We too need to be replenished…restored…revived. 
To fill our dry wells of our souls with the life giving nourishment that we need. 
Just like the weather, we can experience dry cycles that alternate with the cycles that replenish.

What causes this drought in our lives?
Isolation
Greed
Stubbornness
Illness
Selfishness
Death
Betrayal

The list could go on and on…

Is your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth? So much so that you feel you cannot even utter a cry for help? 
Guess what…here is the good news! 
Refreshment is here the weather has changed in your favor.

Let your soul send your roots down deep and drink up the love and strength that is waiting for you

Lamentations 3:19-24 
“The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison.
I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed.
Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing:
The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue,
Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.
The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.”
(GNT)

Be restored…

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
 I need you to fill me back up…I know that you are just a prayer away 
so I call upon your Holy Name for you to answer…
not how I want…
but what you know I need. 
Thank you for your faithfulness. 
Amen.

Some of you may say, “But I do not believe in God”. 
Here is a fact that you may have over looked…

He believes in YOU!

John 3:16, 
“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, 
so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” 
(CEV)



Caprice <><

Remember the Peanuts cartoons by Charles Schultz? 
I heard a sermon that opened with the following…

Lucy is in her psychology booth and 
Charlie had stopped in for some advice…

“Life is like a deck chair Charlie, on the cruise ship of life,
some people place their deck chair at the rear of the ship
so they can see where they’ve been.

 Others place their chair at the front of the ship so they can see where they are going.” Lucy then asks,

“Which way is your deck chair facing?”
Charlie responds without hesitation,

 “I can’t even get my deck chair unfolded.”

Some days I can really relate to the difficulty of
getting my deck chair opened.

And usually this difficulty comes from uncertainty about
where I am going or where I have been.

First step…start by getting that chair open… 
take it one step at a time you can do it!

Then proceed to the rear of the ship and the past..

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One,
that person is a new creation.
The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun!”
(Voice)

Did you catch that?

If I believe God gave us Jesus…
the One chosen by God to provide us with a future…
a new start…
those things of my past…
my old way of doing things are gone…
no more do I need to linger in my former approach to life…
because I have been made new.

Reflection is good…

"Live thoughtfully today
and you won't have to live regretfully tomorrow."
-  Woodrow Kroll

So when you look to where you have been…remember who holds you up as you go.

Joshua 1:9
“This is my command—be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 
(NLT)

As you gather perspective…
be determine to have the capacity to view things in their true 
relations or relative importance

This will help you to set your goals for the future and then
To function in the present

So as far as 2015 is concerned

1 Corinthians 15:58
My dear brothers and sisters,
stay firmly planted--
be unshakable--
do many good works in the name of God,
and know that all your labor is not for nothing when it is for God.” 
(VOICE)

Set your course for a worthy future!

I have had that nasty virus that has been making the rounds, 
so my wings have been clipped and I have had to stay close to home. Yuk!

So with dread and a bad attitude…I set my sites on a horrible job that needing doing many moons ago…
a chore I have put off for years…the task of cleaning up piles of files and desk drawers. 
Although I must share that the years of items left for a rainy day were amazing!

“A moment of prayerful reflection can prevent a lifetime of bitter regret.”
Woodrow Kroll

I took a journey through the milestones of my past…some were good and solid…things that put a smile on your face. 
The stuff that you say with a thankful heart…Thank you Lord for the opportunity to have made a difference and 
to have shared special moments in the life of someone else.

And other events are those that bring a tear or a sense of shame…
Did I mention that this was 24 years of stuff?
Give me a little grace here... 
I have been busy with life. 
Anyway it was quite a ride of emotions and reflection. 

Joshua 1:9, 
“I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. 
Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! 
I am the Lord your God, 
and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” 
(CEV)

I am glad I took the time to see…
Who I was
Where I had been and
What has my life meant so far.

2 Corinthians 5:17,
“Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah,
he is a new creation —
the old has passed;
look, what has come is fresh and new!
Complete Jewish Bible 
(CJB)

Now I can look to the future with a view of…
Who I want to be
Where I want to go and
The impact I would like to have.

Jeremiah 29:11 
“I alone know the plans I have for you, 
plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, 
plans to bring about the future you hope for.” 
(GNT)

 

Prayer:

Father, give me the wisdom to move forward…
freeing me from the past that hinders. 
Instead give me the courage to be the child of God you created me to be. 
Full of love for you that pours out into the lives of others. 
Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer, 
for holding my hand and guiding my steps…
May 2015 be the best yet for all of us! 
Amen

Caprice <><

Dear Lord,

I praise you for your grace and Mercy to us…

You gave us the gift of your love through your son Emmanuel…God is with us.

How incredible your love and concern is!

My most sincere prayer this Christmas is for those who don’t know your joy and peace.

May the light of your love…illuminate their hearts…

that they may see who you are and reach out to take a hold of your precious gift of Jesus.

Please Father, I also lift up to you those whose faith is being challenged and persecuted. 
Keep them strong and under your wing.

To those of us who are celebrating Christ’s birth may we rejoice in the hope of your provision…that this…is not it…
Heaven is our home!

In the precious and powerful name of Jesus…Amen!

Merry Christmas,

Caprice <><

How would I describe joy?

It is that state of being in which a “delight”…
warms you from head to toe…

A warmth comes from the simplicity of
loving God and loving others.

The reason I can experience this special love is
I opened my “Christmas Gift”.

The gift of Jesus…

Isaiah 9:6,
“A child is born to us! A son is given to us! 
And he will be our ruler. He will be called,

“Wonderful Counselor,”

“Mighty God,”
“Eternal Father,”

“Prince of Peace.”
(GNT)

Joy is a result of our truly understanding the relationship
offered to us through a tiny babe in a manager.
 
Luke 2:8-14,
“There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood.
They had set night watches over their sheep.
Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and
God’s glory blazed around them.

They were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. 
I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is 
meant for everybody, worldwide:

A Savior has just been born in David’s town,
a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
This is what you’re to look for:
a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing

God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”
(MSG)

The God of creation, the all-knowing God…
provided us with a way to experience relationship with Him,
by sending His son to us.

The angel said,
“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

That good news is the gift of God to us and it does provide great joy for those who believe!

Let’s remember to keep in step with the spirit this Christmas
and fill our hearts to overflowing with JOY!

In the harsh reality of a world gone mad with hate and confusion…
don’t let the Joy of loving God and loving others get lost.

The answer can only settle itself in four little words…

The JOY of JESUS!

Merry Christmas!

Caprice <><

Prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, we praise you and rejoice this Christmas for 
your gift to us in your precious son, Jesus, Emmanuel! 
God, you are truly with us and we are so grateful for your spirit and the gift that it gives through your power! 
Help us to keep your Joy at the center of our Christmas and to share that Joy with others. 
Father, I lift up to you those who are struggling this year to find joy amidst the pressures of this world. 
I pray that you give us all the ability to grab a hold of your hand in order to keep in step with your Spirit, 
so that we may embrace the fruit that your Spirit provides. 
In the name of Jesus we celebrate this Christmas! 
Amen.

We came to the mountains to celebrate my husband’s birthday…

But alas…no snow…
California has been in a drought,
as the rain fell we prayed and hoped for snow.

That night the rain was beginning to thicken and by the next morning… 
soft white flakes fell from the gray sky and the air became still.

As the snow continued to fall…
The brown puddles began to disappear…

A white blanket erased the memory of where it had once laid.

I stood there taking it all in, as the rest of the family headed into the cabin.

What is it about a gentle snowstorm that brings peace to the soul?

Could it be that everything becomes…

Fresh
White
Clean

And like new again?

"Grace means undeserved kindness.
It is the gift of God to man the moment he sees
he is unworthy of God's favor."
-   Dwight L. Moody

I think that every so often we all need a blanket of snow to fall upon our hearts and minds…
a good prompt of the favor we have been given.

The beauty of the snow is a gift…it brings a symbol of God’s gift to us of His Grace.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.”

John Newton (1725-1807)

 

Matthew 11: 28-30, 
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 
Come to me.

Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 
(MSG)

 

This Christmas receive the gift of a new snow…the fresh start.

Merry Christmas!

Caprice <><

 

For more information regarding a new and fresh start 
either make a visit to your local church this Christmas 
or click on one of the links listed below.

https://www.lproof.org/AboutUs/OurMission/PeaceWithGod.htm

http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/

http://rickwarren.org/know-god

http://peacewithgod.net/

My grandson from out of state was staying with us 
while his parents got to spend some peaceful and restful time away.

It is always such a blessing to have family here…
Especially when the "family" is not even 2 years old.
 
I love the perspective that a toddler sheds on everyday events. 
There is joy in what an adult may consider the 
“everyday”, “Ho-Hum” and “mundane”. 

Through the eyes of a child everything is new and worth exploring…
but most of all rejoicing about.

Psalm 104:1-3, 
“I praise you, 
Lord God, 
with all my heart. 
You are glorious and majestic, 
dressed in royal robes and surrounded by light. 
You spread out the sky like a tent, 
and you built your home
 over the mighty ocean.

The clouds are your chariot 
with the wind as its wings.” 
(CEV)

My Grandson and I were in my kitchen in the afternoon 
when he discovered sunlight filtering in through the windows.

He stretched out his arms as his hands reached for the light... 
Then he started to grab the rays of sunlight with his chubby little fingers…

Echoing throughout the kitchen were squeals of joy and belly laughs  
as he attempted to catch the light.

"Oh, the joy of young ideas painted on the mind, 
in the warm, glowing colors fancy spreads on objects not yet known, 
when all is new and all is lovely!"
-  Hannah More

Remember this Thanksgiving to take a good look around…
To see with eyes that look with anticipation…
To grab a hold of the gifts from God with a joyful heart…
Everyday is a miracle from Lord!

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Caprice <><

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Help me to recognize the miracles of everyday! And this Thanksgiving Holiday, may I remember to reach out and grab a hold of the “Son” and remember to bask in the warmth of His light! 
With a very grateful heart, I praise and thank you for your love. Amen

But her little eyes "pop open" 
because she does not want to miss one thing that she is thankful for.

Psalms 100:4, 
“Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
 
Make yourselves at home, 
talking praise.
 
Thank him. 
Worship him.”
(MSG)

She searches all that is in front of her and then... 
with a joyful heart she says "thank-you".

"Concentrate on counting your blessings and you'll have little time to count anything else."
-   Woodrow Kroll

Psalms 100:5, 
“For the Lord is good. 
His unfailing love continues forever, 
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
(NLT)
 

To be thankful is to be grateful for the kindness that has been received 
and acknowledging the provider of that kindness and care. 

My granddaughter knows who is the source of all good things...

 Do you?

 You have restored my honor.
My heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs!
    
It’s impossible to keep quiet!
    
Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, 
I will thank You forever.”
Psalm 30:11-12

(VOICE)

No more silence...Shout it out!
Give Thanks to the Lord for He is... 
Oh...so...magnificent!

Caprice <><

Her mama use to love to sit in the fall and bust open the hard exterior of the peel...
to reveal the ruby red seeds...bursting with sweet-tart juice…so syrupy...
that hands, face and cheeks would become a sticky sweetness. 
And now my little angel and I are sharing that same kind of a pause to our day…
a time of “we are special”…a time to enjoy!

Enjoy…why not?

Take a moment to feel the pleasure of a fall day
When the air is still warm and the colors of the world
take on that same warm feeling.

Relish the burst of flavor this world has to offer…
Partake in what has been gifted you by the Lord

And then as you do be sure to remember to speak up
and say with a sincere heart...

”Thank you Lord…this world is pretty special!”

Psalm 107:1 
“Give thanks to the Lord, 
for he is good!
 
His faithful love endures forever.” 
(NLT)

So whom do you resemble?
When you resemble something it is usually because
You have “re-assembled” some idea, style, or way of life…
 
You take what you currently are made up of
and give it a re-adjustment.

Sometimes this is good and sometimes this is not so good.

Colossians 2:8, 
“Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who 
have nothing worth saying and
only plan to deceive you.
That teaching is not from Christ.
It is only human tradition and comes from
the powers that influence this world.”
(ERV)

Do you follow the trends?

Think of all the trends that are in the social media circles.
Here today and gone tomorrow.
To “follow” or “un-follow”…who or what is popular…
By a click of your mouse...
You become an advocate of whatever you choose…
Are you careful of what you support?
Or are you tossed about by what is the popular craze?

Ephesians 4:14, 
“Then we will no longer be little children,
tossed by the waves and blown around by
every wind of teaching,
by human cunning with cleverness
in the techniques of deceit. “
(HCSB)

Are you being led, guided, or influenced by somebody or something?

Proverbs 13:20, “Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” (MSG)

The other day my Grandson and I were hiking on the ranch.
We were up on a deer trail when he says,
“Be careful Grandma and watch where you step…
take one foot at a time when you walk”.
I smiled at him and told him thank you for helping me
to be careful about where I put my foot.

He is right…I need to be careful where I step
and take it one foot at a time!

If I am not careful
my foot can land me in some
pretty awful stuff!

Take caution on where you go and whom it is that you follow.

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to guide me

and a light for my path.” (GNT)

Be careful my friends…
Think twice before you get off course from the right path…
Hold on…stay the course…
Don’t loose sight of what is important…
Or better yet…remember…

The Father gave His Son…the one whose foot-steps
are worthy to follow
where they lead.

Psalm 1:1,
“God’s blessings follow you and
 await you at every turn: when you don’t follow
the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,

When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you,
but you refuse.”
(VOICE)

"Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle.
The people you rub shoulders with everyday
need that kind of challenge.
Not prudish. Not preachy.
Just cracker jack clean living.
Just honest to goodness, bone - deep,
non-hypocritical integrity."
- Chuck Swindoll

Family…we all have one.

Some of our families are…
biological and others are not,
Some good…and sadly some are not so good…

These families have had influence on the person we are today.
Whether that influence is physical or evident in our character…
Our families have had impact on us
And what we choose to do with that influence…is important
Well…let’s unpack this a little before we move on…

I am delighted to have 6 grandchildren under the age of 4...with another one on the way.
Each one of them is so unique and beautifully made.

Psalm 127:3, “Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a real blessing.” (GNT)

The newest little guy is only 7 weeks old and such a sweetheart.
It is such a treat to peer into his eyes, searching his profile…
Is that his father’s nose and his mama’s chin?
Will his hair be curly or straight…light or dark?
Oh...his hands…those look a lot like Grandpa’s hands.

But whose feet are those?

Observing his mannerisms, as he gets older, 
we will begin to discover his personality and character as it develops.
Will he have a love of adventure…taking risks?
Or will caution be his compass?

What about his heart?
Will he be merciful…kind…slow to anger...compassionate?

Genesis 1:27, “So God created humans to be like himself; 
he made men and women.” 
(CEV)

Who will this “little man” be?

Familial resemblances.

Like father…Like Son…

John 1:12-13,
“Yet some people accepted him and
put their faith in him.
So he gave them the right
 to be the children of God.
They were not God’s children by nature
or because of any human desires.

God himself was the one 
who made them his children.”
(CEV)

Won’t you join the family?
Why not seek the right reflection…of the best family there ever was…
The family of God!

1 John 3:1,
“Consider the kind of extravagant love
the Father has lavished on us--


He calls us children of God!


It’s true; we are His beloved children.
And in the same way the world didn’t recognize Him,
the world does not recognize us either.
(VOICE)

Who do you resemble?

I still can remember the first hard look I ever took at myself. It was in the reflection of my daughter as she tried to be me. As a little girl that looked up to her “Mama”, she was not aware that I was far from the ideal. 

Has someone or something caught your eye and you say to yourself…
“I want to look and be like that!”

Proverbs 13:20, “Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” (MSG)

So into the pursuit of impersonation you dive.

Pulling…Tugging…Pushing…Adjusting

Trying to attain something you were never
Created for or to be.

It is a lie…you know…trying to be something you are not.

Colossians 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another,
 for you have put off the old self with its habits and have put on the new self. 
This is the new being which God, 
its Creator, 
is constantly renewing in his own image, 
in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.” 
(GNT)

The good that came of my daughters desire to be like me… 
was it made me take an inventory of who I had become 
and I made some very needed adjustments…

"Real contentment must come from within.
You and I cannot change or control the world around us,
but we can change and control the world within us."
Warren Wiersbe

What I saw in that reflection of me…
just had to go!

Colossians 2:6-7, 
“Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One,
Jesus the Lord, into your lives,
continue to journey with Him and
allow Him to shape your lives.
Let your roots grow down deeply in Him,
and let Him build you up on a firm foundation.
Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught,
and always spill over with thankfulness.”
(VOICE)

Get ready…Set…Go!
Be yourself…the You…God created you to be.
Caprice <><
Part Two of a new series based on the previous blog “Follow” 10/1/14

Okay are you geared up?

All right…get ready…set…go!!!

Excuse me Caprice…but where are we going?

I am so glad you asked!
Heaven!

That is my goal…how about you?

I do hope that you are planning on being there and that you know 
which road to take…but if not…

Let me show you to the one who knows the way!

First things first…you need to follow the right leader
A great question to ask your self is… “Who do I follow?”
 
To follow is to move in the same direction...


Mark 8:34,
”Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him.
“If any of you want to come with me,” he told them,
“you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.” (GNT)

To go to the same place as Jesus
To watch carefully and pay attention to His teaching and 
example is the carrying of your cross.

It’s a call to absolute surrender of “Me first”
The “Me” that wants… what I want…when I want it…attitude.
Instead of…trusting Jesus
His teachings are about becoming less of “Me” as I learn 
to love others as he loved us.

John 13:34-35, “So I give you a new command:
Love each other deeply and fully.
Remember the ways that I have loved you,
and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. 
Everyone will know you as My followers
if you demonstrate your love to others.”
The Voice (VOICE)

To go along the road or path that
Jesus has for me as His follower
 
The Jesus path is about putting to death our selfish ways…it is thinking
of others and their needs.

I want to travel in the same direction as Jesus…

Jesus:
Speaking to his followers in Matthew 16:24…
“ If you want to follow Me, 
you must deny yourself
the things you think you want. 
You must pick up your cross and follow Me.” 
The Voice

It really is not that hard…
loving others as Jesus loves us

It is a beautiful place to be

And is one of the first steps to Heaven.
Caprice <><

For more information regarding how to follow Jesus go to
http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/
Part One of a new series based on the previous blog “Follow” 10/1/14

What do you follow?

Do you follow someone or a group on Facebook…Twitter?

How about a favorite sports team?

To follow is to move in the same direction...
to go to the same place
To watch carefully and pay attention to somebody or something
To go along a certain road or path;
traveling in the same direction as something else…

Are you being led, guided, or influenced by somebody or something?

Do you model or imitate someone?

Do you follow the trends?
Our culture changes its course as often as is convenient.

Think of all the trends that are in the social media circles. 
To “follow” or “un-follow”…who or what is popular…by a click of your mouse.  
As the wind changes direction so do we.
You may be committed to a cause and then….
the tide starts to recede
and so does your devotion to what it was that you followed.

Ephesians 4:14, “Then we will no longer be little children, 
tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, 
by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. “(HCSB) 

These past two weeks I have been moved to tears and saddened…Thus I have been in deep thought and much prayer regarding those who have stood firm against the choice to…”convert or die”…



Aug. 10, 2014 in The Christian Post; an article by Leonard Blair

“National spokesman for Iraqi Christians and Chaldean-American businessman Mark Arabo said the "evil" being carried out by ISIS militants in Iraq now includes shocking beheadings of children…
 
They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for a generation. There's actually a park in Mosul that they've actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick," Arabo . told CNN’s Jonathan Mann last week

"The letter that they sent out with those three items (convert, pay a fine or die), they did ask to pay a fine but actually after they pay a fine, they (ISIS militants) are actually taking over their wives and their daughters and making them into their wives. So really it's convert or die, face death by the sword," explained Arabo.

"They've marked the red stamp of death on Christian homes and basically saying we know who you are and if you come back, you will get killed. That's why we're saying this is a Christian holocaust within our midst and the world community cannot turn a blind eye," said Arabo. "They are absolutely killing every Christian they see. This is a genocide in every sense of the word. 
They want everyone to convert and they want Sharia law to be the law of the land."

These Christians can’t just click a button to un-follow or unsubscribe to this horror.

Psalm 31:5, “I place myself in your care. 
You will save me, Lord; you are a faithful God."
 (GNT)

As we have seen, the reports that are coming in, many have stood firm even to death.

1 Peter 2:21, “You were called to this kind of endurance,
because Christ suffered on your behalf. 
He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps.” (CEB)

But wait…their hope is not here on this earth…they know something so much sweeter…the hope of Heaven …

 
Philippians 3:20-21, 
“But we are citizens of heaven 
and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has power over everything, 
and he will make these poor bodies of ours 
like his own glorious body.” (CEV)

I would like to ask you to do something…this is not a chain letter…you will not turn into a pumpkin if you don’t.

 
1 Corinthians 15:58, “So, my dear brothers and sisters,
be strong and immovable. 
Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, 
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (NLT)

 
Will you join me in a prayer commitment for those facing these moments of decision…
testimonies of faith…
to follow Jesus or die?

If you will agree to be in prayer for these Christians who will not convert to Islam…
will you hit the like button on your facebook page? 
And if you are up to an additional challenge hit the share button 
to let others know we will stand firm for those who need our prayers.


James 1:12, “Happy is the person who can hold up under the trials of life.
 At the right time, 
he’ll know God’s sweet approval and will be crowned with life. 
As God has promised, 
the crown awaits all who love Him.” 
(VOICE)

Won’t you join me in prayer for them? Click “Like”

Encourage others to take the stand and pray...
click “Share” with your friends or timeline or pass this on as an email.

Here are some suggestions on how to pray:

Pray for Their strength to trust the Lord,

1 John 5:4-5, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” (NLT)


For a peace, that will sustain them through the hardships.

John 16:33, “I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” (GNT)

For victory through the intense storm that rages around them.

1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

That the testimony of Faith be heard around the world!

2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (NIV)

For the hope…that one day we will all be joined together in our New Heavenly home….

Revelation 7:9-12, “After this I looked, 
and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, 
from every nation, 
tribe, 
people and language, 
standing before the throne and before the Lamb. 
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  
And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, 
who sits on the throne, 
and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. 
They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen! 
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor
 and power and strength 

be to our God for ever and ever.
 Amen!” 
(NIV)

 

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