Author: Kristi Wilson

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Program Interrupted

This morning I am interrupting our “Like A Diamond” teaching to share with you some of my thoughts on the subject of censorship. Over the past several weeks there has been quite a bit of conversation about it.

I felt it was important to tell you that I will continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ each and every morning. This blog is posted on several social media sites and can also be sent directly to your inbox in email form. Email is probably the best way to receive the blog each day, without interruption. You can sign up for it on the blog “Contact” page.

“I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is the power of God. It is the way He saves men from the punishment of their sins if they put their trust in Him. It is for the Jew first and for all other people also.” Romans 1:16 NLV

I truly appreciate hearing from those of you who have taken time to write comments on how a particular teaching has been helpful. I love knowing that God’s word is making a difference in your lives.

It is the Word of God that gives us the strength and boldness we need when facing daily obstacles. A young shepherd by the name of David told his adversary, Goliath “…You come to me with a sword and spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of All, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have stood against. 46 This day the Lord will give you into my hands. I will knock you down and cut off your head.” I Samuel 17:45-46 NLV

Placing our faith in the infallible Word of God gives us boldness in adverse times.

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29-30 NLT

This was the prayer of Peter and John who were arrested for preaching about Jesus just days after His ascension to heaven. Even in the worst of times they asked for boldness to continue preaching.

I am so thankful for all the examples that the Bible gives us of people who were bold enough to talk about God’s love and power. It should be an encouragement to us. When we are trusting God He will never fail.

“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

Be strengthened and encouraged. Trust God. He is our provider.

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Come On In!

In the kingdoms of the world very few people are allowed access to the throne room. But in God’s kingdom we are welcomed – invited in without hestitation.

The book of Psalms has so many verses which emphasize the blessings of the righteous man. Now, as I read them, no longer is my thought “I wish that could be for me” but it is “Praise God, that’s mine!” Our righteousness is part of our inheritance, we are joint heirs.

Let us look at a few of these verses in Psalms that hold promises for the righteous man. I will leave a few here for you to read and then at the end of this chapter there will be a list of other verses that you will want to read.

“For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12 NKJ

“Less is more and more is less. One righteous will outclass fifty wicked, For the wicked are moral weaklings but the righteous are God-strong.” Psalm 37:16-17 MSG

“Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly* abandoned or their children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 NLT *righteous

David was now an old man and he said that in all his years he had never seen God desert those that He called righteous. Praise God, He has voluntarily made provision for our righteousness!

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Psalm 92:12

The palm tree is resilient and can grow even in the hottest climates with very little water. They become tall and beautiful shade trees. The cedar tree is a sign of strength and endurance. By comparison the righteous man will grow tall and strong because of the Lord’s blessing upon him.

“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.” James 5:16-18 MSG

In this verse we find that we are to confess our faults to one another. Faults are shortcomings or situations in our lives that need to be corrected and by the prayer of a righteous man they will be rectified.

The prayers of a righteous man are tremendously effective in obtaining answers from the Lord. Why would his prayers be more effective than an unrighteous man? I am glad you asked.

The righteous man is in a place of authority; he believes God’s Word and put it to work in his life. Verse seventeen of this chapter shows us the power in a righteous man’s prayer. It says Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and a half years, then he prayed again, and it rained. Now that is a powerful prayer. The prayer of a righteous man is strong.

Righteous means we have been placed in right standing with God. This realization should never create an attitude of arrogance, but it should bring a sense of worthiness and confidence. We no longer need to crawl on our hands and knees before the Lord feeling we have no right to bother the King of Kings. No, we are entitled to come boldly to the throne.

Enter the throne room. The door is open and the Father is waiting for you!

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Something’s Missing

I used to imagine myself dressed in the armor of a knight. I saw myself going out to fight some giant or fierce dragon only to discover that I had forgotten part of my armor. I would have the helmet, the sword, and the leggings but I was missing my breastplate. I had nothing to protect my vital organs.

One day I was reading in Ephesians. In the last chapter of that book Paul gives a list of the armor that God has given us. There was a verse I had been missing. It all but jumped off the page at me.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” Ephesians 6:13-15 NLT

That was it! I was missing my body armor. Another translation of this verse calls it the “breastplate of righteousness”. I had never considered myself righteous – Jesus is the one who is righteous. Righteous means that we are in right standing with God; so much of my life I wonder if I was good enough for God to love me.  I wasn’t alone.

For years Christians have been duped into thinking of themselves as second rate or lower-class citizens. I certainly had. This is completely contrary to God’s view of His children.

 “When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sinso that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 ERV

Oh, my goodness, did you read that? Our Father has made us new. He has placed us in right relationship with Himself. He is not holding us guilty for our sins because Christ took them and their penalty. Now He is asking us to tell others that they can be right with Him too.

This should remind us of the diamond cutter removing the dirt and crud that was encrusted around the precious stone. Cut away the sin and the Father’s right there polishing us, another facet is shining.

Since that day, I have never imagined myself without my body armor. I am righteous because Jesus took my sin making me right with God.

…We have been made righteous – we are “right with God” because of Jesus. Let’s show the world our true value and worth. We are bright, shiny, new because of Jesus!

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One More Thing

Before we leave the story of the prodigal son there’s one more thing to consider. The one who went off and spent all his inheritance wasn’t the only prodigal…

Then one day I realized that I had also been the brother who stayed home. I found myself resentful of some other Christians who had not been as loyal or dedicated as I had been, or at least that was my judgement. They were off running wild, foot loose and fancy free. Just look how God was blessing them – it was irritating.

The one son had taken his inheritance and ran. He came back ashamed and did not feel he had any right to the good things in His Father’s house; he just wanted to be a servant.

The other son had lived in the Father’s house the whole time, but he considered himself to be a slave. He was angry about his living conditions, but he never appropriated what the Father had provided. It is as if he had a million dollars in the bank but never wrote a check.

25-27 “All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’

28-30 “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’

31-32 “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’” Luke 15:11-32 MSG

The Father in the story loved both sons the same. He provided the same inheritance for them. One squandered it and one never used it. The Father wanted both of them to enjoy what He provided.

 Both sons needed to ask the Father’s forgiveness for their attitudes. Both sons had an equal share; they were joint heirs in the Father’s kingdom.

We need to take advantage of what the Father has provided. Not abuse it and not ignore it. We do not deserve the inheritance; we can’t earn it; we receive it because we are sons and our Father loves us!

Our Father has placed a robe on our shoulders and a royal ring on our fingers to show the world that we are His!

The Father is watching for us, waiting for us, to come to Him and receive what He has provided. It’s not based on our merit but on His love. He values all of His children, He loves us all!

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Welcome to the Party

Before I close this chapter and show you another facet that adds to our diamond-like beauty, I know there are some who are reading this that don’t feel you deserve to be included in the inheritance the Father gives to us. I once felt that way too!

Jesus told his disciples about two brothers who would receive an inheritance from their father.

“Then he said, ‘There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’

12-16 “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any…

20-21 “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’

22-24 “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time…

28-30 “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’

31-32 “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’” Luke 15:11-32 MSG

So many times, I have read this story and seen myself as the prodigal son. There was a time in my life that I walked away from the Father. I wanted to do things my own way and did not want to answer to anyone. Eat, drink and be merry.

What I did not know was that the Father was watching every day to see if I would come home. When I did, He came running to greet me – His arms were open wide, and He welcomed me without condemning me. All was forgiven and He threw me a party!

Maybe you feel the same as the younger son. Well, come home and join the party. The Father’s waiting for you!

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Don’t Be Intimidated

For the past number of years we have become keenly aware of bullying or intimidation. Many have been bullied as children and still others as adults. There is a spiritual intimidation that will sideline us if we aren’t aware of it and that is the feeling of unworthiness…

Down through the generations Satan has deceived us and stolen our rightful inheritance. We have been caught in a trap of feeling we have to earn God’s favor. We feel unworthy to receive what He has provided. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor and blessings; He gives them freely, that is why it’s called grace.

 If Jesus would have walked the earth feeling unworthy, He never would have had the courage to attempt any of the miracles He did. Jesus knew who He was and what was available to Him. He did what God, the Father, had sent Him to do.

As we begin to realize our position of joint heirs, we will see miracles now. Jesus is no longer walking the earth and if His power is to be seen, it must be seen through us. Jesus is waiting for us to draw upon that power and release it in the earth as He did.  We are to walk boldly and start using the unlimited power that rests upon us!

The only time Jesus could not do any mighty works was when he was with people who didn’t believe in His power as the Son of God.

      “Then Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet, except in his own town, with his own people, or in his home.” 5 Jesus was not able to do any miracles there except the healing of some sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was surprised that the people there had no faith. Then he went to other villages in that area and taught.” Mark 6:4-6 ERV

The same applies today; if we aren’t willing to believe that we are joint heirs with Christ then the work of Jesus will not get done.

One other part of our inheritance mentioned in Romans 8 is that we share in Jesus’ sufferings…

What kind of suffering does this include? In the early years of Christianity, it meant slander, beatings, imprisonment, and death.

      “People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do that, know that great blessings belong to you. 12 Be happy about it. Be very glad because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did these same bad things to the prophets who lived before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 ERV

The suffering that Jesus experienced was not sickness, lack or failure. He had to endure the critical and harsh words of those He came to save. The ridicule and verbal taunting were part of his daily experience. The greatest suffering of all was the knowledge that He would be separated from His heavenly Father when he took the punishment for our sin on the cross. Jesus died to purchase our freedom from the devices that Satan would like to use to destroy us.

In the early days of the church, believers were called “Christians”. This was meant to be a defamatory word, it meant they were acting like little Christ ones. Their lives reflected all the qualities seen in Jesus; they were just like Him! Today we too need to be Christians both in word and in action – little Christ ones. Is there enough evidence in our lives to bring that charge?

Satan had no power over Jesus and he no longer has any power over us when we realize what we have inherited.

When we learn who we are and what we have inherited we can walk free from intimidation. We will keep our heads held high and display the brilliance of character and power that we have received from our Father!

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My Brother

      …There is a very graphic story in the Old Testament which reveals the provisions of joint inheritance.

Joseph was an example of Christ in so many areas of his life and it is in his story that we find an example of Jesus’ making provision for us.

 Very briefly let me recap Joseph’s life. In Genesis 37-46 Joseph is betrayed by his brothers, Jesus was also betrayed by his Jewish brethren. Joseph became a servant and Jesus came from heaven to serve. Even in a hostile land Joseph rose to a place of leadership just as Jesus did.

 In Genesis 45 Joseph confronts his brothers and tells them God has sent him ahead of them into Egypt so that he could provide for them in their time of need.

      “I will take care of you during the next five years of hunger. So you and your family will not lose everything you own.” Genesis 45:11 ERV

Jesus came into a hostile land and gained great power which enabled Him to provide for all our needs. In the land where Joseph’s brothers were considered strangers, they were given the best in the land. They shared in what Joseph had been given by the pharaoh.

      “Tell them to bring your father and their families back here to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt to live on. And your family can eat the best food we have here.” Genesis 45:18 ERV

Joseph’s brothers did not do anything to earn or deserve the best land in Egypt. The pharaoh gave it to them because of who Joseph was. Our heavenly Father has promised to provide for us because of who our brother, Jesus, is.

      “Christ has made us a holy nation of religious leaders who can go to His God and Father. He is the One to receive honor and power forever! Let it be so.” Revelation 1:6 NLV

If everything has been provided for us in Christ, then why aren’t we experiencing the life he has made available to us? The answer is clear. Jesus gave this command to the disciples when he left this earth.

      “So he came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. 19 So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.” Matthew 28:18-20 ERV

Jesus was telling his disciples “you go in the power and authority that I have; I’m giving it to you, and I will always be with you”. The early Christians had no problem in following these instructions. They saw people healed, the dead raised, demons cast out and their needs met. They realized there was power in the words that Jesus spoke.

….Down through the ages we have forgotten the power of Jesus’ words and many live as if they never moved out of a land rittled by famine. We need to recognize the inheritance the Father has given us to share with our brother, Jesus. He promised “I will be with you always” and that includes the year of 2021!

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Our Inheritance

When I first sat down to write Like A Diamond I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to properly convey the depth of all God has provided for us and the value He sees in each of us.

How can man’s words accurately portray the Father’s heart?

“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17 AMPC

The verses above are God’s words about us. We are His jewels, His treasure! It’s no wonder that He has blessed us with an amazing inheritance…

Here again let’s look at the legal aspects of our relationship. Joint heirship means an equal share of the inheritance belongs to all who are listed in the will or testament.

Suppose we had been listed in our earthly father’s will as joint heirs with our siblings and part of our inheritance is a parcel of land. None of us would have the power to sell, trade or even build on that land unless the others were in complete agreement. The land belongs to all of us and we each have an equal say.

This is the same relationship that our Father has placed us in with Jesus. If that thought doesn’t thrill us to the bottom of our soul, then we haven’t realized the great truth of this facet of our relationship.

Look at Jesus’ life on earth. He was total man as we are. He laid aside His glory of the Godhead and became like us.

“And now, Father, give me the glory I had with you before the world was made.” John 17:5 ERV

Jesus spoke these words just hours before His death. He was ready to be restored to his previous heavenly glory; His earthly ministry was just about over. He became like us so that He could experience all the same things we do. He not only experienced them, but He came through them victoriously. Then He gave us His victory. Everything He has is ours and all that we have is His. He asks us to give Him our lives so that we can receive His life with all its power.

      “Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned.” Hebrews 4:15 ERV

Jesus raised the dead, healed the sick, calmed the sea, multiplied the loaves, and caused Satan to flee on every turn. Jesus was in complete control of His circumstances; He mastered the earth and all its elements. He walked in power and authority and exercised the dominion God gave Adam in the garden. He gave His life to reclaim that dominion for us.

This should help us understand Jesus’ own promise that he made to his disciples.

“I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12 ERV

Jesus defeated Satan in his own realm of authority, the world. It was not until the resurrection that Jesus completely stripped Satan of his power and then He gave that power to us. We are His joint heirs and part of our inheritance includes using the power that comes from Jesus.

“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

In these especially trying times we need to draw on our inheritance of strength.

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Reading of the Will

Over the last week I have shared with you the first chapter of Like A Diamond, Sons of God. When we accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and receive forgiveness for our sins we are adopted by our heavenly Father. With our adoption we receive an inheritance that we share with our older brother Jesus…

When we enter sonship, we also come into another relationship; we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Jesus becomes our older brother and we share in the inheritance that our heavenly Father has given him.

Several years ago, my husband received an inheritance from his parents’ trust. It got us to thinking. What were we leaving to our children? We asked them if there was anything they really wanted of our possessions. We were pleasantly surprised by their answers; they each mentioned things of sentimental value but not those of financial substance. They all expressed a desire to spend more time with us; making memories and continuing traditions that they could hold on to when we are gone. That is what they felt would be a rich inheritance.

Our heavenly Father has set up a wonderful inheritance for us.

“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” Romans 8:15-17 MSG

Our relationship with the Father is adventurous and wonderfully exciting!  We go from living in an orphanage to playing ball in the palace.

Why does the author of Romans point out that we have been freed from fear? Our old family relationship was fear based. Jesus knows that the father of this world, the devil, is the father of lies. His purpose is to deceive, steal from and destroy us in any way he can. As our big brother, Jesus, protects us and delivers us from his schemes. Jesus never wants us looking back, scared that we may be taken away from the Father.

 “A thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I came to give life – life that is full and good.”  John 10:10 ERV

Praise God for our older brother!

He has our best interest at heart. As our joint heir He shows us that we are entitled to the same privileges He has been given by the Father.

At one time we were spiritual street urchins but now our lives have been cleansed. We are precious jewels to the Father, “Like A Diamond”. Let’s sparkle brilliantly for Him.

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Getting to Know You

This last week I have spent several days with my closest friend from High School. So much has happened in our lives over the past almost fifty years. It was great to have this time to catch up and get to know her once again.

This morning we will finish up the teaching from the first chapter of “Like A Diamond”, Sons of God. Our Father wants us to know Him…

      Our Father wants us to know Him and to know Him well.  The verses we read from II Peter say we can partake or participate in God’s rich promises through our knowledge of Him. Many are of the mindset that we cannot know what God is going to do but all through His word He tells us we can. He spells it out, He wants us to know Him and His ways of doing things.

      “I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:17-19 ERV

 A loving father will spend time explaining to his children his reasons for doing things and his thoughts for following a specific pattern. Our Heavenly Father is that same kind of father. (The New Testament reveals the things that were once hidden about God.)  Jesus came so that we can know our Father’s ways.

      “I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.

18 I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. 19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power 20 he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:17-20 ERV

After Christ’s death on the cross a new door of relationship was opened with God. God was the One who opened that door. He desires a Father/Child relationship with us. God desires that we share His divine nature. He wants us walking and talking with Him.  

Don’t fall for Satan’s lie of unworthiness. We are worthy to commune with God because we have been adopted. Praise God for the position of sonship that He freely gives to each of us who humble ourselves and receive His provision of new life in Jesus Christ.

God has wanted someone to fellowship with, to walk and talk with, since the Garden of Eden and His relationship with Adam.

After Adam’s disobedience God continued to try and build relationship with mankind, but man had hardened his heart to a relationship with God. Our Father has always wanted to develop a relationship with His children.

He made us His own. He adopted us! Praise God for the position of sonship. He has freely given it to each of us who will humble ourselves and receive His provision through Jesus Christ.  

…All of God’s promises and blessings belong to you because you are His child. He has made you into a glorious new creation.

Our position of sonship is a precision cut facet in our relationship with the Father. You are “Like A Diamond” in His family!

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