Straight Towards us
The following is my testimony of an incident that
happened last night. It has changed my life ...
God's Love and Grace:
It was just a week ago that a friend from work and I were
discussing God's Mercy and Grace. I remember quoting a
passage from one of Amy Grant's song "God Has Angels
watching Over Me"; it goes something like this "A car ran
out of gas before it ran my way"
Friday morning
Praise Session - Psalm 91: This past Friday morning another dear sister in Christ stood by me and my mom at the nursing home talking about the Power of the Word of God. She was so full of God's Joy, she was clapping and rejoicing over Psalm 91. You see, she had been reading it to my mom and her roommate, and before she knew it, my mom's roommate accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. But I was about to find out the reality of the Power of God's promises in a very strange way ...
Saturday Morning:
Saturday's are always the most hectic days for me, but
Saturday, March 27th would be one I will never forget. After
visiting my mom at the nursing home I headed out to dance
practice, and noticed my pastor had driven his wife's car to
the property our church bought for our own building. Pastor
Tom is in the habit of going there to pray God's Word as he
walks around blessing our future home, and the surrounding
area. I don't know what made me pull over and cross the
street, but I did. Once I crossed the street, Linda's car
stopped looking like her car and I was suddenly filled with
a desire to run back to the safety of my car and pray for
the area. I knew in my heart that my pastor was in there
praying, so I prayed for his protection also. Once I reached
my destination I called their house to let him know there
might have been someone other than him in the property. Of
course, I found out I was right to begin with.
Saturday Evening:
Last night had been a scheduled "Ladies Fellowship", we
were meeting at a parishioner's home for a pot-luck dinner,
and to be blessed by Sue Samuel
www.suesamel.com , who
was going to minister to us with her singing. This young
lady has a wonderful testimony, and a beautiful voice, we
all knew we were in for a wonderful fellowship. Sue's
testimony really touched my heart. She shared with us how
Jeshua showed her that "All" things work together for the
good to those who love God and are called according to His
purpose, even in the midst painful experiences. As she was
speaking, I felt the Lord tug my heart and say to me "Trust
Me", so I knew deep in my heart that He wanted me to ponder
on Roman's 8:28, which is the scripture Sue was referencing.
But I was thinking He was telling me to trust Him in the
things that are going on in my life.
We sang, worshipped the Lord, ate and had lots of fun.
At the end of our fellowship, the hostess said a prayer of
Thanksgiving, and Blessings upon each one of us. She prayed
for "Traveling Mercies" as we went to our perspective home.
When she prayed this, I remember lifting my hands up to the
Lord and saying "Yes, Lord, we will need it. Now why did I
say "we"?
He worked everything out for our safety:
As I was on my way out the door, a friend asked me to
drive her home. Even though there were other ladies who
lived near her and could take her home, I felt compelled to
say yes - perhaps is because her face was very pale. I had
purchased Sue's latest CD so, we listened to it as we drove.
Driving right behind us, was my friend who was so full of
God's Joy and was quoting Psalm 91.
About half way to our destination, my friend leaned forward
and said "Oh my God, there is a man up ahead, and he is
coming towards us, he wants to get killed" Now I did not see
such a man, all I saw was a twirling leaf in front of my car
- this seemed odd to me. But by now my friend was screaming
and grabbing the sleeve of my right arm. Terror filled her
voice as she screamed "Oh my God, you are going to hit him"
Still I could not see, and was filled with such terror that
I joined her with my own screams. I slowed down and quickly
found myself driving over the double yellow line as I was
trying to avoid hitting someone I was yet to see. I could
feel something evil was over us and all I could do was
scream and call on the Name of Jesus.
Suddenly I saw him, he was indeed running desperately
towards my car - his arms were raised as he ran "straight
towards us". He was wearing a Bristol Blue sweat shirt with
some type of writing. I could see him so close that I could
see his body from his thighs up. I didn't see his face
because I was too busy swerving my car towards the middle of
the oncoming lane ... Then, as suddenly as this man
appeared, he disappeared.
All I could think of was that my friend who was driving
behind us had probably hit him, but I didn't hear anything.
My passenger and I were still screaming, but now she was
asking "Why Lord? Why Us"?, "Why Lord? Why Us"? I knew then,
that we needed to pray for that lost soul. Immediately, I
remembered Dutch Sheet's teaching on praying for the Lost;
he shared with us that at one point in his life, the Lord
placed him in the life of a man who continually tried to
commit suicide, but the man's mom, along with him and others
were praying for him. And no matter how many times and
different ways he tried to kill himself, the Lord always put
someone there to prevent him from successfully killing
himself.
My friend and I stood in the gap and prayed. Prayer calmed
us down enough to stop screaming. Without thinking, I drove
up about 50 feet and pulled over so I could see if our
friend behind us was OK. She pulled up next to me and said
"He's a crazy guy and is dangerous, don't stay here, keep
driving" So I drove to pastor's house, which is on the way
to my friends house. I called their house and he came out
and prayed with us, then suggested I call the police.
During our conversation of the incident, he asked me where
it had taken place ... Only then did I realize it had
happened right by our church property, where Pastor had
spent time praying. It seems that I pulled over into the
very same spot I had earlier in the morning.
Now, I need to tell you that last night I was at some point
angry that this man because had chosen to end his life via
"my car" How dare he put others in danger just so he could
end his own agony, but as soon as those thoughts enter my
head, I am reminded that "We know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose.
This man was crying out to God, perhaps he had planned this
event and was putting God to the test and the Lord had me
right by our church property to stop this man from his plan.
I do know that Pastor Tom always uses the Word of God to
pull down the strongholds, and casting down every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. II
Corinthians 10:3-5
I may never know what happened to that man, The police
searched the area and found no one. Perhaps I may have to
wait until I see Jesus face to face. I do know that He had
my pastor, friends and I stand in the gap for this man. I am
still praying for him, and feel his pain. There are times
when the image of him trying to run towards my car, and the
feeling of terror fills my being and I actually get scared.
But then I remember that He had angels watching over us last
night, and He has not taken them away. Better than that, I
know He inhabits the praises of His people, so I am Praising
Him for using me to reach that man -- I know He did!
No car ran out of gas before it ran my way, but the Lord
protected my car from killing someone last night. I can now
rest in His Peace and continue to pray for this man until
the Lord tells me to stop ...
For those of you who don't know Psalm 91, please click here,
or copy and paste into your browser. Then claim this promise
for yourself and your family.
http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=psalm+91
In Christ, Nancy Reindl
nancy@christianliffellowship.ws