I am still trying to gather my thoughts just to write this blog post…Everything can change in a split second.
My husband, Shawn, built a track (something like a golf cart trail) around our property for me to walk on. That was almost 20 years ago. I have walked that track a thousand times. Most of the time, I keep my head down to ensure I don’t step on a snake, or at least watch for one as I walk. I’ve seen several over years. When I notice their sliver marks, and it reminds me to keep looking for them.
This evening, I hit the track around 5:00 pm as I do most afternoons or evenings. I put my earbuds in (not the expensive ones- the girls tell me that mine look more like hearing aids, but they are comfortable, and that’s where we are these days lol). Most days I listen to worship music; some days it’s older hits or a gym workout playlists; some days it’s country music; and then there are days when I listen to audiobooks or podcasts.
Today was the continuation of an audiobook by Jennifer Eivas, “Glory Carriers.”
We were created to reflect something or Someone. What we behold, we reflect. The more we behold the Lord, the more we look like him–and the more we see his glory released into our lives and the lives of those around us.
The glory of God is irresistible. Yet seeking to sense his presence or experience his glory for its own sake misses the point. His glory is the natural outpouring of a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. In these pages, author and speaker Jennifer Eivaz shows how you can enter into more intimate fellowship with the Spirit of God, experience miraculous encounters, and begin to see more miracles, more deliverances, and more lives dramatically changed. Here is the inspiration you need to step into the supernatural and follow God’s leading–and carry his glory to the darkest places and see his kingdom come.
Chapter 6, “I will not go without your presence.” As I’m listening to the words of this chapter and walking along the trail, within a split second I hear some rustling in the brush- and then BAM- a snake strikes my right lower leg. In a quick reaction, I kick my leg to rid him. His body somersaults and his tail scratches my opposite leg.
A friend and neighbor, who just so happened to be pulling out of our driveway from picking up a couple of goodies she bought from my daughter’s Facebook sale- sees me looking towards the ground as I call out for my husband. Almost simultaneously, she was rolling her window down to warn me to watch for snakes. She pulls closer to me and gets out to assess my wound as she is also a provider in the medical field. Two small puncture wounds… a venous snake had bitten me.
Shawn pulls up seconds later on the golf cart. Of course, he’s asking what kind of snake it was. 🥴🤷🏼♀️ it was gray, slivered, attacked me, and got away. I had no idea what type it was. It all happened so quickly I couldn’t even halfway process what was going on.
We rushed to the house to head to the ER. At this point it has probably been 5 mins since the bite. No swelling, no redness, no pain, no bleeding.
On the way to the hospital, I prayed and thanked God in advance for whatever glory He’d receive from this. I also prayed that He would please spare my leg as I do enjoy walking. Just being real.
ER- now approximately 15 minutes after the bite. Still no swelling, no redness, no pain, and no bleeding. Just two small spots with a pinpoint of blood to signify the occurrence.
The Bacon County Hospital ER was amazing! They quickly worked me up, attended to the wound (measured it was all they had to do since there wasn’t any significant bodily injury), and sent me home on a course of antibiotics. Hindsight, I felt a little embarrassed for going to the ER with my knowledge in the medical field, but honestly things can change in a matter of seconds with incidents like this and all that knowledge leaves when it hits home. Better safe than sorry.
Dry bite- in a quick research, after the fact, I learned that about 50% of venous bites are dry bites and the snake doesn’t inject venom. Some may call that luck, but I call it favor. I call it being covered by the blood. I call it divine protection. That in a split second the story could be ended so much different, but God.
As soon as I made it home, I texted Pastor T to testify. The grace, mercy, and glory of God still amazes me daily. His second response was, “Paul shook the snake off in the fire!” Straight to the scriptures I went. Let me reread those verses and words.
“Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.”
Acts 28:1-10 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/act.28.1-10.NKJV
Just as the people kept watching for Paul to swell up, as were we. And just as they witnessed no swelling, as did we. Divine protection can’t be denied!
I am no one special per se. I’ve done nothing extraordinary to earn God’s grace and mercy. I’ve only surrender my life to Him. God sees me and I’m special to Him, but as far as me doing anything to receive such mercy and divine protection- I haven’t. I’m not worthy of His many blessings, but yet He still bestows them upon me and keeps me yearning to see and hear and feel more of Him. The only thing I know is, I serve a POWERFUL, GRACIOUS Heavenly Father who thinks I’m special enough to save me from the poison of a venous snake. For my good and HIS GlORY. 🙌🏼
