HE MAKES ME BRAVE

 I love that song by Amanda Cook/Bethel Music.  I started singing that song when I stepped out into this new job.  I sang that song on the year anniversary of the horrible accident I had in 2014.  I had another accident this week but first let me talk about something.

I mentioned last week about my cousins, one in particular was the one who had the motorcycle accident.  He had the accident while attempting to pop a wheelie and lost control of the vehicle.  The very next day after I posted to this blog, I was driving down the street a road that is “ALWAYS” uneventful and no sooner did I turn on the roadway that I saw a guy speeding and popping a wheelie heading northbound and having what seemed a fun time.  I know that this was nothing but the devil to taunt me because of the post I sent earlier.

Now  I was at work on 7/14 and I went to get my car and travel to my first meeting.  I usually speed up for yellow lights because Yellow, in my world means “you better get there”.  I decided to slow and stop and allow it to turn red.  I waited and waited and when the left turn signal turned green, I carefully proceeded around a corner/intersection that had a huge truck parked at the corner obscuring my view from the rest of the street I was turning on to.  I turned onto the street and went up about 2 feet before coming upon a wide pot hole and being that my car needs repairs underneath and is somewhat low profile, I couldn’t just drive as normal over it.  I slowed down even more to navigate it but as I was in the pot hole, I felt and heard a huge bang that made me put my hands up to my face. 

I thought the pot hole destroyed my car.

The lady behind me in the Honda Odyssey slammed into the back of my car and I realized this because as I removed my hands from my face, my car was drifting somewhat down the street a 2 more feet and I had to brake it.  It was her first accident and we both were shaky.  I was so shaky, I had to videotape her documents and the damage instead of take regular photographs. 

After we exchanged information, I travelled on to my meeting.  I had 4 meetings scheduled for the day and no time to cancel anything.  I was not injured, but the right side of the bumper in the rear of my car was pushed in causing the side of it to bellow out and the trunk not to close.  The Lord allowed me to make my meetings on time, complete my service notes, get checked out at the hospital (even though by a wacky philosophical doctor who seemed pervie and couldn’t take a hint that I was not interested in talking with him, but getting my work done and about my day).  I completed paperwork with HR, went grocery shopping, picked up my son. 

But satan wanted to taunt me in the midst of this.  After leaving my 3 meetings and heading to the 4^th, people started driving erraticly. I continued to proceed with caution despite this. The lady’s insurance was calling other people all around creation but not me and this was frustrating my mother.  I called them and settled the matter.  Strange that I contacted my insurance company and they said they were going to give them my cell but no such call made it to me from Progressive.  I have Geico and used to have Progressive. 

Praise the Lord, Progressive will repair the damage at no cost to me.  The other driver was found at fault but thankfully neither one of us suffered any injuries and our vehicles continued to get us to where we needed to go. 

I left the city and as I was driving to the store, an white suv came up driving aggressively behind me.  The section of roadway I drove is typically one where I will go in speeds in excess of the limit but I was in no mood for this really and the car in front of me was keeping the speed limit.  I wasn’t sure what was wrong with the person behind me so I moved to the middle lane to realize it was a cop.  I watched the cop to continue driving aggressively up on the car that was in front of me.  The cop could have moved to the middle lane to pass as there really was no one there.  He continued speeding and switching lanes without signals and disappeared further up the road way after many switches afterward.

Now if I had drove faster, if the car in front of me was not there, I would have received a ticket.  And being that I’m black, it would be some other unnecessary mess added on to a day that still doesn’t make sense to me.

I guess what I’m trying to say is if one challenge happens to befall you, satan will come in like a flood and try to throw all manner of chaos your way.  Chaos to get you to focus on the mess and distract you from what really matters.  Jesus can help you overcome anything.

If you read anything from my earlier blog posts, this is not my first accident.

A man died on October 19^th, 2014.  The day immediately after and for several weeks, the enemy flooded my path with situations that were so ridiculous. Things that people who came to my office and shared that they were afraid to even step foot outside their homes and gathered just enough strength to get to my office.  Satan flooded their way.  It’s not coincidence that these things happen; they are planned and only when satan and his followers think they have a chance to shut you down.

That song, “You make me brave” is a special song to me.  Without Jesus, I could not step outside.  I would be terrified turning any corner not knowing what would happen, fearing the worst. 

This is life.  Sometimes really sucky things happen.  You may turn that corner and there may be a gang war complete with flying bullets and knives and you end up being a target.  You might turn another corner and not see a huge bull mastiff charging the next thing it sees moving (which is you).  We don’t know what is around the corner, but what we can trust in knowing that no matter what happens, Jesus will come around that corner with us and help us through what ever it is. 

All things do happen for a reason.  I have this car because of Jesus.  I am also having the car repaired because of Jesus and I am once again walking away from an accident uninjured.  I don’t know if I can say that for a next one, if one should occur.  I don’t like pain but I know that Jesus has been there with me in all of my past situations and I know that He will be there for my future. 

Jesus will be there for you too and is there even now.  Don’t allow satan to overwhelm you with floods.  Jesus walked on water and Peter walked with Him.

You can too. 

Happy Sabbath

"VERSE 1:

I stand before You now
The greatness of your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

CHORUS:

As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in

VERSE 2:

I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace

REPEAT CHORUS 2X (I think)

 

BRIDGE:

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made
You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made"