Category Archives: Christ

DEAR GOD: You Are My Maestro In Life~

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Colossians 3:23 (NIV)-

  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

The Maestro of my life is the Creator Himself! 

The ivory and ebony keys sit waiting for hands to bring it to life. Without hands to tickle the ivory keys it doesn’t to anything but sit and wait. It sits in dead silence…

So too we wait as the keys do.  We wait to come to LIFE. Just as the keys for the hands of the LORD bring us to LIFE. For it is the LORD who is the Creator of all things. We sit and wait, until His hands of grace bring all creation to LIFE.

He is the Maestro for my symphony that plays in my heart and soul which is created only by the LORD. It is He alone who brings me to LIFE.  He brings all to LIFE!

When we do all things, anything at all- we need to do it for the LORD. Not humans…but GOD!  He alone is the reason for all things. He is the reason for the piano itself!

Colossians 3:24 –Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

The rewards and promises that come from knowing the LORD and His Word and His love are beyond all human comprehension but suffice to say – it is a worthwhile way of LIFE. But then again there is NO LIFE without Him. AND for me- He is my LIFE. He is my delight and joy!

Psalms 37:4 (KJV) – Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

The LORD is my joy, and it is my desire to please Him and all that He is. When we do all things for Him and seek Him – He will bring you the desires of your heart. He is faithful, He is precious, and His hands of grace are unlimited in extending it to His children who follow Him.

Do you do all things for the LORD? Do you realize He is the Maestro of Your life, and only through Him do you come to LIFE?

“LORD, thank You for being the Maestro over my LIFE, and bringing me to LIFE with Your hands of grace, I am at Your service, and at Your feet in worship, may I do all I can to honor You with my existence all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

DEAR GOD: How Do We Handle Harsh Words?

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You have always put a wall of protection around him…take away ...

 

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord – Isaiah 54:17 (KJV).

When a friend or loved one tosses harsh words your way it could send a piercing dart through your heart. It might also “anger” you, or stupefy you totally into oblivion, leaving you confused and wondering how someone who supposedly cares for you might say such words!

It can bring an array of emotions that cascade through your being. Although the enemy may be whispering to you, “react, and answer and get angry” – don’t!  Stop and ask for peace of Christ, ask the Spirit to guide you and hold you up. And take comfort in the words of the LORD.  His promises to protect you from those who mean you harm or spill vitriolic sewage your way cannot penetrate their caustic words into your soul.

Isaiah 41:10 -“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

These words are not just mere words as mortals usually espouse. No, in fact this is directly from His mouth to His children. He promises to uphold us in all matters pertaining to our protection and our lives.

Psalm 27:1 -“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

The light of my salvation— whom shall I fear? No one! Is the answer each and every time. I will state that emphatically and without recourse.  Words are just that- words. When words from mortals spew harsh and cruel, remember they’re not from our Father above, and it shouldn’t penetrate our souls. In fact, those who use “verbal attacks” usually aren’t standing in the light. It can come from the “opposite” side of Christ. So, take that into consideration as well.

Psalm 138:7 -“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.”

This verse in particular helped me this very morning as I am facing a situation that came out of left field. I have no clue about where or why this circumstance surfaced in the first place. However, I run to the Bible and the LORD for His protection and His light to overcome the darkness and to replenish my soul with His love. That’s all I need.

Ephesians 6:11-12 -“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

I never leave home with my armor of protection. I never get nervous about anything because I am fully clothed in His Gospel. It requires a great deal of faith, dedication and trust in the LORD at all times in order to “glide” over the bumpy, rocky road of trials and tribulations. Which includes but not limited to harsh words, harsh actions, and the evil in the world overall.

In times of trouble, we can find refuge in God’s protection. This is what we should think of when we hear harsh words.  These verses remind us of His provision and care for us:

  • Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.”
  • Psalm 61:2 “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
  • Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”Psalm 71:3 “Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.”
  • Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”

Has someone or something thrown you a curve today in terms of harshness or seemingly out of nowhere? Is there something troubling you right this moment that has you upset, nervous, angry or sad? Take comfort in His promises and His Word, and in His love, it will reinforce your heart, mind body and soul.

“Father, thank You for Your Words and promises, I answer to You alone, and find refuge in Your love and light, may I always refer to Your Word in all things, and recognize that You are there holding me up through all things, and all circumstances, you are guiding me fully at all times, and my provisions and soul are fulfilled by Your love, Word and promises, in Christ’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are My Rock & All Else~

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My Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer - Psalm 18:2 - A Clay Jar

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
–Psalm 18:1-2

This verse from book of Psalms is powerfully moving. If you take the time to reflect and ponder on the Word, it will change your life considerably for the better. When we see what this means it should immediately bring an enormous comfort to your soul.

The LORD is my Rock! – Yes! He is just that! He is the empirical Rock of all ages. He is the strength for our souls. He is the solid foundation on which we stand.

The LORD is my Fortress! – Yes! He is just that! He is the substantial Ivory Tower of pureness and holiness that protects us from harm. That supports us from harsh elements/individuals.

The LORD is my Deliverer! – Yes! He is just that! He is the deliverer from sin. Our redeemer and our Salvation. He is the One who paid the price for our very souls. He is the One who was victorious over death, and with His blood we are delivered!

The LORD is my Strength! – Yes! He is just that! He is the strength of my being. He is the One who provides and sustains and nourishes me daily. He is the One who offers strength when I am weak, which is when He is the strongest.

 The LORD is the One I trust! – Yes! He is trustworthy! He is the One above all else that I trust with all my heart and soul. He is the only One that never disappoints or lets me down. I trust Him and Him alone.

The LORD is my Buckler! – Yes! He is just that!  He is the One who thwarts evil. He is the One that stands against the adversary. He is the One that shields me at all times.

The LORD is the horn of my salvation! – Yes! He is just that! He is the One that gave me life. That washed me clean as snow. That offers me forgiveness, and eternal life when I am called home one day. He is the LORD. And JESUS is LORD!

The LORD is my high Tower! – Yes! He is just that! He is the Tower of high and fortified structure that provides protection and defense against all of my enemies. He is higher than all the rest. He is highest of high. And He continuously watches over me.

Today, as you stop, pause and reflect on God and His enormous love for you, may I invite you to read this verse. I mean really read it, and embrace the meaning behind it. Understand it. And truly appreciate Him and His love. When we take the time to read and ponder the Word, not just rush through it. But stop and ponder on even “one verse” and what it means to you, in todays times, and how it configures into your life, you will start to grow even more so in the spirit. We can never cease to grow in the Word. And no matter how many times you’ve read it, it is always new. Because God will give you new meaning each time, and you will find something “jumps” out to you as if the very first time seeing it. That is how God operates. That is who He is. And the Word is pregnant. It grows and grows and grows.

Go ahead and see for yourself. And get ready for your roots and spirituality to deepen and grow exponentially.

“Father, thank You for Your Word, and Your love, and Your protection, may I do all according to Your will and purpose for my life, today tomorrow and all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: I Sing to Thee With Love~

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Prayer to God for the Fire of the Holy Spirit by St. Ambrose of Milan ...

“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
–Psalm 59:16 

God is my defense and the Rock of my foundation. He is the quintessential Being in all I see and feel. He is the Creator of the Universe and my very soul. Each morning, I sing with joy for another day, and thank Him explicitly for the gift of a new day. Each night I pray for His peace and protection. But most of all I thank Him.

What do I thank Him for?

I thank Him for His Holy Spirit within me, that guides me in all I do and speak.

I thank Him for His Holy Spirit that prompts me to do what is right and leads me onto the paths of righteousness.

I thank Him for His Holy Spirit that is always with me, and never leaving me or deserting me, ever.

I thank Him for His soothing voice and Holy Spirit that is forever holding me up safely in the rage of ugly vitriolic voices in the world.

I thank Him for giving me the present of His Holy Spirit.

These examples and so much more are what I “Sing” about in the morning and during the day, as I raise my voice and exalt Him, and give Him all the honor and glory.

I realize that with Him I am impervious to “evil” because I am protected by His precious Blood and by the Holy Spirit within me.

Do you give Him thanks daily? Do you realize that the Holy Spirit resides inside of you when you accept Him as Your Lord and Savior? Do you realize that He is with you always?

Today go through the day with the conscious thought and reality that “His Spirit is with You,” and He is guiding you every step of the way.  And then go ahead and give Him a shout of praise and offer Him a thankful heart of love. He died for you! (John 3:16) If that isn’t enough alone to adore Him, then I truly don’t know what more I can possibly say, because His love for us is the biggest and greatest love story ever told!

“Father, may I always realize that Your Spirit is within me, may I mirror Your Light in all I do, may I humbly serve You with all my heart and soul, may I be obedient to Your will and Your doctrine, and may I honor and adore You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Command- I Gladly Listen~

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Seventy Commandments of Jesus - faithworks

There are many verses in the Bible that talk about the importance and benefits of listening to God’s commandments and being blessed. Here are some prime examples in the importance and relevance in listening, obeying and loving the LORD. There are always consequences to one’s behavior. Repercussions that can be devastating to our “soul and salvation” should we cross lines and alter our lifestyle to that which is polar opposite of God and His Word.  So let’s look at the following verses to see some of the components of being in His Word at all times, and why we should stay there!

These verses and others teach us that listening to God’s commandments is a sign of reverence, love, and faithfulness to God, and that it leads to blessings in this life and the next. Herewith is my conclusion that summarizes this idea.

Listening to God’s commandments is more than just hearing His words, it is opening our hearts and minds to His truth and grace. It is a way of honoring Him, loving Him, and serving Him. It is a way of aligning our lives with His purpose and plan. It is a way of receiving His blessings and sharing them with others. Listening to God’s commandments should be the main source of our joy and peace. It should be the very reason we exist; in many ways it is the ONLY reason we exist. We live and breathe because of Him. He gave us LIFE– and Eternal LIFE, when we subscribe to His commandments and His love, it is an obvious choice.

Have you listened to His commandments today? Are you following His Word and precepts and applying it to your life today? His grace and love invite you all to open His book and get acquainted with His Word. But not only is His book “open” so are His “arms.”  So the question is, “what are you waiting for?”

“Father, thank You for Your Word, may I always avail myself to You as Your humble servant, and oblige You in all I do, may I cover myself with Your precepts and apply them to my life and therefore infuse my soul with Your love, which shall sustain me all the days of my life, and beyond, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: Here I am For You Not The World~

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Alleluia to the Lamb by Kim Coleman - YouTube

 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV 

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

 

Go out and separate from them, “says the LORD.” Did you ever take the time to realize what that means? Today in this vastly unstable and impure world, it can apply to almost all we encounter on a daily basis. God is telling us to be an example and set forth on the right path and establish ourselves as followers in all we do and say. Although we are in the world, we are not “of the world” and all it enforces in terms of immorality and salaciousness.

We are to be different and that is not to say, “high and mighty” because NO ONE is. There is only One pure and Mighty One, and that is the LORD.  What we need to do is be on guard, don’t take interest in superficial things or things of ill gotten measures in entertainment or otherwise, but in things of godly nature.

We are not to “repel” and think we are better than others, again we are not. We are to present our light to those we encounter and to represent Christ in all we do, say, think, and feel.

Eventually things that are not godly or pure will be like “poison to your soul” and you will shrink away from it. Things that are foul and unsightly and vulgar, will be like an electric shock to your soul. As we get deeper into a relationship with the LORD and we connect our spirit with His Spirit more intimately, we become less enamored of the world, but more enamored of Him and His ways. It’s a natural transformation.

Today, as you go out and do what you need to do…shine your light, stand up and be a faithful follower and be an example to others of what a Christian is all about.

“Father, may I do all according to Your will today, may I be a humble servant and example of Your light, and may I never stray from Your Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: Thank You For Your Armor~

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Ephesians 6:12-13 -For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The main idea of the passage is that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war against evil forces, and they need to equip themselves with God’s armor to resist and overcome them.

As Christians, we are not fighting against human enemies, but against powerful and wicked spiritual beings that rule over this dark world. That’s why we need to put on all the armor that God provides us, so that we can stand firm and defend ourselves against their attacks.

  • The word “wrestle” implies that the struggle is intense, close, and personal. It also suggests that the enemy is trying to bring us down and make us fall.
  • The phrase “flesh and blood” refers to human beings, who are not the ultimate source of our problems. The real enemies are the spiritual forces behind them, who influence and manipulate them to oppose God and his people.
  • The terms “rulers”, “authorities”, “powers”, and “spiritual forces of evil” describe different levels and aspects of the demonic hierarchy that operates in the heavenly realms, which are the invisible dimensions of reality where spiritual beings exist.
  • The expression “the full armor of God” refers to the various pieces of equipment that God gives us to protect and empower us in the spiritual war. They are explained in more detail in the following verses (Ephesians 6:14-18)
  • The phrase “the evil day” refers to the time of crisis and temptation that we may face in our lives, when the enemy tries to harm us and make us lose our faith. It could also point to the final day of judgment, when the enemy will be defeated once and for all.
  • The word “stand” is repeated three times in the passage, emphasizing the need to remain steadfast and unshakable in our faith and obedience to God. It also implies that we are not called to attack or advance, but to resist and endure.

Are you fully equipped and armed with the Gospel when you leave your home?  And also while in it? There isn’t anywhere you should be without your full armor on!

“Dear LORD, thank You for Your Word as my protector, my defender, and my iron impenetrable suit of defense, may I always wear it into every battle, and may I wear it in goodness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: Life With You Is—LIFE~

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Being alive in Christ is the only way to LIVE.  Without Christ, there is no LIFE.  He is the life, the way and the truth (John 14:6). Jesus Christ, Son of God – is our Mediator and our High Priest, and our Savior.  He is our Rock and our Redeemer. He is the quintessential unblemished Lamb of God who took away our sins. Our salvation is solidly in place because of His willingly going to the cross for us. Taking on our sin, corruption, and ugliness of the whole world.

He is my LIFE and I LIVE for HIM!

Below are some reminders for you to read and expand your love and growth in Christ, through His Word and His commandments.

  • Ephesians 2:4-10: This passage tells us that God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins, and that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. It also says that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he prepared for us.
  • Romans 6:11-14: This passage urges us to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus, and to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies. It also reminds us that sin is no longer our master, because we are under grace, not the law.
  • Romans 8:10-11: This passage explains that if Christ is in us, our body is dead because of sin, but our spirit is alive because of righteousness. It also promises that the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies.

These are just some of the many verses that show how we are alive right this moment, only because of Christ.  If you want to learn more, you can read the whole chapters of Ephesians 2, Romans 6, and Romans 8 where you can get a full in-depth study and semblance of understanding in Christ and His doctrine.

When you take the time to get to know Christ you will be transformed into a whole new chapter of your life. It will be a fulfilling and gradual growth in spirit and reflective in all you do on a daily basis. Interactions with others will be easier and life in and of itself will be simpler to navigate.

Do you believe in Christ?  Have you accepted Him as Your LORD and Savior?  Do you know He died for you/us?

Please open your heart and let Him in-it’s the best thing you will ever have done in your life. And it will make your LIFE a life worth LIVING!

“Father, thank You for Your Son, my LORD and Savior, I know I am alive only because of Him, I know that He paid the price for me, a sinner, and I know that He is never going to leave me and never will turn from me, no matter what, thank You for Your love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: I Will Always Follow Your Doctrine~

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Doctrine - Living Hope Bible Church

The book of Galatians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia. In this letter, Paul addresses the issue of false teachings that had infiltrated the church. The false teachings were coming from a group of people known as Judaizers, who were trying to convince the Galatians that they needed to follow Jewish customs and laws in order to be saved. Paul refutes this idea and emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

In Galatians 1:6-10, Paul expresses his concern that the Galatians are abandoning Jesus’ grace and turning to a different gospel – a false gospel. He doesn’t mince words when it comes to Judaizers coming in and undermining the work he has done in Galatia. Paul feels so strongly about the good news that has been preached to the Galatians that he calls down a curse upon anyone who would dare to proffer an alternative gospel.

In Galatians 2:4, Paul talks about false brothers who had come in under false pretenses to spy on their freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave them. Paul emphasizes that there is no room for a gospel that strays from the grace of Christ.

This warning still applies to this very day in time. Those that are following another gospel are in danger of losing their salvation bought and paid for by Jesus Christ. They are tampering with their existence and eternal life. The good news is it’s never too late. When we accept and willingly follow Jesus and His doctrine, and commandments we are fulfilling our roles as Christians. We are inherently moving onto a path of righteousness that is a gift from above (James 1:17) and we are acknowledging Him as our LORD and Savior.

Jesus is the way to LIFE.

Jesus is the way to FREEDOM.

Jesus is the way to SALVATION.

JESUS is the way for EVERYTHING.

Do you follow Jesus? When you do things will become easier to navigate as He will guide you through it all, both good and bad times.

Galatians 2:16: “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

Galatians 3:10-11: “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”

Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:4-6: “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

The above verses show that Paul was adamant that the Galatians should not be deceived by the false teachers who were trying to impose the law on them. He wanted them to understand that they were saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, and that nothing else mattered.

Remember Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 saying to preach His gospel and “… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Gospel Christ tells us to teach is His- none other! And ignoring His commandments can prove detrimental to your soul.

Obeying it and following Him and accepting Him as your LORD and Savior, quite the contrary.

Your blessings will overflow, and your soul will not be in danger of the second death–no–instead it will live forever!

“Father, thank You for Your Word and Your promises, may I do all to promote Your Word, in my actions, thoughts, behavior, and heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: Great Is Thy Faithfulness~

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24: Experiencing God’s Faithfulness - Linda Breitman

2 Thessalonians 3:3: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

This verse reminds us that God is always faithful to his people, even when they face trials and temptations. He will strengthen them and protect them from the enemy’s schemes. When we realize the scope and depth of His love for us -His children, we can literally become overwhelmed by how spectacular He really is.

He brings us through all things and guides us in every scenario of our lives. When we follow Him and read His Word, we see a consistency of true love and a platitude of peace and wisdom will cover us from above.

There isn’t anything that we are going through that hasn’t happened in some way or form to another, and He will never give us more than we can handle, and always—I mean ALWAYS bring us through it and show us a way out. That is our Amazing faithful God!

Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

This verse expresses the hope and gratitude of the prophet Jeremiah, who witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. He acknowledges that God’s love and mercy are constant and renewed every day, and that his faithfulness is great even in the midst of suffering. His mercy and tenderness towards us is everlasting and He doesn’t push us away. We on the other hand might push Him away, but He will never go far. He is always right close by waiting for us to “call out to Him” trusting Him in all we do and say. He is never far away. He is close to us and holds us up during trials, and our tears, and celebrates with us during good times. That is our amazing and faithful God!

With each day in front of us – we should acknowledge Him in all we do, give thanks in everything we do, and love Him with each breath we take. He is the reason we are still breathing this very moment. He is the reason for our blessings. He is the reason for the big and small moments in life. And most important, His promises and grace are forever, and our rewards will be plentiful in the eternity when we are called home.  If, we align with His Word, His will, His commandments, and His timing.

Have you read His Word today? Have you acknowledged Him, and just pushed away from the world to say, “Thank You Father, for all You are, and all You continue to be, I adore You, need You, want to please You, surrender to Your will and purpose for my life, I love You immensely, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you take the time to pray that to Him and really mean it…you will make His day.

Amen and God Bless~