Romans 14
The Law of Liberty
Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues.
2 One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables.
3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 Christ died and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.
10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God.
11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me,
and every tongue will give praise to God.
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
The Law of Love
13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way.
14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.)
15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat.
16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.
20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats.
21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.
22 Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed.
23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from a conviction, and everything that is not from a conviction is sin.
jcsouthwest 
Be Vigilant
May 05, 2016 08:52 am | Glynda Linkous
The time of the end is at hand, and the events of the end will occur whether you have made yourselves ready for them, or not. If you have drawn near to Me, if you walk daily with Me, walking in My Ways and submitted to the plan I have ordained for you, then you are prepared.
Be vigilant that the enemy does not steal your crown from you. Be careful to guard what I have placed in you, and your place in the vine.
Be sober. Be vigilant. Your enemy is real.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
1 John 2:20-27
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
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Definitely a heavy feeling in the air. Just following the instructions to pray in tongues most of the day.
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I feel it too, Michael. Lots of prayer lately.
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I’m feeling quite restless this evening . . . Prayers going up. Feeling “on alert”.
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Those 3 pillars you put there in the beginning are so important! IF Society could take those back in use a great deal of trouble could be averted!
And yes Michael the feelings are heavy but one foot before the other day in day out with perseverance praying and sloughing forward. And one day you see the Lord waiting for you there. Then you forget the long road!
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Amen and Amen!
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Yes I agree, heavy. When I read the scripture above Romans 14:9 “Christ died and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.” I had an eerie sense that we’re going to be seeing a lot of death and maybe soon. Lord, please help your people be where you want them, when you want them there! In Jesus name.
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Jennifer, thanks for stopping by and making comments. Feel free to do that any time and welcome to our virtual family.
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Thank you James. Yes we must be vigilant.
Also, There seems to be destruction (in one form or another) everywhere on this earth. We must pray for all who are suffering, we must intercede for those who don’t have a relationship with our Lord and Savior. My heart is breaking for all who are suffering!
Blessings,
Vicki
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In agreement with you Vicki on praying for all who are suffering and also the unsaved and “lukewarm” Christians. Just as mentioned by Bette before, there’s only a small window of opportunity for everyone to make the decision to come to the Lord. Our life here on earth is very short, but eternity is a long long time.
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Cannot condone thievery but if there is good thievery here it is…….
http://thesmokinggun.com/buster/bible/bible-thieves-hunted-472935#fbcomments
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Very interesting! Like some of the comments to the story, why must a Bible cost 60.00?
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Or it is a story of our times that people who get away with info like the bible are worthy of a manhunt? Who knows, the stories coming are showing that books like Hitlers mein kampf are perfectly ok but but that old bigoted book called the bible tssk tssk no good no good.
But lets pray and hope these guys turn in their stolen goods and say sheriff sir here is my criminal profits, i dont need it anymore because i found Jesus and bought my own bible!
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I agree with you both: Stig-Ove & Vicki. One of the awesome things I’ve noticed where I live, is that many thrift-store owners and even people having yard-sales will often give away any Bibles or Christian literature.
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for those who need an inexpensive (or better yet, free) Bible:
Go to a Christian-run thrift store . . Many times you can get them for free. . OR go to a regular Thrift Store, you can generally get them inexpensively.
A paperback is cheaper than a Hard Back, which is cheaper than bonded leather, which is cheaper than full grain leather.
The Dollar Stores sometimes carry them for $1.00
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Thank you stig ! That rang in my spirit brother
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Soon we will have federal agents with x ray vision.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/markets-by-sector/technology/x-ray-eyes-coming-to-a-store-near-you/
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Here you go Stig-Ove, in response to that story about X ray vision:
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Well in this case i feel like the cat 😎
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A Watchman on the Wall –Posted: 05 May 2016 05:58 AM PDT
“How great a salvation has been given to the saints of the LORD. Unfathomable blessings, unmerited favor from the throne room of your holy and righteous God – Father of all.
Why with all you have do you seek more. Things that do not enrich but tear down and breach our relationship, separating you from and Me. What has been the draw for more? What has taken your heart from Me?
Accountability for sin, from those who choose to refuse correction, refuse to acknowledge areas of sin and rebellion in their lives. Accountability for all who reject the gift of salvation from My Son.
Why America would you expect blessings from a God who is righteous and holy in all His ways? Your lives are a stench in My nostrils, and you expect Me to bless and not curse? Foolish man, who has so led you astray, led you away from truth?
Examine closely your heart, look deep into your relationship with Me and repent. I see what you cannot. Curves ahead, twist in the road yet most continue on, living life as usual. An accounting will be demanded soon.”
“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
“Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:40
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VERY sobering and true.
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Daily Devotional (05/06/2016):
NATIONALISM
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Satan has inspired rulers to try to force Christians to return to their former folk religions or the pagan gods of their ancestors—all in the name of patriotism or nationalism. Religious nationalism is where a particular territory or culture is staked out exclusively in religious terms.
Leaders say, “Only Hindus are allowed to stay in India.” Or, “You are a true Sri Lankan only if you are a Buddhist.” In such cases where religious nationalism reigns, Christians either must accept second-class citizen status, face daily discrimination, or leave.
Research done by Open Doors indicates that to establish a “religious state” the religious nationalists require four elements: a villain, a lie, a mob, and a vacuum. They need a “villain” who can unite the people with a powerful message; a “lie” (Christians are intolerant); a “mob” to create chaos (media support helps); and a “vacuum” (absence of moderates in power to control the nation).
Some in India and Nepal argue that their country is Hindu hence other religions are foreign and imperialistic. State assistance is denied to those who convert to non-Hindu religions.
At one point, the Mongolian State Intelligence Bureau described Christianity as a “foreign religion.” And today, Mongolia’s new laws imply that Christianity is “against Mongolian customs.”
In Mexico, a mayor of a community in the southern state of Chiapas has tried to justify the ongoing persecution of evangelicals with the claim that they “attack…our culture and traditions.” In reality, tens of thousands of Christians have been expelled from their homes for not joining in the syncretistic community spiritual activities.
Christians in an area of Swaziland were told by their chief that each Christian would be fined a cow for not attending the annual cultural ceremonies at the king’s royal cattle kraal. The chief announced that he had compiled a list of all his subjects who deliberately avoided two yearly ceremonies: the umhlanga (reed dance) and the incwala (first fruit). Pastors of churches accused of preaching against Swazi culture are among those fined. Pastors in the area plan to challenge the chief’s fines in a court of law.
Christians must avoid the mistake of identifying religion with nation, and nation with religion—even in the West. To do so severely hinders the growth of the Body of Christ where there is “neither Jew nor Greek.”
RESPONSE: I will not make the mistake of identifying religion with nation…and pray for those who do.
PRAYER: Pray for Christians who struggle to survive in the midst of religious nationalism and extreme patriotism.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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Another Daily Devotional for 05/06/2016:
Contemplate the Reward of Your Trials
Read James 1:12.
James has made us aware that our trials produce patience and maturity and cause us to seek and follow God’s wisdom. But adversity is also riveted to the future, for trials guarantee future blessing as well.
Jesus also promised a reward for those who are faithful under persecution in Matthew 5:10, 12.
The reward that James promised is a “crown,” from the Greek word “stephanos.” This word was used to identify the woven thorns that were placed on the head of our Lord as He was prepared for crucifixion. Paul referred metaphorically both to the Philippians and the Thessalonians as his “crown.” Writing to Timothy, Paul described his future reward as “the crown of righteousness.” Peter called it “the crown of glory that does not fade away,” which will be given by the Chief Shepherd when He appears. The apostle John called it “the crown of life” and indicated that it would be among the crowns cast at the feet of Jesus in heaven. We are saved by trusting in Christ, but we are crowned when we are tested by fire and continue to love Him.
Andrew Murray was suffering from a terribly painful back, the result of an injury he had incurred years before. One morning while he was eating breakfast in his room, his hostess told him of a woman downstairs who was in great trouble, and wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Murray handed her a paper he had been writing on and said, “Give her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.” This is what was written:
“In time of trouble, say, ‘First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.’ Next, ‘He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.’ Then say, ‘He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.’ And last, say, ‘In His good time He can bring me out again. How and when, He knows.’ Therefore, say, ‘I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.’”
Taken from bestselling author David Jeremiah’s book What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do. Copyright 2015 by David C Cook; all rights reserved.
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The World
May 06, 2016 09:01 am | Glynda Linkous
Soon all your sorrows will be behind you and you shall enjoy an eternity of joy and love with Me, but many dark events will occur in the earth, My children. Do not be frightened. Remember not to fear what man can do to your body, for it is your spirit that lives forever.
The enemy shall attempt to steal your faith by affecting your body. He does even now in many ways. Your body is only in the present world, but I have overcome the world.
Strengthen your faith, that it may endure to the end.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mark 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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Posting this as a reminder that we all need to be ready for the wedding supper!
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Another Reminder that we are to keep everyone in prayer, no matter what their background or beliefs. This is also extended to our enemies.
Daily Devotional (05/07/2016) —
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE
Make every effort to live in peace with all men… Hebrews 12:14a
Other religious groups are one of the most threatening tactics Satan uses against the church of Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts we see over and over that the primary opposition to the spread of the gospel in the early church was from religious groups. Again we must never view these groups as the enemy. We know who our real enemy is. In some parts of the world, the small percentage of extremists among Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have encouraged mob violence and other forms of persecution against Christians. Our attitude toward them should be as Brother Andrew’s acronym for ISLAM suggests: I Sincerely Love All Muslims.
The tactic that our enemy uses in these major religions of the world is the same. It comes from his character of deceiving and lying. Some people are able to perceive elements of truth within the major religions of the world, but their essential teachings are deceivingly false.
Wherever possible, missionaries of cults and other religions do whatever possible to encourage Christians—usually those who are Christian in name only—to convert to their religion. Unfortunately, in countries such as Egypt, a significant number do convert to a cult or to some other religion. The lure to convert can be marriage, money, employment, social acceptance, and any other similar attraction.
Hardini was born to a devout Muslim family in Indonesia where everyone must go to the mosque every day to pray. Her father had strict rules for everyone in the family. One rule was that Hardini should never associate with Christians. Despite Hardini’s devotion to Islam, her heart was heavy and she longed for inner peace. A Christian with a great sense of joy and peace befriended Hardini.
Hardini had the courage to tell her new friend about her spiritual hunger, and the friend offered to pray for her in the name of Jesus. After the Christian girl prayed, peace filled Hardini’s heart and her life radically changed.
When Hardini’s family discovered she had become a Christian, they spent hours and hours trying to entice her with force to recant her new faith. Hardini remained steadfast. Finally her parents made a painful decision—they totally disowned their daughter. That left Hardini with the choices of either recanting her faith or fleeing from her home and family. She chose to flee.
RESPONSE: Today I will pray for believers like Hardini who experience religious intolerance.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to sincerely love all Muslims and people of other faith systems.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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Email must have messed up again. Just now getting the wordpress notices again…….
Brother Andrew and Richard Wurmbrand were amazing men of God! Thank you for the reminder. Working on acronyms for those who test my heart and attitude………..LIBERALS = love intensely before eternity runs away leaving sin………….
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A Watchman on the Wall
Posted: 08 May 2016 12:00 AM PDT
“Great choirs of heaven sing praises to the Son of God. Holy angels proclaim the goodness of God. Man stumbles over The Rock. His eyes refuse to see, to acknowledge sin or his need to be forgiven. Oh, foolish man, who has told you to flee the wrath of God? Whose voice do you hear and obey?
The lost among you rejoice, sing and clap as worldly pleasures pass before their eyes. Void of discernment, sin goes unchecked. A great falling away continues throughout the world. My goodness far exceeds your sin. There is room at the cross for all who will come with a broken and contrite heart, acknowledging their hopeless state and need of a Saviour Who is Christ Jesus My Son. All other avenues led to death and destruction for the traveler.
The folly of man has trapped him in a web of deceit from which there is no escape outside the cross.”
“Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” Luke 3:7
“… A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. “They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” 1 Peter 2:8
“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” Romans 11:22
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A great reminder on how we should have total faith in the Lord for providing all that we need.
Daily Devotional — 05/08/2016 “Training Children”
…do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
A Chinese Bible Woman shares the following situation that helped train her and her children in righteousness while her husband was in labor camp:
One day I said to my children, “The Lord has told me that today I will go to prison for Him. Father is also in prison so please behave. Love each other and don’t forget to bring food for your mom!”
During that time there were so many prisoners that the government could not provide for all of them so family members provided their food.
The children cried when they heard this. Daniel replied, “But mom, we have only five catties of rice left. How can we have rice and also send you some? When it’s all gone, we’ll die!”
I told the children, “The Lord can turn nothing into something!” and I reminded them of the story of Elijah and the widow. They had a simple child-like faith and believed that God could provide for their need. So they concluded, “Even though our rice is not enough, we will cook for you too!”
After talking with the children, The Public Security Bureau police came to the door and arrested me. Daniel followed me to the prison to find out which cell I would be in. The younger two children knelt in prayer. As I was taken away, my heart was wrenched as I heard their little voices trailing off.
I was in prison on that occasion for thirty days. All the while Daniel faithfully sent rice for me. When I returned home I asked, “Is there any rice left?”
Daniel’s response was, “Mom, our rice container is overflowing!” It really was. Those five catties had inexplicably grown to about forty catties and were literally overflowing the container.
I said, “Praise the Lord! Now we can continue to cook for the other inmates and feed them as well.” The Lord’s grace is beyond measure.
RESPONSE: In fulfilling the functions of the church in each Christian home, we have the great responsibility to train and instruct our children in faith and righteousness.
PRAYER: Lord, help me model today Your love, faith and righteousness before the little ones I am in a position to influence.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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Another Daily Devotional — 05/08/2016
Divine Intervention
Genesis 10–11
God’s Story
When God brought Noah and his family out of the ark, he blessed them and gave them the same charge he had given Adam and Eve: “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). It was a second chance at adventure, a starting over.
But the people don’t listen. They are fruitful and multiply, and they eventually put down roots and settle in one place. There, with the prideful intention of making a name for themselves and with an arrogant attempt to reach the heavens, they build a city with a tall tower. Tragically, they’re following in the footsteps of their ancestors—disregarding God, living apart from him and striving to fill the longings in their souls on their own. God is well aware that this will destroy them yet again. Seeing that their unity is leading them away from him, God convenes a heavenly council and decides to confuse their language. He thwarts the building project.
The King’s Heart
God had good plans for his people, maybe even plans for them to build cities and high-reaching towers. Most likely, he had even grander plans—it seems that he wanted them to spread out and experience the entire earth and all of the wonders he invented on it.
God isn’t against us achieving success. In fact, it brings him deep joy. But he doesn’t want us to settle for our own little plans; he wants us to join in on the huge plans that he has dreamed for us. And he wants us to walk through them together with him. He wants to multiply the participation in the joy, and he wants us to experience the heart bonding with him that comes from sharing adventures that are even greater than our minds can conceive. Pure goodness wants others to experience goodness.
The motivation behind Babel happens in us all the time. We forget God’s good desires and strive to meet our heart’s longings on our own. All the while, he is there—dreaming bigger dreams for us than we can ever imagine.
When God gives you instructions, obey him. And when he puts desires in your heart, talk to him about them and watch what he does with them. Trust that he is leading you to goodness that’s beyond your ability to dream.
Insight
Thousands of years after the tower of Babel, on the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his followers. When the Holy Spirit filled them, the people who had gathered around them heard them speaking in their own language (see Acts 2:1–11). God reversed the language confusion of Babel.
Copyright © 2014 by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved.
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JC thanks for putting up those daily devotionals. I read them while working and it helps keep me focused and praying in His word. Storing them in my virtual rolodex, we’re gonna need them. Great comfort comes from these my friends …. Bless you all.
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