Jess and I were behind an armored car the other day and the vehicle had one on the back of it with bold numbers we saw as it was making a U turn, driving in reverse in 2 lanes of traffic and almost hitting our car!
I really thought about calling and letting his boss or company know what a terrible job he was doing and how he almost hit our car. I decided not to and we just made fun of him instead. Not sure that was the right thing to do.
Check out this one
Seriously if you're driving near this car and reading all the information to tell on this bad driver you will probably have an accident yourself!
This of course got me thinking.... What if we walked around with a bumper sticker on us that had a direct line to God asking fellow believers “how's my spiritual driving?” Call 1-800-goodjob and ask for Jesus.
What kind of reports would God get on me? Would they be good or bad driving evaluations?
I was leading a Bible study on Joshua 3 this week, I'll give you the Gena's Jewels version but as always I encourage you to read the event for yourselves.
Joshua is getting ready to go to battle in Jericho and he has to cross the Jordan River with his entire army. Crossing a river would be hard enough but it was harvest time so the river was in flood stage. The officers are giving the troops instructions because they had never been in this place before and they are letting them know they will need to follow the guide. Joshua tells the people to purify themselves because the next day they were going to witness a great miracle. Joshua let's the men know that the priest carrying the ark of the covenant would go first and when the souls of the priest feet hit the water, the water would part and they could cross over on dry ground.
OK so if I'm one of the people in this army it would have taken a great deal of faith for me to actually do it. Step into crazy flood waters
The story gets even crazier when they actually get to Jericho and hear God's plan for how to attack the city. The verse that really hit me was when God said "do exactly what I say."
If I were "driving" behind this army I would be calling the spiritual hot line and letting God know these people had lost their minds and were getting ready to drown.
So my spiritual bumper sticker would be good right?
“friend helping friend at major event” If you agree call Jesus at 1-800-good job
I was looking forward to it for weeks before I realized it was the same day as a meeting I had to attend. I was so bummed when I realized I wouldn't be able to go.
Now how's My driving?
"Friend bailing on friend who has done so much for her and she won't even be at an event for precious grandchild who needs her support."
After you read this spiritual bumper sticker you would probably call and give a lousy report on my “driving.” You may think as I did, what a jerk!
Even though I made a commitment to the meeting long before the 5K event. Your/my emotions could make the decision a bit muddy and make us ask ourselves did God really want me to miss this fund raiser?
After looking at the schedule of the meeting I realized if I worked it out right I could do both!
Excitement back up, bumper sticker redeemed, I'm not such a jerk after all.
I went to bed early so I could be on site at 5 AM with the volunteers to help set up. I could take part in the walk then hit the road to be at my meeting right when I'm needed. I was thanking Jesus for working things out for me and went to bed happy.
To my dismay I woke up about 12:20 A.M. with severe stomach pains.
I'm sure it had nothing to do with my healthy dinner of peanuts, a smore hot off the fire pit, 2 Reese's pieces candies and pizza.
I was in so much pain and laid in every position I could think of to get relief. Feet up, head up, on my side, folded in half you name it. This was the closest to a contortionist as I had ever been.
With each glance of the clock I would think, if I just go to sleep right now I can still get a little rest before 4:30.”
I felt like the Holy Spirit was telling me He knew the meeting was the same day as the 5k and I wasn't supposed to attend the 5K, BUT "I" found a way to make it happen. He was letting me know if He was really driving I would just listen to exactly what He said to do, just like He taught me that morning in the Bible study that I led.... and not go.
You see in the natural God's commands can seem very strange. Like stepping into flood waters and expecting the waters to part.
Why wouldn't I go to an event to support my dear friend and her sweet family. A friend that has been so generous to me for years!
In the natural it would look like poor driving and to be honest I didn't want to look ungrateful and more than that I wanted to wear my cape!
I was putting how I would feel before what God flat out said to do, or not do in this case.
How did that work for me? I ended up not going to either event as I felt awful most of the day :(
I think if I would have just left things alone, knowing God knew both events would be the same day and trusted Him that I was right where I was supposed to be my night of pain would have ended different.
I believe with all my heart God was protecting me from something this morning. Something that would have harmed me and would have taken away from Corries big day.
I was in a place I had never been before. I needed to listen to the instructions of my guide, the Holy Spirit, and do exactly what He said. I could have then gone to my scheduled meeting and handled my responsibility with power and strength. Heck I could have even wore my cape!
Gena's Jewels lesson for the day
Before you call the Jesus hotline on your fellow drivers ask yourself, does he know his way around or is this his first time in this place?
Or
Is it possible he's following his guide, the Holy Spirit, and going in the exact direction God told him?
