Psalm 106:1
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Pastor Wallace recalls for us the days before mandatory seat belts, when cars had long, contiguous seats. It is common back then to see young couples sitting close together as they drive along. The status of their relationship is obvious. They are madly in love!
Wallace continues with the story of Marge and Frank, a couple married for many years. They are riding down the road behind a couple snuggled up together in the front seat.
"Aw, Frank, look at that!" says Marge. "Remember when we used to sit like that?"
"I sure do," Frank answers.
"Why don't we ever do that anymore? Is it because you don't love me like you used to?"
From behind the wheel, Frank looks over at Marge. She is sitting right up against the passenger door. As far away from him as she can be.
"I still love you, Marge," he sighs. "I'm not the one who moved."
~
With this story, Pastor Wallace poignantly illustrates what can happen when we lose sight of our relationship with God. When we are lost and lonely, hurt and disheartened, do we snuggle up to the Lord for comfort and strength? Or, do we, like Marge, wallow in the lonesome passenger seat thinking God no longer cares for us?
God is steadfast. His love endures forever. He's not the one who moves away.
We do . . .
~
When Jesus takes the wheel, where are you sitting?
Will you pray with me?
Help us, Father, to strengthen our relationship with You through prayer and reading Your Word. Make us ever mindful that we are the ones prone to wander, while Your steadfast love is always there for us. May we ever love You and praise Your name. Amen.
Actually, Frank provided EXACTLY the wrong answer!!!! (It may not help your Pastor- but this is a message as important.)
ReplyDeleteNo, Marge, I still love you- dearly. Which is why I need to know you are secured in your safety belt and harness. Belief in the SB is great- but S/He helps those that help themselves...
Thanks so much for dropping in, Roy!
DeleteI know - in today's culture, we wouldn't dream of not having our loved ones buckle up. That's why I prefaced this as being back in the "olden" days when there were no seat belts in cars.
Enjoyed your comment!
Blessings to you!
your pastor is a very insightful man! I so love your stories. EXCELLENT message, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHe truly is, Amy, and we are so fortunate to have him. So glad you visited today!
DeleteBlessings to you!
Most of the time, it seems like it is God moving away or hiding Himself...but the truth is, He's always been constant and steadfast and faithful. And sometimes, it seems that it's us making the first move, but in reality, it's God making the initiative ~ knocking at the door constantly.
ReplyDeleteI love the image of the intimate couple and I wish I knew how it is to be in contact with another human person I love :)... but right now, I'm happy to feel God's warmth in the sun ;) and to be lifted up by little creatures called 'children' LOL :D
I pray with you as earnestly than before, grateful for the love God has for each one of us. Yes, strengthen our relationship with You.
Thanks so much for visiting, Melissa!
DeleteYes, God is the faithful one and so patient with us when we, in our weakness and frailty, can't see Him right there waiting for us to turn to Him. There isn't a more perfect love or relationship we can have aside from the one we have with the Lord.
Thank you, as always, dear friend, for praying with me!
Blessings to you!
sweet story to illustrate an important message. actually, there are many messages here about intimacy with Spirit, with each other and within ourselves. thank you for sharing, martha!
ReplyDeleteYes, Linda, from the moment I heard this story from Pastor Wallace, I knew I would have to share it. I'm old enough to remember those pre-seat belt days and have many memories of seeing couples riding close together.
DeleteAnd, it's all about our willingness to be at one and intimate with the spirit!
Thanks so much for visiting, my dear friend!
Blessings to you!
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ReplyDeleteI'm always sitting at the back seat whenever I commit sins -being guilty. I feel like I'm not worthy sitting beside Him. This is a great lesson. God bless and all the Glory be to God.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming by today, and welcome to my blog!
DeleteI will admit, there have been plenty of times I've sat in that backseat, too. We feel so guilty, but that's exactly the time to turn to the Lord and ask forgiveness.
Blessings to you, too, and I hope to see you here often!
My problem is trying to climb over Him and grab the wheel. That doesn't work out so well. Nor does sitting in the back seat or riding shotgun and trying to give Him directions. Great analogy, friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Andy!
DeleteLol! I think we are all guilty of trying to take that wheel and drive how we think we should. It's so difficult for most to hand the keys to God and say, "Here, you drive."
Glad you liked the analogy, my friend. :)
Blessings to you!
Pastor Wallace makes a great point!!
ReplyDeleteand...i am going to sit closer to my husband tonight.
So happy you stopped by Ann Marie. Thanks!
DeleteYes, sitting closer to your husband sounds like a wonderful idea. I sure hope more wives choose to do the same!
Blessings to you!
Very nice story!! Thank you !
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you here, Nikki. Thanks!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed this story.
Blessings to you!
This is a somewhat irreverent story, and do please forgive the profanity, but my Uncles used to call this "DDH", or "Damned door hugger" when their wife wouldn't sit close to them in the car during their courting years. I still find that a hilarious and pithy description, because it fits what we all do when we go into self-protection mode. I know I'm guilty of it; I shut down and withdraw inside when someone close enough to hurt me does hurt me. It's one of those knee jerk reactions that I do my best to stay aware of, and mitigate it as quickly as possible. Being self-protective makes sense in the short-term, and in situations where physical safety is at risk. Emotional safety is equally important, but so is communicating and being brave enough to work through the hurts that those close to us occasionally hand out.
ReplyDeleteI'm known as The Great Communicator to my family and close friends. If something confuses or hurts me, or if I (horror of all horrors) am guilty of being the one to offer hurt, then I am bound and determined to figure it out, talk it out and resolve it. Healing and communication go hand in hand, but you have to be close enough for fingers to touch first. I guess that euphemistically, I could claim to rarely be a DDH! ;)
Smiles & hugs to you, sweet girl. <3
- Dawnie
Oh, wow, Dawn, what wonderful stories you have told here!
DeleteIt is hard, sometimes, for any of us, especially when we are sensitive and easily hurt, to open up to others and quit being a DDH (love this term, by the way!). But, as you have pointed out so beautifully here, we can't have true healing and/or communication unless we are willing to run the risk of holding hands and opening our hearts.
I am so grateful that God is there when I feel like hugging a door, but know I should sidle up beside Him.
Thanks so much for visiting, dear Dawn!
Blessings to you!
What a wonderful image that those of us of a certain age (!) can relate to perfectly. I spent some time up at my cabin this weekend in prayer, realizing that I had not so much moved away as I was keeping my head and heart so busy I didn't have time for the only relationship that really matters!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming by, Galen!
DeleteIt's so true that our very busyness in our lives can keep the Lord at arm's length. So glad you took a weekend retreat to your cabin for prayer and a renewed relationship with the Lord.
Blessings to you!
Deep and profound lessons as always Martha...!
ReplyDeleteThanks, as always, for stopping by, Me, and for your sweet compliment!
DeleteBlessings always!