NO MATTER WHAT

As I was beginning to write my post, GOD LOVES ME NO MATTER WHAT, this song came on. 

As usual, GOD was arranging everything including giving me 2 posts to write!!!


Isn’t GOD WONDERFUL!!!!


I love HIM so!!!!


NO MATTER WHAT – Kerrie Roberts

I'm running back to
Your promises one more time
Lord that's all I can hold on to
I gotta say this has taken me by surprise
But nothing surprises You


Before the heartache can ever touch my life
It has to go through Your hands
And even though I
I keep asking why
I keep asking why

No matter what
I'm gonna love You
No matter what
I'm gonna need You


I know You can find a way
To keep me from the pain
But if not, if not I'll trust you
No matter what
No matter what


When I'm stuck and there's nothing else but myself
I'm just sitting in silence
And there's no way I can make it
Without Your help
No, I won’t even try it
I know You have Your reasons for everything


So I will keep believing
Whatever I might be feeling
God, You are my hope
And You’ll be my strength


No matter what
I'm gonna love You
No matter what
I'm gonna need You


I know that You can find a way
To keep me from the pain
But if not, if not I'll trust you
No matter what
No matter what


And anything I don't have
You can give it to me
But it's okay if You don't
Cause I'm not here for those things
The touch of Your love is enough on its own


No matter what
I still love You
And I'm gonna need You


No matter what
I'm gonna love you
No matter what
I'm gonna need you


I know that You can find a way
To keep me from the pain
But if not, if not I'll trust You
No matter what
No matter what

I know that You can find a way
To keep me from the pain
But if not, if not I'll trust you
No matter what
No matter what


No matter
No matter what


No matter
No matter what

GOD LOVES ME NO MATTER WHAT!!!

As I sat here just a while ago, I was feeling all out of sorts.  But no matter what, I know that the one person that I can count on is GOD!!!   


I know that HE loves me no matter what!!!


You see, I have been going through a situation.  I feel almost silly saying it that way.  I guess I could just be honest and say that my mom has been sick.


I am well aware that there many others out there who are also going through.  Our situations may be very different, but we all need GOD’s HELP!!! 


And maybe, just maybe, I can provide a word of encouragement for someone today.


Even though my mom is out of the hospital and out of rehab, she still needs my help.  And I am so thankful to be able to help her.  So, right now, I am traveling almost every day to be with my mom in her home. 


Have you ever noticed that when the devil can’t beat us one way, he tries to come against us another way?

So here is what happened to me.


I went to church on Sunday and the Morning Service was wonderful.  After running some errands, I came in Sunday afternoon and I put my phone on the charger, just like I do all the time.  ONLY when I checked my phone, it hadn’t charged.  I tried 2 or 3 chargers and my phone just wouldn’t charge.       


So, here I am on the road traveling to my mom’s almost every day, except on Sundays and now my phone battery is almost dead because my phone doesn’t want to work correctly and charge. 


I must tell you that THE LORD blessed me to find 2 different batteries that each were almost 70 percent charged.  GLORY HALLELUIAH!!!!  GOD IS SO GOOD TO ME!!!


So, although I have made arrangements to take care of my phone issue, I now have to play the waiting game.  And hopefully, tomorrow, I will be able to get a new sim card and have my old phone turned on.


Anyway, for a few minutes earlier, I was feeling overwhelmed and out of sorts, and then I saw this in a memo on my old phone.


YOU ARE NOT LOST.  YOU ARE NOT IN TROUBLE.  YOU ARE IN THE MIXING BOWL OF LIFE AND GOD IS PREPARING YOU FOR WHAT IS TO COME.


Now isn’t that amazing!!!


GOD knew that I would need to read that.


HE had that memo just waiting on me to read it.  I didn’t even remember writing it, but HE KNEW!!!


I think that sometimes we forget that GOD sees and knows everything.   HE is just waiting for us to holler, “HELP, LORD!!!”

When we cry out to GOD, HE comes in and HE HELPS us.  And if we let HIM, HE will pick up the broken pieces of our lives and make something beautiful out of them!!!


Right after I read that note, I heard Meredith Andrews singing, “PIECES.”  I knew that GOD was talking to me through this song, so I wanted to share it with you.  If you click on the title of this post, you can watch the official music video.   


I hope the words of this song speak to you like they did to me!!!



"Pieces"

[Verse 1:]
It's a complex puzzle you call your life
It's an uphill climb, it's a constant fight
And it wears you down


Feeling like you're alone, like you don't belong
And you won't be loved if you don't measure up
And you wear your scars
Like they're who you are


[Chorus:]
Give Him your wounds, your bruised and broken pieces
All your questions, all your secrets
You don't have to hide who you are


You belong to Someone greater
Than all your past mistakes and failures
Rest in who He is
He knows how to make your pieces fit


[Verse 2:]
He's the light on the road when you're lost in the dark
And He won't run away if you show your heart
Wants you to believe it
You can taste that freedom


[Chorus:]
When you give Him your wounds, your bruised and broken pieces
All your questions, all your secrets
You don't have to hide who you are


You belong to Someone greater
Than all your past mistakes and failures
Rest in who He is
He knows how to make your pieces fit


[Bridge:]
You are completely known
You are completely loved
This is where you belong


[Chorus:]
Give Him your wounds, your bruised and broken pieces
All your questions, all your secrets
You don't have to hide who you are


You belong to Someone greater
Than all your past mistakes and failures
Rest in who He is
He knows how to make your pieces fit

YOURS

I heard this song today and it really hit home!!!


I didn’t even know that I had heard this song many, many times before!!!  It was the words of the chorus that struck such a chord in me!!! 


You see, like so many others, I have situations in my life that need fixing!!!  However, no matter which way I look, I can see that there will be “fall out!!!”  Maybe I should say that I can see the repercussions of fixing these situations myself!!!   


So, once again, I have to TRUST GOD and turn every situation over to HIM!!!


I have to know and have FAITH that HE can and WILL fix every situation and every problem, if I give them to HIM!!!


Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

Footnotes:

     1. Proverbs 3:6 Or make smooth or straight

YOURS  -  Steven Curtis Chapman

I walk the streets of London
And notice in the faces passing by
Something that makes me stop and listen
My heart grows heavy with the cry

Where is the hope for London?
You whisper and my heart begins to soar
As I'm reminded
Every street in London is Yours, oh yes, it is

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda
I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading
And they're waiting for a cure no one can find

And I hear children's voices singing
Of a God who heals and rescues and restores
And I'm reminded
That every child in Africa is Yours


And it's all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor


And it's all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper
Father and Ruler of everything.
It's all Yours


And I walk the sidewalks of Nashville
Like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai
I brush by the beggar's hand and the wealthy man
And everywhere I look I realize


That just like the streets of London
For every man and woman, boy and girl
All of creation
This is our Father's world


And it's all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor


And it's all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper
Father and Ruler of everything


It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God


The glory is Yours, God
All the honor is Yours, God
The power is Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God
You're the King of kings
And Lord of Lords


And it's all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor


And it's all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
All the greatness and power
The glory and splendor and majesty
Everything is Yours


Yeah, It's all Yours


(PRAISE)

It's all Yours
It's all Yours
It's all Yours
It's all Yours


My life is Yours
   It's all Yours
My heart is Yours
   It's all Yours
My hands and my feet
   It's all Yours
Every song that I sing
   It's all Yours


It's all Yours
It's all Yours
It's all Yours
It's all Yours


All is Yours
   It's all Yours
It all belongs to You
   It's all Yours
Our Gifts are Yours
   It's all Yours
All our dreams are Yours
   It's all Yours
All our plans are Yours, GOD
   It's all Yours

This whole earth is Yours, GOD
   It's all Yours
Everything is Yours, GOD
   It's all Yours
Everything is Yours, GOD
   It's all Yours
Yours, Oh LORD
   It's all Yours

IT’S YOURS, GOD!!!

   
Everyone has situations in their life that they need help with. 


We can choose to worry about these situations and we can even try to handle them ourselves.


Or we can recognize who GOD is and that HE IS WELL ABLE!!! 


When we take our hands off the things that we’d like to fix ourselves and allow GOD to do what is needed, we have to have FAITH to know that HE WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING!!! 


We have to decide to give it ALL to GOD!!!  We have to give HIM every issue, every problem and every situation!!!


And when we make that decision, we are choosing to release the responsibility of that situation to GOD!!! 


We have to step back and say, “IT’S ALL YOURS GOD!!!” 


I am NOT saying that this is always easy!!! 


What I am saying is that it works!!! 


I am saying that we have to know that we can TRUST GOD!!! 


We have to know and believe that GOD can take care of us and everything that happens to us!!! 


And we have to know that when GOD fixes something, IT IS DONE RIGHT!!!


We have to know that when WE TRUST GOD, and we turn everything over to HIM, EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT FINE!!! 


Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.


I like that GOD promises that HE will make my ways smooth!!!  That HE will remove everything that stands in my way or blocks my path!!! 


Isaiah 45:2 (NKJV)

² I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.


I love the PEACE THAT TRUSTING IN GOD BRINGS!!! 


When you give everything to GOD, you are taking the burden and the load off your shoulders!!!  You are giving the responsibility of all these things to GOD!!! 


Trusting GOD and turning everything over to HIM brings such as sense of peace!!! 


I LOVE PEACE!!! 


And when I give everything to GOD and trust HIM to take care of it all, I have PEACE!!!


I DEPEND ON GOD FOR MY PEACE!!!


Jesus said that when HE went away, HE left us PEACE!!!  HIS PEACE!!!


John 14:1-27 (NKJV)

¹ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


ONLY GOD can bring you true and everlasting peace!!! 


ONLY GOD can be trusted to take care of all your problems and your burdens!!!


GOD will NOT let you down!!!  You can depend on HIM!!! 


HE will make your paths smooth and straight!!!  


Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)

⁵ Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

⁶ In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Reverend, what does it mean?

   
I’ve heard it said over the years that we should NOT address our pastors or preachers as Reverend!!! 

And I had no understanding of why this was said.

I had always heard this word used as a title.  For example, The Reverend and Mrs. Clayfield.  You know, a title that you would use to respectfully address someone, but denoting his or her profession.  Such as, Doctor and Mrs. Fairchild or Nurse Mulligan.  Or as happens nowadays, Dr. & Dr. Morgan. 

To be respectful, we often say Mr. Smith, or Mrs. Jones, or even, Miss Lovingston.  And in some circles, respect is given by saying, Minister (Min.) Parsons, or Bro. Wellsley, or Sis. Brockmore, or even Sis. Kathy.

Even so, some say the word, “Reverend” should ONLY be used when speaking of GOD HIMSELF!!! 

This morning I was reading in my NKJV, and when I read this same verse in my King James, I saw that the writers of the NKJV had replaced the word, “REVEREND” in the King James, with the word, “AWESOME” in the New King James.

Psalm 111:9 (KJV) He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.


Psalm 111:9 (NKJV) He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever:  Holy and awesome is His name.


When I read this scripture in the KJV, and I saw the word, “reverend,” it brought this age old question to my mind!!!  And since I had no idea exactly what “reverend” meant other than a title, I realized that I needed to look it up and find out for myself what it means.

When I tried looking up, “reverend” on my phone, I found several articles, but one article in particular caught my attention.  Among the many articles that had been written on this very subject, I found an article by Cooper P, Abrams, III – Bible-truth.org (sited as it appears at the end of the article noted.)  This article is entitled, Why I Do Not Use the Title “Reverend”

In this article, Mr. Abrams (he did NOT show a title) quotes the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary as saying that the word, “REVEREND” means, “worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection…”

So, with this meaning in mind, we can see why there are folks who object to pastors and ministers being called Reverend or this title being used at all when speaking to a person!!!

And I totally understand!!! 

I have met many truly inspiring men and women of GOD!!!  But I know of none that I would say were “worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection…”.

As I was writing this post, THE LORD reminded me that we are to fear no man. 

Matthew 10:28 (KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.


Respect, yes!  We give respect where respect is due and even sometimes when it is NOT due!!!  But FEAR, no!!!  We fear no one, but GOD!!!

I agree with Mr. Abrams and all those others who have said over the years that the word, “REVEREND” should only be used in reference and in reverence to GOD!!!  

Mr. Abrams explained in his article that the Hebrew root word for “reverend” means “to be revered” (among other things.) 

So, here I take my stand!!! 

ONLY GOD should be revered or held in such high esteem that HE and ONLY HE should ever be “put on a pedestal” (one of the phrases used to explain the word, “revered,” when I looked it up on Google.)     

ONLY GOD should be referred to as REVEREND!!!  Because I now truly understand what the word, “REVEREND” means, I will no longer use the title Reverend or Rev.  Instead I will use the title, Minister, if needed.  But in truth, I prefer just plain Sis. Kathy.     

As for anyone else, you will have to decide for yourself!!!

I think the Amplified Classic Edition says it best!!!

Psalm 111:9 (AMPC) He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant to be forever; holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear.

I am TAKING MY HEALING!!!

  
The other night when we were at the revival, the preacher decided that the altar benches needed to be moved.  They were at the front of the church and the preacher wanted them moved to create more room to pray for people.

Without asking THE LORD, I decided that I would help.  However, those altar benches were a bit heavier than they looked.  When I went to lift that altar bench, it didn’t even move.

Now, you have to understand, that sometimes, I forget that I am no longer 18 years old and that I am NOT as strong as a bull ox.

I am asking GOD; THE HOLY GHOST, to PLEASE, PLEASE help me remember NOT to pull on stuff.  PLEASE REMIND ME to let the men in the church do the lifting!!!

I need your help to remember this, HOLY SPIRIT!!!  Please help me!!!

John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

I lifted and moved that altar bench twice on Friday night, and to be truthful, other than when the altar bench wouldn’t move at first, I never thought a thing about it!!! 

After the service had ended, I went home and of course, I eventually went to bed.  While I slept, I forgot all about moving those altar benches. 

Unfortunately, when I got up on Saturday, I thought, Oh dear, what have I done?  I even said to FATHER GOD, what did I do?  Did I sleep funny?  Cause I could feel a pulling in my back and shoulder.  

I had things that had to be done, so I got up and did them, but I just couldn’t figure out why I was having an issue with that area.  Finally, when it started getting late, I knew that I had to get ready to mow.  So, I did. 

So, I went out to mow.  As I mowed, I noticed for the first time, how much that mower vibrated.  And of course, when I had to pull that mower backwards, I could feel the muscles in my shoulder and back pulling.  It wasn’t pleasant, but I had to mow, because I couldn’t let that grass continue to get tall.   

It was then that THE LORD said, Don’t you remember pulling on that altar last night at the church?  Then I remembered and I thought, Yes, I remember.  I pondered my poor decision to pull on that altar without asking the LORD’s HELP or PLEADING THE BLOOD!!! 

I remember thinking 3 things!!!  You aren’t a bull ox, Kathy, and you need to be more careful.  You know better than to pull on stuff!!!  It certainly isn’t important enough to hurt yourself.  It won’t hurt to allow the men folks to move stuff.  And if there aren’t any men, then maybe, just maybe that stuff doesn’t need to be moved right then!!!  PLEASE, PLEASE, REMIND ME OF ALL THIS, HOLY GHOST!!!   

After I mowed last night, I had to come in and clean-up.  And finally, when I went to lie down for the night, my shoulder and back were definitely aching.  I took some pain meds, and I finally drifted off to sleep.  I really don’t like having to take meds, but by that time, I was hurting.  I had prayed and the pain had NOT lifted!!! 

This morning, I was hurting again, but I had already noticed that even though the pain meds helped for a short time, they didn’t make my muscles feel any better.  I already knew that I needed HEALING, NOT just pain relief!!!

Anyway, this morning, I knew that I needed to study and pray some more.  I knew that I needed for my healing to manifest and that I had to get some relief!!! 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I had already been claiming my healing because I know that GOD heals!!! 

I know that when Jesus died on the cross, HE DIED for my HEALING!!! 

I know that by HIS STRIPES, I AM HEALED!!!

Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ Surely He has borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

I can’t tell you how many times over the years, I have experienced miracles after getting hurt and how many times I have received healings.  And I have no idea how many times I have headed off illnesses before they began.  

I have stood on that scripture many, many times over the years!!!  I have seen my healing come to pass over and over!!!  

So, I knew that I had to get my HEALING!!!  I couldn’t just wait on it to happen, because I was in pain. 

That’s when THE LORD reminded me of something a friend of mine had told me!!!  She had been experiencing an attack from the enemy and she wasn’t feeling quite up to par. 

She had told me, I AM TAKING MY HEALING!!!  When she said it, it didn’t really sink in!!!  I really didn’t understand what she meant!!!     

Then THE HOLY SPIRIT reminded me what I had heard Gloria Copeland tell when she was preaching about HEALING!!!  She said, “And the violent take it by force!!!”  She said, “We have to take our healing!!!”

THE WORD says, The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent shall take it by force!!! 

Matthew 11:12 (NKJV) …the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

I decided that it was time that I take my healing!!!  So, I am standing on THE WORD OF GOD FOR MY HEALING!!! 

After I studied for a while this morning, I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I could tell that my healing had begun to manifest!!!  I felt so much better when I woke up than I had in the last couple of days!!! 

I am so thankful to THE LORD for MY HEALING!!!  I am so thankful to THE LORD for HIS WORD!!! 
   
I HAVE TAKEN MY HEALING!!! 

I AM HEALED!!! 

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!  HE IS SO GOOD TO ME!!! 

I PRAISE GOD!!!  I GLORIFY HIS NAME!!! 

We Have to Seek GOD!!!

Did you take out time to seek THE LORD today? 


Did you stop long enough to find out what your assignment is for today?


Have you gotten your instructions for the day?  


Oh, so you are just going to work today. 


And you know what you have to do once you get there, so you don’t think that you need to take time out to get with GOD today. 


Or maybe you just didn’t have time today.


REALLY? 


Don’t you know that no matter where you work or what you do for a living, GOD has called you to do a work for HIM? 


Yes, even on your job!!!


Did you know that as you drive to work today, there will be a young mother with her 3 babies stuck on the side of the road?  Did you know that just 10 minutes before you get to them, her car will have run out of gas?  Did you know that she ONLY has 5 dollars in the pocket of her worn out jeans?  And she needs to get gas and feed her kids.   


Did you know that when GOD told you to go fill up that huge old gas jug yesterday afternoon and put it in the back of your truck, it was for her?


Did you stop to find out that GOD wants you to put gas in her car and then go with her and fill up her tank?  Did you know that HE wants you to give her that 50 bill that you keep tucked in the back of your wallet?  You know, for emergencies!!! 


Did you know that GOD had you put those old rags behind the seat in your truck because you’ll need them?  HE was watching over you because HE knew that you wouldn’t want to get gas on your clothes!!!  And HE wanted you to be able to wipe the gas off the side of her car, once you poured that gas in her tank. 


Did you take out time to be with GOD today?  Cause if you did, you would know that she doesn’t have money to buy groceries to feed her kids.  Her boy friend ran out on her last night and he won’t be back.  He took all the money that they had.  Did you know, that if she hadn’t found that 5 dollars in her pocket, she would be flat broke? 


Did you know that she has been crying out to GOD?  Did you know that she has been praying to GOD for the first time in years?  Did you know that she was just trying to make it to the gas station, so she can go to the food bank and get some food for her kids?  Did you know that her frig and pantry are empty?  


Did you know that her eyes are swollen because she has cried all night long wondering what she was going to do?  Did you know that today, GOD wants you to show her that HE LOVES HER? 


It may seem to be a simple thing to go get gas or to go to the grocery store, or even to just go to church on Sunday morning or Sunday night!!! 


But we have to stop whatever we are doing and we have to seek GOD!!!


Before we go out of our house each day, we need to sit down with GOD!!!  This may sound really simple, but it is so very important!!! 


No matter what GOD has called us to do, we have to seek HIM!!! 


No matter what we are planning to do, we’ve still got to ask GOD how HE wants us to do it!!!  And it isn’t ONLY that!!!

We have to know exactly what GOD wants us to do at ALL TIMES!!!  We have to seek HIS WISDOM and HIS UNDERSTANDING in ALL THINGS!!!
 

We have to seek HIM to find out the answer to these questions!!!  What?  When?  Where?  How?  And yes, even, Who?


You know, today could be the most blessed day of your life!!! 


I’ve told this before, but one Sunday morning (in the fall of the year, I think) GOD woke me up early, so I got up and got ready for church.  I was already dressed and I had my Bible and purse in my hands.  I was all decked out in some of my good church clothes!!!  All I needed to know was where GOD was sending me that day!!! 


I paused and said, Well GOD, where do you want me to go today?  And as I stood there waiting to find out where I was going that morning, GOD said, Just sit down.  So, I sat down in my chair and I opened up my Bible. 


As I sat there waiting on GOD to tell me where I was going that morning, the scent of a skunk creeped in through the open window.  Evidently, as I sat there patiently, I missed the skunk that was in my front yard!!!  And I didn’t ruin my good clothes-my CHURCH CLOTHES!!!  I didn’t get skunk spray in my eyes, or in my nose, or in my mouth!!!  And THANK GOD, I didn’t get skunk spray in my hair!!!  Because GOD had been watching over me, I had been sitting in my chair while the skunk had been in my front yard!!!


You know, I remember a day many, many years ago, that I had gotten in the car with a really nice girl who was going to take me home from college when the person I was supposed to ride home with left me!!!  She had to go home first and that was fine with me!!!  If she didn’t take me home, my mother was going to have to come get me, so I got in the car with her. 


We headed out, and when we had traveled several blocks away from the school, I had my first experience with THE HOLY SPIRIT, ever!!!  My stomach started doing flip flops!!!  My PEACE completely left me!!! 


I had absolutely no idea what all this meant, but I knew one thing!!!  I couldn’t ride with that girl that day!!!  I had to tell her to stop the car and let me out!!!  I told her that I would walk back to the main building and call my mother, but that I had to get out of that car!!! 


She was really nice and she said that it was okay, then she took me back to the main building.  I have no idea what would have happened to the 2 of us that day, if she had NOT have taken me back to the campus, but I can tell you that it wouldn’t have been good!!! 


The next day, she said nothing happened to her on the way home, but you know, because she turned around and took me back, she was NOT going down that road at the same time that we had started out!!!  I was thinking about this, and I truly believe that GOD saved us both from some awful event that day!!! 


When she turned around and took me back that day, she delayed her trip at least 10 minutes, maybe even 15-20 minutes!!!  That made a difference in the time that she would have been going down that road!!!  That changed what would have happened!!!  She and I both had missed whatever bad thing the devil had planned for us!!!  Maybe she will read what I am writing today, and she will remember that this happened!!! 


Maybe that young lady is alive and well today because she offered a ride to a young girl from a small town one day after college classes!!!  Maybe she is alive and has grandkids now because she turned around and took that same young girl back to East Texas State University in Commerce, TX because that girl’s stomach started doing flip flops!!!!


Maybe she is alive and well today and serving GOD, because a young girl met THE LORD when she was in high school and had HIS HOLY SPIRIT living inside of her, even though she didn’t know it.


You know, it was years before I knew what had happened to me that day!!!  Many years went by before I knew that MY PEACE had left me that day!!!  Many years went by before I had any idea that the flip flopping in my stomach that day was THE HOLY GHOST telling me NOT to ride with that girl to Greenville!!! 


At that time, I didn’t even know anything about GOD, THE HOLY GHOST.  I had heard HIM mentioned in church, but they never taught about HIM and no had ever explained to me that THE HOLY SPIRIT would lead and guide me into ALL TRUTH!!!  John 16:13 (KJV)


I was just a college kid going back and forth to school.  I had met Jesus at a Baptist Children’s Camp a couple of summers before!!! 


I had no idea that when I accepted CHRIST as MY SAVIOR, I had also received THE SPIRIT OF GOD and HE had been dwelling inside of me from that time on!!!  I had no idea that I had received the great gift of THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!  But I can tell you right now, that I sure am glad that I did!!! 


You know, I am just like many other folks.  I get busy at times and I do NOT stop to spend time with GOD!!!  This evening, as I was getting ready for church, I was also trying to get a bite to eat before I left.  I knew that I needed to sit down with THE LORD before I left, but I kept putting it off.  And finally, even though I knew better, I headed out the door without stopping long enough to just sit down and spend some time with HIM!!!


I got less than 2 blocks down the road before my stomach knotted up!!!  (This doesn't happen all the time, and when it does, I take notice!!!)  So, I turned around and came home!!!  I came in and sat down and got my Bible out.  I sat here and flipped through the pages with all sorts of things racing through my mind. 


Finally, when I got my mind quietened down, GOD reminded me that the woman of GOD had preached about King David and the ark of GOD on Friday night at the revival.  


I looked until I found this passage in my Bible and I began to read.  I am familiar with this passage because I have read it before.  However, as I read it again this evening, I was struck with how important it is for each of us to make sure that we talk to GOD about every thing that we plan to do, even when we are doing it for THE LORD!!! 


Let’s look at this passage now.  If you want to read it in your Bible, it is 1 Chronicles, Chapter 13. 


David had been made king over all of Israel after the death of Saul. 


1 Chronicles 12:38 (KJV) All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.


David consulted with all of the captains and all the leaders about bringing the ark of THE LORD to the city of David.  All the people agreed that this was a good idea, but no one including David consulted GOD about it!!! 


1 Chronicles 13:1-4 (KJV)

¹ And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

² And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:

³ And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.

⁴ And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.


David’s intentions were good and honorable, but he didn’t go to GOD and ask if they should bring the ark home.  He didn’t ask GOD what they should do or how they should do it.  David evidently thought because what he was doing seemed right, that it would also seem right to GOD!!!  So, he didn’t seek THE LORD!!!  


David gathered all of the children of Israel and they went to get the ark.  Instead of seeking GOD or the advice of the priests about transporting the ark of GOD, they placed it on a new cart to bring it home to the city of David.


1 Chronicles 13:5-7 (KJV)

⁵ So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

⁶ And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

⁷ And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.


They celebrated and praised GOD as they moved the ark. 


1 Chronicles 13:8 (KJV) And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.


Unfortunately, they were NOT carrying the ark as GOD had instructed, and one of the oxen pulling the cart stumbled.  When Uzza saw the oxen stumble, he reached out his hand to steady the ark and because he touched it, GOD became very angry and struck him, so that HE died.  This displeased David!!! 


1 Chronicles 13:9-11 (KJV)

⁹ And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

¹⁰ And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

¹¹ And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.


On that day, David feared GOD and he realized that he should have asked THE LORD what to do to bring the ark home!!!  And because David feared THE LORD, he decided that they should NOT continue in what they were doing.  He decided to turn aside and leave the ark in the care of a man named Obed-Edom. 


1 Chronicles 13:12-14 (KJV)

¹² And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?

¹³ So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

¹⁴ And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.


King David wanted to please GOD, but he didn’t ask GOD what he should do to please HIM!!!  He did as many of us do and he made plans without consulting GOD!!! 


He did NOT take his plans to GOD!!! 


After we make our plans, we should always take them to GOD and seek confirmation or redirection from HIM.


IF ONLY DAVID HAD TAKEN TIME TO SEEK THE LORD!!! 
 

FLAWLESS by MercyMe

THE CROSS WAS ENOUGH!!!


Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.

⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.


When Jesus died on the cross HE paid the price for every one of us for ALL time!!!  


NO matter what we’ve done, when we come to Christ and accept HIM as our SAVIOR, HE washes us clean from ALL SIN!!! 


1 John 1:7 (NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.


And HE makes us new!!! 


2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


When we became new in Christ Jesus, our past was washed away and we became as this song says, FLAWLESS!!!  


When Jesus died on THE CROSS, HIS DEATH WAS ENOUGH!!!  HIS BLOOD WAS ENOUGH!!!  THE PRICE HE PAID WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE US FLAWLESS IN OUR FATHER’S EYES!!!



MercyMe - Flawless Lyrics

There’s got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are


Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there’s worth in what you do


Then like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Let me introduce you to amazing grace


No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars


Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Echo: The cross has made you flawless


No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain


Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless


Could it possibly be
That we simply can’t believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough


To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that’s exactly what He did
Echo: That’s exactly what He did


No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars


Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Echo:  The cross has made you flawless


No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain

Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Oh yes….


Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I’m ok
Because the cross was enough


And like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to grace grace
God’s grace


No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars


Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Echo: The cross has made you flawless


No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain


Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Echo: The cross has made you flawless


No matter what they say
Or what you think you are
The day you called HIS name
HE made you flawless
Echo:  HE made you flawless
HE made you flawless
Echo:  HE made you flawless


No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars


Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

 

Jesus Casts Out The Unclean Spirits

   
JESUS astonished those listening by teaching with authority in the synagogue.


Luke 4:31-32 (NKJV)
³¹ Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.

³² And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

There was a demon-possessed man in the synagogue.  The demonic spirits recognized JESUS.  They knew that HE was the Christ, and they cried out fearfully in a loud voice. 


Luke 4:33-34 (NKJV)

³³ Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,

³⁴ saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”


Jesus silenced the man.  Then HE commanded the spirits to come out of the man.  The spirits departed, throwing the man down in their midst, but leaving him unhurt. 


Luke 4:35 (NKJV) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.


All those in the synagogue were amazed when they saw Jesus cast out the spirits with HIS WORD and they were amazed at the power and authority of JESUS!!!     


Luke 4:36 (NKJV) Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”


Word spread quickly about Jesus and how HE had cast the demons out of the man. 


Luke 4:37 (NKJV) And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

ONLY ONE MAN RETURNED TO GLORIFY GOD!!!

     
As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, he saw 10 men standing quite a ways off.  They were lepers.  When these men saw Jesus, they cried out for HIM to have mercy on them. 

Luke 17:11-13 (NKJV)

¹¹ Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

¹² Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

¹³ And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”


When JESUS saw them, HE told them to go and show themselves to the priests!!!  These men believed what JESUS said, and they did as HE had instructed.  And as they obeyed Jesus and went, they were healed!!!  


Luke 17:14 (AMP) When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean.


When one of the ten men; a man from Samaria; saw that he was healed, he returned to thank Jesus!!! 


Luke 17:15-16 (WEB)

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.

¹⁶ He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.  


Jesus had healed every one of the ten men, and he spoke aloud wondering where the other nine were?  And why ONLY the Samaritan had come back to give THANKS to GOD!!! 


Luke 17:17-18 (NCV)

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Weren’t ten men healed? Where are the other nine?

¹⁸ Is this Samaritan the only one who came back to thank God?”


Jesus told the healed man to get up and go on his way!!!  HE said that this man’s FAITH had made HIM whole. 


Luke 17:19 (KJV) And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.


This man was HEALED because HE believed in JESUS and he had FAITH in the words that JESUS spoke!!!

  
Luke 17:19 (NCV) Then Jesus said to him, “Stand up and go on your way. You were healed because you believed.”
 

Jesus Heals The Deaf Man!!!

When I read about Jesus healing this man, I couldn’t remember ever having read about this before.  Then as I read the details, I knew that I had NOT ever read these scriptures before now!!! 


And suddenly, it became very clear to me why this particular incident is in THE WORD!!! 
  

Mark 7:31-37 (KJV)

³¹ And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

³² And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

³³ And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

³⁴ And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

³⁵ And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

³⁶ And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

³⁷ And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.


Jesus took this man aside and HE prayed for him privately!!!  Jesus opened this man’s ears so that he could hear and loosed his tongue, so that he could speak plainly!!!  Jesus took this man to one side!!!  HE PRAYED for this man in PRIVATE!!!  And HE did it, QUIETLY!!!


Mark 7:33-35 (AMP)

³³ Jesus, taking him aside by himself, away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, He touched the man’s tongue [with the saliva];

³⁴ and looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to the man, “Ephphatha,” which [in Aramaic] means, “Be opened and released!”

³⁵ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he began speaking plainly.


When I read that Jesus took this man aside privately, all I could think was how much Jesus must have loved this man and how much HE was concerned for this man’s feelings!!!  Jesus showed respect for this man’s feelings!!!  JESUS TRULY CARED ABOUT HOW THIS MAN FELT!!!     


So many ministers call out things in front of everyone, but Jesus truly cared about how this man felt!!!  Jesus cared that this man might feel embarrassed!!! 


We should do as Jesus did here, and pray for folks privately.  Jesus didn’t call 15 other ministers to come up and help HIM pray for this man.  Jesus prayed for this man by HIMSELF!!! 


Mark 7:33 (AMP) Jesus, taking him aside by himself, away from the crowd…


I can just hear someone saying, but HE’s JESUS!!! 


Yes, you are right, but Jesus told us that we would do the same works that HE did and greater works also!!!   


John 14:12 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.


If we have THE HOLY GHOST, then we have ALL we need!!!  And we can pray for others without a lot of other folks helping us!!! 


We should respect others and care about how they feel.  We should NOT embarrass them in front of everyone by calling out what they need or praying for them loudly, so that everyone can hear what we are praying. 


Let’s be kind to others!!!  Let’s be wise and NOT embarrass folks!!!    


Jesus was kind and even though everyone seemed to know what was wrong with this man, Jesus took the man to one side, away from everyone, and prayed for him privately!!!
 

Mark 7:33-35 (WEB)

³³ He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.

³⁴ Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”

³⁵ Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.


You know, this miracle was recorded for a very specific reason!!! 


I truly believe that this incident was recorded, so that we can see that we do NOT have to make a grand show of praying for folks!!!


It is very clear that JESUS respected this man’s feelings and HE did NOT make a grand show of praying for this man!!!  


You’ve got to LOVE JESUS!!!  HE TRULY LOVES YOU and HE truly cares how you feel!!!