God's Boston Glee Party?

October 31, 2013

"A Boston Glee Party" was the banner headline on the Sports section of the Sarasota Herald Tribune  announcing the Red Sox had won the World Series. Did you get the pun?

Ten years ago, almost to the day, the Sox won their first world series in 86 years. I mused then, "did God smile on the Red Sox? Was it because Curt Schilling tucked a cross inside his shirt when he pitched or was it David Ortiz pointing skyward as he crossed home plate after each homerun."

Did you notice yesterday what David Ortiz said when he received the Most Valuable Player trophy?
He first thanked God.  Or was it the signs in the stands that read, "We have faith," that brought God's favor?

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed-Nothing will be impossible for you."
(Matthew 17:20)

One nation under God?

July 4, 2013

This is our nation's birthday. We pledge to our flag, "One nation under God..." But we are not one nation under God. There are even those who want to ban the word God from our pledge. That offends me and its an insult to those who have died defending our nation.

I know if we keep our pledge to God he will keep his promises to us. May God continue to bless America.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and
heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Angel on a bridge?

 

May 2013

 

“Occasionally I see reports of happenings that can not be humanly explained-of visitors unexpectedly appearing to assist in times of crisis, or warning of impending danger. These can only be explained as the Intervention of God’s angels.”

      Bill Graham, Hope For Each Day

 

When I was 19 years old I lived in Tracy, California, and had been out with some friends in Stockton, about 20 miles away.  I was driving home alone about 2 am old Highway 50. The highway splits into two high narrow bridges over the San Joaquin River, one for north bound and one for south bound traffic. The bridges are steep so that you can’t see the other side until you get to the top. 

 

There was no traffic on the road at that hour and I was traveling the speed limit. I was in the left hand lane going up the south-bound bridge when, for some unexplained reason, I steered into the right hand lane. A moment later I was in the middle of the bridge when out of nowhere, a car came speeding the wrong way in the lane I had just left.

If I hadn’t changed lanes there would have been a head on collision in the middle of that high and narrow bridge. There was nowhere to go except over the edge into the river below.  I know that I would not have survived the crash or the river.

 

Decades later I still shiver at the thought of what could have happened that night.  There was no reason for me to change lanes. I was saved by an angel that night, I’m absolutely sure. 

 

“For he shall give his angels charge over you,

to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

 

Mary (Kiser) Bartlein
Panther Ridge, Florida

Pray Specifically

 

April

 

 She is introduced as Ms Julie. You don’t use last names when you are running from an abuser. She rode a bus to Florida with one suitcase and the clothes on her back. She had been directed to a shelter. She obtained a job waiting table at a restaurant within walking distance of the shelter.  

 

 

 

"What I really needed was a car to go on interviews and find a better job. So I prayed very specifically for a four-door Camry (she had had one once) so I could take people to church with me. I wanted a clean beige or brown car.

 

"A few days later I received a call from a caring organization that donates used cars to needy people. They had heard of my plight and called to say they had a car for me.

 

“When I arrived to pickup my car I was told the donor had taken it to a car wash. A few minutes later a car entered the parking lot and I knew it was a gift from God. It was a sparkling beige four-door Camry and it was clean.”

 

Ms Julie

Sarasota County

Long Distance Jump Start

 

Week of January 13

 

It’s been a long day and we are all tired by the time we land at Tampa International Airport. We still have another hour to drive home to Sarasota.

 

The exhilaration of seeing our son graduate earlier that day from Navy boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois is fading  and exhaustion is taking over.

 

By the time Marcia and I retrieve the bags including her mother’s luggage, it is nearly midnight. Now the challenge is to find our car in the color coded parking garage with its monorail system and stops named for aviation pioneers.

 

Alleluia! We find it on the first try.

The bags are loaded in the trunk, mom flops into the back seat, Marcia and I in the front. I turn the key and it won’t start. I try again. No luck.

 

Now what?

 

Marcia announces, “we can call triple A and wait for them to find someone to come out and help us, or we can pray right here and right now.”

 

There is a groan and a barely audible “Oh No,” from the back seat.

 

Marcia places her hands firmly on the dash and says, “Lord—its late, we are tired-you know our situation- we need your help to start this car and get us home in one piece. Thank You Lord.” 

 

The car starts on the very next try.

 

“I’m a believer now,” says the voice from the back seat.

 Robert DesRosiers, Sarasota

Reprinted from Go Figure Sarasota/Manatee with permission
available at Amazon.com.