Advent Day 14: Good News
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. " ~John 1:6-7
by Evelyn McRae
We enjoy current stories of God’s faithfulness, but I am going to go back in time and share a story when the Lord was faithful to me in a humorous way.
The year was 1993 and we just moved into our home on Eleventh Street, from a time of transition from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, via Palatka, Florida, and then back home to Ocala. We arrived with our dog Sam, a beautiful boxer. On a small ranch in Texas, he had the run of the place but here we settled on a small lot. Sam was very friendly, but he also was territorial when it came to other dogs.
One day we were working in the yard, and very unwisely I had him next to me with the lease draped over the wheelbarrow. Our neighbor two doors down, who was in her nineties, came out to walk her tiny dog. Sam saw this before I did and took off. He stood over that poor little creature and sounded as though he would eat it alive. He never hurt it, but probably shortened its life through the sheer terror of those moments.
Richard was in the back pulling out an old azalea with his SUV, so when I yelled repeatedly, he did not hear me. Finally, a neighbor came from across the street and separated the dogs. All I could think was “Ms. Timmons is going to have a heart attack and it is my fault.” I was totally shaken.
That night I could not sleep, so I spent the night propped up on the sofa—short of breath. The next day we called the doctor and were told to get me to the hospital immediately as they thought I had a heart attack. (My family has a history of heart issues.)
I was placed in the cardiac area with numerous monitors and serious concern with the nurses and doctors. I think it should have been a frightening time for me, but when I prayed the Lord let me in on His sense of humor. His response was, “You are covered with My feathers.” (Psalm 91:4). This tickled me so much to picture myself covered with feathers. I lay there in the midst of all the monitors and testing with a smile on my face and a lightness in my heart. I know this was supernatural as it certainly isn’t a normal reaction in such a situation.
The Lord was not only faithful, He went a step further and put His humor in my heart and mind. Since then, I have often enjoyed Psalm 91 where He assures us He will cover us with His feathers. When I am stressed with new challenges, it encourages me to go back to that week and remember how He cared for and blessed me in spite of my foolishness with not having Sam anchored more securely.
The tests proved I did not have a heart attack, but the esophagus was damaged from all the yelling. It healed, and I was fine. And thankfully, Ms. Timmons and her little dog were okay, too. We ended up friends. Out of this experience, we realized we had to allow someone else to enjoy our Sam, as city living did not suit him or the neighbors! We were relieved when a lady with a large place in the country took him home. It was bittersweet, but we recognized the answer as God’s kindness once more. God truly loves us!
"Lift Up Your Heads, Rejoice!" by The Calendar Years
Click on Track #3
Lift up your heads, rejoice! (Lift up your heads, rejoice!)
Redemption draweth nigh.
All of creation with one voice, lift up your heads, lift up your heads, rejoice!
He comes, the wide world’s King,
He comes, the true heart’s Friend,
He comes, to fill with light the weary waiting eye;
…so lift up your heads, lift up your heads rejoice!
He comes, the Counselor.
He comes, the Prince of Peace.
He comes, New gladness to begin, and ancient wrong to end;
He comes, the promised child
He comes, the mighty God
He comes, the sleeper to awake. the dead to bring to life
…so lift up your heads, lift up your heads rejoice!The kingdom draweth nigh.
All of creation with one voice, lift up your heads, lift up your heads, rejoice!
Tomorrow’s word: Witness →
Click on Track #3
Lift up your heads, rejoice! (Lift up your heads, rejoice!)
Redemption draweth nigh.
All of creation with one voice, lift up your heads, lift up your heads, rejoice!
He comes, the wide world’s King,
He comes, the true heart’s Friend,
He comes, to fill with light the weary waiting eye;
…so lift up your heads, lift up your heads rejoice!
He comes, the Counselor.
He comes, the Prince of Peace.
He comes, New gladness to begin, and ancient wrong to end;
He comes, the promised child
He comes, the mighty God
He comes, the sleeper to awake. the dead to bring to life
…so lift up your heads, lift up your heads rejoice!The kingdom draweth nigh.
All of creation with one voice, lift up your heads, lift up your heads, rejoice!
Tomorrow’s word: Witness →
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