Category: Book

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Not A Chunk of Coal

Have you heard the expression “Diamonds are just a chunk of coal under extreme pressure”? Well, the adage has been around for years, but it isn’t true.

Another adage that I take exception to is one used often in Christian circles. “I’m not but an old sinner saved by grace”. Were we sinners? Yes. Were we saved by grace? Yes.

But to continue in that thinking goes against all that God has created us to be. He has called us to be new creatures in Christ. The past is gone; our present and our future are in Him and He has redeemed us, made us new; we are called saints, a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

God’s opinion of us is so much greater than our opinion of ourselves. He saw that we were valuable, priceless and worth the ultimate sacrifice.

He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us so that we could live in Him!

Now that alone should drive out any feelings of low self-esteem or worthlessness!

” Brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his. Think about that! Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence, and not many of you came from important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 And God chose what the world thinks is not important—what the world hates and thinks is nothing. He chose these to destroy what the world thinks is important. 29 God did this so that no one can stand before him and boast about anything. 30 It is God who has made you part of Christ Jesus. And Christ has become for us wisdom from God. He is the reason we are right with God and pure enough to be in his presence. Christ is the one who set us free from sin. 31 So, as the Scriptures say, “Whoever boasts should boast only about the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:26-31 ERV

That’s the way He feels about all of us who have received Christ as our Savior.

“Then the Lord All-Powerful said: You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child.” Malachi 3:17 CEV

He sees us as a loving father sees his children. We are not unworthy. We are dearly loved and accepted. We are welcome in His presence.

He has called us, redeemed us and made us His own. We’ve been chosen!

“We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, 29 and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so his Son would be the first of many children. 30 God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.

31 What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? 33 If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them?” Romans 8:28-33 CEV

Not an old chunk of coal, not an old sinner; we are the redeemed of the Lord!

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Jesus Wept

As Christians we aren’t immune from heartache and grief. No, but we do have the Promised Holy Spirit to comfort and to console.

The last few days I have experienced a personal grief that I have only shared with my family and a close friend. What do we do when the tears flow and our hearts ache? How to deal with loss?

Jesus wept!

His friend had died and now Jesus was with the sisters and friends who were in mourning, and He wept. This wasn’t the only occasion that we see Jesus weeping. He wept over the residents of Jerusalem and their rejection of Him. He wept in the garden knowing His life would be given as a sacrifice for sins and He would experience a temporary separation from the Father.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5 KJV

Jesus wept.

When His disciples were facing their greatest time of sorrow, He promised them a Comforter.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 AMPC

Jesus says another Comforter. He had been the One to comfort and encourage them for the past three years. He had calmed their fears, healed their family members, showed them how to face adversity and verbal persecution.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NLV

Now, He would be leaving but He would not orphan them. He sent them, and us, a Comforter who would live with them constantly, individually and collectively. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion.

God doesn’t ignore or discount our heartache and grief. He carries it and He heals it.

“You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.” Psalm 56:8 CEV

One of the things that will make heaven, heaven, is that there will be no more tears, no more sorrow and no more pain.

“Yes, God will make his home among his people. 4  He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever. 5 Then the one sitting on the throne said: I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted.” Revelation 21:3b-5 CEV

Until then, remember Jesus wept. He knows our sorrow and grief and He has sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter.

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Keep Doing Right

Do you know how often I stop to pray for you?

Of course, it’s always first thing in the morning when the Lord fills my heart with what He wants to share but it’s also during the day when I am impressed with how blessed I am to be able to share God’s love with you each day.

I can relate with the Apostle Paul and his greeting to the Christians in the church of Philippi. I will probably never meet many of you this side of heaven, but I hold you in my heart and my prayers.

“ Every time I think of you, I thank my God. 4 And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. 5 This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. 6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

7 You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail. 8 God himself knows how much I want to see you. He knows I care for you in the same way Christ Jesus does.

9 I pray that your love will keep on growing and you will fully know and understand 10 how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, 11 Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:3-11 CEV

Growing and making the right choices.

What are the right choices? I’m so glad you asked.

“Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful…17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:15-17 CEV

Remember a few years ago when people were wearing those bracelets, WWJD? That’s a good way to do right. But this just wasn’t a new concept that Paul was teaching. No, God had put it in place thousands of years before. This is what Moses said:

“ You must be sure to obey the commands of the Lord your God. You must follow all the teachings and laws he has given you. 18 You must do what is right and good—what pleases the Lord. Then everything will go well for you, and you can go in and take the good land that the Lord promised your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 6:17-18 ERV

Solomon said this: “Doing what is right and fair pleases the Lord more than an offering.” Proverbs 21:3 CEV

And Isaiah recorded this: “ The Lord said these things, ‘Be fair to all people. Do what is right, because soon my salvation will come to you. My goodness will soon be shown to the whole world.‘” Isaiah 56:1 ERV

“When people live to please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them.” Proverbs 16:7 ERV

Doing what is right is good; we will never go wrong making the right choices. We may be misunderstood by those around us; we may even be judged unfairly. But, when our heart is right before God, we please Him and that’s more than enough!

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Complete Peace

Yesterday a part of our praise was given to this song. It’s one of my very favorites. It has ministered to my heart since the first time I heard it. I fell asleep last night and woke this morning with my heart flooded with this song. It’s for you, each and every one of you.

I SPEAK JESUS

I just want to speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just want to speak the name of Jesus
Till every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just want to speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like the fire

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus

Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just want to speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

Now, let’s see how this applies to us in our daily lives.

Jesus said: “Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29 Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NLV

Peter said: “This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone! 12 Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 CEB

“Peter said, ‘I don’t have any money, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk!’” Acts 3:6 CEB

Paul said: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11 CEV

It was in the name of the Lord that Daniel was kept from destruction in the lions’ den. It was His trust in the Father’s protection that allowed Jesus to sleep during a storm that was swamping their boat. It was faith in the name of Jesus that caused the crippled man to walk and blind eyes to open.

It is the power in the name of Jesus that brings forgiveness and salvation to all who believe; peace that bypasses our understanding and rest to the weary.

“I just want to speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind Cause I know there is peace within Your presence I speak Jesus”. Complete Peace!

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Made Clean

A couple of weeks ago Dave and I went thrifting with friends. We really like treasure hunting at the thrift stores. In the last store, we found this dirty, rusty, cast iron dutch oven.

Yesterday I got the steel wool and scrubbed it clean. Washed it and then rubbed shortening all over and put it in the oven to season. One hour at 450 degrees. When it finally cooled down and could be removed from the oven, it looked remarkable. Clean and ready to be used.

It made me think of the cleansing that we go through when we come to Christ.

“Then He said, “I have come to do what You want Me to do.” And this is what He did when He died on a cross. God did away with the Old Way of Worship and made a New Way of Worship. 10 Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time.” Hebrews 10:9-11 NLV

So many times we allow our past sins and mistakes to penetrate our thinking and work on our consciences; leaving in its path rusty feelings of guilt and unworthiness. Instead of running away from God in times like that we need to run to Him, it’s there we find freedom from guilt.

“ We have a great Religious Leader over the house of God. 22 And so let us come near to God with a true heart full of faith. Our hearts must be made clean from guilty feelings and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the hope we say we have and not be changed. We can trust God that He will do what He promised.” Hebrews 10: 21-22

Jesus told his disciples that it’s His word that makes us clean. Paul repeated that in his writing to the Christians at Ephesus, remember?

“Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word. ” Ephesians 5:26 NLV

Because of what Christ has done – dying for our sins and taking the punishment – we are clean and God, the Father, removes our sins and guilty conscience from us.

“I will show loving-kindness to them and forgive their sins. I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 NLV

“He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle…8 The Lord is full of loving-pity and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving-kindness…11 For His loving-kindness for those who fear Him is as great as the heavens are high above the earth. 12 He has taken our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. ” Psalm 103:3-12 NLV (Just go ahead and read the whole chapter)

I love these verses!! It doesn’t matter that we are going through…really. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ and the love of your heavenly Father.

He washes us clean from all our sins and restores us to right relationship. We’ve been made clean!

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Black Tie Affair

Have you ever been to a black-tie banquet? I have but only once. It was quite an elegant evening. Dave in his tux, me in a gown. Very exciting!

That’s the image that came to mind this morning as I was reading in the Psalms.

“God’s Love Means More than Life

1 You are my God. I worship you.
    In my heart, I long for you,
as I would long for a stream
    in a scorching desert.

2 I have seen your power
and your glory
    in the place of worship.
3 Your love means more
than life to me,
    and I praise you.
4 As long as I live,
    I will pray to you.
5 I will sing joyful praises
and be filled with excitement
    like a guest at a banquet.

6 I think about you, God,
    before I go to sleep,
and my thoughts turn to you
    during the night.
7 You have helped me,
and I sing happy songs
    in the shadow of your wings.
8 I stay close to you,
and your powerful arm
    supports me.” Psalm 63:1-8 CEV

” filled with excitement  like a guest at a banquet.” I remember the anticipation of going to such a prestigious event. We were greeted at the door and ushered to our table. There was entertainment, delicious food and dancing.

But none of that compares with the joy and excitement of spending time in the Lord’s presence. King David knew what it was like to be honored and he lived an enviable lifestyle but what brought him the most joy was knowing he was loved by God and welcomed by Him.

It doesn’t matter our social, economic, or educational background; each one of us are welcomed at the Lord’s banquet.

“ Once again Jesus used stories to teach the people: 2 The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 The king sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused…8 Then he said to the servants, “It is time for the wedding banquet, and the invited guests don’t deserve to come. 9 Go out to the street corners and tell everyone you meet to come to the banquet.” 10 They went out on the streets and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with guests.” Matthew 22:1-10 CEV

We are part of the everyone who has been invited in. Not only does the Father invite us but He clothes us as well.

“The Lord makes me very happy. I am completely happy with my God. He dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He put the victory coat on me. I look like a man dressed for his wedding, like a bride covered with jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 ERV

Join me at the banquet. The table is set, all is in order. Our attire is custom made; we’ve been invited to the Father’s black-tie affair.

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Wonder of Wonders

This morning, I just needed to start my day by telling our heavenly Father and Jesus just how wonderful they are. And no, I’m not leaving Holy Spirit out – He is the One who prompts us to bring glory to God.

Years ago, many years ago, we used to sing a worship chorus.

“Jesus, what a wonder You are.
You are so gentle
So pure and so kind
You shine like the bright morning star
Jesus, what a wonder You are.”

Gentle, pure and kind. Oh, do we need that in this day and age.

When John the Baptist was born, his father prophesied these words over him. He knew his son would be the one to announce the coming Messiah.

“You, my son, will be called the prophet of God Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready for him. 77 You will tell his people that they can be saved when their sins are forgiven. 78 God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky. 79 On us who live in the dark shadow of death this light will shine to guide us into a life of peace.” Luke 1:76-79 CEV

God’s intentions toward us have always been to show us unconditional love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

“ Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another. 17 The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.” John 1:16-18 CEV

Wonder of Wonders that God would love us so much and create a way, THE WAY, for us to be in relationship with Him. It is because of His kindness and love. And when Jesus left this earth, Holy Spirit came to guide us, comfort us, and defend us.

  “The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. 14 The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you.” John 16:13-15

Pure, gentle, kind .

If some mornings you get up and are bombarded with the opposite and feel “what’s the use”, I can guarantee that your day will take a turn for the better by taking time to focus on the kindness and goodness of God.

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Just One Thing

The other day someone said to me, “You are so good at multi-tasking, I wish I were more like you”. Those words stopped me in my tracks. For years I was wife and mother, home-school teacher, homemaker, ministry administrator and Bible Study teacher.

I would make breakfast, get the kids ready for school, draw up a teaching lesson, design fliers, put in a load or two of laundry, get dinner in the crock pot and all of this was before lunch.

Multi-tasking became a swear word to me. I wanted to find my “one thing”.

Jesus told Martha that she got too busy with the things of “life” that she forgot too truly live. One thing is needful Jesus told her; her sister Mary had found it in listening to Jesus words instead of being busy with all the responsibilities of running a home.

“The Lord answered, ‘Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42 but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:41-42 CEV

The Apostle Paul said he found that “one thing”.

“I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.” Philippians 3:12-14 ERV

King David found that “one thing”.

“Even if an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid. Even if people attack me in war, I will trust in the Lord. 4 I ask only one thing from the LORD. This is what I want most: Let me live in the LORD’S house all my life, enjoying the LORD’S beauty and spending time in his palace. 5 He will protect me when I am in danger. He will hide me in his tent. He will take me up to his place of safety.” Psalm 37:3-5

Finding our “one thing” is what gives our life meaning and purpose and we will truly be blessed.

“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:33 ERV

Father, thank You for being our one thing. We rest and trust in You. You deserve to be our primary focus. You are the One who gives us everything we need and more. AMEN!

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Tiny Things Matter

This past weekend our oldest daughter and I flew to San Jose for a baby shower. Our oldest granddaughter is expecting her second child, another girl, who will be born in September.

On Saturday evening we sat in the living room separating baby clothes that had been stored away after her first daughter outgrew them. The clothes need to be freshened before the new baby arrives. We separated them into newborn, 0-3 months, and 3-6 months.

Tiny babies, tiny dreams, tiny faith all grow.

This morning, I was thanking the Lord for the way He had directed the small details for our flight home (that’s another story) and for all the little things He had led me through at work.

The other day I asked you, what do we bring to God that is too big for Him. The answer is nothing. But we get that same answer when we ask, what is too small to bring to our heavenly Father. Nothing!

Our God created everything we see and the things we can’t – atoms, neutrons, protons and even smaller. He is the God of details. The tiniest of things don’t escape His notice. He sees it all.

Jesus own disciples overlooked the small things. They felt Jesus was too important to be bothered with them.

“Late in the afternoon the twelve apostles came to Jesus and said, ‘Send the crowd to the villages and farms around here. They need to find a place to stay and something to eat. There is nothing in this place. It’s like a desert!’

13 Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’

But they replied, ‘We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish. If we are going to feed all these people, we will have to go and buy food.’” Luke 9:12-14 CEV

Just a little boy’s lunch. What good is that among so many? But God is in the details of multiplication.

He’s also concerned about people who are often overlooked.

“Be careful. Don’t think these little children are not important. I tell you that these children have angels in heaven. And those angels are always with my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:10 ERV

Little children aren’t overlooked by the Father.

I’ve counselled different ones who were looking for their place in “ministry” to start in a children’s Sunday School class. Our Father has a heart for children, all children. They are a blessing from the Lord and their faith isn’t jaded, it’s innocent. Their hearts are good ground to plant the seeds of God’s word.

Jesus had just given his disciples a teaching on seed being planted in the ground. He said if it was planted in good soil, it would grow and produce a harvest. Even if we don’t know a lot of Scripture, if we just have SMALL mustard seed knowledge it will grow and produce a great harvest.

“Jesus told them another story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. 32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 CEV

From the tiniest of seeds, our faith will grow and our Father will be honored. Give God the tiny things in your life, they do matter!

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Crazy Stuff

This morning when I opened my computer, I had a notice from “Meta”. I think it was spam and reported it but just in case it isn’t, I would like to ask if you enjoy reading this blog every morning and are blessed by it that you go directly to the website www.arizonakristi.com and go to the blog page and subscribe for the daily emails.

I will continue posting on Facebook for as long as I can but I will not change the message of God’s goodness, grace, forgiveness and unconditional love. He forgives, He loves and He saves! This is the good news the world needs to hear.

“Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20 CEV

This is my world. You are my world. God has called me to teach and this is the platform I have. I will use it as long as I am able and without apology.

“ How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? 15  And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. 16  Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”

17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.” Romans 10:14-17 CEV

My goal each day is to build faith in the life of every reader.

God’s goodness cannot be stopped and it cannot be contained. He offers it freely to all, to everyone who will believe.

“ God doesn’t take back the gifts he has given or disown the people he has chosen.” Romans 11:29 CEV

“They replied, ‘Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!’ This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.” Acts 16:31 CEV

“ no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13  All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13 CEV

One of the most famous verses in the Bible is John 3:16

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

Our heavenly Father is an all inclusive God. He always has been, and always will be. Whoever, anyone, who comes to Him and believes in Him and what He provides for us will be saved.

“ I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. 12 You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. 13  You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you” Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

In this crazy world the love of God must continue to be preached. I will “go to the world” and you are the world I have been sent to.

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