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“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires, moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies and your gates of crystal and your entire wall of precious stones. 

 

And all your children will be taught of the Lord; and the well being of your children will be great.  In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you.” Jeremiah 54:11-14

 

My breath catches in my throat as I read these words, and it seems as if the Lord is seated beside me riding shotgun on the couch this morning. As if He is speaking straight to me.  Years of warfare for my children has left me spiritually exhausted and in need of encouragement.  

 

It seems those words were spoken straight to my heart.   Yet I still wonder if this is my imagination or  the Lord really speaking to me.

 

My children, I love to watch them set good goals and chase after them; but, there have been times when I saw them making choices I knew were a prerequisite for disaster.

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Images from Slot Canyons in Arizona

With the Words from Jeremiah still swirling, and twirling in my mind, I pull on my jeans and blouse, and drive to the deli to meet friends for coffee.

 

The aroma of bacon and fresh coffee greet me at the door as I adjust my “I’m happy and everything. is. o.k.” mask and slide into the booth with my friends.

 

After an hour of listening to how perfect everyone’s life is, I could feel my “happy” mask slipping.   So I gave my best lie  excuse to everyone and headed for my car.

 

That’s when I saw it – A beautiful bracelet laying on the asphalt right beside my driver’s side door. Apparently a car had run over it flattening some of the setting – but reparable.  Walking back into the deli I gave my name and number to the manager so that the person who had lost it could call and have the bracelet returned.

 

It has been ten years, and though I checked several times, no one has ever come to look for the bracelet.

 

Just as I am getting into my car to go and hide in a cave of despair –I find a bracelet filled with sapphires, rubies, pearls, and diamonds, right there on the road.  Precious stones that were spoken of in His Word and placed on my heart  earlier.   

 

I will tell you, the road to answered prayers is sometimes a road filled with potholes, blind curves, speed traps, construction zones, and areas of lightless backstreets and treasure.  Right when you think you cannot make it around another curve, He will give you encouragement.

 

You have a mighty warrior-King, riding shotgun beside you ­– the One who navigates and watches for danger as you concentrate on listening to His voice.

 

The One who takes you to His stronghold to encourage you, helps you heal, and builds around you the Wall of His Word – Jewels of Wisdom.

 

The children, they are safe in His care, being taught of the Lord as we kneel to pray.

 

When space seems too great between you and your children, and words too few, we know by faith  He is there riding shot-gun with us, and with our young as well.

 

“For the prayers of a righteous man (praying mama) can accomplish much.”

 

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Linking today with Michelle DeRusha, Laura Boggess and Angie Ryg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Diane W. Bailey is the founder of The Consilium – an online community of wisdom and purpose for women over 45 years of age. She is a published author. Her books include String of Pearls – From Tears to Treasure, and 30 Days To A Better Stepfamily. She creates her own line of precious metals bracelets. Diane lives in the Deep South with her husband Doc. Together they have created a stepfamily, each having two stepchildren and two birth children, and share three grandchildren, one black lab named Charlie and one long haired tabby cat named Lil Girl. Diane’s passion is to encourage women to be all God has created them to be by pressing past fear and daring to live life as an adventure. Some of her life adventures include traveling to Israel, speaking, entrepreneurship and backyard farming with Doc. She loves Gumbo, fried shrimp and seeing all sunsets across water.

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