The Rudder

As I gunned the gas through the freeway intersection, half way through, it sputtered and shut down...
For three days in a row, I could not get a full breath and would have to stop and rest after a few steps. Five, maybe ten football throws to the boys and I was completely winded...Warning signs.

Finally, I went to the Dr. Couldn't breathe, couldn't sleep. So I've been fighting off Pneumonia and between a fuzzy head and heavy breathing, I kinda remember Janet saying something about the gas tank on "E." Now, I know first hand what she was trying to tell me.

On my way to drop my son off at school, I made a left turn out of the sub-division and the first sign of trouble was revealed with a sputter. I looked at the gas gauge and then looked at Austin and said "I don't think we are going to make it." The gas level read 1/4 inch below E and the closest gas station was a mile away. He prayed right then and there that we would have a safe and successful trip to the station, and that there would not be any cars coming either way at the freeway intersection.

Impressive, I always wonder just how much of a sponge our kids are when it comes to Spiritual things.

There are at least three take-aways to this story; first, that our kids do observe how we as parents respond to life's difficulties, they do notice us reading the Word and putting into practice the promises and warnings written. Second, how warnings have meaning.

I know my BMW can go 157 mph, I also know it's not safe to drive it that fast. I know when a gas warning light comes on, that I should fill up fairly soon. Similarly, the Bible gives us plenty of warnings, guidelines, and guardrails on how to live life. The riskier the life, the closer the warning signs, the higher the possibility of difficult times ahead.

The biggest take away though, is that once the car sputtered a mile away from the refill, I knew humanly, we were not going to make it to the gas station. I told my son the only way we will make it is God delivering us, is with a modern day miracle, and that's when he prayed... Sure enough, as we approached the intersection, for maybe the second time in three years, there were no cars coming either way. We coasted into the gas station after passing halfway through the freeway intersection with a dead car, we made it safely to that destination and then on to school..on time.

Once again, God does come through on time. On His time. What a relief to know that as we are stretched and stressed in other areas of our life. His hand is never to short to reach down and grant us favor when we ask. That my friends, is a great promise.

Isaiah 59:1 (New Living Translation)

1 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you,
nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.