Rain and Traffic

 

I was coming home from visiting my granddaughter in N. Myrtle Beach late Thursday night, and it had rained all day.  964 miles of rain, rain, rain.  But, the cops can’t shoot radar in the rain, so it was a good trip.  But that allowed me to drive a little faster than I should have … in rainy conditions.  It was dark, on the way home, and I was just passing I-285 on I-75 when the Google maps lady said, “Water on the road ahead.”  I saw brake lights, so I gently applied my brakes.  And at that moment, a car on my left went through a puddle, spun around, and pushed the car in front of him into the median concrete wall.  The car to my right locked his brakes and slid.  I continued pressing my brakes and went right between the mess.  As I slowed behind the traffic and continued home, I reflected.  I was grateful for good tires, for good brakes, and for the good Lord’s guiding hand … not in that order.  I know that these verses were written about Jesus as He confronted Satan, but they applied to me Thursday night: Luke 4:10&11, “For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”  Thank you, Lord, for watching over me each day, is my prayer.

Tiny Mouse

 

I was eight years old and watching TV when a commercial came on that was fascinating.  This guy had a little mouse that ran across his hands.  As he moved his hands the mouse ran from one to the other.  For only a dollar and two Schindler’s peanut butter labels, the mouse could be mine.  I begged my dad and mom to let me order the mouse, and they finally relented.  Schindler’s peanut butter was a little pricey, but my mother bought a jar.  I ate peanut butter every chance that I had.  She finally bought a second jar, and I had the two labels that I needed.  After several weeks, my mouse arrived.  But I was so disappointed.  The mouse was a fake.  It was a blob of wax the size of a dime with a tiny string stuck on it.  When you tied the thin string onto a shirt button near your waist and moved your hands just the right way, it looked like the mouse was moving from hand to hand.  I had been duped.  My parents probably knew the scam, but I just wouldn’t be satisfied until I had that little mouse.  My disappointment was a good lesson in life: if something seems too good to be true, it’s probably a trick.  Hey, how often are we tricked by Satan’s lies?  He lies to us and we fall into sin.  Solomon spoke of the lies of drinking in Proverbs 23:32, “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”  Wine and alcohol may be relaxing, but it can also be dangerous.  Flirting women may be exciting, but affairs are deadly.  Our pride can lead us to places that we never intended to go.  Hey, wake up!  Think carefully.  Don’t be tricked by lies.  Lies about a little mouse … or lies about something much more sinister.  Trust in the Lord and not in your feelings.  Feelings may lie to you, but the Lord has nothing but your best interest at heart.  The good Lord will never let you down!

Warm Heater Vents

 

Last Sunday, we had a cold snap.  It was blackberry winter, or dogwood winter, or something like that.  But the kids at church knew just were to go: stand over the heater vents in the side aisle at church.  There was one vent left up front, so I joined them … but just for a moment.  Long enough to get a picture.  And every Sunday, their parents know just where to take their kids too: take them to church where they will hear about Jesus (and get warm on a cold day).  I’m so glad that I heard about Jesus and received Him as my Lord and Savior April 17, 1956.  Quite a while ago!  I was born into God’s forever family as a little child.  Matthew 19:14, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”