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Roadside Reflection





The mass exodus of vehicles over two miles long crawl out of Phoenix on the Arizona Interstate.  Vehicle after vehicle, bumpers almost touching, inch past the many Saguaro cactus plants that decorate the barren mountain ridge.  People look uncomfortable in the dry heat.  Warning signs caution drivers to shut off air conditioners before the steep mountain climb.   I sense panic.  Fear fills the air like a nasty fog.

It is a scene from The Last Days. People scurry to get out of town; they seek relief.  Independent people concerned only for their lives.  Don’t interrupt their rhythm as they creep forward at a snail’s pace to find safety.

But it is not The Last Days.  An accident three miles ahead causes the stall.  I'm the one that is scared.  I am vulnerable, not to mention hot.  Our car is parked off the side of the road, overheated, while we watch the long procession heading north without us. 

All this traffic!  Where are all these folks coming from?

Trump’s political rally just ended an hour ago.  It’s brutal on this winding highway.  These folks are purpose driven; some young guys use foul language and hand signals.

My companion and I wait.  Her car, the more reliable one, let us down today!  We’re surprised to be stranded when just hours before, we remember laughing at breakfast and shopping in the mall with friends. 

The car starts to cool down, as well as our nerves.


I envisage my daughter who sends me text messages to pray 911 prayers in her drama.  I think to myself:  “Let’s reverse this; time for mom's drama now!”


I text her: “AAA Prayer,” I write, adding on:  “Overheating in 90 degrees on I-17.”

We wait.

We check the fluids; they are plentiful and we turn on the car.  The needle indicates normal temperature.  Someone gives us a break and we merge into the slow traffic.  We drive the rest of the way safely.

It’s a freaky thing that happened with the car that sunny Saturday, thermostat checks ok; water pump checks ok. All I know is that we sent an SOS prayer and we were rescued quickly as we climbed the mountain to home.

She’s a no nonsense prayer warrior, that girl of mine.  And that needle on the water temperature gauge didn’t dare budge toward danger at her command!


The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power
and produces wonderful results.  James 5:16



Comments

  1. I'm thinking you were heading home from Phoenix up the 1-17. That is a terrible stretch of the road; I'm always glad to be done with it when we were driving back to Prescott. It is neat your daughter is a prayer warrior! I am sure you modeled prayer from the start and she picked up on it :)

    glad you guys did eventually get home safely!

    betty

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  2. That sure is not an enviable situation to be in! I'm glad your prayers and that of your daughter touched God and glad you got home safely.

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  3. I am so glad that you are safe and that you arrive home alright.

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  4. Eery an angel on earth, that girl of yours!
    I like how no-one's predicament is too insignificant in His eyes.

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  5. Praise the dear Lord for coming to your rescue, dear Mary! Oh, my! I have been in similar situations, and it is a wonderful that that our God is a very present help in time of trouble! You are such a dear blessing to me, and I trust Jesus to bless you abundantly, in return!

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  6. What a great story of the power of prayer! I would have been sweating it out literally too! But to reach out for prayer is the strong and faithful thing to do.

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  7. Beautiful story of how God cares about our every need, and a prayer prayed is never in vain.

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  8. What can we do during those downtime anyway? Better to reflect and come out better than to be stressed out of it all, right?

    And wow, you've blessed us with your roadside reflection.

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  9. How blessed to have God take care of you.

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  10. How blessed to have God take care of you.

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  11. Your story reminds me of the traveler's Psalm; 121. "I lift my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber" This is the Psalm they would sing of the treacherous, narrow path from Jericho to Jerusalem.

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  12. Hi Mary! You do have a Prayer Warrior in your daughter, and I'm sure your prayers were heard too. Isn't it weird that all the signs pointed to health, but the car overheated anyway?

    You painted the scene so beautifully, I can just see you on the side of the road, watching all the hot, angry people drive by. Who knows what God saved you from as you sat waiting for your car to 'recover'? His ways are not ours, maybe it was just safer for you to be further back in the pack .

    I'm glad it all worked out so well!
    Blessings,
    Ceil

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    1. Now that's looking at the positive in a not-so-positive situation. Thank you, Ceil, for sharing that.

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  13. Thank God for answered prayer and a safe but slow trip home. Thanks for sharing this dramatic scene with us here at Tell me a Story.

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  14. What awesome answer to a faith-filled prayer! Thank God you and your friend got home safe. Please pray for a dear friend of mine who has been going through tough times ever since I don't remember when. One after another storm...But I believe in the God Who hears our pleas more than the power of each of that storm. Love and prayers sister.

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    1. Please know I have been praying for your friend and will continue. Keep me posted, ok?

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  15. A beautiful story of how God DOES care and listen and answer our prayers. Glad you have a prayer warrior in your daughter! :) I'm always grateful for family members (and friends) who will pray on my behalf. I'm sure you were very relieved when the car started and all was okay again.

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  16. I've been on that stretch of highway, both going in and out of Phoenix, on some of our vacation travels. It's not fun. But being stranded anywhere isn't fun either. It's frustrating and scary. I remember a time when my car couldn't be trusted to start, and I got stranded a few times before they were able to find the problem.

    Prayers are mighty, and kudos to your daughter. She sounds like the perfect warrior to have on the team!!

    GOD BLESS!

    (Curious - what is "AAA Prayer"?)

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    1. AAA is a motor club and when stranded, a phone call sends them out on the spot. Daughter calls her drama in need of “911 emergency” prayer so I creatively called my drama “AAA” to trigger prayer for my emergency. Clever of me, huh? So creative! Haha.

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  17. No coincidences in God's economy. One small memory that will serve to an end that only our Father knows. It's amazing how tough and scary times are lessened when we're with loved ones. Especially one that is a chip of the not ole block!

    Maybe give that finicky car a break in Fountain Hills before you put its nose to the blacktop?

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    1. Haha...I would worry that the Fountain Hills folk might do a double take seeing us cruise through and think "Now that's a scene out of Beverly Hillbillies."

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  18. Glad you made it home safely! Prayer changes things doesn't it?

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  19. Oh my goodness I love your girl's way of prayer! EXPECTING! So glad you both are safe and that our Lord had a hedge of protection based around you. And oh yes....PRAYER changes EVERYTHING...and if not the circumstance at hand...it changes me! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  20. Praise the Lord that he brought you and friend safely home. Our God is faithful!

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  21. Situations like that are ones that catch us by surprise, and then as we sit and wait, we realize that our great weapon of prayer really is a powerful one! So thankful that it all turned out well, I am not familiar with that stretch of highway, but so thankful that it all ended well for both you, praise the Lord! And a wonderful lesson learned of how the Lord answered prayer in a moment's notice!

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