Can The Maker of Sunrises Make Bad Things Good? - Part I

The Bible says in Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

So did I pray for NOTHING to go wrong with my truck or trailer on this trip?  YES! 

Did I pray for God's protection as I "camped" out in the Cracker Barrel parking lot?  YES! 

So why do bad things happen?

 I don't really know that answer, BUT I do know that God can take bad things and make them good!

For this entire trip, I am asking God Where He wants me to stay; Who He wants me to talk to; who He wants to join me, and What He wants me to eat....just kidding...I didn't ask Him that, but He does know my favorite things to eat, and so far He has blessed me with an acai berry bowl and wrap from Swami's (thanks, Treva) and a pumpkin/spice muffin (thanks, Diana) and some wine, and my favorite cookies from Trader Joe's (thanks, John & Peggy) and a great bottle of Reisling (thanks, Laurie) and the hope of a great Velvet Mocha from a place in Phoenix called Luxe Cafe (thanks, German).

So if I prayed for NOTHING to go wrong with my vehicles, why did this happen?

Because God can make BAD things GOOD!

When I saw the flat tire, I just kind of smirked because I know this is going to be a spiritual battle...this whole trip.  I know the devil is NOT going to want God's story to be told.  So I just prayed and said, "God...make all this good."

I called my roadside assistance and scheduled someone to come out the next morning.

Now it was time to go to bed in my 110 degree camper (not really a good idea to "camp" at the Cracker Barrel parking lot in Yuma, AZ, when it's 100 degrees outside because if it's 100 degrees outside, it's 110 degrees inside that tin box I'm living in for the next 72 days), BUT I know God wanted me to stay there, so there I was.  It could be worse.

I had prayed that night that God would make all this good.  I prayed He'd have a reason I was suppose to meet the tire repair guy and anyone else that would be involved in this repair. 

The next morning, I woke up to this! (and I even said I wouldn't see any sunrises) 
If God can paint this amazing picture in the sky, He can certainly make a flat tire situation good.

This might sound weird to A LOT of you, but I have learned through our healing class at my church, Journey Community Church,  that God gives me visions for people.  Did I think that's weird?  YES!  I would get all these pictures in my head when we were  praying for people, and I thought, "What in the world was that?"  Finally, I said something to John, our amazing teacher in the class, about my pictures in my head, and he encouraged me to share them.  When I did (even though they were pretty crazy), they usually meant something to people.

I asked God for a vision for the tire repair guy, and Gumby popped into my head!

 

Yes, Gumby...what in the world?  And the Gumby song...."He was just a little green ball of clay..GUMBY!, but you should see what Gumby can do today, GUMBY!" 

Yes, I know....CRAZY!!!

 

So I was like, "Okay, God..Gumby"

 

After the tire repair guy (Jim) fixed  my tire, I said to him, "This might seem a little weird to you, but God gives me visions for people, and He gave me Gumby for you and the Gumby song.  I feel like God is saying to you that He's seen where you came from (a little green ball of clay), and He's proud of where you are today (you should see what Gumby can to today).

 

Well, that rough, gruff tire repair man (Jim) got all teary, and said, "What a trip!"

He then talked about how his girlfriend is sick with cancer and leukemia, so I shared with him Saige's story of healing and how God can heal his girlfriend too.  We prayed together for him and his girlfriend, and he was very touched and crying.  I told him I was on this JOURNEY with God and now he was part of the story.  He said he doesn't "do" the internet, but he was going to figure out a way to follow this blog!

 

Can the Maker of Sunrises make bad things good?  I think so.  Just ask Jim!