All Glory To Him Who Loves Us And Has Freed Us From Our Sins By Shedding His Blood For Us.

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All Glory To Him Who Loves Us

And Has Freed Us From Our Sins

By Shedding His Blood For Us.

Scripture

Revelation 1

5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 

6 He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Observation

Yesterday Kathy went to the dermatologist to have 24 stitches removed from her leg where the doctor had cut out a melanoma. Kathy, and her two sisters, Janice and Debbie, have all three had to have melanomas removed from their legs all within the past 2 months. Kathy's dermatologist said that she had never seen that before!

So Kathy had the stitches out yesterday and last night at around 3 in the morning Kathy got up to go to the bathroom. The she called out to me to say that she was bleeding and needed help. The 4 inch wound that had been stitched up with the 24 stitches had opened up. Blood was everywhere!

As I read Revelation 1:5 this morning that says, “All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us” it jumped out at me. Way too often, at least for me, I read about Jesus and His horrific death on the cross without thinking about the blood, His blood, running down the cross, spilling out onto the ground, with His mother watching. ...

Yesterday, for most of the day, Kathy and I and some other close friends were praying for a friend named Jamie. Yesterday, after delivering a beautiful baby girl, Jamie began to hemorrorage . She was rushed into surgery and we were asked to pray. Another reminder of just how precious blood is to us! Very grateful to say that today both Jamie and first born baby girl are both doing fine.

Jesus voluntarily hemorroraged, voluntarily He poured out His life blood for us. It was cruel. It was horrific. Yet, He was thinking about you and He was thinking about me when He allowed Himself to be nailed to that cross!

Application

I will thank the Lord for what He did for me on the cross.

How about you? Have you acknowledged Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you thanked Him recently for pouring out His blood for you on the cross?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, to be honest the crucifixion is not something that I like to think about a lot. Just the sight of blood makes me sick to my stomach and so the thought of someone being nailed to a cross it is hard for me to make myself imagine all of the pain, and the suffering that Jesus went through for me … for my sins. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Thank You that You hear our prayers and You answer our prayers. Thank You for saving Jamie. Thank You for her beautiful baby girl. You are an Awesome God.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalms 143,144

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Dear Friend, Don't Let This Bad Example Influence You. Follow Only What Is Good.

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Dear Friend,

Don't Let This Bad Example Influence You.

Follow Only What Is Good.

Scripture

3 John

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

Observation

Let's face it we are influenced by those we hang around. So if that is the case, and it is, then it is super important who we spend most of our time with. It is a no-brainer, or at least it should be!

Two wrongs don't make a right … 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

What he or she did was wrong so what I am doing, even though it is wrong too … well it is okay! No, two wrongs don't make a right … they are both still wrong!

“Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.”

Application

I want to be a good influence on those who are part of my life.

How about you?

Matthew 5:16

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we live in a world where every day we are tempted to go along with the crowd and to do things that violate what You have said in Your Word. Help me not to be influenced to do things that are clearly wrong. Don't let me be influenced negatively by someone else. Give me the strength to say no to sin. Help me to be a godly influence on those around me.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 50,51; 3 John

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Love Means Doing What God Has Commanded Us …

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Love

Means Doing

What God Has Commanded Us …

Scripture

2 John

5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.

6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Observation

Hard headed … the reason that God reminds us over and over and over again in Scripture to love one another is because we are hard headed and we have hard hearts.

We get hurt, we get our feelings hurt, someone wrongs us, someone does something to hurt us or our family, and we don't want to love them, we want to hurt them back. But God commands us to love.

Love is a choice. Love requires action not just words. I love them but … if there is a 'but' after the phrase 'I love them' then it is probably not love at all, at least it is probably not God's kind of love! His love is unconditional!

Love means doing what God has commanded us …

John 14:21

21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Matthew 5:43-44

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 

Application

I love you. I am sorry. Will you forgive me? I will use these 3 phrases often.

How about you? Generous – Greedy – Selfish – Loving?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me remember … don't let me forget … that Your kingdom operates on completely different rules than this world does. And I know that You do not want me to live like a person of this world. I am just passing through. This is not my home. Help me to love deeply, forgive quickly, and show the people around me that I belong to You. I am blessed. You have a million ways to take care of me and my family and You will do that just as long as I put You and Your kingdom first in my life. Don't let me get tricked into following the rules of this world.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 37,38,39; Psalms 79; 2 John

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And We Are Confident That He Hears Us Whenever We Ask For Anything That Pleases Him.

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And We Are Confident

That He Hears Us Whenever

We Ask For Anything That Pleases Him.

Scripture

1 John 5

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

Observation

Let's think about verses 1 John 5:14-15 for a minute. When we pray, you and I should pray with confidence, with boldness … that's right, if we are praying for things that please our Heavenly Father.

Just think about verse 15, “And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.”

This is not just name it and claim it … this is living with God having first place in our life.

What is dominating your thought life these days? What is consuming most of your time and energy?

If it is not God and His kingdom then something else has taken God's place in your heart.

Matthew 6:33

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Application

I will try to pray for things that please my Heavenly Father because I know that He will answer those requests.

How about you? When you pray are you requesting God's help with things that are pleasing to Him?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I admit that I am selfish and it is easy to pray for things that I want or that I think I need. What You want to hear from me are requests that help to further Your Kingdom. You want me more than anything else to pray for people. The people around me, the people that You bring into my life, they are who You want me to pray for. Don't let me get so sidetracked with my own busyness that I forget about the people that You want me to focus on.

I pray for the sick. I pray for healing. I pray for those giving birth. I pray for a safe delivery. I pray for Jamie.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 33,34; Psalms 74; 1 John 5

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Dear Friends, Since God Loved Us That Much, We Surely Ought To Love Each Other.

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Dear Friends,

Since God Loved Us That Much,

We Surely Ought To Love Each Other.

Scripture

1 John 4

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.

14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

19 We love each other because he loved us first.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

Observation

Oh my, here we are once again being reminded that we must love our fellow believers. If our hearts were not so hard, if we didn't have a natural tendency to hold grudges, but oh no, it is way too easy because of our pride to want to get even and hurt the party who has hurt us!

God says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) … but … we must not think that He can handle it so we insist on helping Him and we end up hurting ourselves more than the person who has hurt us.

The Hatfields and the McCoys were real people caught up in a feud that may have been started over a stolen pig. It ended up with revenge killings and many going to prison for life. They destroyed each other.

You and I, if we ignore what God says in His Word are capable of doing the same thing.

And that is why over and over and over again in Scripture we are commanded to “love one another”! It is not a suggestion!

Application

I will love my brothers and sisters in Christ. I will let God avenge those who have hurt me.

How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are God and I am not. You have said that You will avenge those who hurt us. It is not my job it is Your's. Help me to love people warts and all. Help me to love people even when they have hurt me or wronged me. I know that there are a billion ways that You can bless me if I don't try to do Your job. You have commanded me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ and that is my job. Your job, according to Your Word is to avenge anyone who hurts me. Don't let me try to do Your job!

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 31,32; 1 John 4

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For I Know The Plans I Have For You, Says The Lord. “They Are Plans For Good And Not For Disaster, To Give You A Future And A Hope.

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For I Know The Plans I Have For You, Says The Lord.

“They Are Plans For Good And Not For Disaster,

To Give You A Future And A Hope.

Scripture

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 

13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Observation

I know that Jeremiah 29:11 is probably one of your favorite verses it is one of mine. But if you take time to read Jeremiah you would find that God has reduced the nation of Israel down to a small group of people living in Babylonian captivity.

It looks like we are headed for some very rough, possibly some very dark and very difficult days ahead as a nation similar to what Israel experienced during the time when the Prophet Jeremiah penned Jeremiah 29:11.

But even if that is part of my future I know that Jeremiah 29:11 will always hold true for me and if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ then what God says in that verse will always hold true for you too!

Psalm 46:1-3

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.

3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Habakkuk 3:17-18

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

John 16:33

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 91

1Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.

4 He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.

Application

No matter what the future holds for our country I know who holds the future and I know who has me in the palm of His hand!

How about you?

Isaiah 43:1-3

1… “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ...

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have said in Your Word in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” So I am calling on You. I am asking for Your help. I am praying for our country. I am praying for our leaders. Give them wisdom. Raise up godly men and women who will lead our country in the right direction. I know that You are Sovereign. I know that You are in control even when things seem like they are out of control. So I am trusting in You.

Ephesians 3:20

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 28,29,30; 1 John 3

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This Is The Day The LORD Has Made. We Will Rejoice And Be Glad In It.

 This Is

The Day The LORD Has Made.

We Will Rejoice And Be Glad In It.

Scripture

Psalm 118

24 This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

1 John 2

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 

17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Observation

Two reminders this morning, one from Psalm 118 and the other from 1 John 2!

Psalm 118:24 is a reminder to me that every day when I wake up I have a choice, I can choose to grumble, whine, and complain, or I can choose to rejoice knowing that this is a new day that the Lord has made.

1 John 2:15-17 reminds me that my Heavenly Father needs to be the focus of my love and not the stuff of this world.

“for all these worldly things, these evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself.” 1 John 2:16 TLB

Application

I will keep my eyes off of the things of this world and keep them focused on the Lord.

How about you? What are you allowing to get all of your attention?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?

Help me, Lord. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You and not on the things of this world … things that are always crying out for my attention.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 21,24,27; Psalms 118; 1 John 2

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If We Claim We Have No Sin, We Are Only Fooling Ourselves, And Not Living In The Truth.

 

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If We Claim We Have No Sin,

We Are Only Fooling Ourselves,

And Not Living In The Truth.

Scripture

1 John 1

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Observation

Maybe you are one of those! Maybe you are one of those who finds fault in any and every church that you visit. I ran across someone like that at the hospital the other day while I was visiting patients.

Finally after I had listened to her rip up just about every denomination I said to her, “You know what's wrong with churches – they are full of a bunch of sinners and if you want a perfect church then you are never going to find one!” By the way, I don't even think she really got what I was saying!

I love my church, but as wonderful as I think it is, I know that it is far from perfect. We are a church full of broken people who are in desperate need of a Savior.

You and I are sinners. And 1 John 1:9 tells us what we need to do, “if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

When we surrender our lives to Jesus and acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior we are forgiven of past, present, and future sins. Yes, Jesus paid the penalty of those sins with His death on the cross.

But daily, when we sin, we need to confess to our Heavenly Father that we have sinned, not for our salvation, but to keep things right between ourselves and our Heavenly Father.

We are His children once we have Jesus living in our lives, and our Heavenly Father wants us to be obedient children. He wants us to live in a way that brings Him glory and honor.

And that is why we need to keep our sins confessed up.

1 Timothy 1:15-16

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Application

I will confess my sins as I commit them. I won't let them pile up and mess up my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

How about you? Are your sins forgiven?

Galatians 6:1

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want You to convict me each and every time I sin and make it so obvious that I can't miss it. Make me miserable if I try to continue in a certain sin. Make it impossible for me to live without getting it right with You. I want to bring You glory and honor with my life so help me confess my sins as soon as I commit them.

James 4:17

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

James 5:14-16

14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 

15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 48,49; Psalms 67; 1 John 1

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“Lord, You Know Everything. You Know That I Love You.”

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“Lord,

You Know Everything.

You Know That I Love You.”

Scripture

John 21

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

...

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 

21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

Observation

John 20:30-31 seems like the ending to the Gospel of John when John wrote, “The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name”, but then John must have remembered the restoration of Simon Peter and he added John 21.

If you remember that it was during Jesus' arrest that Simon Peter denied knowing Jesus three different times just as Jesus had said that he would. Now Jesus is talking to Peter and three different times He asked the question, “Simon, do you love me?” And three different times Simon Peter had to say back to the Lord, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love you!”

A little later in the conversation Simon Peter did just what you and I tend to do – Peter looked over at the Apostle John and asked, “What about him, Lord?

Application

The Lord is asking the same question today, “Eddy, do you love me?” And He is not wanting me to look around and ask Him about someone else.

How about you? Do you love Him?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so glad that You are a God of second chances. I am so glad that You do not give up on us and that You did not give up on me. I know that more than anything else You want me to love You with all of my heart. And You want me to show that love by serving and loving others. Help me to not worry about what others are doing or what others are not doing, instead help me focus on the main thing - which is loving You.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 45,46,47; Psalms 105; John 21

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Put Your Finger Here, And Look At My Hands. Put Your Hand Into The Wound In My Side. Don't Be Faithless Any Longer. Believe!

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Put Your Finger Here, And Look At My Hands.

Put Your Hand Into The Wound In My Side.

Don't Be Faithless Any Longer. Believe!

Scripture

John 20

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 

31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

Observation

Thomas doubted. Haven't you ever had doubts? Jesus was gentle with doubting Thomas, after all, it is hard to believe that someone could really come back from the dead.

Maybe you are a doubter. And if you are still a doubter I would encourage you to read the Gospel of John.

John 20:31 tells us why the Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John, “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.”

Application

One day soon I will see the Lord in all of His glory. Although I have many questions about the Bible there is one thing that I know for sure – Jesus is Alive and one day soon He is coming back for me and hopefully for you too!

How about you? … Do you know Him?

Romans 8:11

11 And if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in you, he will make your dying bodies live again after you die, by means of this same Holy Spirit living within you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Continue to show me new things in Your Word every day as I read it. Don't let me neglect spending time with You each day by reading Your Word. I look forward to what I will read tomorrow in Jeremiah and John. Don't ever let me get tired of spending time with You.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 26,35,36; John 20

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