Pat and I have a running discussion about one of my driving habits. I don’t immediately take off when the light turns green. It’s true that when I don’t begin moving as soon as the light turns green, I occasionally get a horn from behind. (However, Mexico is the worst place to drive in that regard. IF you’re not IMMEDIATELY in motion when the light turns green, you hear a massive cacophony of horns. Believe me, I mean IMMEDIATELY!!!)

Pat thinks I’m preoccupied with other things and just don’t notice that the light has turned green. I try to explain that much of my hesitancy dates back a few years when had I not taken a few seconds to put the lid on my drink mug, I would have been broadsided (and likely killed) by a huge old Mercury running the red light at a high rate of speed.

Well, last night I came home shaking in my tennies. I’d spent some time at one of my favorite parks. It was about 10:30 and I pulled up to the light. The globe began glowing green. I still waited a few seconds. Suddenly, from my right, this sheriff’s sedan came screaming through a completely red light. Had I put the pedal to the metal immediately, I’m sure I would have been smacked around pretty well, perhaps killed dead!

In most states, law enforcement and emergency vehicles are allowed to run red lights IF they’re cars are lit up like a carnival midway. This deputy wasn’t. However, in most states, the vehicle, even IF the lights are flashing, cannot escape liability if it causes an accident. I don’t know where the deputy was going, but he certainly wasn’t in compliance with our laws here. I’m guessing that he followed the same instinct that so many drivers follow: Squeeze through on yellow (or red) if you possibly can.

As I thought about this experience overnight, I saw more to this story than appeared at first. A couple of times, Pat and I have made fairly important decisions based on what we perceived to be a green light from the Lord. However, as we mashed down the accelerator, we discovered that a green light doesn’t always mean go!

Then this morning, I found an e-mail in my box. This man is friend from Chicago and was commenting on last week’s piece regarding our housing situation and how the Lord appeared to solve it by leading us to a Christian builder. Here’s what my friend wrote:

“It sounds like you made up your mind to build, based on what you said on your web page. It is encouraging for me to hear that because I need to hear from God and I do believe in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. I ask for the same favor from God He gave you.”

This all says to me that even when we see what we believe is a green light, we should still proceed with a little caution and further test our conclusions. We never know when some idiot is going to run the red light! I’ve also noticed that we’re finding a much more sophisticated class of idiots! (g)

I’d like to get your response to this piece. What are your experiences? What, if anything, is the Lord saying to you through what I’ve written and shared with you?

SOME SELECTED RESPONSES TO “THE BEND IN THE ROAD”

– So great to hear about your connection with the Christian carpenter who cares about the spiritual and physical health of his customers. Sounds kind of like our Nazarene Carpenter, doesn’t it?

– So glad to hear of your plans. I’m a Guideposts reader, thanks to G_____ C___, now with the Lord. Having a home built with a Christian buyer, allergy-free and with your requested accommodations, sounds wonderful. We got to watch our home being built by a Christian builder. What a joy!

– Congratulations, Bro!

– You and Pat are in my prayers daily. It’s great to be shown the perfect house in the perfect area for your ministry to continue as God would have it.

– Read your newsletter & believe you are right on with the Lord. He works in mysterious ways as you know & we should not question His motives. When my wife & I moved to Tulsa we had no jobs; only the Lord told us to move here & we trusted Him. We sold our house and closed the day we were loading the truck. We left the next morning & drove to Oklahoma. We got an apartment & then the lady who gave us the apartment was fired because we had no jobs. BUT, she was happy because she wanted another job that had just opened up for her. That was on a Monday & by Friday we both had jobs that started the following Monday. Was the Lord good or what?! We had faith in Him, as we know you do, so what’s the problem? Let God take care of everything & it’ll be okay! Prov. 3:5-6

– We are so happy to hear that a good end is in site! On the other hand, I will deeply miss our times together, even though they have been hit or miss, especially lately. My physical situation is headed in the wrong direction, even a bit more. Just know that we will truly rejoice when you can move into your healthy, new home! How wonderful God has worked!

– It’s so exciting that God has brought you and Pat and this Christian builder together. It’s more exciting to know that he will only work with you, if God gives him the go ahead!! THIS is wonderful!! I do believe, if we put our full trust in God, and wait on His instructions, things will turn out the way they should. Therefore, I feel you are going to have a safe HOME to live in – a beautiful one, for that matter, probably much more than you’re thinking about. Oh, it might not be the one in the picture — but I think this guy is going to build you much more than you’ve ever dreamed of ……. I just feel he is going to give you a Godly deal!! Seriously!

– What a story! God sure does provide. Jehovah-Jireh! It sounds like He is going before you as you move a bit further north. How soon will all of this take place?

– Well, Praise the Lord !!! B__ and I are so glad that the Lord seems to be working for the good of Pat’s health.

I bet she is saying, “AT LAST”. I know it has been a very trying time for both of you, but this builder sounds like he was sent by God to build your home.

– A friend of ours recently gave me a book called “A Bend in the Road” by David Jeremiah. Hope you do not have to pay royalties on the name (grin) Great to hear you and Pat have turned the bend and you found this Christian builder. Praise the Lord!

– How wonderful! Amazing! What more can I possibly say? So glad to hear that the pieces of the housing puzzle are starting to fall into place. What a relief it must be for you and Pat.

Yes, one must always seek guidance from the Master. I’m in the process of learning NOT to go to my family first, NOT to go to my friends first but go to GOD first. For many years I tried to do things by myself. Growing up in an alcoholic home, I learned to depend on no one but me. So, between trying to fix everything by myself, or going to my friends, God many times came in 3rd or 4th in line as the One to whom I would seek guidance. Well, it’s finally sinking in – God first in everything. Amen.

– What wonderful news, Jerry. May God bless this whole deal and make it even faster than that. I hope and pray that you never have any more problems like this one.

– I’m so happy to hear that the Meyer house dilemma has an end in sight! I never heard of a builder who builds mold free houses, but it’s wonderful news! I can’t even begin to imagine how good that must feel to both yourself and Pat. Can’t wait to see/hear all the reasons why God is moving y’all up to Georgia! I’m sure there are a few very good reasons……

– Praise the Lord! Sometimes it seems like God is a little slow in answering. We’ll never know what circumstances He had to work with in order for you and the builder to meet and have unity over your house. I’m so thankful for the answer and will be praying that all the requirements that need to be met will go smoothly – no red tape!!!

– Your story reminded me of my sister’s reaction when she looked at her new house for the first time. She wouldn’t even get out of the car! She said “I am a Johnson and we don’t deserve a nice house!” Her realtor, who was a Christian, told her that God wanted the best for her! She has 6 grandkids now and still lives in that house!!

– Well, it sounds as if you have found the perfect builder, sent by our Lord. I do so think that He is nudging you to go with that one. May God help him to build you the perfect, allergy free house for Pat. May He see to it that you enjoy it and that it will be filled with love and happiness for you. God bless ya!

– Finally you are going to get the house you need. I am humbled at the prospect of my prayers for you being answered. I have come to really appreciate my own home (even though we started remodeling about six years ago and we are still not done). I can’t wait to see a picture of your new home. One of the things we have done since we became Christians is to pray about our needs such as buying a car . We buy used cars so it is scary sometimes. We are afraid we might get a lemon. We believe all our decisions in matters of finance or making any large commitment must first involve going to God and seeking His will. I know some folks think that is silly, but we don’t mind. God Bless!

– It appears the Lord wants you to be able to get Vidalia onions and peaches readily, eh. Daughter R_______, is getting married down east at Quoddy Head state park overlooking the ocean. Afterwards, a big lobster feed. By the way, these lobsters have 2 front claws. I figured you’ve been in the south so long you’d forgotten.

– Dear Jerry, I have read with interest all of your thoughts on searching for the perfect, healthy house for you and Pat. Now I find that it’s going to be in our neck of the woods, so to speak. That is just wonderful. The Lord does do wonderful things when we stand back and let Him. We’re trying that now at N_____ P_____ Church. W______ needs an associate to help him in his ministry, so we have begun to pray that God’s will be done. Now, we must wait on His perfect timing. K_______ has been such a blessing not only to him but to all of us! Keep up the good work and join us in our prayers.

– See, I told you He’d let you know where He wanted you to be. 😉 Glad to see that you may be in a better environment soon.

– Now isn’t it just like our Lord to answer all the prayers for your housing situation in such a magnificent way?! I like the fact, too, that the builder’s name is John. There may not be any deep spiritual significance, but just the idea that it was John who gave us Jesus’ words about our eternal abode with many rooms in his Father’s house where He’s preparing a place for us. It will be interesting to eventually hear about the ‘safe and healthy’ things John does in building his houses that differ from other houses.

With moving on my mind, let me tell you that the arrival of “Where Do Ya Put Your Stuff?” couldn’t have been better timed. After an exhausting August 25th, moving stuff, stuff and more stuff into an apartment on the second floor with no elevator I handed a copy to my daughter and son in law. It brought a laugh when we were almost too exhausted to speak. M_____ teaches math at a prep school and they are also going to be house parents in a dorm of 30 teenage boys, as well as being Mom and Dad to their own three boys, ages 9, 7 and 3. This will keep Grandma on her knees!

I’ll be praying that all goes well with the sale of the Sarasota house. Are you hoping to get out of it as soon as possible? Should I pray for a temporary rental in northern Georgia so you can watch the new house ‘being born’? It all sounds so exciting. We had our kitchen renovated in ’97 after I’d had the fun of drawing up the plans down to the last detail. T__, a Christian and the contractor, did such a good job.

Can imagine Kathi and William are happy that you’re going to be living nearer them.

– Gee, I think that’s great, Jerry. It sounds like you made up your mind to build, based on what you said on your web page. It is encouraging for me to hear that because I need to hear from God and I do believe at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. I ask for the same favor from God He gave you. Thanks for sharing this.