I love taking trips! I am getting so excited to see my old friend, Abbi. My husband has a business trip for work and I get the privilege of tagging along for a little vacation. The best part is hanging out with my husband, but the second best part is meeting up with Abbi. I met Abbi on a missions trip in Mexico City in the spring of 2003. We have been friends ever since. Thanksgiving 2003 I took a trip to meet Abbi in California. As I thought about my trip to see her again, the Lord brought to mind that November 2003 trip to California. It had to have been one of the most amazing "first class" trips I have ever taken on a plane. With Jesus as our Pilot, make no mistake, we will always fly first class!
It was Thanksgiving 2003, and I was so stoked to meet Abbi in beautiful Monterey, CA. The plan was that I would fly with my 4 year old twins, Charlie and Chad, from Minneapolis, MN into Chicago, IL. I would change planes in Chicago and then fly into San Diego. In San Diego, CA I was meeting my ex-husband, Rick, and his new wife, Dawn. They were picking up Charlie and Chad for a visit while I was getting on a different airline into Monterey for my visit with Abbi.
I flew with my sons from Minneapolis to the Chicago Airport. We had a little bit of time so we stopped to get a coffee and I got the boys something to eat. Finally, it was time to board and when I started boarding the plane headed to San Diego, I just felt the need to check and see if I had my purse. I don't even know why I felt I needed to look, but when I looked, I realized I didn't have my purse. It was either stolen or it dropped out of my bag.
So now, I am traveling across the country with no cash, no credit card, no checkbook, and worst of all...no identification! I was beside myself. I got on the plane and I was totally stressed. I was almost crying. This lady who was sitting behind me on the plane asked if everything was ok and I told her. "No, I lost my purse with everything in it and I don't have any ID to board the next plan." She said she was very sorry and something told me the way she looked at me with compassion that she knew the Lord. We didn't exchange words the rest of the way to San Diego.
When I finally got situated and sat down on the plane, I just felt awful. Charlie and Chad could feel the stress and were asking me over and over if we were going to get there. I finally composed myself and stopped myself from crying several times. I took a deep breath and I thought to myself, "What do I do when things go wrong? Where do I turn?" So I reached up into my bag and pulled out my bible. I decided to dive into God's Word and ask Him what to do and wait for Him to speak to me.
The very first thing I turned to was Hebrews 11:1. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I thought to myself...Now by faith Enoch was taken from this life and didn't experience death, by faith Abraham and Sarah had Isaac even when Sarah was barren, so by faith I'm getting to Monterey. I said, "Lord, I have no idea how you are going to do it, I just know you can." For the rest of the trip I had this peace in my heart. God's Word was settled in my heart and I knew His promise was good. I even leaned my head back and took a nap and rested in the fact that the Lord would get me there by faith. I knew I had to believe God's Word before I received the promise from Him.
As I got off the plane, the woman behind me pulled me aside and said, "I have this wonderful book. I just read it and thought you might enjoy it. It was called "The Miracle of Sons." I thanked her for the book and unzipped my bag to put the book inside. As she turned to walk away, she said, "Oh and I put a note in there for you too. I sure hope your day gets better." I thanked her and went on my way.
I met up with my ex-husband Rick and his wife and I told him what had happened. He said, "There is no way you are getting on that plane. The way security is you will not get on." I thought to myself, "But in the Name of Jesus I will!"
I had a few minutes of waiting before I had to go over to the other terminal to explain my situation. I pulled out the book and the note the woman tucked inside the front cover.
It read:
I have often found angels surrounding me and my family at different times in our lives. Sometimes it has been from a person bearing a meal when I was unable to fix one. At one time my husband was deathly ill and angels certainly watched over us then and yes we survived it all, but only with God's healing hand and the angels He sent. You know these angels are always around; they have skin and are the people in our lives. Now there are times when we too can be an angel in someone else's life. Please accept this in the spirit it was given, unconditionally. I'm sure there are times that you have been and will be able to be an "angel" for someone else, that keeps us all in the circle of God's love. A blessed Thanksgiving to you!
I opened the note and took out the green stack that was inside and I fanned the ten, crisp $20 bills in my hand. She had tucked $200 in cash inside the book. At that moment, I knew without a doubt that God had given me a promise and He was keeping it. I took the cash and walked to the ticket counter and explained my situation about my ID. They told me to they would search my bags by hand and they got me right on the plane. In fact, I was the first one allowed on the plane. Rick and his wife, who are unbelievers, were totally shocked and said about me receiving the cash and getting on the plane first "this is unheard of!" But I said, "With man it's impossible, but with God, all things are possible!
I arrived in Monterey and had a beautiful time with my friend, Abbi. When I shared what the Lord had done, it really moved in the hearts of Abbi and her parents. The promises of God are real and we can believe them! My trip there and back was the best trip by plane I had ever taken. I boarded each plane with the first class passengers to California and all the way back to Minnesota!
This love experience was so remarkable. I still have the note that she wrote to me. Now granted this woman may have been off on some of her angel theology, but she was right on with the love she showed to me and to my children. This unconditional love made such an impact in my life that there are days I am just compelled to bless others because of it. God's love for me is like no other. The depths of His love can't be measured. But with Him in my life, I get first class treatment every day and with Jesus as my pilot, I always fly first class!
