Churches are Falling

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During my study of the book of Nehemiah I noticed how Nehemiah was attacked for answering the call that God had for his life. As I studied these attacks, I noticed that these are the same attacks we see taking place today. 
Satan has the way of 'reusing' what has worked for centuries. I thought I would present them and ask that you look and see if you can see them used today. I am not talking about how they attack our President, but rather what is happing to our churches, and your personal life when you stand for Truth.
• Scoffing: (Jeering, Sneering, Mocking and Ridiculing)• Mocking: (Contempt, Disrespectful, and Insulting)• Slander: (Insult, Libel, and Malign)• Threat of physical harm• Gain access into your leadership team• Remove the power of your church by means of infiltration• Destroy what a family is, especially a Godly family.
Hebrews 13, says: “The Lords is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” 
My strength comes from God’s grace. This world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Proclaim our allegiance to His name but remember we are also responsible here on the earth for bringing the Light and Truth of God, in all the gates of society.

Signs of Our Time

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This morning while I was on my walk, I came upon a small creek that dries up during the summer except for some pools. As I investigated the stream, I saw some small fish and thought how they need to move from where they are before it's too late. If they do not, then they will suffer for missing the sign (their environment shrinking) for them to get moving. 
It is the same with the Church today. For, if we miss the signs of our time, we will suffer the consequences. If we think that what we are going through will end and everything will go back to how it has always been, then we are not paying attention to what our God is trying to reveal, for our good future. The Church (the Lord has planted) needs to get prepared in both physically/practical ways and spiritually, getting right with the Lord - doing what He still needs done, while there is still time.

Government vs. We The People

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Short term solutions always have long time consequences. What do I mean? Think of any solution the government has come up that we are not paying the consequences for today in all sorts of ways.
Almost 2/3 of our taxes are to pay for short term solutions (unconstitutional entitlements) of the past, throwing money it with our tax dollars, and without our permission or vote.  When we think government has the solutions to our nation's problems; then government becomes the greatest problem. 
Government does NOT solve problems; the people solve problems; those who have common sense and all kinds of skills and determination to do what is good for themselves and the society! The government ignorantly (and corruptly) announces solution (short term fixes) that have a black hole at the end that sucks the life and energy from everyone. The government is simply to protect our right to do so.
So, listen to the people running for office and you will see that the only thing they know how to do is come up with short term solutions that will inevitably have long term hurtful and destructive consequences on 'we the people.' What is needed is to bring back the dignity of individual know-how and determination to "get it done." (Something the government lacks!)  
Part of individual dignity is respect. Respect is never earned but always given. You should respect your parents, teachers, our elected officials, our neighbors, the police, those who fight for us in wars, etc.! But trust is different. Trust depends on results and character. 
So, be proud of who you are, and how God made you, and what you do that is good for yourself, your family and your society. Be honest and trustworthy. Do what you say you will do, or don't commit yourself by your words. A man's word should be good. "Let your Yes, be Yes, and your No, be No."  
Some of the happiest people I know work very hard with their hands. Some of the saddest people are highly educated people who have degrees in a field they chose because of the money. 
Bring back the respect and honor of marriage by God's design (a man and a woman), and the blessing of the family in society. We see today that the government thinks they know better how to raise our children than we do. Their goal is to condition our children so that our children cannot think for themselves but rather think and behave how a certain group of people want them to. A good example of this is in our colleges. When someone thinks and speaks differently than the Leftists - they want to shut them down. They have gotten their foot-hold in our government. They have even started to work on our Supreme Court Justices! These out-of-their-right-minds people are working day and night to take down anything that is of God and godliness. 

When the family unit returns to God, and is strong and prosperous, then our country will be strong and prosperous. When we allow government to take control of our lives, we progressively lose in all sorts of ways that we will suffer for.

Looking Forward

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

One Scripture I have secured in my heart: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When I sit and listen to my mom or sister talk about our past - I find it trivial, so I don't enter into the conversation. They ask if I remember what they remember. Most I don't.
It's different with my 'new life in Christ' which includes my marriage to the husband God gave me (right after I gave my heart to Jesus) and the children He gave us, and grandchildren! I have even journaled all those years of my new life in Christ, and written 2 books, so that our children and grandchildren can have our testimonies of the Lord, and how we went through hard times (with the Lord) as well as the good times Mike and I enjoyed with each other and with our children and grandchildren. What is the difference? Why don't I like dwelling on the "before Christ?"
I tend to believe that God has done that in me (a division/distinction) because the past life has been swallowed up with the NEW life I have "in Christ my Savior."
I thought, why do they bring up the past so much? I'm guessing that they don't KNOW what they have "in Christ," and that they don't KNOW what they can look forward to as believers in Jesus. They both say they believe in Jesus, so why?
What is faith? "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen." (Hebrews 11:1) "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God."(Romans 10:17)
One thing that always comes to mind when I consider 'present' hard times, and those that are 'yet to come,' is what the Word of God says about how Jesus endured His temporal life on earth: "For the JOY set before Him!"
We (His disciples) are that JOY. He kept that glorious 'future with us' before Him so that He could endure the present hardship and evil persecution. He was always talking to His disciples about their future with Him, His promises to them, to keep them looking 'forward' and encouraged in how to endure the present hardships and those still coming after He would leave them. Even the Apostle Paul said as a disciple of Christ's: "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." (Philippians 3:11-12)
Jesus 'prepared' them for what was yet to come on earth and in His Kingdom. We have the book of Revelation that He had John write so that we would KNOW and be prepared in both practical earthly ways and spiritually, staying with the Lord on His 'narrow' path to the end, not veering off by compromise, nor giving up out of the fear of man.
And, because He kept the future JOY 'with us in His kingdom' before Him - His life on earth (33 years) that ended with a [crucial] vicious torturous death - was as God's prophet Isaiah said about this increasingly wicked world that hates God/His Son/His disciples: "The former things are not remembered" because the new eternal life will overcome it all with all our gracious Father has planned for those who love Him, in Christ Jesus His Son.
Thank You Father God! For now, we can only see as through a glass dimly, but THEN we shall SEE clearly; see our Savior and Lord as He FULLY is - face to face in all His glory. Hallelujah to our King Eternal!
I love studying the book of Revelation. I love looking forward (Revelation 19 -22) to what Jesus Christ will return to do, and then after it's all done on earth and in the heavens, what the end of all Satan's evil and man's rebellion towards Him results in:
"“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me (John), “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son (and daughters - His eternal family). But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:3-8
"They (the Lord's disciples/children) shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.... And they shall reign forever and ever." Then he said to me (John), “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I AM coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:4-7
I am blessed because I keep the Word of God in me. I want more than anything to keep to His path with Him to the end of my life. I KNOW that HE waits for me so He can welcome me into His Kingdom! I love reading the book of Isaiah about what the Kingdom of God is. And I love praying how Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father, especially this part: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ON EARTH, as it is IN HEAVEN." What a Day to long for!  Jesus is coming sooner than we think!

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Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary stated: "The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. . . All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible." 
Continental Congress, 1778: "Whereas true religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of public liberty and happiness . . . it is hereby earnestly recommended to the several States to take the most effectual measures for the encouragement thereof." 
Our forefathers understood the importance of upholding righteousness and justice and the good effect it has on the land as well as the people of any faith. Today our leaders have forgotten this great truth and have allowed wickedness and injustice to take over our country. Instead of judging our immorality and turning from our wicked ways, we blame everything else and everyone else but our own selves.  
People want to remove the consequences for their choices. Listen to the left today saying that those in prison who have killed others - should have the right to vote; but what about the rights of those who they killed? What about the vote of the innocent? When a society tries to make other people or religious groups accept their ungodly choices and evil ideologies by calling them racists, bigots and fear-mongers, then we have lost our moral principles and the right to govern.

MEMORIES!

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I love my sister (a year younger than I) and her memory of our past growing up. She and I were very close, inseparable. My memory is not detailed like hers. Does that bother me? Nope. The other day when she was texting me about some of her memories and asking me if I remember those times – I said I somewhat did but not like she remembers them. Then I told her, “I choose to live in the present, looking forward to the future that I have in Christ.”
Some people seem to enjoy looking back to their good memories in order to find joy in their present day. The present for so many people is not joyful and so living in the past (revisiting their comforting memories), is what they choose to do. Then there are those people who can’t help BUT TO live in the past unable to forget being so very hurt or violated. When I got right with Jesus Christ my Savior, I was able to forget that which is behind and press on to that which is ahead! This morning in the Word of God I was encouraged (again) by the TRUTH in God’s Word: “So in Christ Jesus you are children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ (by His Spirit) have clothed yourselves with Christ (who is our righteousness)… If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and HEIRS according to the PROMISE.” Galatians 3:26-29
I told my precious sister, that I choose to live in the present looking forward to the future that I have “in Christ,” BECAUSE this fills me with JOY and PEACE and HOPE and LOVE. All my life BEFORE Christ just can't compare with my life AFTER Christ came to live in me!
Because Jesus Christ loves me the way no one else can, and promises to finish what HE STARTED IN ME, I don’t need, nor want, to live in the past, no matter how many good-feeling memories I have. And, I choose not to revisit any grievous or painful ones, because “in Christ” I have been set free from being hurt or offended in any way, and so graciously freed even from the guilt of my own sins (all strongholds that have power to keep me imprisoned). “God sent His Spirit of His Son, the Spirit who calls out (from within me), ‘ABBA, Father.’ So, you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an HEIR.” Galatians 4:5-7
We (my sisters and I) never had a father growing up. My biological father just wasn’t father material in any kind of way. I believe it was God’s will that he was removed from my upbringing (through divorce) so that I grew up without him. I find it interesting that I never had my two grandfathers in my upbringing either. They both died when I was very young. (I am the oldest of my sisters.) I don’t have any memories of either grandfather, only what my mother tells me about them, which comes out of her own ‘personal’ memory. When it comes to remembering things, I choose to remember those things the LORD HIMSELF has done for me, and taught me as a TRUE FATHER. In fact, I have many journals recording all that He has taught me – SO THAT I NEVER FORGET, even the ‘painful’ things that my Heavenly Father had to teach me. All my Heavenly Father's discipline in my life IS TO BE remembered, so that I never get prideful, and so that I will CLING to the One who is my RIGHTEOUS REDEEMER.
Isn’t it amazing how the LOVE and GRACE of God puts everything about our past and even about the present - in their right and truthful place? ALL PRAISE AND GLORY to the LIVING WORD OF GOD: JESUS CHRIST, my eternal life!

What Really Changes People

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As I have been listening to the talk today, about why some people have entitlements and other do not, I was reminded of something I learned a long time ago. 
When I got out of high school, I worked for a cabinet shop in Sacramento. One of my first jobs was to go to the housing authority and help with the remodeling of apartments. My job was to remove existing cabinets from the suite. When I walked into the room, I could not believe people lived like this and thought how great it was for our government to help change living conditions for these people. 
When I came back to the suites to install the new cabinets, it was so different, everything was clean and new, and I thought now this is the way people should be treated. Then about 2 months later I came back to do some touch up and complete punch-list items. What I saw shocked me. These new apartments were beginning to look like they did before they were remodeled. 
What I concluded is that you can clean up the environment but until you clean up the heart - nothing will change no matter how much money you throw at cleaning up the environment. Today our government thinks that if you throw enough money at it, that will make everything right.  WRONG! 
America's elected officials and even our court systems continue to think that cleaning up the cities and putting more officers on the streets (which we need!) will solve the problem of what's happening to many American cities and states. But what we need to hear and work on - is seeing hearts changing by freely giving out true wealth: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
The truth is in changing the hearts of people and only then you can change the environment they live in.

Crucified with Christ

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Readying this morning what God’s servant the apostle Paul said: “For through the law (of Moses) I died to the LAW so that I might live FOR GOD. I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST and I no longer live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME! The life I now live in the body, I live by FAITH in the Son of God, who gave Himself because He loved me.” Galatians 2:19-20
What a great passage of Scripture for this time of the year when we celebrate our Lord’s death and resurrection! What a freedom I have in Christ knowing that I am ONLY justified (guilt-free and accountable to my God) to obey Him, first and foremost; the only One who truly loves me, and with an everlasting love has called to me to HIS PURPOSE ON EARTH and HIS REWARD OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM. The Law of Moses shows me the sinner I am, and how needy I am of God’s mercy and grace as experienced in Christ Jesus.
No one is JUSTIFIED (free from condemnation/judgment of God) by the works of the Law of Moses, nor even by the laws of our government, and not even by being obedient to the good rules of our loving parents, or to the requirements of our employers or teachers. God, my Savior and Judge, is the only One I will stand before on the Day of Judgment and give an account of my life on earth. Christ Jesus gave Himself for me and He represents me as my Defender and High Priest that stands at the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven, watching over me for my good future, answering all my prayers for those I love. Therefore, I choose to represent my Lord on earth as best as I can (not at all perfectly!) but with all the Spirit’s help who lives in me by God’s grace.
“By the works of _________ NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED!”  (Galatians 2:16)
“Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY BELIEVING IN WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD (according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ)?” Galatians 3:5
“For when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So, you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” Galatians 4:4-7
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28-29
AHHH, what are we “heirs” of? The PROMISES of GOD!  God has told us what these promises are in His Word! All that God has prepared for those who love Him is because of all that God’s Beloved Son has done for us on the Cross and His empty tomb. Hallelujah!  
BLESSINGS ON THIS PASSOVER WEEKEND – ALL GLORY TO GOD!

The Spiritual and the Physical are Connected

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This morning this passage jumped out at me, and the thought came how the spiritual and physical are connected:
“Some false believers have infiltrated our ranks to spy on the FREEDOM we have in Christ Jesus and to make us SLAVES. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the TRUTH of the gospel might be PRESERVED for you.”  Galatians 2:4-5
The spiritual and physical are connected; one is supposed to effect the other. This is the wisdom and way of God. We see the effects of the SPIRIT OF LIFE throughout the Bible and we see the hatred for the SPIRIT OF LIFE in our societies today. Therefore, we see ruin and oppression and chaos.  In America today, it has become evident how determined this evil-bent in our ranks of government wants complete control over all that is good and holy.   
I’ve taken what Paul says in this passage and written it with its ‘physical/national’ effect:
“Some false believers (in our Constitution/Bill of Rights/Independence under God) have progressively infiltrated our ranks of government to organize a party by which to take our God-given freedom from us and make us their slaves. We did not and will not give in to them so that the truth of our godly foundation – should be preserved, for our children and children’s children.” 
Why do people from poor and oppressed nations flee to America? We know why. Our nation was founded on the principles and love of God which bless anyone who will respect and live by them. Is this worth preserving? What will it take?
How should we preserve the gospel-truth and our freedom and the righteousness and justice that “exalts” a nation, as Proverbs says? Or, do you believe there is no use in fighting to preserve what our founding fathers fought and died for – so that every generation after them could live as God-fearing people were meant to live UNDER GOD’s FAVOR? Will we simply roll over and play dead? What good is our faith in God then? We are to be pitied not respected, laughed at not feared – as God says we should be respected and feared as His people. People respected, and even feared Jesus. Peace through strength – He was, and is, and IS TO COME.  
The spiritual effects the physical and the physical effects the spiritual.  They are meant to work together for the good of society! Jesus taught this by the way He lived on this earth, by the way people were drawn to Him, by the way His enemies feared Him, by the way God accomplished His will through Jesus.
The Bible teaches us that living the way we should as TRUE believers in Christ with His principles/standards/laws – would not be without threat and sacrifice.  We are to persevere in doing what is right and just in God’s eyes – for the good of all peace-loving, prospering God-fearing people, with both our spiritual and national responsibilities.
If we know God’s Word, beginning to end, then we know what’s coming and how we are responsible to do what we’ve been called to do in the Name of the Lord, both spiritually and physically.  
Clearly and woefully, the progression of evil is rapidly intensifying as the DAY of our LORD approaches. And I say, “COME LORD JESUS -COME!” Lord Jesus, finish in me what You started in me! You are the only FAITHFUL AND TRUE!  

Happy Passover!

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As I approach the season of our Lord’s last supper with His disciples and when Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins, and resurrected from death to life opening the way for us - I’m reminded once again to keep my relationship with my Savior and Lord free from anything that would taint or ruin it.  
The Apostle Paul states: “If we or any angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse.” (Galatians 1:1:8) How can Paul say that his gospel is the true Gospel? Like the other “apostles” who physically talked and walked with Jesus Christ, Paul also was qualified to preach the true Gospel, having been spoken to 'by the Lord Himself' about the Jewish religion Paul was steeped in, and how then Paul was touched by the Lord to take that old sight away (causing temporary blindness) and then giving him a new sight, having the truth, the way and the life of Christ from then on which qualified him to preach to others . Paul WAS a ‘faithful religious’ man, like most people steeped in religion today, unaware.
Satan is the god of religion. Religion is worldly, but religion takes pride in doing good works, like looking after the needy and not being polluted by the world.  (James 1:27) But, good works and religion can never set us free from our sinful nature, and free us from the coming wrath of God.
The Lord God tells us in His letters (Revelation 2 and 3) to the “angels” of the churches that the GREAT majority of organized churches are steeped in religions. Jesus rebukes with a curse, five out of seven kinds of churches (religions). Because He begins each of His letters with, “To the angel of….” Each church has an angel over it, but not all angels are holy. One-third of the angels followed Satan out of heaven in rebellion to God their Creator. Those demonic angels preach and teach to bring people into religions instead of a relationship with Jesus Christ. These types of churches add and/or subtract from God’s Word to meet their own secret desires.
Religion will usually start with the simple Gospel of what Jesus did for us, but veers off over time as the devil is able to get his foothold in our lives, event he best of us. Religion does not hold the POWER for anyone to be faithful to Christ alone.  Jesus gives us that power by His Spirit and His Word as we stand on His Word.
Jesus did not come to give us RELIGION. He promised HIMSELF! He is everything, because He created everything, and holds everything in place, sustaining it all, and He will return to renew all things created that God once called “GOOD.”  (Genesis 1)
Jesus did not tell His disciples to follow their leaders, but to follow HIM alone. He is the only One at our finish line of faith in Him, waiting to welcome us and reward us.
Celebrating “EASTER” is from religion with its pagan tradition of colored eggs, bunnies, candies, etc. God said about PASSOVER: “Commemorate this Day (leaving slavery to live in the freedom of the Lord) because THE LORD BROUGHT you out of it - with His Mighty Hand… Today, in the month of AVIV (end of March/beginning of April), celebrate and tell your children, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me…You must keep this CELEBRATION year after year.” (Exodus 13)
Of course, the Lord gives the Jews other instructions according to the Law that WE DO NOT keep since Jesus Christ came to fulfill the sacrifices of the Old Covenant and to remove the “old veil” of the Old Covenant that keeps people steeped in RELIGION. (2 Corinthians 3:14)
Apostle Paul states to the Galatians: “The gospel I preached is not of HUMAN ORIGIN. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation FROM JESUS CHRIST.” (Galatians 1:11-12)
I wrote a book called “Just Walk With Me” that tells my testimony (October of 2001) of how Jesus actually visited me, to set me free from RELIGION! He came to me in a vision of Himself (His back) walking a narrow path but with His right hand reaching back to me for me to take it, as He audibly said, “Carol, I love you. Just walk with Me.”
This was at a time (25 years after asking Him to forgive my sins and come into my heart) when religion had its grip on me, and I was unaware of it. My Savior rescued me! My book goes into detail about it.  The LORD, my Savior, came to me at a time in my life when I was desperate for Him to show me what HE ALONE thought of me, and wanted with me. And He did, and still does, as I meet with Him each morning.
To be honest, it’s hard to sit in any organized church today, even those who preach the truth about Jesus Christ. The Lord’s personal visit ruined me for any more religion. Glory to my KING! Now I walk with Him, hearing what He wants me to hear, seeing what He wants me to see. I’m not telling anyone to get out of any church, but rather to make sure that ‘an organized church’ does not REPLACE the Lord in your life. Satan is clever and very successful, sadly.
God’s faithful servant Paul said, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your SIMPLE AND PURE devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3) Every “religion” has their own set of rules and regulations for worship and work, whether you are aware of it or not. That’s how Satan is able to deceive and lure people away from a pure and simple relationship with Jesus Christ, doing what He has for you and I to do. It might or might not include anyone else.
Religion comes from the devil with a “form of godliness.” Some religions even deny the truth about Jesus Christ. Sitting under a man’s pulpit every Sunday morning to hear the Word of God, is NOT to replace you sitting with the Lord each morning to fellowship with Him. Religion wants you to feel you’ve done your religious duties by obeying your leaders alone.  Religion has things for you to do to keep you busy and fooled. Religion wants you bearing your soul to their so-called qualified people. Religion wants you to feel forgiven by confessing your sins to a man or woman priest. Religion wants you praying the way THEY pray, telling you how you should pray or not pray. (I’m speaking from experience.)
When I go to God first with anything, God works through people that HE chooses. And sometimes He does miracles so that no one is able to take any credit. So go to God and wait for God. This is true faith. Stay in fellowship with the Lord each morning and throughout the day, acknowledging Him in all your ways, living before Him day and night; for GOD IS OUR FATHER AND LOVES US WITH HIS EVERLASTING LOVE! Do not get caught unaware of the devil’s schemes against a “pure and simple relationship and devotion to Jesus Christ.” Remember all HE has done for you!
HAPPY PASSOVER!