2/16/23 2/16/23

Bio The Car Insurance Saga

It started with our car accident January 5th. When we got hit, I thought a bomb had gone off. Instead, a car hit us so hard it spun us around and then disappeared down the road. Thankfully, there were others nearby who assisted us as our minds were rather muddled. They called the police and an Allo truck pulled us out of the intersection.

Next, I knew an ambulance parked near and we were asked about going to ER. We did and were there for several hours. Thankfully, no broken bones, but lots of bruising. My left leg from knee to ankle looked like I’d been dragged ten miles on a bad road. Eventually, we were allowed to return home. Friends picked us up.

Of course, we contacted our car insurance company, and the saga began. They declared our car a total loss. It took some time, but we received a check and went to check out cars, ending up with a similar car, but a year earlier than our other one. (It also had very low mileage.)

All this happened in January and February first, the date of our car insurance renewal was coming up. Though the car had been totaled and Keith signed the title over to the insurance company, they kept sending us renewal notices listing both cars. No! No! NO!

Finally, after several phone calls, Keith thought he had that problem handled, and we looked for a corrected renewal notice. Not long thereafter, we received five envelopes from the Insurance company. I began to open them. The first listed both cars and insurance at twice what we’d been paying. Not again! I opened another that said if we were getting rid of a car to see it was taken off the insurance. Really? Like we hadn’t been trying.

The next letter I opened listed just one car and it was the correct one. The cards, too, were correct. Oh good. I could pay the insurance and move on. But wait, I still had two letters to open. The next one was set up, not as a total payment which we’ve always done, but as monthly payments. The total was off, and we wouldn’t be making monthly payments. The last letter held no cards but did have a cost for six months of insurance. The cost was much less than the letter that appeared to have the correct information. Ridiculous!

I called the local office and asked if the left hand knew what the right hand was doing. I laid out the information in the letters. Confused her, too. She said she’d get back to me. Late afternoon another agent did call me back. I gave her a synopsis of the problem. This time she was able to unscramble the problems and came back with a totally different cost, which she said was the correct cost for six months. I didn’t give her a chance to change her mind. I got a card and paid right then. An email confirmed the purchase.

I am thankful we are recovering from our injuries (but not until after dealing with an infection from my leg injury). I am thankful we were able to replace our car, and I am thankful for a local agent who could make sense of the mess made higher up by insurance agents in the company. We didn’t need this hassle and wished that ended the car insurance saga. But… the medical side of it meant lots more paperwork. The saga isn’t quite over, but it is slowing down at least. I’ll be thankful to move on.

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4/7/22 4/7/22

The Lord's Model--The Lord's Prayer

After this manner therefore pray:
Our Father which are in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,for ever
Amen.
-Matthew 6:9-13

Many of us have, at one time or another, memorized this prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. At least most of us have heard it recited or read in some media.

For many, it has become a meaningless recitation of words, rather than the powerful prayer it is. The beauty of the prayer is not disputed. Most will acknowledge it lifts up and comforts those who pray it from their hearts as well as their memories.

However, Jesus taught this prayer, not as the end all for prayer, but also as an example to follow.“After this manner therefore pray,” He said. He meant this prayer to be a model for our ongoing conversations with God. So how do we pray?

First, we start by addressing our Heavenly Father with respect and reverence, and to praise Him for who He is.

Second, we are to indicate our willingness to do as God directs. (Why bother asking if we plan to ignore His guidance and do things our way anyway?)

Third, we need to honestly share our needs and desires with God. This includes our hurts, feelings, good or bad, and even our disappointment of, or questions to Him. (Share what is on your heart and mind. Don’t worry, He knows what you’re thinking anyway.)

Fourth, we need to make certain our hearts and lives are right before God. (Again, He already knows, but wants us to acknowledge our bad choices, thoughts, behavior to ourselves and Him. Reality check.) Here we humble ourselves with confession (admission of) and repentance (turning away) from things we know are not right in our lives and relationships.

Fifth, we live in a world growing more dangerous. When praying, we need to ask God’s safety and protection over ourselves, our families and others on a daily, sometimes moment-to-moment basis. Prayers for wisdom and healing also fit this pattern.

Finally, prayer is more than making demands. Prayer is also about gratitude, praise and giving thanks for what God has done in our lives, is doing and will do in the future.

The end of prayer is the beginning of leaving things in God’s hands and trusting Him for the results. Sometimes we need to ask God to help us do that as well.

Help me, Lord, pray with a willing heart and mind, not just when things are going badly, but daily and even throughout the day. Help me realize prayer is my direct line to Your help and to my relationship with You and to access it often. Help me also pray with the full expectation that You can and will answer, though, sometimes, not in the way I may expect. That’s OK, too. Amen.

Meditations:
Monday: Proverbs 15:8, 29; 16:3
Tuesday: Psalms 70
Wednesday: Ephesians 6:18; 3:14-21
Thursday: Philippians 4:4-9
Friday: Romans 12:9-21
Saturday: I Thessalonians 5:12-28

From Listen! Who Me?
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9/6/20 9/6/20

Politics Do you pray for our leaders?

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.

Can we in America expect God's blessing when too many of our leaders are anti-life, anti-God's standards for sexuality, and anti-faith?

We need to be on our faces before God in repentance. We need to not assume the media is truthful in what they say or write and look for truth beyond a media more interested in headlines and causing division and conflict than in dealing in truth. Don’t let media dictate attitude.

Instead, wherever we stand, we need to be in constant prayer for our President/leaders that they will truly seek to know the truth and will listen to wise, Godly counsel. Prayer is the key.

Scripture tells us to pray for our leaders. Do we?

3/26/20 3/26/20

Blog Prayer Not About ME!

Just about everyone prays at some point. But praying can feel awkward, even for those who believe. However, when we say we don't want to be forced to pray, at any given time or in front of others, if we consider prayer a burden, we've missed the point.

The point is, prayer should never be a burden because prayer isn't about us, about me or you. First, second and always, prayer is a privilege. It is powerful communication with the Creator of the Universe, our Lord and Savior, a privilege that should bring a sense of awe and wonder that we have a right to come before Him. It is a privilege that changes lives, starting with our own. Prayer has positive benefits for the whole person--mentally, emotionally and physically as well as spiritually.

Prayer should bring us to our knees in honor, worship and gratitude. Refusing to bring our worship and petitions before God with others present denies our prayers the power they can have when we join together with others in prayer. We all know there is strength in numbers. It is no different in the spiritual realm. In fact, Matthew 18:20 reads, “Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.” (God's Word version)

When prayer makes us uncomfortable, we need to make sure our hearts and lives are right before God. Sometimes our prayer needs to simply be one of submission, confession and repentance, before one of worship, praise or petition.

No one can force us to pray, and there is a time to speak and a time for silence. But, if we are right before Him, to keep silent, because of our comfort level alone, puts the focus where it doesn't belong--on us, robs God of the praises of His people and withholds blessing as well as a full measure of the power of His presence from those praying.

Prayer isn't about ME but about HE who makes me whole. Prayer is foremost a privilege--not an act of comfort or convenience. God says come and shows us how.

In this manner, therefore, pray:Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come.Your will be doneOn earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,As we forgive our debtors.And do not lead us into temptation,But deliver us from the evil one.For Yours is the kingdom and the powerand the glory forever. Amen.Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV

Prayer changes us, changes families and nations. Maybe it is time to set aside time to pray—alone, with family, even via video at this time.

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