Category: Relationship

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The End of a Message

I have really enjoyed going through Jesus’ message, the Sermon on the Mount, with you. It has shown us the foundation for His ministry here on earth.

He ends this message with these powerful verses.

“ Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall.

26 Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn’t obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. 27 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.

28  When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching. 29 He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.” Matthew 7:24-29 CEV

Jesus was addressing everyone who was there listening to this message. They were either a wise anyone or a foolish anyone, but they could not deny that they were an anyone. Neither can we.

Anyone who hears God’s word has two choices – to obey or not. To be wise or foolish. To stand strong during the storm or to be destroyed by it.

The storms come – they most certainly do; the choice of how to handle them is up to us. What foundation have we built on? Solid rock or sandy beach.

“Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48 is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When a flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn’t even shake. 49 But anyone who hears what I say and doesn’t obey me is like someone whose house wasn’t built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!” Luke 6:47-49 CEV

When we build our lives on God’s word we are building on a firm foundation. His words of “do not fear, do not judge, ask to receive, be salt and light” are what we take to heart and give us the confidence to stand.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT

Don’t throw away your confidence. Keep standing on the rock of His word. God didn’t remove Goliath from the battle, He empowered David in it. He didn’t take the lions’ out of the den, He closed their mouths when Daniel showed up. Jesus wasn’t discouraged by a little boy’s lunch with so many mouths to feed; instead, He was thankful, blessed it and multiplied it.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

When faced with a storm remember to stand on God’s word. Be like those in the crowd who said, “He speaks with authority”. The authority of God’s word IS our final authority.

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Fruit Inspection

Dave and I grew up on the Arizona/California border. We were very familiar with the Agriculture Inspection Station at the border.

“Do you have any fruits or vegetables to declare?” That was always the question.

The Department of Agriculture didn’t want any pests transported from other states to the fruit and vegetable growing in California.

Did you know Jesus has something to say about fruit inspection?

He has been teaching on the mountain for three chapters now. We’ve heard him teach on adjusting our attitudes, how to pray, how not to worry about anything and not to judge others. All daily life, practical teaching from the heart of God.

As Jesus comes to the end of this time with the multitude He gives us a strict warning.

“Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you. 16  You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes. 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. 19  Every tree producing bad fruit will be chopped down and burned. 20  You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.” Matthew 7:15-20 CEV

What Jesus came to share was good news and it brings a harvest of good fruit. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia about the fruit that God’s Spirit produces in our lives.

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

This fruit is very similar to what Jesus described as the be-attitudes. It’s so important that we don’t allow our fruit to become infected by the harmful pests of pride, anger, fear, greed, malice and gossip. These things can and will ruin our fruit.

“Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. 22 On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, ‘We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.’ 23  But I will tell them, ‘I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!’” Matthew 7:21-23 CEV

God will judge, not us. In our day, we have seen examples of false prophets. Jim Jones is one of the first to come to mind. “We preached in your name”.

Our job is to be fruitful. Jesus gave us a clear message on that.

“Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. 5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.” John 15:4-5 CEV

We don’t judge, but we do inspect fruit.

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One Small Thing

Yesterday afternoon I had errands to run. First a stop at the bank, then the grocery store, Walgreens and finally my hair salon.

My purchase at Walgreen’s was $21.99. The cashier gave me several bills and one penny change. I looked to find a donation jar where I could deposit my penny but there was none.

I remembered hearing a story once about a wealthy man who said he would stop and pick up a penny when he saw one on the ground. It reminded him to be thankful because on that penny he read the words “in God we trust”. Not his success or the amount in his bank account but it was in God that he placed his trust.

After hearing this story, I stop and pick up the coins I find on the ground and keep them in my pocket during the day. They remind me to trust God, whatever the day may bring.

So, I deposited the penny on top of a trash receptacle with a prayer that someone would find it and it would remind them to put their trust in God. Silly I know, but that’s what I felt led to do.

On to my hair appointment. When I got there my stylist was visibly upset. I asked what was wrong. She choked back the lump in her throat and told me that one of her clients had died, and she had just found out that a dear friend was dying, and another friend had just learned she had cancer. She was overwhelmed.

The Lord put it on my heart to pray for her. I asked her if we could pray, and she grabbed my hand. I prayed and she sensed a real peace and comfort that only God can give. As we walked to the wash basin she said, “you know some people wouldn’t have done that, thank you”.

Small things. A penny. A prayer.

And that leads us into this morning’s verses.

“12 “Do for others what you would want them to do for you. This is the meaning of the Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.

13 “You can enter true life only through the narrow gate. The gate to hell is very wide, and there is plenty of room on the road that leads there. Many people go that way. 14 But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it.” Matthew 7:12-14 ERV

Jesus was all about touching people’s lives. Intervening in their mess. Providing healing, forgiveness, help and comfort. He showed them that they could trust in God. He lived the golden rule, Do for others what you would want them to do for you. He is our example. If we want people to be kind and caring, we need to be that for them.

Jesus came to show us that we don’t have to do life on our own. We can trust our heavenly Father. Jesus openly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6 ERV

Jesus was the narrow way He was speaking of. He still is!

It’s not by good works, church attendance, charitable donations, self-sacrifice that we find the narrow way. It’s only found by following Jesus. That doesn’t make us narrow-minded; no, just focused on the path that leads to life eternal.

Look for the small things that will show others “the way”.

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Time for an “I” Exam

Just last week Dave went to the optometrist. He was able to pick up his new glasses on Friday. It’s interesting how just a little adjustment can make such a big difference in clearer vision.

Jesus is still teaching on the mountain and in today’s verses He’s called us all in for an “I” exam.

“ Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you. 2  God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.

3 You can see the speck in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the log in your own eye. 4 How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don’t see the log in your own eye? 5 You’re nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5 CEV

We have to remember that all of these verses from the last few days flow together from one teaching. Although little segments can be pulled out for study, they must stay in context with the whole message.

Jesus has already taught us on having a proper attitude, not being a showoff and being light and salt in a world that has spent so much time in darkness. He’s emphasized that we are to love as the Father loves. It only follows that He would instruct more thoroughly on how to treat and deal with others.

Don’t judge unless we would like to be judged. (I didn’t say it, Jesus did.)

Yikes, that one hits pretty close to home. I think we all can fall into that dangerous ditch of judging. That’s why we need to have our eyes examined. It’s easy to see the faults in others; sometimes we even magnify them, and then we overlook our own faults.

But Christ saw that we all need a Saviour.

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:21 ERV

“Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.” Romans 15:7 CEV

” But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 CEV

“ If you think you are better than others, when you really aren’t, you are wrong. 4 Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don’t compare yourself with others.” Galatians 6:3-4 CEV

“God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. 23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:22-24 CEV

Now, don’t choke on your coffee when you read “He treats everyone alike”. God’s grace and mercy is extended to all of us. “God loved the WORLD, so He gave his only Son”.

We don’t have to agree with what everyone says or does. God forbid, because then we would be agreeing with sin and that’s what God has delivered us from.

But, we do need to see through His eyes and love the sinner as He did for us without judging and condemning them. In God’s eyes, sin is sin. No big, no little – just sin that stops us all from having a personal relationship with Him. All sin is forgivable and once forgiven gives us a relationship with the Father.

Let’s have the Father give us an “I” exam and fit us with proper lens so that we see the world through His eyes!

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Why Worry

Let me tell you about my morning.

I heard the coffeemaker beep that it was done; I was still in bed. I got up and came to the living room as is my custom, was going to pour a cup of coffee and have my prayer time. Instead, I laid down on the couch for a while longer – prayed and dozed off.

Now it’s over an hour later and I got up, grabbed my first cup of coffee and had a little twinge of guilt over resting so long. A little worried that the blog was getting out so late.

That’s when the Lord gently quieted my heart, and I read what I was intended to share with you. So here are Jesus’ words to all of us today.

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:25-34 MSG

Don’t worry. Don’t get worked up.

Our Father’s got this. Put Him in charge of everything that concerns us. He can handle it. Just look at the wildflowers and the birds – He takes care of them, and He’ll certainly take care of us!

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Be A Rebel

Oh, how I love God’s word! It is so practical. It gives us everyday answers for everyday situations. God’s sole purpose in giving us His word was to make our daily lives fruitful and blessed.

He’s offered to carry our load, forgive our sins, remove our worry, strengthen our minds and fill us with His love. What can be better than that.

We’re returning to the Jesus’ teaching on the mountain.

” Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 20  Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.” Matthew 6:19-21 CEV

Good advice.

It’s hard not to look at earthly treasure. Checking the stock market, the savings and checking accounts, looking at the 401K and if that’s not enough the interest rates on homes and cars, the price of bread and eggs, the crime report and it can send us spiraling down the rabbit hole of fear and lack.

Store up our treasures in heaven. How do we do that? There’s no heavenly ATM where we can make a deposit or is there?

“Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 ERV

Always Think of Me = ATM.

Always be ready to make a deposit in our heavenly account.

“ Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should not give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give. 8 And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work.” II Corinthians 9:7-8 ERV

When our earthly treasure is invested in heavenly purposes, we will have enough for every good work that God asks us to give too. We’ll be quick to give because we know we are doing it for Him.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven.” Ephesians 1:3 ERV

Be a rebel – count your blessings!

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Just A Little Talk

One of my favorite memories of Sunday night church services was the men’s quartet who would sing in wonderful four-part harmony. The songs were so upbeat. One of my favorite songs was “Just A Little Talk With Jesus”.

“I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
And then a little light from Heaven filled my soul
He bathed my heart in love and wrote my name above
And just a little talk with Jesus made me whole

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry and He will answer by and by
Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
You’ll know a little fire is burning
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right”

Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right – all right!

You know it does.

Believe it or not, we’re still with Jesus and his teaching on the mountain. You know the teaching that started with the be-attitudes. The one that told us to love as God, Himself, loves. The teaching that instructed us not to be show-offs, now gives us instruction on prayer.

“When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask.

9 You should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor
    your name.
10 Come and set up
    your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth
    will obey you,
as you are obeyed
    in heaven.
11 Give us our food for today.
12 Forgive us for doing wrong,
    as we forgive others.
13 Keep us from being tempted
    and protect us from evil. The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.

14  If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:7-15 CEV

I love that Jesus starts with our Father. He was a man of prayer. Often, He would stay up late or rise early to go to a quiet place just to talk to His Father. He knew His Father had the answers and the strength that He needed to live life as a human.

This prayer is short, sweet and to the point. The one praying it doesn’t need to be a seminary graduate, an ordained minister or priest. Prayer is a child talking to their parent, telling Him all their troubles and having confidence that “Dad” has heard and is there to help.

“ We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV

Prayer doesn’t need a lot of thee’s and thou’s; it’s us talking to our Father. Just conversation.

Just a little talk, leaving our burdens and cares with Him, makes things right, all right!

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No Showoffs Please

First of all, this morning I would like to thank you for following the link and going directly to the website to read yesterday’s blog. I’m not sure if I will be able to post to Facebook again this morning but I’m hopeful.

However, if you are blessed by reading this each morning and want to receive it each day, uninterrupted, please go to the blog tab of the website, www.arizonakristi.com, and on the right side of the page fill in your email address and you will receive it each morning, just like the old-fashioned morning newspaper.

It somehow seemed appropriate that a morning teaching on not being irritated or short-tempered would be removed for whatever reason. It certainly gave me the opportunity to practice what I preach – I was able to stay calm, it didn’t spoil my morning.

Now, on to more of Jesus’ teachings from the mountain. He had just told us to love like His Father, our Father, in every situation.

“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret and will reward you.

5  When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-6 CEV

There was a problem in the Jewish synagogues with the religious leaders trying to call attention to themselves. They wanted everyone to see how long they prayed and how much money they gave. They sought to be the center of attention. They weren’t there to worship God but to draw attention to themselves.

We are often guilty of the same thing – telling people about the “good” we do to help others. Bringing attention to ourselves.

“As Jesus was teaching, he said: Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes and be greeted in the market. 39 They like the front seats in the synagogues and the best seats at banquets. 40 But they cheat widows out of their homes and pray long prayers just to show off. They will be punished most of all…42 Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins worth only a few pennies. 43 Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said: I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 44 Everyone else gave what they didn’t need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn’t have a cent to live on.” Mark 12:39-44 CEV

Jesus was not impressed with their piety; in fact, he faulted them for their hypocrisy. They had their reward.

God doesn’t need show-offs; His desire is that we show out His love and compassion.

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Irritated & Short-Tempered

Now, I know that doesn’t describe me or any of you reading this but, on the off chance that it should describe someone you live with or work with, I feel we all need this instruction that Jesus gave.

I’ll let you eaves drop on my conversation with the Lord.

“ You have heard people say, ‘Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.’ 44 But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. 45  Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. 46 If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors love their friends. 47 If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about this? Don’t even unbelievers do that? 48  But you must always act like your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-48 CEV

What?

I must ALWAYS act like my Father in heaven?? Lord, you’ve got to be kidding. Do you see who/what I have to put up with? Surely, you don’t mean that I must be loving and patient with them.

What?

Oh, you mean them too? The ones who are so contrary and aggravating? Ok, I hear You – I’m supposed to be like my heavenly Father in every situation; that’s a big ask Lord. Oh, You weren’t asking; You were telling me that’s what I MUST do.

Well then, if that’s the case, I need Your strength and Your restraint. I need to see others as You do and treat them with the same patience and compassion that You show to me.

What was that Lord?

And not just my friends but my enemies as well. Ah, come on Lord, that’s more than I think I can handle.

“Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39  The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ 40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 CEV

Wow, Lord. That’s big.

“ Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.” Ephesians 4:31-32 CEV

Well, if that’s Your will for me then I know that You will give me the desire and the strength to do it. You were my example when You prayed: “not my will, but thine be done”. Thanks for loving me enough to die for me when I was at my worst. Now, I choose to live for You.

Good talk Lord. Good talk. Thanks!

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Someone’s Missing

This morning I’ve been sitting here thanking the Father for His faithfulness. He has promised to never leave us or abandon us. Never, no, never.

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” Hebrews 13:5 AMPC

This verse is from the Amplified Bible. I love studying from the Amplified text. It expands the text more than English and gives us the intensity of the Greek language.

I will not, I will not, I will not, I will not let you down or leave you helpless. God is definitely making a point. He WON’T abandon us!

Tie that in with the first part of that verse. We are told to avoid greed and the lust for money. We have no need to be servant to lack of moral character because…I will not, I will not, I will not let you down.

That promise of God goes further than our financial dealings. It is our assurance that we are His and as His children He is always looking out for our best.

The story of the prodigal son came to mind. The son had a free will; he wasn’t enslaved and so he made the choice to leave. The son had wanted a different life; one filled with all the things that riches could buy. But, He was never out of his father’s thoughts.

I began to see the story from the Father’s point of view. Each morning and evening there would be an empty place at the table. Each day he would watch the road, searching for his wayward son.

One day, walking up that dusty road the Father saw his son returning. The Father didn’t make him grovel; he didn’t even make him walk the long lane to home by himself. He ran to greet him. He embraced him, kissing him, welcoming him home again.

“So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently].” Luke 15:20 AMPC

His son was no longer missing. That night there was a feast fit for a much-loved son. No longer was there an empty plate at the table. The prodigal had returned.

I think at one time or another each of us live the life of the prodigal, wanting to live life on our own terms, driven by selfish ambition, thinking we know best.

God lets us go but He never abandons us. He’s always watching, always waiting, always ready to welcome us home.

“Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:23-24 CEV

When we return our place at the table is no longer empty. The Father says it’s time for a party. It’s good to be home!

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