A week and a half ago I had a spiritual experience that can only come from a personal relationship with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
It involved a semi, the stars and a familiarity with the Bible.
It began with my agreeing to take another delivery run to west Texas. There were times this summer I wanted to quit that run. Now I look forward to the chance to get some windshield time in a big rig.
The semi isn’t equipped with a satellite radio so I simply leave it off after I’m out of range of my favorite Christian station in DFW, KCBI. My mind is then free to ponder whatever it wants to. I usually pray for family and friends, church staff and government officials, missionaries and whomever else comes to mind then.
The first line of Psalm 46:10 has always been a favorite of mine, “Be still and know that I am God.” The next lines are even deeper, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” We exalt God by being still before him. Try it sometime.
After I finished my deliveries on Thursday I headed south and enjoyed my favorite meal of grilled salmon on a bed of rice with a side of steamed broccoli.
The trip to San Angelo was spent pondering how often Jesus wanted to help a playmate out as a boy by healing them with His touch only to be told by His Father, “No. It’s not Your time, yet.”
I contemplated where Jesus was the day Joseph died. Was it a construction accident or a disease that ended His step-dad’s life. How torn was Jesus to be told at that time, “No. It’s not your time, yet.”
You see. Jesus does know first-hand about the steps of grief involved in the death of a loved one.
This idea of waiting was so ingrained into Jesus that Mary had to push Him to perform His first recorded miracle. Do you remember what He told her at the wedding in Cana when she asked Him to help the family out? Jesus told her, “My time is not yet.” But, it apparently was His time because the water did turn into wine.
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I did my best to watch the glorious sunset as it turned from yellow to orange that evening. The challenge was that it was off to my right and slightly behind me. Sometimes the urgent means certain things must be enjoyed on limitation.
The sky was clear and dark when I arrived at my favorite picnic area outside of San Angelo. I pulled over and shut the tractor and lights off to soak up the Milky Way and stars. The smell of skunk hung in the air from the carcass I wasn’t able to completely avoid with all 18 tires a few miles before then.
My mind took me to a time God called another man out to observe the stars. “Your descendants will be just as numerous.” God told Abram.
Yet, it took decades before God fulfilled the essential step of a single son. It wasn’t his time, yet. But, it did come after a mis-step by Abraham and Sarah.
Faith and obedience are established in waiting. This testing is crucial.
When I told a friend in church about how I’m working for a temporary agency he admitted he couldn’t do that. He “needed” a full-time job with insurance to survive.
I didn’t chastise him for holding that stance. I’m just grateful God chose me to obey Him to an extreme measure compared to others.
Seven years ago God called me to write for Him. I’ve been working on that craft as best I can since then. So far a book hasn’t materialized because, “My time hasn’t come, yet.”
I just sent in what I hope is the last set of corrections for 100 Prayers of a Writer to Tate Publishing.
My time has come and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with the words He’s had me put together to further His kingdom.
I’ll be looking for friends to help me get the word out about this book soon.
Anybody with a resolution to improve their prayer life will benefit from reading these prayers.
I could choose to live a safe life and drive full-time hauling freight around or some other job. I don’t belittle anyone who lives that lifestyle. They’re the backbone of society.
That’s simply not the road God is calling me to travel on. A lifetime of tests and trials has developed a faith and trust that leads me to want to please Him in all I do. I could do that with the “security” of a full-time job. I’ve chosen to see where this unknown path will lead me.
I gave my heart to Jesus so young I don’t remember not being born-again.
The born-again life isn’t meant to be a religion, but a relationship with God, the Father.
Since Barb left me over three years ago, and we never had any children, I’ve been by myself a lot.
But, I’ve never been alone. Not for a second.
I’m to the point that I feel sorry for people who don’t have a personal relationship with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
That’s all.
I’ll see you later. Wade
