Category: Month

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Choosing Sides

To say I wasn’t very athletic as a kid is an understatement. I was quite often the last one chosen when the neighborhood was picking teams for the softball game. One time when we were teaming up my brother chose me, I was on cloud nine. He was the best at baseball, and he chose me when he could have picked a better player.

I can still remember how special I felt!

How much better is the feeling we get when we know that God has chosen us?

“It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12  God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.” Colossians 3:11-12 CEV 

It doesn’t matter our nationality, our station in life, our education or our financial standing; what’s important it that Christ died for all of us. He is what matters. God loves us and has chosen us to be His own.

Now the question is do we choose Him?

“All of you nations, come praise the Lord!  Let everyone praise him. 2 God’s love for us is wonderful; his faithfulness never ends.  Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 117 CEV

His love is wonderful and His faithfulness to us never ends. Never! Not ever? No, Never!

“Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful…5 When I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away.
6 The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me. 7 With the Lord on my side, I will defeat my hateful enemies. 8 It is better to trust the Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, 9   including strong leaders.” Psalm 118:1,5-9 CEV

Choosing sides? It is better to have the Lord on our side than anyone else. When we side with the Lord we are on the winning side. He has chosen us; it’s up to us to make Him the captain and Lord of our days.

“What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?” Romans 8:31 CEV

Remember what I said about my brother choosing me to be on his team? It would have been silly for me to try and tell him how to play the game. He was the expert baseball player, not me.

In life, it’s better for us to trust the expert. The One who has faced every temptation and won.

“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 4:15-16 CEV

“It is better to trust the Lord , He will take away all of our worries” – He’s on our side, we’ve been chosen!

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Surrounded

I always start my morning Bible reading in the Old Testament. This morning, I find myself in the book of Psalms. It’s such an encouraging way to start the day. The writers of the Psalms expressed their fears and their hopes, their sorrow and their joy and always they tell of their dependence on the Lord who is their strength, their joy, their refuge and their defense.

I find such encouragement in the Psalms – this morning I will refrain from my words and bring you God’s word for whatever you may be facing.

“I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers. 2 You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live. 3 Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, 4 I prayed and said, “Lord, please don’t let me die!”

5 You are kind, Lord, so good and merciful. 6 You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me 7 and treated me so kindly that I don’t need to worry anymore. 8 You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. 10 I was faithful to you when I was suffering, 11 though in my confusion I said, ‘I can’t trust anyone!’

12 What must I give you, Lord, for being so good to me? 13 I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. 14 I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. 15 You are deeply concerned when one of your loyal people
faces death.

16 I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. 17 I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. 18 I will keep my promise to you when your people 19 gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 116 CEV

Whether it’s physical, emotional, spiritual or financial death the attacks launched against us are real. The enemy can be seen or unseen; the threat of the termination of life, end of relationships, well-being or financial devastation are all things the Lord wants us to bring to Him.

“I look to the hills! Where will I find help? 2 It will come from the Lord, who created heaven and earth. 3 The Lord is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble.” Psalm 121:1-3 CEV

Look to the hills – that reminds me of the story of Elisha and his servant when they were surrounded by their enemies.

“‘Don’t be afraid,’ Elisha answered. ‘There are more troops on our side than on theirs.’ 17 Then he prayed, ‘Lord, please help him to see.‘ And the Lord let the servant see that the hill was covered with fiery horses and flaming chariots all around Elisha.” II Kings 6:16-17 CEV

The Lord wants us to “see” that even though the enemy may seem to surround us there are more troops on our side than on theirs. The Lord is our defense, and He surrounds us with His love!

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Good, Good, So Good

Sunday we sang the song “King of My Heart” by John Mark McMillan and Sarah McMillan. The past two mornings I haven’t been able to get those lyrics out of my mind.

“Let the King of my heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh, he is my song

Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh, he is my song

‘Cause you are good, good, oh
You are good, good, oh
You are good, good, oh
You are good, good, oh”

God is good, good, so good!

“I trust your love, and I feel like celebrating because you rescued me. 6 You have been good to me, Lord, and I will sing about you.” Psalm 13:5-6 CEV

“Shout praises to the Lord! He is good to us, and his love never fails.” Psalm 107:1 CEV

“You surely don’t think much of God‘s wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?” Romans 2:4 CEV

God’s goodness is incomparable!

He displays His goodness so that people will be drawn to Him and put their faith and trust in Him.

I’ve been reading the book of Jonah. It’s a short book and a good read. It isn’t just about Jonah being swollen by a great fish, although, that is also evidence of God’s goodness. It’s about God offering salvation to 120,000 people who were about to be destroyed because of their wickedness.

Jonah got to Ninevah, after being vomited up by the fish, walk a day’s walk to the center of the city and said this:

“After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, ‘Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!’

5 They believed God’s message and set a time when they would go without eating to show their sorrow. Then everyone in the city, no matter who they were, dressed in sackcloth.” Jonah 3:4-5 CEV

It goes on to say that the king heard what was happening and he repented and called for a fast for the entire city. Then God “saw that the people had stopped doing evil things, he had pity and did not destroy them as he had planned.” (Jonah 3:10)

Jonah got angry because God was gracious to these people. God was and is merciful, kind, and good. He told Jonah how much He cared about the people.

Not just the people of Ninevah – God cares about us, even when we are living in rebellion and contrary to His word. It’s His goodness that draws us to Him. His love is everlasting and His goodness lasts to all generations.

The image I am using this morning reminds me of this verse:

“ O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything.” Psalm 34:8-9 NLV

Come – taste and see that God is good, good, so good!

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The Earth Is the Lord’s

Here in the desert the warm weather has awaken the cactus and the wild flowers. The whole earth seems to be blooming with beauty.

“The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world with all its people because you created them 12 and everything else.” Psalm 89:11-12 CEV

All of creation points to the power of God.

“Sing a new song to the Lord!
Everyone on this earth,
    sing praises to the Lord,
2     sing and praise his name.

Day after day announce,
    ‘The Lord has saved us!’
3 Tell every nation on earth,
‘The Lord is wonderful
    and does marvelous things!
4 The Lord is great and deserves
    our greatest praise!
He is the only God
    worthy of our worship.
5 Other nations worship idols,
but the Lord created
    the heavens.
6 Give honor and praise
    to the Lord,
whose power and beauty
    fill his holy temple.’

7 Tell everyone of every nation,
‘Praise the glorious power
    of the Lord.
8 He is wonderful! Praise him
and bring an offering
    into his temple.
9 Everyone on earth, now tremble
and worship the Lord,
    majestic and holy.’

10 Announce to the nations,
    ‘The Lord is King!
The world stands firm,
    never to be shaken,
and he will judge its people
    with fairness.’

11 Tell the heavens and the earth
    to be glad and celebrate!
Command the ocean to roar
    with all its creatures
12 and the fields to rejoice
    with all their crops.
Then every tree in the forest
will sing joyful songs
13     to the Lord.
He is coming to judge
all people on earth
    with fairness and truth.” Psalm 96 CEV

Yesterday coming home from work I was mindful of the beauty that the Lord has created. The ocotillo with the bright red blossoms, the prickly pear with their fuchsia blooms and hills with their greenery and spray of orange and yellow wild flowers. All of this declares the power and glory of God.

When I see these things, I am also reminded that God in all His majesty is watching over me and protecting me with His love.

“The earth and everything on it, including its people, belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.” Psalm 24:1 CEV

I alluded to these verses yesterday but let me share them with you again today.

“ Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?

27 Can worry make you live longer? 28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. 29  But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. 30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. God will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?” Matthew 6:26-30 CEV

Look around at all the beauty that God has made and then look in the mirror. See that God cares for you more than all of the other things that have been created. God loves you!

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Safe in the Arms of Love

Here’s reason to trust and to praise God this day. Do you know that our Father loves us dearly and watches over us carefully?

“Some people brought their children to Jesus, so he could place his hands on them and pray for them. His disciples told the people to stop bothering him. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and don’t try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom.” Matthew 19:13-14 CEV

Have you seen a new mother watching over her baby?

She responds to every squirm and every squeak and then as the child grows, she tries to shield it from every scratch or scrape, germ or harmful thing. That nurturing heart comes from Father God. This little child is a part of its mother, and she is committed to its welfare.

Do you think that the Father cares any less for us than we do for our own children? Even when we disappoint Him the Father is there for us. He does not and will not abandon us!

As the scripture in Matthew 6 reminds us, if He sees the sparrow and the lily in the field and cares for them how much more does He watch over and provide for us.

Where are you going today? Where have you been? There’s no place that you can go or are now that He doesn’t go with you. He has promised to never leave us or forsake (I love that word) us.

Rest in the Father’s love today. Trust Him on the freeway, at your job, in the grocery store. Trust Him with your broken heart and your weary body. Trust Him with your finances and with your spouse and children.

He is faithful!

“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. 2 You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. 3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, 5 and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. 6 I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

7 Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? 8 If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there. 9 Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. 10 Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me. 11 Or suppose I said, ‘I’ll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.’

12 But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you. 13 You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, 14 and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. 15 Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, 16 but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do. 17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. 18 I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.” Psalm 139:1-18 CEV

Dear friend this is how God watches over us. We are safe in His arms of love!

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Never Tire of Singing

If you were a bird would you complain about having to start each day singing? Be honest. Maybe one or two mornings you just won’t feel like warbling a song?

Each morning, like clockwork, their songs start. I love it – I look forward to them welcoming the day. It really puts my heart into a place of thankfulness.

“Sing a new song to the Lord!
Everyone on this earth,
    sing praises to the Lord,
2     sing and praise his name.

Day after day announce,
    “The Lord has saved us!”
3 Tell every nation on earth,
‘The Lord is wonderful
    and does marvelous things!
4 The Lord is great and deserves
    our greatest praise!
He is the only God
    worthy of our worship.
5 Other nations worship idols,
but the Lord created
    the heavens.
6 Give honor and praise
    to the Lord,
whose power and beauty
    fill his holy temple.’

7 Tell everyone of every nation,
“Praise the glorious power
    of the Lord.
8 He is wonderful! Praise him
and bring an offering
    into his temple.” Psalm 96:1-8 CEV

What song are you singing this morning? We should be taking every opportunity we have to praise the Lord for His love and faithfulness. He never tires of us; He’s always there like a parent waiting for their child to say its first word. God is listening for our voice, He’s listening for our song.

Many years ago now, I had a wonderful opportunity to sing for my dad. He was coming to the end of his life; dementia had taken hold and most nights his sleep was troubled by nightmares. When he got into bed I went in and sang him to sleep or so I thought. Some of the songs he sang with me and others he just listened. I left his room when I thought he was asleep but then we heard his voice. He called for my mom. When she went to see what he wanted he said, “Did you hear Kris, she was singing to me?”

God used that as a teaching moment for me. I heard Him speak to my heart and say, “I like it when you sing to Me too”.

“But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love.
You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble. 17 I will sing your praises!
You are my mighty fortress, and you love me.” Psalm 59:16-17 CEV

Join with me now and sing – I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing. I will sing. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord!

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Beautiful, Wonderful, Something Special

It’s so special to get to talk about Jesus with neighbors and friends. I just love it!

Last night one of my new friends and neighbors told me a bit of her story and how she came to have a more personal, deeper knowledge in her relationship with Christ. She had grown up in a traditional church setting. Two songs, a short message and a prayer and the service was over. Nothing that encouraged her or directed her to a day to day walk with the Lord.

She emitted such joy as she talked about the relationship she has with the Lord now. Daily seeking Him, following His leadership in her life’s daily walk. It makes me smile.

This morning I’m listening to the birds singing and my heart is also filled with song.

“Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. There is something about that name. Master. Savior. Jesus. Like the Fragrance after the rain.” (There’s Just Something About That Name by Gloria Gaither)

“Jesus is the sweetest name I know, And He’s just the same as His lovely Name, And that’s the reason why I love Him so; Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.” (Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know)

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There’s no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me, O how much He cared for me. (No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus)

“What a beautiful Name it is What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a beautiful Name it is Nothing compares to this What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus” (What a Beautiful Name It is by Hillsong Music)

I’ll leave you with one last song, one that has such a powerful impact on my life. I hope you will take the time to click on this link and I pray that it ministers to you today. https://youtu.be/ihrUIPfvTh8

I hope these little snippets of song have started a reaction of praise in your heart. They certainly have in mine. We are called to be a people of praise.

“Let every living creature praise the Lord. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 CEV

If we are living, and we are; if we are a created being and we are, we should shout praises to the Lord!

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Are You Hungry?

Last night we were invited to a neighbor’s for dinner. She is an excellent cook, and I ate more than I normally do but you know what? This morning, I will be hungry again. That’s how it is with these physical bodies – we need nourishment daily.

That’s also how it is with our spiritual bodies. We need to eat regularly, or we become weak, diseased and malnourished.

“The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11 NKJV

There are so many references throughout the Bible of food and how God provides.

When the children of Israel were in the desert after leaving Egypt the Lord provided manna for them, and He gave them water from a rock. This was a sign of God’s power and also of His love.

Jesus used these miracles as teaching tools in His ministry. Let’s look at His teaching on bread.

“They replied, ‘What miracle will you work, so that we can have faith in you? What will you do? 31  For example, when our ancestors were in the desert, they were given manna to eat. It happened just as the Scriptures say, ‘God gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus then told them, ‘I tell you for certain that Moses wasn’t the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world.”

34 The people said, ‘Sir, give us this bread and don’t ever stop!’

35 Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. 36 I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. 37 Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won’t turn any of them away…48 I am the bread that gives life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, and later they died. 50 But the bread from heaven has come down, so that no one who eats it will ever die. 51 I am that bread from heaven! Everyone who eats it will live forever. My flesh is the life-giving bread I give to the people of this world.” John 6:30-51 CEV

Jesus is our bread, the living bread who gives life.

Do you remember what Jesus did when He ate the Passover dinner with His disciples the night He was arrested?

“…And it came from the Lord himself. He took some bread in his hands. 24 Then after he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this and remember me.'” I Corinthians 11:23-24 CEV

He broke the bread and distributed to it all who were sitting at the table. His sacrifice is for all of us!

We are able to be nourished by living bread when we read and study God’s word.

“ Because of what Jesus said, many of his disciples turned their backs on him and stopped following him. 67 Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they also were going to leave him. 68  Simon Peter answered, “Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. 69 We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.” John 6:66-69 CEV

So, I will ask you again, are you hungry? Read the Word, it gives us life!

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Shine Like the Son

The last few days have been those sunny Spring days we wish for. Only last week, we would have the heater on the first thing in the morning to take the chill out of the air but not today. It’s a comfortable start to the day at 56*.

When the weather warms more people are out and about. Smiles are bigger. There’s more activity. Sunshine just seems to make everyone happier.

This made me think about an old song, “Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sunshine in”. It was written by Stuart Hamblin in 1957.

“So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose
and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.”

Do I make people smile or improve their lives?

” Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 CEV

I remember one time in particular that I was standing in a long, slow-moving line. People all around me were annoyed. It seemed that each person in front of me encountered some sort of difficulty at checkout and this only further added to the wait and irritated those who were waiting. When it was finally my turn, I too encountered a problem. I could see that the salesclerk was trying to please everyone and that she was certainly feeling the mounting pressure.

As she finished, I took her hand and thanked her for all she was doing to help ALL of us. And then I had to stand back and wait for my item to arrive at the counter. After that I had the pleasure to hear several other customers thank her for trying so hard. It lightened her pressure and put people in a more caring mood as they waited.

I had to thank Jesus for letting me “shine” on her. It was a situation like this that reminds me I need to be a light – I don’t always react that way but I’m getting better at it. Thank you, Lord!

“I asked the Lord for help, and he saved me from all my fears. 5 Keep your eyes on the Lord!
You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame. 6 I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles.” Psalm 34:4-6 CEV

Today people need to see our light – wherever we go today let’s take the “Sonshine” with us.

“The lifestyle of good people is like sunlight at dawn that keeps getting brighter until broad daylight.” Proverbs 4:18 CEV

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Amazing Grace Is Sufficient

Yesterday I received a text from a friend. She told me how the blog from the last couple of days had been just what she needed. That humbled me and made me smile – I was so glad the Lord used His word through me to touch her heart and encourage her.

I am always amazed how the Lord reaches out to us. He has done it from the very beginning. It has been His purpose to touch our lives with His goodness, power and love. That’s who He is – it’s His character.

“You surely know what happened everywhere in Judea. It all began in Galilee after John had told everyone to be baptized. 38 God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and healing everyone who was under the power of the devil. 39 We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem.” Acts 10:37-39 CEV

Jesus went around doing good and healing all that were sick. That’s who He was and what He did. His ministry was reaching out to people, touching their lives and impacting them with His love.

Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and told the people listening to Him. This is why I was sent to you.

“Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath. When he stood up to read from the Scriptures, 17 he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read,

18 “The Lord’s Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, 19 and to say, ‘This is the year the Lord has chosen.’”

20 Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the meeting place looked straight at Jesus. 21 Then Jesus said to them, “What you have just heard me read has come true today.” Luke 4:16-21 CEV

God’s plan was Jesus’ purpose and He fulfilled it to a T. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder of His grace. The Apostle Paul, truly one of the greatest Christians of all time, experienced severe persecution and affliction. He was subject to spiritual and physical attack. In his moment of weakness he writes these words:

“I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. 9 But the Lord said, ‘My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.’ So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. 10 Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.” II Corinthians 12:8-10 ERV

My grace is all you need – My grace is sufficient! Amen. His grace, God’s grace is all we need for our salvation. For by grace have we been saved through faith, not of works. We have no room to boast.

His grace healed the sick, mended the broken hearted, set prisoners free from bondage and gave strength to the weak.

Grace is the overlying attribute of His character. God extending His nail pierced hand to those bound by sin is grace; calming the fears of the disciples on a storm tossed sea is grace; giving peace to Paul & Silas as they were singing in a prison cell after being beaten is grace.

God quieting our hearts when we hear the word “cancer” or the words “we have to let you go, your job has been phased out”, is grace. I have a feeling some of you are like Paul and have asked God on multiple occasions to fix some situation, God’s answer to you is the same as what He said then, my grace is all you need.

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Jesus is faithful, he’s trustworthy and he’s unchanging! Everyone who came to Jesus was drawn by his love and compassion. When you come to Jesus with your needs today, realize He’s never changed. Experience His amazing grace; it’s sufficient.

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