Category: Ephesians

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Great Riches

Rich – what does that word bring to mind? At this time of year it can be used in several ways.

Our conversation was rich with laughter.

The fudge was rich.

The presence of family and friends is rich.

That’s a present fit for a king but it requires his riches to buy it.

Rich: 1.wealthy: owning a lot of money or expensive property 2.worth much: worth a great deal of money 3.costly and fine: made from or consisting of things of the highest quality

What things in life make you feel rich?

Remember a couple of days ago when I used the verses from John 1 about the Word (Jesus) became flesh. Ok, so hold that thought for a moment and let’s look at Colossians.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 KJV

Let the word dwell in you richly or let’s put it this way. When Christ, who is the word, dwells in us we become rich in wisdom. Now there’s a novel concept, rich in wisdom. Wisdom is a commodity that money can’t buy but dwelling in the Word makes wisdom available.

“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:15-17 ERV

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)” Ephesians 2:4-5 ERV

Now there are some gifts that we all desire – peace, thankfulness, wisdom, mercy and grace. A relationship with Christ, the Word, brings the richness of these gifts to our lives.

Merry Christ – mas!

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Everlasting Father

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 TLB

God the Father, revealed His character through His Son. His nature; “God is love” was reflected in all that Jesus did. Even when he chastised the scribes and Pharisees, his words were true to his nature. When people were fearful, Jesus was there to bring peace, He righted the wrongs. He spent time with the Father so that He would always know the Father’s heart’s desire.

I shared these verses last night at prayer meeting.

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:2-3 ESV

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV

Our loving heavenly Father wants us calling on Him. He wants us to learn from Him. He wants to show us the great and mighty things He has planned for our lives – plans for our good and not for evil.

He is our everlasting Father!

Jesus lived a life rich in prayer. He would go out early in the morning to a solitary place to pray. He would stay up late at night, after He had sent the crowds and the disciples away, to pray. To talk with His Father.

And in His darkest hour, He prayed.

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” John 17:9-11

“ I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me… 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:20-26 ESV

Jesus prayed that we as believers would be one as He and the Father were one. The Father living in the Son and now the Son, living in us.

The everlasting, eternal Father wants to show us the great and mighty things He has planned for us. Amazing things.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

Our job now is to spend time with Him, just get to know him and we’ll begin to look like our heavenly Father as Jesus did.

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Blessed With Peace

This morning, I sit here in my chair, blanket across my lap, holding a warm cup of coffee to my chest. Breathing deeply, inhaling with peace of the moment and allowing the Holy Spirit to wrap my soul with peace.

I can’t imagine my life without these moments each morning. These moments where the Father quiets my heart, peace floods my thoughts, and my soul is at rest. These God-filled moments are the best part of my day. They are my strength, my wisdom, my empowerment to follow my Good Shepherd and to trust in Him.

They are also the moments when I pray for you. So many of you I have never met but God knows you come to receive from His Word and that’s the reason I lift you and the needs of your heart to Him.

“May you have loving-favor and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.3 Let us honor and thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has already given us a taste of what heaven is like. 4 Even before the world was made, God chose us for Himself because of His love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame as He sees us. 5 God already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done.

6 We thank God for His loving-favor to us. He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved Son. 7 Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich. 8 He was so willing to give all of this to us. He did this with wisdom and understanding. 9 God told us the secret of what He wanted to do. It is this: In loving thought He planned long ago to send Christ into the world. 10 The plan was for Christ to gather us all together at the right time. If we are in heaven or still on earth, He will bring us together and will be head over all.

11 We were already chosen to be God’s own children by Christ. This was done just like the plan He had. 12 We who were the first to put our trust in Christ should thank Him for His greatness. 13 The truth is the Good News. When you heard the truth, you put your trust in Christ. Then God marked you by giving you His Holy Spirit as a promise. 14 The Holy Spirit was given to us as a promise that we will receive everything God has for us. God’s Spirit will be with us until God finishes His work of making us complete. God does this to show His shining-greatness.” Ephesians 1:2-14 NLV

These are the words of the Apostle Paul to the believers in Ephesus. This is his letter of encouragement, his prayer of blessing. It’s also my prayer for you today.

I pray that you are filled with grace and peace and stay focused on the fact that God chose you before the beginning of the world to be His child.

Amen!

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Empty the Trash

I spent a portion of my morning quiet time emptying the trash on my computer. It felt good to see unwanted, unneeded emails and contacts disappear. The clutter was gone, mostly.

It made me think…one of the best ways to have a grateful heart is to empty the trash. The garbage of bitterness, resentment, criticism and insults can stink up our lives and ruin our peace of mind.

“ We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 ERV

Cruel words, defamation, betrayal, condemnation, deceit all need to be placed in the trash bin and deleted permanently. We can do that through the weapons that God gives us.

We have been given the shield of faith and the sword of God’s Spirit, which is the word of God.

Get up each morning and thank God for a mind that is focused on Him and His way of thinking.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLV

Thank Him for how He sees you.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. 4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. 6 And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6 ERV

I remember hearing one cowboy preacher say over and over again, “Get rid of stinkin’ thinkin'”. Anything that goes contrary to God’s word stinks. The Apostle Paul put it like this.

“ Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9 And do what you learned and received from me—what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.” Philippians 2:8-9 ERV

It’s hard to sit down and enjoy a meal of God’s goodness and love when there’s trash cluttering up our minds.

“Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord, because you are my mighty rock and my protector.” Psalm 19:14 CEV

Empty the trash – hit the delete button and let gratitude for all God has done fill your thoughts!

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Through Loving Eyes

Do you ever have problems with being critical or judgmental? Finding fault before finding the good? Ya, me neither! But we all know someone who is like that.

Are you glad that our heavenly Father isn’t like that? Oh yes, He sees our flaws and our shortcomings but He uses His strength and love to help us grow and overcome.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. 9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger.” Romans 5:6-9 CEV

Our Father isn’t willing for any of us to perish – and surely in all of time, in all the world, there could have been someone, some where who could have really irritated Him enough that He would have, could have said – “Nope, not offering you salvation. I just don’t like you.” but He didn’t.

“The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.” II Peter 3:9 CEV

“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

“The Scriptures say that no one who has faith will be disappointed, 12 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 10:11-13 CEV

Where we see faults, the Father sees a child worth dying for.

Transformation is having that kind of mindset. Looking for the value and worth in a person as God does and then letting the Holy Spirit bring the correction and change.

” Don’t make God’s Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins. 31 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 4:30-32 CEV

I wish I could tell you that I have this down, that I am free from criticism but if I did that it would be a lie. I can tell you that I am convicted more than I ever have been about the words I say. God is working in my life on a daily basis.

Paul says in I Corinthians 13 that love thinks no evil but is patient and kind. I will pray for you and ask that you pray for me. I desire to live God’s word to the fullest in every area of my life.

“God doesn’t intend to punish us, but wants us to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Christ died for us, so that we could live with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes. 11 That’s why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing…14 My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn’t living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 Don’t be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else.” I Thessalonians 5:10-15 CEV

Lord let my words encourage and build up others today. Let me see others through Your loving eyes!

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The Aroma of Thanksgiving

You probably think I’m a bit early to be talking about Thanksgiving dinner and you would be right. It’s not the aroma of turkey roasting, rolls baking or even fresh pies sitting on the kitchen counter.

The aroma of thanksgiving is that of a thankful heart.

“ I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. ” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

When we center our focus on Christ and follow His lead He will always – ALWAYS – lead us to victory. With those victories comes our testimony of God’s goodness, His power and His provision. Our testimonies bring the knowledge of Christ to the world and that knowledge brings the smell like a sweet perfume.

So, we have the opportunity to be God’s perfume. Thanksgiving in our hearts is an aroma that draws the world to Christ.

In the Old Testament, when a sacrifice or an offering of thanksgiving was made the priest also burned incense to make the sacrifice smell sweet.

The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to give our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord.

“Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:1-2 CEV

We give our lives to Him to be molded and used for His honor. As we thank Him for all He has done and the purpose He gives our life, we are a living sacrifice that is pure and pleasing.

The Lord has so many good things in store for us. He created us for good things. He’s not looking to withhold blessings from us, He desires to overflow us with blessings.

“ I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus. 3 We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” II Peter 1:2-4 CEV

Take time to let those verses sink in. We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. Not by our own power but by His. He gave us great and marvelous promises. Now that’s a reason to be thankful. It’s knowledge like this, that God wants us sharing with others.

God doesn’t expect us to live a life that pleases Him on our own. No, He gave us His promise that He would empowered us for the life He called us too.

“God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

When obstacles, trials and difficult times come, and they will, let’s refrain from complaining and worrying. Instead, let us be secure in the knowledge that God has provided victory for us through His power and His promises.

That way, we will be the ones who are the sweet smelling perfume of thankfulness.

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Fill the Temple

The first words that came to my heart when I got up are from Isaiah the prophet.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a very high and wonderful throne. His long robe filled the Temple. 2 Seraph angels stood around him. Each angel had six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces, two wings to cover their bodies, and two wings to fly. 3 The angels were calling to each other, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord All-Powerful. His Glory fills the whole earth.’” Isaiah 6:1-3 ERV

Have you noticed in the last weeks that revival, a massive revival, is happening worldwide? People are filling stadiums, auditoriums, congregating and parading in city streets and public parks declaring their allegiance and love for the Lord. They are being saved by the thousands!

His glory is filling the whole earth!

My Bible reading took me to I Chronicles today. King David had brought the Ark of God’s Covenant back to Jerusalem. (Side note: it was called the Ark of the Covenant because it contained items that reminded the Israelites that God had made a promise, an unbreakable covenant with them. He would be their God and they would be His people.)

The people were thrilled. They made sacrifices – they sang – they danced – they worshipped!

“The Levites brought God’s Holy Box and put it inside the tent David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to God. 2 After David had finished giving the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he used the Lord’s name to bless the people… 7 This was when David first gave Asaph and his brothers the job of singing praises to the Lord.” I Chronicles 16:1-7 ERV

This is part of the song they sang. I encourage you to go to the Bible and read the whole song.

“Give thanks to the Lord and call out to him!
    Tell the nations what he has done!
9 Sing to him; sing praises to him.
    Tell about the amazing things he has done.
10 Be proud of his holy name.
    You followers of the Lord, be happy!
11 Depend on the Lord for strength.
    Always go to him for help.
12 Remember the amazing things he has done.
    Remember his miracles and his fair decisions.
13 The people of Israel are his servants.
    The descendants of Jacob are his chosen people.
14 The Lord is our God.
    He rules the whole world.
15 Remember his agreement forever,
    the promise he gave that will never end.” I Chronicles 16:8-15 ERV

I can hear someone saying, “Well Kristi, that’s Old Testament and was written to the Jews. What’s that got to do with me?” I’m so glad you asked!

“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. 20 God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 ERV

” But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God. 11 God raised Jesus from death. And if God’s Spirit lives in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. Yes, God is the one who raised Christ from death, and he will raise you to life through his Spirit living in you.” Romans 8:10-11 ERV

We are God’s Temple! He has chosen to live in us, to make His home in us. We are where he resides by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“ 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. 20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.

Each of us have been ordained by God to be filled with His presence and His glory will be spread though out the earth!

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Able & Available

God, our heavenly Father, is able!

Able means He has the ability to do or complete the task set before Him. He is able to work on our behalf but He needs us to work with Him.

Because He is a loving Father he won’t force Himself on us and He won’t force us to take the benefits He has for us. But if we will allow Him to work in our lives we will see His ability working on our behalf.

“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.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 ERV

When we know God’s love, His power can work within us to bring Him glory.

“18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hebrews 2:18 AMP

He is able to help us immediately when we are being tempted because He was also tempted and suffered.

“God is strong and can (is able to) keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. 25 He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25 CEV

God is able to keep us! He is able to save us!

“But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 CEV

As I finished writing this a chorus filled my heart. It’s a song we sang twenty years ago.

“And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me”

Father, I am available. You are able to work in me, through me and for me for Your honor and glory!

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Family Heritage

In the 1970’s and 80’s, it became popular to search out your family tree. People had always kept records in the family Bible but with the information age, via the internet, it became easier to find dates, places and events that shaped our history.

Now it’s easier than ever, with the help of sites like Ancestory.com and 23&Me, to dive deeper in our past and even discover unknown relatives.

I have to be truthful; although my mother-in-law did extensive study and research on Dave’s family it never peaked my interest. Yes, I was curious about his grandfather and some of the other family members but knowing the whole history just isn’t my thing.

However…there is one bit of family history that I find very intriguing.

“When Jesus began to preach, he was about 30 years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back… David, 32 Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon,… 34 Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor,…Shem, Noah, Lamech, 37 Methuselah, Enoch,…Seth. The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God.” Luke 3:23-38 CEV

The world had a hard time accepting the words of Jesus because they considered Him to be the son of Joseph, a carpenter, but there was so much more. He truly was the Son of God!

How do people see us?

I’m the daughter of a construction worker and a bank teller. No great fame or fortune, just part of the working class. Not a scholar or one of the elite in society. That’s the way it looks from the outside.

But inside it’s entirely different.

“ Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:14-17 CEV

“ Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.” Ephesians 1:4-6 CEV

We have been adopted. Chosen by God since before the creation of the world. Chosen to be His children!

When we have our identity in Christ, our family tree starts with God. We receive His character. Our DNA is His Divine Nature Attributes. We become His representation to the world.

“ Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 CEV

“ 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

The Holy Spirit creates within us God’s character; after all, we are His dear children.

When we are adopted by God, we get a brand-new life and a new family heritage. Our family tree begins and ends with God, the Father.

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ALL

ALL – is an absolute – not some, not part – not by special selection but ALL.

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:22-24

The righteousness of God is for ALL and to ALL who will believe because there is no one who has his own righteousness because we have ALL sinned. Our salvation is not predicated on how good we our, our social standing, our financial statement, our academic degrees, political party or our natural citizenship. It is ONLY based on what Jesus did to bring salvation to ALL. Our part is to receive the gift.

More ALL verses to contemplate today.

” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10

All God’s fullness of power and deity are in Christ and when we are in Christ, we are complete in Him. He invests His fullness into our lives as well. That’s just too good to be true you might say. Read this:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

When we understand the love of God by experience, His true unconditional love, we will be filled with ALL God’s fulness! Amazing!!

Amazing grace in giving us freely this gift. Amazing Gospel, the nearly too good to be true news!!

The Apostle Paul prayed that we would know this fullness. He also gave us a few other absolute “ALL” verses.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father ” Philippians 4:19

And if you haven’t accepted God’s free gift of grace that brings salvation, all you have to do is accept it with a sincere heart because it’s available to ALL.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

God gave His Son for all of us. He has a purpose and a plan for each life. Be ALL you were created to be!

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