Category: Purpose

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Daily Instruction

God’s word is relevant for every generation! His truth is never antiquated!

The Word of God is alive and powerful; the Word became flesh, and the living Word of God is called Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the written Word and brought God’s purpose, reconciliation for us, into existence.

Each day God’s word gives us vital instruction, it is the Word of Life. God’s word has the power to transform our lives.

Learn From Christ to Be Unselfish -this the heading in my Bible above these verses.

5 In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. 6 He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. 7 Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, 8 he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 ERV

Before Jesus left this earth, He commissioned His disciples with the task of going into all the earth to preach and teach, making more disciples by sharing His love and restoration.

The Apostle Paul took that commissioning seriously. He went from one who persecuted Christians to literally evangelizing the world with the message of Christ.

“ We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan. 29 God knew from the beginning who would put their trust in Him. So He chose them and made them to be like His Son. Christ was first and all those who belong to God are His brothers. 30 He called to Himself also those He chose. Those He called, He made right with Himself. Then He shared His shining-greatness with those He made right with Himself.” Romans 8:28-30 NLV

God the Father has chosen us to be like His Son. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are being conformed to His likeness hour by hour and day by day. Jesus humbled Himself, laying aside His deity, became human so the world could see and know the love of God.

“Do as God would do. Much-loved children want to do as their fathers do. 2 Live with love as Christ loved you. He gave Himself for us, a gift on the altar to God which was as a sweet smell to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NLV

A life that imitates the Father is one of our greatest acts of love. Reflecting Him in what we say and do brings Him honor.

“Christian brothers, I ask you from my heart to give your bodies to God because of His loving-kindness to us. Let your bodies be a living and holy gift given to God. He is pleased with this kind of gift. This is the true worship that you should give Him. 2 Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLV

Father, it is my desire to be like you! Show me who I need to touch today with the love of Your heart! ❤

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Kindness & Peace

Two things we can always use more of is kindness and peace.

It would mean a great deal if people treated us nicer, right? And I think we can get a hardy amen to having less drama in our lives. What can we do to see that we are being used to bring those two elements into the lives of those around us?

“This letter is to all of you in Rome. God loves you and has chosen you to be his very own people. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!” Romans 1:7 CEV

Well, we can begin by praying for God to bless those we know with kindness and peace. And then we can follow through with being kind to those around us.

Kind to the other drivers on the roads, to the sales clerks and waiters. To receptionists and executives. To the person sitting at the next desk or our biggest competitor. To our kids and our spouses.

Paul said just a few verses later in the Book of Romans that

“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

It’s God’s goodness that brings people to Him. When we emulate God’s character we are being used to bring others to Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit working through us.

“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

Today I’m praying that God’s goodness and peace will overflow in your lives!

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Doing the Ordinary

I’m still relishing in the experience of our Easter Sonrise Service.

Over 50 of our neighbors and friends arrived before 6 a.m. We sat in camp chairs facing the eastern sky. Most of us were wearing jackets, yes, jackets were needed in the early morning air of the Arizona desert. Coffee cups in hand and hearts filled with love.

We had prayer, several times, sang songs (make a joyful noise) accompanied by recorded music and amplified by a blue tooth speaker. We recited the Lord’s prayer, read the account of Resurrection morning from Matthew and we saw the sun crest the ridge welcoming the day. Resurrection Day!

We serve a risen Savior! Risen, indeed.

That first day of the week morning, a thousand plus years ago, was a morning of grief and fear. The things that needed to be done pushed the followers of Christ out of their comfort zones. They had to leave the safety of their homes. They had to enter a community that wanted them dead.

At the break of day, the women went to the tomb to prepare Jesus body for his final burial. What had happened a few days earlier was just a temporary wrapping of the body until they could come back and complete the work. They came with heavy hearts. Their Teacher, their friend was dead.

After hearing the reports of the women that the tomb was open and Jesus was missing, Peter and John ran from the house to the tomb. Jesus was in fact missing.

The others left but Mary stayed, still trying to figure out what happened. The angels appeared to her and said, “He is risen”. Mary saw who she thought was the gardener. Just an ordinary encounter. And then…she heard the Savior call her by name.

The ordinary became extraordinary!

Two disciples were leaving Jerusalem and heading to their home in Emmaus. As they walked along the road, talking about the events of the week before, Jesus joined them on their walk. Just an ordinary walk. He asked what they were talking about, and they explained fully what had happened.

The disciples reached their destination and invited Jesus to stay with them and have something to eat. But when Jesus blessed the bread and broke it…

The ordinary became extraordinary.

“The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them” John 20:19 CEV

It was an ordinary evening. The disciples were worried; they locked themselves behind closed doors and SUDDENLY Jesus appeared to them. When fear comes, Jesus comes too! He comes to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

One final ordinary event, a fishing trip. Peter and the rest went fishing several days later. They fished all night and caught nothing.

“Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?” “No!” they answered. 6  So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.” They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.” John 21:5-6 CEV

They caught 153 fish – they counted.

Extraordinary!

 “Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don’t suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.” John 21:25 CEV

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV

Jesus will do the same for us. He will take our grief, our fears, our failures – the ordinary circumstances of our lives and turn them into something extraordinary. We just need to trust Him!

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Broken Bread

Very shortly Dave and I will be leaving for “Sonrise” Service. It’s going to be a beautiful crisp morning as we join with friends to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

But that first morning wasn’t a time of celebration for the apostles and Jesus’ followers. It was a time of mourning, a time to say a proper good-bye, a time of preparing His body for a proper burial.

How startling and frightening it was for Mary and the other women to arrive at the tomb and find it empty!

They ran back to the place where they were all gathered and told Peter, John and the others that Jesus was gone and the angels said He was alive. Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty. They went back to the others and reported that it was as the women had said. (John 20, Matthew 28)

It was in the garden where Mary saw Jesus and knew the Lord was alive, He spoke to her. He called her by name.

Next to see Jesus were two disciples walking on the road. (Luke 24) They were talking about everything that had happened in Jerusalem – the trial, the beating, and the crucifixion. Jesus joined them on the road and asked what they were talking about. They thought He was the only one in Jerusalem who didn’t know what had happened. When they got to their destination, they invited Jesus to eat with them, still they didn’t recognize Him but when Jesus took the bread and blessed it, they knew! Instantly, Jesus was gone from their midst.

“Joining them at the supper table, Jesus took some bread and gave thanks. Then he broke some off and gave it to them. 31 Just then the men were allowed to recognize him. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. 32 They said to each other, ‘When he talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. How exciting it was when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures!’”Luke 24:20-32 ERV

The two ran back, seven miles to Jerusalem, to tell the others what had happened. They were behind locked doors because they feared the soldiers would come for them. It was the evening of that same day and Jesus appeared in their midst.

The breaking of the bread and blessing it was something they had probably seen Jesus do many times. It was familiar to them and they recognized this gesture.

“While the two men were saying these things to the other followers, Jesus himself came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’

37 This surprised the followers. They were afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 But Jesus said, ‘Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me. Touch me. You can see that I have a living body; a ghost does not have a body like this.’” Luke 24:36-39 ERV

Maybe some of you are troubled today, wondering if God has forgotten you. He hasn’t! God takes the ordinary things in life and makes them extraordinary. He gladly reveals Himself and His power to us in personal ways.

Welcome Him to your table and break bread with the risen Savior!

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The Torn Curtain

There are so many events that happened in the days around the crucifixion of Jesus that deserve notice but one in particular came to mind this morning. It is deeply significant to me.

Let me give you the back story.

When the Lord instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, he was given a specific plan. In the interior was what is referred to as the Holy of Holies, or The Most Holy Place. The high priest was only allowed to go in there once a year and then only after offering the specific sacrifice for the atonement of sin.

The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a tall, thick curtain.

“The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. 21 The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Exodus 40:20-21 CEV

The curtain was used to separate God’s holy presence from people who were sinful and unreconciled to God.

Now, come forward to the day of the crucifixion.

“When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks were broken.” Matthew 27:51 ERV

The high priest couldn’t enter the Most Holy Place without offering the perfect lamb as a sacrifice. But when Jesus, the perfect lamb, was offered for the forgiveness of sin the presence of Almighty God was available to everyone, not just the priests.

“The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.” Hebrews 10:8-10 CEV

Yearly sacrifices for sin are no longer necessary. Christ made one sacrifice, and it covered all sin, once and for all!

“Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son.” Romans 5:10 CEV

We were like those people of the Old Testament, unworthy on our own merits to receive forgiveness but Christ…

“ When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices. 19 My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself. 21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. 22  So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us.” Hebrews 10:18-23 CEV

The curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. No man tore the curtain, it was torn by Almighty God.

The sacrifice for sin is complete in Christ and now we can come boldly into the throne room of God. The curtain has been torn and we have access to the Father.

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There’s A Lot I Don’t Know

If you have been reading these morning posts for very long you know that I sometimes have a different outlook from those around me. I was sitting here this morning and I realized that I don’t know who the teams are in the final four. I don’t know the winners of last year’s World Series or the Super Bowl.

I don’t understand the rules of soccer or ice hockey. I’m not up on the latest fashions or trends on Wall Street. I don’t know how to make exotic dishes or how to create a stain glass project. I know nothing about golf.

My goodness there is a lot I don’t know!

However, I do know the Creator of the universe. I know the One who sees the sparrows fall and He knows how many hairs I have on my head. I know the One who gave strength to Samson, gave intellect to Adam so he could name all the plants and animals, I know the architect who gave Noah the plans for the ark.

I know the One who gave Solomon his wisdom and the One who took Elijah home to heaven in a chariot. I know the One who cleansed lepers, raised the dead, healed the sick, provided food for the multitudes and the One who turned water into wine.

I don’t need to book an appointment or achieve to a certain status to talk with the One who is CEO of the universe. I call Him daddy and I can run boldly to Him and He never refuses to see me.

I know the Good Shepherd and He knows me by name. He causes me to lie down in green pastures and He leads me through the valley of the shadow of death.

I know the One who loved me enough to leave heaven, take on the form of man, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death and then rose triumphantly just for me. He made me new!

And I know that I as much as I know Him now, I want to know Him more.

“I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death.” Philippians 3:9-10 ERV

I know I can introduce you to Him if you don’t already know Him. His arms are open wide to all who would come to Him!

” Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won’t turn any of them away. 38 I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, 39 and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day.” John 6:37-39 CEV

Some may think that I’m not very well informed, but I can tell you with certainty that I KNOW the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that is more than enough!

“…nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” II Timothy 1:12 KJV

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Immovable

This is a picture of the well-photographed and famous “Haystack” on the Oregon Coast. It’s what I think of when I read the following verses.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 5:57-58

I remember a time when Dave & I had first started doing cowboy ministry. We had been going night and day, and we were facing some pretty heavy personal attacks from people that were very close to us. I can hear myself saying, “We don’t need this! We are serving the Lord and loving Jesus. We can go back to farming alfalfa, we don’t need all this.” And that’s when he looked up at a plaque on the wall and read me the verses above.

I knew it was God and that we were to continue but I was also angry. I wanted to lick my wounds and go off into the corner. I almost threw something at him. And then I repented and told the Lord I had been feeling sorry for myself and that I would let go and let God! I’m glad I learned that lesson then; it has been relived a number of times in my life since.

The Christian life isn’t for whiners. I love the wording in the King James – Be steadfast and immovable, ALWAYS abounding in the work of the Lord.

We run into discouragement when we work “for” the Lord and not “with” him. I’ve worked for the Lord before, and it’s been by my own efforts and for my own purposes. It’s much better when I work with Him and draw on His strength and have His purpose.

To work with Him means to work in faith because it’s faith that pleases God and Jesus said he always pleased His Father. So, James gives us this instruction for standing steadfast.

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7-8 If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.” James 1:5-8 ERV

A few days back I gave you a list of verses, God’s words, to review and make part of your daily living. They are the firm foundation we stand on. They are the foundation that does not collapse in a storm.

“Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall because it was built on rock.

26 “Whoever hears these teachings of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7:24-26 ERV

Steadfast, immovable means we don’t waiver.

Stand with your faith firmly anchored to God and His Word and when life’s storms come you will remain standing. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand!

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Good Full Life

My mind drifted this morning, gently drifted. My first thoughts were of the Father’s loving protection through the night. Thankful for peaceful sleep. And as I sat quietly, in my chair, I imagined the green pastures and still waters that our Good Shepherd leads us too.

I am there. One of His many sheep, finding rest and comfort under the Shepherd’s supervision. As I look around the pasture I see familiar faces; you too have come to find rest from life’s weariness and distractions.

Don’t be in a hurry. Rest, be restored. Be still and know that the Lord God Almighty has brought you here to rest.

I love the way the Bible intertwines its teachings. David said the Lord is my shepherd and hundreds of years later the Lord said I am the Good Shepherd.

“I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.

10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. 11  I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” John 10:9-11 CEV

Life to the fullest!

That’s impossible to do without Christ. That’s why He came.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 ERV

This verse was spoken by Jesus. He was teaching that some would come who didn’t care for the sheep at all. Some would come with a motive of self-interest and would come to steal, kill and destroy.

But, Jesus said he came to give us life and life to the fullest. Jesus was so committed to us having life in Him that He was willing to give up His life for us.

Look at this Old Testament verse:

“But he was being punished for what we did. He was crushed because of our guilt. He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed because of his pain. 6 We had all wandered away like sheep. We had gone our own way. And yet the Lord put all our guilt on him.

7 He was treated badly, but he never protested. He said nothing, like a lamb being led away to be killed. He was like a sheep that makes no sound as its wool is being cut off. He never opened his mouth to defend himself. 8 He was taken away by force and judged unfairly. The people of his time did not even notice that he was killed. But he was put to death for the sins of his people.” Isaiah 53:5-8 ERV

The Shepherd died to give life to His sheep.

He died to provide forgiveness of sin; He was beaten to bring us healing; He took on our mental anguish to bring us peace. He never opened His mouth to defend Himself. He died so we could live!

We are only a few weeks away from celebrating Easter, resurrection Sunday but before we could rejoice in the resurrection, we have to recognize the crucifixion. We have to see the Shepherd die; an innocent Savior dying for our sins.

Look what He took to the cross. Are we living with guilt, worry, addiction, illness, sin? Have we let the enemy steal and destroy?

Today, hear the words of the Good Shepherd. I am come to give you life; life to the full, life forevermore!

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The Light Within

When I was a young girl, we lived in Northern New Mexico. I loved the missions; the adobe style houses and the luminarias at Christmas. They fascinated me. Candles in bags, lining the pathways – giving light at Christmas.

Years later in my early thirties, the memory of those special lights brought meaning to the Bible verses I was reading.

“The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like. 5 We are not preaching about ourselves. Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also sent us to be your servants. 6  The Scriptures say, ‘God commanded light to shine in the dark.’ Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ. 7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.” II Corinthians 4:4-7 CEV

We are luminarias to the world!

When we allow the Lord to work in us and we work with Him, we bring His light to those around us.

Jesus talked about this with his followers.

“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 ERV

When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments from the Lord he was engulfed by God’s glory. When he came down from the mountain his face was illuminated. He had been in the presence of God.

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he carried the two stone tablets of the agreement. Because he had talked with the Lord, his face was shining, but he did not know it. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw that Moses’ face was shining bright. So they were afraid to go near him.” Exodus 334:29-30 ERV

Moses covered his face to keep the people from being fearful, but they knew he had been in the presence of God. The Apostle Paul talks about this and makes this comparison to our lives.

“And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:18 ERV

We are being changed to be like Him!

Just like those luminarias that lit the path to the mission at Christmas, we are to light the path that leads the world to Jesus.

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Working With & Not Alone

Have you ever thought about who you will want to talk to when you get to heaven?

Mercy Me’s song, “I Can Only Imagine”, immediately comes to mind. Beholding the face of Jesus, being in the Father’s presence, experiencing the total unfiltered expression of their goodness and holiness. I can only imagine!

But after the first millennium or two I think I would like to visit with some of my Bible heroes.

David, Moses, Daniel, the 3 Hebrew children, Peter, Paul, Rahab a prostitute and so many others.

These people are all accredited with doing great things with God. Yes, I said “with” God.

Too many times, we Christians try to do things “for” God when we should be working “with” Him. That is one of the foundational truths of our victory in Christ. When we try to do things in our own efforts, we will fail but when we know that we are “with” God we will succeed.

As I was completing my mental list of those whose lives had pleased God, I thought of God himself. How in each and every circumstance above, He considered not the ability of the man but His ability working through them.

Why would God choose a man who stuttered, a woman who was a prostitute, a teenage boy, young men who had been taken into captivity in a foreign kingdom, a fisherman and man who betrayed him, a man who had as his goal to kill every christian he found and more. If God had considered their past, their failings and shortcomings, He wouldn’t have chosen any of these folks.

A Bible teacher I listen to is known for saying “God hasn’t had anyone qualified working for Him yet”. What God does consider is His word. He knows that His word works, and it will effect a change in our lives.

“Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say, ‘For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.’

37 But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. ” Romans 8: 35-37

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. ” II Corinthians 2:14

“But we thank God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.” I Corinthians 15:57-58

There are so many verses in God’s word that say He has already given us the victory; we simply need to keep our focus on His word and not on our circumstances.

Think about this today – God has considered you today and found you valuable and worthy of use. Let Him work through you.

“Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, 4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. 5 It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5

It is God working through us to accomplish His purpose in our lives and with us to see His love carried to the world.

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