Reunion

              A few months ago members of our high school class gathered to celebrate our 50^th class reunion. Before the designated day arrived, I was a little nervous.  The last class reunion I had attended was the 40^th, and people do change in ten years, right? J  However, discovering that several of my close friends from high school were attending the festivities, my nervousness turned into excitement. I couldn’t wait to see them.

               When I entered the Sports Bar and Grill, the designated meeting place, I immediately felt calm and relaxed as I recognized one classmate after another. Everyone responded with enthusiasm and comradery.  Conversations turned from today’s activities, family involvements, and occupations to laughter and stories of past events. It was a fantastic, fun reunion with over 30 of us attending out of a class of 79 (Nine have passed away).  As the time together came to an end, a warm sense of friendship spread throughout the room with everyone looking forward to the next reunion.

               On the drive home, smiles remained constant on my face. Being with my close friends from high school along with all my former classmates embraced my heart.  It had been a wonderful reunion.

   BUT THEN, another reunion to look forward to ran through my thoughts.  In fact, this will no doubt in my mind be the greatest reunion of all…a gathering of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. The appearance of JESUS together with my family and friends (classmates included) can only be imagined at this point, but in my heart, I know it will be AWESOME and one worth attending!!

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” Titus 2: 11-13

A Labor Day Miracle

With the Labor Day holiday I am reminded of one of the most amazing incidents that took place during that holiday in 2007.  Since I recorded the event in my “tidbit” journal, I’m taking my words for this post from that entry. May you be blessed as I was on that extraordinary ride.

               “The Labor Day weekend found Larry, Haley [our youngest daughter] and me travelling to Springfield, Mo to help Quinn, Rebecca and Nora [our son and his family] load up to move to Hays, Ks. All week I had been apprehensive about the drive. Anxiety and fear took hold. Satan was determined to take control. Over and over I spoke to God about this attack, knowing full well that my God was more powerful than Satan. Various stories of Scripture came to mind as God led the way for His people, the Israelites, through the wilderness. God leads the way for all who trust Him. And God led the way for us.

“We had decided to turn off at the Clinton, Mo exit because according to Map Quest, that was the quickest way. Never taken this exit before, I was worried that I would direct Larry incorrectly causing him to respond with frustration. That was my fear above all…Larry’s disapproval. However, I had considered the possibility of our missing the turn off, and we would still be okay. The trip would just take longer.

               “Shortly after passing around Kansas City, we came upon a line of traffic several miles long due to the Labor Day holiday. There were four lanes so we kept passing the bumper to bumper line-up by staying in the third lane. It was already dark so landmarks were impossible to distinguish, but the exchanges were well marked. We noticed that the Clinton exit was fast approaching, but we were in the third lane and needed to be in the second. Every time Larry tried to cut in, the closure would stop us. We were maybe 100 feet to the turn off and suddenly, a truck in the second lane hesitated, and we slipped over and made the exit. We had bypassed the traffic jam and continued without delay. God provided the space for us. There’s no doubt in my mind that He orchestrated that opportunity. God did, indeed, lead the way. And my concern of disappointing Larry was gone as well. It was AWESOME!

               “As I reflect upon the trip to Springfield and the Clinton exit incident, I’m drawn to the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Just as their obstacle was the Red Sea so ours was the stream of vehicles. Both of us needed to cross or in our case, slip into the stream. Both of us were running out of time. The Israelites had Pharaoh’s army approaching them; we had the Clinton turn-off approaching us. When it seemed the Israelites were to be destroyed by the army and when it seemed we would be forced to miss our exit, God intervened, just at the appropriate time!  The Red Sea opened up for the Israelites to cross over; a space in front of a semi opened up moments before the turn-off!  Awesome!

               “God’s timing is always perfect. We, His people, need to trust Him completely and allow Him to act out His will.”

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided." Exodus 14:21