Toy Story 3

"Do you know what makes Woody special? He will never give up on you!", Declares Andy as he gives away his treasured toys. 

People told me that they had cried during this movie and I thought they were silly! Yes I cried.  At that moment when I made the connection between Woody and Jesus it all made sense to me! 

We all long for someone to believe in us. 

To stay with us! 

To see us through!

Jesus is Immanuel,"God with us".

Jesus has promised to be with us!

I will never leave you or forsake you! Hebrews 13:5

I will always be with you. Matthew 28:20

I will send you another counselor. John 14:16

Do you know what make Jesus so special? 

He is with us and He will never give up on you!

Father, I needed to be reminded of your deep love for me today! Thank you for using a movie to speak the tender words, "I am with you! 

I am with you always

The memory of this night will forever be etched into my mind. A greasy fragrance of rain mixing with motor oil on the freeway permeated the car. Thump, thump, swish went the windshield wipers as they barely wiped away the pouring rain. 


My friend Stella was driving us to youth group in her old beat up car.  I remember laughing that I had to lock the passenger door so I wouldn't fall out.  Little did I know that locking the door would save my life!


In an instant the car was spinning out of control! Like an amusement ride on speed, we skidded from one side of the California freeway to the other and back again.  Remembering that the door was broken, I clung to the middle section of the car and screamed, "Help me Jesus!" Finally the old, battered, broken door car came to a halt next to the center divider.


What happened next seems plays out like a dream. As cars were whizzing by, a bright, blinding light shown down from above through the broken windshield. "Is that you Lord?" I whispered. 


I really thought that this was going to be my entrance into heaven.

"This is the highway patrol, help is on the way", a hovering police helicopter announced to us!

From that moment on I truly understood, "I am with you always". No matter the situation, God is present. 

There is nowhere that you can depart from His presence

Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
 even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10

Father, there is nothing and no one that can separate us from you. Thank you for always being with us.