The Psalm 139:9-10 Reminder

Psalm 139:9-10 reads...

"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."

I am a person who loves to travel. I love a road trip. Guess my parents named me correctly when they chose the name "Windi". The name "Windi" can't be found in most places, so I use the equivalent being "Wendy." The meaning of that name is "wanderer", "traveler", "friend", "family". Give me a good reason, I will be packed and ready to ride in a few minutes. My Daddy was an over the road truck driver, so yeah, it is in my blood too!

I am reminded when things don't go quite as planned, God has a reason behind it. He allows things to happen to keep me safe from harm. He protects me in ways I will most likely never know. I never get upset when I am delayed for whatever reason. 

Two weeks ago I was preparing for a road trip to the Charlotte, North Carolina, area for a week of NASCAR events. It was going to be a big week for me. Plans were to leave by lunch on Tuesday so I could get a good nights rest before Wednesday. See on Wednesday, plans were to meet with Ms. Tammy Kahne (mother of NASCAR Driver Kasey Kahne) to discuss and create some balloon decor at Kasey Kahne Racing & Foundation headquarters. On Thursday, Fan Day was to be held at Kasey Kahne Racing & Foundation with an autograph session with Kasey, Brad Sweet, and Daryn Pittman. So I was pressed for time to get there and get the balloon decor for the event completed and set! Then the rest of the week was Pole Race, Xfinity Race, and the Sprint Cup Race. A much needed vacation I needed to clear my head. 

On Monday, I finally made it to get an oil change and front end alignment. Not a biggie. But over the weekend, I had noticed my truck temperature was kinda on the higher side than usual. I just blamed it on the higher temperatures we were having in south Georgia. Wrong, very wrong. Heading home after work, the temperatures went way over to the point of possibly blowing your motor up if it didn't cool down. I was able to make it to a friend of mine's home. Her husband and son came to my rescue once again. Truck cooled down and we found the culprit once we removed the radiator cap. At some point, StopLeak had been placed into the radiator and it had finally boiled loose less than 12 hours before I wanted to be on the road. Then there was the water pump leak. Bright and early Tuesday morning, I was headed back to the mechanic for some last minute unexpected work.

Even with all the obstacles that kept showing up and delaying the trip a little bit, I see now why they all played out like they did. Had I been on the road any earlier, I could have been half way to Charlotte stranded on the side of the road with a motor that could have blown up while I was travelling if I hadn't noticed the temperatures. I am thankful God was looking out for me again before I even set out on the trip.

Secondly, most know I had an experience with a stalker in 2011. It absolutely changed my life. I notice more things and people. I try to read people. I know my surroundings. I know when something has been moved out of place. I know who I can and can't trust immediately. The gut instinct kicks in.

During the trip, a friend of mine who was also up for the race, had seen on social media I was there. So after inboxes and texts, he and I finally got it arranged and met up as soon as the race was over. We were with some of my family from Charlotte enjoying the Speed Street festivities. Guess because I felt "safe" and "comfortable" or blame it on the NASCAR hype still, I let my guard down a little lower than normal. 

To make a long story short, I had noticed a particular person a day or so before. Just in a glance as I passed them at my hotel. My family had left where we all were in downtown Charlotte and we were headed to meet up with them later. I am standing there alone and that same guy passes by and says "are you lost? You are that girl from Georgia staying in Room 215 aren't you?" I think all the blood flowed out of my body and I was paralyzed yet again with the wake up call because fear was knocking. It is one thing to know I stay at the same hotel as you, but for you to know my room number, you have paid too much attention. I don't even remember seeing him on my floor which makes it even worse on my part. I was quick to respond back with "No I am not lost. I know my where I am staying. And so does my husband who finally made it in today." Lord forgive me for telling a fib. I asked for repentance that night I promise. In a circumstance such as that, I think the Lord understands! 

He said "yeah, I seen him" then quickly left as soon as he could. At this point I knew God sent that friend I have not seen in years to be at the right place and at the right time.

I was then thankful for my post on my social media accounts which may have saved me from something later on during my stay. I am especially grateful for the friend who showed up in Charlotte. Even though we only live an hour or so from each other, to find each other in Charlotte over 6 hours a way was a blessing in disguise for me.

God always has my back. He always looks out for me even when I am preoccupied and don't pay attention to my surroundings. He will even let my vehicle start having problems so I can get it fixed locally before I get hours away and stranded on the side of the road. His hand holds me fast and protects me in so many ways.

I pray this prayer when I travel. This Scripture means a lot to me. I have blogged about it before. When I got back home from my trip, I opened up Facebook to see where Renee Swope of Proverbs 31 Ministries had shared this. I was reminded of the vehicle problems and my friend. How I made it from little ole Broxton, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina, and back to Broxton, Georgia, safe and sound. All 1,027.6 miles I was taken care of!!