I think The Lord has a sense of humor and sometimes just wants to get our attention in a way that brings a big astonished smile to our face. That happened this past weekend when driving back from our 4th of July trip. We stopped for lunch in a small town at a truckstop restaurant that had quotes from famous people all over the walls and in back of the booths. There weren’t many people there so we just aimlessly walked to the back and sat in a booth. We looked over the menu, ordered, then waited to be served.
I opened my iPad to look at “Facebook news,” catching up on the posts of friends and families I had missed over the last few days. I came across the post with the picture you see me pointing to. My friend had found this long-ago photo taken back in the 70’s with Waylon Jennings, a country music star who first became well known back then. My husband loves anything “guitar” so I showed him this photo.
I closed my iPad then suddenly my husband opened his eyes really wide and said, “Did you say that was Waylon Jennings?” He looked absolutely astonished as he pointed at the quote behind my head which I hadn’t seen. I turned around and right behind me in the booth I was sitting, was a quote from the man in this picture, Waylon Jennings!
What are the odds of that happening? I can’t even begin to fathom that! I had such a sense that the Heavenly Host were getting a huge smile out of this! My immediate thought was that God is watching over us all the time. Nothing escapes His notice. He is always ready to intervene, to bless us, to rescue us – or even astonish us! As we were driving away from the restaurant, my husband was pulled over by a highway patrolman for “speeding” at 67 mph. We hadn’t seen the sign that changed the speed limit from 65 to 55 mph. The officer was very nice and kindly just gave us a warning… We looked at each other when that was over and I said, “THAT was a Waylon Jennings moment!” God showed us again He IS watching over and protecting us. Always.
“1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139: 1-5
The 139th chapter of Psalms is one of my very favorite Psalms. I sang it back in the day as a solo called, “You Are There,” by Dan Burgess. (This is a recording sung by Cynthia Clawson and the message and music will bless you. God’s Word is not only beautiful poetry but profound truth. I pray the knowledge that He IS intimately concerned and aware of you and all you are doing and enduring speaks to Your heart. Maybe it encourages you or maybe it alarms you. But He is the Creator and mighty God; omniscient and omnipresent. Wanting to have you reach your hand up to His and hold fast. The only way you can escape Him is to once and for all turn your back on Him.
Prayers and Paintbrushes 