Harvey and I were ministering away from home in another state. Tanya was 17 and very responsible to take care of Cherie and Joy. We also had wonderful neighbors all around us including an EMT and fireman right next door. They all watched out for the girls when we had to be away. About 5:15am, I woke up praying in tongues very emphatically and knew I was praying for the kids at home. I prayed til almost 6am and had peace that everything was all right. Harvey woke up and I told him about it and we prayed together and called home. I talked to Tanya. She said she was in her bed and heard something in the kitchen. The other two girls were in the opposite side of the house. She heard a door open to the kitchen and then someone in the drawers and stuff. She stood up on her bed and shouted "In the name of Jesus, get out of my house right now!!" She heard the door slam shut. She grabbed the phone and called 911. The Sheriff came out and checked everything out. He couldn't tell what had happened. I told Tanya to pack up the girls and drive to her grandparents house. They lived about an hour and a half away. I told her to call me and let me know when they were safely there. I called my parents and told them to expect them in a couple of hours. Harvey and I had to go and minister in the prison and check back later with them.
Back at the hotel, four hours later, I still had not heard from them. I called my parents. No answer. I called the house. No answer. I went out to the pool area and prayed. I said "Lord, what is going on?" Immediately, I had a vision of the girls on the side of the road, talking and laughing, and I saw my parents going to meet them. I went in the room and told Harvey what I saw. I believed everything was okay. In faith, we went and ministered back in the prisons for an afternoon session. When we returned to the hotel again and checked messages, they had called and said they were fine. I called them and found out that Tanya's car had a broken belt and they were stuck on the side of the rode til a police officer stopped to check on them. They used his radio to call my parents and my parents went to get them. They said "Mom, we just sat there and took our Bibles out and read scripture to each other to pass the time and keep everything calm. I was concerned that Joy, being only five would have been afraid or upset. Cherie told me that Tanya was calm and handled everything as if it were normal and the policeman even gave Joy a bear. I told Tanya how proud we were of her. I remembered her saying "Mom, I just followed what God was showing me to do and what I thought you would do".
What I learned:
I can't be with my kids all the time and everywhere. But my God is always there with them even across the country and across the world.
When we empower them with who they are in their relationship with God, He is faithful to prove it out in them when we can't be there.
As a mother, I trust God and His heart for my children. If I rely on Him I don't have to fear or worry about them.
One other thing, we may have cell phones now but I trust the Holy Spirit's connection more than Verizon or even AT&T.
What I learned is to teach my children how to hear God for themselves when they can't hear me along the way.
