Does God hear and answer our thoughts?

[HeavenlyOne]

First, a story.....

http://www.startribune.com/13488496.html

MADISON, Wis. — Dozens of cars were involved Sunday in two separate pileups that killed two people on a foggy stretch of highway just east of the city.

The Wisconsin State Patrol shut down Interstate 90 in both directions, causing a traffic backup for miles.

Flares lining the interstate's lanes cut through the fog as traffic crawled north of the accident sites. Visibility was about 100 yards. Squad cars and tow trucks streamed toward the accidents as law enforcement agents directed drivers off the interstate.

The accidents happened on a stretch of eastbound Interstate 90 running south from the Badger Interchange with Interstate 94, Dane County sheriff's Lt. Dan Bolch said.

Around 2:30 p.m., cars began braking when they hit a wall of fog near Interstate 90's intersection with U.S. Highway 12/18, Wisconsin State Patrol Lt. Laurie Steeber said. A semi-truck came up behind them and began plowing into vehicles, she said. One person was killed.

A similar pileup happened three miles away when another group of vehicles on the interstate also began braking in fog, Steeber said. A second person was killed in that pileup.

"One of my sergeants described it as a war scene," Steeber said.

She estimated three dozen vehicles were involved in the two pileups but said the count continued Sunday evening.

Thirty-five people were taken to Madison hospitals, three with life-threatening injuries, she said.

This happened yesterday at about 2:30pm.

My children and I were on our way home after being gone for a late holiday vacation when this happened. We were stuck in traffic from about 4:25pm to 7pm (we'd only gone about 4 miles in that time), finally getting to Madison about 7:45pm.

So many things happen that are amazing when we think about it. For starters, my daughter wanted us to leave earlier, as she wanted to get home in time to attend evening service. I thought about it, but decided to stay at my friend's house a little longer. She begged me for about an hour, but we didn't leave until about just after 2pm.

We traveled up I-39 through Rockford and into Beloit. No problems at all. Just after Janesville, a curtain of fog suddenly appeared. Visibility greatly reduced, but I'd already been warned from LadyRev that widespread fog advisories were out for most of the state.

Soon, we started seeing flares on the side of the road, and traffic was slowing even more. Not knowing what radio station to listen to, and having no CB or anything, we just went with the flow of traffic, which came to an abrupt stop as we started coming into Madison.

After creeping along for over 2 hours, we left the interstate (along with everyone else because the freeway was closed) and I called a friend of mine in Chicago to get online and get me out of there. I considered staying somewhere for the night (RandyWayne, I'd have called you...LOL!), but decided to see what lied ahead.

Here is where God amazes me. During the traffic jam, Gideon came to mind. I recalled where he asked God to make the sun stand still and it did. One man asked a favor, but others benefited. I wondered if God could make the fog lift for one person yet benefit others......but then I thought, no, that's silly. God won't do that so don't even ask.

So I didn't.

After filling up with gas and getting some coffee, I rerouted and got back on the interstate within 10 minutes. The fog wasn't as bad, but LR was about to be out of church and I would get an update about the fog where I live.

The kids and I stopped for something to eat and the manager talked to us about the chaos down the road and said, "You know, it's strange that the fog is gone because when I got to work a few hours ago, you couldn't even see the driveway here." Fog doesn't typically lift in the evening, but instead, usually gets worse.

LR called me on her way home (she lives about 12 miles out of town and fog is typical where she lives even if there isn't any anywhere else) and said that the fog was much better since she had gotten there. She talked to me all the way to her home and said there was just patchy fog but nothing that would hinder my coming home. I was still about 100 miles away.

I was able to come home without any further problems, and just hitting occasional patches that didn't force me to reduce speed, as they were very brief.

Upon reflecting this morning about what took place last night, is it possible that God 'hears' our thoughts and acts on them even when we don't think He will? I realize that it's also possible as well as probable that someone else prayed and I benefited from their prayers.

All in all, I'm thankful to my God that He spared us from possibly being involved in this accident and lifting the fog for us, bringing us home safely.

Today, the fog is back and about half the state is under advisory.