy Spirit said it the first time, it surprised me. I wasn’t sure how to respond. I felt justified in my feelings of anger and piety. However, the more I thought about what God was trying to teach me, I knew I had to learn to clear my thoughts of “them” and turn my attention to something more joyful like my plans for the rest of the day, events coming up or maybe even make plans to visit a friend. Cultivating the joyful thoughts in that moment would be the strength I needed to overcome. Once I changed my thinking, my attitudes and actions followed too.

What do you do when your life is suddenly pooped on? Has God ever tried to get you to wash your mind clean and move on to more pleasant pastures? Next time you get plastered, do not let the negative situation get you down. Begin to cultivate joy and watch your strength arise with overcoming power.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. 

Nehemiah 8:10