Karen’s Notes
Celebrating Six Years of Sharing from this Glory-Bound Lady
Volume 6 Number 9
Posting # 253 “The Day She Caused Me to be Speechless!”
March 1st, 2023

You’ll need a little explanation in order to enjoy this edition.
Karen had been speaking with a lady who had experienced several major disappointments. One of these disappointments concerned an ownership issue. As I walked past the telephone, I heard Karen say, “I understand what you are saying, but I’ve never owned a car of my own. My husband and I have been co-owners as well.”

I remembered that little statement and later spoke with her about that situation. She really didn’t want a car “of her own.” But it was time for us to get a different vehicle, and after many efforts of persuasion, I finally convinced her that I wanted this car to be her very own. I wanted the title to be in her name. On one hand this was laughable because up until this point, she never was interested in going to the dealership with me. In fact, I couldn’t get her to go. All she ever said was, “Pick out any car you think is best. Just DON’T pick out a red one!” On the other hand, I really wanted her to own this car, so she gave in.

The big day came when Karen and I went to the dealership. Our salesperson, Matt, had several cars in our price range that he thought would be perfect for Karen! Two or three were parked in one place and the other was parked just a little way off. We saw the several and Karen liked them. As we walked down with our salesman we saw that the one by itself was red. We walked away from the red car of course. I explained the joke about “anything but a red car” to Matt and he and I laughed. She whispered to me, “This is stressful. I’ve never done this before!” Stressful maybe. However, there would be many more experiences that would be much greater stress. During one of these times, Karen wrote and I would later discover what she was embracing. I’ll come back to the car story in just a moment.

Here’s something to remember today. Let me share with you the verse and what she wrote.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

Knowing Him better in the times of stress. In the times of uncertainty, He’s the God of all hope.

The Lord knows me. “He calls His own sheep by name. My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:3, 27).

The Lord holds me. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

The Lord never makes a mistake. “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30).

The Lord is directing my life. “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24).

Here’s my takeaway.

Back to the adventure with the car. It really was a thrill to me to pray with Karen and watch her really asking the Lord to give her guidance. In our couple’s devotions once she prayed that I would just go and pick out her car, and I immediately followed up with a praise thanking the Lord that my sweetheart would soon be owning the car she was picking out (and for which out of the goodness of her heart she was allowing me to pay!) The day came, and it really was fun as well as an excellent time with a salesman who has become a good friend of mine, and also a spiritual blessing to see how the Lord really guided her. He knows His people, holds them, never makes a mistake, and directs us as we seek Him.

Let me send you on your way with a smile.

She had three from which to choose (actually, if she didn’t like these, other vehicles were on the lot from which she could choose.) I knew my wife would need a few minutes to think and pray. Matt and I walked inside for me to get a cup of coffee. About ten minutes later, we walked out and there was Karen, smiling ear to ear, standing beside which vehicle? You guessed it! The red one! I told Matt that the only request she had in the forty plus years of marriage was not to pick out a red one. As we approached the “Crystal Red Tintcoat” Chevy Equinox she said, “This is it! I love it!” She even named it, “Miss Elizabeth!”

Just when I thought I had her completely figured out, well…. she surely surprised me that day.