This particular story I am not “proud of.” I cannot believe I let my imagination run so wild and free! I cannot believe I was a grown woman, married, with a house of my own when this situation occurred. But this is one of the funniest stories I think I have, and I have plenty! 

What you are about to read, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT try this at home!

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins:

George and I had been married about two years, I think. We rented for about a year and bought a house on Briar Creek, WV. Now, to let you know how far back woods we were. It was at least 15 minutes to a gas station and about 30 minutes to the grocery store. There was a small store about 5 minutes away for things like milk, eggs, bread, and beverages. But, if you needed something to make a meal, you had to plan on at least a 30-minute drive across the mountain. I did not enjoy being so far away from everything, but we had made our house a home. It looked so cute; the yard was huge, and there was some land out behind where we could have put livestock, which we never did.

SQUIRREL: I need to tell this story in my story, lol. We had no livestock, but we let our neighbors use our land and barn (way up on a hill) for their cows and bulls. I had never seen a cow or bull up close. I got curious one day and wanted to see them. There were cows and bulls, and one of the bulls was huge! I mean huge! I was looking at him one day, from behind a fence, I might add, and I thought there was a snake in his mouth. I screamed, the bull made a loud noise, and George came running. I was telling George that the bull had eaten a snake. He said, “Honey, I don’t think so.” I was pointing and screaming, “look – look.” George busted out laughing. The bull’s tongue was BLUE and so very long!!!!! It was his tongue, not a snake. 

This same bull somehow made his way into our backyard one morning. Our bedroom had a beautiful bay window that overlooked the back part of the property where the livestock was. It was so pretty to wake up, look out, and see the landscape. One morning, I woke up, did my daily looking out the window from my bed, and low and behold, there stood that same bull, looking directly in my window at me, chewing on something with that long blue tongue showing itself as he chewed! Not expecting it, I screamed. George came in to see what the drama was about, and after he calmed me, he graciously led the bull back to pasture. A country bumpkin I am not, nor am I a city girl! 

Ok, back to the real story!

I was a real chicken to be alone, far away from everything. I did have neighbors (that I loved), but they were gone through the day. This was before I started working full time, and I was home alone quite a bit. George worked 12-hour shifts and drove one way for about 45 minutes to an hour a day.

This particular Sunday, George had gone to his parent’s house to do something for them. So, I was home alone. I was in my kitchen, and I heard a vehicle pull up. I knew it wasn’t George just by the sound. So, I looked out and froze~

There was a van that had pulled up in my driveway. I didn’t recognize it, and started to panic! I was extremely quiet and was peeking out of the kitchen blinds. Out of the van emerged four men dressed all in black. I really started panicking. I dropped to the floor and started crawling past the windows so they couldn’t see me. My heart was racing, and I was having trouble breathing. 

I grabbed a phone and called George. The conversation was something like this.

Me (whispering): George, George, there are some men in the driveway. They are all wearing black. I saw them pull something out of the back of their van. Please come home.

George: Well, honey, who is it, and what do they want?

Me (still whispering): I don’t know, but I am pretty sure they pulled a gun case from their van, and now they are banging on the door! Hurry, I am scared. Really scared!

George: Ok, I am leaving now (he was about 5 minutes away).

Me (crouched in the corner of my bedroom, away from the bay window so they couldn’t see me): Hurry, they are looking through the windows and knocking on them and rattling the door knob trying to get in! 

By this time, I was crying. I was scared, and I just knew my time had come to die a horrible death. In my mind, they would break down the door or a few windows, drag me out, shoot me, and George would find my dead body in the driveway. 

I listened very intently… I heard them getting back in the van, shouting at each other. I peeked out of the bedroom blinds and watched them put the “gun” back in the van. They looked around one final time before leaving. 

When I was sure they were gone, I got up off the floor, and my legs shook. I felt like I was going to pass out – after all – I just barely got out of the situation alive! 

George finally got home. He came through the house laughing! 

LAUGHING! I was in a near-death situation, and he had the gall to laugh! I was about to say something to him about being insensitive. Then, he handed me a piece of paper he found stuck in the door. 

I was afraid. I was scared of what it was, why they left it, and why in the world would they would leave any sign that they had been at my house, all the way up a holler, to kill me…

I took the piece of paper, shaking as he handed it to me. I had been crying, then I was mad at George for being insensitive to the situation, but when I looked down, I busted out laughing!

It was a Jehovah’s Witness pamphlet! They were there to “save” me, not kill me! 

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED

I laugh at this story now, but at the time, it was not so funny!

How many times are we are alone and crouched in a corner as the devil comes peering in the windows of our hearts and rattling the doorknob, trying to get in. Isn’t that the way we live our lives? In fear of what we “think” will happen to us. 

Some may ask, how do you know it is the devil rattling the doorknob and not Jesus wanting in our lives? Well, first, I will say this, Jesus will never go where He is not welcomed in the recesses of your heart. Oh, He could, but He wants us to ask Him in the situation. See, Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He waits for you to let Him in. He will come in and be with you. Just listen for Him to knock and let Him in so He can talk with you and set with you through your worst nightmare.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

When He comes in to sit with us, He brings His peace. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me” (John 16:33). To have peace, you must know the One who can give it.

John 16:33 — New Living Translation (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trialsand sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Jesus brings peace; if peace is absent, then Jesus is absent. He gives us peace amid the devil trying to “devour” us. The devil tries to be like God. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, so the devil masquerades around trying to be a lion. He wants to catch us off guard; he wants us to run and hide in a corner, so afraid to even whisper or ask for help. He makes things appear differently than they actually are. He is an imitator.

I Peter 5:8 (AMP) Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

The devil is a deceiver — he is not the real lion! He turns and runs at the name of Jesus. We do not have to fear him. Jesus has us!

Proverbs 30:30 (ESV) The lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any;

Revelation 5:5 (ESV)And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered…

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus,

There is none mightier than You. You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. You cover me with your strength and protection. I love you, but my love could never compare to the love You have for me. You are worthy of all I have, which is nothing without You. You are Holy. You are the Lord God Almighty – Who was and is and is to come! I am asking You into my situation. I am asking You to bring Your peace to my life. 

Jesus, help me not to be afraid when Satan is parading around like a lion – roaring in my face, putting fear in my mind and heart. I will call on the Peace Maker, and You will be there. 

You remind me daily of how much You care for me, Lord; I pray that I remind You every day how much I care for You. You are my King, You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, You are my Peace and You are everything I need. Lord, I am thankful for Your love and patience with me. I want to serve You whole, holding back nothing.

I love You. I adore You. I need You!

In Jesus Name

Amen