August 24, 2006
It wasn't quite what I had
expected. I suppose in my mind, I was waiting to hear the typical
"fine and you?" or "doing good, how about you?" or even a "Great".
But after talking to Carlotta for a few minutes, I knew she was much
more than typical. Her response caught me off guard. Perhaps if I
had been in a church or a church setting, I would have expected it
more, but when Carlotta responded with a firm handshake and a "I am
blessed and highly favored" at a Tahitian Noni Meeting, it took me
by surprise.
I had never met Carlotta before but I had met her sister, Claudia.
Years ago Claudia sang at Dollywood in a Sunday Gospel show. I knew
when I heard her then that she was anointed and had a strong belief
in the God she sang about. I knew she came from a singing family of
years ago, The Coffee Family, but I had never had the opportunity of
meeting her family in person. Last year when I started selling suits
at Belks in Knoxville, Claudia came in the store and I got
re-acquainted with her. She was then performing at the Cumberland
County Play House and was starring in Steele Magnolias, so I took
some Kirks Krew members to the playhouse to see her in the
production. Since then, as we stayed in contact with each other,
Claudia told me of some health problems she was having so I
suggested Tahitian Noni Juice, and she tried it and got great
results. So she decided to have a "Noni" meeting so I was there to
tell her friends all I knew about it. As people started coming into
her home, she began telling me all about each one of them. When her
sister Carlotta came in, Claudia got excited and said "she's been
drinking the juice and has a great testimony".
Carlotta was in her 30's, very attractive, very "with it" looking.
Being a hair dresser, it was clear to see that she kept up with the
latest trends and styles. When I introduced myself, she responded
with "I am Blessed and Highly Favored". I had to smile and say
"Amen, Sister". After a great meal, we settled into the Tahitian
Noni presentation and as the meeting ended, Carlotta ordered some
juice and some other Noni products but she kinda hung around after
most of the guests had left. Claudia insisted that Carlotta share
her testimony with me.
Carlotta started crying as she shared how at various times in her
life God had told her " I have you just where you need to be".
Sometime ago, God placed her in a service and told her that she was
there for a reason, and she would know why later. The next day she
was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Sunday morning before her
surgery, she was dressing for church. She already had planned to
wear a certain dress to church but as she was getting ready that
morning, God told her to put on a green dress. The green dress had
not been her plan, but she listened and put on a pretty green dress.
That morning at church, her pastor asked her to come forward and let
the congregation pray for her as she prepared for her surgery. He
then asked any ladies who had experienced the trauma of breast
cancer to come and stand with her. The first lady that came stood on
her left in a bright red dress. The second lady came and stood on
her right in yet another red dress. This lady whispered to Carlotta
and said "God told me to wear Red today". Carlotta began to weep as
they prayed but God whispered to her and said "Carlotta, I had you
wear green today because it's the color of Mercy. And as you can
see, you are surrounded by Red, which stands for the blood of my
son. You are covered by the blood, I have you right where I want
you".
Carlotta said she had a peace about the entire situation after that.
During her surgery, her family was with her, praying and singing.
The double mastectomy was a traumatic event in her life, but
Carlotta kept hanging on to the fact that she was BLESSED AND HIGHLY
FAVORED and right where God wanted her to be. She is truly a
testimony of the faithfulness of God and the sustaining power of the
Holy Spirit.
I learned a great lesson in that Noni meeting. I learned that we all
should live as "Blessed and Highly Favored". Whether we have heard
the voice of God whisper to us or not, we are at different points in
our life, in our journey. God says we are blessed so indeed WE ARE
BLESSED. Genesis 1:28 declares that we are blessed! We are not
trying to get blessed by God, we are already blessed and highly
favored. God made us all and loaded us up with blessings. We are
made for a blessing, not a curse. The possibilities and potentials
for a blessed life lie in each of us. We were designed and
programmed with seeds of blessings.
I hope to see some friends soon at a concert near you. Ask me how I
am doing. Here's how I will be doing, Blessed and Highly Favored.
_________________________________________________________________________________
MEAL OF THE WEEK- At Claudia's house! Roasted Chicken, Green Beans,
Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Apples, Cole Slaw, New potatoes, Noodles,
and Apple Dumplings for desert! And enough for 2nds and 3rds!
__________________________________________________________________________________
Concerts This weekend!
August 26 / 7:00 PM
Richmond, IN
Trinity Praise and Worship Center 131 South 18th Street Contact:
Joyce Martin jmarnoni@earthlink.net
937-437-0160
Pastor Bob Marcum
765-969-0415
Aug 27 / 11:00 AM and 6:30 PM
Cincinnati, OH
Montgomery Assembly of God
7950 Pfeiffer Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Contact: 513-793-6169
contactus@montgomeryag.org
Monday the 28th, I will be taping the TV program GOSPEL MUSIC
SHOWCASE hosted by Tammy Underwood (formerly with the Perry
Sisters.) This is a nationally syndicated program on the Daystar
Network and will be shown at a later date. As soon as I have some
information as to when it will air I will include that in the
newsletter. I will also be doing a live TV program at 1:00 PM that
day called TRI-STATE CELEBRATION. It is aired locally on Daystar
WTSS in the Ohio River Valley covering West Virginia, Ohio and
Kentucky. If you live in an area that WTSS serves be sure to catch
the program Monday at 1:00 PM Eastern.
Please continue to Pray for my mom. Also please don't stop praying
for the sale of the Autolube. City officials aren't wanting to
cooperate with us on the zoning problem and we are at a standstill.
Hope a lot of you are coming to Gatlinburg on Labor Day Weekend. The
Gatlinburg Gathering is a wonderful three day event filled with the
very best Gospel Singers. I will be there on Saturday night along
with the Perrys, The Greenes, Mark Bishop and the Kingdom Heirs! I
need some yellers! So come to Gatlinburg! Call 888 238 6858 for
Ticket info!
Hope to see you all soon
Kapt Kirk
