Roadblocks or Rest Stops?

UPDATE: Thanks for your prayers!! It's Monday morning and I'm home. We made it safely to the airport yesterday despite icey roads and snow showers. As we traveled south to Milwaukee the snow became rain and the roads became very clear. Our sweet chauffer, Christie, took us out to lunch in this cute little town and made sure we were at the airport by 4:00pm. Our 6:30 flight took off just after 7:30pm. We arrived in Charlotte just as they were shutting down the airport - it was so empty. I took the shuttle to the parking garage and was in my car driving home by 11pm. I was able to sleep in this morning until JJ got up to take our dog daisy for a vet appointment and I decided to join him. It's back to life at home and I am so glad I get to spend this day with my family instead of in an airport or hotel. Thank you, thank you for your prayers.

God has such a sense of humor. I have learned to laugh (most of the time) at how He allows circumstances to "help" me live out (again and again) the things He's taught me and called me to share. This weekend has been one of those times.

I've been speaking at a women's retreat in Wisconsin. I got to the airport on Friday at 8:15am for my 9:30 flight. I had a full tank of gas (remember last week), cash in my purse, and I was ready to go! My plane was not. My plane did not show up early. My plane was sitting in Milwaukee waiting for a flight crew. So I sat and waited for my plane...and waited and waited. It was delayed until 12:30, then again until 2:00 then again until 3:00.

During my 7 hours of waiting I heard myself talking (in my head) about how easy it is to get frustrated by life's delays, you know when things don't go as planned. When God doesn't work according our schedule. Roadblocks that forbid us from moving forward. But but how God often allows roadblocks to become rest stops. Hmmm, that is what I'd be talking about on Sunday morning (today) as I ended the retreat...and once again I was getting to live it.

The blessing in this delay was that this time I was not traveling alone. My friend, Aimy, was traveling with me. So, we parked ourselves at the Starbuck's and had ourselves a latte. We both had our laptops and made great use of our time. I had a power point to finish for Friday's night's message, calls I'd been wanting to make, things I'd been needing to read. It could have been a lonely and frustrating pause, but with friend by my side and God's perspective in my heart I felt peace.

We finally took off at 3:15 and landed in Wisconsin at 4:30pm their time. The event started at 7:00pm and we had to drive 1.5 hours to the retreat center. We got here just in time.It has been a great weekend. The women of Fox River Christian Church in Waukesha are one FUN bunch of girls! They planned this whole retreat for over 180 women around a luau theme. We had a beach boys band Friday night, an authentic luau last night with a costume party/contest, limbo contest, hula dancing, etc. We have cried and laughed and shared our hearts deeply with God and each other.

This morning I am teaching on Psalm 23, how the Lord is our Shepherd, the One who leads us on life's journey. One of my points is that He leads us beside still waters and makes us lie down - and how these rest stops sometimes look like roadblocks. I'll also talk about how we walk through the valleys but He is with us. My point there will be to not get discouraged by danger and delays.

As I watch the weather channel I realize I may get to live that lesson out today. Wisconsin is now called the snow capital of the country and they are expecting a huge snow storm. Our flight home is scheduled for 6:30pm, not much wiggle room for delays. But God is bigger than planes and my plans. However, I sure would love to get home. My guys are out of school and work tomorrow and I'd love to have that time with them. Yet, once again I have a choice to to set my eyes on my Shepherd and trust that He will lead me well.