tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252549512024-03-23T11:16:59.452-07:00Ripples of Peace"The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we ourselves have received from God." 2 Cor.1:3-4Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-48200277874482855392016-07-12T14:15:00.000-07:002016-07-12T14:15:10.578-07:00Shadow of His Wings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My heart
aches for our country. I am still trying
to wrap my mind around what happened in Dallas and how it has impacted all of
us. I cry out to the only One (Jesus),
who can bring me comfort and peace. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
open my Bible to the Psalms. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They are a
balm to my troubled soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">David wrote
many of the Psalms as he was hiding in the caves to escape the wrath of King
Saul. The king wanted him dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I may not be
hiding in a physical cave. But in my
mind I am trapped by anxiety and fear over the uncertainties of life. Worry could easily become my constant
companion as I watch the news and I my thoughts could numb my heart with dread.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I begin to
turn to some of my favorites but before I get to them…I discover Psalm 57. I am sure I have read it before but the WORD captures
my attention. The broken places in my
heart begin to fill with the peace that surpasses all human understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God in his
mercy does not leave us alone in our despair.
We can find refuge in Him. In the
shadow of his wings he keeps us safe as the storm of destruction passes
by. Notice it doesn’t say the storms
will not come, they will come but we never face them alone. A mother bird gathers her chicks close to her
under her wings to keep them safe during a storm…God does the same for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In verse 7:
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. In Hebrew steadfast is similar to the word
fixed. My heart is fixed on you, O
God. What does that mean? When trouble comes my dependence fully relies
on God. I trust Him above all things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lord, have
mercy upon all of us. Show us how to
build bridges and not walls. Show us how
to love each other. Lord, have mercy as
we rest in the shadow of your love and your grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="reftext"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="reftext"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">1</span></b></span></span><span class="ln-group"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful
to me,</span></span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="indent">for in you my soul takes refuge;</span><br />
<span class="br-ln-group">in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,</span><br />
<span class="indent">till the storms of destruction pass by.</span><br />
<span class="reftext"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">2</span></b></span><span class="ln-group">I cry out to
God Most High,</span><br />
<span class="indent">to God who fulfills his purpose for me.</span><br />
<span class="reftext"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">3</span></b></span><span class="ln-group">He will send
from heaven and save me;</span><br />
<span class="indent">he will put to shame him who tramples on me.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <selah></selah></span><span class="indent">Selah</span><br />
<span class="br-ln-group">God will send out his steadfast love and his
faithfulness!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="reftext"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">4</span></b></span></span><span class="ln-group"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My soul is in the midst of lions;</span></span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="indent">I lie down amid fiery beasts—</span><br />
<span class="br-ln-group">the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,</span><br />
<span class="indent">whose tongues are sharp swords.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="reftext"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">5</span></b></span></span><span class="ln-group"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!</span></span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="indent">Let your glory be over all the earth!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="reftext"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">6</span></b></span></span><span class="ln-group"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">They set a net for my steps;</span></span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="indent">my soul was bowed down.</span><br />
<span class="br-ln-group">They dug a pit in my way,</span><br />
<span class="indent">but they have fallen into it themselves.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <selah></selah></span><span class="indent">Selah</span><br />
<span class="reftext"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">7</span></b></span><span class="ln-group">My heart is
steadfast, O God,</span><br />
<span class="indent">my heart is steadfast!</span><br />
<span class="br-ln-group">I will sing and make melody!</span><br />
<span class="reftext"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">8</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="indent">Awake, my glory!</span></span><span class="footnote"><b><i><sup><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #0066aa; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/esv/psalms/57.htm#footnotes" title="Or my whole being"><span style="color: #0092f2;">b</span></a></span></sup></i></b></span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="br-ln-group">Awake, O harp and lyre!</span><br />
<span class="indent">I will awake the dawn!</span><br />
<span class="reftext"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">9</span></b></span><span class="ln-group">I will give
thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;</span><br />
<span class="indent">I will sing praises to you among the nations.</span><br />
<span class="reftext"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">10</span></b></span><span class="ln-group">For your
steadfast love is great to the heavens,</span><br />
<span class="indent">your faithfulness to the clouds.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="reftext"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="color: #0092f2;">11</span></b></span></span><span class="ln-group"><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!</span></span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="indent">Let your glory be over all the earth!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-52746912181048759752016-06-27T09:48:00.001-07:002016-07-12T14:04:49.753-07:00Peace through Reflection<div class="MsoNormal">
In my last post I
shared my struggle of watching Jacob drive.
And truthfully, Jacob is an amazing driver and so it really isn’t about
his driving skills. As I really thought
about it and began to reflect upon my emotions which felt like they were in a
negative downward spiral. I think the
moment represents how he has one foot in the nest and one foot out of the
nest, and I am not ready to let go. It
was only yesterday, I gazed upon his sweet face for the first time as I
marveled over how God had taken part of Troy and part of me and created this
beautiful miracle. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I wrestle with my emotions and feelings on how am I going to
let my son go? Part of me wants to hold
on and drive him around until he is at least 30<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>! I know he is not a boy anymore but a young
man. I have to let him go and in the
process my heart breaks a little. In the
brokenness, Jesus sheds the light of His love and the truth fills my heart and
mends it back together.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jacob is carved into the hands of the One who created the
universe and flung the stars into place.
I will continue to muddle through this process and as I do I will rest in
the promises of the ONE who loves Jacob more than I can possibly imagine. I will
continue to hold onto my favorite bible verse, ‘My soul find rest in God
alone. Psalm 62:1<o:p></o:p></div>
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How do you deal with struggles? I would love to hear your thoughts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-59086896216905229762016-06-23T15:13:00.001-07:002016-06-23T15:13:12.529-07:00Just Breathe and pray!<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever noticed how fast 65 mph feels when you are in
the back seat of seat of a car, as your 14 year old son is getting ready to
drive onto the interstate for the first time?
Your mind starts to race in a million different directions. Fear and anxiety begin to wrap their
tentacles around your heart and your mind and they begin to choke out all reasonable
thoughts. If you have watched the movie
Inside Out, you can imagine my emotions have reached a DEFCON threat level.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I took a deep breath and I knew I needed to pray to calm my
mind. Help me Jesus, is all I could manage
to say silently to myself. I didn’t want
my husband or sons to know I am on the verge of a mental breakdown. I also did not want my son to think for one
minute he could not handle driving on the interstate. The
issue was all in my mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jesus came and quieted my thoughts with one of my favorite
passages of scripture. “I will never forget you, I have engraved you
on the Palm of my hand. “ Isaiah 49: 15b-16a I
needed the picture in my mind of God holding Jacob and the car in the palm of
his hand. It filled me with peace. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jacob is an excellent driver and ready to drive in challenging
situations. I am thankful and grateful to
know he will never travel alone, even when we are not in the car with him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a Mom have you gone through this already? What helped you? If you haven’t please know you have a tribe
of women praying for you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The love this song, it is based on Isaiah. It is beautiful and reflective. </div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-60363202200806559092016-05-14T14:51:00.000-07:002016-05-14T14:51:03.898-07:00Abide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can vividly remember singing this song as a little girl at the close of our Lenten services. The church would grow dim but there would be a light that would illuminate the cross at the front of the church. I didn't understand all of the words and what they meant but I knew it was important. I did understand what the word Abide meant. It meant that Jesus would remain with me all through my life. I didn't need to be afraid because He was there beside me. </div>
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As an adult whenever I sing this song, I remember the girl that I was once was. I am so thankful for the faith that was instilled upon my heart so many years ago. The little girl did not know or understand all the heartache and sorrow that life can bring at times. She didn't know that life could change in a blink of an eye, but that lesson did come. Her beloved Grandpa died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack. I will never forget the phone call and the dread that filled my heart as I heard my Mom's voice. I knew something bad had happened but I didn't want to wrap my mind around it. How could Grandpa be gone? I had just seen him the day before. He had kissed me and told me that he loved me and that everything was going to be okay. </div>
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I will never forget the night of the visitation. My Dad's voice thick with tears as he told us that tonight we would see the shell/body of who Grandpa once was...but that the Grandpa that we knew and loved was now in heaven with Jesus. I am so thankful that my Dad took the time to prepare us and to remind us of where Grandpa had gone and where he would be waiting for us. I remember thinking he looked so peaceful and asleep. I was hoping and praying it was all a bad dream. We had so many things that we still needed to do. So many more talks to have about life and Jesus. So many more fishing adventures to go on. I know my Grandpa would have loved Troy and my boys. Death does not have the final say. Jesus never left my side during those days..He was all around bringing us comfort through family and friends. Through His Word and through beautiful church hymns. </div>
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I honestly am not sure how I could have faced the death of my Grandpa without knowing Jesus. I am not sure how I could have been comforted, the loss felt so great to me that it was overwhelming. Since that time...I have faced tragedies and the loss of loved ones. It is never easy to say goodbye to a loved one but Jesus has walked with me through each moment. I know Jesus will abide with me through all the days of my life. </div>
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Do you know Jesus? Not just know who He is? But do you know Him as your Lord, Savior, and friend? My prayer is that you do. But if you do not, I know He wants to know you and to abide with you too. </div>
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He is there waiting and longing to talk to you and to spend time with you. He loves you more than you can possibly imagine. Please do not think for one minute that you are not good enough to talk to him,...He already knows all about you and loves you just as you are. If you have never spent time with Him, I would invite you to talk to him just as you would a friend. He doesn't want or need elaborate or beautiful prayers...He only wants you...just you. The Bible is His love letter to you. I would recommend starting with the book of John. And if you feel the need to have words to pray...look at the Psalms they are beautiful prayers to meditate on and to open your conversations with God.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have been thinking about this Bible verse the last several days. "<span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;">The </span><span class="nd" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"><span class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer;">Lord</span></span><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"> your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;">The phrase, "he will quiet you by his love" has play over and over in my mind. I have read this verse hundreds of times but for some reason, those words have caught my attention.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;">Have you ever had times in your life when your mind is racing so fast but at the same time it stuck on the same thoughts over and over again. Anxiety and worry have taken root inside your brain and you feel trapped in your thoughts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;">I can vividly recall times in my life where I have been afraid; and yet I could feel God's peace, it was a calmness that washed over my heart, mind, and soul. It truly is the peace that surpasses all human understanding. From a human perspective it doesn't make sense. But as I look at this scripture verse and it tells me that God will quiet it me with His love, I began to understand all the moments when His peace has calmed my troubled heart and wearied mind.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;">I will never forget when we did not know if our Dad was going to live or die. There is nothing that can prepare you for those moments... in your mind you can rationalize that your parents are getting older and that they will not live forever. But when you stand face to face with the reality of death, it can strike terror in your heart and your mind can began to race with all the thoughts of what if..... I have to tell you during those days when we did not know what was going to happen with our Dad, anxiety was not my constant companion, instead God's peace flowed all around me. As I look back at that time I am amazed by how God quieted us with His love.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;">My Dad survived and he is still with us. I am so thankful. He doesn't remember much about that time in the hospital. But the one thing he does remember is that he felt a presence in the room with him, it was near him and it brought to him a feeling of peace that words cannot begin to describe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; cursor: pointer; line-height: 2em; text-indent: 1em;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had wondered if my Dad felt scared and I find out that God was right here sitting next to him, quieting him with His love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This reminds me of a beautiful prayer a friend of mine gave me when I was going through some major health issues and stressful situations. He said to say each line of the prayer and to focus on the what the words mean.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be still and know that I am God.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be still and know that I am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be still and know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be still.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be. Psalm 46:10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I added this to the prayer. Be in the presence of the One who loves you more than you can possibly imagine. The hands that formed the earth and placed the stars, the hands that were nailed to the tree and won the victory over sin, death, and the devil....are the very same hands that hold you close to His heart and will never let you go.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sin has messed up so many relationships and caused so many problems in our world. But I know the One who has won the victory over sin, so I will find comfort in my Savior, who quiets me with His love. </span></span><br />
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And I would agree that in those statements there is some truth, if you solely looked at it from a human standpoint and took God out of the equation. And if you put God into the equation, you could still say those things but they might sound a bit different if you could hear the whole story.<br />
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You see, I could say a lot of those things but I would like to share with you the rest of the story. I am proud of my heritage and my parents and grandparents and great grandparents they have amazing stories, they were/are some of the strongest people I know.<br />
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I could also tell you I have faced a lot of hard and challenging things in life. I could gather you in and tell you stories of heart ache and heart break. I could also tell you that I chose to rise up and face the obstacles that could have turned me into a bitter and angry person. That I chose to be thankful and grateful and to focus on blessings instead of curses. Again, all of those are part of the truth but not an accurate view of my history, or I will say His(Story). <br />
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You see, on September 9, 1967, my story became God's story when my parents brought me to the waters of Baptism. I became God's child and my life changed forever. I cannot separate who I am from God because I belong to Him. <br />
My parents taught me from a young age to trust Jesus with all things. I can tell you from my 48 plus years of experience there were times I wondered what was going on...could I really trust Him to work things out. And time after time God has amazed me with what He has done and how He has worked things out.<br />
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During those time of waiting and wondering...I remembered the stories of my Grandparents and my parents of how they trusted God above all things. I read the Word and the stories of how God took the impossible and made it possible.<br />
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Most of all, I remembered and took comfort in the fact that God took the biggest problem the world has ever faced, SIN. And how Jesus conquered that problem on the cross for you (even if you don't believe it) and for me. I have been given the gift of eternal life because of what He did for me. Sin still causes problems in this world but I know the ONE (Jesus) who took care of it. And so while I wait for all of the challenges of life to sort themselves out, I will continue to trust Jesus. <br />
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I love this song. These two young children have incredible voices. But as I listen to this song, it is like a modern day Psalm in which I am singing to the One who has raised me up and given me the strength to face all things, Jesus my Lord and Savior.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Today we remember that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Sometimes I think we say that phrase without remembering what it really means. The word crucifixion comes from the word “excruciating.” To be crucified is the most horrific and painful death a person can suffer. We can only begin to imagine the physical pain that Jesus suffered. Jesus also suffered spiritually and emotionally in a way that we never will. When He cried out, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” it was because at that moment, Jesus was separated from God. Now how could Jesus, who is also God, be separated from God? That has always been a great mystery – even to the greatest of theologians... He, who was without sin, became sin for us all and suffered separation from God. That is the only way we could be saved. Jesus knew what would happen and yet the night before He told His Father, “Not my will, but your will.” Our sins nailed Him to the cross, but His amazing love for you and for me held Him there.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">If we would have been standing there that day we would have also heard Jesus say, “It is finished.” Jesus did not only say this, He shouted it out. “It is finished,” is three words in English; but in Greek it is one “Tetelestai” as it would be in Aramaic. And “Tetelestai” is the victor’s shout; it is the cry of a person who has won through the struggle; it is the cry of a person who has come out of the dark into the glory of light, and who has grasped the crown. So, then, Jesus died a victor with a shout of triumph on His lips.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">“Here is the precious thing. Jesus passed through the uttermost abyss, and then the light broke. If we, too, cling to God even there seems to be no God, desperately and invincibly clutching the remnants of our faith, quite certainly the dawn will break and we will win through. The victor is the person who refuses to believe that God has forgotten them, even when every fiber of their being feels they are forsaken. The victor is the person who will never lot go of their faith, even when they feel that its last grounds are gone. The victor is the person who has been beaten to the depths and still hold on to God, for that is what Jesus did.” (William Barclay)</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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I am sure many of you have seen this youtube clip already #LikeAGirl, I encourage you to watch it if you have not. And if you are like me, you have watched it several times. <br />
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I know so many girls and women who are amazing athletes, and there would be boys and men who would have a hard time keeping up with them.<br />
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My favorite line is when the girl says, I am going to run like myself. We all need to look at our gifts and abilities and realize that we are enough...just they way we are. Now, I do not mean we should strive to always do our best. But be the best you.<br />
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We are created in the image of God. We are His masterpieces. We are all different. We each have our own gifts and abilities. It is time to stop comparing and to enjoy who you are. And also to remember who you are....a child of God.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I caught a glimpse of the young man my Dad once was when he
was 14 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a treasure to
see and one I will forever cherish in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were able to take a pontoon boat out on Lake of the Woods to go on an
excursion that included the Island where my Dad owned and operated a minnow business
and a place for fisherman to stock up on supplies needed for a day of fishing
on Lake of the Woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Dad was a guide on Lake of Woods for one of the resorts
when he was 14 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would take
the fisherman out on the launches and guide them to best fishing spots and take
care of all their needs while in his care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He worked hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Dad drove the pontoon boat, and as I looked at him in his
element, I saw the years melt away, and I saw the spirit of adventure he
had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His love for the Lake and the Land
showed through and you could see the memories as he retold stories from years
ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were shown the spot where my Dad proposed to my Mom so
many years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love between my
parents is a gift that has grown over the years, and it was a blessing to us to
see where it all began.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love my Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
one of the hardest workers I have ever known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His sense of duty to his family over the years is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went without so that he could provide for
his wife and his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not ever
remember my Dad feeling sorry for himself as he sacrificed for us, he just did
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most importantly, my Dad along with
my Mom taught us to always love and trust in Jesus in all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lessons I have learned from my Dad cannot
be learned from a book or a Professor at a prestigious university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were learned by watching my Dad love and
care for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching Dad trust the Lord
in times of joy as well as times of sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was in the everyday activities of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Dad had and still has a love for adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was planning on going to Alaska before he
met my Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never went to
Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have told my Dad many times
how thankful I am for all that he did for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One time stands out vividly in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I told my Dad how much I loved him, and I thanked him, he looked at
me and told me he would do it all over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also had the opportunity to watch Jacob drive the pontoon
boat under the guidance of my Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
a thrill to handle a boat on such a vast body of water, it was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I watched my son, I saw a glimpse of the
man he will become someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart was
overwhelmed with words that are difficult to express.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhehuqBqpAhLwH7MbnL3PS4YmB6abXwRaPh7cHlikKl8jCAGF0tfh2aCXsLYjytz9RcSBEgIWFOIW8at8ef7wb-QRabAprgOoUd4RK-7fNKbsrkyv8OlKIVjtEqftgNtEHzzDdBQ/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhehuqBqpAhLwH7MbnL3PS4YmB6abXwRaPh7cHlikKl8jCAGF0tfh2aCXsLYjytz9RcSBEgIWFOIW8at8ef7wb-QRabAprgOoUd4RK-7fNKbsrkyv8OlKIVjtEqftgNtEHzzDdBQ/s200/042.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jacob has the best qualities of both of his Grandfathers and
his Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am filled with wonder as I
watch my son grow into the man God has created him to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful for this moment in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have struggled with how quickly time seems
to pass and the knowledge that Jacob will be all grown up before I know
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found hope and joy in watching him
with his Dad and his Grandpa, knowing he will be a fine young man because he
has had wonderful examples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In closing, I would like to share my Dad’s favorite
scripture passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also going to
include his favorite hymn but I am going to use the version that is sung in
Cherokee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad’s Great Grandmother was
a Cree Indian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad loves to be
outdoors enjoying the beautiful creation our loving God created for us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“28 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you not known? Have you not heard?<br />
The <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is the everlasting God,<br />
the Creator of the ends of the earth.<br />
He does not faint or grow weary;<br />
his understanding is unsearchable.<br />
<sup>29 </sup>He gives power to the faint,<br />
and to him who has no might he increases strength.<br />
<sup>30 </sup>Even youths shall faint and be weary,<br />
and young men shall fall exhausted;<br />
<sup>31 </sup>but they who wait for the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
shall renew their strength;<br />
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;<br />
they shall run and not be weary;<br />
they shall walk and not faint.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah 40: 28-31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RalrZtKNwN8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<b><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Footnotes:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18423" title="Go to Isaiah 40:2"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:2</span></a>
Or <i>hardship</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18424" title="Go to Isaiah 40:3"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:3</span></a>
Or <i>A voice of one crying</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18427" title="Go to Isaiah 40:6"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:6</span></a>
Revocalization based on Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Vulgate; Masoretic
Text <i>And someone says</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18427" title="Go to Isaiah 40:6"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:6</span></a>
Or <i>all its constancy</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18430" title="Go to Isaiah 40:9"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:9</span></a>
Or <i>O herald of good news to Zion</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18430" title="Go to Isaiah 40:9"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:9</span></a>
Or <i>O herald of good news to Jerusalem</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18434" title="Go to Isaiah 40:13"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:13</span></a>
Or <i>has directed</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18441" title="Go to Isaiah 40:20"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:20</span></a>
Or <i>He chooses valuable wood</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Cross references:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" type="A">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18422" title="Go to Isaiah 40:1"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:1</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2051:12,%20Luke%202:25&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 51:12; [Luke 2:25]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18423" title="Go to Isaiah 40:2"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:2</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hos%202:14&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Hos. 2:14</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18423" title="Go to Isaiah 40:2"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:2</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Chr%2036:22,%20Jer%2025:12&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[2 Chr. 36:22; Jer. 25:12]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18424" title="Go to Isaiah 40:3"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:3</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%203:3,%20Mark%201:3,%20Luke%203:4,%20John%201:23&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Cited Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18424" title="Go to Isaiah 40:3"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:3</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mal%203:1,%20Isa%2057:14&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Mal. 3:1; [ch. 57:14]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18424" title="Go to Isaiah 40:3"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:3</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2068:4&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Ps. 68:4</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18425" title="Go to Isaiah 40:4"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:4</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%203:5,%20Isa%2049:11&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Cited Luke 3:5; [ch. 49:11]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18426" title="Go to Isaiah 40:5"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:5</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%203:6&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Luke 3:6]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18426" title="Go to Isaiah 40:5"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:5</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%201:20&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 1:20</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18427" title="Go to Isaiah 40:6"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:6</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Pet%201:24-1Pet%201:25,%20Job%2014:2,%20Ps%20102:11,%20Ps%20103:15,%20Jas%201:10&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Cited 1 Pet. 1:24, 25; [Job 14:2; Ps. 102:11; 103:15;
James 1:10]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18429" title="Go to Isaiah 40:8"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:8</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jas%201:11&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Cited James 1:11</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18430" title="Go to Isaiah 40:9"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:9</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2052:7&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 52:7</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18431" title="Go to Isaiah 40:10"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:10</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2059:16-Isa%2059:17,%20Luke%2011:22&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 59:16, 17; [Luke 11:22]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18431" title="Go to Isaiah 40:10"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:10</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2062:11,%20Rev%2022:12&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 62:11; [Rev. 22:12]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18432" title="Go to Isaiah 40:11"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:11</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezek%2034:23,%20Zech%2011:7,%20John%2010:11,%20John%2021:15,%20Acts%2020:28&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Ezek. 34:23; Zech. 11:7; [John 10:11; 21:15; Acts
20:28]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18432" title="Go to Isaiah 40:11"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:11</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%2018:12,%20Luke%2015:5&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Matt. 18:12; Luke 15:5]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18432" title="Go to Isaiah 40:11"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:11</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Num%2011:12&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Num. 11:12]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18433" title="Go to Isaiah 40:12"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:12</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov%2030:4&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Prov. 30:4]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18434" title="Go to Isaiah 40:13"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:13</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom%2011:34,%201Cor%202:16&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Cited Rom. 11:34; [1 Cor. 2:16]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18435" title="Go to Isaiah 40:14"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:14</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2021:22&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Job 21:22</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18436" title="Go to Isaiah 40:15"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:15</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2029:5&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 29:5</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18436" title="Go to Isaiah 40:15"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:15</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2041:1&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 41:1</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18437" title="Go to Isaiah 40:16"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:16</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2050:10&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Ps. 50:10]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18438" title="Go to Isaiah 40:17"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:17</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2062:9,%20Dan%204:35,%20Isa%2041:12&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Ps. 62:9; Dan. 4:35; [ch. 41:12]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18439" title="Go to Isaiah 40:18"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:18</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2040:25,%20Isa%2046:5,%20Acts%2017:29&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ver. 25; ch. 46:5; Acts 17:29</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18439" title="Go to Isaiah 40:18"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:18</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hos%2013:2&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Hos. 13:2]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18440" title="Go to Isaiah 40:19"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:19</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2040:18,%20Hos%2013:2&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[See ver. 18 above]; [Hos. 13:2]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18441" title="Go to Isaiah 40:20"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:20</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2046:6,%20Jer%2010:3-Jer%2010:5,%20Isa%2044:9-Isa%2044:15&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 46:6; Jer. 10:3-5; See ch. 44:9-15</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18442" title="Go to Isaiah 40:21"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:21</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2040:28,%20Acts%2014:17,%20Rom%201:19-Rom%201:20&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ver. 28; [Acts 14:17; Rom. 1:19, 20]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18443" title="Go to Isaiah 40:22"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:22</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Num%2013:33&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Num. 13:33]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18443" title="Go to Isaiah 40:22"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:22</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%209:8,%20Ps%20104:2&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Job 9:8; Ps. 104:2</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18444" title="Go to Isaiah 40:23"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:23</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2012:21,%20Ps%20107:40&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Job 12:21; Ps. 107:40</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18445" title="Go to Isaiah 40:24"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:24</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2041:2,%20Ps%2083:13&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ch. 41:2; [Ps. 83:13]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18446" title="Go to Isaiah 40:25"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:25</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2040:18&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">ver. 18</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18447" title="Go to Isaiah 40:26"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:26</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%20147:4&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Ps. 147:4</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18448" title="Go to Isaiah 40:27"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:27</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2049:14&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[ch. 49:14]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18448" title="Go to Isaiah 40:27"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:27</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2049:4&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[ch. 49:4]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18449" title="Go to Isaiah 40:28"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:28</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%20121:4&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Ps. 121:4]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18449" title="Go to Isaiah 40:28"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:28</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%20147:5&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Ps. 147:5</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18452" title="Go to Isaiah 40:31"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:31</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%20103:5&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">Ps. 103:5</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040&version=ESV#en-ESV-18452" title="Go to Isaiah 40:31"><span style="color: blue;">Isaiah 40:31</span></a>
: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exod%2019:4&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue;">[Ex. 19:4]</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<br />
</div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-15715992078761711322013-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:002013-10-22T07:23:03.503-07:00Hope
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do you place your hope in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope is defined as a person or thing in which
expectations are centered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have met many people over the years and what they place
their hope in defines how they live their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following examples are based upon numerous people and
stories mixed together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young woman based her
worth on her intellect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She attended the best schools and received the
highest grades and achievements she was labeled a genius.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She landed her dream job and pulled in a six
figure income before she turned 30 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day while, at work, she suffered a dizzy spell and passed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, it was discovered she had a brain
tumor and after the surgery she was never the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could not remember anything and to follow
a simple recipe was even a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of her years of hard work and study were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hopes and dreams had dissipated
overnight and her life would never again be measured by her intelligence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A young woman found peace and comfort from always being
around her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did not know how
to be on her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She needed people and
constant contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was put into a
situation where she was on her own far away from family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tragedy left her far away from family and
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear and loneliness knocked at
her door in the middle of the night, and she had no one to talk too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fame and riches belonged to a young man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money and power belonged to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stock markets crashed, and he lost it
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of his friends and his wife
left him; they disappeared almost as fast as his fortune.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would like to share with you a few real life stories of
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are people who taught me a
lot about faith and hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will share
them over my next few writings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first story I would like to share is in honor and memory
of my Grandma Katherine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went to be
with Jesus almost 10 years ago, and I will always miss her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Grandma was a young mom with two children when her
husband left her for another woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pain, shame, poverty, broken hearts, and dreams are all my Grandfather
left his family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandma did not sit
and feel sorry for herself; she had two young children who needed food and
shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went to work and provided
for them the best she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
difficult and a struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandfather
was also an alcoholic, and so it made a heartbreaking situation even worse at
times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Grandmother never held it against my Grandfather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact growing up they would both be present
at family gatherings, and she was always kind and pleasant towards him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did not dwell in bitterness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not understand from my own human
perspective how my Grandma could have forgiven my Grandpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I do know , God was with her and He
carried her and helped to go on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Grandma did not have a lot of earthly treasures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma was one of the most generous people I
have even known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was always helping
someone in need, and she loved to give to people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grandma found her hope in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She prayed Psalm 91 every day for all of her
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put her trust in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Grandma was not perfect, and I am not trying to make her
out to be a saint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would have a fit,
if she thought<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was making her sound perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma was a poor miserable sinner just like
me and you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she put her faith, hope,
and trust in the One who was perfect, Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And now my Grandma has perfect peace in the arms of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="chapternum">“5 </span><span class="text">Therefore,
since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ.</span> <span id="en-ESV-28034"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></sup>Through
him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.</span></span> <span id="en-ESV-28035"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3 </span></sup>Not only that, but we rejoice
in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,</span></span> <span id="en-ESV-28036"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">4 </span></sup>and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope,</span></span> <span id="en-ESV-28037"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">5 </span></sup>and hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us.</span>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 5: 1-5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
Refuge and My Fortress<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">91 He who dwells in the shelter
of the Most High<br />
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.<br />
<sup>2 </sup>I will say to the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
“My refuge and my fortress,<br />
my God, in whom I trust.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler<br />
and from the deadly pestilence.<br />
<sup>4 </sup>He will cover you with his pinions,<br />
and under his wings you will find refuge;<br />
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.<br />
<sup>5 </sup>You will not fear the terror of the night,<br />
nor the arrow that flies by day,<br />
<sup>6 </sup>nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,<br />
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A thousand may fall at your side,<br />
ten thousand at your right hand,<br />
but it will not come near you.<br />
<sup>8 </sup>You will only look with your eyes<br />
and see the recompense of the wicked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because you have made the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
your dwelling place—<br />
the Most High, who is my refuge—<br />
<sup>10 </sup>no evil shall be allowed to befall you,<br />
no plague come near your tent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For he will command his angels concerning you<br />
to guard you in all your ways.<br />
<sup>12 </sup>On their hands they will bear you up,<br />
lest you strike your foot against a stone.<br />
<sup>13 </sup>You will tread on the lion and the adder;<br />
the young lion and the serpent you will trample
underfoot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;<br />
I will protect him, because he knows my name.<br />
<sup>15 </sup>When he calls to me, I will answer him;<br />
I will be with him in trouble;<br />
I will rescue him and honor him.<br />
<sup>16 </sup>With long life I will satisfy him<br />
and show him my salvation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-79769784155084916642013-10-18T06:13:00.000-07:002013-10-18T06:13:55.092-07:00Father Forgive Us
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or a loved one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hurt and the disbelief go so deep it
takes your breath away and you forget to live your life for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, there are days and weeks that go by and
you think maybe the pain has gone away, but it comes back again trying to steal
your joy like a thief in the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday, the bible study I am in had us focus on Luke
23:34 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And Jesus said, “Father, forgive
them for they know not what they do.” </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this verse Jesus is hanging on the cross,
we cannot even imagine the agony he was feeling at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word crucifixion comes from the word excruciating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are unable to comprehend the physical, spiritual,
and emotional pain Jesus endured for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The soldiers were casting lots for His clothes, while Jesus the Son of
God suffered on our behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
easily stand in judgment of the soldiers, but I cannot because I am no different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would like to share the two main thoughts I had about this
verse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is speaking on our behalf.
Pleading with God to forgive us because we do not know what we are doing.
They knew; I know...what I am doing when I sin....at least I think I do.
But I do not always realize the enormity of my sin. How much it hurts God
and others. How destructive it is. God used their sin, to
accomplish his purpose for us in Jesus. It boggles my mind. The
love Jesus has for us even in our wretchedness is hard to fathom because we do
not think that way. That leads to my second thought. When I feel
someone has wronged me, I often get stuck in my pain over it. I need
Jesus to help me say Father forgive them for they know not what they do. We
(both parties) get stuck in sin and are unaware of what we have done. I am
not able to fix myself or them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
forgive we our giving it over to God. It doesn't mean that my actions
were okay or the actions of the other people were okay; it is only letting it
go. And more times than not, I need God to pry it from my hands, because
I am not willing to let go of the hurt or the anger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do not know your life circumstances or the events that may
have caused you pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives us peace
and comfort in His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus tells us
Matthew 11:28-30 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Come to me all who are
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for
I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can take your battered
and confused heart and fill it with the joy that can only be found in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-68812441963282841272012-11-29T04:16:00.001-08:002012-11-29T04:16:37.480-08:00A Tribute to Zig Ziglar
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Honor of Zig Ziglar and how God used him to change my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote a couple of blog posts a
few years back and I am combining them today as a tribute to Zig Ziglar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friday, June 30, 2006<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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</v:path></span></v:shape><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="115168302544026913"></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a young girl in grade school I was outgoing
and generally made friends easily. The transition to Jr. High was painful and
awkward for me. My sister and I were tall and we were very skinny and so that
also meant that we were flat-chested as well. In 7th grade we also had braces
and we had worn glasses for a couple of years. Everything seemed to change in
relationship to boys and girls. Prior to 7th grade I had been friends with a
lot of boys, we all hung out together on the playground and had a great time.
Of course there were the secret crushes but that is all that they were for us.
We knew that we could not date until we were 16 years old.<br />
<br />
I was not prepared for the endless tormenting that I received; I think I heard
every flat chest joke that was ever invented. The cruelty of some of the
students was almost unbearable at times and the actions of some of the boys
would now be considered sexual harassment. At school I became withdrawn and I
only really talked to my friends that I trusted. I felt ugly, stupid, clumsy,
and inadequate most of the time. I really began to struggle with school and I
had no desire even go.<br />
<br />
Eventually I learned to survive and even joke about some of the teasing, though
it hurt deep inside. My families love for me, my faith in God, and my friends
became my anchor for me during that difficult time. At home and with my friends
I was very talkative and outgoing but at school I became silent. I felt like I
didn’t have anything important to say and I didn’t want to add anything else to
endless list of what some of the kids teased me about.<br />
<br />
In the spring of my sophomore year I had to take a speech class. I dreaded the
thought of getting up in front of my peers and talking. But what they didn’t
know and what I didn’t fully understand at that point was that I loved to talk
and that it was as natural to me as breathing. Just ask my family….they could
tell you a lot of stories. <br />
<br />
My twin sister Jimella had done well in speech and of course I didn’t want her
to surpass me in one of my favorite pass times. <br />
<br />
I prepared for my first speech by rehearsing in front of a mirror over and over
again. It was a good thing that we had two bathrooms in our house. I prayed and
prayed and that God would give me the strength to be able to talk in front of
everyone and that I would not mess up. I felt calm and peaceful and as I opened
my mouth to talk it just flowed. I surprised myself, my classmates and the teacher
with my ability to talk in front of people.<br />
<br />
I even won best speech for the first round of speeches. I was thrilled and it
was the extra confidence boost that I needed. The book that we studied for
speech class was “See You at the Top” by Zig Ziglar. The book was about the
power of positive thinking and I loved it. I would devour the chapters and
eagerly write my next speech. For the first time in many years I was finally
excelling in one of my classes. I could easily understand what Zig had to share
with us and in time it became part of me.<br />
<br />
At the end of quarter the class would always vote on who was the most positive
person in the classroom. They would receive a copy of the book that we had been
studying. I wanted to earn that title and I wanted that book. I prayed about it
a lot… but some of my old fears came creeping back. I’m not good enough and I’m
not one of the popular kids in school, this is beyond my reach. But then I
would remember what God had to say about me and what I was learning about positive
thinking from Zig Ziglar.<br />
<br />
The big day finally arrived and because I had received the most awards for
speaking and quite a few other ones I was an automatically put on the ballot.
On the ballot was also one of the most popular boys in the whole school. I knew
I had done the best job I possibly could and whatever happened I would be okay.<br />
<br />
You cannot imagine the joy that I felt in my heart when I won the award and the
class shouted and cheered. The boy I had won against came and told me that he
was glad I had won and that he had voted for me because I deserved the award
the most.<br />
<br />
As I was presented that book I knew deep in my heart that God had helped me
achieve this goal to show me that I was special and I did matter. I also decided
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>someday I was going to meet Zig Ziglar
and have him sign that book for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
In closing I would like to share with your this scripture passage: </span><span style="color: #ff6666; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"1 But now, thus says the LORD, who
created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I
have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you
pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall
not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor
shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of
Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your
place. 4 Since you were <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="20716x4"></a>precious in My sight, You have been
honored, And I have loved you."<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6</span></b><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ne 09, 2006<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few years ago I was surfing the internet and I happened to
find an ad that talked about Zig Ziglar. Because of my love for Zig Ziglars’
writings and how he had impacted my life, I immediately clicked on the ad.<br />
<br />
It turned out to be a business opportunity in where I would I become part of
the Zig Ziglar Network. I had the opportunity to share his books and tapes and
a special nutrition line with people. <br />
<br />
I met some of the nicest people and I learned a lot about myself; and about
building a business. I met Zig Ziglar several times for training and other
events the company would have. I was always mesmerized by his speaking ability
and his love for Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He seized every chance he had to
share the message of God’s love with his audience and the people around him.<br />
<br />
We had a contest that summer and if you earned enough points you could earn an
all- expense trip to Cancun, Mexico. I was determined to earn that trip. I
developed a plan to earn the points that I needed and I worked the plan. I was
delighted to have earned the trip and I was so excited to go and spend time
with the new friends that I had made.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the trip was in October and for a farmer that is an impossible
time to get away. I was disappointed that I would not be able to enjoy going to
this exotic and romantic destination with Troy. Troy was very proud of me for
earning the trip and wanted me to go even if he could not be there.<br />
<br />
My twin sister Jimella had earned most of the trip and so we went together. The
Omni resort was breathtaking and the food was divine. I loved visiting with the
people that I had been working with over the phone and through the computer. <br />
<br />
I had brought my book along so I could ask Zig Ziglar to sign it for me. And so
I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to talk to him about it. <br />
<br />
One of the nights we had a beach party and they had set up an extravagant meal
for us on the beach. It was a beautiful night and moon’s reflection danced upon
the water. The scent of the delectable food and the exquisite flowers they had
everywhere filled the air. Jimella and I sat with our team and we laughed and
shared our dreams with each other. There was a dance and so we all decided to
go out and have some fun together. They started off the dance with some
familiar favorites; and our group was have a great time together. They started
the snowball dance where you would go and ask someone to dance and when the
music stopped you would go and pick another partner from the group of people
that were not dancing. I saw Zig standing with his wife and I decided that I
would go and ask his wife’s permission to ask him to dance. Jean smiled and
told me to go ahead and ask. I almost lost my nerve; here is this famous man
who has spoken in front of millions of people all over the world. I went over
and I told him that I had gotten permission from his lovely wife to ask him to
dance. He smiled at me and took my hand and off we went to dance. Of course all
of my friends gathered around and danced with him too. In all my dreams of
someday meeting Zig Ziglar; I never once thought about dancing with him on the
beach in Cancun.<br />
<br />
The next morning I saw Zig and Jean eating breakfast. I had my book with me and
so Jimella and I went over to talk to him. We both shared with him how his book
had changed our lives and how we had enjoyed the course. I told him about
winning the book and how I had always hoped to meet him so he could sign it for
me. We talked for a long time about faith in God, family and friends. It was a
special moment; and I was struck by how humble this gracious couple was towards
Jimella and I. They treated us like we were honored guests. The conversation
flowed and I knew that it was because we all shared the same faith. We were
connected by God’s love; a bond that cannot be broken or destroyed. Zig signed
my book and he wrote, “Michelle, God loves you.” And he wrote down a scripture
passage, John 14:6 “</span><span style="color: #ff6666; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father,
but by me.”</span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> John 14:6 (ASV)<br />
<br />
When we meet face- to- face with God’s love it changes us forever. God used Zig
Ziglar’s writings to change my life as well as the love of my family and
friends. <br />
<br />
We all have struggles as we journey through this world and we need to bring
them before God’s throne of mercy and grace. We need to leave them there and
let God’s love heal us and mold us into the person that He has created us to be<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-76926727528140615752011-04-22T07:31:00.000-07:002011-04-22T07:32:50.639-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BuQ5u4ZoERFiDCPXaT4dxA1wSU9_cgYsOGC6NLeLMb0r1SZpD2vhU25m9vksLRx2y753IX8lyxX0DwRUKcz1yLmfWmC6YJUp6t6JAvMCkpue4xM7Wv_nnwYGvaJuvN9yNCB_GA/s1600/Good+Friday+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BuQ5u4ZoERFiDCPXaT4dxA1wSU9_cgYsOGC6NLeLMb0r1SZpD2vhU25m9vksLRx2y753IX8lyxX0DwRUKcz1yLmfWmC6YJUp6t6JAvMCkpue4xM7Wv_nnwYGvaJuvN9yNCB_GA/s320/Good+Friday+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last night as we were leaving our Maundy Thursday service, I looked over and I saw tears streaming down Jacob's face. I put my arm gently around him and pulled him close. As his Mom I know his tender heart and that he would need to share with me what was troubling him. He shared with me how much it bothered him that Jesus had to pay for his sins and the sins of world by dying on the Cross. I told him it wasn't fair but that I am so glad Jesus did not only consider what we deserved. Jesus knew the only option to save us, was for Him to take our place. We cannot save ourselves and the precious truth is we do have to anymore. Jesus has already saved us. It is done. It is finished.<br />
<br />
Today we remember that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Sometimes I think we say that phrase without remembering what it really means. The word crucifixion comes from the word “excruciating.” To be crucified is the most horrific and painful death a person can suffer. We can only begin to imagine the physical pain that Jesus suffered. Jesus also suffered spiritually and emotionally in a way that we never will. When He cried out, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” it was because at that moment, Jesus was separated from God. Now how could Jesus, who is also God, be separated from God? That has always been a great mystery – even to the greatest of theologians... He, who was without sin, became sin for us all and suffered separation from God. That is the only way we could be saved. Jesus knew what would happen and yet the night before He told His Father, “Not my will, but your will.” Our sins nailed Him to the cross, but His amazing love for you and for me held Him there.<br />
<br />
If we would have been standing there that day we would have also heard Jesus say, “It is finished.” Jesus did not only say this, He shouted it out. “It is finished,” is three words in English; but in Greek it is one “Tetelestai” as it would be in Aramaic. And “Tetelestai” is the victor’s shout; it is the cry of a person who has won through the struggle; it is the cry of a person who has come out of the dark into the glory of light, and who has grasped the crown. So, then, Jesus died a victor with a shout of triumph on His lips.<br />
<br />
“Here is the precious thing. Jesus passed through the uttermost abyss, and then the light broke. If we, too, cling to God even there seems to be no God, desperately and invincibly clutching the remnants of our faith, quite certainly the dawn will break and we will win through. The victor is the person who refuses to believe that God has forgotten them, even when every fiber of their being feels they are forsaken. The victor is the person who will never let go of their faith, even when they feel that its last grounds are gone. The victor is the person who has been beaten to the depths and still holds on to God, for that is what Jesus did.” (William Barclay)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-58099212488471932932011-03-14T20:08:00.000-07:002011-03-14T20:08:31.971-07:00Lent is a time for reflection. A time for us to remember why Jesus had to die on the cross. There are churches where they do not talk about sin; it makes people feel bad about themselves. It is an unpleasant topic. And so they preach about “feel good” topics instead and the people leave the church feeling good about themselves and about the message. <br />
<br />
<br />
The church I attend practices confession and absolution every Sunday. We confess our sins together corporately and there is usually a time for silence when we can reflect upon our sins. When I was growing up we would say: Oh almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto Thee all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended Thee and justly deserve Thy temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray Thee for Thy boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter suffering and death of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be merciful to me a poor sinful being. After the confession the Pastor announces our forgiveness through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. <br />
<br />
We had a church member leave our congregation because she did not like to say she was a poor miserable sinner. She didn’t think she fit into that category. Now, I am going to say something and for some of you it may sound weird. I find comfort in knowing that I am a poor miserable sinner. No, I am not happy that I am a sinful being. But it is an explanation as to why I fall short, every moment of every day. I am a poor sinful being and I will mess up every day of my life. I will sin knowingly and unknowingly. I will try so hard not to sin and I will fail. I don’t have any grand elusions about myself and when I do it never works out the way I envision it will.<br />
<br />
It is a lie straight from the pit of hell to tell someone that when you are a Christian you will not have problems with sin anymore. If that statement is true (which it is not) what would we need Jesus for? If something we can do on our own could save us…why would we need a Savior? There are so many people out there who are miserable because they cannot live the perfect life, no matter how hard they try, they fail. I KNOW I’m not perfect. God knows I’m not perfect. God knows that I could not save myself, no matter how much I wanted too. I do not need to save myself; Jesus saved me when He died for my sins. We should not treat sin lightly. I am not proud that I am a poor miserable sinner. But I find great comfort in knowing that God knows exactly how miserable I am and loves me anyways. I find solace in the knowledge, the blood of Jesus has redeemed me and because of Him I stand forgiven.<br />
<br />
I love Psalm 139 and I would like to share it with you in two ways. One is right from scripture and the other is through a song. May you take the time to reflect upon the words. I know it is painful when we realize our sinfulness but it is not the end of the story. Jesus has paid the price for you and for me. We are washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.<br />
<br />
1O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;<br />
<br />
you discern my thoughts from afar.<br />
<br />
3You search out my path and my lying down<br />
<br />
and are acquainted with all my ways.<br />
<br />
4Even before a word is on my tongue,<br />
<br />
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.<br />
<br />
5You hem me in, behind and before,<br />
<br />
and lay your hand upon me.<br />
<br />
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;<br />
<br />
it is high; I cannot attain it. <br />
<br />
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?<br />
<br />
Or where shall I flee from your presence?<br />
<br />
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!<br />
<br />
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!<br />
<br />
9If I take the wings of the morning<br />
<br />
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,<br />
<br />
10even there your hand shall lead me,<br />
<br />
and your right hand shall hold me.<br />
<br />
11If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,<br />
<br />
and the light about me be night,"<br />
<br />
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;<br />
<br />
the night is bright as the day,<br />
<br />
for darkness is as light with you. <br />
<br />
13For you formed my inward parts;<br />
<br />
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.<br />
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14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;<br />
<br />
my soul knows it very well.<br />
<br />
15 My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,<br />
<br />
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.<br />
<br />
16Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,<br />
<br />
the days that were formed for me,<br />
<br />
when as yet there was none of them. <br />
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17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!<br />
<br />
How vast is the sum of them!<br />
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18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.<br />
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I awake, and I am still with you. <br />
<br />
19Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!<br />
<br />
O men of blood, depart from me!<br />
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20They speak against you with malicious intent;<br />
<br />
your enemies take your name in vain!<br />
<br />
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4IyaS-vy-Hs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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<br />
My diagnoses is called hypoparathyroidism. There are days where I feel normal. There are days were I feel so exhausted it is an effort to complete the ordinary tasks of life. There are times when anxious thoughts rob me of precious sleep and there are moments when depression hangs like a dark cloud over my day. It is a challenge because there isn't a pattern to when I feel good and when I will struggle to get through the day. Thankfully I have more good days than bad.<br />
<br />
In the midst of learning to deal with my health limitations it became necessary for me to have a hysterectomy. The surgery went fine but post surgery I lost a lot of blood. It took me a few months for my body to recover from the trauma it went through. In the midst of this we are building a home. It is exciting to build a new home but if you have ever traveled that road it can be very stressful. <br />
<br />
My husband, Troy, has been a huge blessing through everything. We have learned to take one day at a time. God has brought us through all of the joys and sorrow of this past year. He has never left our side. We remain in His capable hands. We do not know what tomorrow might bring, but we know God holds all of our tomorrows. We have found comfort in God's word and received strength and nourishment in receiving the Lord's supper. God has provided loving family and friends who have loved us through it all. God has provided for all of our NEEDS every moment of every day.<br />
<br />
During the season of Lent I am brought back to a memory from my childhood. At the close of every Lenten service our congregation sang, "Abide with Me." I love the words of this beautiful hymn. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/i5nbq_VEea0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i5nbq_VEea0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i5nbq_VEea0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>I know each one of you have your struggles and have great burdens to bear as well. May you find comfort in knowing the Lord has you in His most capable hands. May God grant you peace, hope, and joy today and always.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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In worship services around the world many will hear the words, “Remember: you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”<br />
Let’s take a peak at Webster and a few of the definitions of dust.<br />
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1. The ground; the earth’s surface.<br />
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2. The substance to which something, as the dead human, is ultimately reduced by disintegration or decay; earthly remains<br />
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3. British<br />
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a. ashes, refuse<br />
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b. Junk<br />
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4. a low or humble condition<br />
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5. anything worthless<br />
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Why would anyone want to be referred to as dust? Why do we need to be reminded, we are worthless?<br />
Is there anything we can do to make ourselves right? Is there anyway we can make ourselves clean again? Unfortunately, the answer is NO there is nothing we can do. There is nothing we have to do. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us and make us whole. Only Jesus can lift us up out of the ashes and refuse of sin, we cannot do this on our own.<br />
On our Church body’s website it states: “This ancient act is a gesture of repentance and a powerful reminder about the meaning of the day. Ashes can symbolize dust-to dustness and remind worshippers of the need for cleansing, scrubbing and purifying. If they are applied during an act of kneeling, the very posture of defeat and submission expresses humility before God.”<br />
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In order to understand what God has done for us, we need to remember we are poor miserable sinners, who deserve death and eternal damnation. No one would ever want to suffer eternally separated from God, if they truly understood what that meant. And yet, Jesus knew in order to keep us from what we deserve and have earned a thousand times each day. He had to take our place. Jesus suffered in agony on the cross for you and for me. We know the word crucifixion comes from the word excruciating, because of how much pain it inflicts upon the person sentenced to die. Physically the pain would be too much for anyone to bear but the greater anguish for Jesus was that He became separated from God. Jesus experienced the torment of hell when God the Father turned away from His Son. We do not know and understand how it happened. The great theologians cannot fully explain this mystery to us. <br />
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So as we kneel at the altar, and we are reminded we are worthless refuse who deserve to suffer Hell. We can joyfully remember we have been scrubbed, cleansed, and purified by the precious blood of Jesus. <br />
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In closing, I was going to share selected verses from Romans chapter 8. But I decided to share all of it. It takes awhile to read it but it is worth every moment.<br />
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May God fill you with His peace as we begin our Lenten Journey.<br />
Romans 8<br />
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Life in the Spirit<br />
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1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. <br />
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9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. <br />
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Heirs with Christ <br />
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12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. <br />
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Future Glory<br />
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18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. <br />
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26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. <br />
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God’s Everlasting Love <br />
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31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,"For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." <br />
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37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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Jacob gave this poem at a speech contest last week. He did a great job and we are very proud of him!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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<br />
One of my favorite Easter memories is from the first Easter I spent in Peoria. Because I was involved in the worship service I was part of the processional. The processional Cross was covered with a black hood and the cross on the altar was covered in black as well from the “Good Friday” service. As we started to walk into the sanctuary you could hear the brass boldly and triumphantly playing and as we proceeded down the aisle the black was removed from both of the crosses. It was a representation of the veil of sin and death being removed forever. Jesus had gone to the Father on our behalf and now we too could come before God. It was one of those holy and sacred moments that I will remember forever.<br />
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A little later on in the service we were singing “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and we were singing the fourth verse, “He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend; He lives and loves me to the end; He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing; He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!” At that moment I looked up at the beautiful statue they have of Jesus on the altar- and for the very first time I noticed the nail scars on His hands. I could not finish the rest of the hymn because I was so overwhelmed with emotion. Jesus, the King of all creation, died for my sins. I put those nail scars on His hands. I knew that I had been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, even though I did nothing to deserve it. I couldn’t sing the words with my mouth, but I was singing them in my heart.<br />
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Can you imagine the joy that Mary felt on that first Easter morning when Jesus first said her name? That Joy is ours because Jesus is calling us by name. He is saying, “(your name) come and walk with me. I have won the victory over sin, death, and the devil for you; your life will never be the same. You will never have to be separated from your heavenly Father; I have made that sacrifice on your behalf. Come and discover all that I have to offer you, come and rest in the Joy, Hope, Love, and Peace that you can only find through me.”<br />
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“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16<br />
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Alleluia! Christ has Risen! He is Risen Indeed!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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<br />
Today we remember that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Sometimes I think we say that phrase without remembering what it really means. The word crucifixion comes from the word “excruciating.” To be crucified is the most horrific and painful death a person can suffer. We can only begin to imagine the physical pain that Jesus suffered. Jesus also suffered spiritually and emotionally in a way that we never will. When He cried out, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” it was because at that moment, Jesus was separated from God. Now how could Jesus, who is also God, be separated from God? That has always been a great mystery – even to the greatest of theologians... He, who was without sin, became sin for us all and suffered separation from God. That is the only way we could be saved. Jesus knew what would happen and yet the night before He told His Father, “Not my will, but your will.” Our sins nailed Him to the cross, but His amazing love for you and for me held Him there.<br />
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If we would have been standing there that day we would have also heard Jesus say, “It is finished.” Jesus did not only say this, He shouted it out. “It is finished,” is three words in English; but in Greek it is one “Tetelestai” as it would be in Aramaic. And “Tetelestai” is the victor’s shout; it is the cry of a person who has won through the struggle; it is the cry of a person who has come out of the dark into the glory of light, and who has grasped the crown. So, then, Jesus died a victor with a shout of triumph on His lips.<br />
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“Here is the precious thing. Jesus passed through the uttermost abyss, and then the light broke. If we, too, cling to God even there seems to be no God, desperately and invincibly clutching the remnants of our faith, quite certainly the dawn will break and we will win through. The victor is the person who refuses to believe that God has forgotten them, even when every fiber of their being feels they are forsaken. The victor is the person who will never let go of their faith, even when they feel that its last grounds are gone. The victor is the person who has been beaten to the depths and still holds on to God, for that is what Jesus did.” (William Barclay)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt where you will spend eternity? Are you thinking, I hope to be in heaven?<br />
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I know where I will spend eternity, and that is with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You might think, wow, she is full of herself. What makes her think she is so special that she knows she is going to heaven. My dear readers, I cannot assure my salvation anymore than you can. But I know the ONE who can. I know Jesus, and my salvation is dependent upon Him. I cannot take credit for where I will spend eternity. I didn't earn it. I don't deserve it. I cannot buy it. I cannot even imagine or fathom how wonderful it will be.<br />
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All I know is someday this earthly body will take it's last breath and I will close my eyes one final time here on earth and the next time I open my eyes it will be to look upon the face of my Savior.<br />
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It is not about what I have done or what I am going to do. It is about what Jesus did for you and for me on the Cross. When Jesus cried out, <strong>IT IS FINISHED</strong>, it meant the separation between God and His people had ended. It meant the debt has been paid in full. We could never fulfill the debt, no matter how much we want to, we are unable to. God the Father knew we could never make the payment and so He sent His one and only Son to pay the debt for us.<br />
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Last week I shared scripture from Romans Chapter 8 and I am going to share some of those verses again. I know too many people who have questions about whether they will be in heaven or not. It breaks my heart when I think of them not being assured of their salvation. And although they might not ever express it to me, I think they might feel I'm arrogant in my absolute certainty of where I'm going when I die.<br />
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In Romans 8:1 It states, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." We are poor miserable sinners each and every day. But Jesus paid all penalties for us. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. To think we as mere humans could do anything at all to save ourselves is arrogant. <br />
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We can live consumed with the guilt of our sin wondering if we will ever be good enough to enter the gates of heaven. The truth is we are not good enough...but in Jesus we have been made clean. Based upon His work for us on the Cross we are saved. There is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.<br />
<br />
At the end of Chapter 8 we hear this blessed promise: "37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."<br />
<br />
I hope you will take the time to allow THE WORD to soak into your heart and your soul. Your salvation does not depend upon you or your actions.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I would like to share with you, Shepherd Me O God, by Marty Haugen.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Refrain<br />
<br />
<br />
Shepherd me, O God,<br />
<br />
beyond my wants,<br />
<br />
beyond my fears, <br />
<br />
from death into life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. God is my shepherd,<br />
<br />
so nothing shall I want,<br />
<br />
I rest in the meadows<br />
<br />
of faithfulness and love,<br />
<br />
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Gently you raise me<br />
<br />
and heal my weary soul,<br />
<br />
you lead me by pathways<br />
<br />
of righteousness and truth,<br />
<br />
my spirit shall sing<br />
<br />
the music of your Name.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
3. Though I should wander <br />
<br />
the valley of death,<br />
<br />
I fear no evil,<br />
<br />
for you are at my side,<br />
<br />
your rod and your staff,<br />
<br />
my comfort and my hope.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
4. You have set me a banquet of love<br />
<br />
in the face of hatred,<br />
<br />
crowning me with love<br />
<br />
beyond my pow’r to hold.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
5. Surely your kindness and mercy<br />
<br />
follow me all the days of my life;<br />
<br />
I will dwell in the house of my God<br />
<br />
forevermore.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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Unfortunately, the answer is NO there is nothing we can do. There is nothing we have to do. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us and make us whole. Only Jesus can lift us up out of the ashes and refuse of sin, we cannot do this on our own.<br /><br />On our Church body’s website it states: “This ancient act is a gesture of repentance and a powerful reminder about the meaning of the day. Ashes can symbolize dust-to dustness<br />and remind worshippers of the need for cleansing, scrubbing and purifying. If they are applied during an act of kneeling, the very posture of defeat and submission expresses humility before God.”<br /><br />In order to understand what God has done for us, we need to remember we are poor miserable sinners, who deserve death and eternal damnation. No one would ever want to suffer eternally separated from God, if they truly understood what that meant. And yet, Jesus knew in order to keep us from what we deserve and have earned a thousand times each day. He had to take our place. Jesus suffered in agony on the cross for you and for me. We know the word crucifixion comes from the word excruciating, because of how much pain it inflicts upon the person sentenced to die. Physically the pain would be too much for anyone to bear but the greater anguish for Jesus was that He became separated from God. Jesus experienced the torment of hell when God the Father turned away from His Son. We do not know and understand how it happened. The great theologians cannot fully explain this mystery to us. <br /><br />So as we kneel at the altar, and we are reminded we are worthless refuse who deserve to suffer Hell. We can joyfully remember we have been scrubbed, cleansed, and purified by the precious blood of Jesus. <br /><br />In closing, I was going to share selected verses from Romans chapter 8. But I decided to share all of it. It takes awhile to read it but it is worth every moment.<br /><br />May God fill you with His peace as we begin our Lenten Journey.<br /><br />Romans 8<br />Life in the Spirit<br /> 1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. <br /> 9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. <br />Heirs with Christ <br /> 12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. <br />Future Glory<br /> 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. <br /> 26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. <br />God’s Everlasting Love <br /> 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,<br /><br /> "For your sake we are being killed all the day long;<br /> we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." <br /> 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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</script></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152571288037109536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25254951.post-32242818429245486202009-11-05T17:44:00.000-08:002009-11-05T17:56:17.579-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Lp8SfqLXQvBpqxnvyX6cAnwSa9QaZDm5Ck4Zg2dWQTgf8s1UHDeiBN7csHOMd9CqJfeGqIaMN_1V14HRYIRhleMhEhhPSA4lxCP-uYNjPJhmmsna7ArthoTg9RcxArRQ3f14Q/s1600-h/100_0300.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400803418802030002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Lp8SfqLXQvBpqxnvyX6cAnwSa9QaZDm5Ck4Zg2dWQTgf8s1UHDeiBN7csHOMd9CqJfeGqIaMN_1V14HRYIRhleMhEhhPSA4lxCP-uYNjPJhmmsna7ArthoTg9RcxArRQ3f14Q/s400/100_0300.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlQECfON9ZnmWpWj26Wb5iyVmD-JGgLh-ESrvQat8J_af5SwUhXFoVQp8cbT1p3-RISfyP_gFNNnUTIMFD95dr5Kj279ZUU-GN3O1MXwMaD7ghKVIty5qRZ9TIH9Bno2Af75JVg/s1600-h/100_0301.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400802791415411986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlQECfON9ZnmWpWj26Wb5iyVmD-JGgLh-ESrvQat8J_af5SwUhXFoVQp8cbT1p3-RISfyP_gFNNnUTIMFD95dr5Kj279ZUU-GN3O1MXwMaD7ghKVIty5qRZ9TIH9Bno2Af75JVg/s400/100_0301.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8U8cQfwK4sb5xPAtg76Had0tekPY2w55Lks-1gumEpOddhakWQJYfAGJLyyZTm0nJdmYI8rOOl6TsG-979I6FLJcp85STg6bogyb1XS-N0fls7mRPdKQ7du87OX_o46oLd3F9g/s1600-h/100_0296.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400802244669476002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8U8cQfwK4sb5xPAtg76Had0tekPY2w55Lks-1gumEpOddhakWQJYfAGJLyyZTm0nJdmYI8rOOl6TsG-979I6FLJcp85STg6bogyb1XS-N0fls7mRPdKQ7du87OX_o46oLd3F9g/s400/100_0296.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNP5e_oJlnwdfnF_HpWsDmyVNCbCl7MEqFjjaeEfAsBqbTMLY2y3P2MFz4FCVgLY78KD4SOhjBkTpejgqrBrM4fdZzws7h_oADhaHX9t5YYgDcfNIeRzMawvK4uvzpCpgdXQbHA/s1600-h/100_0303.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400801465460016978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNP5e_oJlnwdfnF_HpWsDmyVNCbCl7MEqFjjaeEfAsBqbTMLY2y3P2MFz4FCVgLY78KD4SOhjBkTpejgqrBrM4fdZzws7h_oADhaHX9t5YYgDcfNIeRzMawvK4uvzpCpgdXQbHA/s400/100_0303.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-VccD5PsrUc0ZS2ETVefhZZxNPuCXFf_rIA3Lp2bDvgoUfm8BgARquNkOx6bpzPSuCrwhpIN4ghhYBw3fY164YhRkBCTHDDWkd9tcEFXGC6Jp_ctRFspOGQBRFRw30uise8BLQ/s1600-h/100_0304.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-VccD5PsrUc0ZS2ETVefhZZxNPuCXFf_rIA3Lp2bDvgoUfm8BgARquNkOx6bpzPSuCrwhpIN4ghhYBw3fY164YhRkBCTHDDWkd9tcEFXGC6Jp_ctRFspOGQBRFRw30uise8BLQ/s400/100_0304.JPG" /></a> </div><br />Matthew calls this the "Sad Tree"! We had a fun late afternoon out at our beautiful church camp trying to capture some pictures of the boys together!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language=\"JavaScript\">
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