SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL!

Naturally, several things come to mind when you say, Shake, Rattle, and Roll.

For me, it has been one of those weeks when there has been a little of all three in every area of my world.  The weather being one big giant that needs slaying as far as I am concerned.  It was so beautiful last weekend and then world war four and trying to take care of an almost invalid too!  Among all those things that could possibly be in one week, the scriptures Exodus 14: 13 and 14 resurfaced. 

I remembered that time when I was driving a new Honda hatchback with power steering and power brakes.  I was late for a class at the Bible College and had to also drive over for a class at the University of St. Francis.  It was raining.  I had had this vehicle three days.  Back in 1982, County Road 52 had a steel covered bridge.  As I approached that bridge I suddenly see a dog standing in the rain in the middle of that bridge.  And, being human I went for the brakes like I did the last car I had owned (without power brakes).  I did a 180 and ended up in the ditch on my side.  It certainly was providential to be driving a hatchback.  I crawled out the back and when they turned the car on its wheels, it was wrecked on one side, but I drove it home.  As we know from experience, the mind and the body have their own ideas about fright and flight.  The dog happened to be deaf and blind, I didn't run over it, and the people came forward to take responsibility that that dog was not to have been out of the house.  From that moment on, my response became aware of every kid on a bike that pulled in front of me, cats across the road, tree limbs that fell in front of me and that is the tip of the iceberg for six months. Finally, I had had enough.  In my devotions one morning after pleading for some of help with this growing phobia, God showed me Exodus 14: 13 and 14.  Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

What a great deliverance took place that day for me.  I had been letting the enemy scare me and think the same thing was going to happen again.  What we must see here is that we need to turn the battle over to God.  We need to trust and be still.  Whatever we are experiencing, we will never see that again.  It is God's battle.  From that thought, came Psalm 18.  Friday we saw Jack and the Giant Slayer.  All the way home I thought of how God is a giant slayer as well.  A real quiet came on my spirit as I thought about Psalm 18: 6/9   In my distress I called to the Lord;  I cried to my God for help.  From his temple he heard my voice;  my cry came before him, into his ears.  The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.  Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.  He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. . .read the whole chapter, I would recommend.  It is our reminder that when we are in need and can't fight the fight, there He is bringing in the Shake, Rattle, and Roll for us. 

Can you STOP trying to fix it yourself?  Can you STOP shaking in your boots?  Can you STOP rattling your nerves and everyone around you?  Can you STOP rolling around on the ground in worry and fretting?  Yes, once you embrace the entire idea of God has the Battle,  God is a Giant slayer, let Him do His job!