Monday is the day!

My journey to NC was long. My luggage arrived a day after I did.  I am praising God because He had it ALL under control. ha, I may not have known how or why, but trusting that He did (and does) gave me peace. My responsablilty was to just keep trusting Him & moving forward.

It is good to be back in NC, although it is extremely hot and muggy.  My feet swelled up yesterday, so they were put up with ice on them, today somewhat better.
Tomorrow I will get to thank the body for their prayers and sponsorship 'to go'. They are the senders, just as important as the goers. It is a team effort. I praise the Lord He has allowed me to have this experience, to spend the past 9 months learning to step out in faith, growing as He brings me along His path, ha, seeing just 'enough' at a time. As I've said before, the proverbial head lights from a car at night. Only able to 'see' so far until you move forward, progressing along the road. In my case, following as the Lord leads, not always knowing why or where, but reading and studying His word so that I could hear Him and what He has to say to me.

I have been reading 1 Samuel.  I have read the same passage over and over, the part that sticks out to me is this:
1Sa 15:1 NKJV - Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD.1Sa 15:2 NKJV - "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek [for] what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.1Sa 15:3 NKJV - 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' "

(there is consequences for our actions, consequences not just to the one that disobeys the Lord, but to his/her family and possessions even generations)

1Sa 15:7 NKJV - And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt.1Sa 15:8 NKJV - He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.1Sa 15:9 NKJV - But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all [that was] good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Notice, what was 'despised' was destroyed, but the "best of" was not destroyed as the Lord had instructed.
How often "I"do not want to obey due to what 'I' think is 'best'? there was a reason and a purpose that the Lord required Saul to destroy the people and ALL that they had.  Just as there is a reason and a purpose God requires us to be obiediant to Him. FOR OUR BENEFIT! He desires what is BEST for us.

Jer 29:11 NKJV - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope
He knows what that future is, He is our hope, we are not to lean on our own understanding, but follow Him. 
Pro 3:5 NKJV - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding
1Sa 15:13 NKJV - Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed [are] you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD."
(hemm, Saul did not perform the commandment of the Lord, see verse 3 again for what Saul was instructed to do. read verse 9 to see what Saul actually did)
1Sa 15:14 NKJV - But Samuel said, "What then [is] this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
1Sa 15:15 NKJV - And Saul said, "They (is not Saul the king? to lead and guide his people? yet Saul is pointing the finger, 'they did it')have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God;(Saul stated, "your God" not our God) and the rest we have utterly destroyed."
(again, Saul thought he knew BETTER than God, he disobeyed God who 'told Saul' what to do to please Him and yet, Saul did what he thought was best to please God. Disregarding the WORD of God)

1Sa 15:18 NKJV - "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
1Sa 15:19 NKJV - "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
1Sa 15:20 NKJV - And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. (he brought back the King, yet says he utterly destroyed them)
1Sa 15:21 NKJV - "But the people (again pointing the finger) took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." (notice Saul says, your God, not our God)
1Sa 15:22 NKJV - So Samuel said: "Has 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 heed than the fat of rams.
Notice the non ability to take responsibility of his own actions, poor leadership, and blaming others?

Samuel doesn't even address the issue of Saul not taking responsibility for his actions, Samuel just continues addresssing the issue of his disobiedance as Saul continues to blame others)
Many times 'I' (we as a people) think it is better to do what we think is best in our own sight.  I (we) get the order of things wrong. "it is better to OBEY than to sacrifice"

The Word of God is the Word of God. It is not 'part' His word and 'part' our word. We either OBEY Him and what He says, or we DIS-obey Him and what He says.
Mat 12:30 NKJV -(Jesus speaking) "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."


THANK YOU to ALL who have been supporting me with emails, letters, calls and prayers these past 9 months, THANK YOU to ALL of you who have sacrificed and sponsored me to go and serve others.
"To go" has been on my heart for many years. I pray I serve Him well, and am a light to those in the dark.

2Pe 3:18 NKJV - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Kim