Friday, June 7, 2019

At Your Service


Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

For the most part, I have no beef with AT&T as my cell phone provider.  The signal is strong and reliable in the metro area where we live.  No missed calls (unless I choose to miss one), no dropped calls; just dependable service.

But take the phone to rural Oxford, and all bets are off!

I find this particularly frustrating during my last visit with Mom, as I'm expecting to hear from my doctor's office regarding some lab results.  Twice, they try to reach me, and each time, my phone refuses to ring, sending the caller straight to voicemail.  Ugh!  I have to use my mother's land line just to call them back, and leave a message for them to contact me on her phone.  What a hassle!

Then there's the constant challenge of text messaging.  There are areas of Mom's house that are "dead" zones, where the words, "No Service," show up where I should see at least one "bar."  I've even had to walk outside, all the way to the end of the driveway, to snag a signal strong enough to send the text.  I can't begin to count the times when messaging fails, and I'm prompted by my phone to try again.

And again.

And again.

Exasperating!!!

~

Although my phone fails to connect, I never have to worry about connecting with God through prayer.  No matter where I am, where I go, with others or alone, He is my constant companion.  I take great comfort in knowing He is present always, whether I feel Him there in the moment.

Because faith has nothing to do with feeling, and everything to do with trust.  Trusting wholeheartedly in the One who keeps His promises, whose hand will guide me, whose right hand will hold me fast.

God, my friends, is holding your hands, too.

And He is forever and always at your service.

Amen!

22 comments:

  1. Good post yet again, Martha. You are good at this aren't you?

    I hate it when cell-phones don't get a signal in certain areas. It's because they are too far away from the aerial of your provider, I understand. But I don't get it when they don't work in certain places within a building.

    I remember in a hotel I could not get a signal in my room unless I was in the bathroom, standing on the toilet seat, and leaning outside of the window holding the phone in the air.

    I fell out of the window. Still no signal to phone an ambulance.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, Victor, the predicaments you get yourself into, my friend! Thanks for the amusing story and your kind words.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. Such a good comparison. So glad God is God and not a cell ohone carrier. Thanks for this post.

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    Replies
    1. Amen to that, Kathy! We always have a clear signal when talking to Him.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. I am so thankful God is always listening, always waiting, always loving! Thanks for this reminder today!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words here, Stacey! Yes, our amazing God is always available.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  4. What a wonderful reminder, Martha! This certainly hits home. Please, I don't want to scare you but feel compelled to share a story. A few months ago while leaving her fiancĂ©'s home, our pastor's daughter was pursued, run off the road and had a gun pointed at her head through the windshield … before she managed to escape. Throughout the chase (just a little east of Montgomery) she kept trying to dial 911 but was in an AT&T 'dead zone.' The whole family has since switched carriers.
    Lifting prayers for good lab results!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, what a frightening scenario, Mevely! Just so thankful that the young woman was able to get out of this life-threatening situation. If we lived in a rural area, I would most definitely change my carrier. Thanks so much for sharing this here, my friend.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. If we lose connection with God, it's not on HIM, but on us. He is always available and ever faithful. Thanks for the reminder, my friend.

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    Replies
    1. Amen, Beckie! Any lack of connection with God is definitely on us.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  6. Good analogy, Martha. When people say they can't hear God or they wonder where He is -- they do not a grasp on the Word which is clear that He is with us 24/7. The connection is never lost, always strong. Thank you for a great post.

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    1. Oh, yes, Carol, NEVER a lost connection when it comes to God. So comforting to know He is always with us.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. Martha, this is another of your lovely word pictures. I'm so thankful than we don't have to worry about finding a strong enough signal to contact the Lord. God far more powerful than the strongest cell phone signal. No dropped calls. No out of service area. Just reliable, always available service. We can choose to ignore Him; He's always there for us!

    Love and blessings!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Kim, as Beckie mentioned above, it is we who choose to ignore God, not the other way around. So thankful, like you, that He is always in and at our service.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  8. I agree with not liking the idea of no service, it is annoying to say the least. Praise to the Father His lines of communication are always five bars. Thanks, Martha.

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    Replies
    1. Always five bars . . . Amen to that, Nells!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  9. Amen, Martha! What a blessing He has given us by not only allowing but wanting us to come to Him in prayer! Love the lesson here! Blessings and Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, Deb, such a blessing, indeed! God is always there, ready and willing to hear our prayers.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  10. had that same thing happen while we were in the hospital. IN THE HOSPITAL! Move to another part of the room and there was a signal. Like you said: what's up with that? It is frustrating. As you say, glad our communication with God is not like that.

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    Replies
    1. Hospitals do tend to be iffy when it comes to cell signals, Bill; I've had more experience with that than I'd ever like to remember. Thank goodness that our Father is always on call!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  11. I occasionally turn my phone off and disconnect from the world! Thankful He NEVER disconnects!
    Blessings, My Friend!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Loralu, I do disconnect on purpose, especially from Facebook, from time to time. It really does my heart and soul good to do so. Now, if I can only get myself to quit looking at the news! Lol! With you, I'm so grateful that God is ever available, and never disconnects from us!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

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