tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23981141080586463012024-02-06T20:07:23.403-06:00Life, Love, and LordshipI write about life, love, and my relationship with ChristAlida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-78369056251764504162018-01-21T19:46:00.000-06:002018-01-22T16:11:01.647-06:00Word of the Week: Quiet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiCvrFbXHp9nyLHV4K1u88dzfzTGpIgYa77F-0d0yFy54ZO0HZvXoNc2BNSP290WJuR7zEdhh2BACbNdoldJk6ivLvjn3sl2pc8lfmqk4nkBwkh-Mfy7iseicxs3dXf7xnvvLXctCi45p/s1600/27152726_10156134480939187_1173407051_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiCvrFbXHp9nyLHV4K1u88dzfzTGpIgYa77F-0d0yFy54ZO0HZvXoNc2BNSP290WJuR7zEdhh2BACbNdoldJk6ivLvjn3sl2pc8lfmqk4nkBwkh-Mfy7iseicxs3dXf7xnvvLXctCi45p/s320/27152726_10156134480939187_1173407051_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Striving. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hustling. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Competing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I see so much of this on social media. I've even tried to join in the race. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But those efforts will not bring the victory that God has already planned for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time spent quietly before Him, resting in Him, and delighting in Him are actions that promise to bring about the desires of my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 62:1 says,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://ctt.ec/5ngz6" style="font-weight: bold;">There is power in being quiet before Him. Our silence allows His voice to be heard clearly. </a><b> </b>(click to tweet<b>)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Taking time to sit at His feet like Mary goes against the grain of culture. And yet, Jesus said she made the best choice. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In verse 5 it says, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Am I honestly letting all that I am wait quietly before Him?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We strive, hustle, and compete because it's easier than stripping down all defenses and pretenses before Him. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Truly getting quiet before Him requires humbling self and submitting to His agenda. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I crawled out of bed to attend a women's event. I had barely been able to keep myself standing during the worship time. And I had no desire to go forward for prayer, I simply had no energy to stand. But, I felt my body rise up and follow the others forward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Standing there a thought shot through my mind, "no one ever has a word meant for me. This is a waste of time." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Softly but firmly God pierces through the attitude of my tired heart saying, "Stay here, <b>be quiet</b>, and wait on Me."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I relax, trusting that He will give me the grace to continue to stand, I quiet my mind before Him, and wait for someone to come pray over me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A woman I don't know came over and began praying for me. She prayed, <b><i>"Father, reveal to her Your rest. She's been fasting for three days, Lord, and she needs rest. Your rest. Show her what still needs to fall away. Show her what's next. Help her to trust you. And help her to rest. And Lord, t</i></b></span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">ake her deeper than she's ever gone before.</span><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How did she know that I had been fasting for three days and felt weak and tired?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her words brought confirmation, peace, and hope to my spirit. And now I wait, wholeheartedly before Him trusting that He will bring the victory in every area of life that I have laid out before Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trust Him, stay right where you are, and wait on Him in the quiet spaces of your life, He is worth the wait! </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">To join my mailing list kindly click here: <a href="https://blogspot.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0674b5747263eb9463dd39a64&id=6e81ce1f74">Email Sign Up</a></span></i></b></div>
Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-25718462456777209792018-01-14T01:38:00.000-06:002018-01-14T16:37:10.656-06:003 Goals for 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTCqT84gtb-MzGZ9rvVhoU3G-Vf4IasuAYYNf1_oH6X0v_t9-ey3O1PSxc8oRHRT7PxlEMYLLD9Qf9xWAybkViPICUc_34EuXBGrbNFv736Rda9r9l6k9YRWA_RwRb8d4G167uyqp9PVT/s1600/COURAGE+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTCqT84gtb-MzGZ9rvVhoU3G-Vf4IasuAYYNf1_oH6X0v_t9-ey3O1PSxc8oRHRT7PxlEMYLLD9Qf9xWAybkViPICUc_34EuXBGrbNFv736Rda9r9l6k9YRWA_RwRb8d4G167uyqp9PVT/s320/COURAGE+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wonder Woman inspired me when we were together over the holidays! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She ran down the hill singing at the top of her lungs, "And no one knows how far it goes!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We hunted butterflies, searched for tigers, and avoided the 'pokey' weeds as we played in the park before her bedtime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Watching her imagination at work flooded my spirit with joy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am beyond grateful for her influence in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Confidence, determination, and a strong spirit of adventure all wrapped up in a two year old frame. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I listened to her declarations of what she can do and then watched her show me that she could do it. She has an inner strength that many women I know would envy...starting with me!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Time spent with her confirmed the word God gave me for 2018:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">'<b>Courage</b>.'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Courage in Hebrew is '<b>Chazak</b>'. Which means 'to be strong'. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The verse that is guiding me this year is Ezra 10:4 and includes three imperatives: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Get Up</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Be Strong (<b><i>chazak</i></b>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Take Action</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Meditating on those three statements convicts me to take them on as goals for the year. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have new music I've written that needs to be recorded. I have new goals that I've set as I seek to learn and grow this year. I have new responsibilities to live up to. In each instance I must Get Up, Be Strong, and Take Action. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My little Wonder Woman didn't care who was watching when she ran down the hill singing, she was doing what she felt compelled to do. And I'm grateful to have learned that lesson from her. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Strong women boldly follow their God-given instincts.</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you have a word or phrase inspiring your goals for this year? If so I'd love to hear it!</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">To join my mailing list kindly click here: <a href="https://blogspot.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0674b5747263eb9463dd39a64&id=6e81ce1f74">Email Sign Up</a></span></i></b></div>
Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-26211146054302701052017-12-29T07:22:00.000-06:002017-12-29T07:22:53.965-06:00Word of the Week: Inventory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I look back to evaluate the </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Connections of this year. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I look forward to what I hear God speaking for 2018. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And I look around to enjoy the present moment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Eliana's bouncing curls as she laughs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Raphael’s grunts and sweet new baby smell.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Daily chats with Spencer and Meesha. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZneZH-1lnoYRa2evXQ8GRHiFu39U7Q3zLjX5Uh_wI_ZtRmpfgLmatAnShoVxZPZjEz8FWj_I6sDhS8uGTYd8rSWBB1YCMop1b64qaRTdPxcLGc83d8VbUz245PJP24zZuOPlqHIX3_NdK/s1600/25552055_10156044782949187_8010671476096859442_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="807" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZneZH-1lnoYRa2evXQ8GRHiFu39U7Q3zLjX5Uh_wI_ZtRmpfgLmatAnShoVxZPZjEz8FWj_I6sDhS8uGTYd8rSWBB1YCMop1b64qaRTdPxcLGc83d8VbUz245PJP24zZuOPlqHIX3_NdK/s400/25552055_10156044782949187_8010671476096859442_n.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>snuggling with our newly born grandson, </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Joy filled connections.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Life was good this past year, </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>life promises good for next year, </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>and life is good in this very moment!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This video is from 2015 and yet the three simple questions are timeless. </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I pray that you can use them, as I have,</i></span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-30994266453890752322017-12-21T07:40:00.001-06:002017-12-21T19:46:10.382-06:00Word of the Week: JOY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joy. Pure joy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">She ran, skipped, and jumped along the path through the ‘jungle’. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The spark of joy revealed in her eyes at the sight of the flower-strewn path was absolutely priceless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I could feel her excitement as clearly as I could see it on her face. </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the essence of pure joy were to ever be bottled, I think it would contain energy dispersed by two year old children at play!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The third candle of advent is JOY.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-da6ea753-78ff-2595-f4b3-e5b2ddb6ed8c"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve anticipated this holiday trip that we are currently on for many months. I counted down the weeks and days with excitement. Each moment of the 27 hours that we spent journeying to Australia from Belize was worth every second. Our time of traveling brought us to a place of hugs, laughter, smiles, story times, climbing towers, pushing swings, dressing stuffed animals, and baking cookies.</span></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f7bc6a8a-7922-8fa3-4f6f-728506dafd7e"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trip was long, the wait was hard, but the joy we felt upon arrival erased the aches and pains of all the miles that separate us from family.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f7bc6a8a-7923-128b-e31c-cd43d7e55f2a"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many years ago, before our children were born, Tom’s grandmother Sharp baked Christmas cookies for us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom’s mother picked up the tradition for our kids, and now it’s my turn with our son’s children.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f7bc6a8a-7924-04d6-08c5-36299284a39b"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our children are 30 and 27. Our youngest was home with us for Christmas for the last time in 2012. We have only put up a tree once in the last five years. It’s been hard to find joy in an empty nest at Christmas.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f7bc6a8a-7925-72b0-f364-54ae752e0c28"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here, with our granddaughter, the joy is infectious. My heart swells with anticipation as we awaken each morning to discover what songs and stories she will enlighten us with for the day. </span></span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I relax as my heart rises above the emotional hardships and the years of longing to grandparent in real life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joy creeps in as I marvel at the wonder in her eyes and cherish the hope born from her laughter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I understand why a candle of JOY is needed as we countdown the days until the celebration of Christ's birth. Light cannot be overcome by darkness and the light of His joy is powerful enough to penetrate the human spirit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria";"><span style="font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am grateful for my encounter with joy as my husband and I wait </span></span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">with our son and his family for the birth of their second child!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">May God also fill your eyes with wonder and light up every corner of your life with His joy as you await the celebration of our King!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-71004437730945767732017-12-13T06:00:00.000-06:002017-12-13T06:00:34.771-06:00Word of the Week: LOVE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love: A complex word comprised of four letters. </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The second week of Advent is about LOVE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, December 13, 2017, my husband and I celebrate 36 years of marriage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we spend our day traveling I can rest by his side and enjoy our time away together. The past few weeks were a chaotic whirlwind for us. I’d been rehearsing for our Belizean Christmas concert, preparing for speaking engagements, working in the counseling office, and promoting the concert on radio and tv. Between early morning commitments and late night practices I noticed it was getting hard to spend time soaking in God’s loving presence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the day of the concert drew near I felt like I was running on empty. With tear stained eyes I reached for my keys to head out the door once again. I stopped to cry for a moment on Tom’s shoulder. My body was wracked with pain as I stood there telling him how tired I was. He comforted me with soothing, understanding, and encouraging words. And then he sent me out the door with the emotional strength to do the next thing on my long list of to-do’s. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful for those occasions when I can see, feel, and hear the loving voice of God speaking through my caring husband.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful that though my husband's love in action I have seen God's unfailing love each and every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful that Christ came to earth in human form to reveal to us what real love is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful for this Advent season, for this time of solitude, and for the depth of prayer that Jesus continually offers on our behalf before the Father. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of ‘doing’ that we can miss out on ‘being’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slow down, lean in, and listen for His loving voice. That’s what I’m doing today...won’t you join me?! I wrote this song during a time of leaning in closely to listen to His voice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch, sing along, and share it with someone who needs to take time out to seek God and worship Him!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-14278102283390525612017-12-03T15:55:00.000-06:002017-12-03T15:55:04.630-06:00Word of the Week: HOPE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom and I are eagerly awaiting time with our family in Australia. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's been two years since we've seen our son, daughter in love, and granddaughter. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year our hopeful hearts await the birth of our second grandchild, creating priceless memories with our granddaughter, and treasuring moments with Spencer and Meesha.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote my first Christmas song two years ago. And the very first line is, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3tRyxaPb5mVo2YZhxMjXPz">"Hope was born in a manger"</a>.</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-cc1a72da-1e39-4bb4-79b7-4a9d27cb0a9a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is the first Sunday of Advent. In many churches around the world the candle of Hope would have been lit today. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is there any hope in your heart this year? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If so, then where are you placing your hope?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eve had hope when the serpent told her that she could be like God. Her misplaced hope led to expulsion from the Garden of Eden. We must be careful about where we place our hope. Misplaced hope can have eternal consequences. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>I have hopes and dreams for my granddaughter and the grandbaby that is on the way but the true Hope of the world was born over 2000 years ago. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus Christ is our Hope! And our hope in Him will never disappoint. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May this be a season for the God of Hope to fill each one of us with His presence.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May this be a season of hope in our hearts, our homes, and our communities. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May this be a season of celebrating the birth of the God of all Hope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: cambria;"><span style="font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can listen to that first Christmas song here!</span></span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-30006900567180990732017-11-22T19:55:00.003-06:002017-11-22T19:55:34.761-06:00Word of the Week: Understanding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggduXxrbcQQ9sg8SY_nC7Bu2ToHgmoWf7ej5gZYyUIjcbiiunhADHZuNT3ydbIhtKHEtgR7CiNF_VjVDGYm1Rgm3H8MRsehI9_S5fCLYMmq1GKmw17yyR1pixuBHUnvINNoB0ybHSzwcW0/s1600/23846100_10155952005549187_1917504285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="865" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggduXxrbcQQ9sg8SY_nC7Bu2ToHgmoWf7ej5gZYyUIjcbiiunhADHZuNT3ydbIhtKHEtgR7CiNF_VjVDGYm1Rgm3H8MRsehI9_S5fCLYMmq1GKmw17yyR1pixuBHUnvINNoB0ybHSzwcW0/s400/23846100_10155952005549187_1917504285_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I was out for my walk this morning I meditated on the word ‘Courage”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I got close to a house that is under construction I could see that I would have to walk between two cars and several groups of men.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought, "now is the time to practice being courageous!" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A narrow path in the middle of the road was all that was left between the two parked cars. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taking a deep cleansing breath I braced myself for whatever comments these men might make and determined in my mind to ignore whatever they said to me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After successfully passing through that gauntlet of men suddenly, 8 highly agitated workers were running toward me, alternating between covering their heads and waving their arms, and screaming, “Abejas! Abejas!” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know a bit of Spanish but not enough to know what they were shouting about. I slowed down somewhat but kept advancing forward in my effort to get home in time to shower and get to bible study. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the distance I can see a neighbor heading home with six dogs on leashes. I thought maybe the men were afraid of dogs. His dogs have never bothered me so I continue walking, ignoring the men’s frantic cries.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of them comes closer waving his arms yelling, “</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Señora</span><span style="font-family: cambria; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, abejas!” Three of them are now in front of me yelling, “Abejas” and I yell back, “I don’t understand! No entiendo!” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My lack of understanding collides with the fervency of their efforts and slowly increases my annoyance as I fight to remain calm. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One man turns the direction I’m headed and pointed at a tree up the road. I still don’t know what I’m supposed to be seeing and I’m in a hurry so again I let them know that I don’t understand. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the workers held out his hand motioning me to stop, looking exasperated and desperate to get his message across, he took his phone from his pocket as the English word finally came to him, and he shouted, “BEES!” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Now I get why they were frantically running, why they didn’t want me to walk any further, and why they were passionately trying to get me to understand.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The man with the phone makes a call and asks me to wait “for safety”. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few minutes later a truck pulls up driven by a man dressed in protective clothing. I get into the vehicle and he drives me past the tree to the corner and I’m able to finish my walk from there. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My head and heart had prepared not to trust these men. I’ve become so accustomed to taunting whistles, crude comments, and uncomfortable stares from construction workers that initially I didn’t respect their genuine concern for my welfare. And I was so determined to practice being courageous that I was willing to ignore whatever they were saying and just keep on walking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 119:34 says,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will put them into practice with all my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>I have lost count of the number of times I’ve ignored God’s warnings because I cannot see any danger ahead and I don’t understand what He is trying to tell me. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful for the lessons that God brings into my life, the spiritual and the practical. This morning He mercifully showed His willingness to protect me by any means possible and as a bonus He taught me the Spanish word for bees!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-31741625266941806722017-11-15T19:08:00.000-06:002017-11-15T19:08:49.524-06:00Word of the Week: Truth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been preparing my notes to speak at Legacy this weekend and the word that I have had on my mind is Truth. So I decided to give you a sample of one of the devotionals from my ebook! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Truth</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-355470a5-c258-444b-3c02-5b56b1fa3b76" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff2600; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff2600; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you will know the truth,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff2600; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the truth will set you free.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 8:32 NLT</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knowing the truth brings freedom from bondage, freedom from life altering lies, and freedom from despair. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He’s the freedom that we need to know. He’s the Truth that we must embrace. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s the Truth that will erase the lies we’ve carried in our heads. No falsehood or distortion can successfully stand in the light of Him. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His name is Truth, His character is truth, His word is truth. Truth bathed in the grace of God that has the power to transform us from the inside out. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Walking in truth places us on the path of righteous living. Washing our minds with the truth places us in the center of His will. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Waiting on truth to be revealed in our situation places us in the palm of His hand. His loving words are a balm for every battle-scarred soul. Cling to the God of all truth!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prayer:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Precious Truth, our Savior, our Lord, guide us in the way of truth. Help us to listen for Your trustworthy voice and lay aside any whispers of darkness. Keep us steadfast and strong in the light. We praise You, we thank You, we love You. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To get your copy of my devotional ebook click on the title below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.alidasharp.com/">Exalt His Name</a></span></span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-1575614531589095752017-11-08T19:32:00.001-06:002017-11-08T19:36:52.068-06:00Word of the Week: Relearning <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a bright cold day in April, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the clocks were striking thirteen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~George Orwell, 1984</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4e550516-9e52-ef18-f327-6a471f6ac4d8" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking around the international airport in Moscow, Russia, I watched a clock strike 13. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, the clock didn’t literally strike, it was digital. Large red numbers proclaiming 13:00. Russia uses a 24 hour clock. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instantly transporting me to my childhood and reminding me of my father’s military days, he would often use military time to tell me and my little brothers when something needed to be done. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Police your area by 0800 hours!”, he would command. In English that meant our rooms needed to be cleaned before 8 am.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I saw that it was 13 o’clock I had to think for a minute or so until it came to me. It’s 1 o’clock in the afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dread mixed with fear filled my stomach. Fighting back tears acknowledging that not only did I need to learn a new language but I also needed to learn how to tell time. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everything I thought I knew would need to be relearned.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone were the days of grocery shopping with a list and coupons in Southern California. Needing a list remained but coupons were replaced by a Russian/English dictionary. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something as simple as asking for 2 lbs of ground beef transformed to asking for a kilo of farsh. Numbers, weights, measures, time, words, sights, sounds, facial expressions...everything overwhelmed and yet excited me. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An adventure that began as words God whispered to my husband, evolved into a dream, and were brought to reality when the plane landed. Over the next five years our family would learn to navigate this new world. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never expected to live among the adversary. Growing up in a military home on various Air Force bases in the eastern part of the US, Russia had been our cold war enemy for my entire childhood. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How was this a part of God’s plan? Needless to say my patriotic father, the career soldier, was not thrilled when we announced our plans to move to Russia. However, my mother’s comment, “You got your orders so you have to go.” was typical of a military wife. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s orders, His calling, took us on a life altering journey. And His guidance and strength continue to propel us in our ministry life. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish I could say that each day as a missionary is profoundly meaningful, filled with glorious insight, and bathed deeply with inner peace. Most days back in Russia and now here in Belize are fairly ordinary. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>For every believer, each breath, each lesson, each and every tear, and each peal of shared laughter hold a touch of the divine. </i></b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s been many years since that clock at the airport awakened me to a new reality. I’ve realized that each stage of life requires learning a new skill no matter where you live in the world.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don’t have to see 13 o’clock to catapult you into a new way of thinking. It could be something as simple as a wedding, the birth of a child, teenage drama, an empty nest, a new job, the loss of a parent, each experience- the good, the bad, and the grace-filled, all provoke change and growth.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With each stage of life everything I thought I knew needed to be relearned.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you had to face a time of relearning something you thought you knew? I’d love to hear about it!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-44624685252909107432017-11-01T06:30:00.000-06:002017-11-01T08:32:25.995-06:00Word of the Week: Breathe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-bd672056-75a2-55b9-a270-985d21e8c793"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vEnIyksQBNLG2_roRLe4WKsVukbqbEQ61rUQupTYoB3DXW2h8rjq7ev3r0_foD6nxUWSMI9pKiulXrSYi1Zkh_UJ8GY5DSURPSBmh9gqvbZQ8p23mnR62yiZOkVhLQwynI4xW9EVCvVj/s1600/20171101-Sharp-Breathe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1400" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vEnIyksQBNLG2_roRLe4WKsVukbqbEQ61rUQupTYoB3DXW2h8rjq7ev3r0_foD6nxUWSMI9pKiulXrSYi1Zkh_UJ8GY5DSURPSBmh9gqvbZQ8p23mnR62yiZOkVhLQwynI4xW9EVCvVj/s400/20171101-Sharp-Breathe.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are times when I’m holding my breath and don’t realize it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>I need to let go, exhale the day’s stress, and inhale perfect peace infused with grace. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here in Belize my husband and I counsel victims of abuse and exploitation and that work can take its toll on the heart and on the soul. Envisioning life abroad is often more romantic or adventurous than the reality of adapting to a new culture. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was forced to undergo a ‘baptism’ of awakening to reality on a jungle walk with friends. We got too close to a mama howler monkey and she declared her outrage by throwing poo at us. She got me right in the middle of my forehead. I gave thanks that my mouth was closed when I looked up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ann Voskamp says, “Calm is a superpower. Ask Christ for it.” I stayed calm but decided that it would be best to move away from that mother protecting her babies.</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-23143317801845523622017-10-25T20:59:00.000-06:002017-10-25T21:05:48.316-06:00Word of the Week: Exalt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GBiutmDjyxY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come let us tell of the LORD’s greatness;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">let us exalt His name together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 34:3 NLT</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9a43ded3-5699-a192-0bf2-47a115abb2a2" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we exalt the name of God together, we give honor to Who He is, What He has done, What He can do, and Why He cares for us.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote this song to give honor and glory to the name of God. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I penned each verse various names came to mind from the Word. When I finished the song I went back and counted the names of God that I had used. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was astonished to discover 25 names of God in the song. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That means that there are:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 ways to tell of His greatness. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 ways ways to tell of Who He is. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 ways to get to know Him more intimately. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 ways to exalt Him!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each time I sing this song, each time I talk about this song, my desire is to exalt Him. My desire is to know Him more deeply and make Him known. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How well do you know Him?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yahweh </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creator </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sustainer </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deliverer </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Almighty God </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marvelous </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Way Maker </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Counselor </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rock of Salvation </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friend </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worthy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Foundation </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Way</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Truth</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strength </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alpha </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Omega </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ancient of Days </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anointed One </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consuming Fire</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immanuel </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High Priest </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord of Lords</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s aim to know Him intimately and exalt His name together!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-28220166362901152122017-10-22T17:19:00.000-06:002017-10-22T17:19:15.383-06:00Eyes of Compassion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRYAFBQoJf-Wgjph3-K092AWnbBAo5hNcdtGeSFWv2mfmUktDQw3yR2RM270rdmKmT0JfmABzFz1K7of0yPDiOPlNRzMPLcWIEJA9m6AYnSPsdBED4wwdNnpv4dj4HRh3vVy-5q0Me0_m/s1600/20526565_10155604497754187_1473933134_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRYAFBQoJf-Wgjph3-K092AWnbBAo5hNcdtGeSFWv2mfmUktDQw3yR2RM270rdmKmT0JfmABzFz1K7of0yPDiOPlNRzMPLcWIEJA9m6AYnSPsdBED4wwdNnpv4dj4HRh3vVy-5q0Me0_m/s1600/20526565_10155604497754187_1473933134_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Head tilted back with sunglasses balanced on his upper lip appeared to be a new game he’d just discovered. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A nudge and a sharp look from his sister and immediately he put the glasses back in their proper place. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He couldn’t have been much older than four. Running to catch up to their mother, whose eyes were also hidden behind dark glasses, they slipped into an office. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>My stomach sank.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There were two empty seats beside me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mother took one and the girl pulled her brother onto her lap and took the seat closest to me. I reached for my hand sanitizer as the red-tainted eyes of the little boy followed my every move. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One by one the security guard questioned each person in the crowd wearing sunglasses. He made it clear that anyone with pink eye should leave now and not come back until their eyes were clear. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My attention went back to the red-eyed boy. I saw his pain and his sadness. I sanitized my hands again, smiled politely, and went back to reading my book. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m against public shaming and should have felt some degree of empathy for them. But with the <b><i><a href="http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/154135">thousands of cases of pink eye</a> </i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here in Belize my compassion has worn thin and I felt angry that the mother put everyone around her at risk.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mantra has been <b><i><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/about/prevention.html">“keep your hands clean and don’t touch your eyes”</a>.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So far I’ve been successful in avoiding this modern day plague. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I long to be like Christ and look at others with eyes of compassion. But, some days are harder than others. And I have to confess that day was hard. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A five hour wait at a government office drained all the compassion out of me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before the pink eye family sat down near me I was wedged in between my sleeping husband on the right and an American woman who was talking loudly while clearing her throat of phlegm every third sentence on my left. Behind me was a Spanish speaking gentleman who kept bumping my chair. Each time we go to the Immigration Department it’s a lesson in endurance, humility, and patience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful that God’s love is unfailing, that His grace is sufficient in my times of weakness, and that His mercies are new each morning. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful that no matter what illness, bad attitude, or frustrating situation I find myself in, God’s compassion is still available for me. </span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-49291436315750966782017-10-18T16:59:00.001-06:002017-10-18T16:59:59.820-06:00Word of the Week: Treasure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeUODTj7l4T9PkBZTLIVGsBq4vBLV-UcKM1D7IiVYSuM8dG_OzDrV88MVBxQxDwG4xPcRkBOf2bZGcz_2fCagGTPqh8C5ceqHOB2FcmSJBgtXVYDRYkA53Eas-FcLhfXyDQcDqr3HB_Qa/s1600/22656537_10155848605299187_298281708_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeUODTj7l4T9PkBZTLIVGsBq4vBLV-UcKM1D7IiVYSuM8dG_OzDrV88MVBxQxDwG4xPcRkBOf2bZGcz_2fCagGTPqh8C5ceqHOB2FcmSJBgtXVYDRYkA53Eas-FcLhfXyDQcDqr3HB_Qa/s400/22656537_10155848605299187_298281708_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you treasure?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been thinking about this lately.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever wandered around a store looking for something to catch your eye? Maybe that's just me!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago I found a treasure box. I wasn't sure what to do with it. So of course I went back to the store and purchased a second one.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I began to use one treasure box to hold some note cards that have different names of God on them that I want to study. It made me think about what other things I treasure. So I started to make a list.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure the word of God</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I love quietly reading my Bible and making notes of the treasures I find within its pages.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure jewelry.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have pieces that were handed down. Ones made by local designers. And things that my husband and children have gifted me...each item is priceless in my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure chatting with friends. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another. I love gleaning wisdom and insight from the people in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure music. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love to listen to music and I love to sing it!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure artistic creativity.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Artwork in all of its forms amazing me. From jewelry designing to painting and drawing to spoken word, I love it all! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure laughter.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My granddaughter’s laughter fills my heart with joy!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure books.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ve spent many nights up way too late trying to finish one more chapter.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I treasure time spent in quiet. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I truly value having extended times of peace and quiet in my day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I treasure memories of special moments.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> With each year that passes I value my memories of events, time with family and friends, traveling with my husband. Making memories is one of my greatest treasures!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t put all of those things in the second treasure box. But, I am gathering up some of my favorite things to give away!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-69275788381239524902017-10-15T21:45:00.001-06:002017-10-15T21:50:36.918-06:00Lessons Learned From Looking Back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ual2bamHLZlrgjh6afj-1y4L-WYHIq60pWD5IXC9k-Dk7MquiXzcDCxg07ZNhwm1Tsyrnl3-8Q51JkWTx0EaBZyrJiQm3xXdyvnMIrgXEqcq5X01heUxUuGfJ9JoPW1s_jc6zjd8BeRj/s1600/22547485_10155840385234187_35318992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ual2bamHLZlrgjh6afj-1y4L-WYHIq60pWD5IXC9k-Dk7MquiXzcDCxg07ZNhwm1Tsyrnl3-8Q51JkWTx0EaBZyrJiQm3xXdyvnMIrgXEqcq5X01heUxUuGfJ9JoPW1s_jc6zjd8BeRj/s400/22547485_10155840385234187_35318992_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Forty is the </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">old age of youth, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fifty is </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">youth of old age.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These words of Victor Hugo came to mind today as I was working on a new song for a Christmas project. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each time I step up to the microphone I realize I’m no longer a skinny little 10 year old standing in front of the mirror singing into a hairbrush. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Childhood fantasies become realities </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when you jump at opportunities.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote my first song at age 50 after crying out to God in despair. My children’s childhoods had officially come to an end. Both are now adults making their own choices and living out their own dreams. The time had come for me to find my way back to mine. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being in the youth of old age means that I can look ahead and know that the time is short. And at the same time I can look back and benefit from lessons that only experience can teach. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The benefit of looking back is found in a few of the lessons learned along the way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <b><i>1. </i></b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life is short, it’s up to you to make it sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each one of us is responsible for our own lives. God has a plan and a path for each one of us. There are times when He will use someone else to open a door or provide a helping hand. But, He expects each one of His children to pick up their own spoon and taste Him for themselves. My husband’s favorite baked treat is cinnamon rolls but mine is sweet potato pie. If I eat from his plate I’m not getting the sweetness I crave, I have to accept what he’s chosen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Life is hard, but God is good.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New Testament makes it clear that we will have troubles in this world. But, we can take heart and have the courage to face whatever comes our way because Jesus overcame every weight that has the power to hold us back from the life God designed for us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Life is not a competition, it’s about connection.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each one of us has our own race to run. Social media causes us to criticize, compete & compare. We have a tendency to compare our worst to someone else’s best. All of those activities are distractions that can lead us to veer out of our own lane. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">We must connect with what God has gifted us to do </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and not with someone else’s calling.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote a song last year that I thought would be perfect for this Christmas project I’m currently working on with my friend Mervin. He writes songs that get people to jump up and down. I confess that I have compared myself to him. I even tried to put together a song similar to his style but I fell short. My husband listened to it and didn’t get it. It wasn’t me and I had to let it go. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a new song coming out near the end of the month. It’s a reggae worship song. I remember telling a dj about it and she said, “sometimes you want to move from side to side instead of jump up and down”. Since that conversation I've noticed that each time I’ve performed the reggae song I see people swaying side to side! Her words opened my eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Serving God should not be a competition. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>If we connect with God, with ourselves, and with others, we can all move forward in cooperation with one another.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mervin and I both have goals of pointing others to God. And we’ll be more successful in reaching our goals through connecting and cooperating with one another. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful for the lessons He’s given to me. What lessons have you learned from Him? </span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-85103142445189730052017-10-11T19:37:00.000-06:002017-10-11T19:41:21.292-06:00Word of the Week: Girls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What would you say to your younger self?</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At age 14 every emotion is...SO...INTENSE! </span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to a study involving over 19,000 children at age 14 in the UK: 24% of the girls and 9% of the boys experience depression. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-dc048c18-0e1a-81ab-37cf-4a43d4045395" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of the study the children were asked if they felt statements were true, sometimes true or not true regarding how they felt in the previous two weeks:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I felt miserable or unhappy.</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didn't enjoy anything at all.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I felt so tired I just sat around and did nothing.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was very restless.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I felt I was no good anymore.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I cried a lot.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I found it hard to think properly or concentrate.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hated myself.</span></h2>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was a bad person.</span></h2>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I felt lonely.</span></h2>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought nobody really loved me.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought I could never be as good as other kids.</span></h2>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did everything wrong.</span></h2>
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<h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How would you answer for yourself?</span></h2>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cyber bullying, stress over school, home life, peer pressure, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and negative thinking are driving forces for these feelings during adolescence. </span></h2>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What transpires during a girl’s teenage years shapes the direction of her life. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The onset of puberty marks a time of heightened vulnerability. Some girls may have to discontinue their education due to lack of finances or early pregnancy, sexual exploitation, coercion or violence. Each of these traumas can lead to depression. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past week I have sensed a spirit of despair in the young people who’ve reached out to me. As I pray for them scripture floods my mind.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every sigh of the soul finds a home in Psalms.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 69:20 says, “Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the office I hear how often girls have to face the sting of harsh words, side eyed glances, and unrealistic expectations that all serve to break not only the heart but the spirit. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every girl needs a safe person to confide in, lean on, and be comforted by.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those who seek help in counseling are like the psalmist in Psalm 130:1 “From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And in Psalm 40:2 we read, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those girls who know the Lord, I can direct them to find healing in His love and care. For those who don’t I can pray for them. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray that the girls of Belize overcome despair.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray that the girls of Belize find comfort from the Comforter. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray that the girls of Belize find hope and healing.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray that the girls of Belize find deep abiding joy and will pass it on to others.</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-2381131210151735292017-10-08T13:45:00.000-06:002017-10-08T13:45:50.718-06:006 Core Longings of the Soul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuOqnP2wkpSoD9nAQNh3wKlCuae9iomrmI_Lcs4hJMOMUq26IBOtXBTt1qsqxS-_XTQtom54r8vnBq_37YuwTHtdIYyRT5pwu1wGDFjlYbHiVf4q9yn6zMkqOstEnezIbF8AAMrqOe0OA/s1600/IMG_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuOqnP2wkpSoD9nAQNh3wKlCuae9iomrmI_Lcs4hJMOMUq26IBOtXBTt1qsqxS-_XTQtom54r8vnBq_37YuwTHtdIYyRT5pwu1wGDFjlYbHiVf4q9yn6zMkqOstEnezIbF8AAMrqOe0OA/s400/IMG_0828.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 42:1</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the deer longs for streams of water, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so I long for you, O God. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-ff2e8ec1-fa5b-15a9-075b-1a37cc3c5e78" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The night of our grandchild’s birth in Australia we were 9675 miles away in Belize. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had to settle for online updates through Messenger and Whatsapp. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I cried and prayed all through the night as we waited for the next message to arrive. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was 9 months old before we could afford plane tickets to Australia. And it’s been two years since we last held her in our arms.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t long for the things we have right near us. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We long for those things we are distant from. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We long for those things we don’t have. </span></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>According to Robert Shaw the core longings of our souls are: love, safety, understanding, belonging, purpose, and significance.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I considered each of the six longings I found myself asking questions and searching for the answers in His word.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does God love me?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 23:6 "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: YES. God’s unfailing love pursues me!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Safety</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will God keep me safe?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 18:2 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YES. He’s my shield and a place of safety for me!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Understanding</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does God get what I’m going through?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 147:5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YES. Nobody's understanding comes close to His! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Belonging: </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Do I fit in God's Kingdom?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 100:3 "Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture."</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YES. He made me and I belong to Him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Purpose: </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Does God have a purpose for me?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YES. He planned work for me before I was created! </span></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Significance</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Am I significant in God’s eyes?</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Peter 2:5</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YES. I am being built into the temple of God!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">No matter what culture you come from, what ethnic group you belong to, what your age is, or what gender you are, these core longings exist in every human spirit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of us try over and over to get these longings fulfilled through emotional attachments with people. </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But we continue feeling unfulfilled because our spiritual longings cannot be filled by earthy sources, they can only be fulfilled by God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>There are answers in the Word to meet </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>the deepest desires of our souls. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dig into the soil of His word to deepen your knowledge of Him so that He can meet all of the longings of your heart! </span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-61408049362042066592017-10-04T15:13:00.001-06:002017-10-04T15:24:01.148-06:00Word of the Week: Storytime<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iAsiNRdozymTn4gaa0ITIo4VhkjcP1HREOi32rGNKG1vPp7R7TFAZVahvGzPq2x9xJraKFSyvGLUv6xL9MTIJpmY-eR6Rd-msi9_wlkrDT62lMmNgBhLx4ym55aQis96vwAz3YbiNo09/s1600/22219629_1695328593833535_3800401310271985662_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1108" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iAsiNRdozymTn4gaa0ITIo4VhkjcP1HREOi32rGNKG1vPp7R7TFAZVahvGzPq2x9xJraKFSyvGLUv6xL9MTIJpmY-eR6Rd-msi9_wlkrDT62lMmNgBhLx4ym55aQis96vwAz3YbiNo09/s320/22219629_1695328593833535_3800401310271985662_o.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Once upon a time; when time was time”</span><br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-6a6c0583-e91d-0aec-8b57-e848bae93ba5" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A familiar phrase to many Belizeans but I read those words for the first time yesterday in a new book entitled “Belizean Storytime” by Sherlet Neal Lopez.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We’ve lived in Belize for 7 years yet there are many cultural sayings and nuances in language that we have yet to learn. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written in Kriol and English this book is aimed at restoring the art of storytelling in Belize. As a lover of words and stories this book satisfies my heart and brings joy to my soul. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’d heard about the character Anansi but I actually met him yesterday in Miss Sherlet’s book. His great great grandfather's words are still ringing in my ears, “What you do today, you will pay for tomorrow!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mercy, how true is that word of wisdom? It applies itself in so many real life situations. What I eat today shows in my health tomorrow. How I treat someone today shows up in my reputation tomorrow. How I study today shows up in my knowledge of the material tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woven throughout the book are life lessons, some practical, some spiritual, some moral. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DdJ4TgjOaEes9_SNvAQhxDQy-3RV3sgFCV6bQ8KjskoSP5ekEyiuTrhjXPyWV2pgTswV24JpiiMZYAke_kBHAFlvLBDDGfcDdpw5E0VdVkooWwdnQyEBuyNeT7wm6wAPtQpvY7iKxvlz/s1600/22181248_1694405373925857_7353263344332437028_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DdJ4TgjOaEes9_SNvAQhxDQy-3RV3sgFCV6bQ8KjskoSP5ekEyiuTrhjXPyWV2pgTswV24JpiiMZYAke_kBHAFlvLBDDGfcDdpw5E0VdVkooWwdnQyEBuyNeT7wm6wAPtQpvY7iKxvlz/s400/22181248_1694405373925857_7353263344332437028_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I went to bed last night the last thing on my mind was the story about Anansi going to church just to get free food. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How often do we go to church to ‘get’ and not to ‘give’? He went through the motions just because he was hungry. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We go to a church service or a prayer meeting to get a breakthrough, or maybe because we seek relief from physical or emotional pain, or need help with our financial difficulties. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when was the last time we went just to give God praise? To serve in a way that points others toward Him? Or to be a blessing to someone else in need?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isn’t it amazing when a powerful spiritual insight smacks you on the head in the form of a short story?!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I read an article the other day that said the average person spends 19 minutes a day reading. I was shocked! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seems like half of my childhood summers were spent in the top of a tree reading Little House on the Prairie.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thirty years ago on bedrest with my oldest child I read and re-read the Chronicles of Narnia.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now each night the last thing I do before going to sleep is to read a chapter or two of the latest book I’ve downloaded onto my Kindle. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need writers that will provoke us to read again.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp7GFitAgnmwS4YrOvEVHhW9IaBnyalNMDskvtpC0Ji-MYg8aI5gq1nEWC0svTGxVymMjyo7h2_F4R8Ftu7yVPY_0a2cFgN-BTpZp6Z_yHuP2yUJKGCUHz8XFJLGmCzKeuuW3GSkxJY6A/s1600/22254841_1695328513833543_2472442037327699021_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp7GFitAgnmwS4YrOvEVHhW9IaBnyalNMDskvtpC0Ji-MYg8aI5gq1nEWC0svTGxVymMjyo7h2_F4R8Ftu7yVPY_0a2cFgN-BTpZp6Z_yHuP2yUJKGCUHz8XFJLGmCzKeuuW3GSkxJY6A/s400/22254841_1695328513833543_2472442037327699021_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belize is fortunate to have an author who has risen to the challenge to put pen to paper in order to provide stories able to inspire a nation to read. I’m so grateful to have been present at Sherlet’s book launch today. And I hope you’ll be on the lookout for your copy of Belizean Storytime! </span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-29918183205137870562017-10-01T17:50:00.000-06:002017-10-01T21:14:18.813-06:00Love Where God Lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqfcg95pps4Ft02M019u3DZaUxAoETWwShiPewBH0_V6xPnDUCQNyzpV-JpVy54antn2yeAd_emnjkU9QcEw4ok2FsYLz2vumYtQjxsaOkwBxSmLsHNUz6n4xmSW0SR_ZQDM4pDVn0Bb-/s1600/Stay+Strongand+Free+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqfcg95pps4Ft02M019u3DZaUxAoETWwShiPewBH0_V6xPnDUCQNyzpV-JpVy54antn2yeAd_emnjkU9QcEw4ok2FsYLz2vumYtQjxsaOkwBxSmLsHNUz6n4xmSW0SR_ZQDM4pDVn0Bb-/s400/Stay+Strongand+Free+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, I love the house where you live, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the place where your glory dwells.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 26:8 NIV</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where does God live? As a believer He lives in you! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The church is not a building. The church is His people. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Embrace and love the places where His glory lives. Allow the Holy Spirit to have room in your heart. Let Him take over your life. You won’t regret a life lived wholeheartedly for Him.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live with intention.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live with vigilance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live with hope.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live with peace.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live with the knowledge that He lives in you!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent years wondering if I looked good enough, if I was smart enough, and if I was strong enough to serve Him. Years wasted being fearful, aimless, and filled with doubt.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didn’t see myself the way God sees me. I knew He loved me but I didn’t always love me. So I questioned His love for me because I couldn’t see my own worth.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grew up in the era where we sang hymns about being lowly and was taught not to think too highly of myself.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I was studying Psalms earlier this year I saw this passage and it finally clicked that the house where God dwells is me!</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I need to love how God designed me and utilize each one of the gifts and talents He gave me, all for His glory.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He equips His house, He fills His house, and He makes His house a home. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is my deep desire for myself and for you! Let God move into His house full time. Not just on Sundays, not just when you feel good, but each and everyday! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And remember He is not just in you but He is in your brothers and sisters in Christ. Respect and love them too! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Value them as you value yourself in God. "Why gaze with envy at the mountain where God chooses to live," like it says in Psalms 68:16. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Encourage those living for Him. Champion them instead of comparing, competing, or criticizing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May this be our prayer:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Precious Yahweh,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May we remember that we are Your dwelling place. We are Your sanctuary. You live in our praises. You make a home in our hearts. Our bodies are not our own but they are temples dedicated to reflecting Your glory. We trust You to equip us and empower us to serve You. May we begin today to live lives that are worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus. May we live to honor You. And may we love the house where Your glory dwells!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-25086420418287932902017-09-27T17:10:00.000-06:002017-09-27T17:10:02.627-06:00Word of the Week: Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmZG2xYZoMcICxzymjdHHpt5QYCDRcaepx2YJ3hEQV3Lrh78aPHLpYAHxt5Ws3qDgzU1Y2OX9V4fXX-PoKrQVNh1HM1CclYEVBVjN5wvevlaSGtZ5IXCW9z6fSLjzROlNd2aqrxXr1GF9/s1600/russian+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmZG2xYZoMcICxzymjdHHpt5QYCDRcaepx2YJ3hEQV3Lrh78aPHLpYAHxt5Ws3qDgzU1Y2OX9V4fXX-PoKrQVNh1HM1CclYEVBVjN5wvevlaSGtZ5IXCW9z6fSLjzROlNd2aqrxXr1GF9/s1600/russian+bus.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were going the wrong way but we didn’t know it yet. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f098c3b0-c566-5301-d190-7630ad38e60b" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What began as a shopping trip ended with an angelic intervention.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or at least that’s my explanation of our afternoon ride.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A detailed map of the Krasnodar, Russia public transportation system was of no help to us as our eyes alternated between looking at the map and looking out the windows. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Silently praying that a familiar landmark would show us that we were on the right track; my thoughts drifted.</i></b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back home in California we would go for drives on the freeways. If we missed an exit I would tell my little ones that we were on an adventure. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Years ago that was my way of keeping my kids and myself calm as I retraced our path to get back on track. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As they grew older ‘adventure’ became a code word for being lost. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I was just about to admit to Spencer that we were lost.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few gentle taps my shoulder made me look up from the map. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Excuse me.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Glancing his direction I noticed an outstretched hand gesturing to the map. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pass it to him. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked it over, then looked up at me, “where are you going?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The bus terminal near Turgeneva and Gagarina” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nodding once while politely handing back the map, “You must get off the bus right now, go back 2 blocks and wait for the number 6 bus going the other way.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly, the bus came to a halt.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A woman’s voice cried out that we needed to go across to the other side of the street. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time appeared to stand still as they debated. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, repeating the instructions as I understood them the entire bus, it seemed, yelled out their agreement.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In tandem we jumped up, gathered our belongings, thanked everyone, and exited the bus. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Racing across the street in silence, carefully counting each block, we arrived just in time to catch the correct bus. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once Spencer and I had a chance to catch our breath we looked at one another to check our reality.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My eyes were glazed over and my heart was still racing. “They were all speaking Russian, right?” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yeah, but, I understood it in English.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grateful that my teenager heard what I heard I exhaled and acknowledge with relief, “Me too.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We made it home safely within a half hour but that miraculous moment has remained with me to this day</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’d been in Russia a few weeks at that point. We had no knowledge of numbers or directions. And yet, as we listened to a language we didn’t fully understand, the Holy Spirit translated those words as they hit our ears.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful that God’s power is not limited by language. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I reflect on this memory it serves as a reminder that He’s still there. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How has He been there for you? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write down those moments and give God praise for His unfailing love that reaches every corner of the world!</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-5726574914979548622017-09-24T09:15:00.000-06:002017-09-24T09:17:16.733-06:00She Said What? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrmY8QapQH0KzGeuLntTjb0x7x3Hu-1jMT8zXZYCfBe_fDmwW5rgvg1lvCeSYt8G1gWvoMy7Z2iyVOO3n-AGAF_nlpDstDDKxGgIR39-VG8aNQ7PREajGzyn-MxxT2nYo9LT2VMye8bfI/s1600/Life+Uncommon+%252818+of+27%2529_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="884" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrmY8QapQH0KzGeuLntTjb0x7x3Hu-1jMT8zXZYCfBe_fDmwW5rgvg1lvCeSYt8G1gWvoMy7Z2iyVOO3n-AGAF_nlpDstDDKxGgIR39-VG8aNQ7PREajGzyn-MxxT2nYo9LT2VMye8bfI/s320/Life+Uncommon+%252818+of+27%2529_edit.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up, down, and back up again go her eyes, forming judgement within seconds. I hear a pop of air as she sucks her teeth, finally looking me in the eyes declaring, “I thought you were taller.” </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-fd15d6d1-b45b-42ea-e7e7-58c87e252fbb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I wish I was!” I call out as I keep on shopping. I thought of a smartass reply but decided not to go there. I remember my friend Sadie telling me to keep it ‘light and polite’ in such situations. </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Normally, I value critical words especially after a performance or when someone has read something I’ve written. I want to learn and grow so I try to process each situation and see if there is truth to what was said. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, that encounter left me bewildered. And instead of tears I left the supermarket laughing. Um, yeah, I’m short! You may have seen me with heels on. You may have seen me on tv sitting in a tall chair. Sorry that my 5’ 2 ½’’ frame left you disappointed. You’ll have to hand that complaint over to God because there is absolutely nothing I can do about it!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you were to tell me that my phrasing in a song could have been better, or my clothes were a distraction, or what I said was hurtful, I could ponder those things and make a change.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How often do we speak to others in critical tones over things that they have no control over? I ask myself if I’ve done this...I’m sure even in this area I come up short.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contemplating how rude her words sounded I could get offended. She may not have meant it to be offensive. But, her tone definitely had an air of shock and disappointment to it. And her actions indicated judgement. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Facebook we see people passionately degrading and dehumanizing someone with just a few keystrokes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>It’s not in the Bible but it’s etched in my mind as a proverb. “If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all!”</b></span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rarely do people keep their opinions to themselves these days. Social media makes us all feel like we have to weigh in. Whether the issue is inconsequential or a story that impacts a nation, everyone wants to weigh in. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, where has all the kindness gone? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are we communicating with one another or are we comparing, competing, and condemning?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Thoughtless words can hurt as much as words spoken in anger. </b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wonder how many times someone thought I was being rude. At my age I can look back on situations from years gone by and evaluate how I could have better handled the awkward or tense moments I’ve faced along the way.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I head off to church this morning I have Proverbs 16:24 in mind:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lobster"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lobster"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray that my words will be a blessing to someone’s soul as I strive to greet people with kindness instead of condemnation. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-5789203001453982072017-09-21T15:36:00.000-06:002017-09-23T16:19:10.103-06:00Word for the Week: Celebrate!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGSYo1GFTDeK8LekWif4oWCQaZvYhnKoY19BnwP65TytPx4WdohA9CinKGroJl_KF0CaHv7nVtAOtcdN8K-KGHEofmXheXIE_r7TnoKILSCbWhhIX2C6dWf8YAlHkJLbmkBJtFA2MBGdO/s1600/21930881_10155765359869187_87255734_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGSYo1GFTDeK8LekWif4oWCQaZvYhnKoY19BnwP65TytPx4WdohA9CinKGroJl_KF0CaHv7nVtAOtcdN8K-KGHEofmXheXIE_r7TnoKILSCbWhhIX2C6dWf8YAlHkJLbmkBJtFA2MBGdO/s400/21930881_10155765359869187_87255734_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can never see the sunrise </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by looking toward the west. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Japanese Proverb</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4c59786d-a647-57f9-a1b2-781f64575155" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With all that is happening in the world it may be difficult to find reasons to celebrate. We need the sunrise to remind us of hope. And it is hope that gives us a reason to rejoice. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belize received its independence on September 21, 1981. However, the celebrations and decorations begin as soon as the calendar changes from August to September.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seven years ago we arrived in Belize on September 6th to witness the country of Belize already decked out and decorated in red, white, and blue in anticipation of the holidays to come. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have been present for Independence Day in several different countries. And the one thing that is uniquely Belizean from my perspective is that Belize doesn’t wait until the day of celebration to start celebrating. And it made me think that we shouldn’t wait for a reason to celebrate either!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why celebrate?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of LIFE:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life is short. Each breath, each moment, and each heartbeat is a cause for celebration!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone will experience ups and downs in life but </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the more you praise, give thanks, and rejoice in spite of your circumstances the more you will find to praise, give thanks, and rejoice over!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Word</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> gave </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>life</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to everything that was created, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>His life brought light</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:4</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This life is filled with enough Light for everyone.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But, if you’re not looking for it you will miss out! The sun rises in the east not the west. Turn your head the other direction and look to Him for reasons to celebrate the life you are living in this moment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Ponder the path of your feet. Are they leading you toward or away from the Light? It’s never too late to turn around and run the other way and begin to celebrate life.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why celebrate?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of LOVE</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love is priceless. If you find it embrace it, cherish it, nurture it. Never take love for granted. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Loneliness can be a deadly disease but those who are blessed with loving relationships can survive the harshest of conditions.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four years ago on September 21st our son married the love of his life and we gained a daughter-in-love. We celebrate their love because it brings joy to our hearts to see two souls in love with God and in love with each other. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our family has expanded to include a granddaughter and we rejoice each time we see her face or hear her laughter. There is hope, life, joy, and a sense that all is right with the world knitted within the laughter of of a child. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Who are the loved ones who bring a smile to your lips and joy to your heart? Give God thanks for them right now. Hand write them a letter or speak the words face to face.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Living in another country away from our extended family is hard at times. We’ve missed out on many special occasions large and small over the past 12 years of missionary life. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I get older I realize that my family in the states has gotten older as well. Tom and I made it a point to express our love and appreciation verbally to my 98 year old grandmother last October. The three of us cried together and spoke words normally reserved for a funeral. I’m grateful that Tom got the ball rolling on that conversation. It is a priceless moment to think back on and cherish.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why celebrate?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of CHRIST!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Hebrews there is a passage that speaks to me as a reason for celebration and gives a picture of a great celebration to come. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 12:1-3 says,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a great crowd of witnesses cheering us on! We can endure to the end no matter how long our race is. Christ is our example as He endured the shame and pain of the cross to redeem us from sin. Each time I wonder, “why celebrate?” God whispers in my heart, “what about Me?”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray that you will hear His whispers of the heart and look to Him for a reason to rejoice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a list each day of one reason to be grateful for life, one reason to be grateful for love, and one reason to be grateful for Christ in your life. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Begin today to truly value and celebrate life, love, and our Eternal Source of Hope, Jesus Christ! </span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-55796781701342632912017-09-17T00:58:00.000-06:002017-09-17T01:03:47.460-06:00Do You, Boo!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp10B2I8dAMb09r9glX8hdzcVWNrKn0rNNBkz2Q-JCh9VLdCIEvZIwMxJPFVj7PW_KIp-4l2XSpnm4dPeshF95HiYUaVCnssOx8SkFQ5QFIw6VRDE9cGFeJ-00hSB8-av73IoQD6JZBpyj/s1600/DSC_2561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp10B2I8dAMb09r9glX8hdzcVWNrKn0rNNBkz2Q-JCh9VLdCIEvZIwMxJPFVj7PW_KIp-4l2XSpnm4dPeshF95HiYUaVCnssOx8SkFQ5QFIw6VRDE9cGFeJ-00hSB8-av73IoQD6JZBpyj/s400/DSC_2561.jpeg" width="253" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You do you, Boo!” such earthly wisdom from reality stars like NeNe Leakes may cause you to fall short of glorifying the King of Kings. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-df8b900d-8cc9-337f-9957-de8450a1f307" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t get me wrong, I’ve watched my share of the Real Housewives of Atlanta in the past and NeNe was my reason for watching! She does her in a big bold way at all times and in all situations.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>However, I’ve discovered that a constant focus on ‘doing me’ can be toxic to my spiritual life. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s important to be authentic. We are wonderfully made. As children of God we are living stones being built into a spiritual house. In view of eternity, knowing Whose I am should lead me to being all that I am for Him and not for my own glory. Does that make sense?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our behaviors are tied to our beliefs. Much like how the fruit on a tree is connected to the earth by its roots. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>The fruit has a root.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If ‘doing you’ leads to ignoring Him Monday through Saturday then what does that say about your relationship with God?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If ‘doing you’ leads to damaging your marriage then what does that say about your commitment to your vows?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What root does your fruit come from? It’s important to dig out all the unhealthy roots that lead to harmful behavior.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Dr. Dan Allender says in Cry of the Soul, “We are not machines that can be repaired through a series of steps--we are relational beings who are transformed by the mystery of relationship.”</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our roots have been affected by the relationships we have and their fruit will show the results of those seeds that were planted in us. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are times when my thought life reveals negativity I thought that I had long let go of. I’ve struggled with envy, I’ve struggled with feeling left out, I’ve struggled with trying to be heard. I looked to the wrong people in the wrong places to get emotional and spiritual needs met. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My roots must be tended to by my Creator. Only His gentle hand can bring about the healing I so desperately need and desire. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>All efforts to find “me”, so I can fully be the me HE crafted, are in vain if those efforts don’t include Him.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I must give Him those moments from years gone by as they come to mind.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I kneel before Him handing over the memory of getting caught bad-mouthing a friend. I place feelings of humiliation and shame at His feet that once overwhelmed my teenage soul that hot Kansas afternoon when my callous words came to light.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>I cry out to the heavens confessing that the opinions of others have carried too much weight in my heart and I can no longer bear the burden. Realizing in that moment that although my body is 54 my brain remained frozen in time at age 14.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I confess that there are more roots of mine that have been damaged in relationships but I can only handle bringing them to Him one at a time. The pain of healing is worth it but I can only bear so much in one sitting. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As old wounds get reopened, cleansed, and stitched back together with love, mercy, and grace, I relax. A peace shaped smile begins to form in my heart. And the sensation of His tender Hands mending my soul brings that smile forth to my lips. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Wholeness in Christ reveals the right sense of self. A self that is worthy of revealing to the world. Because the highest self we can attain, is one that points others to Him!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are there some roots you must attend to in order to live a life that glorifies Him? Take pen and paper in hand, kneel at His feet, and give them over to His care. And in that manner, continue to shine, and “You do you, Boo!”</span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-4614562838314901932017-09-13T17:09:00.000-06:002017-09-13T17:09:12.348-06:00Wednesday's Word: Unnoticed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life in a small town doesn’t allow for anonymity. When I step out of my home there will be at least one person who hails me by name. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the post office I hear, “Mawnin, Mrs Sharp!” At the market someone yells, “Hi, Miss Alida!” Even those who cannot remember my name want to make a connection. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 21.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Aren’t you Tom’s wife?”</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “You’re the lady who works with Miss Diana.” “You’re the one on </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;">TV</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with Ms Andrea!” </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqAjoUZbbA-0mThGjDJlJGw-vZC87ipuVk6x5bdDttgJ_KBgFjlWS-CG9xZ5uuC9J_E90YIoxDBM6TGMj54GFqMcAMy5lAfgvZraZqEnN-rgMu7qtcc0ADK8ibEEdFPTxEll2iBlPrQdo/s1600/21762658_1675096139190114_4155233645049839904_o+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="983" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqAjoUZbbA-0mThGjDJlJGw-vZC87ipuVk6x5bdDttgJ_KBgFjlWS-CG9xZ5uuC9J_E90YIoxDBM6TGMj54GFqMcAMy5lAfgvZraZqEnN-rgMu7qtcc0ADK8ibEEdFPTxEll2iBlPrQdo/s640/21762658_1675096139190114_4155233645049839904_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I simply cannot go unnoticed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bible passage that’s been on my heart is from Luke. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s the story of a woman who </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">tried to go unnoticed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 8:43-48 says,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.</b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Who touched me?”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Jesus said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.</b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then he said to her, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”</span></b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Desperate for healing, yet avoiding a face to face encounter with Christ, she stealthily maneuvered through the horde of people to sneak up behind Jesus. Reaching out her hand with the only asset she had left, faith, she touched the edge of His clothing. Instantaneously healing came.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One touch ended 12 years of suffering, 12 years of spending all that she had, 12 years of not being clean in the eyes of her culture. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From bankrupt to blessed in a solitary moment!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s interesting to me that she tried to hide from Jesus. Even more interesting is that He called her out.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Who touched me?</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> No one came forward. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter points out to Jesus that there is a large crowd. But that didn’t matter. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>He knew that someone had touched Him. And He knew that person was trying to hide.</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we just want relief from our pain. Sometimes we just want results.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Christ wants relationship.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are made whole through relationship. She had to come forward. She had to get right with Him.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trembling with fear she came out of her hiding place within the crowd. Flinging herself at the feet of Jesus she confessed what she had done. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After she acknowledged what had taken place God lovingly and compassionately restored her dignity by commending her faith and releasing her from the presence of the onlookers to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Go in peace”.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a result of her choice to get right with God, not only was she blessed with healing, she was also blessed with peace. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Right standing with God brings us a peace that passes understanding.</b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To have peace is have tranquility. Wholeness. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we willingly surrender, confess, and testify at the feet of Christ He completes our healing with wholeness. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I confess that I am like this woman. I just want God to answer my prayer so I can go on my way.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I confess that I have valued results over relationship.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I confess that there have been times when I didn’t want to testify publicly about what God taught me through my brokenness, healing, and restoration. I didn’t want to acknowledge my imperfections so I kept quiet. And then felt remorse on the drive home. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>God, sometimes gently, sometimes loudly, sometimes in front of a crowd, calls us into relationship with Him in order for us to experience the abundant life He came to give us.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He sees you.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is calling out to you.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is waiting for you to come into a face to face relationship with him.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wants to bless you with peace.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wants to make you whole.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you hiding from God? Has He called you out?</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You, my friend, cannot go unnoticed!</span><br />
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-50128773415559940032017-09-10T10:44:00.000-06:002017-09-10T10:46:22.069-06:00A Call To Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgS6m3yjf9QgeT-fV2761OeJSKr0DAEfOgZ8sXkG-8au1h85nkKe44ftkCAH3PSg0uFZ4fR-FVW2mLCrsQSdJaqKtwGW3GzISMHR_E_i8VSBRYMBOQ7KF0Lr2fRF7-iSX9mmFJDGZtAGe/s1600/A+Call+to+Prayer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgS6m3yjf9QgeT-fV2761OeJSKr0DAEfOgZ8sXkG-8au1h85nkKe44ftkCAH3PSg0uFZ4fR-FVW2mLCrsQSdJaqKtwGW3GzISMHR_E_i8VSBRYMBOQ7KF0Lr2fRF7-iSX9mmFJDGZtAGe/s320/A+Call+to+Prayer.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily the headlines are filled with so many reasons to pray. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, exploitation, corruption, death, destruction.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>No matter where we are located around the world, there is a pressing concern for all who live in those areas.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are times when my brain acts like a jukebox flipping through a catalog of songs. It settled on this oldie from my childhood:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>In times like these you need a Savior,</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>In times like these you need an anchor;</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Be very sure, be very sure,</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope in Christ is a solid anchor when life is unbearable and tragedy inevitable.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking around breeds despair over our current situation, looking down keeps us chained to the anxiety growing in our hearts, but looking up anchors our souls to heaven.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scanning world news late last night I found that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo nine out of ten villages have been burnt down in attacks and hundreds of children have been separated from their families or witnessed their murders.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I read that Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc in the Caribbean. Damaging or destroying an estimated 90 percent of the structures on the island of Barbuda, home to about 1,400 people. And tragically a 2-year-old child was swept to his death after the storm ripped the roof off the family's house.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An update from Mexico revealed the death toll from the 8.1-magnitude earthquake has risen to 65. Thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A report claims that around 16 million children are in need of support due to the torrential monsoon rains and catastrophic flooding in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was reminded that thousands of desperate migrants are being held in horrific conditions in detention centers across Libya where they are subject to torture, rape, starvation and killing.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Syria, warring parties continue to perpetrate crimes against civilians, including the use of chemical weapons. Syrian people, including children, remain the primary victims of violence.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>How can we pray in times like these?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My heart goes out to women and children around the world who are in need of hope, help, and reassurance from those who can be Christ in the flesh for them.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Lord God Almighty, Ruler of heaven and earth. We seek Your face in this moment.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are grateful for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shine forth into the darkness so that we might find our way to You.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Help our hearts to be softened and impacted by the cares and concerns of others.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Help us not to sit idly by and just watch while others suffer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Awaken our spirits to the needs of those who are hopeless, helpless, and hurting all throughout the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let our hearts be broken by the things which break Yours. Lord, I am reminded of the prayer of Saint Francis and like him also cry out to You with these words;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is hatred, I may bring love.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is discord, I may bring harmony.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is error, I may bring truth.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is despair, I may bring hope.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there are shadows, I may bring light.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>To understand, than to be understood.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>To love, than to be loved.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.”</i></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Father in Heaven, may our anchors reach upward to grip the solid Rock.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May we exalt Your name each and every day of our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>May we each do our part to comfort those in our part of the world. For the children, for each other, and for the glory of the Lord.</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>~If you have a prayer request or would like to offer a prayer kindly leave it in the comments.</i></span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2398114108058646301.post-33481308892042155762017-09-06T18:53:00.001-06:002017-09-06T18:53:58.170-06:00Wednesday's Word: Envy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A heart at peace gives life to the body,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but envy rots the bones.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 14:30</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFHa0duVT1l0QrjZofcnzSw__9rRIeGSFGkiukHAqqWh6vtH01RC_X6aNCQm1xihUJiw4mSvBjjGl9p7hSIaXjcHoIZwmxXQVOog3RtMMI_dPrGVDBCY9qAj2SkxZD11NQYlQ2dL0LOcd/s1600/a+heart+at+peace+gives+life+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="810" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFHa0duVT1l0QrjZofcnzSw__9rRIeGSFGkiukHAqqWh6vtH01RC_X6aNCQm1xihUJiw4mSvBjjGl9p7hSIaXjcHoIZwmxXQVOog3RtMMI_dPrGVDBCY9qAj2SkxZD11NQYlQ2dL0LOcd/s400/a+heart+at+peace+gives+life+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-ab3f8fbd-59a1-e319-ba97-47e1da96561a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a visual person means that I take a risk each time I do a bit of research online. The images that pop up stay with me long after I’ve viewed them. I wanted to learn about what causes bone to rot. I saw a few pictures I’d like to forget. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I read about an infection in the bones that is caused by an open wound. I read about how poor blood supply can cause death to the bones. That’s what envy does to our spiritual bones. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 30pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">E</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nvy: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the feeling of discontent and ill will brought about by another person’s advantages, possessions, or a resentful dislike of another person who has something that you desire.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I used to think that envy and jealousy were the same thing but there is a difference between the two.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 30pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ealousy:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the feeling of anger or bitterness that someone has when they think that another person is trying to take someone or something away from them.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jealousy is when you think someone is trying to take someone away from you but envy is when you want something someone else has.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have to confess that I struggle with envy. Social media fuels the fire for me. I see a photo or read a post and I wonder "why not me?" "Why do they get to do that, have that, go there?" and the questions in my head rage on and on. I block out the life that God has for me when I feel sorry for myself or complain about my circumstances in life. But, envy is not a circumstance problem. Envy is an attitude problem. And even more serious, envy is a sin problem. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>It’s not the feeling of envy that is a sin. It’s the action of continually begrudging what someone else does or wanting what they have that makes it a sin.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I recover from envy I have found that there are some things that are very helpful in moving me away from being caught up in envy and moving toward spiritual health. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Begin by <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=captive+thought&qs_version=NIV">taking every thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. </a></b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Identify the open wound.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find someone to talk to about what is causing you to feel so envious. Is it one specific person? Is it something that you’ve always wanted to do? Pray about the root of the problem and let the Holy Spirit work in you to clean the wound so it can heal.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Identify the source of poor blood supply. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you afraid that God has a limited number of blessings and that there is not enough to go around? God only has your name on the blessings that are for you! If you obsess over what someone else has you will miss out on the treasure that God wants to pour out over your life. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find the Source of Peace.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rest in God’s arms. A heart at peace gives life. Jesus said, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t have to be troubled or live with the fear of missing out. God has provided peace for us. God’s storehouse of blessings will never run out for His children. Trust Him to provide for you. He never fails! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you cope with envy? Let me know in the comments! </span></div>
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Alida Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640849066159985893noreply@blogger.com0