You might think it’s unusual that a flat tire reminds me of how life is FILLED WITH GOD’S CALLING ON OUR LIVES, and especially to remember His timing and Ways are bigger than our ways, but every bump in the road is a moment to SHINE OUR FAITH. And if life is smooth sailing, we best credit God for that! Moments in time are all a gift, make the most of them. In all, we must reveal our identity: One who TRUSTS in God.

Queen Esther had to acknowledge her MOMENT IN TIME TO TRUST GOD. Yes, TRUST GOD, step out in faith and approach the king, Xerxes, and expose and stop a plot to kill all the Jews. She had to take a risk revealing her identity too. That king did not know Esther also was a Jew, because her cousin/counselor Mordecai requested that she keep it a secret the whole time due to the many dangers they faced as foreigners. The exiles from Jerusalem were taken by a plundering conquest and the prophesies said their people would return to Jerusalem and a mighty KING would rise from their ranks (the House of David) – of course we all know the prophesies were of Jesus.

Certainly nowadays our bumps in the road are nothing in comparison and how we handle them are not as dramatic as this, but we are ALSO called for MANY actions in our faith FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. “You were called for just a TIME as this.”… and sometimes (often) ALWAYS we are to embrace GOD’S TIMING in how it all plays out. If we rant and rave in anger over small things – how do we demonstrate that we trust God? Well, it wasn’t just my flat tire’s “timing” but it was also when I knocked down the squash and salsa and cheese glass lunch container that next morning that I REMEMBERED a connection to patience and petition to God. I thought about Esther and TIMING. A sticky situation needing attention immediately. These delays in my life surely are when I KNOW I am being paced by God, slowing me down from multi-tasking, resetting “my agenda schedule” – maybe even preventing me from a car crash or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  God moves us to bless us AND to be with others in His timing for them too. You must realize that we ARE God’s Hands and Feet… See, this is why I consider the flat tire A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, that dealing with small things as well as big, are in God’s plans. We must TRUST HIM. We must change our attitude FASTER than it takes to change a tire.

I knew I had a slow leak, discovered just that day, so when I saw the actual flat I was forced to pause, well sort of, because God lined up the day in HIS Way…. There actually was a yellow truck actually idling right next to me, WHAT TIMING!  Even if he “randomly” was there at my workplace for a broken down big rig, I chatted with the driver about my own tire, talked about getting to a holiday event with friends. He DID have an air pump and he DID fill me up with air without complaining or asking for anything AND also he filled me with cautiousness while we discussed how perhaps I should call roadside service AAA anyway. He cared. He was a counselor placed in God’s timing to me. I already pay for roadside service so I called them anyway just because I had a long trip, better to not get stuck on the turnpike itself then I would NEVER make it to my friends’ event on time. It was then I saw the nail,  perfectly placed inside the treads making it plug-fixable in the future. Yup, not God’s nail but a reminder to NOT be mad, just be GLAD I had options AND had roadside service on the way and especially God to rely on.

My spare donut was on within record speed by a AAA driver grateful for my call (and for my tip since this was only his 4th call all day). Meanwhile I watched the yellow big rig tow driver on the ground hooking up that stranded truck, such hard work! I went back over to thank him for his help and advice, tell him I had a safe tire on now, and wish him Merry Christmas. He was grateful I said Christmas not holidays and I was grateful to give God praise in that moment WITH someone.

Yes, I made the get together with my friends, and we donned our festive lighted headbands and were grateful to SHINE. I ran into dozens of girl scout and church friends. Their love SHINED God’s Love to me and to all… I saw “God’s Miracles in Motion” (my friends who are medical miracles). And I met a new person whom helped put on that holiday event, we have mutual church friend connections, so AT THAT MOMENT I knew God must have wanted me to meet her, chat with her, make her feel more welcome to our community. All these interactions brought to me – connected by God’s TIMING. Whom am I not to LET HIS LIGHT SHINE. One flat tire becomes 10 opportunities for GRATITUDE. So imagine what we could PRAISE for every time we DON’T have a flat. Praise for every time we see friends.

It always helps our attitude by giving God gratitude. Got out on a limb like Esther for God’s mission. Go out with a LIGHT to share God’s Love.

I thank my friends for their friendship, for putting the shine into my smile – and I thank the Lord for putting HIS batteries in our LIGHT. He IS this SHINE of mine. I’m going to let HIM SHINE. 

Amen

PS, I did not fix my tire yet, I am riding on my “spare”… going to see how that nail in the tire gives God’s opportunity to praise Him today! God Bless TODAY!

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Esther 4:13-17

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

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