Flat Tires and Diet Cokes   "Don't you have any Diet Coke?" Late one night a dear friend of mine called in a panicked state. He was on his way into Nashville when a tire blew out on his car. His tire jack broke and he was stranded on the side of I-40. I quickly loaded up any tools I might need and my wife (being the southern belle of hospitality that she is) put together a small cooler of Cokes. It took me almost an hour to reach my marooned comrade. As large trucks blew by our vehicles, reminding us of the near death dangers of our situation, I changed my friend's tire. Once we were done I remembered the cooler of Cokes my wife had packed and offered one to my rescued friend. Do you know what my friend asked? After traveling an hour and changing his tire in the dark while trucks came ever so close to making my lovely wife a widow...I turn and offered him a cool Coca-Cola and a smile...and he asks, "Don't you have any Diet Coke in there?" As much as I can appreciate another man's attempt at health and wellness, this was not the time or place to make requests! I "tenderly" reminded my friend of his situation and told him to get a drink and get into his, now repaired, vehicle!!! What does God's Word say?: Corinthians 9:15 "Thank God for his Son-a gift too wonderful for words! " Colossians 2:6-7 "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done." How many times have we been like my friend? We are going through life, heading to our next destination and we have a blow out. Not an actual flat tire, but something worse...a blow out in life...cancer, divorce, death of a loved one, lost job, season ending injury, etc. And there we are on the side of the road with our hazard lights blinking. And then Jesus shows up! He fixes our "blow out", gets us back on the road of life and offers us a cold Coke. Instead of gratitude, we want to know what took Him so long and why didn't He bring any Diet Coke?! My friend and I laugh about that night. But I wonder if Christ can laugh at our times of ungratefulness to Him. Should we just expect Christ to rescue us every time we are lost, broken down and stranded? Is that all it means to follow Christ? Is He just some kind of roadside assistance service? Why not give Christ the praise and gratitude He deserves? Be thankful for how He has rescued you...today! Just a thought! www.whouwith.com