“Worthy Is The Lamb Who Was Slaughtered – To Receive Power And Riches And Wisdom And Strength And Honor And Glory And Blessing.”

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“Worthy Is The Lamb Who Was Slaughtered –

To Receive Power And Riches And Wisdom And Strength

And Honor And Glory And Blessing.”

Scripture

Revelation 5

10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.

12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
    to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
    belong to the one sitting on the throne
    and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

Observation

There is more that we don't know about what it is going to be like in Heaven than what we know, but one thing for sure it will be an awesome time of worship with millions of angels joining in with us to worship Jesus!

We have glimpses of what eternal life will look like that are given to us through out God's Word. We know that believers will help reign, but it is not real clear to me who or what we will be reigning over. ... (Revelation 5:10)

But I do know that we will reign on the new Earth and we will have bodies like Jesus has now – perfect and a body that will last forever! (Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 5:1-2,4)

I don't know about you - but the older I get the better that new body sounds to me.

Romans 8:18-23

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,

21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

2 Corinthians 5:1-9

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 

2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 

3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 

5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 

7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 

Application

I will take my application from verse 9 of 2 Corinthians 5 … My goal is to please Him!

How about you? Are you living to please yourself or have you made it your goal in life to please Jesus?

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live for an audience of One. If I can just please You by the way I live my life then my life will have counted for something. It was why I was created. It is the reason that I am on planet Earth. Don't let me disappoint You. Help me to stay away from stupid sins that mess up my relationship with You.

I pray for my friends who are sick and for those who are recovering from surgery. Give them strength. I pray for healing. Thank You for answering my prayers.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 12,13,14; Revelation 5

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Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord God, The Almighty – The One Who Always Was, Who Is, And Who Is Still To Come.

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Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord God,

The Almighty –

The One Who Always Was, Who Is, And Who Is Still To Come.

Scripture

Revelation 4

8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
    and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Observation

It is not easy reading through Ezekiel and Revelation. There is a lot of imagery that I am not able to grasp. But one thing stands out as I read these two books of the Bible and that is this – God is Holy and He demands from us that we live lives of holiness. He wants us to be different from the rest of the world – set apart.

When you hear someone say that they don't need to go to church to worship God – while in a way that is certainly true because God is everywhere and He created everything, but it is not true if the person is refusing to go to church because of a hard heart. Ezekiel and Revelation both paint a terrible picture of what happens to people when they reject God and just go through the motions of being religious.

Church and being a part of a local family of believers was God's idea not ours. It is a way of being set apart from the world. In many countries believers risk their lives every week just to meet together for worship.

And it looks like we are on warp speed here in our country to join them.

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and you are not a part of a church family then I suggest you look around and find one to be a part of. Church participation was never meant to be optional.

If you are part of a church family and actively participate either in person or at the moment via the internet would you take a minute to write your pastor or pastors a note to encourage them. Trust me, they need to be encouraged with everything that they are having to deal with.

Application

I am glad that I am a part of the family of God and that I am able to meet this morning with my church family.

How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so glad that I am one of Your children. Our country is moving in the wrong direction and seems to be moving rapidly away from everything that You say in Your Word. It is what happened in Ezekiel's day and it was not pretty. I pray for revival. Help us, Lord, turn back to You.

I pray for the sick. I pray for healing. You are the Mighty God. Nothing is too hard for You.

I pray for our pastors and I pray for all of my pastor and missionary friends. Encourage them today. Help each one of them serve You with all of his or her heart. Bring people into their lives to encourage them.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 8,9,10,11; Revelation 4

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

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I Know All The Things You Do, That You Are Neither Hot Nor Cold. I Wish That You Were One Or The Other!

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I Know All The Things You Do,

That You Are Neither Hot Nor Cold.

I Wish That You Were One Or The Other!

Scripture

Revelation 3

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 

16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Observation

Lukewarm is not a description that I want the Lord to use when I stand before Him. One day I will have to give an account for how I have lived out this life on planet Earth. What I want Him to be able to say to me is, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”

I think that there is a tendency for all of us to drift towards the place of “lukewarmness”. Anytime that Jesus doesn't have first place in our heart there will be a lukewarmness towards Him and His Kingdom.

You and I will always be passionate about the things that are most important in our lives.

I have never liked the image of verse 16 where it says, “I will spit you out of my mouth!” … Have you ever taken a drink of something that was lukewarm and all you wanted to do was spit it all out of our mouth? I sure have and I don't want the Lord to think of me like that!

Application

I will guard my heart to make sure that Jesus has His number one spot!

How about you?

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the world wants to pull us away from a close relationship with You. You say to us, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him ...” 1 John 2:16 MESSAGE -

So don't let me drift. Keep me close to You. Don't let me take my eyes off of You and what You want me to do with my life.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 4,5,6,7; Revelation 3

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The LORD Is My Strength And Shield. I Trust Him With All My Heart. He Helps Me, And My Heart Is Filled With Joy.

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The LORD Is My Strength And Shield.

I Trust Him With All My Heart.

He Helps Me, And My Heart Is Filled With Joy.

Scripture

Psalm 28

7 The Lord is my strength and shield.
    I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
    I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Observation

Do you trust the LORD with all of your heart? During the night were you praying to Him? How about when you woke up this morning – were you talking to Him? Can you say, “I trust the LORD with all my heart? How about in a crisis ... is the LORD your strength and shield?

I sure hope so!

When you think about it you and I are so vulnerable – life is so fragile! Things can drastically change in a moment. And when they do where will we go for help?

Application

I don't know about you, but I know where I am going when trouble comes my way. I am going to the LORD because He is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He will help me!

How about you? Where will you turn when your world tumbles in?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are my strength and shield. I trust You with all my heart. You always help me, and so my heart is filled with joy. I will burst out and give you thanks. (Psalm 28:7 personalized)

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1,2,3; Revelation 2; Psalm 28, Psalm 58, Proverbs 28

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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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