tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74171517612914387282024-03-13T21:41:22.525-05:00Pastorette's ProgressMy Name is Kayce Reed, and I am a Pastor's wife, Mom, Lollie (grandmother), Ambassador for Revive Our Hearts, and a Happy Camper.Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-6820892076044140242023-03-14T15:29:00.000-05:002023-03-14T15:29:21.123-05:00Flourishing as a Pastor's Wife by Being a Team Player<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I don't know much about football. My husband thought it was funny that this is the analogy and theme I chose to share with a group of pastor’s wives’ for a luncheon…but I really feel like this is where the Lord was leading me….our word for our ladies ministry this year is</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> flourish</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…our focus in growing in grace…by His grace!</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ecc1dabc-7fff-6609-69cc-7239cc1e721e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 218px; overflow: hidden; width: 306px;"><img height="218" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Q6E-CWFVUOTLJ9YG86URQfhSBygiyTL5VJF79Vtq_XczHlRfNNEc-8upC-yDYzh15vLP44XEktUQr3UoA6etz9IpiVGswd_6Jcw_rbJ93Z56PCRuOy26uvhMFfOADn4Jqac85HNEkZAPh-Q5h-0enJ4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="306" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last year we cultivated…we pruned and weeded and got our soil ready, and this year, our goal is to focus on growing…so as I was thinking and praying on how I could best encourage us today to flourish as pastor’s wives…I was reminded of philosophy of sorts that Rusty and I have tried to live and model for our family…</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TEAM REED</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….we wanted our kids to see that we work as a team…life is a team effort…even laundry…I remember my husband telling me early on in our marriage, that he was on my side…that he wanted me to succeed…….and we shared this with our daughter when she first got married that now she was part of TEAM REHIM…I even made her a TEAM REHIM sign….so thinking about this </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TEAM mentality</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> just seemed to come together as a beautiful analogy of different ways we can come alongside our husbands to help our “teams”…and potentially each other.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s start by mentioning our</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Head coach</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> -</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Our husbands!!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…Now we know the Lord is our HEAD HEAD coach, but go with me here. For our purposes, our husband is our head coach…He has a big job and the weight and responsibility of the “team” mostly falls on him…Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they are keeping watch over your souls,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 186px; overflow: hidden; width: 184px;"><img height="186" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EmcDdAwuF0mKh1AzIJnkQ3d9ShfLgRnj9GaQj82OKnZ6tNpomP9XoYEpmyLiZuthKDY-iMTFROkKeSMqf1xRYFKs24KkeQnHHr1-XU66VTz_0zN3xmW1sNwfNv-nJqRDdD3J9kNkl7125cgRIv-1xCg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="184" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't want to minimize his role at all but this is a pastor’s wives luncheon so I want us to focus on the different positions </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> play that could help our whole team flourish…and who are our TEAMS???...</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OUR CHURCHES!!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 128px; overflow: hidden; width: 192px;"><img height="128" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/I672HOoLPNgCogXkXn9uVFde7gKhgBELFaa3FaAl49AQnCDPSPGDksdsGDMH0OFypkVsVj2kXy0Juq158_cyjEInORWJRsO3kL43FF5Q5BIZYaNzDDYkqS35L7gEK7-19dhuQ_m0U-EjLHfsYxSf0FY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="192" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ephesians 4:1-6…say, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a beautiful picture of unity and what it looks like when we are walking in a manner worthy of our calling…. when we are working together as a team.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Now, as the wife of the head coach, we have lots of different roles and responsibilities and jobs as pastor’s wives….different gifts and talents, callings….We wear lots of different hats!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 196px; overflow: hidden; width: 137px;"><img height="196" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/J4ZjdylVpiHb0oY1im_KQYh8l74V1MckZofeUpExCSfLXXpVz7Jw_0wwuIp5Q3_aiAV2o9a4ggAXn2xyIUGWquy8rBkYd0NAdUBSXlaUQNwJ9ISG4mlH-gLFeYSAgcoWvGxbiZEzOTkON2itmv2GqpU" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="137" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 PETER 4:10-11, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As each has received a gift, use it to</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> serve one another, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 THESSALONIANS 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You want to flourish as a pastor’s wife?? Keep these verses on the forefront of you remind…serve with the gifts God has given you and seek to build up your husband and your people….and each other…that is one of the main purposes of today!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So bear with me as we go through different positions that we see on and off the field….all of this is brought to you by Google…lol</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 122px; overflow: hidden; width: 217px;"><img height="122" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AphTgDlUP42fZdoxzUKrwLD560N0mJ67DObi6RDwjQKUPNs-JEmOIf_gpHwtsmKytrsn1qgnoe6bD8EG4s3CfJGZ6zV3zGn8-tAmIzZA3tknt0NltcrbttsuljbisfTWNMXkjx-it-jkPsmogKZuBkY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="217" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So if our husbands are our head coach, it makes sense that in some ways as his helpmate, we would be an…. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.Assistant Coach</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….I had to do a lot of research, because again, I don't know much about football!!! But I found some helpful articles that were God ordained and fit this topic and theme perfectly…one said, “What makes a good</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> assistant coach? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.They are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">loyal</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to their head coach, to their program and to their “school”. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. They do everything to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">support</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the head coach and uphold the philosophy of the program. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. They are</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> always willing to learn and open minded.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well jackpot…I just love Google!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, let's ask ourselves some questions…. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are we</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> loyal </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to our husbands??</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Definition of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">loyal </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is giving or showing firm and constant support…. would our husbands say that we are loyal?? Do we always have his back??</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 77px; overflow: hidden; width: 157px;"><img height="77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jVrIp7GTyJMVkOMwLJIPauQTYrh41HP8sJ9zIbCZC-qTeUhqWxbL9Ex-ETq1tIr6jkorDlMj0u90iCI26gUBvGf3ZZhxMdWKJQNATZfQlCNVkf-KLwPPdrq_AjRPUStky9bVKhy5LyChvRHyyQyIzV0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="157" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are we</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> supportive </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of our husbands?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Definition of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">support</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is providing encouragement or emotional help…would our husbands say we are supportive??.... Are we quick to come alongside or are we more likely to criticize how he handled a particular situation?? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 113px; overflow: hidden; width: 202px;"><img height="113" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6wkSFqK1FSbF7rrk_EGyoL5t1uU1uI5AT_SWqG_0pUeT7iKAOfvyUZi5Z85wmunmAvlHSdJpQGCNSMaMZnRMdSaT4Cs21P_PGdyIIkFXH6HlRS_QCP4Z0JTfa2Ou3MHTwCgsMH4kgHMeHbX0aeC5aEA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="202" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are we </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">open minded</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when it comes to his ideas?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Open minded</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> means </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">being willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or different to your own….let that sink in for a minute lol…now I don’t know about your husbands but mine has LOTS of ideas…and his mind works very different from mind…and we have been married almost 30 years and I’d say it took the first 10-15 before I really learned what it meant to be open minded about his ideas….to be respectful when he shares his thoughts and ideas…we have such an opportunity when our husbands share theirs hearts with us to either tear them down or build them up…….we have an opportunity to not only support them but </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">help them accomplish those ideas…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 135px; overflow: hidden; width: 102px;"><img height="135" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Wr0sn0YwG1BtdukqDUJ2zSYtGNpEe4nr2jAbI6LkX1TqmNRbGFY01eot0JwXX29w829B44jBEX-fy5_fb27Z3eDOTasxTWqNs4RSvAVaSBJn-E7ACCwOYo9OCwlmnznc5l26yIT5y989ZIHKTRrndLs" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="102" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and then </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">being willing to learn</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…would our husbands say we have </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a teachable spirit</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?? Would the members of our church??...because oh sweet sisters we have much to learn, and I believe the Lord uses our position as a pastor’s wife to teach us much!....having a teachable spirit and being sanctified go hand in hand, we grow by learning…and mistakes help us to grow…(Personal testimony…when we were newly married, Rusty was trying to teach me something…probably cooking related because he is a much better cook than me, but my young prideful self told him “I was not here to learn”....well brutal and shame on me…oh how the Lord has humbled me and shown me just how much I have to learn!!!!)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 131px; overflow: hidden; width: 186px;"><img height="131" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/V9_sLKmUiuBSU8tPKWjIQ-ZC2IYQ0sbklxNfTvbJ4QpQpVOx226j7YGcZNzek695EH7ersygPssIyMfsHsd8yFEBsoN6Jp1oM0cJDUKxxrLrpLRY4Mu7pHSVuN9Wa_MKf3b7IWhUijrtNS61VsD-DeI" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="186" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs has much to say about our need for a teachable spirit… </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Proverbs 9:9, “Give instruction</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Proverbs 13:18, “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sweet friends, we need instruction from our husbands for sure, but even more than that </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we need instruction for our Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…we can’t flourish as pastor’s wives without being the WORD ourselves….every single day!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Our next position…Sometimes we need to be the</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Offensive Coordinator</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…. An article I read said that a good offensive coordinator is a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">good teacher</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They are knowledgeable, they can influence you in a positive way based on that knowledge, and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they hold you accountable to become a better player. Wow!! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just a little side note here, another way I believe we can all flourish spiritually is by having an</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> accountability partner…or two or three</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…we need people asking us what we are studying, where and what are we reading in the Word…we need to be asked “How is your prayer life and your devotional time with the Lord?…and not to make us feel guilty, but to remind us that we need </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to be intentional </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with our walks and then at the same time, we need to be asking our sisters in Christ the same questions…they need to know we are interested in their spiritual lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 106px; overflow: hidden; width: 220px;"><img height="106" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kNmfcwt1D6jzrC2wkv5VYUp4B3yfLNsQqBJKDUFF0ZszMeOVewuALc1OjKV9nXt-bJdyUt3zubjBfhBmF6hfFL4hPYsACt37LhomcjI5QOBLIgwiG8vzGFtRO8XIFwl-ckHyMQXi1v-S8sxe9EMbSKk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="220" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another article said, “Offensive coordinators are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prevention oriented and look to develop plans in order to minimize drama</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They make things happen. These players (quarterbacks, running backs and receivers) try to anticipate what will happen and respond accordingly with the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">intent to advance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Team first is their mode of operation.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 145px; overflow: hidden; width: 145px;"><img height="145" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3Vt3GExi4iZKfqacLfASHx2pxDQ1juOCExgOn_2IjDuC1oZIZYntFgH0FBXRmuh5JeFeGlGMI-4pczY6CfH2EyBc8JmZJjzulOw5IH_EeYfmxYpr0JxrFidqU3Yp9kRP6DXiNfTYizvFNcz3IyLBG1A" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="145" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WOW! This makes me want to be an offensive coordinator!! Oh how I would love to be seen as the person on TEAM REFORMATION that likes to minimize drama and is prevention oriented…of course I had to google that too…</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prevention-oriented individuals show less risk tolerance and, instead, are motivated by psychological safety and security, evidenced by emotional calm and contentment. The prevention-oriented individual thrives when stability is assured and negativity is controlled</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….this was a scientific definition on Google, but what this says to me is this is</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a person filled with grace</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…this is a person who has the Holy Spirit working inside of her, sanctifying her…her calmness and contentment comes from her personal relationship with Jesus….her desire is to</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> advance </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Kingdom of God and in order to do that she knows she needs to crucify her flesh daily….she needs to be paying attention anticipating that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy…he does not want TEAM REFORMATION to win!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Thessalonians 4:11, “and to aspire</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to live quietly,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to mind your own affairs</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 28:18-20, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teaching</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is how we advance the kingdom!!!!!! That should be our priority…you want to flourish as a pastor’s wife, share the gospel and preach the gospel to yourself!!!! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 120px; overflow: hidden; width: 214px;"><img height="120" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/35YjUSRJ8_TAUYbEJKKJ52wgrmqzBh88c6X2DDb09LxJtefKNCWM9IQgqo4DJsbbT7OY37UKZj_Hs0C8BvcIUPd5AzVcLCtwUR3pxQQj9-3CAwmr3V16jNbQZ2TV68sAQbdu4ar9oZVjCBQcFvns0wc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="214" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Now sometimes we will need to…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Play Defense </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for our husbands….one article I read said, “While</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> most coaches will tell you that it's all about effort, the truth is, it's more than just effort that makes a good (or great) defensive player. It's about footwork, balance, strength, and believe it or not</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, discipline</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img height="100" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iYgJZYLuHgub4Z9M6saqEmYB6M23RqJKkOf_fj6at9cqd3UBTw5XPGej5eQpVMyrJvWLDjb62zgG-n2weyNnZ0OLO1QZzbYdnKn8BOO84mLyDi_Rw2VDnoKJcHa7Znk-WAtz99GCb1vYa7aCp7xiMes" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="150" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> disciplined</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is where I want to focus…There is much to say about the need and importance for us to be disciplined as pastors' wives…..The definition of disciplined is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">showing a controlled form of behavior.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In an effort to defend our husbands, sometimes it is hard “to show a controlled form of behavior”…because we have the inside scoop…we know our husbands and their hearts and it breaks our hearts when they are misunderstood, underappreciated, and when they don't receive grace…so what should it look like for us to “Play defense”???? Or what should it </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> look like….because it’s in our nature to want to defend and explain and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fix the things</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….but oh how our mouths can get us into trouble and so often we can make things worse…..may we be </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">quick to listen and slow to speak</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Friends….may we be even quicker </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to take our concerns to the Lord rather than to our people</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…we must pray without ceasing for our husbands, and our ministry, for our TEAM…because when we pray instead of act, we show that we trust the Lord with our husbands and their reputations…and ours…may we trust that just like the Lord uses situations in our own relationships to grow us and teach us, He is doing the same thing for our husbands…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 110px; overflow: hidden; width: 197px;"><img height="110" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3KjKplY-n_uGmmMDlXd6YGQ02kRJuglt12PHkroOJ-Ftx8Ot9CD_2dqh3sRtsYnrtsW2ZNDehRjAd0XxkF8ks7jQIMyRhhIGGOi4IqBFmRa0F2svWVPd8rLZM7mDjPklgO472quEZKhG5DP1YorYJQ4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="197" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are lots of different defensive positions, and I can't even begin to tell you what they all do….defensive tackles ,defensive ends, linebackers, cornerbacks, and my favorite </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(now) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the safety….As its name states, safety is the defense's last line of defense. The safety's job is to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">make sure no offensive players run or catch the football for a touchdown</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They are often the deepest player on the defense. The last line of defense…so what if sometimes the Lord is using us as wives to be our husbands last line of defense??? Their final protection from Satan discouragement, their reminder of their callings…the voice in their head reminding them to finish strong and endure to the end…..so as we play defense for our husbands, let be their </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">safe space,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a listening ear, an encourager</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and make sure they know we have their backs and are willing to sift through all the things for our good and God’s glory. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 112px; overflow: hidden; width: 157px;"><img height="112" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/awHFUdxKRWuabzebZBGyhz2x1zupnDCKFGoPloVbwzubMd4mhGYE50tda_7V1k6CTsMyHW1h--glP1p2VYo2GNiaPMp2OCluJTCfc3d0DCqh1H_Scf1n8gs4NFh2aLYU9tc96U0jIUl0S9ip9uor2bY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="157" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”....what a beautiful verse encouraging us to love disciplined lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You want to flourish as a pastor’s wife….Be your husband's biggest fan….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 166px; overflow: hidden; width: 121px;"><img height="166" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QNthA8w_yCRUlkJdZ68A7Wk0sjQYvvaEhbClsqhwFSMcIzjVHBJ4biCIGnM0x-UZxEf16KcpTZD4rknQCqHt6qMobKAyLtMYvIe1ujbRCHh0vTBpqKBlmZ3yZ0vQ4mWaH74OpKSZXX5ifZDgZ986TQo" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="121" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. be his</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cheerleader!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Support his ideas, be a sounding board, take notes during his sermon; let him know when he hits it out of the park!!!...and be intentional to rally the rest of the folks…be excited about the outreaches and work day and working in the nursery!!!! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So often just like we as women set the tone in our homes, we as the pastor's wives, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we set the tone for the church</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…especially of the women!!! WOWSER…that is so convicting!! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 136px; overflow: hidden; width: 204px;"><img height="136" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/F_dzFH70z9DO7_qYLoH3oSil1LjLL3qeg5qwb-zpsdb3LR5UzC2qIutHGO3oSPItzcn8xjxz40TgdXxSV_vawM8qzcRw8XXrc8x9ZcWPvl6iBHlIyEPTpJsY7my8iPZybpNn1ZprCu45jMJu7chyYQk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="204" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Timothy 4:12,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Let</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> no one despise you for your youth, but</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “We ask you, brothers,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to respect </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Be at peace among yourselves.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ladies, we have an opportunity to set such a beautiful example…. If they see us excited and involved and serving, it might just encourage them to do the same…which leads me to our last, and to me, our sweetest and most important position…well it’s not really a position per se, but very necessary!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. The Waterboys…or in our case, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water Girls!!!!.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">..According to Google,...their main task is to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">keep players hydrated by making sure there is always water and other liquids available while they are playing and training</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 123px; overflow: hidden; width: 123px;"><img height="123" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9lOIy-59FM0OMsSmUcNUpgMVGXlbeqMzeI2wOSc1p9qBQuKaKbKfz1dpyYah_TL6yo3XaKTTcmTTRS2Ba9f8ch8pZ2lAKMW5GfMpHuqxUnKGNmoHTRfwxVEiuk7EOwMvoKxogdO4n1XK690jQSzN4DA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="123" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is my Adam Story</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…..he’s the water boy for his son’s CHEF football team….and it makes my heart so happy to see him in his work clothes with his towel draped over his shoulder hauling that water out on the field for those boys at every time out!!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 319px; overflow: hidden; width: 277px;"><img height="319" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gD4RcAkANLJnkbw4sbn_uwRpb9INSwEhfGU8wc-wrtzJWrNEYv0z24dcBcumliVXGSWH99e50W3fFsUARgLuPe2eBzLya8gfrhM7dl5ALaPhxepNJjFmoXQqz_reJUmzVEbV6q9m4-wMMNvVXIzu5lg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="277" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is not a glamorous job, but it is a necessary job…the players can’t play without water….and if you’ve ever read the Well-watered woman….you’ll understand why I say this is such an important position….because we can’t live without water either!!....The beverage </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Living Water of His Word</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 127px; overflow: hidden; width: 202px;"><img height="127" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qZgxZj8cDEADzyao3xgU1_co9UaT6GgJqyTF-6vCuT1a1NVsU5LblaAwGUJXvQedxSpwWeqeLhBZWQ0K1PgqyupyknSh9Bl6s2xKrtZpAdkA-MUqAOAhzJCYu9Csrm47kXF98JQdMHBO66RODo7Vmyw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="202" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 58:11, “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work…..WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 11:25, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So often in our flesh, we want everyone to water us….it is easy for us to say there is one of us and 20 of them…it is easy for us to think about things from our perspective, our needs, our hurts…I have a mental picture that I try to remind myself of…I have built hedges around my heart before….so the water couldn't get in or out!!...I have been known to want to hide in the camper when things get hard!!!!!!! But let me tell you somethings, sweet friends…. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the grass is greener where you water it!!! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the more you water, the more YOU ARE watered and the softer the soil of your heart!!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 99px; overflow: hidden; width: 99px;"><img height="99" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1C-w3VWbCnvVoeSj7By5FsPaqqBpkyUVQtAlHRtoxhdXRJhsjZ0nX3JY7tfZBD-DQDxH0gayLjXoZRhekp2ncg-lSpYo6Hnhuq-nf9hUfOz_hr6sgApJOsoTdzMTsoHqJhZJqAHQdh9EY8TVFi2TapM" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="99" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I want to close with this last thought because when I think about the water boy/girl, it also makes me think of a servant…what better way to represent and fight for TEAM REFORMATION than with a servant’s heart…..what better way to flourish as a pastor’s wife than to be a servant??....no matter what our positions, as a child of God, we are called to serve….but as Pastor’s wives we have such a beautiful opportunity to glorify God with our service……</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 129px; overflow: hidden; width: 230px;"><img height="129" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/05ajTQZTRHY1CpWLWfp8tICoJiZy5dr-I0Y_HpDyP5iJXiF6bGj7tuo4G_NMYzEgGBpmfYQFG74Msg5L0dubbVkid2PSX2i4QovQ1eqkzh_Pezsl5ikeZVtMuqi6dsWyTn9wxBhxvNo5d1skbpz_YI4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="230" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 13:12-17, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 109px; overflow: hidden; width: 291px;"><img height="109" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/HMYTlTYT-cninNuFYqRdk0cOLfQDfxeoCH8Ih-EpqMPbUrSBsUZU2uiToedFFAinchmk8R3LCbrCh1hkOlXqjVoA7gEd0oUN4SBw2y3K9wjkIBdsn74CW5MvygqRw5qIUDN6vmUD89ou-D-B7uyA0rI" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="291" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Final thought…because the goal of playing football is to make the touchdown…to win.….to have a winning season!!! Well Sisters, we know, as believers, that we ultimately do win…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Revelations 11:15, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Then the seventh angel then blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 176px; overflow: hidden; width: 431px;"><img height="176" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gnokRECvLBEfwYfbu9EMnpcjXUUBTw1D3-yE7TFDl1-WfGoNcUA4zVIeCTwfnZsnOb3wkfCxzxYl9CRCMLAisnckky4KKxq9WCbBKSJbXpXpkynJgOpKFUMi-hVzk8MohTw0FYi-iTFiHFfhPl7BQ2g" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="431" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But as much as we want for the trumpet sound, I pray that in the meantime, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we play the game well…</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.that we give our Head Head Coach, and our Head Coach, and our TEAM 100%....by His grace!!!! I want us to flourish as pastor’s wives, as believers, and as friends and we cannot do that without an intimate personal relationship with our Savior and without being in His Word…because in the ministry we will have winning seasons…growth, good finances, unity….and no drama, but we will also have seasons that feel like we are losing….people leaving, disunity, lack of money….but no matter what our season, GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 274px; overflow: hidden; width: 274px;"><img height="274" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KZ4pkm7f3pF1_CcsaVaMrj-AAehuKEYqkAI_WwSW1ecN2Ig90crCUDOiozWimO6js2cqTXNtiRcI1hmyx6BsyBMbU9RwCeaH5Fq6OVPjBZXmU7bZHbcOraMdMKxIYrmjO337MI060i3iSx0dn9rqYrA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="274" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And as I close, my prayer for us is that when we all stand before our Father, He will be able to look at us and say that we played our positions well…that He will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 183px; overflow: hidden; width: 157px;"><img height="183" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/C1R_cyaqRgR3BKXYpy5EPpVtfPWx7_cQjB8ri-JMQkdACIMz3NQtJ0mhXFS5DE25opriHFmFAqi5b5eoCWW0ScvCvX_Tny7jKyc5OYZEcyES-OIEIyETUa3-TbpATuOV9wfn2mABMe8GXQ91TDG1L1g" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="157" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-87875209853924762712022-04-25T08:48:00.000-05:002022-04-25T08:48:16.302-05:00#Cultivate2022<p><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So many of the thoughts I will be sharing come from a book that impacted my life earlier last year….The Well-Watered Woman…she’s got a book, a blog, a website, facebook and instagram, journals, etc…She's got all the things and I have benefited so much through her thoughts and writings….At the ladies tea I shared a quick devotional about being a cactus…. at the time, I was a COVID cactus but I didn't realize it….Just like a cactus stores up water and was built for survival in the dessert, we need to store up God’s Word in our hearts for our survival….THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR WATER…..but before I jump in let’s do a little word study about our WORD!</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-78d45e13-7fff-2036-46c3-22067eb5b8f8"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultivate is an action verb…it is something that you do. The formal definition: </span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivate" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f47a5e; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultivate</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> means “to prepare for the raising of crops,”</span><span style="color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“to protect and encourage the growth of,”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“to cause to grow by special attention or by studying, advancing, developing, practicing, or publicizing.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Part of the second definition speaks volumes: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lime; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“to improve by labor, care, or study.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cultivating takes work. It doesn't just happen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I think of the word cultivate, I think of helping something to grow…..When I think back over the last several years, we have renewed some things, transformed some things all together, and now it is time for us to dig deep….to get down in the dirt, pull out our pruning shears and put on our gloves and get to weeding and pruning and cutting back the dead parts…the useless parts…. To be pruned - is asking God to remove anything that causes our lives to be unfruitful - sin, distractions, expectations….And sometimes when we ask the Lord to prune us, He may even take away good things….for the sake of something better!!! I have to share this quote from the book….”INSTEAD OF GRUMBLING AGAINST GOD’S PRUNING SHEARS, WE CAN OFFER HIM THE DEAD AND USELESS BRANCHES OF OUR LIVES AND TRUST HIM TO BEING BEAUTY FROM THE BROKENNESS.” Friends, we need to be pruned….cultivating our relationship with Christ needs to be a priority….we need growth…we need to grow in some areas that will help prepare us to better believers and better prepared for this cuckoo for cocoa puffs world we are living in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We don’t accidentally cultivate. We purposefully cultivate.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we cultivate??? How do we prepare the souls of our hearts for growth?? First and foremost by cultivating a relationship with Jesus…we can’t grow without a personal relationship with Jesus…we have to be disciplined and make it a priority…..we must incorporate</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> spiritual disciplines</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….these </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">habits </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of devotion….into our daily lives. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spiritual disciplines are those practices found in the Scriptures that promote spiritual growth among those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.” </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">They are </span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">practical </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rhythms designed by God to conform our hearts, minds, attitudes, and actions to the ways of Christ. We have to work at them….they don’t come naturally…..examples….</span><span style="color: #34302a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #34302a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prayer</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #34302a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giving thanks</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #34302a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fasting</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #34302a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giving…….worship, service, submission</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #34302a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meditating and studying God’s Word - </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts." - </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?t=niv&q=jer+15:16" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #337ab7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremiah 15:16</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> To “eat” God’s words means we take them in; we hear God’s words or read them. And when we do this consistently and meditate on them God’s words become a joy and the delight of our hearts.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The spiritual disciplines are for our growth, for our blessing, and they are instruments that help us grow in godliness. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And for this lesson, I want our focus to be on the spiritual discipline of</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> being in God’s Word….the study of His Word. Cultivating a love for being in His Word….because </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there are two forces that will shape our thinking: either the world or God’s word: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed is the man</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nor stands in the way of sinners,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nor sits in the seat of scoffers;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but his delight is in the law of the LORD,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and on his law he meditates day and night. (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?t=niv&q=ps+1:1-2" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #337ab7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 1:1-2</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will either follow the counsel of the world or the counsel of the Word….look at the state of our country….nobody really knows what in the world in even going on….masks, no masks, vaccinated, not vaccinated….our freedoms are being tested and if we listen too much to what the world has to say, we’ll be depressed, anxious, and in a downward spiral….we need to turn off Fox news and open the Good news because that is our only hope!!!!! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want us to be well-watered women this year…..watered by the Word of God…..because we need “water” to grow. My hope is that all of us here have been to the well and received that living water that is the gospel….that we are all believers. We know the gospel….we know the truth of who God is, and now it is time to focus on growing in our faith in Jesus. And I don't care if you’ve been saved for 5 months, 5 years, or 50 years, our growth should never stop. The Word will continue to transform us….we will never know and understand all the things…we will need to continually seek…..we will only grow with a steady intake of God’s Word….just like a plant continually needs water to grow….it will never have enough water to where it doesn't have to be watered anymore. Get that mental picture in your mind to help you understand the urgency and the necessity of drinking the Word of God everyday. Even when a plant is full grown, it needs water just about every day. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">KEY Verse: 2 Peter 3;18, “</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">grow in the grace</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does it mean to “grow in grace?”....one pastor said, ”True stability in the Christian life comes NOT from planting two feet and holding fast, but from putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward, one grace-empowered step at a time. A stable Christian is a growing Christian.” So in a nutshell…to grow in grace is to always be </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">moving toward Christ </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by knowing His Word…..reading, knowing, memorizing, studying God’s Word is how we grow in grace…it is the only way!!!! This is why cultivating a love for the Word of God is so critical to our Chistian lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goal for 2022…to help us cultivate our relationship with the Lord and a love for the WORD……</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WORD BEFORE WORLD</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My prayer is for us to cultivate our love for God’s Word…..I want us to love it, live in it, and act on it!!!!! I want us to adopt the phrase, “WORD BEFORE WORLD”....let’s have a New YEAR’s Resolution with some eternal significance….who doesn't want to lose weight or get in shape, get organized, stick to a budget, wake up earlier, etc….and these are all good things, and I want to do every one of them…again this year but the rewards for these things are temporal….What if our ONE New Year’s Resolution was to put the WORD before the world!!...Just a single resolution to</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> put Jesus first.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So when we cultivate, we have to get in the dirt…. Now it’s time to get in the dirt….to do some weeding and pruning….</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you start your day????? What is the first thing you grab when you wake up in the morning?.....coffee, your phone, the remote, a donut…lol….a baby for some of us….depending on our seasons we all wake up differently, at different times, and with different motives…some to get ready for work, to get kids to school or to get ready to homeschool….some of us are empty nesters, stay at home moms, we have some single ladies, some have parents to take care of…..all of our lives look different….but one way we are all the same is that we all need to spend some time with Jesus </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BEFORE</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we start our day. That is a bold statement and not meant at all to make up feel guilty……I know that may sound unrealistic for so many of us because of what our days looks like…but I want to challenge all of us to see the importance… it’s not a sin to NOT start our day with the Lord….don’t misunderstand me….I'm just saying how can we regularly face this brutal sin filled world, our own flesh, and the enemy without spending time with the Lord FIRST….for us working folks it might have to be after we get dressed and get in our car….or once we get to work…I don’t know each situations, but I know where there is a will there's a way…and how much time we have may be different….Realistically, Bailey is not going to have an hour to sit and read and pray and meditate every morning before Knoxs wakes up….she may be blessed enough to get 15 min of Scripture reading and a prayer just to help her through the day….It might just be one passage or verse that she can focus on for the day….that is why memorizing Scripture is so important….knowing what it says so we can recall it in the moments when we need it. She may not have time to go through the ACTS acronym where she adorns, confesses, thanks, and then supplicates….she might go straight to the supplicate some mornings…but here’s the things….THE LORD KNOWS THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS….He knows our seasons… BUT He also doesn't want…</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nor does he deserve the bare minimum</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….that should not be the goal…..He has to be a priority NO MATTER WHAT OUR SEASON. Because when we put God first…when we put the Word before the World, we shift our focus. His book becomes more important than Facebook….</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jonathan Edwards, the Great Awakening Pastor, the writer of the 70 resolutions…that he wrote as a teaenager…His first resolution serves as the foundation for all the rest….read on pg. 115…in a nutshell - Resolved to do what would bring the most glory to God….putting God first in everything - his desires, decisions, thoughts, time, his study and his speech, his reputation and relationships, his eating and drinking, his suffering and his repentance. YIKES!!!!...read on pg. 116</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippians 4:13, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0f10; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0f10; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zechariah 4:6, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0f10; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0f10; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 19:26,” “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0f10; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And to put “Word before the world” in perspective, it is easy to know that the Word is the Bible…and yes, when I say Word before the world, I’m talking about spending time in the Bible…reading and meditating on Scripture…but think about this… the Word isn't just “words” on a page…The Word is a person! The Word is Jesus…..the Word truly was before the world….John 1:1-3, </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was in the beginning with God. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Word created the world!!! “The Word is the very breath of Jesus”….to me this adds a whole new meaning to Word before the world…..and it makes me want to cultivate that time with my Savior….take it seriously…and make it a top priority in my life….so often I fail miserably at this.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some quick things for us to keep on the forefront of our minds in regards to reading our Bible EVERYDAY….why we need to cultivate this time with the Lord:</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">because we are in a lifelong battle….things are not going to get easier….the battle is won when we are prepared for war, when we arm ourselves with truth…the full armor of God, and are ready to fight the good fight.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need to be able to preach the truth to ourselves - we can’t preach it if we don’t know it!</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our seasons and circumstances are constantly changing….and God’s Word prepares us for them all….the good, bad, the brutal, and the beautiful….pg.170….remember the cactus…we need it stored up for times of drought…we need to read it in the slows seasons so when things change, we have some on reserve….we are already in the habit…it is already a priority and we will do what we have to do to make it happen</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Word of God gives us roots….every season has a purpose. Nothing is ever wasted in the Kingdom of God…but we need to be grounded in the Word to see the big picture, to see the character of God, to remember His promises.</span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conclusion:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultivating takes work. It’s a verb—an action word. We must actively and purposefully cultivate the things in our lives we want to grow. This year, I hope we will focus on cultivating what matters. So I want us to think for a minute…..here comes the questions and the reflections….we are going back in the dirt…..</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where are some areas you need to grow? What are some things you (Gretchen, Laurie, Mistie) need to cultivate in your lives that will help you grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus?? Ask the Lord to do some pruning….ask the Lord to reveal some areas in your life that need to be weeded or cut back….it could be such simple things like taking facebook off of your phone, or going to bed earlier so you can wake up earlier…or it might be big things….harder things….whole roots that need to be pulled up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is being righteous before the Lord important to you?, Do you trust Him like you should….do you truly trust His sovereignty, What about Grace - are you a grace giver?? Forgiveness….does the Lord need to do some cultivating in your heart to help you forgive,.....what about Humility - is pride an issue???</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What fruits of the Spirit do you need to cultivate?? Do you Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself?, joy….is the joy of the Lord where you get your strength???, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control, goodness, faithfulness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are some areas in your life that need pruning??? In your marriage, as a mom, daughter, sister, friend….servant of Christ???...at your job.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are some thoughts that need weeding out…or cut back altogether??? About a person or relationship….a situation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In what ways do you need to grow to look more like Jesus?? And what will you give up to spend more time with Him???</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What keeps you from spending time in God’s Word? Laziness, other priorities, sin, time, lack of discipline, lack of self-control….TV</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever read the Bible all the way through? If you answer is no, don’t beat yourself up…don't be discouraged…..instead commit to reading through all of God’s Word…not in a year if that seems overwhleming….it may take more than a year depending on your life at the moment…but that’s ok….start!!!....tomorrow….there are so many plans out there….Bro. Jim has one…Facebook and instagram has been inundated with links to different plans and ways to read….there are tons of accountability groups out there…I’d love to start an accountability group just for us…not to fuss or make each other feel guilty but rather to encourage each other to grow in grace everyday some kind of way!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I want to encourage you in another way…read good books…watch tv less, and read more! Be on social media less, and read more!!! Let’s fill our hearts and minds with the good stuff, not the easy stuff. I know it’s easier to lay on the couch and watch to TV….it’s easier to read Facebook posts than to sit down and digest a book that requires us to think and reflect and be convicted of our sins…but friends, we are called to do the hard things….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grow Slow</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The glimmer of the pruning shears Catches the rays of light. I cringe as they draw near And cut me like a knife.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Extra branches, dead leaves, Dried flowers taking up room Are removed and cut away, Giving space for more blooms. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growth is not always vertical; It requires cutting back. It’s taking away what shouldn’t stay To make way for a life without lack. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growth is also horizontal; It requires stretching out, Relying upon the help of the Gardener, The sun, the rain, and drought. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time and time again, I want to grow faster than I am. But you can’t hurry a flower’s bloom— You wait on God’s greater plan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In the waiting and the longing, Receive the nutrients given To flourish and keep growing, To be faithful to God’s mission.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s nurturing of our souls Takes time, pruning, and trust. Abiding is the way we grow. Remain in him, we must. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growth is never ending, And it looks different in every season. Trust the Gardener’s skillful hands— He is working for a reason.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Keep growing, stretching, reaching. Every moment of the day, God is working, pruning, teaching. Follow his Word—the Way.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Verses to ponder</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 12:1 </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He who tills (cultivates) his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 28:19 </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ecclesiastes 3:2</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 92:12-14 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 5:12-14, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 6:1 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 92: 12-14, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremiah 12:2, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8pt 0pt 10pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 5pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8857142857142857; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-right: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"> </p><div><br /></div></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-46397716717859104412022-04-25T08:44:00.003-05:002022-04-25T08:44:29.919-05:00What kind of Jesus do you want?<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">What Kind of Jesus Do You Want?????</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b5bc0586-7fff-f116-6cb8-fbdb20bc0a56"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want a</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Prozac Jesus</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? One that will make you feel better??</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe we …</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want CONTROL more than we want redemption</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crave SUCCESS more than we crave redemption. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Desire ACCEPTANCE more than we desire redemption. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Desire COMFORT AND PLEASURE more than we desire redemption. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want MATERIAL THINGS more than we want redemption. </span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is much much more than Prozac Jesus he is your Sovereign Savior King.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 12:13-21</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want a</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Vacation Planner Jesus</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Who will take you to a place where life is more pleasurable.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is not our vacation planner Jesus. He is our Sovereign Savior King</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 20:17-24</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want a</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Suggestion Box Jesus</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Whose law is more advice than a command. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is your Sovereign Savior King, not your Suggestion Box Jesus.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Kings 22:3-23:25</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want a District Attorney Jesus? Who will get all those people who’ve made your life hard.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 12:14-21</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A14-21&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28246a" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #b34b2c; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A14-21&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28249b" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #b34b2c; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is not our vacation planner Jesus. He is our Sovereign Savior King</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 5:38-48</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want a Match.com Jesus?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">....who will give you something to love. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is not our Match.com Jesus. He is our Sovereign Savior King</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 12:28-34</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HE WILL ONLY EVER BE YOUR SOVEREIGN SAVIOR KING!!!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s care is sure, but will you run to him in your time of need or look elsewhere for hope and comfort?</span></p><br /><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.</span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 13:5 ….for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”</span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 11:28-30 ….</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">29 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”</span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 27:1….The Lord is my light and my salvation;</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> whom shall I fear?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord is the stronghold of my life;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of whom shall I be afraid?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 40:29-31</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">29 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He gives power to the faint,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and to him who has no might he increases strength.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even youths shall faint and be weary,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and young men shall fall exhausted;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">31 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> they shall mount up with wings like eagles;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they shall run and not be weary;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> they shall walk and not faint.</span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippians 4:19 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.</span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 55:22 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 3pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-15904631136551109652022-04-25T08:43:00.000-05:002022-04-25T08:43:14.145-05:00Transform my "If Onlys"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our verse for the year…….Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"> Romans 12:2</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-84086dd5-7fff-0892-f0ae-9e9dd28d674c"><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is your biggest “If only”…if only I had a husband, a better husband, more money, a better job, more friends, better friends, a different president, if only this would change, or if he or she would change, Alec would start hating winter….Knox would…….., Rusty would….., more time, etc., </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduction….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transformation of our “if onlys” …..of anything……. will take </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">time</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….it’s a process. Change takes times. We tend to want the outcomes without the process!! We want victory without the warfare. We want to win the war without the fight.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We think the grass is greener on the other side of our if onlys, but really the grass is greener where you water it!!!!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transformation of our “if onlys” takes </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">desire</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…..we have to want to change the way we think….and it takes </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">discipline...we have to retrain our minds</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discipline for the purpose of godliness is not the same as self-effort. We don’t need regular old discipline….we need spiritual disciplines...plural...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times…….reading God’s Word, memorizing Scripture, worship,putting on the armor of God, fellowshipping with other believers...this right here, and this is a huge one, prayer….spending time with the Lord. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My quiet place devotional this morning was so good….the key verse was Mark 1:38, “And Jesus said to them, “Let’s go on to the next town, that I may preach there also.” He had been healing and casting out demons and people were looking for him but Jesus said it was time to move on...how did He know that? How did Jesus know what to do and when???? Vs 35 is key…...</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">36 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">37 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">38 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He spent time with His Father….you want to change your if onlys….spend time with YOUR FATHER….work alongside the</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Holy Spirit—yielding to Him so that He can conform us to the image of Christ.</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And that leads to…...</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transformation of our “if onlys” will </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">only</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> flow out of an intimate relationship with Jesus.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transformation of our if onlys will </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ONLY </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">come about by the Holy Spirit through my faith and obedience to do what we know we need to do….but so often we do the opposite or what we want to do because we want what we want….and sometimes maybe we don’t spend time with the these spiritual disciplines because we don’t want to change...we are stuck in our if onlys. BUT PRAISE BE…...</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transformation is possible because of Jesus and our hope of eternity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well that was the introduction lol</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part 1:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What can we do with these if onlys or what ifs……..I want to suggest 2 things:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find contentment </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Definition - </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">satisfied</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with what one has.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contentment doesn’t mean you are happy in the bad times. It means you are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">satisfied</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with life because you know that God has things in control.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One thing for sure is we live in a discontented “IF ONLY” world!!!!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We’re not happy with our leaders, with our spouse, our children, or the things that we have. Our house is too small, our TV is an older model and our smartphone doesn’t have the latest 5G technology.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what does God have to say about contentment….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “But Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are so used to stuff….and doing and getting immediate gratification that we have lost sight of what our needs actually are….we have </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">unrealistic expectations!!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!!!! The “world” is out for gain - bigger houses, nicer cars, better jobs...not that it is wrong to want these things and work hard to get them...but that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can’t be our focus.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If only I had a bigger house so my kids didn't have to share a room, a bigger car to travel, extra money to travel…..instagram is of the devil!!!! Lol and being on social media can steal our contentment faster than a lot of things!! Material things are not bad as long as we can keep things in check….and being satisfied with what we do have because it’s so much more than we deserve. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Along those same lines….</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 12:15 – “And he said to them, ‘take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” This is Jesus speaking and He is painting a very clear picture..</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.coveting is the opposite of contentment and it is a scheme of the devil to keep you “if only minded” rather than eternity minded</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...and it can also affect your relationships!! Jealousy is a real thing and it can eat away at us.</span></p><br /><br /><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love this verse…...2 Corinthians 12:10 – “</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the sake of Christ,</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”</span></h3><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is an important point here: “for the sake of Christ.” This is the reason why we all can be content. Christ left perfection in Heaven to come down to the most brutal place ever. He came down willingly, knowing that he would die a horrific death on a cross, so that we could be saved and be holy before God. That is why we can be content in all of all if onlys. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If Christ loved us enough to die for us, then being content is nothing compared to the gift we have been given. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can be thankful in all things because Christ loved us </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all of the way to the cross.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BE GRATEFUL</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…..DEFINITION: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; </span><a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/thankful" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #00248b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thankful</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give thanks in (not for) all circumstances;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you…..IF ONLY YOU MAKE SURE MY CIRCUMSTANCES DON’T CAUSE ME ANY GRIEF. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Gratitude isn’t anchored in ease, it’s anchored in intimacy.” The more we know God, the more we have reason to thank Him. When we focus on who God is rather than what He is doing, we can be thankful for where He has us, and that will change our if onlys.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">giving thanks to God </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Father through him."—</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Col%203.17" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #e66194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Colossians 3:17</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You want to change your “if onlys”??? Look for the good in the good and look for the good is the brutal!!....another quote, “When we become familiar with the bent of God’s heart, we learn to trust the work of His hands even before He has finished His work.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our if onlys tend to make us glass half empty kinds of girls they make us not content and not thankful...they tend to make us forget….BUT if we...</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part 2…..see our “if onlys” in light of an eternal perspective...that changes everything!!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three Scriptures to help us with our </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eternal perspective…..</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We get to those last two chapters of the Book of Revelation, and we find out that there is coming the day in </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rev%2021.4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Revelation 21:4</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. You come to (Revelation) 22:3, and there is no more curse. All the blessings we've been seeking for, the tears that we wanted dried from our eyes, the sorrows we wanted to escape from, the pain we wanted to be delivered from, it's promised to us that this is the way it will be. But it will not be fully that way until then…..What a day that will be….</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is coming a day,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When no heart aches shall come,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No more clouds in the sky,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No more tears to dim the eye,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All is peace forever more,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On that happy golden shore,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a day that will be,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When my Jesus I shall see,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I look upon His face,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The One who saved me by His grace;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When He takes me by the hand,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And leads me through the Promised Land,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’ll be no sorrow there,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No more burdens to bear,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No more sickness, no pain,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No more parting over there;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And forever I will be,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the One who died for me,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a day that will be,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When my Jesus I shall see,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I look upon His face,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The One who saved me by His grace;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When He takes me by the hand,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And leads me through the Promised Land,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #797b7a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ya’ll…...and oh how our if onlys will just pale in comparison </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's why</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Psalm 30 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">promises--I love this promise--"Weeping may endure for a night, but </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">joy comes in the morning.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" God mercifully gives us some glimpses of joy, some foretaste of heaven. Some times by His grace He does give us our if onlys…...the desires of our hearts….There are some pains He does heal. He does bind up the brokenhearted and the wounded. But it is all just a taste. No matter how many wounds you've had healed, no matter how many sorrows God has comforted you through, that is nothing compared to what eternity will be like!!!!!! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 8….</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19 For the creation waits with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eager longing</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for the revealing of the sons of God. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These verses are talking about the whole creation striving, groaning, travailing in pain. But what is the context there? He says the day is coming when the whole creation will be redeemed. Our bodies will be redeemed, our spirits will be whole as we have always longed for them to be. Yes, He has redeemed our souls; but He has just given us a taste of what can only be experienced ultimately in eternity….how are those if only looking right about now….brutal!!!!! Our if onlys don’t compare to what is waiting for us in eternity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 16pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we are here on earth, walking through those pains, those sorrows, those tears, </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they are not purposeless.</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They are not wasted. They are part of God molding and shaping and preparing us for eternity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From Lies Women Believe……..When you go back to the Old Testament, you remember that when the temple was being built, there was no construction noise at the construction site.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Kings 6:7, “When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you've ever built a home or seen a building go up, you know that there are very loud noises that usually take place at construction sites. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And they built the temple out of these huge stones. The stones had to be shaped and hammered and made to fit, but none of that took place at the site of the temple construction.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where did it take place? </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back at the quarry</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. = </span><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted….</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That's where all the cutting was done. That's where all the shaping was done. That's where all the noise took place. That's where all the pain was inflicted on those stones. </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they were brought in silently, quietly, (and) perfectly fit together at the construction site.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that's a little picture for me of what heaven is going to be. We are in the quarry right now, and </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is making us stones for His temple.</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Living stones, Paul says in the New Testament. We're being shaped and fitted so that in heaven we can be together... a temple fit for the glory of God. So there is purpose in that suffering. There is purpose in those wounds. There is purpose in those tears. The problem is that </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">if</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we resent it and resist and run from it, we're not going to be fit for heaven. We're not going to be ultimately what God called and chose and has made us to be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part 3 - Turning our “IF ONLYS” to “EVEN IF”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We do that with one simple word……...Trust.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throughout the Bible, God asks His children, in so many words, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you trust Me?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you trust me, O Israel, to only collect a day’s worth of manna?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Exodus 16:15-20)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you trust me, Achan, to not collect the spoils of the land of Jericho?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Joshua 6:18)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you trust me, Joseph, to marry the woman with child conceived by the Holy Spirit?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Matthew 1:18-25)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you trust me, Noah, to build an ark even though it's never rained.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the L</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ORD</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Peter 5:7a tells us to begin </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The word “cast” refers to intentionally relocating an object</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. God wants us to hand Him anything that weighs us down. He wants us to hand over our if onlys. But we have to be </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">willing to hand it over</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> … and then let Him handle it….and then know that even if it doesn't look like we think it should, He’s still good and we can still trust Him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the L</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ORD</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” (NLT)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the L</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ORD</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are the promises of God...and we can trust Him.</span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 7pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Power of “Even If”</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/daniel/3.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #337ab7; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daniel 3</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, three brave Hebrews turned their “if only/what ifs” into an “even if.” When King Nebuchadnezzar’s armies conquered Judah, Shadrach, </span><a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/shadrach-meshach-and-abednego-bible-story-verses-meaning.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #337ab7; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meshach</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and Abednego were among those ripped from their homes and families and carried off to Babylon. They lost their names and perhaps their manhood to be placed in the king’s service. But they didn’t lose their identities. They were God’s chosen people and servants of the Most High God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Nebuchadnezzar demanded they worship his golden idol or be thrown into the fiery furnace, they responded, not with, “what if …?” but with “even if” God doesn’t rescue us. Read their words.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">even if</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> he does not,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (</span><a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/daniel/3.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #337ab7; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dan. 3</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 17-18, italics added). WHY??? Because they knew that He was worthy of worship...they knew His character, His goodness, and they knew Him</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t you want that kind of </span><a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-for-faith-in-hard-times/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #337ab7; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">faith</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...to have that kind of trust?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Favorite Refit song...EVEN IF</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know You're able and I know You can</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Save through the fire with Your mighty hand</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But even if You don't</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My hope is You alone</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know the sorrow, I know the hurt</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would all go away if You'd just say the word</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But even if You don't</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My hope is You alone</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is well with my soul</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is well, it is well with my soul</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because in closing, let me tell you the rest of the story... He did deliver them... Because they were never alone in the fire and neither are we. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked in that fiery furnace he saw four people... And then a couple of chapters later when Daniel is thrown into the lion's den for worshiping God…. God closed the mouths of the Lions and Daniel is protected. And guess who gets the glory for that God because he's the only one who could do such a thing??? BUT GOD! Understanding God's power, his character, and his purpose is key. Realizing that Daniel and his friends did not escape the stuff…..there if onlys didn't go away….. they had to go into the fiery furnace and into the lion's den, but they didn't go alone...and neither do we.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my hope is for us to transform our “if onlys” to an eternal perspective!! AND to transform our “if onlys” to “EVEN IF”!!!!!!!!!!!...By continually sitting at the feet of Jesus, digging into his word, talking with God,.....doing what we're doing right here, but trusting Him, and by living every single day in light of eternity…. this won't make the things we struggle with miraculously go away but it will definitely shift our Earthly troubles, our if onlys, To our beautiful savior end to an eternal perspective and it will help us to remember that even if our if only’s don’t happen this side of glory, He’s still good!!!!!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-89718131462600844232022-04-25T08:40:00.000-05:002022-04-25T08:40:40.234-05:00Renew my Brokenenss<p><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our “RENEW” study may have been one of the greatest blessings of this past year. In a year full of brutal, it was sure some good stuff!!!! </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-aadc7691-7fff-304b-ed4d-1bee85a40f73"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recap:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Renew - January - intro; February - Renew our zeal (Gretchen); March - joy (Katie….the last one in person until now); April -fear (Myia); May- perspective (Michelle); June - witness (Kayce); July- Humility (Susan); August - relationships (Myia); September - minds (Gretchen); October - strength (Michelle); </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Share where I found this teaching….Nancy way back in 1995….It was life changing and so so helpful… It sounds like a negative word but in light of Scripture, it is anything but!! It made me want to renew my brokenness rather than be defeated by it. After hearing this teaching and reading Nancy’s book on brokenness, I was able to see that brokenness is not a feeling or an emotion….IT IS A CHOICE I MAKE….it is a lifestyle. Nancy said, “A lifestyle of agreeing with God about the true condition of my heart and my life as He alone can see it.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It's a lifestyle of unconditional, absolute surrender of my will to God.”</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> WOW...just wow. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you may say, why in the world would I want to be broken….what brokenness is not….its not being a victim...we fight against this everyday!!!….it's not being sad and gloomy all the time walking around like your on your last leg…..it's not being an Eeyore..it doesn't mean you never laugh or smile...and it’s not a woe is me I am horrible sinner mentality either….its not somebody who goes around looking for all the things wrong in their life - this can lead to false humility….being broken doesn't mean crying all the time….sometimes people are broken by a tragic circumstance….now I'm not saying that God can't use situations but you can be heartbroken and not broken hearted...hurt and tragedy doesn't necessarily mean brokenness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 14pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worldly definition of broken is - </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">having given up all hope; despairing. </span><span style="color: #303336; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> subdued completely : Synonyms: </span><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crushed" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #265667; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CRUSHED</span></a><span style="color: #303336; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorrowful" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #265667; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SORROWFUL</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> defeated</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what does brokenness before the Lord look?? Biblical definition of broken (hearted) - </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People who feel their spiritual bankruptcy and helplessness, and who long for the help and salvation of God. Such people are in the right condition to be met and blessed by God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learned this from reading Nancy’s book on brokenness….roof off and walls down. Brokenness is a lifestyle that takes me in two directions. It's a lifestyle vertically of living, so to speak, with the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">roof off in my relationship toward God….honest and real...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> transparent honesty and humility before Him. But it's a lifestyle that requires also that I live with the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">walls down in my relationships toward others</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...how often does our brokenness come from relationships...kids, spouses, friends, parents, siblings...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 14pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look what the Bible says about being broken….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed [to be envied, happy] are those who are poor in spirit, [those who are bankrupt, those who are poverty-stricken, those who are destitute, those who have no resources of their own] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And blessed [happy, to be envied] are those who mourn. For they [those who mourn over their sin, those who grieve over that which grieves the heart of God] will experience the comfort that only God can give (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt.%205.3-4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #e66194; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matt. 5:3-4</span></a><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I dwell in the high and holy place,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and also with him who is of </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a contrite and lowly spirit,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to revive the spirit of the lowly,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and to revive the heart of the contrite.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa.%2057.15" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #e66194; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isa. 57:15</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This one who is holy dwells with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contrite - affected by guilt….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">synonyms - remorseful, repentant, sorry….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">antonyms - defiant, unrepentant….so if He dwells with those are contrite….remorseful, repentant, and sorry, what does that look like for the unrepentant?????</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord is </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">near</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to the brokenhearted</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">saves</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the crushed in spirit.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps.%2034.18" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #e66194; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ps. 34:18</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps.%2051.15-17" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #e66194; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ps. 51:17</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE between the world’s view and the Biblical view of brokenness!! Where Satan wants us defeated, the Lord is glorified in our brokenness because when we are broken, we are in the right condition to be met and blessed by God!!!! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We will never meet God in revival until we have first met Him in brokenness.” Nancy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our brokenness….in true brokenness…there is...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a shattering of our self will, not what I want but your will be done….absolute surrender...yes, Lord!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Stripping of self-reliance - a truly broken person has no confidence in her own righteousness….total dependence on God!...who love their lives everyday knowing that when we are weak, He is strong.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A softening of the soil in my heart….the opposite of hard hearted….makes me think of a teachable spirit, someone who knows they don't know all the things and are willing to learn..to be receptive and responsive to the WORD OF GOD.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nancy said, “ The Broken contrite heart is easily molded by the hand of God.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I think of brokenness from a Biblical perspective, I think of characteristics like humble, quiet, obedient…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">one of our greatest examples of brokenness is David….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Probably wrote Psalm 52 in his brokenness…..this is a walls down Psalm….he wrote it for all the people to see..</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God...the title in my Bible</span></p><h4 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 51 </span></h4><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have mercy on me, O God,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">according to your steadfast love;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">according to your abundant mercy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">blot out my transgressions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and cleanse me from my sin!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see it in a man who cries out to the Lord for mercy, who knows that he has no hope outside of Who God is (51:1-2).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For I know my transgressions,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and my sin is ever before me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Against you, you only, have I sinned</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and done what is evil in your sight,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so that you may be justified in your words</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and blameless in your judgment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and in sin did my mother conceive me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see it in a man whose sin is on the forefront of his mind, reminding him again and again of his humanity and failure (51:3-6).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me hear joy and gladness;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">let the bones that you have broken rejoice.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hide your face from my sins,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and blot out all my iniquities.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create in me a clean heart, O God,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">renew a right</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 7.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> spirit within me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cast me not away from your presence,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and take not your Holy Spirit from me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Restore to me the joy of your salvation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and uphold me with a willing spirit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I will teach transgressors your ways,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and sinners will return to you.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">O God of my salvation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">O Lord, open my lips,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and my mouth will declare your praise.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see it in a man whose greatest desire in this moment is just to be clean again, just to have his ugliness erased, just to be pure, just to be forgiven and restored to his precious friendship with the Lord, and is asking the only One capable to accomplish it. (51:7-15).</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see it in a man who says this: “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (51:17).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">build up the walls of Jerusalem;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">then will you delight in right sacrifices,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">then bulls will be offered on your altar.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see it in a man who would do anything to get back to an unhindered relationship with the Lord again, except that he knows he cannot do anything. It is not within his power to right this wrong (51:16-19).</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 1pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What the Lord Desires</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David knew something we dearly need to understand: God does not want us sinners to pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and try harder. He does not want us to feed our pride by “making things right”, nor does he simply want sadness and sorrow over the consequences and pain our sin brings to us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wants spiritual brokenness, the kind of brokenness He can use. He wants godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And out of that desperation, out of grief and the hurt of a fractured heart over sin, God longs to produce humility in us. It is humility that allows us to recognize, as David did, who God is and who we are in comparison with him. It is humility that sets us up to come to grips with our sin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason brokenness is beautiful is because of how God can use it in our lives. It is something that can draw us near to Him. Brokenness can make room for a contrite heart and repentance to bring us back into fellowship with Him when we have miserably failed... the beauty in spiritual brokenness is found in where it brings us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contrast David to Saul….</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> two Old Testament kings who sat on the same throne. One committed horrible sins against the heart of God. He committed adultery. He lied. He committed murder to cover up his sin, and then lived for an extended period of time in covering up his treacherous, traitorous sin against God and against His nation. Yet in the Scripture we are told that King David was a man after God's own heart.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King Saul, whose sin by comparison as we would measure it, does not begin to be as great as that of King David. All that Saul was guilty of, from the seeing of the eye, was incomplete obedience. And yet in response to his sin, he lost his kingdom; his family was destroyed. He came under the wrath and the judgment of God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why the difference? Both men were confronted by prophets over their sin. And both men said verbally, "I have sinned." But you see, when King Saul confessed his sin, his confession was in the context of blaming the people, defending himself, making excuses, rationalizing, justifying himself. He revealed the true condition of his heart when in the same breath as saying, "I have sinned," he also said, "Please don't tell the people." He covered up…..walls up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But King David, when confronted with his sin, fell on his face before God in confession for all the world to see.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, a broken person doesn't care who knows. </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God was not as concerned about the nature of the sin itself as He was about the heart, attitude, and response of these men when confronted with their sin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">True brokenness is a tool by which God brings His wandering sheep back into His loving arms.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Lord, break me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason brokenness is beautiful is because of how God can use it in our lives. It is something that can draw us near to Him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 19pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that is why I want the Lord to renew our brokenness this Friendsgiving. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So looking at these verses and Scriptures what do we see?? What is the kind of heart that God revives and renews? The heart that God revives is the broken, the contrite, the humble heart. We have been talking all year about renewing areas of our lives that will make us look more like Jesus. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As mentioned earlier…..“We will never meet God in revival until we have first met Him in brokenness.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. [but there is a process, first,] Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [First,] humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and then he will lift you up (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%204.8-10" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #e66194; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James 4:8-10</span></a><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Oh God, show me what it means to be a broken person, to live a lifestyle of brokenness." What are some of the characteristics, the evidence of a proud, unbroken spirit? Why we should desire brokenness and how different our lives look when we are prideful and think that brokenness is a weakness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> focus on the failures of others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">broken people</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-righteous</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They have a </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">critical, fault-finding spirit.</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They look at everyone else's faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope, and they </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">look down on others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. But broken people are</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> compassionate</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They can</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> forgive much</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because they know how much they have been forgiven. They </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">think the best of others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and they esteem all others better than themselves.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people have an </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">independent, self-sufficient spirit</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people have a </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dependent spirit and recognize their need for others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people have to </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prove that they're right</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are willing to </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">yield the right to be right</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…..do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?? LOL</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people claim rights and have a </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">demanding spirit</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people yield their rights and have a </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">meek spirit.</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-protective</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of their time, their rights, and their reputation, but broken people are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-denying</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Broken people put others first.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">desire to be served</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">motivated to serve</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> others. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people desire for </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-advancement</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people desire to </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">promote others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Broken people come alongside each other...they tie heart strings and point each other to Christ. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people have a </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">drive to be recognized</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to be appreciated. Broken people have a </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sense of their own unworthiness</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They're thrilled that God would use them at all in any ministry. They're eager for others to get the credit, and they </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rejoice when others are lifted up</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people have a subconscious feeling, "This ministry is privileged to have me and my gifts." They</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> think of what they can do for God</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people have that heart attitude that says, "I don't deserve to have any part in this ministry." They </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">know that they have nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people feel </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">confident in how much they know</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">humbled by how very much they have to learn</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Broken people never stop seeking the truth and never stop desiring to learn and understand God’s Word</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-conscious</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are not </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">concerned with self</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at all. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">keep others at arm’s length</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are willing to risk getting close to others and to </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">take the risks of loving intimately</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are quick to </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">blame others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">accept personal responsibility</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and can see where they were wrong in the situation. Oh how we need this kind of thinking in our world...in our churches...in our homes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">unapproachable</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ready and willing with their arms open wide</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">defensive when criticized</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people </span><span style="color: #0033ff; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">receive criticism with a humble, open spirit</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Are you willing to listen when someone confronts you with a criticism?? Are you willing to hear them out and be willing to ask God to show where you need work rather than show them what's wrong with them??</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are concerned with being respectable. They're concerned with what others think, and they're working to </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">protect their own image and reputation</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. But broken people are concerned with being real. What they care about and </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what matters to them is not what others think but what God knows….come on somebody!!!!!!!!,</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and they're willing to die to their own reputation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people find it</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> difficult to share their spiritual needs</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with others, but broken people are willing to be </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">open and transparent with others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as God directs. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people, when they have sinned, want to be sure that no one finds out….King Saul. Their instinct is to </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cover up</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people, once they've been broken, they don't care who knows or who finds out...David. They are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">willing to be exposed</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because they have nothing to lose.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When confessing their sin, proud people tend to </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">deal in generalities</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are able to deal under the conviction of God's Spirit to </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">acknowledge specifics</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Are we specific about our sins?? Broken people are very aware and very sensitive to sin...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> concerned about the consequences of their sin</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">grieved over the cause, the root of their sin</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Proud people are remorseful over their sin, </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sorry that they got found out or caught</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. But broken people are truly, genuinely repentant over their sin, which is evidenced in the fact that they </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forsake that sin</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">compare themselves with others</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and feel worthy of honor, but broken people </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">compare themselves to the holiness of God</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and feel a desperate need for His mercy. When He is our standard, our perspectives change greatly. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people are </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">blind to their real heart condition</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">walk in the light.</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Proud people </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">don't think they have anything to repent of</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people realize that they </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">have need of a continual heart attitude of repentance</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud, unbroken people </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">don't think they need revival</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but they're sure that everyone else does. Whereas humble, broken people continually </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sense their need for a fresh encounter with God</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proud people have a </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hard time saying, "I was wrong</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Will you please forgive me?" But broken people are </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">quick to admit their failure and to seek forgiveness</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when necessary. When there's a misunderstanding or conflict in relationships,</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> proud people wait for the other to come and ask forgiveness</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but broken people </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">take the initiative to be reconciled</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They race to the cross. They see if they can get there first, no matter how wrong the other may have been. I’m gonna let that marinate for a second….because sometimes we think it is so hard...seeking out reconciliation and restoration in sticky situations where the lines are blurred...when satan has been working overtime and discombobulated doesn't even begin to describe the situation...maybe if the Lord renews our brokenness, it gets to be a little easier because all of a sudden it is not so much about the facts as it is being in </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">right </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">relationship with our Father...which means lives peaceably among men...which means in every situation as sinners living in our flesh, we could have done something different...a word, a look….did we seek God enough?? Did we give enough grace?? Broken people know they mess up and need that same grace we are called to give. I have had to do some serious soul searching in this area. Because of my own pridefulness, I have prayed for others to realize their sin and have waited for them to come to apologize or ask me for forgiveness...to give me grace. But as a broken person, I realized I had to change my thinking and my focus...I needed to be the grace giver...so over the last several weeks I have prayerful and painfully sent out several text messages and even develived a couple of dozen eggs to some of the folks that have left over the years...friends that I have desired reconciliation and peace with…. AND IT WAS GOOD and it was worth it and it helped me see that I have an opportunity to encourage yall to do the same types of things with some of the </span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">same</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> folks or other people in your lives where relationships need to be restored, repaired, and renewed. Forgive me when and if I have been a hindrance on reconciliation with our past church members who were our friends….I had to do some serious soul searching…..facebook - get off or get over myself…..</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Revival starts with us...it starts with our brokenness and it can only happen when we let the Lord work in our hearts...because satan is working against us, he wants to keep us at odds with our brothers and sisters in Christ...he wants us to remember and not just remember but dwell on and focus on the hurts….conversions you had in the past as well as conversations you heard about!!!....he wants us to be bitter and not better…..he doesn't want us to see our own sin in the situations...he wants us to be victims, and Friends, we can never be the victim if we are in Christ….and he wants me to be scared to tell you and encourage you to be the bigger person because of my own insecurities and fears….BUT GOD!!!!!! If I am truly being broken and spilled out then I want the same thing for y'all...I will tell y'all to do the hard things….to have hard conversations...to put yourself out there trusting the Lord to work as His sees fit...and He will get all the glory for the great things He has done...in our relationships, in our lives, but most importantly in our hearts...that is when we will have a personal revival….that is when true renewing can take place in our minds….that is when He will renew our zeal and our joy and our perspectives and our witness and relationships and our strength….in our humility, in our brokenness, is where we find Jesus.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well that was a long list….but there was a common theme...</span><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there's a cycle in the ways of God that brokenness leads to genuine repentance. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genuine repentance leads to forgiveness. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forgiveness will produce in my life freedom from the guilt, freedom from the bondage of myself and my sin….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that freedom will produce a new capacity for love and worship and a capacity to love others, to love the unlovable, to love God, to worship God….the broken are blessed….in our brokenness is where we find true revival. And hasn’t that been our focus all year..for the Lord to renew us and revive us. Broken people don’t just survive, they thrive. That seems so contradictory… but remember, I’m talking about the Biblical brokenness not the worldly definition...God uses broken things and broken people to accomplish His will...It is in our brokenness that we bear fruit. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s when the little boy's five loaves were broken—</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's when Mary's alabaster box was broken that the fragrance was released and filled the whole house.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And as we've said, it's when Jesus' body was broken on Calvary that eternal life was released for the salvation of the world.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 14pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then the fruit of brokenness is to be seen in revival. That for which we have longed and prayed is really nothing more than the release of God's Spirit through broken lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what is God saying to you?? Has God’s Spirit been tugging at your heart? Is there a step of brokenness He is leading you to take?....read papers….I want us to spend some time seeking the Lord...listening and singing if you feel led….but really just getting real and right before the Lord…..</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; 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line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14pt 0pt;"> </p><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-67823604025786386502022-04-25T08:33:00.005-05:002022-04-25T08:33:23.183-05:00Remember!!!<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Key Verse: </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+8%3A2&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deuteronomy 8:2</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> -</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-df5d329c-7fff-64f6-06b0-962c458eb9dc"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it comes to remembering God’s faithfulness, we can be especially forgetful. One striking example of this is found in the book of Exodus, chapters 14 and 16. In the span of just a couple of chapters, we see the Israelites delivered from slavery and brought through the Red Sea, and then they are grumbling about not having food to eat.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We want to say to them, “Don’t you remember what God just did for you? The water stood up like two walls, and you walked through the Red Sea on dry ground! Don’t you think that the God who can do that is also capable of giving you food to eat? Trust him!”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then, of course, we remember that we do the same sort of thing. God brings us through a trial, answers a prayer, and within a few days it’s almost forgotten. We’re already looking to the next struggle on the horizon and finding reasons to gripe and complain.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have to find ways of remembering God’s faithfulness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Joshua 3, we read of an amazing miracle God performed for his people. He caused the Jordan River to stop flowing so they could cross on dry ground into the Promised Land. God then instructed them, through Joshua, to gather twelve stones from the Jordan to set up as a memorial. One man from each tribe was selected to take a stone from the riverbed. Joshua set them up as a sign, as a remembrance, of what God accomplished for his people on that day.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is so gracious to us. He knows we have spiritual amnesia. He knows that we are forgetful. So he gives us memorials. He commands us to do certain things that will serve as reminders. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five practical ways, among others, to combat spiritual amnesia.</span></p><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. What are some events that you can look back on as a pile of stones marking a defining moment for you — a moment when God showed his power in your life, when he was guiding you in a very clear way, when he answered a prayer, fulfilled a promise? “I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds” (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps%2077.12" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 77:12</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Engage your heart in gratitude for what he has done. “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps%209.1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 9:1</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Once we’ve spent time remembering and thanking the Lord for the great things he has done for us, the joy of those memories should overflow in our conversations with those around us. In Joshua 4, we find this instruction specifically regarding children: “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground’” (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Josh%204.21%E2%80%9322" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joshua 4:21–22</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Transcribe</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Keep a journal. Write out prayer requests, and then record the ways in which God answers those prayers. When you’re feeling discouraged, look back on those records of God’s faithfulness.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taste and See</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and baptism are profound ways of remembering and proclaiming what Christ has done. God is gracious to give us vivid reminders that incorporate our various senses.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Lord’s Supper, we take in our hands the bread and the cup. The senses of touch, smell, and taste are all involved as we partake of a meal representing Christ’s death in our place. For the one being baptized, it is a most memorable experience as he or she is immersed in water. And as the rest of us </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/wash-in-the-waters-again" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">participate</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in baptism through our presence, we see with our eyes a dramatic parable of death, burial, and resurrection.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let us not forget. May we be people who fight spiritual amnesia with God-given means of remembrance.</span></p><br /><br /><br /><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+143%3A5&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">salm 143:5</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A7&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deuteronomy 32:7</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11%3A24&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 11:24</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> TASTE AND SEE</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”</span></p><br /><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11%3A25&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 11:25</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need to remember His promises:</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A9&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joshua 1:9</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Corinthians 5:17</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A9&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 John 1:9</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</span></p><br /><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A1-27&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James 1:</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2-5</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 8:28</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10%3A13&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 10:13</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it..</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A8&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 2:8</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremiah 29:11</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A27&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 14:27</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A38-39&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 8:38-39</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A13-14&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippians 3:13-14</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Corinthians 12:9</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.</span></p><br /><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 11:28</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A18&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 34:18</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit..</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A5&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 13:5</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I will never leave you nor forsake you.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippians 4:19</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-2&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 12:1-2</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+41%3A10&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 41:10</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3%3A22-23&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lamentations 3:22-23</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A11&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 40:11</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+105%3A5&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 105:5</span></a></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><br /></h3><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-55281889489529212572022-04-25T08:28:00.001-05:002022-04-25T08:28:43.358-05:00Let's Fill Up Each Other's Buckets!<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s Fill Up Each Other’s Buckets!</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e38d160d-7fff-d817-f31f-d9a87a983317"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><br /><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 4:15-16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -4pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it builds itself up in love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This verse says that every member of the body must grow up and work together. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 2:20-22</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In him you also are being built together into</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a dwelling place for God</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by the Spirit…..do we want the Lord dwelling in a drain or a fountain?? Do we want the Lord dwelling in a bucket filler or a bucket dipper????</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As believers we are growing to be a temple to be a dwelling place for God.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we edify the Body of Christ….how do we build each other up?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph.%204.29" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eph. 4:29</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Words of grace are the right choice of words spoken at the right time with the right spirit. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Be kinds to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph.%204.32" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eph. 4:32</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We love each other, forgive each other, put each other first.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others"</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom.%2012.10" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rom. 12:10</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Phil.%202.4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil. 2:4</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Through love serve one another" </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%205.13" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gal. 5:13</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works . . . encouraging one another"</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Heb.%2010.24-25" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heb. 10:24-25</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TEAM REFORMATION!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Col.%203.16" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Col. 3:16</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 15:14</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28302a" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b34b2c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">]</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">able to instruct one another</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...sometimes that is how we fill each other out...by telling them the truth….it’s not always just kinds words...especially if they are not ture. Ex. making potato salad.</span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Galatians 6:1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">restore him in a spirit of gentleness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%206.2" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gal. 6:2</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%2012.15" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rom 12:15</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor.%2012.26" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Cor. 12:26</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God gave Jonathan a special ministry of edification in David's life. Jonathan came to David and helped him find strength in God….</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Sam.%2023.16" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #38a5b7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Sam. 23:16</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">strengthened his hand in God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Heb%203.12%E2%80%9314" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 3:12–14</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have shared in Christ, if we hold our first confidence firm to the end.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.714284; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need to: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Develop the kind of Christian relationships in which you help each other hold fast to the promises of God and escape the deceitfulness of sin. Exhort one another day in and day out to stand fast and put on the whole armor of God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What can we learn from Jonathan and David about helping each other fight the fight of faith.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Everyone Needs Christian Friends. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. A Conscious Effort….we must be intentional</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Strengthening Each Other </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in God</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is our ultimate bucket filler!!!….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Reminding Each Other of the Promises of God</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need to ask each other questions: "What specific areas of your life has God been building this week?" "What is the greatest need or burden in your life?" "What can I do to minister to you?" "Do you know of any area of my life that needs to be corrected or dealt with?"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MAY WE BE BUCKET FILLERS AND NOT BUCKET DIPPERS!!!!!!</span></p><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-33270750690772210362022-04-25T08:24:00.000-05:002022-04-25T08:24:05.934-05:00#Transform2021<p><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2b383d01-7fff-6f52-3b84-d1c6da29f2a6"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our word for 2021...Transform</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sanctification and transformation go hand in hand….we will be being sanctified until Jesus comes backs or takes us home! And hopeful we will be transforming to look like Jesus until then as well.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What might be some areas in 2021 that need transforming????</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your marriage, maybe a critical spirit, your thoughts, how you parent, your speech/words….we sing that beautiful song, “Change My Heart Oh God”....but know this….transformation will only come when we stop trying so hard to fix all the things in our own strengths. It takes complete surrender to Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing...especially change. With that surrender we have to humble ourselves before a Holy God and fill our minds with His life-transforming Truth...this is what I want our focus to be this year...being in the Word every single day….because change does start in our minds...we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds….so we are going to spend some time dissecting our verse for the year. Romans 12:1-2...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Living Sacrifice</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 12pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,</b> that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what does “renewing our minds” actually look like?? </span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are to become a living sacrifice - well what does that look like?? What does that even mean. Paul is telling the believers in Rome that they are to sacrifice themselves to God, not like the animal sacrifices that they are all too familiar with, but rather as a living sacrifice. The definition for sacrifice is - anything consecrated and offered to God. So as believers, how do we do that? How do we offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice? We know under the old Covenant, God accepted animal sacrifices... But this was just a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ...Because of his once and for all sacrifice on the cross, those blood sacrifices are no longer needed... The power of the blood of Christ was enough to cover the sins of those who are in Christ. Death is no longer necessary hence the need for the word living in front of sacrifice. Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice so is only reasonable that we are a Living Sacrifice to him... And in a practical sense, verse two tells us what that looks like.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are a living sacrifice by not conforming to this world...We are to be different from the world. Turn to 1 John 2:15-16…</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For all that is in the world—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the desires of the flesh </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the desires of the eyes</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pride of life</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—is not from the Father but is from</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the world.”</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So this verse pretty much sums up all the world has to offer us….it can be reduced to these three things...For all that is of the World - the desires of the flesh, desire/lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*the desires of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FLESH </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-whatever appeals to our appetites- food, drink, sex, and anything else we look to to satisfy our physical needs other than Christ , </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*the desires (lust) of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EYES</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- materialism... stuff... coveting what we see that we don't have any envying those who have what we want, and</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pride of life- </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">whatever puffs us up....And puts us on the throne of our own lives - jobs, reputation, accomplishments, our children, etc. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are to think and act differently. We are to stand out as different...at our work places, on Facebook, and even family functions…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the full proof way for believers to not be conformed to the world…</span></p><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By being transformed by the renewing of our minds….THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD...The root word transformed is metamorphosis the definition of metamorphosis is a change of form by natural or Supernatural means. Think about a caterpillar... it goes through a natural process and emerges from a hard outer case ( a cocoon) to live a new life. it has been changed in both appearance AND nature…. and the same should be said about us. When this supernatural process of our minds takes place, we will change! We will think differently! We will act differently! Our old nature...with its wrong values, wrong beliefs, wrong practices.... are replaced by our new nature that we have in Christ!! </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Know this Sweet Sisters, we are not able to transform ourselves….these wrong patterns of thinking and behaving have been deeply implanted in us and we need to call it what it is - SIN!!! but praise God that sin was slain on the cross. Come on somebody!!!!!!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's the work of the Holy Spirit to transform us...our job is to submit to Him!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 8:6…</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 25pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> life and peace</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Who doesn't want some life and peace...I want that so desperately for us this year…..and the way the world is headed, we are gonna need it!!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So here my take aways….</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My hope is that you will search your hearts and submit yourselves to God...admit that apart from, you can do nothing. Ask Him to show you areas of your life that need transforming. Ask for grace to humble yourselves to do hard things.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find you an accountability partner….don’t leave here today without asking one of your sweet sisters to hold you accountable...to call you up and call you out.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Determine to be in the word every single day….look these verses up:</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*We need to</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hear</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Word - Romans 10:17, “So</span><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">faith comes from </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hearing</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and hearing through the word of Christ.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*We need to</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> read</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Word - Revelations 1:3, “</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed is the one who </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reads aloud</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*We need to </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">study</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Word - Acts 17:11, “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*We need to </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">memorize</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Word - Psalm 119:9-11, </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have stored up your word in my heart,</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that I might not sin against you</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*We need to </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">meditate</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on the Word - Psalm 1:2-3, “</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but his delight is in the law</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the Lord, and </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on his law he meditates day and night.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.</span></p><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember that the Word of God, ministered to our heart by the Holy Spirit, is the ONLY power on Earth that can change us from worldliness to Godliness.</span><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find a Bible plan, find a Bible study….there are so many resources out there and if you need help finding one, come see me. I love to share some resources with you...there are apps with wonderful Bible study that really dig into the Word, great podcasts to listen too, there are all different kinds of ways to read the Bible in a year, books upon books, upon books...not having resources cannot be an excuse.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conclusion: 2 Timothy 3:16, “</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And oh how badly do we need all these things. I can't wait to see how the Lord transforms our lives this year as we meet together each month...via zoom and face to face...I can’t wait to watch the Word change us and strengthen us, and draw us closer to each other, but more importantly to Him. Let’s pray…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you, Lord for who you are...for even giving us another year to do better...to get to know you more...thank you for your grace and strength, and your peace... and we pray that we will submit ourselves to you, Lord...and we admit that we can't change anything on our own. We need You and the power of the Holy Spirit, and Your Word, Lord….convict us Lord, put the desire in us to be in your Word everyday….show us where we need to be transformed, Lord...reveal yourself to us, expose us, and make us transparent before each other so that we can remember that we are not alone in this journey...sanctification highway is long, and bumping, but I’m so thankful that in your goodness and watch care over us, you don't make us travel this highway alone. I couldn’t be more thankful for the ladies in this room...for being able to grow in grace with them...the good, the bad, and even the brutal...thank you for the gift of your Son, thank you for this church and this ladies ministry...transform us, Lord, this year, to more and more like you everyday. Forgive us when we fail, and strengthen us to journey strong. We love you, Father….Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><br /><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 23pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Daily Transformation</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by </span><a href="https://www.christart.com/poet/deborah-ann-belka" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deborah Ann Belka</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> © 2016</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, this year I want . . .</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to spiritually grow</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want the Holy Spirit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in my life to glow.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want a mind,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that is regenerated</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on pure, holy thoughts</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want it concentrated.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want my words to be,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ones that bring new life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want them to carry</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">peace and never strife.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want my actions,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to ooze with usefulness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want my every deed</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to exude fruitfulness.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want my attitude,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to be humble and meek</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to encourage</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the lost and the weak.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want my reactions,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to reflect Your love</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want Your will</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to be all I think of.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, this year I want . . .</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a daily transformation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want the Holy Spirit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to be my sole motivation!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 12:2</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And be not conformed to this world:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but be ye transformed by the renewing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of your mind, that ye may prove what</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is that good, and acceptable, and</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">perfect, will of God.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-42451778855670433312022-02-21T14:53:00.002-06:002022-02-21T14:53:16.207-06:00Renew Our Witness<p> <span style="font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Definition of a witness:</span></p><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"ao0kh","text":"Definition of a witness:","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":24,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":24,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":24,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"d3gnf","text":"One that gives evidence; proof","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":30,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#222222\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":30,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":30,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"94ra7","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8m1d9","text":"One who can attest to the fact or event ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":41,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#303336\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":41,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":41,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"14j46","text":"one who has personal knowledge of something","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":43,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#303336\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":43,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":43,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"94upu","text":"something serving as evidence or proof","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":38,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#303336\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":38,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":38,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"6ht59","text":"Synonym is TESTIMONY","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":11,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#303336\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":20,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":20,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":11,"length":9,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#265667\"}"}],"entityRanges":[{"offset":11,"length":9,"key":0}],"data":{}},{"key":"10l","text":"In the New Testament, the word \"witness\" is derived from the various forms of the Greek word martus, which means \"record,\" \"report,\" \"evidence given\" or \"testimony.\"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":165,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#303336\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":165,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":165,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":93,"length":6,"style":"ITALIC"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"c7fvj","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"bf49e","text":"In the Bible, a witness is basically someone who sees something amazing or important. If this person begins to share what they’ve seen, we call this “bearing witness.” It’s a simple word, but being a witness carries a lot of responsibility!","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":240,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":240,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":240,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8anbh","text":"In the Bible, the word “witness” is used to describe both a person and an action—someone who sees something and then talks about what they’ve seen. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":148,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":148,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":148,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"55p04","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cmkdg","text":"Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":150,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":150,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":150,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8ha56","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1gkp2","text":"Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":177,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":177,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":177,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"bv2oo","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1kh21","text":"Acts 22:15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":11,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":12,"length":78,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":11,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":12,"length":78,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":11,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":12,"length":78,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"bia2e","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"ajoec","text":"Philippians 2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":17,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":18,"length":166,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":17,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":18,"length":166,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":17,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":18,"length":166,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"39t3s","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"14md3","text":"John 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":99,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":99,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":99,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"70vmi","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"305tm","text":"Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":18,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":19,"length":155,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":18,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":19,"length":155,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":18,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":19,"length":155,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"4cs8m","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"9297v","text":"2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":147,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":147,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":147,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"bd1po","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"9n8qh","text":"Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":14,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":15,"length":94,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#010101\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":14,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":15,"length":94,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":14,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":15,"length":94,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"d00b9","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"32d5q","text":"This lesson has two parts….when we talk about renewing our witness I want to talk about witnessing to the lost….that is something I know we all need to work….we must be able to articulate the Gospel...that can be so hard and intimidating...and as hard as it is to witness to strangers, it is even harder to witness to people we love and have a relationship with….and we also need to remember that how we act around the lost matters probably more than our words….because once you profess Christ...once that info is out there, it is on like Donkey Kong!","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":551,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":551,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":551,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"sgj3","text":"And the second part that I want to focus on is our witness to each other…usually when I think of witnessing, I think of witnessing to the lost...but I have come to realize that my witness to my believing people matters too...as important as it is for me to share my faith with the lost, it is equally important for me to share my faith and what the Lord is doing in my life to other believers... ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":396,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":396,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":396,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cf789","text":"Rusty taught us these 4 questions that have helped me so much: ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":63,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":63,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":63,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"9f4ss","text":"Who is God?? He is holy, just, and merciful","type":"ordered-list-item","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":44,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":44,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":44,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"4acu8","text":"Who am I?? I am not holy...I am sinner","type":"ordered-list-item","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":38,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":38,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":38,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cjggm","text":"What did Christ do for me?? Died, He took my place….before he died, He lived a perfect life in a sin ridden world….He taught us and He left us an example oh how we should live.","type":"ordered-list-item","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":176,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":176,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":176,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"5d8qh","text":"What does He require of me?? That I trust Him, repent, and follow Him.","type":"ordered-list-item","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":70,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":70,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":70,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"7vh49","text":"God is clear in His Word. We are to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). And the older I get, the more I realize this is a command and not a suggestion—and it is something I need to do better at….it’s something we need to be intentional about. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":248,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":248,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":248,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"e9p53","text":"And as intentional as we need to be with our words….with how we verbalize the Gospel to the lost….we need to be just as intentional with how we act and talk around our believing friends… when we profess to be a Christain...to be a child of God we are held to a higher standard….we are being watched….I am watching you….I am looking to my brothers and sisters in Christ to see how they handle things….the quarantine, the riots, sickness, how you handle your kids and your parents and your boss….are you a chick fil a Christian or a Popeyes Christian?? You know what I mean. For Chick Fil A, it is their pleasure to serve you. Popeyes so many times run out of chicken!!!!!!! How we respond to frustration, annoyances, difficulties, and temptations MATTERS to our brothers and sisters in Christ….We never want to misrepresent Christ to the lost, to our children, to our co-workers, to our friends...we actually should be striving to do the opposite….","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":947,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":947,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":947,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"63bl1","text":"So how do we make sure we are being a good witness to the lost as well as to other believers…","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":93,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":93,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":93,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"3nsq9","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"c7f89","text":"We must stay in the Word….","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":26,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":26,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":26,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fahke","text":"Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":32,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":32,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":32,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"acod9","text":" who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":47,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":47,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":47,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"26ucs","text":"nor stands in the way of sinners,","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"d1ili","text":" nor sits in the seat of scoffers;","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":37,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":37,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":37,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1rl7v","text":"but his delight is in the law of the Lord,","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":42,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":42,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":42,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"e8lr6","text":" and on his law he meditates day and night.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":46,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":46,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":46,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1midh","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"b6lk0","text":"We must have Scripture in our hearts….we must have Scripture memorized…..the more we know Scriptures and the Promises of the God and the stories from the old and new testament the better we will be able to view our situations from God’s perspective and know how Christ would have us respond.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":291,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":291,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":291,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cgh2m","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"anmpm","text":"We must pray without ceasing….may that be our immediate response….may our sisters in Christ know we pray first….may it be said of me that I was a prayer warrior!! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":163,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":163,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":163,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"11h25","text":"Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 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You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":227,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#333333\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":227,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":227,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"e9f9b","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"9r189","text":"We belong to God and have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ…think about this…. OUR LIVES ARE A DISPLAY OF GOD’S GRACE!!! WOW JUST WOW!! And that means that our character, our conduct, our conversations….should always reflect Christ!! Brutal….but guess what!! They don’t because this side of Heaven we will mess us and sin….but do you know what else is a beautiful witness...to the lost and to the saved….when we are real and transparent...and raw when we mess us….we own it...we admit our need for Christ and His forgiveness...we ask for prayer when we fall short….we share our struggles with our brothers and sisters….we are honest about our struggles and our need for a Savior!! Nothing strengthens more than when I see a hurting sister seeking the Lord and receiving His grace. We need to be gracious and kind...","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":831,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":831,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":831,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"e4hnh","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"3d1g","text":"Ephesians 4:32, “ Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":17,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":18,"length":92,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":17,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":18,"length":92,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":17,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":18,"length":92,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"ar832","text":"by putting others first...by not letting our own struggles affect how we treat others...when we are hurting, let’s look for ways to serve others….look for ways to pour out grace...our own aggravations and problems are what Christ will use to point people to Him...our response to our own situations can change peoples lives IF we reflect the love of Jesus.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":356,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":356,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":356,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"2qi5t","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"7crqr","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cnio5","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"5mf31","text":"Verses to think about","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":21,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":21,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":21,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"2kvjf","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"f3get","text":"1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":20,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":22,"length":80,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":20,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":22,"length":80,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":20,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":22,"length":80,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"44dl9","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"3d4gj","text":"Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":89,"length":136,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":89,"length":136,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":89,"length":136,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8mf6j","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"2gmb9","text":"Ephesians 4: 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":169,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":169,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":169,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"5i79p","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"6vdvg","text":"Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron,","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":34,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":34,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":34,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"e7mq7","text":" and one man sharpens another.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"bdeli","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"f4gsf","text":"Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"86ft3","text":"James 1:19, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":110,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":110,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":110,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fn68r","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"92fn9","text":"Isaiah 12:2, “ “Behold, God is my salvation; ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":14,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#666666\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":14,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":15,"length":31,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":14,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":15,"length":31,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":15,"length":31,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3d3d3d\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"35ock","text":"I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”.....What an amazing verse to live by as we live our lives for Christ...as we live our lives with an eternal perspective...this is a fallen world and we desperately need to be a light...to the lost but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ...we need to be an encouragement, and example of what it looks like when we fail and fall but then get back up BY HIS GRACE!!!! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":54,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3d3d3d\"}"},{"offset":55,"length":433,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3d3d3d\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":54,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":55,"length":433,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":54,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":55,"length":433,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{"0":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testimony","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"}}},"VERSION":"8.69.22"}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3tara-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3tara-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3tara-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">One that gives evidence; proof</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="a0583-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a0583-0-0"><span data-offset-key="a0583-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="f0khm-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f0khm-0-0"><span data-offset-key="f0khm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">One who can attest to the fact or event </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="co8g1-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="co8g1-0-0"><span data-offset-key="co8g1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">one who has personal knowledge of something</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7pm2u-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7pm2u-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7pm2u-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">something serving as evidence or proof</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5hp8h-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5hp8h-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5hp8h-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Synonym is </span></span><a class="_3Bkfb _1lsz7" data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testimony" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="5hp8h-1-0" style="background-color: white; color: #265667; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">TESTIMONY</span></span></a></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="1h048-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1h048-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1h048-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">In the New Testament, the word "witness" is derived from the various forms of the Greek word </span></span><span data-offset-key="1h048-0-1" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">martus</span></span><span data-offset-key="1h048-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">, which means "record," "report," "evidence given" or "testimony."</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4lu0r-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4lu0r-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4lu0r-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="2n2gc-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2n2gc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2n2gc-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">In the Bible, a witness is basically someone who sees something amazing or important. If this person begins to share what they’ve seen, we call this “bearing witness.” It’s a simple word, but being a witness carries a lot of responsibility!</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7l6pk-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7l6pk-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7l6pk-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">In the Bible, the word “witness” is used to describe both a person and an action—someone who sees something and then talks about what they’ve seen. </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="fa1ga-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fa1ga-0-0"><span data-offset-key="fa1ga-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5efou-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5efou-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5efou-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7052k-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7052k-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7052k-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="45c5e-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="45c5e-0-0"><span data-offset-key="45c5e-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="807ek-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="807ek-0-0"><span data-offset-key="807ek-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7cqdi-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7cqdi-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7cqdi-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Acts 22:15 </span></span><span data-offset-key="7cqdi-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="7cqdi-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="dg02e-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dg02e-0-0"><span data-offset-key="dg02e-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="12sdg-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="12sdg-0-0"><span data-offset-key="12sdg-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Philippians 2:15 </span></span><span data-offset-key="12sdg-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="12sdg-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4iujj-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4iujj-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4iujj-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="kg9o-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="kg9o-0-0"><span data-offset-key="kg9o-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">John 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="9n5r3-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9n5r3-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9n5r3-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="8nlkv-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8nlkv-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8nlkv-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Galatians 5:22-23 </span></span><span data-offset-key="8nlkv-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="8nlkv-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5a47b-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5a47b-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5a47b-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4vv93-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4vv93-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4vv93-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="bdvq9-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bdvq9-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bdvq9-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="96vqa-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="96vqa-0-0"><span data-offset-key="96vqa-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Galatians 6:9 </span></span><span data-offset-key="96vqa-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="96vqa-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7amdm-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7amdm-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7amdm-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="689bb-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="689bb-0-0"><span data-offset-key="689bb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">This lesson has two parts….when we talk about renewing our witness I want to talk about witnessing to the lost….that is something I know we all need to work….we must be able to articulate the Gospel...that can be so hard and intimidating...and as hard as it is to witness to strangers, it is even harder to witness to people we love and have a relationship with….and we also need to remember that how we act around the lost matters probably more than our words….because once you profess Christ...once that info is out there, it is on like Donkey Kong!</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="18uul-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="18uul-0-0"><span data-offset-key="18uul-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">And the second part that I want to focus on is our witness to each other…usually when I think of witnessing, I think of witnessing to the lost...but I have come to realize that my witness to my believing people matters too...as important as it is for me to share my faith with the lost, it is equally important for me to share my faith and what the Lord is doing in my life to other believers... </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="qajo-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="qajo-0-0"><span data-offset-key="qajo-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Rusty taught us these 4 questions that have helped me so much: </span></span></div></div><ol class="public-DraftStyleDefault-ol" data-offset-key="5sr9q-0-0"><li class="_3p-aG s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-list-ltr rich-content-OL public-DraftStyleDefault-orderedListItem public-DraftStyleDefault-reset public-DraftStyleDefault-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-listLTR" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5sr9q-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5sr9q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5sr9q-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Who is God?? He is holy, just, and merciful</span></span></div></li><li class="_3p-aG s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-list-ltr rich-content-OL public-DraftStyleDefault-orderedListItem public-DraftStyleDefault-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-listLTR" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="b6iqp-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="b6iqp-0-0"><span data-offset-key="b6iqp-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Who am I?? I am not holy...I am sinner</span></span></div></li><li class="_3p-aG s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-list-ltr rich-content-OL public-DraftStyleDefault-orderedListItem public-DraftStyleDefault-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-listLTR" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="348rb-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="348rb-0-0"><span data-offset-key="348rb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">What did Christ do for me?? Died, He took my place….before he died, He lived a perfect life in a sin ridden world….He taught us and He left us an example oh how we should live.</span></span></div></li><li class="_3p-aG s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-list-ltr rich-content-OL public-DraftStyleDefault-orderedListItem public-DraftStyleDefault-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-listLTR" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="akdt2-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="akdt2-0-0"><span data-offset-key="akdt2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">What does He require of me?? That I trust Him, repent, and follow Him.</span></span></div></li></ol><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3jnvd-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3jnvd-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3jnvd-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">God is clear in His Word. We are to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). And the older I get, the more I realize this is a command and not a suggestion—and it is something I need to do better at….it’s something we need to be intentional about. </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="dce1o-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dce1o-0-0"><span data-offset-key="dce1o-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">And as intentional as we need to be with our words….with how we verbalize the Gospel to the lost….we need to be just as intentional with how we act and talk around our believing friends… when we profess to be a Christain...to be a child of God we are held to a higher standard….we are being watched….I am watching you….I am looking to my brothers and sisters in Christ to see how they handle things….the quarantine, the riots, sickness, how you handle your kids and your parents and your boss….are you a chick fil a Christian or a Popeyes Christian?? You know what I mean. For Chick Fil A, it is their pleasure to serve you. Popeyes so many times run out of chicken!!!!!!! How we respond to frustration, annoyances, difficulties, and temptations MATTERS to our brothers and sisters in Christ….We never want to misrepresent Christ to the lost, to our children, to our co-workers, to our friends...we actually should be striving to do the opposite….</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="dllbg-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dllbg-0-0"><span data-offset-key="dllbg-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">So how do we make sure we are being a good witness to the lost as well as to other believers…</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="608l4-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="608l4-0-0"><span data-offset-key="608l4-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="71lhv-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="71lhv-0-0"><span data-offset-key="71lhv-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We must stay in the Word….</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="1f4ah-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1f4ah-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1f4ah-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="dtjc1-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dtjc1-0-0"><span data-offset-key="dtjc1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6od5n-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6od5n-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6od5n-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">nor stands in the way of sinners,</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="e037a-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e037a-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e037a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> nor sits in the seat of scoffers;</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="abv5i-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="abv5i-0-0"><span data-offset-key="abv5i-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">but his delight is in the law of the Lord,</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="bcd69-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bcd69-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bcd69-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> and on his law he meditates day and night.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5ehdr-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5ehdr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5ehdr-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="2jppe-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2jppe-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2jppe-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We must have Scripture in our hearts….we must have Scripture memorized…..the more we know Scriptures and the Promises of the God and the stories from the old and new testament the better we will be able to view our situations from God’s perspective and know how Christ would have us respond.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4p1v5-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4p1v5-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4p1v5-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="amjpu-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="amjpu-0-0"><span data-offset-key="amjpu-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We must pray without ceasing….may that be our immediate response….may our sisters in Christ know we pray first….may it be said of me that I was a prayer warrior!! </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="asf14-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="asf14-0-0"><span data-offset-key="asf14-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. </span></span><span data-offset-key="asf14-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="asf14-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="c4g4n-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c4g4n-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c4g4n-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">When we bring our concerns to God, HIS peace will guard our hearts and mind….this is a powerful witness to a watching world...and to our brothers and sisters in Christ.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="c14or-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c14or-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c14or-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6emo9-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6emo9-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6emo9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We must trust and obey….</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6qf6s-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6qf6s-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6qf6s-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield;</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7qcsn-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7qcsn-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7qcsn-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="caurv-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="caurv-0-0"><span data-offset-key="caurv-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">my heart exults,</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="89dh6-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="89dh6-0-0"><span data-offset-key="89dh6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> and with my song I give thanks to him.”</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6ivim-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6ivim-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6ivim-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “</span></span><span data-offset-key="6ivim-0-1" style="background-color: white; color: red; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Whoever loves me will keep my word</span></span><span data-offset-key="6ivim-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="aka64-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="aka64-0-0"><span data-offset-key="aka64-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We MUST rely on the promises of God...may we let our peace and confidence that comes from Christ speak volumes to those who are consumed with fear and anxiety….we must live like we trust God’s sovereignty….we must live like this is not our home...we must live like we know in the depths of our soul that in Christ alone our hope is found...our hurting brothers and sisters, whether they are lost or saved need to see us trusting when we don't understand….they need to see us obeying when it’s hard….obeying when it goes against the norm….obeying when we don't understand…..</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="41uih-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="41uih-0-0"><span data-offset-key="41uih-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4sv2d-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4sv2d-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4sv2d-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We need to remember who we are….Romans 6:6, “</span></span><span data-offset-key="4sv2d-0-1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—”.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="bg33m-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bg33m-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bg33m-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">1 Corinthians 6: 19-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="itti-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="itti-0-0"><span data-offset-key="itti-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="9cags-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9cags-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9cags-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">We belong to God and have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ…think about this…. OUR LIVES ARE A DISPLAY OF GOD’S GRACE!!! WOW JUST WOW!! And that means that our character, our conduct, our conversations….should always reflect Christ!! Brutal….but guess what!! They don’t because this side of Heaven we will mess us and sin….but do you know what else is a beautiful witness...to the lost and to the saved….when we are real and transparent...and raw when we mess us….we own it...we admit our need for Christ and His forgiveness...we ask for prayer when we fall short….we share our struggles with our brothers and sisters….we are honest about our struggles and our need for a Savior!! Nothing strengthens more than when I see a hurting sister seeking the Lord and receiving His grace. We need to be gracious and kind...</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="1akvl-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1akvl-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1akvl-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="c3iq6-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c3iq6-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c3iq6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Ephesians 4:32, “</span></span><span data-offset-key="c3iq6-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="c3iq6-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="fven4-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fven4-0-0"><span data-offset-key="fven4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">by putting others first...by not letting our own struggles affect how we treat others...when we are hurting, let’s look for ways to serve others….look for ways to pour out grace...our own aggravations and problems are what Christ will use to point people to Him...our response to our own situations can change peoples lives IF we reflect the love of Jesus.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="8pm47-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8pm47-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8pm47-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="40klc-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="40klc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="40klc-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="640g1-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="640g1-0-0"><span data-offset-key="640g1-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="1in44-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1in44-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1in44-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Verses to think about</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="c75s-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c75s-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c75s-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="e9q0n-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e9q0n-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e9q0n-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">1 Thessalonians 5:11</span></span><span data-offset-key="e9q0n-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="e9q0n-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="cjsmd-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cjsmd-0-0"><span data-offset-key="cjsmd-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3nhlf-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3nhlf-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3nhlf-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, </span></span><span data-offset-key="3nhlf-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="3nhlf-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3smga-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3smga-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3smga-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="cpmd0-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cpmd0-0-0"><span data-offset-key="cpmd0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Ephesians 4: 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4v86s-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4v86s-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4v86s-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="48f58-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="48f58-0-0"><span data-offset-key="48f58-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron,</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="boupc-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="boupc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="boupc-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> and one man sharpens another.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5cos3-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5cos3-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5cos3-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="78c53-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="78c53-0-0"><span data-offset-key="78c53-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="cp67e-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cp67e-0-0"><span data-offset-key="cp67e-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">James 1:19, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="578sf-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="578sf-0-0"><span data-offset-key="578sf-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4vn8h-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4vn8h-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4vn8h-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">Isaiah 12:2, “</span></span><span data-offset-key="4vn8h-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="4vn8h-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> “Behold, God is my salvation; </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="epr65-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="epr65-0-0"><span data-offset-key="epr65-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God</span></span><span data-offset-key="epr65-0-1"> </span><span data-offset-key="epr65-0-2" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true">is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”.....What an amazing verse to live by as we live our lives for Christ...as we live our lives with an eternal perspective...this is a fallen world and we desperately need to be a light...to the lost but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ...we need to be an encouragement, and example of what it looks like when we fail and fall but then get back up BY HIS GRACE!!!! </span></span></div></div></div>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-65114307558812358622022-02-21T14:51:00.002-06:002022-02-21T14:51:16.302-06:00One Thing We ALL have in common...<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It's hard to look around today and see all of the disunity in our county. It breaks my heart...and I know it breaks the Lord's heart as well...to see how far America has gone to the left and how far away she is from the foundations that made this country great. I am a white woman who works in a predominantly black school. It is hard to build relationships and make friends when so much of social media and the news does all it can to stir up "stuff." I have a deep love for my students as well as a desire for them to succeed. I desire to have positive relationships with their parents. I want my students to know that the color of a person's skin does not determine a set of preconceived notions. </span></p><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"7mevr","text":"It's hard to look around today and see all of the disunity in our county. It breaks my heart...and I know it breaks the Lord's heart as well...to see how far America has gone to the left and how far away she is from the foundations that made this country great. I am a white woman who works in a predominantly black school. It is hard to build relationships and make friends when so much of social media and the news does all it can to stir up \"stuff.\" I have a deep love for my students as well as a desire for them to succeed. I desire to have positive relationships with their parents. I want my students to know that the color of a person's skin does not determine a set of preconceived notions. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"b6lcm","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cpi3","text":"I love to listen to podcasts and as of late I have been listening to several that pertain to critical race theory. Wow! Just wow. To be told that just because of the color of my skin I am a racist is not only wrong, it's plum ridiculous. I spend all day 5 days a week teaching my students to the best of my ability. I have much respect for my fellow teachers, and I enjoy working with, and under, these great men and women, almost all of whom are black. And yes, we may have our differences...types of music, backgrounds, culture, skin color, etc. but one thing we all have in common is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Yes, horrible things have been done in name of race, but the color of people's skin is not the root or the cause. Sin is at the root. People do brutal things, say brutal things, and even think brutal things because apart from Christ there is no good in us.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":552,"length":79,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"dghco","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fo6k2","text":"My hope is that in Christ we can have unity...that in Christ we can look past our differences, forgive, give grace, grow, and be an example to the lost. My hope is that as Americans we would know that we do have an enemy, but it is not each other. Satan is who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is our true enemy. May our commonality be Christ. May our commonality be that we desire to live according to the guidelines of the Bible.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"5dh6q","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"b00a4","text":"When I take a stand against abortion, and homosexuality, riots, and organizations like Black Lives Matter, it is not because I am a racist with white privilege who is not tolerate of others. It is because I am a Christian who believes the Bible is the inherit Word of God. I believe every single word. I believe that abortion is murder. I believe that God created man and woman to be fruitful and multiply and that it goes against the very nature of God for a man to be with a man and a woman to be with a woman. I believe that sin has done much to numb us of what is true. I believe that America has lost its first Love. I believe that Satan is using platforms like the media, critical race theory and Black Lives Matter to confuse, distort, and discombobulate people's mind to where they don't even know what is what. If you stand up for what you believe in...if you stand up for Truth and the Bible....if you have an opinion that is contrary to the popular opinion of the day, you are considered a racist and intolerant. That is not happening by accident. The schemes of the devil are real. It says in 1 Peter 5:8, \"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.\" And he is doing some devouring! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":1119,"length":147,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#001320\"}"},{"offset":1119,"length":147,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"6fppp","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"32jkr","text":"I pray that as our country moves forward that the Lord would see fit to change the narrative. That He would see fit to change peoples' heart and motives and allow people to see and hear the truth. That He would give me boldness to stand up for what I believe and to not be embarrassed because of the color of my skin. My embarrassment should come because of the sin in my life as well as my lack of courage to be more vocal about my Biblical and political views. Instead, I spend my days running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to make sure that my co-workers, kiddos, and parents know how much I care about the well being of my students. I have to work twice as hard because I am white, and that makes me sad. I have such a hard time with Black History Month. Not because I mind teaching black heritage, but because a majority of the stories continue to stir up strife and the focus in so many cases is to make sure younger generations don't forget how horrible the white man is. But that is exactly what the Bible calls us to do...forgive and give grace. Sin is sin and God is righteous and just. He will deal with the hearts of man no matter the color of their skin. America has come so far but instead of recognizing and celebrating that, our kids are being taught to hold on to all that hate...to be bitter, not better....to not see how far we have come as a nation regarding equality and rights. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":1420,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#001320\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1420,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1ftv6","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"9751l","text":"Oh how I pray for our country...may we seek the Lord with our whole hearts and run to our Savior...because we ALL need saving!","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":126,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#001320\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":126,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{},"VERSION":"8.69.22"}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="aqkfj-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="aqkfj-0-0"><span data-offset-key="aqkfj-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="2k2b6-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2k2b6-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2k2b6-0-0">I love to listen to podcasts and as of late I have been listening to several that pertain to critical race theory. Wow! Just wow. To be told that just because of the color of my skin I am a racist is not only wrong, it's plum ridiculous. I spend all day 5 days a week teaching my students to the best of my ability. I have much respect for my fellow teachers, and I enjoy working with, and under, these great men and women, almost all of whom are black. And yes, we may have our differences...types of music, backgrounds, culture, skin color, etc. but </span><span data-offset-key="2k2b6-0-1" style="font-weight: bold;">one thing we all have in common is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.</span><span data-offset-key="2k2b6-0-2"> Yes, horrible things have been done in name of race, but the color of people's skin is not the root or the cause. Sin is at the root. People do brutal things, say brutal things, and even think brutal things because apart from Christ there is no good in us.</span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="8tu9q-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8tu9q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8tu9q-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="caf0-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="caf0-0-0"><span data-offset-key="caf0-0-0">My hope is that in Christ we can have unity...that in Christ we can look past our differences, forgive, give grace, grow, and be an example to the lost. My hope is that as Americans we would know that we do have an enemy, but it is not each other. Satan is who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is our true enemy. May our commonality be Christ. May our commonality be that we desire to live according to the guidelines of the Bible.</span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6jd0q-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6jd0q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6jd0q-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4uoeg-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4uoeg-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4uoeg-0-0">When I take a stand against abortion, and homosexuality, riots, and organizations like Black Lives Matter, it is not because I am a racist with white privilege who is not tolerate of others. It is because I am a Christian who believes the Bible is the inherit Word of God. I believe every single word. I believe that abortion is murder. I believe that God created man and woman to be fruitful and multiply and that it goes against the very nature of God for a man to be with a man and a woman to be with a woman. I believe that sin has done much to numb us of what is true. I believe that America has lost its first Love. I believe that Satan is using platforms like the media, critical race theory and Black Lives Matter to confuse, distort, and discombobulate people's mind to where they don't even know what is what. If you stand up for what you believe in...if you stand up for Truth and the Bible....if you have an opinion that is contrary to the popular opinion of the day, you are considered a racist and intolerant. That is not happening by accident. The schemes of the devil are real. It says in 1 Peter 5:8, "</span><span data-offset-key="4uoeg-0-1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span data-text="true">Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." And he is doing some devouring! </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="e3d8q-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e3d8q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e3d8q-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6rnsu-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6rnsu-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6rnsu-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span data-text="true">I pray that as our country moves forward that the Lord would see fit to change the narrative. That He would see fit to change peoples' heart and motives and allow people to see and hear the truth. That He would give me boldness to stand up for what I believe and to not be embarrassed because of the color of my skin. My embarrassment should come because of the sin in my life as well as my lack of courage to be more vocal about my Biblical and political views. Instead, I spend my days running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to make sure that my co-workers, kiddos, and parents know how much I care about the well being of my students. I have to work twice as hard because I am white, and that makes me sad. I have such a hard time with Black History Month. Not because I mind teaching black heritage, but because a majority of the stories continue to stir up strife and the focus in so many cases is to make sure younger generations don't forget how horrible the white man is. But that is exactly what the Bible calls us to do...forgive and give grace. Sin is sin and God is righteous and just. He will deal with the hearts of man no matter the color of their skin. America has come so far but instead of recognizing and celebrating that, our kids are being taught to hold on to all that hate...to be bitter, not better....to not see how far we have come as a nation regarding equality and rights. </span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3rrf7-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3rrf7-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3rrf7-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="p5vj-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="p5vj-0-0"><span data-offset-key="p5vj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span data-text="true">Oh how I pray for our country...may we seek the Lord with our whole hearts and run to our Savior...because we ALL need saving!</span></span></div></div></div>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-20532862570277458372022-02-21T14:49:00.001-06:002022-02-21T14:49:33.218-06:00Why I live "by His grace"<p> <span style="font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was born and raised in a Christian home with a godly mother as well as godly grandparents. Some of my most precious memories of my grandparents are them sitting in their matching recliners in their living room EVERY night reading their devotionals and God’s Word. They would take turns reading and then take turns praying...for each other, their family (children and grandchildren - by name), their church family, missionaries, whatever was on their hearts for that particular day. Watching them helped me to develop the same type of habits for my devotional time. We all attended the same church. The church my grandparents, as well as my mom, were charter members. This is the church where I was dedicated, came to faith in Christ, as well as the church I was married in. I jokingly say that I attended Sunday School and church 9 months before I was born as well as every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night since then. We were very involved. My mom sang in the choir (she has a beautiful alto voice even at the age of 78), and when the doors were open, we were there. </span></p><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"fqsho","text":"I was born and raised in a Christian home with a godly mother as well as godly grandparents. Some of my most precious memories of my grandparents are them sitting in their matching recliners in their living room EVERY night reading their devotionals and God’s Word. They would take turns reading and then take turns praying...for each other, their family (children and grandchildren - by name), their church family, missionaries, whatever was on their hearts for that particular day. Watching them helped me to develop the same type of habits for my devotional time. We all attended the same church. The church my grandparents, as well as my mom, were charter members. This is the church where I was dedicated, came to faith in Christ, as well as the church I was married in. I jokingly say that I attended Sunday School and church 9 months before I was born as well as every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night since then. We were very involved. My mom sang in the choir (she has a beautiful alto voice even at the age of 78), and when the doors were open, we were there. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":1090,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1090,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1090,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fuq3","text":"This is the church that I grew up in. It is where I learned the books of the Bible. It is where I learned all the famous Bible stories. It is where I learned all of those amazing hymns like “Standing on the Promises” and “What a Friend I Have in Jesus.” It is where I learned to love people. It is where I learned the Gospel and the importance of sharing it. It is where I learned to love the things of God. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":408,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":408,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":408,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"f5b76","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1s3c5","text":"I accepted Jesus as my Savior at 9 years of age. I remember very vividly that it felt like my heart was going to beat right out of my chest. I knew the Lord had been dealing with my young heart for a good while. I had questions and had recently talked to our pastor and had prayed to ask Jesus into my heart to be my Savior. But on this particular Sunday, when the invitation came, I couldn't wait to make it public. Thankfully at a very young age, by God’s grace, I had an acute sensitivity to sin. Also, by His grace, the things of the world (partying, drinking, fowl language, etc.) never appealed to me. The fact that I was scared to death of my dad, but ever more scared of disappointing my momma, didn't hurt either. I was quite the spiritual nerd during my high school years and though I had some good high school friends, my closest relationships were rooted and grounded in my church, and that has remained to be the case throughout my entire lifetime. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":460,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":466,"length":49,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":521,"length":444,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":965,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":965,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":460,"length":6,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"},{"offset":515,"length":6,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"391jr","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"af80r","text":"My husband and I had very similar backgrounds. Like me, he attended church 9 months before he was born, was raised in a Christian home with godly parents, and had godly grandparents (who were good friends with my grandparents. Our grandfathers worked together when they were young and when they would run into each at the doctor’s office later in life, they would pray for us to get together!), and he learned early on about the things of God. He preached his first sermon at the age of 13, and in his late teens, he felt a call to surrender to the ministry. Once in college, he served in various positions...music minister, youth minister, and preaching whenever needed. Sadly, his heart began to be hardened because of what he experienced and saw, and his heart turned away from the ministry. Providentially, he married me, and I knew the Lord had gifted him in a mighty way. I also knew the Lord had called me to the ministry as well, and I had always felt it would be by way of being a pastor’s wife. The Lord also allowed our current preacher ( the same one who married us) and Rusty to become good friends. It was a beautiful thing to see the Lord soften his heart and remind him of his calling. Over time, Rusty began preaching again and about 5 years into our marriage, the Lord called us to pastor our current church. This April, we will celebrate our 20 year anniversary. It is here that I began to have a true understanding of, as well as truly grow in, God’s Amazing grace.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":1483,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":1488,"length":1,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1489,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1489,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":1483,"length":5,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"bp9pg","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"ek8mj","text":"I didn't realize it at the time, but those first five years of marriage would do much to prepare my heart for the ministry. Besides the “normal” issues that come up when you are newly married (learning each other, expectations, finances, etc.), my parents separated, our church went through several struggles that included most of our folks in leadership positions, and our son was born with asthma as well as some developmental issues that led to a diagnosis of autism at around 18 months. During my pregnancy with my son, the dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer and after a long battle, he passed away when my son was 6 months old. Up until this point in my life, my life had been pretty uneventful. I liken this time in my life as” my far country experience” because for the first time in my life, I felt out of fellowship with God. Because of my dad’s and my son’s illnesses, I wasn't able to attend church on a regular basis. I was 25 years old and for the first time, I wasn't “involved” in my church. Add the stress of my life circumstances, my marriage struggles, and my faith being shaken for the first time, and I was a hot mess! The way I have always explained it when sharing my testimony is that it is like Satan was there crouching and waiting. He knew the Lord had saved me, but he was waiting and wanting me to forget. He knew I was weary and worn. He knew I was struggling spiritually, and he used that opportunity to pounce! And pounce he did, ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":1467,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1467,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1467,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8pcsf","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8jv13","text":"On the other side of it, I see God’s amazing grace. I see how He used this time in my life to strengthen my marriage and my resolve to do whatever it takes, to change my expectations, and to be totally dependent on God for that hole in my soul. He showed me that though it is okay to have faith in people, my ultimate faith MUST be in my perfect Father and not in men and women who are sinners in need of a Savior just like me. They will fail me. They will let me down. They will disappoint me, but my Heavenly Father never will. I learned that I am not owed a pain free life but rather that my pain and struggles are what the Lord used (and will continue to use) to grow me and mold me and teach me His ways. It’s where I learned that a diagnosis of autism is not a death sentence but rather a place where I would be allowed to experience and see the hand of God in a mighty way. It is where I would learn to seek Him with my whole heart and trust Him with my son’s. It allowed me to appreciate things I might never have appreciated and to be blessed in ways I would have never been blessed. It prepared my heart for other hurting parents and gave me a desire to come alongside other parents with special needs, knowing that apart from Christ, how can one handle the day to day struggles? My far country experience caused me to run to the Lord like I never had before realizing I had never had a need to. It gave me such clarity of why the Lord allows trials and suffering...for our good and so He can get all the glory for the great things He has done, is doing, and will continue to do until Jesus comes back! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":44,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":51,"length":1562,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1613,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":44,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":45,"length":5,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":51,"length":1562,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":44,"length":7,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"6btsq","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"c24g4","text":"In the twenty years we have been in ministry, our little church has been through a lot. We had a fire that destroyed our fellowship hall that included our kitchen, our nursery, and my husband's office. Literally a few months after we were back up and running, the great flood of 2016 devastated our entire property and more than half of our congregation lost everything they owned. It was an exhausting time, BUT GOD. I have never been more proud of our people. I was able to see those whose homes were destroyed by the flood seek the Lord with all their hearts for peace, comfort, and strength. I was able to see those who didn't flood to come alongside their brothers and sisters in Christ until the tasks of gutting and rebuilding were complete. The flood changed the dynamics of our church as we lost several members because they relocated elsewhere due to moving, new opportunities, and job changes. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":907,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":907,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":907,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"k8k5","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1c06h","text":"Over the years we have had people come and go for various reasons. Some personal, some because of doctrine, general disagreements, etc, but in 2017, we had a situation that rocked our little church to its core, and it caused several families to leave. These particular families that left included my 3 best friends (the friends that I raise my kids with, that I got in the trenches with and actually had been in the literal trenches with the year before) and one who was like a daughter to me. To her children, my husband and I were known as Moppy and Poppy. It was a heart-wrenching time that made the manual work of the flood seem easy...BUT GOD! I was able to see the Lord work and move in the broken hearts of His people. He allowed us to be torn down and brought to our knees so that He could rebuild us better and stronger for His kingdom and all by His grace. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":867,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":867,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":867,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"4fto0","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"e3sif","text":"Altogether, we lost 13 families between the flood and flight of folks. During that time, my husband and I searched the Lord’s will for our lives like we never had before. I know personally my prayer life was stronger than it had ever been, and as I began to build and strengthen the relationships with the people the Lord allowed me to continue to minister to, I couldn't help but be thankful for the storm. I couldn't help but be thankful for the corrections, the steadfast love, the forgiveness, and the grace that I received from my Lord and Savior. I couldn't help but be thankful for the growth and for what the Lord taught me about others and especially myself. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":668,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":668,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":668,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"eqnq2","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fnmld","text":"This walk has been a process for sure and this year, in 2020, I am able to see even more clearly the beauty of the gifts God gives us...the gift of remembering, the gift of time, the gift of growth, and it all being covered in God’s amazing grace.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":240,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":247,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":247,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":240,"length":7,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"4d788","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"32tff","text":"Over the years, as a church we have done some amazing things and with those things comes amazing memories. Some I have mentioned earlier but there is so much more….youth and children’s retreats, VBS, revivals, dinner-on-the-grounds, Fall festivals, baptisms, Ladies meetings, Christmas parties, and so many outreaches. Apart from church related activities we have had showers, weddings, births, graduations, birthday parties, floods, fires, death, cancer...more joy and suffering that could be put into words. I am thankful for these memories. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve God’s people for however long He sees fit. And when folks leave, no matter what the reason, those memories can never be taken away. I am thankful for the good memories I have. I am thankful for the good memories my kids have. And I have learned to be thankful for the not so good memories that the Lord continues to use to make me look more like Him and seek Him with my whole heart. There was a portion of time when the hurt was still so raw and real that I begged God to help me to forget. But in His goodness and faithfulness, he gently allowed me to see the importance of remembering. In the remembering was healing. In the remembering, I was continually reminded of the grace. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":1264,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":1270,"length":2,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1272,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":1272,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":1264,"length":6,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8lju9","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"b29o4","text":"I am also thankful for the gift of time and specifically, God’s timing. It is amazing how the Lord uses this gift to soften our hearts and allow us to get a godly perspective. The Lord uses this gift of time to heal hearts... to allow for anger and hurt to subside... to allow for reflection and Truth to be remembered. Maybe not the actual truth of a situation or circumstance, but the truth of the heart of the matter... the truth about people's hearts and motives. The gift of time has been such a blessing to me over these past few years. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":543,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":543,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":543,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"d5qon","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"d05nt","text":"The gift of growth! Oh my gracious, the gift of growth! The opportunity to be able to look back and see God's plan... to see His work... to see His hand... to know He never lost control and that He truly has been working all things for my good and His glory. I am thankful for the growth and the realization of what I needed to change, what I need to release, and where I need to simply trust. And the growth to be able to see the same things happening in others. I can never be sad about the situations the Lord has allowed into my ministry. I can never be sad that He knows I constantly need to be reminded that I am 100% dependent on him! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":642,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":642,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":642,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8hkaj","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fu8k3","text":"And oh what I have learned about grace on this amazing journey!! This grace that I could never earn and can never lose. It is such a perspective changer. Like love, it covers a multitude of sins, keeps hearts soft, helps us forgive and helps us seek forgiveness. It reminds us of God's goodness to us and gives us the strength to pour out that same grace on to others. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":33,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":38,"length":32,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":75,"length":274,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":354,"length":15,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":369,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":369,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":33,"length":5,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"},{"offset":70,"length":5,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"},{"offset":349,"length":5,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"f6vt5","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"136oe","text":"Well that was a long introduction as to why the title of my blog (and my life motto) is BY HIS GRACE!! I gave you that background information so that you could see my heart and where the Lord has brought me to prepare me for “such a time as this.” This year, providentially, my focus word for our ladies is RENEW. I am so ready for a revival in my heart...for a renewed strength, renewed relationships, a renewed sensitivity to sin, renewed gratitude, and a renewed zeal for the things of God and His people. Don’t misunderstand me, I have had a heart for God’s people for most of my life, and I have always taken my position as a pastor’s wife very seriously, but the last few years have been hard. It has felt at times that I was just trying to survive rather than thrive, and I wanted to be intentional this year about changing that!","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":95,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":100,"length":736,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":836,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":836,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":95,"length":5,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cq92a","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"5q1av","text":"Through this 20 year journey in the ministry, the Lord has taught me much, forgiven me much, and poured out grace upon grace. I love having the opportunity to share these things with other ladies ...to remind them of the “prize set before us” and to “press on toward the goal,” because the good, the bad, the brutal, and the beautiful are all worth it because we have an amazing opportunity to play a part in furthering God’s Kingdom. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":108,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":125,"length":311,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#000000\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":436,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#NaNNaNNaN\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":436,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":108,"length":17,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#3325f4\"}"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"2d065","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cj2nr","text":" “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”(2 Corinthians 5:20). Never before has this verse meant so much to me. Oh how I desire to remind my sisters in Christ that this is not our home but the work that we do here matters. To remind them the Lord has called us to be a particular part of His story and He didn't promise it would be easy, but He did promise He would “never leave us or forsake us” and that it would be worth it. And I believe with all of my heart, that He gave us sisters (and brothers) in Christ to walk this journey alongside us as Pauls (Paulettes), Barnabus (Barbaras), and Timothys (Tammys)....to learn from, be encouraged by, be an example to, and to come alongside.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":772,"style":"{\"FG\":\"#352228\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":772,"style":"{\"BG\":\"#ffffff\"}"},{"offset":0,"length":772,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"3telt","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"f56om","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"46aeh","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"3dct5","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"7kn18","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"6c6nc","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{},"VERSION":"8.69.22"}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="481fp-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="481fp-0-0"><span data-offset-key="481fp-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">This is the church that I grew up in. It is where I learned the books of the Bible. It is where I learned all the famous Bible stories. It is where I learned all of those amazing hymns like “Standing on the Promises” and “What a Friend I Have in Jesus.” It is where I learned to love people. It is where I learned the Gospel and the importance of sharing it. It is where I learned to love the things of God. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="9tc85-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9tc85-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9tc85-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="f3oho-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f3oho-0-0"><span data-offset-key="f3oho-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">I accepted Jesus as my Savior at 9 years of age. I remember very vividly that it felt like my heart was going to beat right out of my chest. I knew the Lord had been dealing with my young heart for a good while. I had questions and had recently talked to our pastor and had prayed to ask Jesus into my heart to be my Savior. But on this particular Sunday, when the invitation came, I couldn't wait to make it public. Thankfully at a very young age, by God’s</span><span data-offset-key="f3oho-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;"> grace</span><span data-offset-key="f3oho-0-2" style="font-weight: bold;">, I had an acute sensitivity to sin. Also, by His</span><span data-offset-key="f3oho-0-3" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;"> grace</span><span data-offset-key="f3oho-0-4" style="font-weight: bold;">, the things of the world (partying, drinking, fowl language, etc.) never appealed to me. The fact that I was scared to death of my dad, but ever more scared of disappointing my momma, didn't hurt either. I was quite the spiritual nerd during my high school years and though I had some good high school friends, my closest relationships were rooted and grounded in my church, and that has remained to be the case throughout my entire lifetime. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="25bu0-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="25bu0-0-0"><span data-offset-key="25bu0-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="acpai-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="acpai-0-0"><span data-offset-key="acpai-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">My husband and I had very similar backgrounds. Like me, he attended church 9 months before he was born, was raised in a Christian home with godly parents, and had godly grandparents (who were good friends with my grandparents. Our grandfathers worked together when they were young and when they would run into each at the doctor’s office later in life, they would pray for us to get together!), and he learned early on about the things of God. He preached his first sermon at the age of 13, and in his late teens, he felt a call to surrender to the ministry. Once in college, he served in various positions...music minister, youth minister, and preaching whenever needed. Sadly, his heart began to be hardened because of what he experienced and saw, and his heart turned away from the ministry. Providentially, he married me, and I knew the Lord had gifted him in a mighty way. I also knew the Lord had called me to the ministry as well, and I had always felt it would be by way of being a pastor’s wife. The Lord also allowed our current preacher ( the same one who married us) and Rusty to become good friends. It was a beautiful thing to see the Lord soften his heart and remind him of his calling. Over time, Rusty began preaching again and about 5 years into our marriage, the Lord called us to pastor our current church. This April, we will celebrate our 20 year anniversary. It is here that I began to have a true understanding of, as well as truly grow in, God’s Amazing </span><span data-offset-key="acpai-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace</span><span data-offset-key="acpai-0-2" style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7cip1-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7cip1-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7cip1-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="ecje5-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ecje5-0-0"><span data-offset-key="ecje5-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">I didn't realize it at the time, but those first five years of marriage would do much to prepare my heart for the ministry. Besides the “normal” issues that come up when you are newly married (learning each other, expectations, finances, etc.), my parents separated, our church went through several struggles that included most of our folks in leadership positions, and our son was born with asthma as well as some developmental issues that led to a diagnosis of autism at around 18 months. During my pregnancy with my son, the dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer and after a long battle, he passed away when my son was 6 months old. Up until this point in my life, my life had been pretty uneventful. I liken this time in my life as” my far country experience” because for the first time in my life, I felt out of fellowship with God. Because of my dad’s and my son’s illnesses, I wasn't able to attend church on a regular basis. I was 25 years old and for the first time, I wasn't “involved” in my church. Add the stress of my life circumstances, my marriage struggles, and my faith being shaken for the first time, and I was a hot mess! The way I have always explained it when sharing my testimony is that it is like Satan was there crouching and waiting. He knew the Lord had saved me, but he was waiting and wanting me to forget. He knew I was weary and worn. He knew I was struggling spiritually, and he used that opportunity to pounce! And pounce he did, </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6qfgc-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6qfgc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6qfgc-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="bua60-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bua60-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bua60-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">On the other side of it, I see God’s amazing</span><span data-offset-key="bua60-0-1" style="color: #3325f4;"> </span><span data-offset-key="bua60-0-2" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace</span><span data-offset-key="bua60-0-3" style="color: #3325f4;">.</span><span data-offset-key="bua60-0-4" style="font-weight: bold;"> I see how He used this time in my life to strengthen my marriage and my resolve to do whatever it takes, to change my expectations, and to be totally dependent on God for that hole in my soul. He showed me that though it is okay to have faith in people, my ultimate faith MUST be in my perfect Father and not in men and women who are sinners in need of a Savior just like me. They will fail me. They will let me down. They will disappoint me, but my Heavenly Father never will. I learned that I am not owed a pain free life but rather that my pain and struggles are what the Lord used (and will continue to use) to grow me and mold me and teach me His ways. It’s where I learned that a diagnosis of autism is not a death sentence but rather a place where I would be allowed to experience and see the hand of God in a mighty way. It is where I would learn to seek Him with my whole heart and trust Him with my son’s. It allowed me to appreciate things I might never have appreciated and to be blessed in ways I would have never been blessed. It prepared my heart for other hurting parents and gave me a desire to come alongside other parents with special needs, knowing that apart from Christ, how can one handle the day to day struggles? My far country experience caused me to run to the Lord like I never had before realizing I had never had a need to. It gave me such clarity of why the Lord allows trials and suffering...for our good and so He can get all the glory for the great things He has done, is doing, and will continue to do until Jesus comes back! </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="77ear-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="77ear-0-0"><span data-offset-key="77ear-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="8pu67-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8pu67-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8pu67-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">In the twenty plus years we have been in ministry, our little church has been through a lot. We had a fire that destroyed our fellowship hall that included our kitchen, our nursery, and my husband's office. Literally a few months after we were back up and running, the great flood of 2016 devastated our entire property and more than half of our congregation lost everything they owned. It was an exhausting time, BUT GOD. I have never been more proud of our people. I was able to see those whose homes were destroyed by the flood seek the Lord with all their hearts for peace, comfort, and strength. I was able to see those who didn't flood to come alongside their brothers and sisters in Christ until the tasks of gutting and rebuilding were complete. The flood changed the dynamics of our church as we lost several members because they relocated elsewhere due to moving, new opportunities, and job changes. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="88kap-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="88kap-0-0"><span data-offset-key="88kap-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3p0ce-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3p0ce-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3p0ce-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">Over the years we have had people come and go for various reasons. Some personal, some because of doctrine, general disagreements, etc, but in 2017, we had a situation that rocked our little church to its core, and it caused several families to leave. These particular families that left included my 3 best friends (the friends that I raise my kids with, that I got in the trenches with and actually had been in the literal trenches with the year before) and one who was like a daughter to me. To her children, my husband and I were known as Moppy and Poppy. It was a heart-wrenching time that made the manual work of the flood seem easy...BUT GOD! I was able to see the Lord work and move in the broken hearts of His people. He allowed us to be torn down and brought to our knees so that He could rebuild us better and stronger for His kingdom and all by His grace. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5gstr-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5gstr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5gstr-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="8ma55-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8ma55-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8ma55-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">Altogether, we lost 13 families between the flood and flight of folks. During that time, my husband and I searched the Lord’s will for our lives like we never had before. I know personally my prayer life was stronger than it had ever been, and as I began to build and strengthen the relationships with the people the Lord allowed me to continue to minister to, I couldn't help but be thankful for the storm. I couldn't help but be thankful for the corrections, the steadfast love, the forgiveness, and the grace that I received from my Lord and Savior. I couldn't help but be thankful for the growth and for what the Lord taught me about others and especially myself. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7290l-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7290l-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7290l-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="286df-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="286df-0-0"><span data-offset-key="286df-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">This walk has been a process for sure and this year, in 2020, I am able to see even more clearly the beauty of the gifts God gives us...the gift of remembering, the gift of time, the gift of growth, and it all being covered in God’s amazing</span><span data-offset-key="286df-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;"> grace.</span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="s87u-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="s87u-0-0"><span data-offset-key="s87u-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="1tdai-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1tdai-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1tdai-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">Over the years, as a church we have done some amazing things and with those things comes amazing memories. Some I have mentioned earlier but there is so much more….youth and children’s retreats, VBS, revivals, dinner-on-the-grounds, Fall festivals, baptisms, Ladies meetings, Christmas parties, and so many outreaches. Apart from church related activities we have had showers, weddings, births, graduations, birthday parties, floods, fires, death, cancer...more joy and suffering that could be put into words. I am thankful for these memories. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve God’s people for however long He sees fit. And when folks leave, no matter what the reason, those memories can never be taken away. I am thankful for the good memories I have. I am thankful for the good memories my kids have. And I have learned to be thankful for the not so good memories that the Lord continues to use to make me look more like Him and seek Him with my whole heart. There was a portion of time when the hurt was still so raw and real that I begged God to help me to forget. But in His goodness and faithfulness, he gently allowed me to see the importance of remembering. In the remembering was healing. In the remembering, I was continually reminded of the </span><span data-offset-key="1tdai-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace.</span><span data-offset-key="1tdai-0-2" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6c5gi-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6c5gi-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6c5gi-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="baibd-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="baibd-0-0"><span data-offset-key="baibd-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">I am also thankful for the gift of time and specifically, God’s timing. It is amazing how the Lord uses this gift to soften our hearts and allow us to get a godly perspective. The Lord uses this gift of time to heal hearts... to allow for anger and hurt to subside... to allow for reflection and Truth to be remembered. Maybe not the actual truth of a situation or circumstance, but the truth of the heart of the matter... the truth about people's hearts and motives. The gift of time has been such a blessing to me over these past few years. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6bvt1-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6bvt1-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6bvt1-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="6ov6r-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6ov6r-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6ov6r-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">The gift of growth! Oh my gracious, the gift of growth! The opportunity to be able to look back and see God's plan... to see His work... to see His hand... to know He never lost control and that He truly has been working all things for my good and His glory. I am thankful for the growth and the realization of what I needed to change, what I need to release, and where I need to simply trust. And the growth to be able to see the same things happening in others. I can never be sad about the situations the Lord has allowed into my ministry. I can never be sad that He knows I constantly need to be reminded that I am 100% dependent on him! </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="3raqu-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3raqu-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3raqu-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="5eu34-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5eu34-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">And oh what I have learned about </span><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace</span><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-2" style="font-weight: bold;"> on this amazing journey!! This </span><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-3" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace</span><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-4" style="font-weight: bold;"> that I could never earn and can never lose. It is such a perspective changer. Like love, it covers a multitude of sins, keeps hearts soft, helps us forgive and helps us seek forgiveness. It reminds us of God's goodness to us and gives us the strength to pour out that same </span><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-5" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace</span><span data-offset-key="5eu34-0-6" style="font-weight: bold;"> on to others. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="26p3c-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="26p3c-0-0"><span data-offset-key="26p3c-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="dcvfj-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dcvfj-0-0"><span data-offset-key="dcvfj-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">Well that was a long introduction as to why my life motto is BY HIS </span><span data-offset-key="dcvfj-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">GRACE</span><span data-offset-key="dcvfj-0-2" style="font-weight: bold;">!! I gave you that background information so that you could see my heart and where the Lord has brought me to prepare me for “such a time as this.” This year, providentially, my focus word for our ladies is RENEW. I am so ready for a revival in my heart...for a renewed strength, renewed relationships, a renewed sensitivity to sin, renewed gratitude, and a renewed zeal for the things of God and His people. Don’t misunderstand me, I have had a heart for God’s people for most of my life, and I have always taken my position as a pastor’s wife very seriously, but the last few years have been hard. It has felt at times that I was just trying to survive rather than thrive, and I wanted to be intentional this year about changing that!</span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="a47l7-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a47l7-0-0"><span data-offset-key="a47l7-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="b9a59-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="b9a59-0-0"><span data-offset-key="b9a59-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;">Through this 20 year journey in the ministry, the Lord has taught me much, forgiven me much, and poured out </span><span data-offset-key="b9a59-0-1" style="color: #3325f4; font-weight: bold;">grace upon grace.</span><span data-offset-key="b9a59-0-2" style="font-weight: bold;"> I love having the opportunity to share these things with other ladies ...to remind them of the “prize set before us” and to “press on toward the goal,” because the good, the bad, the brutal, and the beautiful are all worth it because we have an amazing opportunity to play a part in furthering God’s Kingdom. </span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7m28q-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7m28q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7m28q-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="710uq-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="710uq-0-0"><span data-offset-key="710uq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #352228; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true"> “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”(2 Corinthians 5:20). Never before has this verse meant so much to me. Oh how I desire to remind my sisters in Christ that this is not our home but the work that we do here matters. To remind them the Lord has called us to be a particular part of His story and He didn't promise it would be easy, but He did promise He would “never leave us or forsake us” and that it would be worth it. And I believe with all of my heart, that He gave us sisters (and brothers) in Christ to walk this journey alongside us as Pauls (Paulettes), Barnabus (Barbaras), and Timothys (Tammys)....to learn from, be encouraged by, be an example to, and to come alongside.</span></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="84c7n-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="84c7n-0-0"><span data-offset-key="84c7n-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="9lspc-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9lspc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9lspc-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="9bvep-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9bvep-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9bvep-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="52ahm-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="52ahm-0-0"><span data-offset-key="52ahm-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="kpj1-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="kpj1-0-0"><span data-offset-key="kpj1-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK s3FlX public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="38lrc-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="38lrc-0-0"><span data-offset-key="38lrc-0-0"></span></div></div></div>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-411410460488196632022-01-10T11:45:00.002-06:002022-01-10T11:45:12.371-06:00Remembering Mrs. Joyce<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts and memories, as well as some lessons I’ve learned from being blessed enough to grow up with Mrs. Joyce in my life. Mrs. Joyce came to GSBC when Jay was in elementary school. Her and mom became instant friends and so began the knitting of our families together. I am thankful for Jay for lots of reasons but one main reason is because he was a boy! That left an opportunity for me to get to be the daughter Mrs. Joyce never had. Since Jay and I were both only children, we got to grow up as pretend brothers and sisters. As soon as I got my driver’s license, my goal in life was of course to drive around and go places. Jay was a good excuse to do that. Every chance I got, I’d take him to the movies. Do y'all remember the old bon marche theater off of Lobdell?? It had four lanes 2 going one way and 2 going the other. You had to cross over one to get to the one we needed. Unfortunately, being a new driver, I turned heading for the oncoming traffic. Jay and I were both screaming, Jay was screaming for his life and I was screaming please don't tell Mrs. Joyce!! All the way home I begged him not to tell and he promised he wouldn't. Of course, the first thing he did when we got to his house was tell her. But I never knew that though till years later because Mrs. Joyce never said a word. And she continued to let me take him places. A definite character trait for her was how laid back she was...it took a lot to get her rattled. Just ask Jay because he gave her a lot to be rattled about!! I’m just kidding…..he was her pride and joy and she was so proud of him and so thankful for him...and he was a good son and she loved him so very much.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a4386079-7fff-9f06-1c08-a949c0d4b001"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every major event in my life, Mrs. Joyce was not only there, but she also played a huge part in from my own wedding almost 25 years ago to Bailey’s wedding last year….she was a great Memaw to Bailey and Alec...she loved them, supported them, and celebrated them their whole lives and our family was blessed because of her. I am so thankful for all those memories but what I am most thankful for is what she taught me. She taught me what devotion looks like as she cared for Mr. Jody until the day he died. How she drove every single day back and forth to New Orleans for 8 months….that is true love y'all and as much as it shows us about her relationship with Mr. Jody and her love and devotion to him, it shows us of her love and devotion to her Savior...In Him is where she found her strength and her hope….He is where she found a peace during those months and after his passing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her relationship with Christ was also evident during the flood of 2016. Like so many others, her and Miss Sara and Jay all flooded. That was such a hard time for so many, and she had to do it without Mr. Jody. She told me one time she was glad he wasn't here to have to go through it, but that sometimes she would give anything for him to be here so they could go through it together. But the Lord instead allowed her to go through it with Mrs. Sara...and they both handled it with such grace and strength...she was so proud of that house...what she was able to salvage as well as the new stuff the Lord blessed with. Again, her relationship with Christ continued to sustain her. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And let me talk a minute about Sweet Mrs. Sara….these two were truly two peas in a pod. I have never seen two sisters genuinely get along as well as they did. They enjoyed each other's company so much and had such a good time together. They were so much alike and then different too….they both insisted on rebuilding both of their houses because neither one wanted to give up the master bed and bathroom...and they were so cute how they talked about each other. When we were moving them back into their houses, one time I was with Mrs. Joyce moving Sara’s stuff and she was saying how Sara is a pack rat, she won’t get rid of anything. A little while later, I was with Mrs. Sara and she said...Joyce is a hoarder, she won’t get rid of anything!! It was so cute mostly because neither one of them wanted to get rid of anything!! But I can honestly say I never even heard them say a cross word to each other...even when they would tell stories from their childhood back in Burris and they would have different facts or remember things a little bit differently, Sara, would say,” Now, Joyce that's not what happened.”...they'd go back and forth for a minute and inevitability, one would concede. They both took such good care of their parents and each other. This was such a neat relationship to watch...I know it is going to be so hard for Miss Sara, but I am so thankful for what they had...it is rare and special and they have some wonderful memories that can sustain them until they are together again. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Joyce meant so much to so many. And we are all better because the Lord saw fit to let our lives intersect in one way or another. Losing her is tough for sure, but it’s glorious to know where Mrs. Joyce is and if we know Christ as our Savior, one day we will see her again. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-61909871239937232052022-01-04T14:28:00.002-06:002022-01-04T14:28:24.350-06:00Tying Heart Strings<p> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friendship is one of the greatest blessing the Lord gives us. It is a blessing when we have people to celebrate with us as well as cry with us. It is a blessing to have folks to fellowship with, raise our kids with, get advice from….it is an amazing gift to have friends who can pray for us ...friends who point us to Christ, friends who tell us and remind us of the promises of God...friends who get in the trenches with us…..but this doesn't happen automatically ...things have to happen and a couple of things that have to happen have to do with tying those all important heart strings….we have to tie them first and foremost with our Christ and then with each other…</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a97b6d5d-7fff-86f9-674d-7eff5fee1691"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tying heart strings with Christ will be the only way we can effectively tie heart strings with each other. And we tie heartstrings with Him the same way we do each other ...by spending time with Him, investing in His Word, talking to Him ...by looking to Him as our example...cause let’s be for real ...friendships can be hard because people can be hard...and even hurtful ...But Jesus came to redeem and restore all things, including our relationships with one another. Because he is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Perfect Friend….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s an old hymn titled that says,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus! What a Friend for sinners!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus! Lover of my soul;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friends may fail me, foes assail me,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He, my Savior, makes me whole.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though our earthly friends may fail us and earthly foes assail us, Jesus stands by us, our perfect friend. His love for us is unconditional; it’s not based on who we are and what we’ve done. His love is not fickle or temporary. He doesn’t make promises and then fails to keep them. He won’t turn on us and reject us. Jesus’s love for us is eternal, extending all the way back in eternity past, before time even began. And nothing can separate us from his love. Even now, he is at work for us, interceding before the Father on our behalf: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Heb%207.25" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 7:25</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)....He is the friend we never had, the friend we never deserved, the one friend we all need — our perfect friend...He is truly our perfect friend and a great role model for the kind of friend we should be. What a great example Christ is ...</span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus was loyal, brave, humble, honest, compassionate, protective, encouraging, dependable, faithful, kind, loving, forgiving and completely sacrificial </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(just to name a few!)</span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In John’s gospel He said:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We think of all the names of Jesus...King of King, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Savior, Lamb of God, but He was also called our friend.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we take a list of qualities, like the one above and say we’d like to have more friends like that, but maybe we should switch our focus off </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what we get out of our friendships</span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what we put into them. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He freely gave Himself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He came to serve and not to be served.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He did not try to get anything out of man, but instead, He gave man His all!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He washed His disciples feet!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:5-8</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20.25pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The friendships we have with other believers are rooted in our friendship with Christ. They blossom and bear fruit out of our relationship with him. In fact, our friendship with Jesus creates and shapes our friendships with others.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus describes himself as the vine and us as the branches,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2015.4%E2%80%935" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 15:4–5</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through faith in what Jesus did for us in his perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, we are united to him. Through this union, we receive all the benefits of what he has done for us — justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification, and more. Just as a branch receives its life and sustenance from the vine, we too receive our spiritual life and health through our union with Christ. We grow and bear fruit from what he provides ...so that means when we are in Christ, we have the ability to be good godly friends.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every other friendship a Christian makes or maintains stems from their friendship with Christ. When we are adopted by the Father through Jesus, we are united to every other believer; they are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Believers past, present, and even those yet to be born are our siblings in Christ. We are united to them just as the parts of a human body are connected to one another. In fact, we are so tightly woven together that when one part of the body hurts, we all hurt (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor%2012.26" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 12:26</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can only love one another because God loved us first (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%204.19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 John 4:19</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Biblical friendship begins with Christ and extends outward, not the other way around. His love flows into us, and out of that love, we love others. As we abide in him, we are fueled to love and serve our brothers and sisters. We receive the nourishment we need from Christ, and then share that spiritual nourishment with others. And because they are drinking from the same vine, they do the same for us ...that is the beauty of sweet Chrsitian sisterhood.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all come to faith the same way, by grace through faith. Not one of us has it all together; we all rely upon the grace and favor of God. Because we know the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus, we can be patient and forbearing with one another (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph%204.32" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 4:32</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Jesus’s constant grace toward us when we sin and fail him enables us to forgive others when they fail or sin against us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is our first friend, creating and shaping our friendships with others. We love out of the overflow of his love for us. Jesus is also our perfect friend, the one who loves at all times. When friends fail us and let us down, we can continue to love them because we know we have been loved with a perfect and unfailing love. Because — as the old hymn says — Jesus is with us to the end.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So along those same lines, what are some ways we can tie the appropriate heart strings with the people we love ...not just our friends, but our children, our husbands, other family members….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We tie heartstrings when we…</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We remind our friends that only Christ can fill that hole in our soul.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of all the joys of life, God is the greatest! We were made for him — to enjoy him and center our hearts and lives on him. And like any other joy, our joy in God will be fullest when we share it with other people. Christian friends help us enjoy God by enjoying him with us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s tempting to flip and distort this formula by using God as a means to enjoy people more. If we only go to him to ask for spouses, friends, or kids to enjoy, it reveals we see God as the means to someone else. We should be doing the opposite: looking for more of him in other people. Ironically, we will enjoy our friends </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the more our friendships become a means of enjoying God ...life changing!! </span></p><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By exposing sin in each other ...Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Prov%2027.6" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 27:6</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need friends to lovingly show us our sin. We need friends to help us see our blind spots. We need friends to speak with brutal honesty (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%2018.15" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 18:15</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother).</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and tender compassion (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal%206.1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Galatians 6:1</span></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), telling us the truth about ourselves even when we don’t want to hear it (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph%204.15" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 4:15</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a vital function of community that few people want. We’d much rather have friends who always tell us what we want to hear, who show us the false grace of excusing sin and give us false hope that we can grow closer to God without repentance. But because sin is a poison to our souls and a thief of our joy in God, we cannot afford to forsake this kind of friendship.</span></p><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By encouraging obedience....Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Heb%2010.24" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 10:24</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; see also </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Heb%203.13" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 3:13</span></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it is true we need friends to help us see any disobedience, we also need them to spur us on to obedience. Often, obedience to God takes more courage than we can muster alone. Without the faithful cheerleading of Christian friends, we easily shrink back into stagnant apathy, not wanting to willfully disobey, but also too afraid to step out in faith.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The encouragement we are told to give isn’t flattery, or superficial inspiration. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">En-courage-ment is giving </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">courage</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and strength to others for the intimidating task before them.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We cast a bigger vision for why their obedience matters for God’s kingdom. We affirm that their obedience glorifies God and counts in eternity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever form it takes, encouragement motivates others to continue running the specific race God has marked out for them.</span></p><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By pointing each other to Christ...especially when we are weak.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%205.18%E2%80%9319" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 5:18–19</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Walking through life in a God-belittling world, with our sin-ridden flesh, against a hell-bent enemy, is too hard to be attempted alone. Alone, we easily believe the lies of Satan. Alone, we buckle under the weight of our sin. Alone, we grow discouraged and weary. Like the paralytic, we need the help of other believers to carry us to God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, how can we bring others to God? We listen to a sister confess a hidden sin and wash her with the truth that Christ has cleansed her and made her whole. We can meet the practical needs of those enduring intense suffering in Jesus’s name. Or we can simply bring our friends in prayer, asking him to do greater things in their lives than we can do for them.</span></p><ol start="5" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By loving and pouring out grace for God’s glory and by HIS grace..</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor%2010.31" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 10:31</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world’s idea of intimacy in friendship is making much of one another: “I can’t live without you!” Compliments and pledges of devotion quickly give a brief and false adrenaline rush of importance and significance. We certainly need to encourage and affirm one another, but Christian friends should be far more focused on God’s weight and significance — not their own or their friend’s.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like everything else, the end goal of our friendships should be God and his glory. Since our hearts are prone to wander away and worship other things, we need these constant reminders of his glory and his worth in our friendships.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.650909090909091; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 17pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is what tying heart strings look like...this is from Nancy De’Moss’s podcast about what ministry looks like but I believe with all my heart that tying heart strings IS a ministry.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tying heart strings….</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is giving when you feel like keeping</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is praying for others when you need to be prayed for</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is feeding others when your own soul is hungry</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is living truth before people even when you can't see the results</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is hurting with other people even when your own hurt can't be spoken</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is keeping your word even when it's not convenient</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is being faithful when your flesh wants to run away</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 13pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is ministry ...that is true godly friendships...that’s tying heartstrings...and when you do, you reap what you sow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #352228; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The benefits….</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 72pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6682926829268292; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 23pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have relationships that are transparent (clear)and authentic (open)!</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A real friendship is built over time and formed firmly through trust.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No friendship will always be perfect however; in sharing our triumphs and life struggles authentically...openly and honestly,,,with one another, a foundation of a quality and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> genuine</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> friendship can take place.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When vulnerability embraces trust, we can form lasting and Christ centered friendships. By being authentic in who we are, we can be authentic and real in our friendships too.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another’’. </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-17.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 27:17</span></a></p><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 72pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We always have accountability..My most meaningful and lasting friendships have been with those who tell me the things that I don’t always want to hear.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tying heart strings helps us know the difference between criticism and accountability. Criticism is an unwanted superficial judgment whereas accountability is being honest in truth out of an authentic love and genuine care.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Godly friendship keeps us accountable to the word of God, and when we are about to stumble, they tell us to ‘’watch out’’ because they care for us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though we don’t always like to hear it, a Godly friend will always tell us the truth and keep us accountable to the application of God’s word in our daily lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where there is no guidance a people fails, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety”. </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+11%3A14&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 11:14</span></a></p><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 72pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have steadfastness in our relationships...</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our friendships need to be firm in purpose and firmly established.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A steadfast friend is one who is unwavering and unmovable. Grounded in faith and in the word of God, they understand His love and purpose.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we are mutually following our purpose, and the call of God on our lives we can pursue Godly friendships that will jointly encourage us and sharpen us in the direction of our life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A steadfast friend is one who when the storms of life come, will be firmly grounded, unfaltering and fixed on the foundation of Christ. They will be there for us no matter what, in times of trials, struggles and success.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.’’ </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+85%3A10&version=ESV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 85:10</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6682926829268292; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 23pt;"> </p><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 72pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6682926829268292; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 23pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tying heart strings will allow us to see each other’s hearts...it will make us better friends...true friends that are rooted and grounded in Christ.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A true friend will be willing to sacrifice their interests for the interests of others around them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Godly friendships will reveal humility in action. A Godly friend will want to help us carry our burdens, not add to them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like, Jesus they will offer to take our heavy loads and come alongside us in a spirit of humility and love.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A great indicator of selflessness is time. When our friends give us their time, it encourages us to see that we are valued and loved.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of an attitude of “what can I get from you?”, Godly friendships will show us a selfless attitude of, “how can I serve you?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one then this, that someone lay down his life for his friends’’. </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A12-13&version=NKJV" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 15:12-13</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.1333333333333333; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -7pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"> </p><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-84820495778439981232022-01-04T14:09:00.003-06:002022-01-04T14:09:39.565-06:00Raising Someone with Autism<p> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raising Someone with Autism...</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">By His Grace</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-58037be0-7fff-8590-3105-d7a95f67d18d"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have often wondered how hard it must be for parents and family members to raise their autistic (or any special needs) kids apart from Christ and the hope we find in a personal relationship with Him. For that matter, how do we raise our “normal” kids without Christ?! When I think about what we need on a daily basis to deal with what we deal with ...things like compassion, kindness, humility, patience, ect, I know for me personally, most of that does not come naturally, and what does come more naturally, can quickly run out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Just a little background on my story. I have two kids...well now, young adults, but they will always be my kiddos. I have an amazing daughter who is married, in college, and who is the mom to my precious grandson, Knox. My son, Alec, who is now 22, was diagnosed with autism a few months after he turned 2...and our lives have never been the same. This little guy who was non-verbal, lived on PediaSure from a bottle till he was three, not potty trained until he was five, linear stemmed, loved bouncy balls and hot wheels, and ran us plum crazy most days is now considered an adult. By God’s amazing grace, he now drives, has a job, and although he outgrew most of his “issues”, there is now a whole new set of issues...anger, melt downs, and just all around struggling with growing up! He is considered high-functioning. High functioning enough to know he is different, but autisic enough not to be able to do too much about it. He has many great qualities. He can be very polite, he is respectful (in most settings and most of the time), he is a good friend, and he likes to help people. BUT….some days are tough.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> These tough days make me so thankful that I know Christ. Not that I just know Him, but that I know His Word, His promises, and His truths. I am thankful that I can find a peace that truly does surpass all understanding (Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus). Autism is very confusing and hard to understand...BUT GOD (1 Corinthians 14:33, “ For God is not a God of confusion but of peace). And I am so so thankful for God’s grace...it is sufficient, amazing, never runs out, and something we desperately need! (2 Corinthians 12:9, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.) Because if anything in my life has ever made me feel weak, it is autism!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My hope is that this little Scripture devotional will help us to handle what the Lord has seen fit to give us. His Word will equip us to do what He has called us to do, and raising a child/adult with autism, is a calling! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Colossians has always been a favorite book of mine. It assures us that we have all we need in Jesus, and it calls us to grow in maturity in Christ by getting rid of sinful practices and embracing Christian virtues. All Christians need to be “mature in Christ” (1:28), but my focus is on us parents who need an extra dose of maturity to handle our special needs kids. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For the purpose of this devotional, our focal passages will be Colossians 3:12-15.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put on</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">compassionate hearts,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kindness</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">humility</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">meekness</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">patience</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bearing with one another</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and, if one has a complaint against another, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forgiving each other</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be thankful.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I want to look at the characteristics mentioned in these Scripture realizing that apart from Christ, it is impossible to live out these verses. It is even harder to live out these verses when we are put to the test day after day because of the complications and predicaments that come alongside autism.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compassionate hearts</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Fredrick Buechner</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Well what a virtue to start with as we think about what is necessary for us to possess so we can effectively and gracefully raise and take care of our kiddos! The dictionary definition of compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Now while this is the true definition, I don't like to think of compassion as pity. I much prefer the Biblical context of the word, to recognize the suffering of others and then take action to help. Our kids don’t need our pity, they need our help. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The quote mentioned above speaks volumes. Oh how much compassion we could have for our kids if we understood for one second what it feels like to live in their skin. When we have compassion, we have a desire to understand, a desire to lessen their struggles, a desire to lessen their suffering...rather than focusing so much on our own.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Bible does an amazing job of showing us what compassion looks like as well as what is involved in actually being a compassionate person. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8-9</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." — 1 John 3:18, NIV</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." — 1 Peter 4:10, NIV</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As believers, we are called to speak up for our kids. We are called to love our kids not just with our words but with how we act. How we treat them matters. And we are called to use whatever God has gifted us with to serve.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us all in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Praise God, we have a compassionate Father. May He be our example.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” – Andrew Iskander</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dictionary definition of kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. This seems like a no brainer. Being kind to our kids should not be a struggle. But if we are honest, sometimes it is. It is hard to be kind after your kid steals your car and takes the police on a 2 hour car chase. It is hard to be kind when your kid breaks your husband's rib and punches holes in the wall. It is hard to be kind to your kid when he purposefully and knowing does things to disrupt your world. It is hard to be kind when they are not. It is hard to be kind when you are embarrassed, ashamed, tired, weary, and worn...BUT GOD and His amazing grace. Because apart from God and His amazing grace, we can’t be kind. But in Christ and because of His example, His Word, and His promises, we have what we need to be kind to our kiddos. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 3.75pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s let these verses sink in a minute. Let’s think on them in regards to our kids. ...don’t let kindness leave you, watch what you say, build them up, don’t be bitter and angry. Be kind to them (and forgive them...we will talk about this more in detail later) just as Christ is kind to us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Humility (and meekness)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 7.5pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The worldly definition of humility is a modest or low view of one's own importance. So often the world views humility as a sign of weakness or someone that is quiet and shy. Sometimes our kiddos make us feel weak. They make us feel like we don’t fit in and that we don't have much to offer in ways of partnering because it can look like we are big fat failures. But the worldly door mat view of humility is very different from the Biblical perspective. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Biblical humility or being humble does not mean being a doormat. The meaning of humility in the Bible is the absence of pride and arrogance. And if anything can keep us humble, it is our children! As parents, we have to remember that when we are weak, He is strong. Our flesh is so inadequate, but by His grace, we can humble ourselves before Christ and ask Him for strength, for guidance, for wisdom, and most importantly, for His amazing grace that never runs out. Humility helps us remember that we are totally dependent on Him...which is exactly where we need to be. It helps us to know that we need God’s help. Godly humility is being comfortable with who you, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> your children, are in the Lord. Humility helps us remember that God called us to a very special job. That our kiddos are the way they are on purpose. This picture of humility shows us a strong person...someone who knows where their strength comes from...not a wimp. It is in our humbleness that we can come alongside our kiddos to teach them about love, grace, and forgiveness. Jesus is our example and we can be an example to them (I am gentle and humble in heart. Matthew 11:29).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> How can our humbleness help us raise our kiddos?</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It can help us not always need to win. It can help us with our anger and not always having to be right. One time I heard someone say (regarding marriage), “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?” This can be true without kiddos. Some days, I just need to be humble and let things go. (A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Humility helps us to handle the way our kids treat us. We can learn and grow and not become bitter because our thinking is right. We know who we are apart from Christ and that helps us to keep a godly perspective. I read somewhere once this saying, “Do you want to be bitter or better?” I choose better! “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Humility helps us not to be fake. The more we know the Lord, the less we have to prove. We can be genuine in our struggles. We can be honest about the heartaches that come. We can be real about our desperate need for Christ to help us get through each and every day. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Humble Pie” can actually taste good. Well, maybe not taste good, but editable! When you are humble, you can respond to and learn from criticism without becoming defensive—whether it is deserved or not deserved. Likewise, you can be aware of your failures without being emotionally devastated. We parents with special kids all know what it is like to be criticized. Well meaning, and some not so well-meaning, folks love to give advice about how we should be handling those melt-downs, those strange behaviors, or even things like what we should be feeding them. </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Around 2012, melt downs began to be a thing at our house. And over the years, they have worsened. The strange behavior we have dealt with for the past 4 years are “Winter Pics”. Let me explain. My son Alec loves to wear “winter clothes” (Puffy coats, scarves, hats, & gloves), and he would also like others to wear winter clothes, and to make matters worse, WE LIVE IN LOUISIANA! But wearing the clothes isn't the biggest issue. The real struggle is that he wants people to take pictures with him in his winter clothes. I could write a whole chapter on this alone, but my point in mentioning this here is to remind us that the Lord will use whatever means necessary to keep us humble and totally dependent on Him. Dealing with this addiction/obsession/issue, whatever you want to call it, has done just that. It has kept me humble, needy, and on my knees. Which is exactly where I need to be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Patience</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves a thousand moments of regret.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The definition of patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset; waiting without complaint. Some synonyms for the word patience are forbearance, tolerance, self-restraint, endurance, and perseverance. When I think about my life with Alec, I realize how much I need these attributes in my life, and I imagine you do as well. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “ Patience is a virtue” is more than just a cliche. It is also a fact! I think all moms feel like patience is something they could work on. But for special needs momma, the struggle is real! Sometimes we have to wait a long time to see progress. Sometimes we have to work extra hard at controlling our anger and frustration. Sometimes we have to be patient when waiting for the most recent stim or “obsession” to subside. What can we learn from the Bible about patience and how we can foster it?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Well, if we profess Christ and have the Holy Spirit living inside of us we should on some level possess all of the fruits of the spirit… (Galatians 5:22-23 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.) So, there is no denying that being patient with our kiddos is possible...no matter how brutal, because we have the help of the Holy Spirit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We also have Jesus Christ as an example. If anybody was patient, it was Him. Think about his disciples. They were sometimes thickheaded, lazy, and plum selfish. But Jesus continued to come alongside them and point them to Christ. Developing and growing in patience is a process that helps us to look more like Jesus. What better way can we help our kiddos that by striving to look like Jesus? This process is a journey and probably one of the reasons the Lord gives us our kids with certain struggles...to help us, to grow us, to mold us. This process is teaching me that the Lord is perfectly capable of handling things for me as well as my children. I am learning to realize the true reality of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremiah 29:11,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For I know the plans I have for you…” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He truly does, and when we can come to the revelation of this realization, we can truly “let go” and have unexplainable patience and peace as we wait upon Him...as we trust in His sovereignty and in His timing. When we have this mindset, we are then able to practice patience with heavenly expectations. That can be our focus rather than our child’s disability. Patience requires power – Holy Spirit power. The Holy Spirit inside of us gives us the ability to practice patience, and to grow our capacity for patience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 9pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In the midst of trials and challenges that we face with our kiddos, we can choose to strengthen and encourage ourselves in the Lord, or we can choose to complain and risk hardening our hearts. Maintaining a heart of thanksgiving in the midst of raising our kids is an opportunity for the Lord to do a “perfecting work” of patience in us. As we spend time in His presence, we grow in patience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.32; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bearing with our kiddos</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Phillips Brooks</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?t=niv&q=eph+4:12" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 4:12</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we think about bearing with one another sometimes the word tolerate comes to mind. We have to tolerate or endure our situations...our kiddos. The definition of tolerance is to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction; to put up with. Well, friends, if this is our attitude toward our kiddos, we are in big trouble! If we feel like we have to just tolerate or endure our precious people, we are fighting a losing battle. And the biggest losers are our kids! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Bible clearly calls us to “bear with one anther” or some translations say, “make allowances” for others. I like that translation because we certainly have to make allowances for our kiddos. We have to make allowances for their lack of communication, lack of social skills, lack of empathy, lack of remorse, lack of respect, etc. Let's face it, our kids have faults. Let’s face it, SO DO WE!! And God continues to bear will us, make allowances for us, and pour out His grace on us. God accepts us, faults and all, and we should do the same for our kiddos. We too should be willing to make allowances or bear with our kids over their shortcomings…even when they are hard to bear, because so are we!! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we bear/make allowances for our kids, that doesn't mean we make excuses for them. It doesn't mean we freely accept their “bad” behavior. What it does mean is that we remember that it is not a personal front to us ...it's not about us or how they make us look. We try to teach our kids that they are not the center of the universe, but we need to keep in mind that neither are we! As parents, it is easy for us to focus on how our kids' autism affects us. It is easy for me to think about my own stress, but when I “bear” with Alec I remember that he is the one with autism, not me. He is the one who has to fight everyday to understand the world around him. He is the one who has to fight his obsessions, his lack of social cues, and his lack of selflessness and how that affects others around him. In order to bear with Alec, I have to fight against my own self centeredness, my own expectations, and my own agenda. Because when I am honest, I am the least “tolerate” with Alec when he messes up my plans...when he embarrasses me ...when he doesn't act or respond the way I think he should. Well let’s be real, it is not hard to be kind, patient, and loving to those who are kind, patient, and loving to you. It doesn't take too much effort to smile back at someone who smiles at you. The rubber meets the road when our kiddos are unkind, selfish, mess up our agenda, and sometimes are just downright mean.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So as parents, how can we better bear with our kiddos? First, we need to tell ourselves that making allowances and bearing with our kiddos is not an option. In these scriptures, Paul is not encouraging us to practice these things (humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, etc.), but rather it is a command! As a child of God, as a believer, we are called to come alongside each other, our kiddos included! This is not optional! And when we bear with our kiddos, when we love them in spite of them, and when we show them grace, God gets all the glory because it is only by His grace that we can keep any of His commands. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Next, we need to consider “bearing with” our kiddos as a gift. A gift they deserve and need. If we don’t bear with them, how can we expect others to? I remember trying to teach my daughter when her and my son were little the importance of our home being a safe place for Alec. The importance of him knowing we loved him no matter what. The importance of us having his back NO MATTER WHAT! And my daughter is a better person today because she had to grow up dying to herself everyday. Bearing with our kiddos is a precious gift we can give them as they struggle to find their way in the world. Lastly, bearing with our kiddos is also an amazing gift for ourselves because it keeps us dependent on Christ and keeps the fact that He constantly has to bear with us on the forefront of our minds. It’s hard to be bitter when we bear the burden that comes alongside raising our kiddos. It’s hard to have a hard heart when we intentionally bear those burdens. By God’s grace we are better because of our kiddos!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forgiveness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When I think about forgiveness regarding raising our kiddos, lots of thoughts come to mind. Who do I need to forgive? Who do I need to ask forgiveness from? Do I need to forgive folks for not understanding, for hurt feelings, for harsh remarks? Do I need to ask for forgiveness for my own harsh remarks or unrealistic expectations? Do I need to ask my kiddos forgiveness for the same things? The Bible has much to say about forgiveness and our need for it. Our focal verse says so much, verse 13 says, “... forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forgive as the Lord forgave you</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. God has forgiven us, and not just for the small, insignificant things — He forgave us everything. Jesus died on the cross to forgive every offense you and I have ever committed against God or our fellow humans. If we’ve accepted Jesus as our Savior, God has already forgiven us, without hesitation or exceptions. He is our example. We forgive because the Lord forgave us. We forgive folks when they don’t get it. We forgive folks when they don’t understand. And we even forgive ourselves when we mess up and fall short with the above mentioned virtues. And it is even okay to ask our kiddos for forgiveness when we fall short. They need to see us being real and raw and remorseful. They need to see us looking to God’s Word for guidance and wisdom. May we pray daily for the forgiveness of our sins as well as for a sensitivity to our own sinfulness. We need to keep soft hearts because nothing is worse than a hard heart and nothing will harden a heart faster than unforgiveness. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 6:14-15, For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 4:31-32, Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elisabeth Eliot says to forgive you must receive the grace, acknowledge the wrong, lay down all your rights, and then ask for grace to treat that person as if nothing ever happened. What great advice, especially when it concerns our kiddos. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be Thankful</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We often take for granted the very things that deserve our gratitude. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cynthia Ozick</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 2 is the official world-wide “autism awareness” day. For my family and so many of yours, it is autism awareness everyday. My son is almost 23 years old and in those 23 years we have gone through many seasons, had many highs and lows, and learned a lot!! But I can’t honestly say, through it all, we have experienced more grace than we ever deserved and I have MUCH to be thankful for. The Lord has been so faithful to allow Alec to come as far as he has....the Lord has provided so many amazing people to be a part of his life....from our doctor who diagnosed him before he was two, countless therapists and great teachers, to people who came to our house every week for over a year to do ABA, to our friends and family who gave us a benefit to raise money to do treatments we could not have afforded otherwise....a church family that has loved him unconditionally for 20 years, some amazing friends that love him and accept him and come alongside him, Oakpoint grocery for giving him a chance at his first job, the DOTD and PSE (Program for Successful Employment) for an amazing internship and program that will give him a chance for a real future and a meaningful full time job, a sister who loves him and sets him straight, an extended family who loves him, countless people who have taken winter pics for the last few years , and I could go on and on! We are blessed, y’all!! Autism is not our curse....in many ways, it is our greatest blessing!....that may sound crazy, but I know it has been God’s way of keeping our family humble, completely dependent on Him, and has allowed us to see grace and goodness and faithfulness and dying to self that would not have been possible otherwise!! The Lord has used Alec’s autism in such a mighty way and I have MUCH to be thankful for. I am better because of Alec!! </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My prayer is that as Alec becomes an adult with autism and the challenges change, that the Lord will use Alec and grow him, allow him to see his strengths, and pour out grace in his struggles...all for God’s glory and our good!!!</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 9pt 0pt 9pt 0pt;"> </p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 9pt 0pt 9pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #efefef; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"> </p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 14.399999999999999pt 0pt;"> </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-21542190945267887372019-04-15T12:08:00.001-05:002019-04-15T12:08:13.284-05:00Truth Trumps Emotion<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Every year I choose a word or phrase that will be the focus of the ladies’
ministry of our church. We have spent some amazing time focusing and seeking
God’s Word about grace, gratitude, giving, and finding our best yet, but by far
the phrase that has impacted me the most was our phrase for 2018 - TRUTH TRUMPS
EMOTION.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This phrase impacted me so much because in the years leading up to this
revelation, I could see it lived out in so many ways. The Lord allowed me to
see real-life situations, as well as first-hand experiences, of truth trumping
how we should feel. I watched my sweet cousin and her husband fight and lose
his battle with small cell lung cancer. They fought with such grace. They
trusted, worshiped, served, and sought the Lord with their whole hearts. Truth
truly did trump their emotions. Yes, they were hurting and scared, and I’m sure
devastated by the chain of events that had forever altered their future. BUT
GOD! I watched them hold on to what they knew to be true more than to the way
they were feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another family was fighting for a husband and father with a brain tumor.
This family loved and served the Lord with their whole hearts. The diagnosis of
this inoperable brain tumor was quick, and the effects were brutal. As the
family went through this journey, the wife blogged. She blogged truth and
emotions, but the truth always triumphed her emotions. The truth the Lord had
revealed to her trumped her hurts, her questions, her tiredness. God was her
strength and her comfort during the darkest times in her life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another precious friend miscarried. Broken and spilled out she found
comfort and strength by focusing on what she knew to be true rather than how
she felt. Her and her husband, along with the better part of our congregation,
had lost everything in the flood of 2016. As I watched family after family seek
the Lord as they gutted their homes, struggled to rebuild, and look for the
good in the rubble that was their homes, I was able to see first-hand how the
Lord used the flood to grow people, change perspectives, and teach His people
about grace and humility and complete dependence on Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did these folks struggle? Absolutely, but in their struggles, they
fought hard to see the truth. I watched them seek the truth. I watched them
look for the Lord. I watched them find peace and rest when the only place it
could be found would be in the arms of a loving Savior.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> What is this truth
that trumps our emotions, our circumstances, our realities in this sin-stained
life? This truth is that God truly is good (Psalm 145:9, The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.). He is a good
Father, and what he allows into our lives, He uses to make us look more like
Him (Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay,
and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand). As believers when we
suffer, whether it be because of things out of our control or because of the
consequences of our own choices, we can have faith by trusting in the truth.
The Truth that:</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>This is not our home...this life is temporary.</b>
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away.”</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Lord promises to never leave us or forsake us.</b>
<a href="https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Deuteronomy-31-8/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Deuteronomy
31:8</span></a> - And the LORD, he that goes before thee; he will be with
thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be
dismayed.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Lord will fight for us</b>. Exodus 14:14 The
Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Lord will give us strength</b>. Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases
strength.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>We don’t have to fear</b>. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not,
for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen
you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>If we confess our sins, the Lord will forgive us.</b>
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Lord God loves us unconditionally</b>. Romans
8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,<b> </b>nor height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>God’s grace is sufficient.</b> <a href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Corinthians/12/9"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">2
Corinthians 12:9</span></a> And He has said to me, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of
Christ may dwell in me.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the truth,
precious friends. My prayer is that we can hold tight to these truths and
promises of God...that we can look for the good, look for the grace...and see
the goodness of God...so that when troubles comes, when suffering comes, when
we have questions, the Truth of God will trump how we feel. The Truth of God
will trump our thoughts. The Truth of God will sustain us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kayce <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br />Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-48169039036636699642012-02-23T14:49:00.001-06:002012-02-23T14:53:35.292-06:00Between Sundays...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have to admit right off the bat that I have borrowed my title from a great book I just finished reading by Karen Kingsbury, <i>Between Sundays... </i>Want to give it a plug for my reading friends!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYadv-S1ZAEd31cJ4cs8OZZgtYVY8h00JwkY5A8UghEk4235TT7_sNc0ToUdyhdXTTnOeJd1IXRmDtWjZsylAEkfMxBGDBp7TBdyCFMaxon5r6m9oLoLasMvS0iB9L0zgeG13rNfg-_nQ/s1600/phpThumb_generated_thumbnail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYadv-S1ZAEd31cJ4cs8OZZgtYVY8h00JwkY5A8UghEk4235TT7_sNc0ToUdyhdXTTnOeJd1IXRmDtWjZsylAEkfMxBGDBp7TBdyCFMaxon5r6m9oLoLasMvS0iB9L0zgeG13rNfg-_nQ/s200/phpThumb_generated_thumbnail.jpeg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;">I guess the Lord used the main plot of this book to get me to thinking and focusing on <i>MY</i> between Sundays. But even more than that, realizing that what <i>I</i> do between Sundays...how I spend my time, how much I study, read, & pray... truly affects <i>my</i> actual Sunday....how I worship, how I minister, what I learn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;"> My desire is to use this opportunity to encourage you to seek the Lord in everything you do all through the week...Spend time in devotional study and in God's Word; read great books that point you to Christ. Those of us with kids, spend time teaching them God's Word. And last but certainly not least, PRAY!!! Pray for your family, your church family, your church leaders, the lost...pray for growth and wisdom and discernment. Pray for understanding for where the Lord has you. Pray to be in sync with how God works!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;"> I want to share a part of a devotion from John Piper's Devotional book, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;">Taste and See</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;"> entitled "How to Pray for the Soul". He calls it the meat and potatoes of his prayer life and it is good </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">s<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #464643;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600; line-height: 28px; white-space: nowrap;">tuff!!!</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #464643;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 600; line-height: 28px; white-space: nowrap;">Here is how we should pray:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 1. For the desire of my heart to be toward God and his Word.</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 119.36" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%20119.36" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Psalm 119:36</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. For the eyes of my heart to be opened.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 119.18" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%20119.18" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Psalm 119:18</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. For my heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.”</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Ephesians 1.18" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%201.18" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:18</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. For my heart to be united, not divided, for God.</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 86.11" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2086.11" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Psalm 86:11</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. For my heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world.</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 90.14" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2090.14" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Psalm 90:14</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. For strength in this joy, and endurance during the dark seasons.</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[I pray that God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Ephesians 3.16" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%203.16" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ephesians 3:16</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. For visible good deeds and works of love to others.</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[I pray that you] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...bearing fruit in every good work. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Colossians 1.10" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Colossians%201.10" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Colossians 1:10</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. For God to be glorified.</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hallowed be thy name. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 6.9" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%206.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Matthew 6:9</a>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. In Jesus’ name.</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 8.32" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%208.32" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Romans 8:32</a>)</span></span></div><section class="main col_9
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" role="main" style="color: #231f20; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 30px; width: 690px;"><article style="display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 30px !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><section class="col_7 in" style="display: inline; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; width: 530px;"><div class="manuscript" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 30px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May this devotion and reminder bless you as much as it did me. </span></div></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your Sister in Christ, Kayce </span></div></div></section></article></section>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-2943828298540258442012-01-05T22:13:00.002-06:002012-01-05T22:18:30.539-06:00Wow!! It's been awhile!!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hard to believe that my last post was the first week of the "Back to school Blog Hop" waaaay back in August. I never made it passed curriculum week. I guess that is because the next week was "School Room week" and it just did me right in. You see, up until a week ago, our school room had also become Alec's bedroom and my office. We had a family come to live with us and his room became their room and my office (that held lots of school stuff) became their babies nursery. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So to say our school room took a hit is an understatement!!! Our "adoptive" family came to live with us in May. It wasn't so bad - summer was upon us so the school room wasn't needed. But come August, the room kept getting smaller and smaller...and messier and messier!! Alec started doing school in the kitchen and Bailey made due!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is always amazing to me how God's timing works. We had no idea how long the family would stay....we thought probably about year. However, the Lord knew what we all needed...what our school needed...a fresh start for the new year. This precious family was able to buy their first home...God has blessed them tremendously!! They moved out this past weekend so I have spent my week putting everything back in the right room!! My house seems A LOT bigger...lol!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also amazing that God also always gives us just what we need right when we need it. For some reason, de-cluttering and organizing my house, helped me to de-clutter and organize my thoughts, my desires, my goals for the rest of this school year as well as 2012 in general.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a huge New Year's Resolutioner (if that is even a word)!!!!!! I am all about trying to do it better and so appreciate that God's mercies are new EVERY morning...and year. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This year.....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"> I want to be closer than ever to my Father</span> - I want to pray more, study His word more, point my children to Christ more, serve more, praise Him more!!....Sit at His feet more!!!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"> I want to be a better wife</span> - I want to pray for my husband more, be a better help mate, be supportive, be kinder....be more submissive - yikes!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">I want to be a better mother</span> - I want to pray more and fuss less!! I want to be a godly example to my children. I want to talk and listen more...and clean less!! I want to hug more. I want to show them more grace!! I want our home to be a safe haven where they want to be!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">I want to be a better teacher</span> - I want to be more structured, have more patience...I want the kids to learn as much as they can!! I want to be an encourager...I want to build them up in Christ!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">I want to read more!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">....</span>and watch TV less!! - I am shooting for 20 books but hope I can beat my goal.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those are my top five, but I have so many other things on my heart that I would like to do better. Not only am I a big "New Year's resolutioner", but I am also a big regretter!!!!!! I regret all the stuff I didn't do, some of the stuff I did do, and what I could have done better!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this upcoming year, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* I pray I am more grateful....in all things (in the good, the bad, and the ugly may I see God's faithfulness!!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* I pray I am a better daughter and friend.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* I pray that I slow down.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* I pray that I take one day at a time....Sweet Jesus!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* I pray that I am more organized.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* and of course I pray I lose some weight and get healthier!!!!!!...and start running again too!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so looking forward to Monday. Alec is starting Louisiana History as well as a new Language Arts program, and Bailey is finishing up her sophomore year....and about to turn 16 on the 25th of this month. Have mercy!!! That is enough to do me in right there!! But hopefully instead of doing me in, it will keep me focused on what the Lord has called me to do and teach her in the years I have left with her.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praise the Lord for new beginnings and clean school rooms!!!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And check out our new reading chair!!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope everyone has a wonderful start to the New Year!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Christ Alone,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kayce</span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-63757779213748122752011-08-04T17:09:00.001-05:002011-08-04T17:33:15.070-05:00"Not" Back to School Blog Hop!!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2011-2012 Curriculum Choices for Reed Academy</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow!! Year two (technically four, but there have been a few years of regular school in there too!) of homeschooling. This year my daughter will be a sophomore...have mercy! She has had a very productive summer working as a lifeguard, babysitting, and getting her driving permit....double have mercy!!! My son is going into 8th grade so this is his last year before the big stuff!!! He has had a very productive summer as well...not!!! Unless you consider the x-box as productive!!! Can not wait to get him back into a routine and hopefully regenerate some of his brain cells!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This school year starts so differently than our last. We actually have a family living with us. They are expecting a baby any minute....literally!!!! Our school room is now also a bedroom for Alec and our office that held a lot of school stuff is now a nursery!!! But God is faithful and we continue to find places to put things. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, last year we started with two other students, two friends of each one of my kids. This year, it is just us and I couldn't be happier....so much more freedom. And our little co-op, the Friendship 4 has turned into more like the Friendship 8!!! What a blessing!! And one of those greatest blessing is one of my best friends in the whole world is gonna give homeschooling a try. She just has her fourth boy and for the first time she is able to be a stay at home (her oldest is 12!!!) and the Lord has put it on her heart to homeschool...I can hardly stand it!!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course, I am so blessed to has my veteran friends as well....the Friendship 4 is still going strong. We have a meeting with all our new people Saturday to "plan our year" -field trips, parties, service projects, etc.!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But now for the point of this post -Our curriculum choices...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's start with Bailey:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My Father's World</b> - We are continuing the 4 year high school cycle for MFW for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bible, History, and Literature</span></b>. Last year she studied the Old Testament, and Ancient History and Literature. This year she will study the New Testament, World History and Literature. This is phenomenal program that we just love. For Bible, she will be reading and studying books such as <i>More than a Carpenter</i> and <i>Experiencing God</i>, as well as compare the basic beliefs of Christianity to other religions. For History and Literature, she will be reading some great classics - <i>Julius Caesar, Beowulf, Pilgrim's Progress, A Tale of two Cities, Pride and Prejudice</i>...just to name a few. She will also learn how to write a research paper.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Video Text</b> - For Math we will continue doing Video Text for Algebra. We started last year using Teaching Textbooks but switched in March to Video text after meeting it's maker....and falling in love with him....and it!!!... at a conference in Memphis. Once Bailey completes the Algebra course, she have have credits for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Algebra I & II.</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Biology </b></span>- We will be using Apologia for Biology along side a DVD program, Biology 101, based on the days of creation. We are not big science enthusiast, so I am trying to give us a little something more.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>One Year Novel</b></span> - Bailey loves to write so I think will be so good for her. At the end of the course, she will have written her own novel and may enter into a contest to have it published!!! This is right up her alley!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Latin</b></span> - Never in my wildest dreams did I EVER think I would want us to do Latin! However, at the same conference in Memphis, I went to a talk and I was hooked!! We are doing a DVD program called Latin Alive and the girl on the DVD is precious!! We started at the end of last year and got to chapter 3. We are gonna do a bit of review (this program comes with a website that has great review games!!) and jump right back in.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Spanish - </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rosetta Stone is the way to go. This will be our second year and this is a great program.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Logic</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> - This is one of the electives offered through MFW. The Fallacy Detective & The Thinking Toolbox are the books used. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Nutrition 101</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> - This is just gonna be a fun class to teach us about good eating habits and some fun recipes. We are just gonna do it a couple of days.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and finally...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>SAT & College Prep course</b></span> that also goes along with MFW. It works on study skills, developing vocabulary, critical thinking, and reading comprehension.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also want us to go a couple of nights a week to a Zumba class for her PE.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alec...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Bible</b></span> - Route 66 is a study of all the books of the Bible. He will love this!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Math</b></span> - He is doing Video text as well starting with Pre-Algebra</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Fix-it Grammar</b></span> - This is a great program that uses classic literature to teach grammar in context. We are starting with Tom Sawyer. Love it!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>IEW</b></span> - This is our writing program. With Alec's autism, writing is a HUGE struggle. We are hoping this program lives up to all the great reviews we've read!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b></span> - This by far is Alec's greatest strength. We are doing America the Beautiful by Notgrass as well as reading LOTS of biographies of important people in our history. We are also doing a DVD program called Drive Thru History America about our Founding Fathers. It is a character study as well. He will also do a study on <i>Elections in America</i> also by the Notgrass people!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the Spring, we will do a study on Louisiana using a book called <i>Louisiana: The Land and its People</i>. I also have a lot of supplemental stuff to use as well.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>General Science</b></span> - Using Apologia for this as well as a book called <i>Hands-On General Science Activities with Real</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>-Life Applications. </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Spanish</b></span> - This will be Alec's first year. He will be using Rosetta Stone as well.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Can't wait to get started but will be starting <b>after</b> Labor Day. Have a baby coming as well as a vacation towards the end of August. Hope all of you have a wonderful year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kayce</span><br />
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</span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-37575523876849729842011-01-05T00:32:00.001-06:002011-01-05T00:35:20.645-06:00<div class="AppleOriginalContents" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; letter-spacing: 0px;">New Year’s Devotional - 2011 </span></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> By John MacArthur & Kayce Reed!!! </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Key Verses...</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Philippians 3:12-16</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>12</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but <b>I press on</b> so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>13</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but <b>one thing I do</b>: <b>forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>14</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>15</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>16</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.</span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WH6_ZZu-Lh5LcTD5I-uO2MEeeoiIRUf1uJxZYxqy05cKyvKRbKJ_7u3IW8hSRFVT-lJww-gBTNe8sC_ccSz7pHnjIUV7kFR_Lz2JuiWUX89qY3NREifw1xaIODAF4ZNOtja2WZAwlXI/s1600/morning+by+morning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WH6_ZZu-Lh5LcTD5I-uO2MEeeoiIRUf1uJxZYxqy05cKyvKRbKJ_7u3IW8hSRFVT-lJww-gBTNe8sC_ccSz7pHnjIUV7kFR_Lz2JuiWUX89qY3NREifw1xaIODAF4ZNOtja2WZAwlXI/s320/morning+by+morning.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14px;">I love the verse in Lamentations 3...”The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. <b>They are new every morning; </b>Great is His faithfulness.” And I am all about fresh starts!!!</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I am also a thinker...reflector....regretter - lol!!!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I invite you all to think a minute about this past year for YOU - the blessings, the trials, the changes, the opportunities....and spend some time in reflection tonight when you go home.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have been reflecting for a while now and I am amazed and the changes that one year can make in my life and the people in my life...</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This year I...</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-quit work</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-began homeschooling....again...that caused a huge remodel...two other students besides Bailey and Alec and now this year I am back to just my people</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-Mom’s cancer and healing!!...and Mrs. Carolyn</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the economy- for everybody</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-the new families the Lord has brought to Friendship</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-Bailey being saved and baptized....medicine free</span></div><ul><li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">weddings and a birth</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">the babies that we found out we’ll have next year and the changes the Lord is making in these families lives</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> wrecks of family members of close friends</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">new jobs, new houses,</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mom retiring</li>
</ul></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote> - Not to mention going to Houston to celebrate Alec's birthday, Family trip to Disney World, and the cruise with Bailey, Mom, and Cadie!!!<br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and that’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;">We have so much to be thankful for even when we see that some of the stuff we named doesn’t seem like blessings. The blessings come from God’s faithfulness in the good and the bad and as much as I am appreciative of the blessings and the good stuff, I can’t help but want to spend some time focusing on what I want to do differently next year, how I want to be better, the growth I desire....<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That being said, the Lord laid this verse on my heart a few weeks ago and it is a verse I want to embrace for this nest year....my ONLY New Year’s resolution and it is a doosey!!!</span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlhcJ3msac7fF51-cCkRomTubAf3F4yqFrmXi0FIXADjzwCmaqVMNV29DrBxXVhHYT44pQnpI4UKvyN1Phl81Hl8El83PMQrknc3hkAlXJFJMCk5cSPNx3ND_5HZvtoJpkLQh2Qz_aFw/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlhcJ3msac7fF51-cCkRomTubAf3F4yqFrmXi0FIXADjzwCmaqVMNV29DrBxXVhHYT44pQnpI4UKvyN1Phl81Hl8El83PMQrknc3hkAlXJFJMCk5cSPNx3ND_5HZvtoJpkLQh2Qz_aFw/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians and he is all about these running analogies...running a race...the race of the Christian life. I guess I can relate so much to this because I always feel like in a race...just trying to get to the next thing. Plus I’ve ran a real race before so I truly get his examples!!!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Now it is easy to see that the theme of these verses is pursuing the prize. The analogy is that the runner is running to win in order that he might gain the prize.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But it is the spiritual point that is my whole focus for this lesson and my commitment for 2011...GROWTH...spiritual growth and my desire for it and for you.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Quick explanation of this chapter...Paul is warning the Philippians of false teachers....the Judizers who think they are good but who clearly don’t get it...then in verses 4-11 he gives his own conversion testimony and just how wrong he was....vs. 8-11 show what he gained in Christ....vs. 4-7 what was loss...and what he gained FAR outweighed the loss because what he gained was Christ - knowledge, righteousness, power, fellowship, and glory of Christ.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;">But what I want us to focus on is the fact that even though we gain all those when we give our lives to Christ...we are still no where near perfect...we have a long way to go...morally and spiritually...<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even though we are new creatures, with a new heart, a new disposition, a new mind, and a new standing before God,... even though we have the Holy Spirit living in us...WE ARE STILL NO WHERE NEAR PERFECT! We are still tempted, we still sin, we are still in our unredeemed flesh!!!! and we all need to continually grow. That’s what I want our commitment to be for 2011 - to grow, to pursue the goal, to run the race.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;">2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We receive the knowledge, the righteousness...i.e. justification - it’s just as if I never sinned, His power, His fellowship, but not perfection which is why these must be growth.<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Reasons why we need to grow:</b></span></div><ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We should want to grow!!!!</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Growth glorifies God - which is our whole purpose!</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Growth verifies your salvation - as you grow, you change...your different!</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Growth gives you assurance - you can see Christ working in your own life.</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Growth helps you with your Plan Bs - growth brings understanding of where Christ has you.</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Growth produces joy in your life.</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Growth helps you to minister...gives you a desire to serve.</span></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">heartedly - RUN ALL OUT!! Run intentionally!!!</span></li>
</ol><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Six principles for pursuing “the prize” = spiritual perfection</b></span></div><ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Seeking perfections makes us very aware of our need for a Savior....our need to be better. Realizing we are not what we should be, not what we can be, not what we will be when we see the Lord. And we realize we never will be perfect in this life...one area we should never be content.</b></span></li>
</ol></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5xbTGfaW5RIMPMdFLnQxY_8WOAWaXJZ_TYUOUncVjAvFF_n51GEGYk6Jy615t-acUFJbVCX5mAzeHtYg6lNCYx-EZcq8F0wyUXH-k3ppkPoHs7oJqVAbffv1wXnIBCV-qMdDdt4iXnw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5xbTGfaW5RIMPMdFLnQxY_8WOAWaXJZ_TYUOUncVjAvFF_n51GEGYk6Jy615t-acUFJbVCX5mAzeHtYg6lNCYx-EZcq8F0wyUXH-k3ppkPoHs7oJqVAbffv1wXnIBCV-qMdDdt4iXnw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">vs. 12 “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect.” That is where we need to start - an awareness that we are not there yet.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Side-note - Paul is saying he’s not there - after 30 years of being possibly the most committed Christian to have ever lived - he’s not there so that should help keep me running...and humble!!!! (I have been a Christian for 30 years too).</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So for 2011 let’s all be aware that we need to grow....we are not there, we have not arrived, we have a lot to learn and a long way to go.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Whatever we did last year, we need to do more this year - more Bible study, more prayer, more Christian fellowship, more church!!!!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">John MacArthur calls it blessed dissatisfaction - wanting more of Jesus!!!</span></div><div><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>2. <b>If you are going to pursue the prize effectively you must give it maximum effort.</b></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXFg0V3hzVIBGbEWIpAeUUj-ciTWs3WgnNrJRee29a3hK8Wl3GL5iTnEOfClS4Orz5l5gfm8yQ3mIcq9vsmVkJEOFGZb6APwmOdiTEuxPtVHRUsils2Qn8O4qdiClII2J34QHmdS2Azs/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXFg0V3hzVIBGbEWIpAeUUj-ciTWs3WgnNrJRee29a3hK8Wl3GL5iTnEOfClS4Orz5l5gfm8yQ3mIcq9vsmVkJEOFGZb6APwmOdiTEuxPtVHRUsils2Qn8O4qdiClII2J34QHmdS2Azs/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">vs. 12 also says “I press on in order that I may lay hold of that which also I laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I press on, I run, chase...running after this thing with all my might.</span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">This is fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqZ6PiEMyoxHKZH8CITztrRZM2hrx3Mo5dA-HmfVms3puOUlngnO-ojpdJtDy51Cq_VZlbfZKcNNPOgMIDET_7m-6YNEwSlK1Y_cEYDb8-9vtFKOSN52WDj-BgIhX9BQQ7LBr5B2wJCw/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqZ6PiEMyoxHKZH8CITztrRZM2hrx3Mo5dA-HmfVms3puOUlngnO-ojpdJtDy51Cq_VZlbfZKcNNPOgMIDET_7m-6YNEwSlK1Y_cEYDb8-9vtFKOSN52WDj-BgIhX9BQQ7LBr5B2wJCw/s1600/images-4.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Running the race to win...</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Hebrews 12:1-2 </b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>1</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, <b>let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>2</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Are you tired??? Did 2010 just do you in??? </span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_aa5mwCpftm8714sxNPIOabrFwT9n6lWrJSfi4gbQan_WRB_BW4NxxPJXQtyFXNddO25lI_l-9xm69uWJjGihQXt8_ktDNAZknmUElQNPoi8HwJIvlsWtKZqPsvPqdS5WMMow4cOqcA/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_aa5mwCpftm8714sxNPIOabrFwT9n6lWrJSfi4gbQan_WRB_BW4NxxPJXQtyFXNddO25lI_l-9xm69uWJjGihQXt8_ktDNAZknmUElQNPoi8HwJIvlsWtKZqPsvPqdS5WMMow4cOqcA/s1600/images-3.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Well let me tell you where this maximum effort is going to come from - GRACE, GRACE, GOD’S GRACE, GRACE THAT WILL PARDON AND CLEANSE WITHIN...</span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6I3SUPTRPICAfUAqE_At7ACDa42rCFXX1C8FNEXEqcymx7bwrgdu5klt1kQG7KvnOaF8X7lqmJzpOsy9_AvGcOsWUGdTafNVPpO9ZIrhgmd0ZDanj7YzScRla46eSBIqSetHixWHSDI/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6I3SUPTRPICAfUAqE_At7ACDa42rCFXX1C8FNEXEqcymx7bwrgdu5klt1kQG7KvnOaF8X7lqmJzpOsy9_AvGcOsWUGdTafNVPpO9ZIrhgmd0ZDanj7YzScRla46eSBIqSetHixWHSDI/s1600/images-4.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and with that grace will come an understanding of what we’re running after...what we’re trying to get hold of....</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 23px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">vs. 12 again.....I press on in order that I may lay hold of what?????? I’m after that which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We’re pursuing God’s purpose for our lives...the whole reason He saved us in the first place. What is that??...</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Romans 8:28-29 </b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>28</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>29</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined <b>to become conformed to the image of His Son,...</b></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">What’s our goal for the Christian life? What needs to be our main focus of 2011??? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> a life-long pursuit of Christ’s likeness!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI0nIOESYy5mQTBYvqJgUNgjJSdZ_cCBwLe0E2_odiAqxpwo-z1nH9PM3LpCB0p1os3S8IELqkQwyKbHAzWmQ5Wb0nyZ9zR-hWoy27uS2P0ikw5xXUyl2rdCWrFKfy79IYdqoANkiWkY/s1600/become-more-christ-like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI0nIOESYy5mQTBYvqJgUNgjJSdZ_cCBwLe0E2_odiAqxpwo-z1nH9PM3LpCB0p1os3S8IELqkQwyKbHAzWmQ5Wb0nyZ9zR-hWoy27uS2P0ikw5xXUyl2rdCWrFKfy79IYdqoANkiWkY/s320/become-more-christ-like.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
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<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Why did God pursue Paul and slam his face into the dirt on the Damascus Road and save him?? To make him like Christ.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">His goal for us should be our goal as well - is it a worthy goal? Does it require a commitment?? </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So far we see that we need an awareness that there is a better condition , we need effort (all of me) to move toward that better condition and...</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">3. </span><b>In pursuing the prize there needs to be focused concentration. And what should we be concentrating on???</b></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBwYW_-TQIm-kI691uvOb1Hk1NafgiNsk1RkAhBAqdkS6-GCWzGtigife5xP2Hc62WF1OvOPy3kd177MlVB4Q2Ibg0BnOgcNM1zd6jeB5BVMJN4nIQ_50t6AdYPiKMvAgNI8_CLGGbBs/s1600/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBwYW_-TQIm-kI691uvOb1Hk1NafgiNsk1RkAhBAqdkS6-GCWzGtigife5xP2Hc62WF1OvOPy3kd177MlVB4Q2Ibg0BnOgcNM1zd6jeB5BVMJN4nIQ_50t6AdYPiKMvAgNI8_CLGGbBs/s1600/images-5.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">vs. 13 says Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet but <b>one thing I do, I press on toward the goal for the prize.</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No need for a bunch of resolutions, things you want to change, do differently, want a better relationship with your husband, kids, want to be a better steward, serve more, love more, have more patience, self-control..... just do this ONE THING - <b>seek Christ’s likeness!!</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“When your life has one driving compulsion and that is to be like Christ, you’re moving in the right direction.” Johnny Mac</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As you think about 2011 and what you are going to do, where you’re gonna go, how your gonna live, etc., keep being Christ like on the forefront of your mind. Keep asking yourself - is what I’m doing making me more like Christ, what I’m watching, who I’m with, the decisions I’m making??? Are my choices making me more like Jesus???</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And in order to focus on that one thing, we have to “Forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead”.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Don’t look back on 2010, 2009, etc with regret and let it hold you back for pursuing the prize in 2011.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That being said, don’t look at the good things of 2010 and think that should tie you over for awhile.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Forget all the things that are behind - the good, the bad, and the ugly - good things, bad things, great accomplishments, as well as sins, failures, disasters. Let it go!! Guilt is a brutal thing and Satan wants nothing more than to keep us in the past. But our future should be our focus!!!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What God is interested in is what you are doing right now!! and what you are going to do in the future.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-so we need awareness, effort, concentration....and</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">4. </span>S<b>piritual motivation - and what’s our motivation - “the prize” and what’s the prize?? to be made like Christ!!! the upward call when we stand before our Heavenly Father and hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”</b></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWObHJLj1fa40jNiy9lsHQn1Gul8XAX3wMB57nKDRzrofrMNoVrknrhsAk-QBE3vYd7-FeJEjUa1kZ9mymSyVimGTq7rNGnqWdSObjAe7BudYRJgYA37k8r-O_OE9fpHjtyKU_nAZUgSo/s1600/Spiritual+Motivation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWObHJLj1fa40jNiy9lsHQn1Gul8XAX3wMB57nKDRzrofrMNoVrknrhsAk-QBE3vYd7-FeJEjUa1kZ9mymSyVimGTq7rNGnqWdSObjAe7BudYRJgYA37k8r-O_OE9fpHjtyKU_nAZUgSo/s320/Spiritual+Motivation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Paul saw this at the end of his life we he wrote this letter to Timothy....</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">2 Timothy 4:7-9 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. <b>Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness</b>, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What is the crown of righteousness??? Perfection</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5. <b>In pursuing the prize we must recognize our divine resources to pursue that better condition....</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">vs. 15 “Let us therefore as many as are perfect (positionally through Christ not practically) have this attitude and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you.”</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What attitude should we have?? - a desire to be like Christ, to think this way, set one’s mind on this...</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But do we sometimes have a different attitude??? guilt, regret, contentment - thinking you’re good, the past, etc.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We think about anything but the prize sometimes, but guess what. God says, <b>“Then He will reveal that also to you.”</b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How???? Plan Bs - trials, suffering, chastening, things that cause us to be dependent on Christ, reminders of the big picture...</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and we should want that... WE SHOULD WANT GOD TO BRING INTO OUR LIVES WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MOVE US ON THE PATH OF PURSUING THE PRIZE!!!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 23px;">What does it take? Recognition of need, effort, concentration, motivation, and divine help for those time when we fail to have the right attitude and lastly...<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">6. C<b>onformity or better yet consistency....</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">vs. 16 “However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In other words, keep running, stay on the path that got you this far!!! What are the ingredients that help us do that?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-It takes consistent time in the Word -keep reading the Word...in fact read MORE! </span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNo-OmZ8tSiq7MR07eRDIVavgb-WmbTtLu1FiEFtVnxaQF002NDFFGLFJZrer94xGaNGN54rW1AXjKWztDLtvAM1o9PXH5FPl9OmZbHZ9TGZVJFBeTOTen1jS0L7l4EPiaSOnh4pW5hU/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNo-OmZ8tSiq7MR07eRDIVavgb-WmbTtLu1FiEFtVnxaQF002NDFFGLFJZrer94xGaNGN54rW1AXjKWztDLtvAM1o9PXH5FPl9OmZbHZ9TGZVJFBeTOTen1jS0L7l4EPiaSOnh4pW5hU/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-It takes consistent time in prayer...pray more!!!! </span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQUW-iEYgq_is3B2PPA48bHli_zEI55styIYJhmrj3MwJpmbmCKL2hX2r-p2FIiibvHsuihyphenhyphenqAh20sZJrDmlwM9fpyrj4ZkCL1k2JdJAzABoLVJbW0T9a67kc4wOwc8r-LGo8DpMIJ2E/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQUW-iEYgq_is3B2PPA48bHli_zEI55styIYJhmrj3MwJpmbmCKL2hX2r-p2FIiibvHsuihyphenhyphenqAh20sZJrDmlwM9fpyrj4ZkCL1k2JdJAzABoLVJbW0T9a67kc4wOwc8r-LGo8DpMIJ2E/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-It takes consistently following a godly example - Look at </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Philippians 3:17 </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, <b>keep your eyes on those who live as we do.</b></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE5VFckIdFTJt2Md1vmCysmh54DxGZ7YcUxWY_k26oV8oBX78ZmifhRVp8jf4G3irOrN312f8FUki5qajM2a8vHg4iRXlruLPcace77ffEJUz3GEroRx-oiyOGxLQkSdKMYKn9RZ9pMU/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE5VFckIdFTJt2Md1vmCysmh54DxGZ7YcUxWY_k26oV8oBX78ZmifhRVp8jf4G3irOrN312f8FUki5qajM2a8vHg4iRXlruLPcace77ffEJUz3GEroRx-oiyOGxLQkSdKMYKn9RZ9pMU/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Find somebody to model your life after...someone who points you to Christ no matter what!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">-It takes trials - God bringing sufficient trials to shape my life. - </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>1 Peter 5:10 </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, <b>after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.</b></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcHxNNhEyHXdnGungE_ZMWC161qoUup9TbH9LuCEBefXIQ42bhUgwS3ZabDF4VFq5cNRNIBib9tDFuOH0qyXdUfKheW5B9Y5hkPkXPCjWx2mhMcm0_sULzMrvA-Xr62gSeezCosqnG1E/s1600/6a00d8342086bb53ef0133edd5ac1e970b-320pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcHxNNhEyHXdnGungE_ZMWC161qoUup9TbH9LuCEBefXIQ42bhUgwS3ZabDF4VFq5cNRNIBib9tDFuOH0qyXdUfKheW5B9Y5hkPkXPCjWx2mhMcm0_sULzMrvA-Xr62gSeezCosqnG1E/s1600/6a00d8342086bb53ef0133edd5ac1e970b-320pi.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For 2011 my prayer for us all is that we pursuing the prize...that we grow!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I read a story about how many people try to climb the Alps. Some are successful...some are not... and for one who was not, there is a tiny grave at the bottom of the mountain. On the tombstone it simply has the person's name and the words "He died climbing."</span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHLX-pBvGkroTRgOlqxLj5OEy20aKELqBiG1iuYiGZWObmQgX-joLniK1pGLVW0DpdO8CsnOxaLnRM_52lQqwH_w0IPDvOuLGd_-AeljqpB5akGER2XzAMzGo8mRu22p2npd-bUsz9ko/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHLX-pBvGkroTRgOlqxLj5OEy20aKELqBiG1iuYiGZWObmQgX-joLniK1pGLVW0DpdO8CsnOxaLnRM_52lQqwH_w0IPDvOuLGd_-AeljqpB5akGER2XzAMzGo8mRu22p2npd-bUsz9ko/s1600/images-3.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">May we all climb our hearts out in 2011!!!</span><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-size: 12px;"><b><i>Philippians 3 vs. 12-14 – Pressing On Toward The Goal</i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i> </i></b></span><i>Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on</i></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold for me</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I know that I have much to learn, I need to sit at the feet of God’s Son</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To comprehend what it is He has laid hold for me, to understand and see</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I need to seek the Lord with all I am, and in life make Him number one</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For He is who I seek, I am not perfect, far from it, I can’t like him sinless be</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yet with His helper the Spirit I can seek to do his will, to in him press on</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Looking to Christ seeking His face, holding in to all He has planned for me</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There is so much more I need to understand, at times life’s a zoo</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It becomes so busy, that I lose sight of God... time with Him goes overboard</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I am far from perfect, yet God loves me unconditionally even when I feel blue</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">He calls me to be one with Him, to seek His face, and to move forward</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Forgetting those things which are behind, seeking healing, pushing thru</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For He knows His plans for me, His voice saying Christian soldier onward!</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I desire to march forward in time with Him, with all my soul</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For I have the hope that one day in heaven I’ll be with Jesus</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Until that day I desire to serve and grow in him whatever the role</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Nothing the world can offer compares to being one with Jesus</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote>Happy New Year,<br />
Kayce </div>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-10230176700407452512010-12-05T00:53:00.000-06:002010-12-05T00:53:26.742-06:00November... came and went in a hurry<span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe it's already December! November went by in a flash!! It was a great month that had a great ending. I love fall, Thanksgiving, eating and fellowshipping with friends, and this year being home made it even more special. Here are some highlights:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We went to <strong>Italy...</strong></span><br />
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</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3BKzNdGLZxA58ObgMXRQpuNvN8MUmaIgzyOufa3J9lYsJv1Vdv74k3X3vnRo0uQaxGu11yzOQlbPKmBaTHfqyrO6oQQrQf_Xv3-u9ShvYBT898gv-BQySz-puR0aw11ayuTRNbxeimw/s1600/images-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3BKzNdGLZxA58ObgMXRQpuNvN8MUmaIgzyOufa3J9lYsJv1Vdv74k3X3vnRo0uQaxGu11yzOQlbPKmBaTHfqyrO6oQQrQf_Xv3-u9ShvYBT898gv-BQySz-puR0aw11ayuTRNbxeimw/s200/images-6.jpeg" width="197" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3BKzNdGLZxA58ObgMXRQpuNvN8MUmaIgzyOufa3J9lYsJv1Vdv74k3X3vnRo0uQaxGu11yzOQlbPKmBaTHfqyrO6oQQrQf_Xv3-u9ShvYBT898gv-BQySz-puR0aw11ayuTRNbxeimw/s1600/images-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;">home of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J8hFikkqy2lfrTHI674p34uIVzZ8IZB0TVaSilO25W3T4V5E_nmUHt0T8giaOo2Kkiy0n03lA07bxQr8cPQpZ1Gyl1QCSet1MIH3dKwtWq6ijPpcZ30UkvIarAdZQdThjyk6i-3_o_k/s1600/images-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J8hFikkqy2lfrTHI674p34uIVzZ8IZB0TVaSilO25W3T4V5E_nmUHt0T8giaOo2Kkiy0n03lA07bxQr8cPQpZ1Gyl1QCSet1MIH3dKwtWq6ijPpcZ30UkvIarAdZQdThjyk6i-3_o_k/s200/images-7.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3BKzNdGLZxA58ObgMXRQpuNvN8MUmaIgzyOufa3J9lYsJv1Vdv74k3X3vnRo0uQaxGu11yzOQlbPKmBaTHfqyrO6oQQrQf_Xv3-u9ShvYBT898gv-BQySz-puR0aw11ayuTRNbxeimw/s1600/images-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We learned opera music is very popular in Italy, and that Italians love soccer, snow skiing, bicycle racing, and all types of water sport</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;">s. Italy also has several active volcanoes;</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>France, </strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp4-oyaH0YuKN12Wgwax5_M9mCP4aejes76HAeu4-VFMZwBgk0xc6GympLqpbGY5gVTFrjy8xON-HomWB8TDLolWeBrhC7QBNOy_hiBxvq-FOea0Z38aLn1uInO5ETpNk54rdEhNQixI/s1600/images-france.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp4-oyaH0YuKN12Wgwax5_M9mCP4aejes76HAeu4-VFMZwBgk0xc6GympLqpbGY5gVTFrjy8xON-HomWB8TDLolWeBrhC7QBNOy_hiBxvq-FOea0Z38aLn1uInO5ETpNk54rdEhNQixI/s200/images-france.jpeg" width="195" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">where we find the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Eiffel Tower </strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">in Paris, we learned how important food is. The French love to watch and play sports and every July they host the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Tour de France</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">- a 3 week bicycle race.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>;</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Germany,</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDiYgK3tN4aaw5JRIwoOK59pU2u9t3nx1daTzYa-xRg2iYnImc9ASRdGhCGJPrkfOVWo98svrhYQyDy4wPXcMPAcu6EuWxfPTDflQE-MtTirzfZbv_kIpaCzSUnBhRCapGayweBgEPvk/s1600/Germany-Map_0.jpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDiYgK3tN4aaw5JRIwoOK59pU2u9t3nx1daTzYa-xRg2iYnImc9ASRdGhCGJPrkfOVWo98svrhYQyDy4wPXcMPAcu6EuWxfPTDflQE-MtTirzfZbv_kIpaCzSUnBhRCapGayweBgEPvk/s200/Germany-Map_0.jpg.gif" width="151" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">which is famous for its fairy tales by the Grimm Brothers - Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sleeping beauty, to name just a few of my favorites. Most of the classical music we listen to today were composed by German musicians such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Handel, all from Germany. Some of the most most famous inventions came from Germany: the printing press, pocket watches, bicycles, x-ray machines, and electric trains. My favorite fact was that the Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" castle was inspired by a famous castle in Germany; </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn5K3cyA3EL2Kx0Mfyhf3OUVv-WhvlEnYsbuD0W7CTQg3Kzuoe7ri3eGrV5GsCLKizxLPFkIkDIJs6RDC-uVKMdBgqAGkjyANIc5FOrvXLTStPW220l5mGwSgHis3gsxRcivJM9oklxY/s1600/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn5K3cyA3EL2Kx0Mfyhf3OUVv-WhvlEnYsbuD0W7CTQg3Kzuoe7ri3eGrV5GsCLKizxLPFkIkDIJs6RDC-uVKMdBgqAGkjyANIc5FOrvXLTStPW220l5mGwSgHis3gsxRcivJM9oklxY/s200/images-5.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Norway,</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> home of the Vikings, </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2mw_V_bXj48YJN6df3GzhmH0TdyhDWOT-KeJ0zwju91c_TvdhhyphenhyphenFD1gOM8mUts5O9fqDBK2bm8SDPugQD1mr20xkk2O04N3i22fEVskE87hsiDKq8US8JfzN6mPfL6SyCRg8SpxwUDM/s1600/norway.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2mw_V_bXj48YJN6df3GzhmH0TdyhDWOT-KeJ0zwju91c_TvdhhyphenhyphenFD1gOM8mUts5O9fqDBK2bm8SDPugQD1mr20xkk2O04N3i22fEVskE87hsiDKq8US8JfzN6mPfL6SyCRg8SpxwUDM/s200/norway.gif" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">have languages similar to the Swedes and the Danish; </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and Spain...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pgfHpXVLfH8iEqBExMLFLe5qsI6pD8kGlAtlF_vCcnuDSfp_zVXl75pkKucq4FzvX1de-NtXDLte5He8fgWGgIkwbjd6WODAkapjUOsxanwuti0uJHmlymPKVFKo6JDzM4k6mwlZ_SM/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pgfHpXVLfH8iEqBExMLFLe5qsI6pD8kGlAtlF_vCcnuDSfp_zVXl75pkKucq4FzvX1de-NtXDLte5He8fgWGgIkwbjd6WODAkapjUOsxanwuti0uJHmlymPKVFKo6JDzM4k6mwlZ_SM/s200/images-2.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvITEdyn4Z8BeQxnSmz2OuvcFMMaRM9IFLS-_quxXgB3GOkVPrP9lbtkZebHmP3V97evsOMWv0EVTEm5KvGJG0KO6sGo_EGSim2CNvIJRhFLAN7qslw7uc22Gddc0MzVgLZl4oU1f4GZU/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvITEdyn4Z8BeQxnSmz2OuvcFMMaRM9IFLS-_quxXgB3GOkVPrP9lbtkZebHmP3V97evsOMWv0EVTEm5KvGJG0KO6sGo_EGSim2CNvIJRhFLAN7qslw7uc22Gddc0MzVgLZl4oU1f4GZU/s200/images-3.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong> </strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">where the guitar was developed. Bullfighting is also a very important part of Spanish culture. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> We studied and loved...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong>Leonardo da Vinci!...</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CiZuzfEPPPFmQDR1VEWrzX8UKJFFh9aMo4eLEtvEvX0aIKvp9iocQNYiadr-Aj6pyZ96fmgjW7sKXooUi863KiQphxpj9NDNmsanzxyqi0dqI1uIlGmzc_qd2UbI7nFnSVpU0aW7LH0/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CiZuzfEPPPFmQDR1VEWrzX8UKJFFh9aMo4eLEtvEvX0aIKvp9iocQNYiadr-Aj6pyZ96fmgjW7sKXooUi863KiQphxpj9NDNmsanzxyqi0dqI1uIlGmzc_qd2UbI7nFnSVpU0aW7LH0/s200/images.jpeg" width="165" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">who is most know for painting the Mona Lisa, but who was also an amazing inventor. Among the many inventions he created or envisioned—hundreds of years ahead of his time—were the submarine, tank, helicopter,bicycle, and telescope. Many of Leonardo’s creations were never finished, but he left behind thousands of pages of drawings, records, experiments, observations, and plans in dozens of notebooks. We watched Time Warp Trio on the Internet- the boys loved that, </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> Michelangelo... </strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFWyiqvkQql0iq8rgmBFFUWSsWzgv5Z3YZ4ghzg6xRC8s8h6fw9n8PC-eTWfW84rzfc27uovpkLiW7FwloPidPGGKGlGoAMAaw91H9nLWoGYVJH753A9-1i_isZUI-DRRMLyGoFpNOqw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFWyiqvkQql0iq8rgmBFFUWSsWzgv5Z3YZ4ghzg6xRC8s8h6fw9n8PC-eTWfW84rzfc27uovpkLiW7FwloPidPGGKGlGoAMAaw91H9nLWoGYVJH753A9-1i_isZUI-DRRMLyGoFpNOqw/s200/images-2.jpeg" width="144" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">who carved David (the shepherd boy turned king of Israel) and decorated the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He was one of the most famous artists who ever lived, and... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><strong> Galileo...</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomtp3Nt8_CQgHSs0o1UIKJRes2gpkYWS5wSD3IpveLUndn-OMk6V5eqqR4qUJ4vDSvo_m6vMVUsIKntunFgbpyqlZrqxUoF8NVqYpCmZZ2rKo_kEBwF65yVfYhIDFbgRLUu-v_Ug9Lbs/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomtp3Nt8_CQgHSs0o1UIKJRes2gpkYWS5wSD3IpveLUndn-OMk6V5eqqR4qUJ4vDSvo_m6vMVUsIKntunFgbpyqlZrqxUoF8NVqYpCmZZ2rKo_kEBwF65yVfYhIDFbgRLUu-v_Ug9Lbs/s200/images-1.jpeg" width="149" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">who was imprisoned in his home for his belief that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. He developed the telescope and loved to study the night sky. He also invented the clock, compass, and thermometer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We also spent some time talking about the election process since the Tuesday following the first Monday in November is known as Election Day.We talked about the importance of voting and how it is a privilege we should never take for granted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We also spent lots and lots of time "Celebrating Thanksgiving" and had a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast for our homeschool friends. We had a great time and some wonderful food. Each family brought two dishes and let me tell you we had a feast. We had a devotional about Jehoshaphat where our focus was that we give thanks to the Lord, He love endures forever. We divided the kids up into two groups and performed two plays. THEY WERE PRECIOUS AND THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY. The kids did great. We did a fun fall craft, rode the 4-wheeler, and just spent the after noon enjoying each other. We had a new family come join us and we enjoyed them very much.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYNk4WDe-FcDL4UZYkE8B3cKQBOQhs2NzBaf_sOGz6YbPGOAjAe74pjcttLhElNu3yvNT6gpRKt2mz2kIxftXaRYBkN8bXcnBNOO30NRhfuIOXOcwYaOFQUHdTZCr69vQAyefyl71004/s1600/DSCN1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYNk4WDe-FcDL4UZYkE8B3cKQBOQhs2NzBaf_sOGz6YbPGOAjAe74pjcttLhElNu3yvNT6gpRKt2mz2kIxftXaRYBkN8bXcnBNOO30NRhfuIOXOcwYaOFQUHdTZCr69vQAyefyl71004/s320/DSCN1808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS3Jp5oNIGkUTrXx6_AHwe0Shc9cOYRZihPLk1BPy9zm0cVmbUxVvigl9DN4kBoVa0_gwFEuy8lDpoI-Ely4nqvmz31U_ERx-UUrFq24q_oHmxyr5V4C-koE3LwhQluPgfv6xR77Q5UU/s1600/DSCN1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS3Jp5oNIGkUTrXx6_AHwe0Shc9cOYRZihPLk1BPy9zm0cVmbUxVvigl9DN4kBoVa0_gwFEuy8lDpoI-Ely4nqvmz31U_ERx-UUrFq24q_oHmxyr5V4C-koE3LwhQluPgfv6xR77Q5UU/s320/DSCN1808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> Play Practice...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyeCmY0pNVGht_M4gGDphP8qITY07nVc9Sj6YhGgJjBPbAtAZ7DPUIGl_Kr8dJSb1ubpxJpMbFOfjJF-JjJOpMzT9cCsT_FV8U1tR6L8-taf9Q_gP2-WUI9PwPpdJGcMMPCIlwrP1ENE/s1600/DSCN1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyeCmY0pNVGht_M4gGDphP8qITY07nVc9Sj6YhGgJjBPbAtAZ7DPUIGl_Kr8dJSb1ubpxJpMbFOfjJF-JjJOpMzT9cCsT_FV8U1tR6L8-taf9Q_gP2-WUI9PwPpdJGcMMPCIlwrP1ENE/s320/DSCN1809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJPWSw5AhJpXCauIjHN1HOvpuxMlYQj8xgAZ0gK8JnDg1qmteHct2s-bcTqTe7uvF7ujcmNyEE-hkz3hyphenhyphenkXXl5X-cl5TjjFf9fTsRlm2ZPWgMRunwqQkCtd-nj6Jl4DndyxTaTVaWScc/s1600/DSCN1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJPWSw5AhJpXCauIjHN1HOvpuxMlYQj8xgAZ0gK8JnDg1qmteHct2s-bcTqTe7uvF7ujcmNyEE-hkz3hyphenhyphenkXXl5X-cl5TjjFf9fTsRlm2ZPWgMRunwqQkCtd-nj6Jl4DndyxTaTVaWScc/s320/DSCN1819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two were out sound effects!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWnDGmdA5_H4M6eh2_KN9nOzy3FJoP9QzysA1x1mkfC-k7ZM2413usjpt0HaAfKww9XLQgNmOxGXwyn7vYWe0i1juLxcZtlxYOYrRIdhYx2vKxFgl3J3eXxgEuz7QZ3jejA0jpi01iI4/s1600/DSCN1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWnDGmdA5_H4M6eh2_KN9nOzy3FJoP9QzysA1x1mkfC-k7ZM2413usjpt0HaAfKww9XLQgNmOxGXwyn7vYWe0i1juLxcZtlxYOYrRIdhYx2vKxFgl3J3eXxgEuz7QZ3jejA0jpi01iI4/s320/DSCN1833.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The History of Thanksgiving</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The performances...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n4GOz5sAA0UgMiFHd0928ZLflReUbFBojcSBq4JOWkMTlaqSJAczlxm7B2wOiILCatLTiOqEiqCCDX5xD_kRYiekZ_DSYB0xxAFcvboZW1IgAPz8kah4QEbm3DgofWuD9X1mUBTEMiQ/s1600/DSCN1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n4GOz5sAA0UgMiFHd0928ZLflReUbFBojcSBq4JOWkMTlaqSJAczlxm7B2wOiILCatLTiOqEiqCCDX5xD_kRYiekZ_DSYB0xxAFcvboZW1IgAPz8kah4QEbm3DgofWuD9X1mUBTEMiQ/s320/DSCN1840.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<br />
<i>Thanksgiving Guests</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Craft...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Saturday after Thanksgiving, my mom, Bailey, and a family friend, and I left for a 5 day cruise to Mexico. We had an amazing time and our favorite thing was swimming with the dolphins.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were off to a rough start!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Formal night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLxEo_aI10MkjrtzNeFr2XM70hji53IUs8rBY7F1kLazaIrPDctBJ_Rd2k-2V4gmcuNGnUFaClmu1_pYpzcSz8Uv0jwOaxYiUttabkT7P-1UBjG_r1iKS5GTfcasU7qrOPNWKK2RQINw/s1600/DSCN2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLxEo_aI10MkjrtzNeFr2XM70hji53IUs8rBY7F1kLazaIrPDctBJ_Rd2k-2V4gmcuNGnUFaClmu1_pYpzcSz8Uv0jwOaxYiUttabkT7P-1UBjG_r1iKS5GTfcasU7qrOPNWKK2RQINw/s320/DSCN2435.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Progresso</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgGfbR1ApuPRX9YKCC-GrcGlkLzoGLeKDo2_Fc4WU4I3Ac_FmGB6_L1GFc8U28HXGJaOzfQx2eOZ3Av3l5KRmnFYpTo9a-GUKfkTZaqViJp30u2G1w1qj8mijPYRvgPiaqO6XA-XRPEo/s1600/DSCN2547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgGfbR1ApuPRX9YKCC-GrcGlkLzoGLeKDo2_Fc4WU4I3Ac_FmGB6_L1GFc8U28HXGJaOzfQx2eOZ3Av3l5KRmnFYpTo9a-GUKfkTZaqViJp30u2G1w1qj8mijPYRvgPiaqO6XA-XRPEo/s320/DSCN2547.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Cozumel</td></tr>
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</div> SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPHINS!!!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What a wonderful way to end November and begin December. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I can't wait to start back to school on Monday when will begin Christmas Around the World as well as a "Celebrate the Savior" study. Looking forward to a great month and end to our first semester and most importantly having the opportunity to truly celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior - to really sit at His feet and focus on the fact that He came to die....for MY sins. He is so faithful, and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to share my need for a Savior with my own children, family, and friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What a mighty God we serve, Kayce</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-68480645814229833712010-10-29T11:24:00.000-05:002010-10-29T11:24:28.316-05:00October Highlights!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Where do I begin??? It has been a busy month. We have been all over South America. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSr8_Vc3kReNOFmR00x3aBjPKgjBPopjvZWyuA-bIKeEW1KXmRVwO4gAUDFNOv9SCn2YwgUEFQg6fvodpBtJGuoR51P1GTo_FmEkZ1InbTnaQqaZy-cP7VK9Mt_u7rgqCyqxfgMYyrkU/s1600/southamerica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSr8_Vc3kReNOFmR00x3aBjPKgjBPopjvZWyuA-bIKeEW1KXmRVwO4gAUDFNOv9SCn2YwgUEFQg6fvodpBtJGuoR51P1GTo_FmEkZ1InbTnaQqaZy-cP7VK9Mt_u7rgqCyqxfgMYyrkU/s320/southamerica.jpg" width="233" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We learned <b>a lot</b> about Brazil and a little about Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, and Chile. It just so happened the week we were working on these countries was the same week they were rescuing the miners in Chile. It was neat to watch and see the real live people we were talking about and praying for. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We also added to our study the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Children of the World</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> book. It is a great book that has pictures and information of actual children living in different countries. It tells about their families, houses, religions, and their culture. Alec loves this!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We also spent a couple of days on rain forests. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKWNnwAcQ9LdBoKvqobRqY4OhyphenhyphenQoV2ihakoY7Q5JhUDXsjXaI7BvtoFuDGi_EZLWLEWiXZPZ6SYjg7SPh5Yf2pigKgjpD66sL-vAjR879AO-wh7NFpTKLyNskSYeAFLo-l8EoJFe6oZQ/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKWNnwAcQ9LdBoKvqobRqY4OhyphenhyphenQoV2ihakoY7Q5JhUDXsjXaI7BvtoFuDGi_EZLWLEWiXZPZ6SYjg7SPh5Yf2pigKgjpD66sL-vAjR879AO-wh7NFpTKLyNskSYeAFLo-l8EoJFe6oZQ/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> We made a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">lapbook</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">! We learned about the layers of the rain forest, the animals, plants, and how many products come from the rain forest. There are boo coo!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The boys also read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Brucho</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> and loved it. A true story about a missionary in South America. It is supposed to be a read aloud, but they prefer to read it on their own. Now they are reading </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Nate Saint</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">. He was one of the missionaries with Jim Elliot who were killed by the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Waoranis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> - a tribe in the Amazon.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Some of their favorite things in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">MFW</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Hero Tales, Window on the World</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">, the geography game, and the John 3:16 language color sheet.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Their least favorite subject is Science (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">MFW</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">). We are going to add Apologia General Science next year since it was either for 7th or 8th grade. I am not a huge fan of science either - lol!!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSyqbeUTrcepyA4SPsxcLcPR1LQcavyI79eNT-7A1pizGpsM3QkkLKC05Je-0YApJxnqKj3mcerAsiuVQLLo8mfmgcbpj_y9tHXfZ5ufxI8_HOblEO7b2iwh2utrTKl6W7w9wzFjtrHY/s1600/map_of_europe_3_with_flags.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSyqbeUTrcepyA4SPsxcLcPR1LQcavyI79eNT-7A1pizGpsM3QkkLKC05Je-0YApJxnqKj3mcerAsiuVQLLo8mfmgcbpj_y9tHXfZ5ufxI8_HOblEO7b2iwh2utrTKl6W7w9wzFjtrHY/s320/map_of_europe_3_with_flags.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of last week, we headed on to Europe!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We spent 4 days in Norway and who knew there was so much info about Norway? I started making them packets for each countries - flag sheets, fact sheets, word searches, research sheets, and reading comprehension sheets that relate to the people and activities of that country....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">SIDE NOTE: I joined <a href="http://www.edhelper.com/geography/geography.htm">edhelper</a> this week - great resources for countries and supplemental activities!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of each unit/continent study, they will choose their favorite country to make a lapbook. It was too much trying to do one for each country, and I figure this will be a good review and wrap up activity.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We went to France today , and we will head to Germany and then Italy- can't wait - a lunch of some kind will be involved!!! I love Italian food</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">. And my hope is to end up in Spain and Great Britain/England the week before thanksgiving - the pilgrims, Plymouth, etc. (stole this from <a href="http://onemomswalk.blogspot.com/">Kellye</a> at One Mom's Walk)!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> I will also be implementing a book from the <a href="http://www.notgrass.com/index.php">Notgrass Company</a> (got this idea from <a href="http://randiepandie.wordpress.com/2010/10/16/ecc-wk-14-france-a-slight-detour/">Randie</a>) called <i>Celebrate Thanksgiving</i>. It is a study of the traditions of Thanksgiving. It looks great. There is also one for Christmas - <i>Celebrate the Savio</i>r.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I am still loving Teaching Textbooks and Abeka Language & Spelling just can't be beat!!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I can't believe it is almost November and I am still so excited about homeschooling. I feel like the longer the year goes on, the better tweaked things become. It is always encouraging when things get easier rather than harder!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Amongst all this going on, Monday we went on a field trip to a pumpkin patch. And wouldn't you know it was the hottest day in October!! But the kids didn't care. They had a great time, and I loved watching them run and play together. Even my Bailey - My 9th grader who is such a good sport. She loves the little kids so much and THEY LOVE HER!! (My next post is going to be about her so I'll just say that the Lord has done mighty things this year where she is concerned and I am so proud of her...I'll leave it at that for now.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Anyway, here are some pictures from Pumpkin Patch field trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Our precious crew!!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Our fearless leader!!!..and principal!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Please process our single file line!!</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Happy homeschooling,</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong> Kayce</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-74117507327554830212010-10-13T22:35:00.000-05:002010-10-13T22:35:42.849-05:00In assessing Alec's Autism...<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> I am very excited about what I am seeing!!! We went camping this weekend and two observations were made that got me to thinking... and remembering... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The first observation - <strong>He wasn't brutal!!! </strong>This is exciting because for many <i>many </i>years, <em>everything</em> we did was brutal!! Autism is a very selfish world - you have to pretty much do everything they want.. or they make you miserable. Tunnel vision... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyUDsS11yyB-w1Wt-e9iZXuXHAZaImzLd7IBgONY_0QBpcKLER7w8Ml_Da13L7GO8NPwlH2SAgG2kRJCvoK9Et8fUztburvnGdGugn4bKr_0BWfIVc2yu63FItbnXxf3iV8U0etpZBYA/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyUDsS11yyB-w1Wt-e9iZXuXHAZaImzLd7IBgONY_0QBpcKLER7w8Ml_Da13L7GO8NPwlH2SAgG2kRJCvoK9Et8fUztburvnGdGugn4bKr_0BWfIVc2yu63FItbnXxf3iV8U0etpZBYA/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">they only see themselves and how things effect them!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">But I have to say, the older Alec gets, the more we are able to reason with him - this is huge in the world of autism!!! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHsskNbGEXdI_aBhb-gwwHTPt29kXkamX58Kilxn_RNZ7gfMs1Zxg13WnBg33m9_s1ha13Fnhk2J1REQiAhzQzRgDb1zdLnc0WCzU4YieDNWRoEviaNGIeWgKtxiy5KxKIaPJIpd234Q/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHsskNbGEXdI_aBhb-gwwHTPt29kXkamX58Kilxn_RNZ7gfMs1Zxg13WnBg33m9_s1ha13Fnhk2J1REQiAhzQzRgDb1zdLnc0WCzU4YieDNWRoEviaNGIeWgKtxiy5KxKIaPJIpd234Q/s320/IMG_0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could they be any cuter???</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjeDtbVeo81PIkf22BLY1Wr2qh0YQQ1txNYeYdj8IpzMZyovbnycNEyNcBG4-6Lq8xoslhXjU3Sx3PTj816mHD5ih8UpBtuNH_d7uXXM2SxQpiURAnaiZqhrGf7H_OWxecnb78vDB9Nw/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjeDtbVeo81PIkf22BLY1Wr2qh0YQQ1txNYeYdj8IpzMZyovbnycNEyNcBG4-6Lq8xoslhXjU3Sx3PTj816mHD5ih8UpBtuNH_d7uXXM2SxQpiURAnaiZqhrGf7H_OWxecnb78vDB9Nw/s320/IMG_0296.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still not so sure about the whole fire thing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeIIvSkiXV81fA6TiJfV3JuSatVV-L7F_yIBwm9MKhNS2gXWM1Q5h8ifNWRWMdVk6TyEKOPUTUGoNuoT9DwXm6Ev0f9CBChJ0G9d8EWWleHcvGd4fZ626oxFR0MdcaDbvyzlBZ2v2CrI/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeIIvSkiXV81fA6TiJfV3JuSatVV-L7F_yIBwm9MKhNS2gXWM1Q5h8ifNWRWMdVk6TyEKOPUTUGoNuoT9DwXm6Ev0f9CBChJ0G9d8EWWleHcvGd4fZ626oxFR0MdcaDbvyzlBZ2v2CrI/s320/IMG_0309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Bruin Wi-Fi!! A beautiful thing!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzoL5ikeO_aN1MhuTrHL_WqQGvTyR8C6nRy9rUWaGUrH28X3kowFu9yMQus2lwN7Mya0Y5J4rsPxpn7aXWgkWJLhTp2PsbuOYgowry0qcgJ9KTJEzwwAaA7eDeGLXDYa38nV8nLV2KM4/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzoL5ikeO_aN1MhuTrHL_WqQGvTyR8C6nRy9rUWaGUrH28X3kowFu9yMQus2lwN7Mya0Y5J4rsPxpn7aXWgkWJLhTp2PsbuOYgowry0qcgJ9KTJEzwwAaA7eDeGLXDYa38nV8nLV2KM4/s320/IMG_0329.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swinging in their PJ's...nothing better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO-B3a6y6ZJyjNHJJHS09Bh1mPU5eUMaS0FWY2ToL9JMw8Z3-4pWV9zC7cKhlIuehnPYGfnbqJUY9sB_oFa4pJBXMpVrPNUjminH8frkTqOnzKKuhCM0FajBNHWQ5ALNufc2FtedYr3U/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO-B3a6y6ZJyjNHJJHS09Bh1mPU5eUMaS0FWY2ToL9JMw8Z3-4pWV9zC7cKhlIuehnPYGfnbqJUY9sB_oFa4pJBXMpVrPNUjminH8frkTqOnzKKuhCM0FajBNHWQ5ALNufc2FtedYr3U/s320/IMG_0381.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting his Facebook fix!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQFNWQbQ0bjPISX69P8DEP09COHjnM95ISrcPEfobDz6_baPBOat-i1rhJja5kDji428nfM1ziEnR7mj2rhn8kZs1cOmiKW6Nx9fQYFH7ZWv02QWrrimeTT_Hb58rB7tXaiYFhWzJQ7I/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQFNWQbQ0bjPISX69P8DEP09COHjnM95ISrcPEfobDz6_baPBOat-i1rhJja5kDji428nfM1ziEnR7mj2rhn8kZs1cOmiKW6Nx9fQYFH7ZWv02QWrrimeTT_Hb58rB7tXaiYFhWzJQ7I/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtGoDPWgQ4k15QvymXgV_mNZl0gZB91J4BOjhghEa8kFarjQ6knJDku2DEtjAuUrUhasCZt-gjWgkhsAtuFrlDmp58c2ms_I_JfBBwGCLXbUNyo4uBEm_3lZu22VcCK7LJXfEdIWhSec/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtGoDPWgQ4k15QvymXgV_mNZl0gZB91J4BOjhghEa8kFarjQ6knJDku2DEtjAuUrUhasCZt-gjWgkhsAtuFrlDmp58c2ms_I_JfBBwGCLXbUNyo4uBEm_3lZu22VcCK7LJXfEdIWhSec/s320/IMG_0389.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She is just the kind of woman he is looking for!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8sD1CCdatWpV1bwzaS9KuRK_LAeNUyZSJmcJgBkSDYFzUBqscA3NFduiJzrtt2Lhq_KUNb_sBZafCewTz_xh8LzQlquwAJwJw4wIfISDGpXtDccHAICT3XJc2emIAcs5M_Z2_0S9ORU/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8sD1CCdatWpV1bwzaS9KuRK_LAeNUyZSJmcJgBkSDYFzUBqscA3NFduiJzrtt2Lhq_KUNb_sBZafCewTz_xh8LzQlquwAJwJw4wIfISDGpXtDccHAICT3XJc2emIAcs5M_Z2_0S9ORU/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgUAS8SglWRetY_T2sr2ygEwtrWcu1Ri993gojCxVwJ1lKGUwUqhpg4R3AenGmyFtCzHCyxxF16jKAL0J9dh5ufTk6LqHhYbAzM0JU3j4HqTlXeWrJqwxfs2U34jUxoeT7ovo4YaZMIo/s1600/IMG_0450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgUAS8SglWRetY_T2sr2ygEwtrWcu1Ri993gojCxVwJ1lKGUwUqhpg4R3AenGmyFtCzHCyxxF16jKAL0J9dh5ufTk6LqHhYbAzM0JU3j4HqTlXeWrJqwxfs2U34jUxoeT7ovo4YaZMIo/s320/IMG_0450.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIi0Fvuv1pplN1j0BXsUFIlM62lImV-9ei5meHbxNXhivzCWGr63sMAtY2MbrNkNKsgpOlvd89qZAiPX_N1CY-I_hx5hKPEFLxjj9VGObJ-w68kscWJrz5683fmxIYjJqQypp6t8ggQk/s1600/IMG_0506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIi0Fvuv1pplN1j0BXsUFIlM62lImV-9ei5meHbxNXhivzCWGr63sMAtY2MbrNkNKsgpOlvd89qZAiPX_N1CY-I_hx5hKPEFLxjj9VGObJ-w68kscWJrz5683fmxIYjJqQypp6t8ggQk/s320/IMG_0506.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGJagEseRWURgtD2jQzp7Pnf7ts5zSYZollv1_KYhYajMw2ymTDkU-p5xImg_N8IhRmLEHbG3VRDbBORkUl8z4Evx4eUeLIrKoBFDaz5iFXkcHBe7D2xsmWBIOGzn2YgX2nk4wb19734/s1600/IMG_0507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGJagEseRWURgtD2jQzp7Pnf7ts5zSYZollv1_KYhYajMw2ymTDkU-p5xImg_N8IhRmLEHbG3VRDbBORkUl8z4Evx4eUeLIrKoBFDaz5iFXkcHBe7D2xsmWBIOGzn2YgX2nk4wb19734/s320/IMG_0507.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmzbVVm8hWBpMumhJYNtgTQLCO7GQZwtEnU9Wp4K2V8uar6RwZ6SmcjYiphO_RQ7ZRBHlgILSvupFZ_wDq1stKRQ15gkJlIqQGjIYKHNH48W_EbG02uM9BNlswBWg3wMUU6cUGVbzBWk/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmzbVVm8hWBpMumhJYNtgTQLCO7GQZwtEnU9Wp4K2V8uar6RwZ6SmcjYiphO_RQ7ZRBHlgILSvupFZ_wDq1stKRQ15gkJlIqQGjIYKHNH48W_EbG02uM9BNlswBWg3wMUU6cUGVbzBWk/s320/IMG_0573.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wore slap out!!!!!! I love it!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGl3x4LOHjQ9ZSNfmv2rE88NtrIluFSNoK4v31A7LjdsgMgtiCVFt3xPEK0fAj6I91rD7us811c728yU0C0sQjXEHzRsysTdR81taV6NWoSCW0e3MlzVKxIO011cy5dVoEDtvWBno0iV0/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGl3x4LOHjQ9ZSNfmv2rE88NtrIluFSNoK4v31A7LjdsgMgtiCVFt3xPEK0fAj6I91rD7us811c728yU0C0sQjXEHzRsysTdR81taV6NWoSCW0e3MlzVKxIO011cy5dVoEDtvWBno0iV0/s320/IMG_0695.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9dMx8K_8o3H-p-yLnVzMu2ijGcV9A-DZKcbVaIa-02Q39Sactjrc9cMjr4vtuprs5XbIYUvPWqeYS9ESFfTXKL7fMmFJDMRmKtRXndwaBUL-sF9ak4YtmeiwjbR8hlkSR5BgBkfNkaA/s1600/IMG_0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9dMx8K_8o3H-p-yLnVzMu2ijGcV9A-DZKcbVaIa-02Q39Sactjrc9cMjr4vtuprs5XbIYUvPWqeYS9ESFfTXKL7fMmFJDMRmKtRXndwaBUL-sF9ak4YtmeiwjbR8hlkSR5BgBkfNkaA/s320/IMG_0719.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Reverse psychology really works on him...a lot of the time anyway!!! It is not fool-proof, but I know he really cares about me, and he doesn't like it when I am upset...i.e. mad!! Most of the time when I say that I am going to give in to what he wants, he changes his mind. It can be very tiring at times but also has been very effective. It does however, blow up in my face at times - just trying to keep it real!! :)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWTXbfsr6fRZR8fLaEMJlWGCesvGLCFphnl0JbdZDPs7jN1AlEiFI9dV9Sczn0uizyJCgOgaPHennfPz6eZmAf2URn-R850yjg8twvtCzJ7EpBHli2SaF-9lQFXLDePEa7YFQVY11aAg/s1600/IMG_5537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWTXbfsr6fRZR8fLaEMJlWGCesvGLCFphnl0JbdZDPs7jN1AlEiFI9dV9Sczn0uizyJCgOgaPHennfPz6eZmAf2URn-R850yjg8twvtCzJ7EpBHli2SaF-9lQFXLDePEa7YFQVY11aAg/s320/IMG_5537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXMusSybMkqwTD8ibIduFB1goavGPUqo9nuQpDWy3Xbd1JUfnCXwanjZecpmM1Zd9RmC8U77yNQpD4rh38kiprdKvo4oGTNCJ0JS5TPLypUnQljRuu8uYeM_0GU9MVRIo2zATmYd-gvg/s1600/IMG_5538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXMusSybMkqwTD8ibIduFB1goavGPUqo9nuQpDWy3Xbd1JUfnCXwanjZecpmM1Zd9RmC8U77yNQpD4rh38kiprdKvo4oGTNCJ0JS5TPLypUnQljRuu8uYeM_0GU9MVRIo2zATmYd-gvg/s320/IMG_5538.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves baseball!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Second observation- <strong>The older he gets the more his sweet spirit stands out. </strong> He is very tender hearted and affectionate. And the older he gets, the more he seems to care about other people...<i>and sadly what other people think</i>. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And can I tell you that is also huge for an autistic person!!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://onemomswalk.blogspot.com/">Kellye</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> noticed it and made mention of it this weekend as we were camping, and it was such a blessing to me. There are so many times when I wonder what people really think of him. I want so much for people to see Alec like I see him...as Christ sees him. For some reason, it always seems like the <i><b>brutal</b></i> stands out more than anything else. I want so much for others to hear our heart - to - heart talks...to see how we work through the stuff he doesn't understand...to hear him as he talks about his autism, his future, his friends, his fears...his take on the "cool" people (or what <i>he </i>considers cool) and questioning why he's not..."cool". </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P62ZjBjkV6ju6WYEob0ymhZMX3jm38k9HnSA_Fqn2KsJOe5M0Tj86VOb-Pbh5UIRHByS9LIxNfz5krv7YAlOeX9MwF75g8owDXce0D6lLOPuGrgApznskbekuOEXK7ubB3zaK5MlkuA/s1600/IMG_5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P62ZjBjkV6ju6WYEob0ymhZMX3jm38k9HnSA_Fqn2KsJOe5M0Tj86VOb-Pbh5UIRHByS9LIxNfz5krv7YAlOeX9MwF75g8owDXce0D6lLOPuGrgApznskbekuOEXK7ubB3zaK5MlkuA/s320/IMG_5777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves his friends!!!...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZL0cNJY72SlBhlLidNEZkcINwO3PaP-kHdkakrQCY8ea6Y29Vy441__WhmleAKW-h_GzMN1Ltuta-yjBFlWyIY5UeNplggixX7zi6siKRRXNdyXJMov5AkoGlBN0yKzIyuMP4L7BT1w/s1600/IMG_5865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZL0cNJY72SlBhlLidNEZkcINwO3PaP-kHdkakrQCY8ea6Y29Vy441__WhmleAKW-h_GzMN1Ltuta-yjBFlWyIY5UeNplggixX7zi6siKRRXNdyXJMov5AkoGlBN0yKzIyuMP4L7BT1w/s320/IMG_5865.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and his favorite cousin Kylie!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeDMJztmdcRapUClPSelGZVUX0iPXA8JQtZMtD167TgVTxuGNT7psQQIMbAAY29-wmJSfYBqzWSnsdUD6vTnFJAXotdPBjIpKz4JnAivjVpdaQ4pJA_hB8L10BaWMzBK_PMwPTokTa_w/s1600/IMG_6009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeDMJztmdcRapUClPSelGZVUX0iPXA8JQtZMtD167TgVTxuGNT7psQQIMbAAY29-wmJSfYBqzWSnsdUD6vTnFJAXotdPBjIpKz4JnAivjVpdaQ4pJA_hB8L10BaWMzBK_PMwPTokTa_w/s320/IMG_6009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And he loves him some Micah!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and he loves his mama!!!!!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">He has so many good qualities in spite of his autism and is some ways </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">because </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">of his autism!! He is polite, and has good manners. He picks up after himself, and he is even helping more around the house-now don't start thinking crazy-he may empty the garbage cans and put his clothes in a drawer, but I'll take it!!!! - still trying to keep it real!!! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">He loves God and wants everyone else around him to too...and he has no problem telling you about Him. One of his favorite questions to ask people, total strangers, family members...who don't go to church...is, "Do you love God?" </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">He is so honest...he can't be anything else. He tells you what he thinks about divorce, how you talk, how you treat people, your choice of hair color and/or style...brutal!!!, his take on if you are fair or not, if you go to church enough, etc., etc.!!!! And he has no problem throwing you right under the bus!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I love watching him as we </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">homeschool</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">. He LOVES reading about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;">the countries we are studying - the missionaries, the facts, the maps, etc. And he gets so excited with when he understands math...and soooo frustrated when he doesn't. Language is tough for him. We started writing summaries this week. Can you say brutal!!?? He really struggles with putting things in his own words. He is a very matter of fact fellow!!!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I know without a shadow of a doubt that one of the reasons he has come so far is because he has </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>so</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"> many people in his life....but more than that...so many people in his life that love and live for Christ. He has always been around people because we have been blessed with a church full of people who love him, are patient with him, and are willing to give a little extra for his benefit. What a blessing!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wZLdkqwVCVXDww-07j2G3yynjr2DDHBtvb_ZhYIBxRjWI-ItvCKD7ocYiAoJgD5MBRhnWIc35fjU1NbTBV-4eqPARRfcNvGbS-0cH7hwPj4a3BI1t-85sxORgdT_X7KeIWgGUeixl1g/s1600/IMG_4908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wZLdkqwVCVXDww-07j2G3yynjr2DDHBtvb_ZhYIBxRjWI-ItvCKD7ocYiAoJgD5MBRhnWIc35fjU1NbTBV-4eqPARRfcNvGbS-0cH7hwPj4a3BI1t-85sxORgdT_X7KeIWgGUeixl1g/s320/IMG_4908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I love him so much and am so thankful for the opportunity to be his mom. But I'm even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>more</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"> thankful for who I am </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>because </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I am his mom. To God be the glory for what he has done in and through Alec's little life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">I am sooooooooooo</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Kayce</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></span>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-65423711609088235482010-10-11T13:48:00.001-05:002010-10-11T13:50:13.232-05:00Catch up blog!!!<span style="font-size: large;">I feel like I have fallen short in my homeschool blogging efforts. If you read my post from last night, you know I have been struggling....especially with getting everything done. With that being said, let me catch up a bit on where we are in our homeschooling adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After Disney, we (the boys) made a world wind visit to Canada. I kind of felt like Canada got the shaft - especially since on Friday of Canada week, I switched over to Italy - a slight detour!!!!!!- right quick for a field trip to see an Italian play - Strega Noma and then to a wonderful Italian restaurant for lunch!!!! It was a beautiful day!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">So.... before we went to South America, we spent the first of last week doing a Canada </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">lapbook</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Side note: I love lapbooking and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>really </strong></em></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">want to incorporate it as much as possible - with Bailey too. She is studying the Ancient world for MFW and I found a lapbook on Egypt and Greece. There is are a wealth of resources on the Internet. (Remember in my last blog I alluded to the fact that the info on the Internet was ridiculous....but ridiculously good and endless!!!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, we are now in South America and this week we are focusing on Brazil!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MdS-ZmsOi8RNP0_k6Qc_hcI4RNQsOq51Ua78LDeCT7yK7KrhQW0V8_uAVaYq4aQjBTp6iXfMmuaUrBeG1yMlgIL8lyYAGXVzCBA6rpLyTjizpDtisdVRHU31IzAwsQK-TNwwjnxCbLo/s1600/IMG_0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MdS-ZmsOi8RNP0_k6Qc_hcI4RNQsOq51Ua78LDeCT7yK7KrhQW0V8_uAVaYq4aQjBTp6iXfMmuaUrBeG1yMlgIL8lyYAGXVzCBA6rpLyTjizpDtisdVRHU31IzAwsQK-TNwwjnxCbLo/s320/IMG_0263.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">They love the researching. Well, maybe <b><i>I</i></b> love them researching!!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qfeck5K_SrUhyphenhypheni6AyzoV99yefar_KrwpK6kMQf3CvFBLZZQ9umzb0wa6RmIajN8cYxaazrnlcNO7zMxbHnHSb9FfLhNOo40BXOz7Cceb6xcPI_cJ15fwsWtsEhd1hQBKgZTjrmsmR7Q/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qfeck5K_SrUhyphenhypheni6AyzoV99yefar_KrwpK6kMQf3CvFBLZZQ9umzb0wa6RmIajN8cYxaazrnlcNO7zMxbHnHSb9FfLhNOo40BXOz7Cceb6xcPI_cJ15fwsWtsEhd1hQBKgZTjrmsmR7Q/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmN2kAx6PkLi0ymjnwp7I4FkONFrQA13n6UyRYyIKcfXh1EDg-a8aZtxBcQh1HZwq7Z7ybQXZzjwz0OA62LOoTfUOM5mg5WZMjLOHBOYuVjE3j5wh31ZmRVYMGxCo3cYpJsnrBKv_-9A/s1600/IMG_0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmN2kAx6PkLi0ymjnwp7I4FkONFrQA13n6UyRYyIKcfXh1EDg-a8aZtxBcQh1HZwq7Z7ybQXZzjwz0OA62LOoTfUOM5mg5WZMjLOHBOYuVjE3j5wh31ZmRVYMGxCo3cYpJsnrBKv_-9A/s320/IMG_0260.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Alec loves the John 3:16 county sheets.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I am looking forward to the week ahead. So far..today has been a good day!! We are looking forward to a trip to the zoo at the end of the week!!!<br />
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Happy homeschooling!<br />
Kayce</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-68655078140348329942010-10-10T22:28:00.001-05:002010-10-11T08:12:47.847-05:00Help me Lord to go to bed!!!!!This blog finds me struggling. Struggling with knowing what I am "called" to do. Struggling with what not to do or not do so much of, etc.etc.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know I am called to be a pastor's wife.</span></b></span> I know because I know Rusty was called to preach and I was called to be his wife!!! I know that being a pastor's wife means being involved. I know that I don't want to be a side-line pastor's wife. I want to work, serve, and faithfully be in attendance. I know I want to be a helpmate to him not only in our ministry but in our home as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi774uPsZgQmK3j-TrCQhx15CFaBKm4YwkdRHq91n2jh3WPWP-ysMU3CVo0l26v9V68dMvah_6n2wl9-g_RLZzLvIBRysi37OtWTItwo8KsbOgKuG5GeQn9RNaH6AWLLHIFvzUuSv-luiI/s1600/I-Love-My-Husband.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi774uPsZgQmK3j-TrCQhx15CFaBKm4YwkdRHq91n2jh3WPWP-ysMU3CVo0l26v9V68dMvah_6n2wl9-g_RLZzLvIBRysi37OtWTItwo8KsbOgKuG5GeQn9RNaH6AWLLHIFvzUuSv-luiI/s1600/I-Love-My-Husband.gif" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<h2 style="color: #3399ff; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: -0.25em;">Genesis 2:18 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></h2><div class="esv-text" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><div id="p01002018.01-1" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2em;"><span class="verse-num" id="v01002018-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Then the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”</div></div><div class="footnotes" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 2px; clear: both; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 1125px;"></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know I am called to be a mom</span></b></span>, and not just a mom, but a godly mom...of an autistic son and ADHD daughter.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6Hsk9Q2mkYLxJ2HcW8kDn_5GY50pkxSDuZvshxVodrGeHnHhY3Ws0RGsxtqhWKMVSWWHTwBrO9QgUJSEy3AHomuUZCQ9VuUkN_B3MQ5ctU3oUCZL7YUvZnP_6ReBuKLk-F7IYwSWE1g/s1600/TrainupChild.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6Hsk9Q2mkYLxJ2HcW8kDn_5GY50pkxSDuZvshxVodrGeHnHhY3Ws0RGsxtqhWKMVSWWHTwBrO9QgUJSEy3AHomuUZCQ9VuUkN_B3MQ5ctU3oUCZL7YUvZnP_6ReBuKLk-F7IYwSWE1g/s1600/TrainupChild.png" /></a></div><div class="bible-reference-heading" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(156, 157, 158); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #9c9d9e; font-size: 30px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 12px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Proverbs 22:6<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.</span></h1></div><div class="bible-reference-content" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-large; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I believe with every fiber of my being that I am called to homeschool.</span></b></span> I love it and I desire to not only do it, but to do it to the best of my ability.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMjWgVtaV_1msLDkEDjHmU4bMr9sgVTe6ZmPJDP1P5txGe6s-9dGyIR7le9RhxnZ-RJ1ot_Mr2t6fNqkoqutmF4_BwQT2Q1OFPcUQBGwtxX_8bEH3z0C72C4M1tnaUl5wwjt_amnIOkI/s1600/homeschool-curriculum-packages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMjWgVtaV_1msLDkEDjHmU4bMr9sgVTe6ZmPJDP1P5txGe6s-9dGyIR7le9RhxnZ-RJ1ot_Mr2t6fNqkoqutmF4_BwQT2Q1OFPcUQBGwtxX_8bEH3z0C72C4M1tnaUl5wwjt_amnIOkI/s320/homeschool-curriculum-packages.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="bible-reference-content" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</div><div class="bible-reference-content" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="bible-reference-heading" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(156, 157, 158); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #9c9d9e; font-size: 30px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 12px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Deuteronomy 6:6–7<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"> </span>Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.</span></h1></div><div class="bible-reference-content" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="bible-reference-verse-text" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 606px;"><div class="resourcetext" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-indent: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b> I know I am called to be a godly daughter because I have a mama!!!</b></span></span> I want to be a good daughter and I desire to help her...more than I do!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u9YHP4ozUJ4Nd_o5skV7ZRHcIWMjQEmy59GfZM7Cj7X5P5MJmh1IrBjcZGu84s0E-Xxxgt5Ia4zkDKItTNWaFkAsaLFmchZk7xc2ybdkDJAnGbHzFIYWWmDfXPyKaWuPIzVp8Joy46k/s1600/IMG_9753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u9YHP4ozUJ4Nd_o5skV7ZRHcIWMjQEmy59GfZM7Cj7X5P5MJmh1IrBjcZGu84s0E-Xxxgt5Ia4zkDKItTNWaFkAsaLFmchZk7xc2ybdkDJAnGbHzFIYWWmDfXPyKaWuPIzVp8Joy46k/s320/IMG_9753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I know I am called to be a friend...</b></span></span> a godly friend... a praying friend. And I am so blessed to have many friends. People to weep with and rejoice with. People to talk to and listen to. People to cook for, celebrate birthdays with, love on, and pray for. People to raise my kids with and share my life with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aLCeT8kiHfm9kAHgu-o2-jk0XvuT2ZSaEM2CbBFzVJqlheKQN78J5cwYGuclS12YoLRnkTjw0LtrT8u5GvFu-ndXD9_ezI7SHU8KCMYC1YkuWWSvxnzMAOfQ-LkpOB8nASWRojKcrZU/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aLCeT8kiHfm9kAHgu-o2-jk0XvuT2ZSaEM2CbBFzVJqlheKQN78J5cwYGuclS12YoLRnkTjw0LtrT8u5GvFu-ndXD9_ezI7SHU8KCMYC1YkuWWSvxnzMAOfQ-LkpOB8nASWRojKcrZU/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="contentdescription" style="line-height: 20px; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"</span></span><span class="sectiontableentry2" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Prov 18:24 </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I feel like I am called to write this blog</b></span></span>. I love sharing my heart and my homeschooling, my walk with Christ and my walking with Alec & Autism.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKUETRN0ZcQMeztss0qwKdfYhPEcmXlXazhWSNFI2EE1pQqH8DInhqaIazISUA8N_prCElhpa-HzSoNi_WbgMavPOkImgwL9ackPsYOAWDV9ziEQSYWVqJNfvhxnMlGpW9b_gtpPgxrw/s1600/i_love_blogging-787805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKUETRN0ZcQMeztss0qwKdfYhPEcmXlXazhWSNFI2EE1pQqH8DInhqaIazISUA8N_prCElhpa-HzSoNi_WbgMavPOkImgwL9ackPsYOAWDV9ziEQSYWVqJNfvhxnMlGpW9b_gtpPgxrw/s1600/i_love_blogging-787805.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<h1 class="Title" style="color: #9d3300; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Proverbs 27:17 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.</span></h1><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I KNOW I am called to keep my house </b></span></span>- brutal!!! - to dust, to mop, to sweep, to clean toilets, and do laundry (double brutal), to cook...and clean after I cook.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuFMRYsVHgdgB_Z-_w75thWhyphenhyphenJ8t2hY-phyRPJ1saMiJZQ3My2fb9h1ik8WStV8t85QyRTsEX5-OP-MjR9TLjTQVW2MCaEDNGpkotUXtoZZxgfPRtLlNqWhJL4Vc-x3O9dIHlBlacix8/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuFMRYsVHgdgB_Z-_w75thWhyphenhyphenJ8t2hY-phyRPJ1saMiJZQ3My2fb9h1ik8WStV8t85QyRTsEX5-OP-MjR9TLjTQVW2MCaEDNGpkotUXtoZZxgfPRtLlNqWhJL4Vc-x3O9dIHlBlacix8/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Titus 2:3-8</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="verse-num" id="v56002003-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to <b>teach what is good <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">(Is laundry good??)</span></b>, </span><span class="verse-num" id="v56002004-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, </span><span class="verse-num" id="v56002005-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">to be self-controlled, pure, <b>working at home <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">(sweeping, cooking,dusting, toilets, etc.etc. brutal!!!)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">, </span>kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I know I should exercise.</b></span></span> Is that a calling????<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmotNBs5uKHLLptTiEwKp5perB-Ggz3TtgdunShiDF-_eQoJVeePWQ4-ptPlra1srbD7jKTltUEFULg4FwThqm43zPPsJstoQinwF0DLIawzGkzXN70o-5Lyn9kzsPwoAR4t9wzbGPQu0/s1600/Exercise+4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmotNBs5uKHLLptTiEwKp5perB-Ggz3TtgdunShiDF-_eQoJVeePWQ4-ptPlra1srbD7jKTltUEFULg4FwThqm43zPPsJstoQinwF0DLIawzGkzXN70o-5Lyn9kzsPwoAR4t9wzbGPQu0/s1600/Exercise+4.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
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<h2 style="color: #3399ff; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: -0.25em;">1 Corinthians 6:19-2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="verse-num" id="v46006019-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, <span class="verse-num" id="v46006020-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>for you were bought with a price. <b>So glorify God in your body</b>. </span></h2><div class="passage-bottom-navigation" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #ddeeff; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; width: 1125px;"><form action="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/bounce/" method="get"></form></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I know I am called to be hospitable.</b></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdgtEYdAc1Y9hfiKH5vi5XO82sHlIhbUTTBEUDYvhlEyrxZDZdwDWaxHeX35Y5wgCnnmAjjpMYW4eEK7QAp4MFDPyUHtc_Ok32ekntVzucMYHLDiwbxbYG4UXAQF9M9SWMdQI-exSa40/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdgtEYdAc1Y9hfiKH5vi5XO82sHlIhbUTTBEUDYvhlEyrxZDZdwDWaxHeX35Y5wgCnnmAjjpMYW4eEK7QAp4MFDPyUHtc_Ok32ekntVzucMYHLDiwbxbYG4UXAQF9M9SWMdQI-exSa40/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px;"></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><h2 style="color: #3399ff; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: -0.25em;">1 Peter 4:9<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="verse-num" id="v60004009-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.</span></h2><div class="passage-bottom-navigation" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #ddeeff; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; width: 1125px;"><form action="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/bounce/" method="get"></form></div></b></span><br />
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<h2 style="color: #3399ff; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: -0.25em;">Romans 12:13<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="verse-num" id="v45012013-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.</span></h2><div class="passage-bottom-navigation" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: #ddeeff; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; width: 1125px;"><form action="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/bounce/" method="get"></form></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I know I am called to "GET UP"</b></span></span> - and I know I should before my people!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZdu9iX3MNq8s7wVkr_M2bP-2kiMBzIglB0n8LM7uPTy8Kl7WDinRbRsktdf0VVeTbTS8DJWB-z-lsFLK1f4sxV_WeL2L78xx6zl-fFOA4FouwbeYXn4mFIKhY3cgfDD-Sbi0C3u26cc/s1600/wake-up-call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZdu9iX3MNq8s7wVkr_M2bP-2kiMBzIglB0n8LM7uPTy8Kl7WDinRbRsktdf0VVeTbTS8DJWB-z-lsFLK1f4sxV_WeL2L78xx6zl-fFOA4FouwbeYXn4mFIKhY3cgfDD-Sbi0C3u26cc/s320/wake-up-call.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, <b>Jesus got up</b>, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I know I am called to study and read and search the Word everyday</b></span></span>. I know it is important to know what I believe and how to walk this road of sanctification. And know it is not a "calling", but I love to read other books that encourage me in my walk with Christ.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoUjn-L4CeMoyfwLCqspyVsi4uKTW9zBLJUJm0xYetmX4KZU70-Fl0Y6qrgIZ9PEXXrNSVoAGHNe5snxrQgF9-2WKa5abVDCjyAKkhkD1WdzTIF2l4jONNbXQoAPdzXx05xaFLjr_ZMM/s1600/Study+to+Show+Thyself+Approved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoUjn-L4CeMoyfwLCqspyVsi4uKTW9zBLJUJm0xYetmX4KZU70-Fl0Y6qrgIZ9PEXXrNSVoAGHNe5snxrQgF9-2WKa5abVDCjyAKkhkD1WdzTIF2l4jONNbXQoAPdzXx05xaFLjr_ZMM/s320/Study+to+Show+Thyself+Approved.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">2 Timothy 2:15 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.</span></h2><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>And I know I am called to sit at His feet</b></span></span>...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ5DbLhxrHEAt3oznBuR9iYn6u0l667GcVORvR742aSUA-9pHu0QcDA9aUjoIdqPBginNgmyHtcVrqtbBnP8SPzMztC9u94jrZ5dqyWtVm8RhR9-uS5m6LH_YB3m-BPr8rDnPneRCoUA/s1600/woman+at+jesus+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ5DbLhxrHEAt3oznBuR9iYn6u0l667GcVORvR742aSUA-9pHu0QcDA9aUjoIdqPBginNgmyHtcVrqtbBnP8SPzMztC9u94jrZ5dqyWtVm8RhR9-uS5m6LH_YB3m-BPr8rDnPneRCoUA/s320/woman+at+jesus+feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<h2 style="color: #3399ff; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: -0.25em;">Luke 10:38-42<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="verse-num" id="v42010038-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Now as they went on their way, Jesus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. <span class="verse-num" id="v42010039-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>And she had a sister called <b>Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. </b><span class="verse-num" id="v42010040-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” <span class="verse-num" id="v42010041-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But the Lord answered her, <span class="woc">“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,</span><span class="verse-num woc" id="v42010042-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.25em; padding-right: 0.15em; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span class="woc">but one thing is necessary. <b>Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”</b></span></span></h2><div class="footnotes" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 2px; clear: both; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 1125px;"></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">So here is the million dollar question: HOW????????</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">How do I fit it all in?</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">How do I do what God has called me to do... and how do I do it well?</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">How do I minister to all those the Lord has given me to minister to?</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">How do I study enough to show myself approved??</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">How do I decide who needs me more...how much is too much...when to back off???</span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
I surely don't have all the answers and would love any advice or words of wisdom that anyone reading this blog would care to give.<br />
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I do, however, know some no brainers:<br />
*watch less T.V. (and as a side note, the DVR can tend to be a curse rather that a blessing because I tape the shows I want to watch, but by the time I can watch them it is after 11:00 which means I stay up too late and then can't get up the next morning - more on that note later).<br />
*Facebook can be a distraction as well.<br />
* The internet in general can keep me occupied way more than I need to be...even when I are googling good stuff. The wealth of info available on this computer in regards to homeschooling is ridiculously unreal!!!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">But I know for me, as I have prayed this weekend and as I have been writing this blog, the Lord has revealed to me that my biggest calling, as a child of the King, is </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">. The best way for me to seek Him is to go to bed!!!!! What's that you say??? I have to go to bed so I can wake up!!! So I </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">can </span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">sit at His feet. So I can ask Him what</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">He</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> wants me to do today. So I can be ready for the day... before my day!! So I can be ready to minister to all the people the Lord has blessed me with in my life. So my heart will be prepared for tough days with Alec and autism. So I can be a helpmate to Rusty. So I am not always running around discombobulated!! So I will have answers when my friends need godly advice. So I will be ready when things run amuck!!</span><br />
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<i>Help me Lord to live intentionally. Help me to intentionally go to bed by 10:30 every night and to intentionally wake up before my family to prepare my heart for what You have in store for me that day. Thank you for my high calling as a woman and forgive me when I fall short. Thank you for Your amazing grace......</i>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417151761291438728.post-21058270434864609162010-09-30T22:13:00.000-05:002010-09-30T22:13:54.370-05:00Our Magical...somewhat Miserable...Memorable Disney Vacation!!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now that we are home, I don't remember as much of the miserable, but believe you me, Disney World can be <i>not so magical</i> at times!! It is such a huge place and there is so much to do. You are tired, there are people everywhere, scooters (we even had one in our group!!!), </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qhyphenhyphenhUYCw3BY51yEh0MHCefGRv6K8PwZ-3QW7ACfoJ_ggw2-Gs9wEGmNPcXZ6QEa0tH2elXSXJq0JU2JsWscW563d7KCmUV-x1fNUSXBwKgHmTDPJEW9_8E34Iyh_YZim-zJKpO0TfzY/s1600/disney+world+2010+188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qhyphenhyphenhUYCw3BY51yEh0MHCefGRv6K8PwZ-3QW7ACfoJ_ggw2-Gs9wEGmNPcXZ6QEa0tH2elXSXJq0JU2JsWscW563d7KCmUV-x1fNUSXBwKgHmTDPJEW9_8E34Iyh_YZim-zJKpO0TfzY/s320/disney+world+2010+188.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you Mrs. Joyce!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">strollers, everybody wants to do different things, etc., etc. Good grief, it is all coming back to me!!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Maw Maw Ginnie got a wheelchair one day. Then Big Russ said NO MORE!!!!!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NkmXUvpU52Jv-L8nYqmO3Iox1tEZ3SjP8ZxYngCd9pu2KjmdHz0ncvPSTAORUwnWJluFCFSv0l3NXx9IlnPqFr3mY5v3dmSfOUMuk8s4-7lmET8GUHAd-EL8hj-37gB-QADHCxFpHyo/s1600/disney+world+2010+415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NkmXUvpU52Jv-L8nYqmO3Iox1tEZ3SjP8ZxYngCd9pu2KjmdHz0ncvPSTAORUwnWJluFCFSv0l3NXx9IlnPqFr3mY5v3dmSfOUMuk8s4-7lmET8GUHAd-EL8hj-37gB-QADHCxFpHyo/s320/disney+world+2010+415.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">We did make some wonderful memories, and we had a ball on all the rides. The parades and fireworks were my favorite (Rusty hated them!!!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyday was jam packed. We went to a different park everyday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Day One</strong> - We spent most of the day getting there. It was the kids first time to fly. They loved it. Alec only had one meltdown when his ears started to hurt. He is not about being uncomfortable in anyway shape or form!!! Once we checked in our resort, we went to the <b>Magic Kingdom</b> for a couple of hours.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHphYfMaSsccvtzISwoPhDHZFUVklH1Kkl0k20sPIQcYgKem6qKFDmOWZzzuN3RGHjdGgUn7I7J1-jMMRrIV1gXoitEYkfOlFcjbEBlfqkQypz0xxdz9R47Cdol4h3o1XJNXkQvj_VoI/s1600/disney+world+2010+151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHphYfMaSsccvtzISwoPhDHZFUVklH1Kkl0k20sPIQcYgKem6qKFDmOWZzzuN3RGHjdGgUn7I7J1-jMMRrIV1gXoitEYkfOlFcjbEBlfqkQypz0xxdz9R47Cdol4h3o1XJNXkQvj_VoI/s320/disney+world+2010+151.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We saw our first of MANY firework shows!!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXzd7E-7yldHOW6QuOXj49lOHgFn5lkl3f4BT3kQp197LnPjOv4SMOVRWMNW7ChoF-QiKTMhCFIvM4XL0RdD7MguxU7u1lBIDf4sYlGjIY2XoJ1jHFx5DEO6rGgEGXeOeDW6QX4_tZco/s1600/disney+world+2010+180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXzd7E-7yldHOW6QuOXj49lOHgFn5lkl3f4BT3kQp197LnPjOv4SMOVRWMNW7ChoF-QiKTMhCFIvM4XL0RdD7MguxU7u1lBIDf4sYlGjIY2XoJ1jHFx5DEO6rGgEGXeOeDW6QX4_tZco/s320/disney+world+2010+180.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is how Alec stayed when we were stopped....anywhere!!!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Day 2 was EPCOT -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I loved going to EPCOT and visiting all the countries since that is what Alec is studying this year - Countries and Cultures (MFW) - I did however... go by myself to most of them. I bought a passport and made my little mask at the KIDCOT station (Bailey made one too because she felt sorry for me!!) and off I went. Alec and Rusty went back to Future World - where all the rides were- and Mom, Mrs. Joyce, and Bailey sat for almost two hours waiting for the Illuminations light show to begin!!!!!</span></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQmSuBgSiSQvL41VDT9ZV2XRUyKRJsOvcbxn7tIvHGf4WpWq3gGv0S2cpskMemw7NpdHc6aFIC1TiInev3suQt9DrGxdSF_vTZ0DmzDKIKJtJaiQBAenx_Otv2KH4Bl_t7UCE2oqCXno/s1600/disney+world+2010+182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQmSuBgSiSQvL41VDT9ZV2XRUyKRJsOvcbxn7tIvHGf4WpWq3gGv0S2cpskMemw7NpdHc6aFIC1TiInev3suQt9DrGxdSF_vTZ0DmzDKIKJtJaiQBAenx_Otv2KH4Bl_t7UCE2oqCXno/s320/disney+world+2010+182.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Of course, Alec had to have a Mickey Waffle first thing!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzbqdz4hOR_K4Woy1TxFOScA3fp9XyyekGWN0pNuWlRptksT5FuCkoYKamUJziZN8q_e-hYw2qjlvKlRSC-qKQpFjjk8JKtCuWibocs7A_5i5PpS20g950NxpliyJ8yz3ToJOgUCRnas/s1600/disney+world+2010+185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzbqdz4hOR_K4Woy1TxFOScA3fp9XyyekGWN0pNuWlRptksT5FuCkoYKamUJziZN8q_e-hYw2qjlvKlRSC-qKQpFjjk8JKtCuWibocs7A_5i5PpS20g950NxpliyJ8yz3ToJOgUCRnas/s320/disney+world+2010+185.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-hgrp5l9ekbapgqnJhMw9DJ6-qTnveChbX0UiQ6fcS2OwgsdzWl7yKzQsJI_hFoIRCxcYpvkJWR0K5leyU77vdNUyE1jYhh1jV4iYSFMUmGzdxeHjVikZT8wUTZF_gZBwwFS-dQLKng/s1600/disney+world+2010+218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-hgrp5l9ekbapgqnJhMw9DJ6-qTnveChbX0UiQ6fcS2OwgsdzWl7yKzQsJI_hFoIRCxcYpvkJWR0K5leyU77vdNUyE1jYhh1jV4iYSFMUmGzdxeHjVikZT8wUTZF_gZBwwFS-dQLKng/s320/disney+world+2010+218.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just love Mickey. This was in the gift shop after Space Mountain!!!!</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNuA7qLmbTBqsI-x8tECZHAUijLpXIbPFrU3TuU0I9jT5YgTTDWm9PAJWdzA3dB6YjOkk-gDjUN0xzzR14Tw7bHAzOsF6so-YW12aQQyR_GlSEXYmmUPjgoqG0qz4mS8AT5r_k9AKmEs/s1600/disney+world+2010+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNuA7qLmbTBqsI-x8tECZHAUijLpXIbPFrU3TuU0I9jT5YgTTDWm9PAJWdzA3dB6YjOkk-gDjUN0xzzR14Tw7bHAzOsF6so-YW12aQQyR_GlSEXYmmUPjgoqG0qz4mS8AT5r_k9AKmEs/s320/disney+world+2010+241.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had a fun meet and greet at Epcot!!!! Well, not so fun for Alec!!!! </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwdJ3pwtDsxEkzmelnlSYGFfU_3jL3vHrbbY-ddScb4VLf7-HI-Lfkiw3VjdpqVpiB1Hf0bGrWZFheMrZ6rKK-I86t0A_iODOprW_WnHyYICOnL3hV1Nubm0H1XabNqBARRAa3FNLk2o/s1600/disney+world+2010+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwdJ3pwtDsxEkzmelnlSYGFfU_3jL3vHrbbY-ddScb4VLf7-HI-Lfkiw3VjdpqVpiB1Hf0bGrWZFheMrZ6rKK-I86t0A_iODOprW_WnHyYICOnL3hV1Nubm0H1XabNqBARRAa3FNLk2o/s320/disney+world+2010+245.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuEPk8qNu_uCpg_RjTp1-WXHC29ZoSuBmdOTVynGljPTYN0iB_tq_xRXR5Of4lsA-pwYobHncI_oWPObNHJrS6EEiChR1US0BR_XBJLPvJWGK2od7uEht1nrz-O0b0t_EH6ialwYQPCQ/s1600/disney+world+2010+274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuEPk8qNu_uCpg_RjTp1-WXHC29ZoSuBmdOTVynGljPTYN0iB_tq_xRXR5Of4lsA-pwYobHncI_oWPObNHJrS6EEiChR1US0BR_XBJLPvJWGK2od7uEht1nrz-O0b0t_EH6ialwYQPCQ/s320/disney+world+2010+274.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at KIDCOT making my mask!!!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Illumination fireworks were amazing.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Day 3 - Hollywood Studios - This was our least favorite park.</strong></span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The elevator for the Tower of Terror - My least favorite ride!!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYAs0o2HhmD0B9ichuhxJwvOIN5Km2J-KFyFYFjaoJcRwtR2y0hnPvCDBEzOuZlYuE6GLqh6C_4Kg8jxIC_IbZjxA5uVjqzDk30gGePXiTASvtYGLVc-OGw8N0PMhbUFOn7qMpaJ-wEs/s1600/disney+world+2010+437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYAs0o2HhmD0B9ichuhxJwvOIN5Km2J-KFyFYFjaoJcRwtR2y0hnPvCDBEzOuZlYuE6GLqh6C_4Kg8jxIC_IbZjxA5uVjqzDk30gGePXiTASvtYGLVc-OGw8N0PMhbUFOn7qMpaJ-wEs/s320/disney+world+2010+437.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">We (the girls) saw Beauty and the Beast!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSmYQ6zXnVD7elwm-HVKXWxMaFWTV4H5gzc-z8UzsS9QoNz2ezKFtBwl4JzfZ5wb6crHAg8rSNkN11MALyv1A6OD8epbtulyedZuWyxAa99ly64pt0RUuW8HBOkwIIHjQ_LcRm7jirGw/s1600/disney+world+2010+464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSmYQ6zXnVD7elwm-HVKXWxMaFWTV4H5gzc-z8UzsS9QoNz2ezKFtBwl4JzfZ5wb6crHAg8rSNkN11MALyv1A6OD8epbtulyedZuWyxAa99ly64pt0RUuW8HBOkwIIHjQ_LcRm7jirGw/s320/disney+world+2010+464.JPG" width="240" /></strong></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The entrance to the ROCKING ROLLER COASTER RIDE!</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Still in the scooter!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Still sitting down!!!</strong></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We left Hollywood Studios early and headed back to Magic Kingdom to watch the parade and yes...more fireworks!!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDRbN8DfaIuEY4GCKtzeYx1Wsf6urGQjbHXbnUU2pwjSKRePhjNt4oQprJbbXfoxizoUjvYF_i3HncXnIiMIjSUvmiWUXS4maU9d7artHj-ilUVIpEqtbMNGY-aeTZxHW8S2sLBwlPo4/s1600/disney+world+2010+649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDRbN8DfaIuEY4GCKtzeYx1Wsf6urGQjbHXbnUU2pwjSKRePhjNt4oQprJbbXfoxizoUjvYF_i3HncXnIiMIjSUvmiWUXS4maU9d7artHj-ilUVIpEqtbMNGY-aeTZxHW8S2sLBwlPo4/s320/disney+world+2010+649.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A Mickey rice krispy treat!!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> Day 4 was ANIMAL KINGDOM - my favorite park!!!!</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV0JYjEyuQKbOgwLHDpggb2RTGNlNZxaI4APh4nKtMYi2Gi3KO6jNPDGzRVk1iCvFCbuWafKO_WE0FQzd0HpzblqFOlWIkDe_tA8L7QLqXKfsjWTELEaAh1rQn6ixmLOY7kLiincXSXs/s1600/disney+world+2010+676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV0JYjEyuQKbOgwLHDpggb2RTGNlNZxaI4APh4nKtMYi2Gi3KO6jNPDGzRVk1iCvFCbuWafKO_WE0FQzd0HpzblqFOlWIkDe_tA8L7QLqXKfsjWTELEaAh1rQn6ixmLOY7kLiincXSXs/s320/disney+world+2010+676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Hands down the best restaurant in Disney!!!!!</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1Vs74cnBLEctt8dx6afJ1Ufiz7nxhizNM7NJsfZYWN8vdIIrFbBiyUTi6_kPsPCySZ4lmiypHgvGWlapAC4-IecQFu3oWuDy_6pqXSV9iWbxi1t-y8ANbGueeX8-W71k9pC0GH3i_aA/s1600/disney+world+2010+684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1Vs74cnBLEctt8dx6afJ1Ufiz7nxhizNM7NJsfZYWN8vdIIrFbBiyUTi6_kPsPCySZ4lmiypHgvGWlapAC4-IecQFu3oWuDy_6pqXSV9iWbxi1t-y8ANbGueeX8-W71k9pC0GH3i_aA/s320/disney+world+2010+684.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETCeGjQNAHscF9mMfXp-kDbGJv7HWq7Q2b7abV5erTbuXYV4kPxR9Se7uebYVa0KrTIo_7pkmDmpQZWQWYAtYbY1uizxjMxHnvjyhvmdnwqK8uY3P54rnUD0Pbyav5p1wqzqHgSc0Z7c/s1600/disney+world+2010+685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETCeGjQNAHscF9mMfXp-kDbGJv7HWq7Q2b7abV5erTbuXYV4kPxR9Se7uebYVa0KrTIo_7pkmDmpQZWQWYAtYbY1uizxjMxHnvjyhvmdnwqK8uY3P54rnUD0Pbyav5p1wqzqHgSc0Z7c/s320/disney+world+2010+685.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY1lOwwcJBoLE4FDh2YxLY8JFMH3d6dmAOCM9Z0eQdr9vfeUVkroTvdWP28A00zcoKIc6pUW-TanSWuaSaw1QSWsI9eOiRsibAdYl-gWWnlElhWcEP7a3dx3sSWWdizpeHFGimTxbk3M/s1600/disney+world+2010+677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY1lOwwcJBoLE4FDh2YxLY8JFMH3d6dmAOCM9Z0eQdr9vfeUVkroTvdWP28A00zcoKIc6pUW-TanSWuaSaw1QSWsI9eOiRsibAdYl-gWWnlElhWcEP7a3dx3sSWWdizpeHFGimTxbk3M/s320/disney+world+2010+677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">This is the year of celebrating at Disney and we were celebrating Mom being cancer free!!!</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eCoi1r6Tw7kO-kYcIu-F-wNc-9E6enQ58issNL0eeKaX2QQ6gNU79obJ9pN-_3n5iTdMFgbB7iNb5kuACGgaSs4Z_xtIFT5qYEvZZkrEYzmTlS7EUvsHgVFX22a6vI78kTykL-oLyJY/s1600/disney+world+2010+678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eCoi1r6Tw7kO-kYcIu-F-wNc-9E6enQ58issNL0eeKaX2QQ6gNU79obJ9pN-_3n5iTdMFgbB7iNb5kuACGgaSs4Z_xtIFT5qYEvZZkrEYzmTlS7EUvsHgVFX22a6vI78kTykL-oLyJY/s320/disney+world+2010+678.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbxzbjK6A49PhC01k1FSVmB3qIYI6yofp7ea_5g5X4uwEWq8q1qTExmeIGLAQfx7G8zjKxMo9SnxS2xotc5jPW-6oEtfWJNyk1Rok2rwfse-Ua_-v08UQm6YouR7e4odDQa91WALNO4k/s1600/disney+world+2010+696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbxzbjK6A49PhC01k1FSVmB3qIYI6yofp7ea_5g5X4uwEWq8q1qTExmeIGLAQfx7G8zjKxMo9SnxS2xotc5jPW-6oEtfWJNyk1Rok2rwfse-Ua_-v08UQm6YouR7e4odDQa91WALNO4k/s320/disney+world+2010+696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">It is Tough to be a Bug - very cute show!!!!</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoAiyYQa_2Ul41gvuBWGdhFM1wZPx8YeCZDDpjtOTxnnkxnXsBFPOPePX2Mb0WZDaz9nLdHmjBa0Uq7PRyZmQ4MPISughde5K0LP7n_zTUvkIqhv2czQAbbch_myKYBYG5kABi9a4RT4/s1600/disney+world+2010+698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoAiyYQa_2Ul41gvuBWGdhFM1wZPx8YeCZDDpjtOTxnnkxnXsBFPOPePX2Mb0WZDaz9nLdHmjBa0Uq7PRyZmQ4MPISughde5K0LP7n_zTUvkIqhv2czQAbbch_myKYBYG5kABi9a4RT4/s320/disney+world+2010+698.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg832mSVZREaYB0rZ975t63EmsX_0dLRCh96wwp0-1V96DkeRBds97c6ZjYWv3IipjFcHonsY6vCe4EnKGG-oE0KPkBsdHxEooEnmiIMfv7JcOXPZiI3OT4Mlne7a1J0mkf71OKazMoKYo/s1600/disney+world+2010+706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg832mSVZREaYB0rZ975t63EmsX_0dLRCh96wwp0-1V96DkeRBds97c6ZjYWv3IipjFcHonsY6vCe4EnKGG-oE0KPkBsdHxEooEnmiIMfv7JcOXPZiI3OT4Mlne7a1J0mkf71OKazMoKYo/s320/disney+world+2010+706.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The Dinosaur ride scared Alec half to death!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rBtO0aQA3KU8lO6XONrranqp0n1B5RkZSOtz6ahim_N90i6c5Rj7w3-27H44HwhtEIgddQWDRWXrdkNk2kqQc3TmbKEDdGY0PQ2_yKWPUACmd8EcatY626hrXYTBSH4z-S0H3EWTUME/s1600/disney+world+2010+729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rBtO0aQA3KU8lO6XONrranqp0n1B5RkZSOtz6ahim_N90i6c5Rj7w3-27H44HwhtEIgddQWDRWXrdkNk2kqQc3TmbKEDdGY0PQ2_yKWPUACmd8EcatY626hrXYTBSH4z-S0H3EWTUME/s320/disney+world+2010+729.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Poor Mrs. Joyce - she thought it was more of a kiddy ride - NOT!!!!</span></strong><br />
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</div><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> Loved the animals!!!!</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2avV1cGasUcw1fDWL_L7Z0A5UarkZhQG4b7YElTbrYhsDmR_dvn0ZCx5mGQG9NU5d6fN8HDnNTzjPTbK5QYQIzeGgdq0Qc2YGVEnpe1-0XZgpvC5N-6YvpWhESUIjDQZCBZhu1lN5Gk/s1600/disney+world+2010+853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2avV1cGasUcw1fDWL_L7Z0A5UarkZhQG4b7YElTbrYhsDmR_dvn0ZCx5mGQG9NU5d6fN8HDnNTzjPTbK5QYQIzeGgdq0Qc2YGVEnpe1-0XZgpvC5N-6YvpWhESUIjDQZCBZhu1lN5Gk/s320/disney+world+2010+853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> <strong>and loved the parade!!!</strong></span><br />
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</div> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Alec however was on his last leg!!!!!</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Alec and me after we road a ride that got us soaking wet - A river raft ride of some sort!! He loved it!!</span></strong></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Rusty was MIA most of this day. He went on a Bass fishing excursion...by himself!!!</span></div><br />
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</div><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Animal Kingdom closes at 5:00 so the ladies headed over to Downtown Disney. </strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuceVMOrgUbm4gJXXUyZD59NBMdUilGogWcOhefqtgTUO7MA0akQmcWIyNbX88VrcGrkWgN_-IK8N4O7fGxmUu69c10b2e7fHZf6fEFTByT-GnZ0xWvVeoYTdIamrUIRf_MgdsTzVUec/s1600/disney+world+2010+1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuceVMOrgUbm4gJXXUyZD59NBMdUilGogWcOhefqtgTUO7MA0akQmcWIyNbX88VrcGrkWgN_-IK8N4O7fGxmUu69c10b2e7fHZf6fEFTByT-GnZ0xWvVeoYTdIamrUIRf_MgdsTzVUec/s320/disney+world+2010+1044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A peanut butter brownie sundae!!! Ridiculously good!!!</span></strong></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>and Day 5 we spent the whole day at the Magic Kingdom!</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss Family Robinson Tree House</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splash Mountain!!!!!!</td></tr>
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</div> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong> This was the only day it rained!!!</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp-gs1zy3uRotKglJgCzfYngnVmDY3OQzGvCw1uxE4eB-3Us78jJhpfgpwB0LiLAZmiINKJyIi6_q4lSMm9CXmOBmtKhmVioq-l3SbTH6LZ09X_ESBmsSbhR__yJkVNDjcG1SX5x2NUs/s1600/DISNEY+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp-gs1zy3uRotKglJgCzfYngnVmDY3OQzGvCw1uxE4eB-3Us78jJhpfgpwB0LiLAZmiINKJyIi6_q4lSMm9CXmOBmtKhmVioq-l3SbTH6LZ09X_ESBmsSbhR__yJkVNDjcG1SX5x2NUs/s320/DISNEY+101.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Another parade!!</span></strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_pdWNNKOhaqE4KJmqzxySSzcAOnWKzoH8MWmMezMPSAe5vuf8ftGDQpisDmyf797iTaQq2CVaGipT8vBv9uTqrdqD0TuA3KiNK70DCSHo6KlCjXTen7L6vpHs1UOlo3YAgtGqksUTPM/s1600/DISNEY+139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_pdWNNKOhaqE4KJmqzxySSzcAOnWKzoH8MWmMezMPSAe5vuf8ftGDQpisDmyf797iTaQq2CVaGipT8vBv9uTqrdqD0TuA3KiNK70DCSHo6KlCjXTen7L6vpHs1UOlo3YAgtGqksUTPM/s320/DISNEY+139.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The Monster's INC. show was really cute!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Deep down they really do love each other..they just get on each other's nerves!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>We were headed home Day 6 and on that day we ended our vacation with a character breakfast, Chief Mickey.</strong> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our reservations were at 8:30. I woke up at 8:00!!!!! You have to catch the bus to Magic kingdom and then take the Monorail to the Contemporary resort where Chief Mickey is located. We were supposed to be out of our resort by 11:00 and we hadn't packed a thing!!!! Rusty and I brushed our teeth, put clothes on, and headed out. Mom and the kids came later, and Mrs. Joyce opted to sit this one out!! I am glad we didn't miss it. The breakfast was delicious and the characters were precious.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJabUx5_JlFogBNXLJf0VkSLJe6TwpYv1_zfrMKDUQddNHQ0dDePfNtMxUZ3XunE69v2Y18DBRtklJqOGX1kUXYmH3tGzvRUCdfJXlu67Ie-YriyFI88P2gwVhichBalVWPg-wxHwOcc/s1600/DISNEY+219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJabUx5_JlFogBNXLJf0VkSLJe6TwpYv1_zfrMKDUQddNHQ0dDePfNtMxUZ3XunE69v2Y18DBRtklJqOGX1kUXYmH3tGzvRUCdfJXlu67Ie-YriyFI88P2gwVhichBalVWPg-wxHwOcc/s320/DISNEY+219.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Rusty was overjoyed!!!!!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99DMpXYzcpb_bMG6C96tT8sQUvpDh7xyPrsEFznA_YLyqpJ-IB-DifX6v1nXtSMnGrX9hGnxoRDNCNeOnRWNmSNgpabnhNtmjOtk2MS-wI5JhkJSbaUPl4G98iKnsUsU00BZ_tsPfA04/s1600/DISNEY+238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99DMpXYzcpb_bMG6C96tT8sQUvpDh7xyPrsEFznA_YLyqpJ-IB-DifX6v1nXtSMnGrX9hGnxoRDNCNeOnRWNmSNgpabnhNtmjOtk2MS-wI5JhkJSbaUPl4G98iKnsUsU00BZ_tsPfA04/s320/DISNEY+238.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Brutal!!!!!</td></tr>
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><strong> Headed home!!!!</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhs3AyJV-FgRDtDDUiVcqgk-Nhu_inCXDAVcuDRhMjgt3_LaMLcVf766FoO8kpz9vZXf-tZ1PGZVVJt3jGvRyHWzNMCmqlrvQrRh5O-daIwJJ_oHJIbMwdZRDwaAyGGksMxQaxhoiG00/s1600/DISNEY+251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhs3AyJV-FgRDtDDUiVcqgk-Nhu_inCXDAVcuDRhMjgt3_LaMLcVf766FoO8kpz9vZXf-tZ1PGZVVJt3jGvRyHWzNMCmqlrvQrRh5O-daIwJJ_oHJIbMwdZRDwaAyGGksMxQaxhoiG00/s320/DISNEY+251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy96l8g65sFgsUEU1xD6Et0Q8v5dv9WlhNwH_ZP9NptQ6D0jbv1FbVSk-35A1SYDeQ3Dp8s20t4mzyPyRlbeLs6tkm1CGg_ox3vt8f_166oi2_aTfsooWDxJZB390j-KHGA_P6rEjXf4/s1600/DISNEY+265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy96l8g65sFgsUEU1xD6Et0Q8v5dv9WlhNwH_ZP9NptQ6D0jbv1FbVSk-35A1SYDeQ3Dp8s20t4mzyPyRlbeLs6tkm1CGg_ox3vt8f_166oi2_aTfsooWDxJZB390j-KHGA_P6rEjXf4/s320/DISNEY+265.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutKIeqHE-a27NLvzvHD3VXZtNGkt5MvmHoyWGfjhdqWQaAWaUQL0z8sFn3tWP6s7sc5vJHMfXgSjHvuyZy7KoInUYKu4lylsSOLZXN4PkLwDRpjgSbJ7E7QueTLF3Yj3dbd6posYBaZ4/s1600/DISNEY+268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutKIeqHE-a27NLvzvHD3VXZtNGkt5MvmHoyWGfjhdqWQaAWaUQL0z8sFn3tWP6s7sc5vJHMfXgSjHvuyZy7KoInUYKu4lylsSOLZXN4PkLwDRpjgSbJ7E7QueTLF3Yj3dbd6posYBaZ4/s320/DISNEY+268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a funny story about Alec's bat. Mom and I bought it at Team Mickey in Downtown Disney. Not once did we figure on it being a weapon. The security at the airport said it had to be checked in or thrown away. Rusty and Bailey had already gone through security and Rusty had the bat. He lost his mind and yelled, "The bat can't fly, the bat can't fly!" So....I sent Alec through security, put my shoes back on, emptied my bucket and took off for Delta to check in the bat - $25.00!!! </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOp9oI8UTLYcF0qZucxReHGB1dFr5wn7VYwTbgPcqlqtd5NrgBRrHBOrsbNF5cmEF8o2kqLUELUfZ2G115dCKt4N256bjsJH86Yc-mn_kxyNtKRek9vU-bxzOhpB8Lb1CKVSzUxbsQuE/s1600/DISNEY+269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOp9oI8UTLYcF0qZucxReHGB1dFr5wn7VYwTbgPcqlqtd5NrgBRrHBOrsbNF5cmEF8o2kqLUELUfZ2G115dCKt4N256bjsJH86Yc-mn_kxyNtKRek9vU-bxzOhpB8Lb1CKVSzUxbsQuE/s320/DISNEY+269.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9MgdwHMsC4dpF_B0zPtVCcbGUgnFbsxdI35W5XcBOO5veywmWbAhgvK-3oMYEc1zrK0BXw0A6kq2V8QHNpqQ-DI6OkbHd-7nimaMcQC97_vynQffs8upNLdxcMkuRk0x33FFATm2xAA/s1600/more+disney+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9MgdwHMsC4dpF_B0zPtVCcbGUgnFbsxdI35W5XcBOO5veywmWbAhgvK-3oMYEc1zrK0BXw0A6kq2V8QHNpqQ-DI6OkbHd-7nimaMcQC97_vynQffs8upNLdxcMkuRk0x33FFATm2xAA/s320/more+disney+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Who knew??? EVERYBODY!!!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4l4vfHwTxYiFnCOjd-IxRYhX6sY334DqQLDzoSjvueABCe0rt8IMLar6vSbjFmcM7bb4WcKZtxCVwEVX2gIkI6yUN23k6plfTzTjHFIbNFefkarlkWnGlddYgXi3ACRb5DKJDP0imv0/s1600/DISNEY+283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4l4vfHwTxYiFnCOjd-IxRYhX6sY334DqQLDzoSjvueABCe0rt8IMLar6vSbjFmcM7bb4WcKZtxCVwEVX2gIkI6yUN23k6plfTzTjHFIbNFefkarlkWnGlddYgXi3ACRb5DKJDP0imv0/s320/DISNEY+283.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>They have love bugs in Florida too!!!!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKCkGaeW0GN6Q0LeoLjQFfe6XhrM0xAO-zFS435wQ8poJqlqqhHHhqrXFchWwayYWytZlgGKNtcQfME2J9e9SIIkFTD87_sfes7AWwh7JBRtJrnh8pdod7JTEg4xr-sjgzvDL6e0isio/s1600/DISNEY+285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKCkGaeW0GN6Q0LeoLjQFfe6XhrM0xAO-zFS435wQ8poJqlqqhHHhqrXFchWwayYWytZlgGKNtcQfME2J9e9SIIkFTD87_sfes7AWwh7JBRtJrnh8pdod7JTEg4xr-sjgzvDL6e0isio/s320/DISNEY+285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">This is when we <em>THOUGHT</em> we were heading home!!!</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mJ_PxEDaUduAkLUrb2MS-WsUH3CYYB9zTkPJZJtesIQJTjGBOW4kqitPpYx60nmgGfMInMhZbxhEmPI9kNpn1mxXaZ4ZKTmcx4_Vrb3fqPkqqIAMMxDA1_M-MjeHIPYdYrN21F6D7hA/s1600/DISNEY+287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mJ_PxEDaUduAkLUrb2MS-WsUH3CYYB9zTkPJZJtesIQJTjGBOW4kqitPpYx60nmgGfMInMhZbxhEmPI9kNpn1mxXaZ4ZKTmcx4_Vrb3fqPkqqIAMMxDA1_M-MjeHIPYdYrN21F6D7hA/s320/DISNEY+287.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>This is when we realize we are not!!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">We were supposed to get home around 7:30 Saturday night, but our plane had "mechanical difficulties" so we missed our connecting flight and had to spend the night in Atlanta - with no luggage. We got home around 11:00 Sunday morning.</span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9lBetrfjg1oMYOLGi5LhFq6Vz9VDQrAKEPx41NW1C5tULhZDTc5_jar9AuRCWPC_IsHzfPtLmSY2JG_3ALNwwfO1qFpOxzNuvNfhP2GPeBbAfoextZu_ifot3yUlXIRVQdHijpHcbIk/s1600/more+disney+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9lBetrfjg1oMYOLGi5LhFq6Vz9VDQrAKEPx41NW1C5tULhZDTc5_jar9AuRCWPC_IsHzfPtLmSY2JG_3ALNwwfO1qFpOxzNuvNfhP2GPeBbAfoextZu_ifot3yUlXIRVQdHijpHcbIk/s320/more+disney+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">This is our "new" plane... the next day from Atlanta to Baton Rouge. It was VERY small and you had to walk outside to get on. Brutal!!!!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJhDkY1UOtfqpSKk_GkrHgaH84xxGyV3FZdwtcypDrjdQk6U3_WdNgfNh53pqdDBbyQsxuXcb447qVzdlmTPaItjkJRAQFP4EHFbsID9jHlsonGhUztfwvNhN4epoEWqRxQ7NRcdpNXQ/s1600/more+disney+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJhDkY1UOtfqpSKk_GkrHgaH84xxGyV3FZdwtcypDrjdQk6U3_WdNgfNh53pqdDBbyQsxuXcb447qVzdlmTPaItjkJRAQFP4EHFbsID9jHlsonGhUztfwvNhN4epoEWqRxQ7NRcdpNXQ/s320/more+disney+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoplRuIP9aBshVICXX1e0dvwgHoUyvQ6u_amuHNP-H4yYhiMCCqjLHNrfx4QytxqAYgtfe01ZLvaTKPlA9E_rGIII6PnU1vPnyr6VALbApkdM8ViTdfZWyDmjl-0yH7hfzmYDq5pAJooQ/s1600/more+disney+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoplRuIP9aBshVICXX1e0dvwgHoUyvQ6u_amuHNP-H4yYhiMCCqjLHNrfx4QytxqAYgtfe01ZLvaTKPlA9E_rGIII6PnU1vPnyr6VALbApkdM8ViTdfZWyDmjl-0yH7hfzmYDq5pAJooQ/s320/more+disney+011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><b>Stick a fork in us...WE ARE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</b></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yJuAM2ebZX3DQb4NMP9bBLxG3YIjUrIB4kd3Prj9665kYP-gGjIBe7i_Bp7LBfUd38FKSi9kmrxVAZf0d62gvakjhhC84Tta2FaNDDYamKwHSlTt6okFrQd9CUjKwq5gIl_jgYJBT3g/s1600/more+disney+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yJuAM2ebZX3DQb4NMP9bBLxG3YIjUrIB4kd3Prj9665kYP-gGjIBe7i_Bp7LBfUd38FKSi9kmrxVAZf0d62gvakjhhC84Tta2FaNDDYamKwHSlTt6okFrQd9CUjKwq5gIl_jgYJBT3g/s320/more+disney+012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1aupELFkXUawHEiFtNGfLXxvoCmGey6UZhTo7vyofDFxqiKi6EjOILMjTeLPk4gS5BsZoLUenrQ_YkuixgUvv5aB_ZPah4sbX9ttEzUupo_Mpv7v4aPoKJweDVEgAEOowi6DjIUPEHk/s1600/more+disney+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1aupELFkXUawHEiFtNGfLXxvoCmGey6UZhTo7vyofDFxqiKi6EjOILMjTeLPk4gS5BsZoLUenrQ_YkuixgUvv5aB_ZPah4sbX9ttEzUupo_Mpv7v4aPoKJweDVEgAEOowi6DjIUPEHk/s320/more+disney+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjW8CqAlLOY5JfPv3suXYTMU1OPmNCJJeUE6t1LEx0HEK1woTLvKQ8J38RiCDvVc_ex8TSyd3rKe4YDfK0z9TzsJ3OjK_LqgFi55Lw6i6meKnbuqQ7jo0medBxAMj39-vhDTntZOG7xE/s1600/more+disney+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjW8CqAlLOY5JfPv3suXYTMU1OPmNCJJeUE6t1LEx0HEK1woTLvKQ8J38RiCDvVc_ex8TSyd3rKe4YDfK0z9TzsJ3OjK_LqgFi55Lw6i6meKnbuqQ7jo0medBxAMj39-vhDTntZOG7xE/s320/more+disney+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A Beautiful sight!!!!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">It really was a wonderful time, and it wouldn't be a true "Reed vacation/Adventure" without a little drama!!! I wouldn't trade this time with my family for <b><i>anything</i></b> in the world...except maybe a Sandals Resort with Rusty!! Just Kidding. :)</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssCNn__UTPUIYdrpXd4B8nH07jeBwksOCTiacElyijnJOmedFwEc-isuK1ivqz5UMUheiQTcYx9sanvh279o0b6e2VERVuFFgCsaGHwb-wt7u7JJRTHUJizRzBPmgENXauvJ5sRUwiXM/s1600/more+disney+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssCNn__UTPUIYdrpXd4B8nH07jeBwksOCTiacElyijnJOmedFwEc-isuK1ivqz5UMUheiQTcYx9sanvh279o0b6e2VERVuFFgCsaGHwb-wt7u7JJRTHUJizRzBPmgENXauvJ5sRUwiXM/s320/more+disney+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>This is how Alec has been ALL week!!!! and how the rest of us wish we could be!!!!</strong></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Back to life....back to reality!!!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Kayce</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Pastorette's Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684232479815207512noreply@blogger.com1