Tuesday, March 09, 2010

HE has a (Strange) Sense of Humor

OK. It's late.
I'm really, really tired.
I already had something scheduled to post in the morning.
I should just be getting ready for bed now.
I also make a lot of typing errors when I'm this tired. This might take longer than I anticipate!
But I just have to tell you about my Monday night experience. Because I think God was playing with me. As in, He knew how everything was going to work out and He knew I trust Him. I think He was having a little fun just seeing how long I would last.

I left at 4:00 this afternoon - to make the 1 hour, 26 minute (according to my GPS) trip to speak tonight. Plenty of time for me to be arriving "just after 5:30," right?
Except there was this little accident on the highway.
And traffic was at a stand-still.
And I kept looking at my GPS, watching the estimated time of my arrival slowly tick away. But, alas, with a new arrival time of 5:58, traffic started moving. And I smiled, knowing God was going to get me there on time.

Until I got closer to my destination and discovered the highway was closed.
No big deal, right? That's why I have a GPS. I'll just get off at this exit, I thought, and it will figure out a new route for me.
Yeah, except it kept redirecting me toward the highway. Ms. GPS voice didn't know the highway was closed.
And I? Got so lost!
Forutnately, I was speaking in the city where my brother lives, and he was coming to hear me tonight. Thank You, God! So I called him for help. He assured me I was very close to the church and would be there in no time.
To make a long story short - my brother couldn't figure out where I was so he went to the church to let them know that I was in town and would be there...soon, we hoped! And my sister-in-law came to rescue me.
Once she figured out where I was, she came to me and led me to the church.
Of course, on the way to the church, we got stopped by a very long train.
And I sat there laughing, OK, God. Is this joke almost over? I need to get to the church!
Then the train passed, we continued on, and I was pulling into the parking lot at 6:45. Right when I was supposed to begin speaking.
HE's timely, isn't He?

In the end, everything worked out wonderfully. And God showed me once again that He is sovereign and I can trust Him.

I'm just not so sure about His sense of humor.
Ah, OK. I guess I was laughing, too!


Karen

15 comments:

Leah Adams said...

I would SO have been a wreck. I am obsessive about being, not on time, but way early. Bless your heart, my friend. I hope that is not a sign of how the week will go for all of us speakers. I have to speak 4 hours from my home this weekend. Fortunately I am going down the night prior.

I posted today about how God used my forgetfulness to remind me of HIs strength. I know He laughs at me so often.

Leah

Mary Jo said...

Yay that you laughed too! (I hope I would but not so sure! lol)

Hope you have a great week. :)

xxx M.

Patricia said...

AhhhH!!!! I would have FREAKED OUT!! I am one of those "early" people...thanks for reminding us to keep cool, laugh & take it in stride & most importantly TRUST His timing!!

Have a smooth sailing week, Karen!!

On Purpose said...

Girlfriend you are one strong girlie...I am so not thinking I would have held that all together so nicely...and I know myself would NOT have been laughing...

Great character you have my friend...comes from being in such a tight connection with your Jesus...you definitely were holding on to His hand tightly!

Way to trust Jesus and not a GPS!

Jessica Nelson said...

Erg!!! I HATE getting lost because I do it so often. I feel for you. Maybe we could blame that whole thing on the devil? LOL And then thank God He delivered you to the church. :-)
Either way, you're right about God's humor. Way to go on staying calm!

Karen Hossink said...

Leah - That is typically my obsession, too. And I am also speaking far away from home this weekend. Will be in Minnesota, but I'm flying out the day before to meet a blog friend. Trusting I won't have a "late issue" this time.
I pray all goes well for you. Glory to God!

Mary - Sometimes laughing is the only thing that makes sense to me. *grin*

Patricia - I am most certainly one of those "early" people, too. That's why I think God was having fun with me. Probably smiling at me, saying, I think I'll bring a train across your path now, darling. My ways are not your ways. Do you still trust Me? Don't worry. I'll get you there!
Or something like that. *grin*

Nichole - Oh, yes! I was holding His hand. I have to!
You know, He has never failed me before. It was His track record of faithfulness that held it together for me.

Jessica - Whether it was the devil trying to screw things up, or God having fun, one thing is sure: God is good and He can be trusted!

luvmy4sons said...

LOL! He never quite answers our prayers in the nice smooth fashion we would like! Blessings sweet sister. Thanks or your prayers. They are still greatly needed...though not reflected in my blog post for today. As per your post all in God's timing, which is perfect!

My ADHD Me said...

When your evening is going like that, there really isn't anything to do except laugh....and pray.

Sounds like you had both of those covered.

Great starter for your speech, "A funny thing happened on the way to the church...."

Jan said...

Oh Karen, bless your heart! I have heard it said that we must simply wait on God's timing because it is always perfect. He is never late, but not often early either!

I had a morning like that myself today and I found that sometimes we just need to let our ideas go...and rely on Him.

Ronel said...

What an amazing idea of wrapping ourselves in a blanket and imagining Him holding us tight... I love this image and will most definitely be doing this when I am in need!! Thank you Karen!!

Praise and Coffee said...

Oh my goodness, I'm sweating just reading this!!! My personality would have been coming out of my skin!!! So glad you did make it on time :)
Lesssons in trust and patience are so hard! But this is one you can use to remind yourself of His faithfulness...I'm thinking that I should also use it to remind ME too...and maybe I won't have to face the tests...(looking sheepishly up to heaven...) *smile*

Karen Hossink said...

Leslie - Yes. His timing is perfect. And so are His answers.
So I will continuw to pray and trust with you.

My ADHD Me - "A funny thing happened on the way to the church..."
I love it!
But I hope I don't have to use it any time soon. *grin*

Jan - Sometimes we just need to let our ideas go. You've got that right! Trying to let some ideas go regarding my tween - asking God to give me new ideas, that will work!

Ronel - I hope God will make your blanket a blessing. *grin*

Karen Hossink said...

Sue - Sorry. I didn't think about putting a "Sweat Disclaimer" on this post. *grin*
He has shown me time after time that He's got it all under control. Just wish He didn't seem to feel the need to prove it to me so much. LOL!

gianna said...

I can't believe you laughed. I would have cried and had a temper tantrum. But I still have a long way to go. You are so funny! It's a good thing you didn't have a little kid with you needing to use the bathroom, because almost certainly THAT would have happened, too! :)

Karen Hossink said...

Gianna - Wait until you read Confessions. I've got a good bathroom story in there.
And I wasn't laughing. *sheepish grin*