Psalm 46
1God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Interlude
Just three weeks ago I backed my little car into a garbage truck. I have no idea how I did not hear or see the huge truck thirty feet from my parking space when I went out to my car to go to work. I know I was tired that day as I did not sleep well at all. That alone is unusual as I usually sleep well. Yet, I was determined to go to work that day. As I slammed into the huge truck, I remember thinking I somehow hit my apartment building, but my apartment building is not blue. I was trapped in the car the whole driver’s side was slammed up against the truck. One of the two guys with the garbage truck told me to pull forward. As I did, I was able to free my car from the garbage truck and I was still able to drive it. I was in a state of shock. I remember one of the garbage truck men asked me if it was okay to call the police. I said yes. I was trying to call work, but the sun was shining on my phone, so I went into my building. No one answered the phone. I tried several times. The police came and they interviewed me and the two guys. One of the guys told me he knew my store manager and had called him for me. I was wearing my work vest. Someone told me to move my car so I drove it up so I could turn around and I put it back in my parking space.
I messaged my kids. I asked my oldest son to drive me to work. The police left and the garbage men went on to pick up the garbage from the other buildings. I called in late still determined to go into work. I was physically unhurt, but I was shaking inside. My son came and got me. He was with his girlfriend. They took me to work. When I got there, I happened to see one of the managers. She asked me how I was not knowing I had just been in an accident. I told her and suddenly I was close to tears. She said she would excuse me if I did not feel up to working that day. So, I went to the breakroom and decided to not punch in and try to find a way home. My youngest son is temporarily disabled and cannot drive. He has a car so I messaged him asking him if I could borrow his car while mine was being repaired. He said yes so, I said I would find a way to his house to get the car. My oldest son and girlfriend were on their way out of town to help someone move when they dropped me off at work. I did not know anyone else to call so I called a cab. They said it would be at least three hours before they could pick me up so I called another company and they said it would be more than an hour. While I was on the phone a coworker was listening to my conversation. When I got off the phone, she said she would be finished with work in an hour and a half and would be willing to drive me to my son’s house. I called the cab company back and cancelled the cab. While I waited, I ate the lunch I had brought with me and searched for repair shops. I was wondering how long it would take to get my car repaired. Just when my coworker came into the breakroom after her shift the insurance adjuster called to set up an appointment to see about the damage to my car. After I got off the phone my coworker took me up to my son’s house. When I got there my son asked me to take him to the store. When I started his car, I saw the gas tank was empty, so we first went to the nearest gas station. I put gas in, and we went to the store. On our way back to my son’s house I noticed the speedometer was not working and the battery light was on. Somehow, we made it back to my son’s house. As I pulled up to the edge of the parking lot to back into his space, my son asked me to let him do it because my car was smaller. So, I turned off the car and got out. My son got in and the car would not start. After four tries, he quit, and we went upstairs to his apartment. Now what?
I felt overwhelmed. I had no way of getting to and from work let alone a way home from my son’s house. My son’s friend came and tried to jump his car, but it would not start. I was stuck! So, I looked online about a rental car. I decided to call them to make sure it was all set up. They were coming to get me at nine the next morning. Yet I still needed a ride home and I did not want to wait for hours for a cab. My son suggested Uber. I downloaded the app and put in for a ride. My ride was going to be there in ten minutes. I said goodbye to my son and made my way down to the front of the house so the Uber driver could find me. She was right there in no time. She was pleasant and empathic to my situation. I needed that comfort.
The next morning a driver from the car rental place picked me up and brought me to the rental place. The guy who managed my call the night before was there to help me get the rental. It took little time and soon I was on my way to work. I was overly cautious driving for the first time since the accident. As I was working, I was wondering how I was going to pay for the deductible and pay off my credit card for the rental. I was worried.
The next morning the insurance adjuster came. He took his time looking over the damage. When he was finished assessing my car, he texted me to come out and talk to him. He told me my car was not repairable. I needed a new car. He told me my insurance would pay off my damaged car and give me the difference. The insurance company would call me when they knew what my car was worth. As it was Friday, I then knew I would have to wait until Monday to hear from the insurance company. When he left, I went to work? I was relieved! I would not have to wait for my car to be repaired nor pay the deductible. On my lunch I looked to see what was available at the dealership in Rhinelander where my friend sells cars. I found a car I liked and met my criteria of must haves. I was surprised of how much cars sold for these days, but I wanted something dependable. I messaged my friend at the dealership, and she said the car was available. She said to do the application for financing as soon as possible online. I told her I would do it that evening. When I got home from work, I filled out the application. I looked at other cars just in case that one fell through, but none were as good as the one I applied for, so I waited.
The next day I was checking my messages just before it was time to punch in for work and saw a message from my friend at the dealership I was approved for financing for that car. I told her the soonest I could come buy the car would be Tuesday. I asked my oldest son to drive me up on Tuesday and he said he could. The next day I drove about two hours down near Wisconsin Dells to a family reunion. It was wonderful to see everyone.
Finally, Monday came, and I heard from the insurance company. I was shocked at how much my car was worth. The guy overseeing my case said he would deposit money in my checking so I could make a down payment on my new car. Later that day I saw he made the deposit. Tuesday, I asked my son to meet me at the car rental place so I could return the rental before him driving me up to Rhinelander to buy my car. After test driving the car and doing all the paperwork, I went out to lunch with my friend. It had been almost two years since I last seen her, and it was so nice to visit. I also saw another friend who worked at the place where we went for lunch.
After I left, I stopped briefly to see a couple of my grandchildren then headed home. On the way home I saw the engine light had come on. The car is only two years old with only 17,000 miles on it. Why was the engine light on? It seemed to run okay so I went home. I let my friend who sold me the car know. It was suggested I have an auto parts store run a diagnostic on it, so I went the next day after work. When he ran the test, I called my dealership friend with the results. She was at work, so she went over and spoke with a mechanic. He said I needed to bring the car back in, but it was drivable until then. My friend made an appointment for me the next Tuesday as Monday was Independence Day.
On Monday, I needed to go to a friend’s house who had just had surgery three days prior. I went to bring her a meal and help her. She convinced me to take her to the fireworks at a nearby town. I did not really want to go as I had an early morning appointment the next day at the clinic, and I had to drive an hour to Rhinelander to get my car fixed. We went anyways and I was late getting home. Not what I wanted.
Tuesday, I did my appointment then cleaned up the spilled coffee from the night before. Tired, I drove up to Rhinelander and went straight to the dealership. They did not have an appointment for me. What? I told them I had just drove an hour to there thinking I had an appointment. They agreed to squeeze me in. It took two and a half hours, but she finally called my name to say they had finished with my car. I stopped at one of my favorite places for lunch then over to see my grandkids. As I headed home later, I noticed how much better my new car preformed. I finally felt some peace about my whole experience.
Why did all this happen? I still do not know. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Later in Psalm 46 the writer writes The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. You ask what does it mean “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies”? At the time of writing the Lord God would come down once a year to a place in the tabernacle called the Holies of Holy. It would be rare for someone to feel God’s presence. Yet, Christians believe Jesus was God’s Son and therefore the very presence of God in the flesh. However, Jesus did not come for hundreds of years after this Psalm was written. Now Jesus no longer walks the earth, but Christians believe God’s Spirit indwells the hearts of Christians guiding them through life. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies refers to Jesus even though it was before His time on earth. This idea is based on studying the book of Revelations, the last book of the Bible. The Psalm ends with a look ahead to end times. Be still and know I am God.
8Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Interlude
With every experience we can look and find God within the experience. Even right after the accident I wondered why God let it happen. Then in the following weeks I saw God at every turn. Sometimes we just need to be still and know God is with us. He Is Here!
Below is some books on the topic as well as a link to Christianbook. I am an affiliate with Christianbook. They are a Christian company which sells Bibles, books, videos, and gifts. If you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small percentage of your purchase at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
God with Us
By Margaret Montreuil
Open to the Spirit: God in Us, God with Us, God Transforming Us
By Scot McKnight
The identity of the Holy Spirit has perplexed believers for centuries. What specifically does the Spirit do in our lives? How can we know the Spirit more deeply and tap into the Spirit’s power? Is it possible to be more aware of the Spirit’s promptings and speaking in our lives?
The answers are bigger and better than you’ve dared to imagine. Because the issue isn’t whether we can grow closer to the Spirit but whether we are open to all the Spirit offers.
And it begins with this realization that God is alive and well and indwells us. That’s the seminal idea and invitation behind world-renowned New Testament scholar Scot McKnight’s new book. Rather than a scholarly treatise or systematic theology, Open to the Spirit is practical exploration of more than a dozen biblical themes about the Holy Spirit.
As you discover how to be increasingly open to the Spirit every moment of every day, it will change your understanding of the Bible; how you relate to others; how you approach worship; and how you experience victory over sin, sickness, and death. God’s desire is to transform us into individuals who demonstrate his grace, love, peace, and justice. If you’re open to that, then you’re ready for this radical life-changing message!
God with Us-Fifty True Stories of God’s Faithfulness
By Joanne Deserio Jones
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