Category: Luke

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Enjoy the Journey

Right now Dave and I are getting ready to head out on another adventure. We’ve spent the last couple of days getting everything ready.

The camp site is reserved and the 5th-wheel is packed. I have double checked the list making sure I have all the food and clothing items we think we’ll need. Dave has completed his outside checklist; tires, generators, wood, extra fuel, vehicle maintenance, etc. We’ll be heading out this morning.

There’s an excitement that comes with preparation and even more once we arrive but to be honest I sometimes forget to enjoy the journey. Many times I am still working (on my computer or phone), making sure I have a everything done so that I can enjoy myself once we get there. Dave, on the other hand, takes it all in. “Look at this…did you see that”?

What a wake up call I got this morning when I heard the Lord whisper in my ear “Enjoy the journey, Kristi”.

And then…my thoughts went to Mary.

Did she enjoy the journey? She couldn’t have been all that comfortable; riding a donkey, camping along the way. Were her thoughts so consumed with the arrival at their destination and the arrival of her child that she lost sight of the wonder of the trip? None of us would have blamed her if she did.

“So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. It was known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. 5 Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (She was now pregnant.)” Luke 2:4-5 ERV

As a first-time mother, I imagine she kept all that was happening in her heart. I know I can still recall the last few days of my pregnancies. I remember going to Dairy Queen, grocery shopping, vacuuming the floors and watching Monday night football. It was all part of the journey, part of my childrens’ stories.

Mary had so much to take in. A road trip, a crowded city, searching for a place to stay, labor, the stable surrounding her, the support of Joseph, the birth, the Child and the words of the shepherds. Mary didn’t receive any special treatment; no one other than Mary and Joseph knew that her baby was the Messiah.

“So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. 17 When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child. 18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” Luke 2:16-19 ERV

Her journey wasn’t easy. The way was rough. Friends and family didn’t understand she was the virgin who would give birth to the Saviour. But she had started this journey by being obedient to the Lord and she would finish it with the same resolve.

Are we enjoying our journey or are we only focused on the final destination?

Each day the Lord lays a path before us. We can look at the beauty and opportunity in each day or we can complain about the distractions, interruptions and hardships. The choice is ours!

“My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 CEB

Let’s make sure we take time to enjoy our journey!

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Bah Humbug

Christmas can be hard.

Some are going through heartache, adjusting to separation, being isolated from friends and family. Some have experienced the death of the one they love the most. The traditions of years past have lost their meaning or are too hurtful to face alone.

They don’t want to put up the tree and the lights. They don’t want to sing carols and they certainly don’t want to build a snowman.

They do, however, need someone to be close. They need someone else to be strong for them. They need someone to lean on and a shoulder to cry on. This is the real message of Christmas.

Here are the words Jesus spoke about Himself when he began preaching in the Temple, this is the reason He came.

“Someone handed Him the book of the early preacher Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it was written, 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.'” Luke 4:17-19 NLV

The message of the angels that first Christmas was “I bring Good News of Great Joy.”

Jesus is our good news – He’s the healer of the broken hearted, He comforts us in our time of sorrow, He gives us joy unspeakable, peace that passes our understanding and He rebuilds what was left wasted and destroyed.

Look around today. I’m sure there will be folks we can laugh and celebrate with but let’s also look for those who may need us. They need us to help them through a rough time.

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

Be on the look out for those who need our help, our strength and be a wonderful example of God’s love!

Let’s help replace Bah Humbug with Good Tidings of Great Joy!

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Nothing To Brag About

We live in a reputation driven society. Companies spend billions each year on advertising, making sure they have the right image for their product.

Celebrities are given huge endorsements. The best production companies are hired. Constant attention is placed on positioning of those on-line searches. Reputation means everything – drink the right product, wear the right clothes, drive the right car, support the right candidate, play for the right team. The list is endless.

But, what about you and me? I know me and I really have done nothing to brag about, I won’t be asked for my public opinion or endorsement.

I’m kind of like Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree.

So were the shepherds on that eventful night when the angels filled the sky. Shepherds had a poor reputation in their society at best. They were considered the lowest of the blue collar workers, rogues, and liars but God… God saw them as men who would be faithful to spread the message that His Son had been born!

“The angels went from the shepherds back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see what has happened. The Lord has told us about this.’ 16 They went fast and found Mary and Joseph. They found the Baby lying in a place where cattle are fed. 17 When they saw the Child, they told what the angel said about Him. 18 All who heard it were surprised at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary hid all these words in her heart. She thought about them much. 20 The shepherds went back full of joy. They thanked God for all they had heard and seen. It happened as the angel had told them.” Luke 2:15-20 NLV

How do you see yourself today? Are you someone who has struggled most of your life with relationships and careers? Do others look down on you because of your education or lack thereof? Maybe you’ve done some stupid stuff and it has caused people not to trust you or you have wounded and broken relationships. Well, God has a message and a plan for your life. He is willing to use you to touch others.

The Bible is filled with people of low reputation who were used by God. Fishermen, shepherds, slaves, prisoners, prostitutes, tax collectors, children, a divorcee, murderers. People you and I probably wouldn’t invite to dinner but God used them all and not only did He use them, He saw them as valuable.

Jesus gave us His reputation and His place in heaven to reach us with His love.

“Jesus has always been as God is. But He did not hold to His rights as God. 7 He put aside everything that belonged to Him and made Himself the same as a servant who is owned by someone. He became human by being born as a man. 8 After He became a man, He gave up His important place and obeyed by dying on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8 NLV

He died for you and me. He brought us new life and completely blotted out all the old garbage; our past is gone, never to be remembered.

“God decided to let his people know just how rich and glorious that truth is. That secret truth, which is for all people, is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory.” Colossians 1:27 ERV

The splendor and the glory of Christmas is not in the tinsel, the lights, the trees; it’s not in the messengers (that includes us) but it’s in the message of the manger and the Son of God laid aside His reputation to become Immanuel, God with us.

Now that’s something to brag about!

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The Story of Possible

The Christmas story is one of hope and love. It’s a story of the impossible coming to fruition. So many times we become frightened or frozen by what appears to be impossible but…

With God NOTHING is impossible!

Nothing. Not our financial situation, not our health, not our kids or our spouse, our job, our safety, our peace of mind. Nothing! God’s gift to us is the gift of making the impossible possible.

These words were spoken to a young Jewish girl by an angel: “Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.’ 34 Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this happen? I am not married!’ 35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!’ 38 Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.” Luke 1:29-38 CEV

What could be more impossible than this – a young woman, who was a virgin, having a child?

No situation in your life or mine could be more impossible than this. Truly!

God’s power and Mary’s agreement with God’s promise made the impossible possible. If Mary hadn’t believed the angel’s message he would have had to go to someone else. After all, it had been prophesied for hundreds of years that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. But she accepted that NOTHING was impossible.

She believed, she conceived and she received what God gave. The hard thing would be living her conviction. She had to tell her family. She had to tell Joseph and then she had to hear the whispers and the criticism that followed. She was up to the task.

There was another woman who saw the power of God at work; she also saw God do the impossible. She was old, I mean really old. She was almost ninety and her reproductive system had never worked but God made her a promise. Sarah saw God do the impossible in her life.

“The Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? 14 I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I’ll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.’” Genesis 18:13-14 CEV

Compare our impossible situation with Mary and Sarah. Whose need is bigger or more difficult to fix?

God is the same – nothing, absolutely nothing, is too difficult for Him.

Time and time again I come back to my favorite verse. It is the foundation I stand on everyday.

“God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Numbers 23:19 CEV

Our Father has given us a book filled with promises that cannot fail. Find those promises and then stand knowing that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

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Did You Hear That?

That was my question this morning. Reaching for my coffee, suddenly the quiet of my office was disturbed with a strange noise. For a moment I sat and waited, would it happen again? Nothing…

The Lord and I were talking, some of you call it praying, when there it was again. Since it’s pitch black outside I got up to investigate. It was coming from the back patio. Thankfully, Dave wired the patio with a multitude of lights. I flipped the switch and the enter backyard lit up.

Nothing…but there is a breeze and a power cord that had been on the bar stool must have slipped because now it is on the concrete slab. Mystery solved. Prayer time continued.

In my heart I began singing the Christmas song “Do You Hear What I Hear?”. Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you hear what I hear? But it’s the final verse of the song that really resonates with me.

Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light.

The message of the song is about the Child who brings light. Our world has many dark and threatening places; some are imagined and some are very real. However, wherever light shines darkness is dispelled.

When I was a child living in northern New Mexico I saw lumanarias for the first time. They lined the path leading to a mission. We were attending the Christmas Eve service there with our neighbors. All other outside lights had been extinguished, just the lumanarias lit our way.

Once inside the mission we sang carols and the priest told the story of Christ’s birth. There was a candlelabra at the front, it gave the only light to the interior. As he finished the story we began to sing one more carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night”.

Someone began to extinguish the candles at the front and someone else took one of the candles and went to the people who had received smaller candles. Each person used their candle to light the one next to them. When the carol was finished, what had been a dark and instinctive mission interior was glowing with light.

“Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!'” Luke 2:28-32 NLT

Simeon, the priest, took the baby Jesus into his arms and declared that this child would reveal God to the nations. Jesus came to be THE light of the world. He shines brightly with God’s love and forgiveness, lighting the way that leads to the Father. No more darkness in our lives. He will light our way.

He will bring us goodness and light!

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Where’s Jesus?

This year I scaled back on my Christmas decorating but this little nativity is front and center. It has such meaning to me. I’ve shared this story before but it’s worth repeating.

In our area we have beautiful, brightly colored pottery which is made in Mexico and it is known as talavera.

For years I have purchased pieces to use in my decorating; cups, bowls, plates, canisters, etc. Each piece brings an atmosphere of gaiety and joy to the room. Several years ago, I was shopping in Tubac, an artisan community near us, when I saw the talavera nativity sets. I knew I had to have one. 

Most of my decorating at Christmas is done with nativity sets and angels. I studied each figure in the set; their smiling faces, their clothing, the shape of the stall and then I realized there was no baby Jesus! Where did He go? What happened to Him? 

The shop that we were in had many different size nativity sets and they were all missing the Christ child. And then I saw the handwritten sign…If you buy a nativity, ask for Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus!

Wasn’t that the Father’s intent from the beginning? He wanted us to recognize that our lives were not complete without Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus?

When I asked the shop owner why there were no baby Jesus figures he told me this. We never have any problem with theft in this shop except for the baby Jesus. We keep Him in the back until a nativity is sold and then bring Him out and add Him with the rest of the pieces. 

Who would steal the baby Jesus?

That is completely counter to the reason He came. When Jesus was born the angels filled the heavens with the announcement. The shepherds were told to go find Him. The wise men saw and followed His star. Everyone was welcome to come see Jesus!

Jesus came to forgive the sins of all men, even the ones who would steal the baby Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t born in a palace where only a few of the elite would be allowed to enter. He wasn’t born in a monastery where only the religious and the holy would be. No, He was born in a barn; anyone – man, woman, child, elite or poor, educated or unlearned was welcomed at the manger. 

“‘Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.’ 13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,

14 ‘Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.’

15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.” Luke 2:11-16 ERV 

I want to encourage you to put Jesus on display. Don’t hid Him, let the world see that He lives in you. Love the way He did; reach out to everyone the Father brings your way. The sign on our lives should be Jesus is free to all who ask.

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Everyday Life

The small details of everyday life are often miraculous!

We hear those stories of the Junior High Science Teacher who inspires a young student and then that student goes on to become an epidemiologist and their discoveries help millions of people. Or the High School Track Coach who challenges the relay runner to push just a little bit harder and then that track star goes on to win an Olympic medal.

These small but yet significant encouragements shape lives and inspire greatness.

The words “Mary, did you know?” filled my heart when I woke this morning. The answer to that question was “yes, she did”. An angel had told her the plans that God had for her and the baby she would carry.

“The angel greeted Mary and said, ‘You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.’

29 Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.'” Luke 1:28-33 CEV

Can you imagine how Mary must have felt? She was an ordinary girl, going about her daily routine but this day it was interrupted by an angel. Most likely she was a teenage girl who had heard the words of the Old Testament prophets who said that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. The Jewish people had been waiting for His coming for hundreds of years and now there was an angel standing before her telling her she was the one chosen to be His mother.

Yes, Mary knew!

I’m pretty sure that none of us have had an angel deliver us a message from the Lord, however, He speaks to us daily through His word.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

Every day when we open our Bibles and read what God inspired we are hearing His words and being taught by the Lord. He is interrupting our daily lives with His message. We can ignore that message or choose to obey it. God’s plans for us are good – in fact, the verse above says His word equips us for every good work.

Perhaps we will encourage and inspire others today or maybe God will send someone to inspire and encourage us. Everyday life is anything but ordinary when our hearts are open to God. Just ask Mary…

“Mary, did you know”?

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So Much Fun

I don’t know of a better way to usher in the Christmas season than with hearts filled with thanksgiving. It just seems like the logical thing to do – giving thanks prepares our hearts for the best that God had to give.

So, we decorated our trees (I’ll explain more in a minute), started reading our new Christmas story books and talked about Jesus’ birth with Sam and Kristine. One of the things I enjoy doing most at Christmas time is reading beautifully illustrated books that will capture the childrens’ attention and help them understand the real meaning of Christmas.

Dave and I will be spending Christmas at a campground this year. This was not our original plan but it’s not a bad Plan B. Last week I bought a small evergreen tree to take with us and it will sit on the breakfast bar until we leave. Yesterday the kids decorated it with some brightly painted tin ornaments. They both chose five ornaments and could place them whereever they wanted on the tree. Sam had an angel ornament that also had a star attached to it. He wanted that one to be at the top because the star was for Jesus.

Later in the day we headed out to the front courtyard where Dave helped us place big plastic ornaments in the mesquite tree. We laughed and giggled, oohed and ahhed, as he lifted each glittery ball at least fifteen feet in the air.

We were having so much fun!

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. 11 Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11 ERV

Joy is the message of Christmas. God, the Father, was so excited about His Son’s birth that He lit up the heavens and had an angels’ chorus announce the good news! After thousands of years, the day was here, that day when God came to earth and became Immanuel, which means God with us!

“So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 ‘A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.’”Matthew 1:22-23 CEV

Now that’s the reason for the joy and laughter!

May I admonish you to take a strong stand against stress and grumbling this Christmas season. What if we decorated our lives they way we decorate our homes and our trees? Look for and share the lasting joy that has been heaven sent! Look at Christmas through the eyes of the angels – the wonder of heaven coming to earth.

“My soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves. 10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?” Psalm 35:9-10 NLV

Prepare now to be happy and full of joy!

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Thankful for Protection

I was sitting here for the last few minutes mulling over what I might share with you this morning. Several different things were running through my mind but nothing seemed to gel.

It was then I felt something crawling on my ankle. It was something small and I figured it was a moth. I uncrossed my ankles and looked down but didn’t see anything. I sat here a bit longer and there it was running across my keyboard. Now, don’t freak out when I tell you this but it was a baby scorpion!

Yikes! I had a tissue handy so I pinched it in the tissue. Problem solved. No more scorpion. Living in an arid climate we find scorpions in the house on rare occasions. It’s something we learn to be on guard for.

Years ago Dave and I learned to take these words of Jesus at face value:

“Jesus said to them, ‘I saw Satan falling like lightning from the sky. 19 He is the enemy, but know that I have given you more power than he has. I have given you power to crush his snakes and scorpions under your feet. Nothing will hurt you. 20 Yes, even the spirits obey you. And you can be happy, not because you have this power, but because your names are written in heaven.’” Luke 10:18-20 ERV

Jesus had sent his disciples out to surrounding cities to preach the good news or the Gospel. He told them to heal the sick, cleanse lepers and cast out demons in those places to demonstrate the power of God. When they came back to where Jesus was they were telling Him of the miracles they had seen.

Jesus’ comment was what we read above. “I have given you power over the enemy, over serpents and scorpions but the greater miracle is that your names are written in heaven. The greater miracle is that you have relationship with the Father”. (my paraphrase)

Our hearts should be overflowing with thankfulness because our names are written in heaven’s Book of Life when we come into relationship with the Father. God has been gracious and kind. There may have been disappointments and even heart aches in the last year but God remains faithful and trustworthy. He continues to bring blessings and benefits into our lives. He protects and provides! He covers us with His love.

“Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God. He is the One Who made all light. He does not change. No shadow is made by His turning. 18 He gave us our new lives through the truth of His Word only because He wanted to. We are the first children in His family. 19 My Christian brothers, you know everyone should listen much and speak little. He should be slow to become angry.” James 1:17-19 NLV

He is the giver of every good and perfect gift and He does not change. We need to listen more and murmur less.

“We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us. 20 You always protect us and save us from death.” Psalm 68:19-20 CEV

One translation of this verse says ” Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”

Daily, He loads us up with benefits…Selah (stop and think). As we get ready to go about our day let’s stop and think about the ways the Lord has been good to us. You probably haven’t started your morning by killing a scorpion but I know you’ve already experienced some of God’s goodness.

Be thankful for protection!

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The Miracle of a Hug

Yesterday morning I spent quite a bit of time visiting with a friend who I haven’t seen in years. Periodically we have these calls and catch up. It was so good to hear her voice.

We talked about everything. As we were talking about our children and the wonderful adults, or near-adults, that they have become I remembered an experienced with her younger son from years ago. She mentioned that he is now 6’4″ and plays on his high school basketball team.

What I remembered was a little boy with glasses about six years old. Dave and I worked for and with our friends each summer. I did clerical work and some days were more hectic than others so I had a rule for days like that. If you came into the office and my door was closed you were to wait until I opened it to you – don’t just come barging in.

This little guy had been visiting his cousins for a few days and I knew he was due to come home. I was working with the door closed. I heard the outer office door open and close but heard nothing more. I continued working through some accounting procedures and when I was done, several minutes later, I opened my office door to see if anyone was there.

There he stood, right beside the door, such a big smile on his face. He didn’t say anything at first and I told him I was glad he was home. Finally I asked if there was something he needed. He looked at me and said, “I just wanted to give you a hug”.

My heart melted – I think we both shed a tear. What a wonderful hug it was!

I know many of you are like me, we’re huggers. It’s a “family” trait.

“The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 CEV

Our Father is a hugger. I often wonder how different the story of the prodigal son would have been if the father had greeted him with a lecture, a cold shoulder or an “I told you so” instead of a hug and a kiss.

The son was stinky, his clothes were filthy, he had been living a life of rebellion but the Father just wanted a hug! He wanted to embrace his son; he was overjoyed his son had come home. “All is forgiven, come home”! This was the call of the Father’s heart.

It still is.

We wander, we roam, we run off but the Father, our father, watches and waits and when He sees us coming, hearts full of remorse, He runs to meet us with open arms and a heart of forgiveness.

He celebrates our return with a hug and a kiss.

I am so grateful for His embrace! There is a miracle in a hug; a miracle of healing, a miracle of love, a miracle of reconciliation.

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