💥 Helped and restored by God

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

Psalm 18:30  As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler to all those that trust in HIM.

Recently a woman who says she is a Christian stopped by my house, and I was very grieved by her way of life. In the past the Holy Spirit has reminded me of things to share with her.  I did share those things and  believe she could have been helped by them.  But she has obviously chosen to go her own way instead of in the way of God. 

During her recent visit, I was given nothing at all to share with her. It was as if "it is over".

Later I was reminded of Titus 3:10-11 and think I was being shown the situation with this woman:
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

After this woman left my house, I was so sad and troubled and cried out to God to please restore me. In the night I woke with what we're told in Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear THEE (God), and of them that keep THY precepts.
 

A companion is someone we spend time with, share with, travel with.  I cannot be a companion with this woman for I want to be led by God, to go in the way of God, and she is going in her own way.  

 

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A couple days later, I went to get my hair cut at a new place. The woman who cut my hair, Tricia, commented about how much hair I have and said something like "You're not going to go bald any time soon." I told her I had been bald a few years ago. She asked "Cancer?" I replied "Yes." When she asked what kind, I told her about the bladder cancer, the recommended treatment of chemo with bladder removal, my asking God if I might be spared having my bladder removed, and how HE led me to chemo with radiation. She seemed interested in all of this and didn't try to change the subject.

We talked about various things as she cut my hair, mostly secular, but I wasn't troubled by anything she said.

As I was paying for the haircut, I noticed a small plaque near the desk with a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 12:9 in which God told Paul that HIS strength is made perfect in weakness.

 
When I left I found myself thanking God, for I realized the sadness I had been feeling was gone, and I was again joyful.

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The following day, I saw a post on Next Door from a woman, Mary, who asked if anyone had recommendations for automatic litter box brands. (She is getting a new kitten.)

When I read this I remembered I had just seen 2 automatic litter boxes in my basement. My cats prefer non-automatic litter boxes. I decided to test them and they still work fine.  At the time, I thought "I wish I knew someone who could use these". So I responded to Mary that I had an automatic litter box she was welcome to have for free and she could see if her kitten liked it. I told her the brand, which happened to be one recommended by others who responded to her post.  She called and we had a pleasant short talk.

When she came to pickup the litter box, Mary said how much she appreciated getting this and insisted on giving me some money for it. I was happy to see this, not because I wanted the money but because I felt it showed a good heart in her, not the greed I have seen in others in the past who were offered something free.

After I helped her load the litter box into her car, she asked "Where do you go to church?" I told her I don't attend a church group but that I am a Christian!  I was surprised when she replied "Yes", in a tone as though she already knew that. Although I don't recall having said anything that would have let her know this, somehow she recognized I am a Christian. 

 

(Later I was reminded of a dream Joan Boney had received many years ago and shared.  In this dream there was a war going on. Everyone on both sides looked the same and we couldn't tell our "army" from the other "army."  So God gave us a password. When we spoke that password we knew which people were in our army.)

Mary went on to say that she was looking for a church to attend but hadn't found one yet. That evening I felt led to send her a link to our blog and podcasts. Her reply sounded very happy to know about these. If she is of God, I feel sure she will enjoy and can benefit from reading the blog and hearing the podcasts.

Again, I found myself thanking God for the opportunity to meet this woman and to get to share something that might be helpful to her.

 

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These seemingly "chance" encounters have been enjoyable to me, and I think God has used them to help restore me.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler to all those that trust in HIM.

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Another way I've been helped by God recently ...

In mid-August I started seeing blood in my urine. This continued happening every 4-5 days.  

 

In 2022 I was diagnosed with a very high-grade, muscle-invasive bladder cancer and there was blood like this.  Although the prescribed treatment for this cancer is chemotherapy followed by surgical removal of the bladder, I asked God if I might be spared having my bladder removed.  HE led me to another treatment, chemotherapy with radiation therapy.  Treatment was completed in January, 2023, and followup tests have been done every 6 months since, with no cancer found.  (For a more complete account of what God did in this:  Led by God and Delivered by God in dealing with cancer.)

 

Although I reminded myself that the urologist had told me that I might see blood at times because of radiation cystitis (a side effect of the radiation therapy), I was terribly shaken, for blood in urine was the only symptom I had when there had been serious cancer.  Thoughts started coming, one after another, of things other than radiation cystitis that might cause blood (up to and including that maybe I was dying and needed to quickly get all my affairs in order!)   I cried out to God for help.

HE gave me several scriptures, including:

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.

Hebrews 13:5-6 ... for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Isaiah 41:10, 13 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of MY righteousness.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

I typed them on my phone's NOTES so I could review them easily during the day and also recorded them on my phone and played the recordings through the night for several nights.

I was calmed tremendously by focusing on these scriptures. 

The extent that I was helped was obvious on September 21 when I went for my 6-month follow-up CT scan and blood tests. When the results were available for me to see online, there was no fear to look at them. These tests are pretty comprehensive, checking for more than just bladder cancer, and there's usually a little concern that something else might be found, and I have often asked God for courage to look at the results. 

But on September 21, inwardly I had a strong assurance that if something else was found, God was with me and would work it out according to HIS will.  It is hard to express how solid this was in me, and I have no doubt it is because of the scriptures I had been given to meditate on.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in HIM.  

No cancer or other serious problem was found by the tests.  The urologist looked in my bladder the following week and said my bladder looks as expected for a person with radiation cystitis.  He went over that some blood is "normal" with this condition and then told me what symptoms would indicate cause for concern going forward.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: David and Goliath

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 12, 2021)

 

I Samuel 17

1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

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When David hears the boasts made by the Philistine, Goliath, David is horrified and says:

I Samuel 17:26    What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

How dare this heathen to think he can overcome God and the armies of God? That is unthinkable.  It is unthinkable also today to think of any child of God being overcome by this world and it's people and the problems of this world.

Philippians 4:6   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

When we do this thing, God will help us and we overcome all by that which God brings to us by HIS Holy Spirit.

I John 4:4   Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.

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I Samuel 17

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, HE will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

(David had previous experience with God which equipped him for the battle.)

And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

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I Samuel 17

38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. 

And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

When we have experience with God and understand faith and how it works through the word given us by God in the battle, we know we will win by that which God has given us as we do HIS Word and HIS will.

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I Samuel 17

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and HE will give you into our hands.

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I Samuel 17

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. 

And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

The battle was the Lord's.  The Lord caused the victory.

David did not do this by himself.  God was with David and had prepared David and led David in what he did.

When I read this story in 1975, after God caused me to be born again, I was certain God would uphold whatever word HE gave to us and HE would not allow any WORD from HIM to fail.

I knew all we had to do was do what that Word which God gave us said to do and to do all of that Word given to us.

I knew that we were to do the following:

Joshua 1

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? says God.

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in HIM, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise HIM.

 

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Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

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2 John 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

 

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2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

stablish: make stable, firm, settled

 

(Comments from Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ:

As we go through this life, things happen or thoughts come which cause us to be fearful, unstable or shaken.  When we turn to God, asking HIM to help us, HE is faithful to give us what we need to "stablish" us, making us stable, firm, settled.) 

 

 

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💥 Luke 17 (Reading through the Bible)

 

Then said He unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

² It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

³ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

⁴ And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.


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⁵ And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

⁶ And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.


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⁷ But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
⁸ And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
⁹ Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
¹⁰ So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.


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¹¹ And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
¹² And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
¹³ And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

¹⁴ And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
¹⁶ And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

¹⁸ There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

¹⁹ And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.


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²⁰ And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
²¹ Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.


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²² And He said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

²³ And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
²⁴ For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in His day.

²⁵ But first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

²⁶ And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
²⁷ They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

²⁸ Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
²⁹ But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

³⁰ Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

³¹ In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
³² Remember Lot's wife.

³³ Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

³⁴ I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
³⁵ Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
³⁶ Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

³⁷ And they answered and said unto Him, Where, Lord?

And He said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

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💥 Podcast: God anoints a king to replace Saul. God removes HIS Holy Spirit from Saul and gives that Holy Spirit to the new king.

(This podcast was previously published on, November 10, 2021)

 

I Samuel 16

1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

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2 And Samuel said (to God), How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. 

And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto ME him whom I name unto thee.

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4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. 

And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

(They were afraid of the prophets of God.)

5 And he (Samuel) said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. 

And he (Samuel) sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

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6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he (Samuel) looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.

7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And HE (God) said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And HE (God) said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? 

And he (Jesse) said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. 

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

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12 And he sent, and brought him in.

Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.

And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

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13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.

Having the Spirit of God is critical for by that Spirit we know the will of God so we know what to do in the issues of this life.

So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

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14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

God has already anointed David as king of Israel by the hand of the prophet Samuel.  David becomes king then and Saul loses the kingdom though Saul will continue to appear to rule.

20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

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21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he (David) loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

 

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

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Psalm 116:6-7 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and HE helped me.

 

7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 

 

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1 Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that HE may exalt you in due time: 

 

7 Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.

 

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Colossians 2:6-7  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in HIM:

 

7 Rooted and built up in HIM, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 

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Proverbs 15:33  The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

 

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Colossians 3:1-4  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, WHO is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.
 

 

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💥 Luke 16 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 And He said also unto His disciples,

There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. ² And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

³ Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. ⁴ I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

⁵ So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
⁶ And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

⁷ Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

⁸ And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

⁹ And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

¹⁰ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

¹¹ If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

¹² And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

¹³ No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


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¹⁴ And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him.

¹⁵ And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

¹⁶ The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

¹⁷ And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.


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¹⁸ Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.


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¹⁹ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
²⁰ And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
²¹ And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
²³ And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
²⁴ And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵ But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶ And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.


²⁷ Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹ Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹ And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

 

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💥 Podcast: Saul's disobedience to God. God removes Saul from being king over Israel.

(This podcast was previously published on, November 9, 2021)

 

The children of Israel wanted a king to rule over them as the other nations had.  God gave them a king who was Saul.  God even sent Samuel to anoint Saul as king.

Saul was given the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God (I Samuel 10:10), but Saul did not fully obey God, and Saul did not do what God said to do, and did not obey God, and became very twisted by devils in his thinking.  

For devils twist the Word of God and try to justify disobedience to God.

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Saul does foolishly, says the prophet Samuel.

Saul did not keep the commandment of the Lord.  He only did part of that which God told him to do.  Because of this, God removed the kingdom from Saul.

I Samuel 13

13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which HE commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over HIS people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

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King Saul disobeys God again and the end comes for Saul.

I Samuel 15

1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over HIS people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, 

I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

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4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

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10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repenteth ME that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following ME, and hath not performed MY commandments. 

And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

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12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.   (Reread verse 3: What God said to do.) 

14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

(God told Saul to kill all ... Saul did not obey what God said to do.  And Saul, the king, blames the people.)

15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

(Saul is basically telling the prophet Samuel that they had a better plan than God for they were going to use the good animals to sacrifice them to God.)

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he (Saul) said unto him, Say on.

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17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

(Saul is twisted and deceived and thinks he can deceive the prophet of God, Samuel.)

20  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

(See v. 3 concerning what God told Saul to do.)

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 

Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, HE hath also rejected thee from being king.

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(Now Saul changes his story.)

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he (Samuel) laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle (of Saul's mantle), and it rent.

28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for HE is not a man, that HE should repent.

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30 Then he (Saul) said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

But for the rest of his life, Saul will fight against David who will replace Saul as king over Israel.

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32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.  And Agag came unto him delicately. 

And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. 

And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

(The prophet Samuel did what God told Saul to do and Saul would not obey God and the consequences of Saul's disobedience are an example for us all today in the New Testament church.  I Corinthians 10)

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34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that HE had made Saul king over Israel.

 

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Psalm 92:4  For THOU, Lord, hast made me glad through THY work: I will triumph in the works of THY hands.

 

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James 2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 

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Isaiah 55:8-9  For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the Lord.

 

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.

 

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Zephania 3:17  The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; HE will save, HE will rejoice over thee with joy; HE will rest in HIS love, HE will joy over thee with singing.

 

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Proverbs 17:1  Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

 

 

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💥 Luke 15 (Reading through the Bible)

Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him.

² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

³ And He spake this parable unto them, saying,

⁴ What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
⁵ And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
⁶ And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

⁷ I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

⁸ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
⁹ And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

¹⁰ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

¹¹ And He said, A certain man had two sons:
¹² And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
¹³ And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
¹⁶ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
²³ And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

²⁵ Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
²⁶ And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
²⁷ And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
²⁸ And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
²⁹ And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
³⁰ But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
³¹ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
³² It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

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