Bring Me Back Home

We were so close to our Dallas destination. We attempted to cross over the LBJ freeway but something went way wrong. We were out of gas, suspended on the stately overhead bridge. I had put $25 of gas in the car before we left home---it wasn't enough for a trip in traffic to Dallas. Bob jumps out the car to push it while I navigate an SUV that is going nowhere. I'm asking God for help cause if we get hit on this bridge, where do we go? Scores of cars pass us. Then, a gentleman jumps out of his car to our rescue...now there are two men pushing the car and a third man is running to help them. And their cars are abandoned on the bridge. Whew! Safe on the shoulder of the road, Bob treks two miles to buy a gas can and gas while I waited in the 102 degree abandoned car.

Francis Frangipane writes: "Rescue is the constant pattern of God's activity." One minute we are fine, not realizing how badly we need help. Then a word comes, a report dawns, something breaks and we are moved in our distress to do something. What do we do? What's our M.O.? I loved the word that I read this a.m. in 2 Chron 33:12,13. This guy named Manasseh was unbelievably distressed---he actually had just deliberately killed his own son---and he got caught. He made a choice that was completely uncharacteristic of how he handled life. He sought God's favor and humbled himself. And the LORD was moved by his prayer, his plea and brought him back home. Wonder why I think that God moves for those people who are doing the right things? A powerful passage.

Whether I am out of gas in my SUV or in my soul, in my big or small distresses, may I seek God's favor and humble myself and pray. I want God to keep bringing me back home when I'm not in a good place.

I don't know why $25 of gas---that's about 6 gallons here in the US--- didn't work for the 40 mile trip---it should have. I wonder if it has anything to do with a 17-year-old son who ran a quick errand to the gym in my car this afternoon. At $4 a gallon, I don't get as far as I think I can. When I bought my first car, gas cost 36 cents per gallon---I guess I have seen a lot in my lifetime!