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Godly Living Posts / Quotes

What does it mean to be fearless?

March 4, 2024 - By admin

To be fearless doesn’t mean to not feel fear. I doubt it is possible for us to live without fear. However, fearlessness implies, choosing to depend on God despite the situation we are facing.

Here are a few words to meditate on.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Psalm 91:5–6

I love how Psalm 91 reminds us that we have round-the-clock protection. Whether it is at night or in the day. Whether it is in darkness or at noonday. Whether we are faced with a terror or confronted by arrows. Whether pestilences threaten or destruction looms. We do not have to be afraid because our God, who watches over us, neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:3–4)!

The reality is, the world we live in seems to be engulfed in negative news and fear. We often hear reports of senseless terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, horrific accidents claiming multiple victims, or an epidemic affecting entire communities, leading to hundreds of babies being born with deformities. I know that many can’t help but dread that the same tragedies could befall them.

But beloved, I want you to know that in the midst of all that is happening in the world, you can be fearless, and this comes from knowing the Lord as the God of peace.

Why should we be fearless?

Romans chapter 15 ends with the apostle Paul saying, “Now the God of peace be with you all” (Rom. 15:33, boldface mine). You might ask, Isn’t God with us all the time? Why then did Paul specifically say, “The God of peace be with you all”?

What Paul was speaking over the people was for God to manifest Himself as the God of peace in their lives. In other words, even though God is always with us, we may not always experience Him as the God of peace.

Do you know what happens when God manifests Himself as the God of peace in your life? Romans 16:20 (boldface mine) tells us this: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Do you see what the God of peace will do in your life? He will crush every fear, every worry, and every anxiety!

Do you see grace in that verse as well? Grace—the undeserved, unearned, and unmerited favor of God—is the only thing against which the devil has no defense. That is why we put our faith in the blood of Jesus when we talk about protection. His sinless blood was shed to pay the price for the guilty one.

And because Jesus paid the price, we who are in Him have a right to walk in divine health and protection. Grace qualifies us for God’s all-encompassing protection. Amen!

I hope this devotional, from Pastor Joseph Prince, encouraged you as much as it did to me.

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How is God protecting us?

March 2, 2024 - By admin

Contary to public believe that we can do some things to protect ourselves in every situation, God has been protecting us in many ways.

Here’s a short summary of how he does it and what he expects of us.

For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:11–12

What a wonderful promise we have in Psalm 91:11–12! In the same way the angels surrounded Elisha and his servant and protected them, they are surrounding us and protecting us today, because God has given them charge over us to protect us!

When we choose to make Him our habitation, He charges His angels to watch over us. They surround us with His divine protection.

Now, did you know that Psalm 91:11–12 was quoted by the devil when he tried to tempt our Lord Jesus? He brought our Lord to the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” To this Jesus replied, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (Matt. 4:5–7).

An example of God protecting us

The temptation of our Lord Jesus in the wilderness is the only instance in the Bible where the devil is recorded quoting Scripture. But the devil deliberately misquoted verse 11. The devil misquotes the Bible because he is the father of lies. Verse 11 actually reads: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

I asked the Lord why the devil left out the words “to keep you in all your ways”. He directed me to Proverbs 3:6–7, which says: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.”

You see, the devil didn’t want to say the words “to keep you in all your ways” because that would be tantamount to reminding believers of Proverbs 3:6–7—to acknowledge God in all our ways. So he conveniently left out that whole portion.

But praise the Lord, we know that this is what the Lord has promised: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways”. Our part is to simply acknowledge Him in all our ways. He shall direct our paths, protecting us along the way!

This devotional is written by Pastor Joseph Prince of All Creation Church in Singapore.

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What is the wisdom of God?

February 29, 2024 - By admin

The world is changing faster than we might want it to do. Therefore, the only way to survive is to apply and seek the wisdom of God.

Here’s a short devotional of how Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ demonstrated the heavenly wisdom in his earthly ministry.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV

Beloved, when you depend on God’s wisdom to succeed today, you will see whatever you do prosper. Simply observe how our Lord Jesus always flowed in divine wisdom in His earthly ministry. For example, look at what happened when the Pharisees brought the woman caught in adultery to Him.

The Pharisees came to Him and quoted from the law, saying, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (John 8:4–5).

What is man’s wisdom?

They thought that they had succeeded in trapping Jesus because if He told them to stone her, then they would accuse Him of not demonstrating the forgiveness and grace that He had been preaching about. If He were to say that they should not stone her, then the Pharisees would accuse Him of breaking the law of Moses and bring a charge against Him.

The Pharisees were probably gloating over the clever trap that they had devised. That is why they confronted Jesus in the public area around the temple. They wanted to embarrass Him in front of the multitudes that had come to hear Him teach.

Now, observe the wisdom of Jesus in operation. He simply told them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7).

What majesty! They came to Jesus with the law of Moses and Jesus gave them the perfect standard of the law. Without flinching, He simply challenged the person who was perfect before the law to cast the first stone.

Did you know everything God does is because he loves us?

The Pharisees who had come to ensnare Jesus began to walk away one by one, completely silenced. This same Jesus, with all His wisdom, is today our ascended Christ, who is seated at the Father’s right hand, and whom the Bible says is “made unto us wisdom!”

From this and other accounts of Jesus in the Gospels, we see how in everything He does, our Savior is altogether lovely. He is never early, never late. God is always at the right place at the right time. He is always in perfect peace and there is no sense of hurry about Him.

When it was time to be tender, He was infinitely gentle, gracious, and forgiving—we see this from His response to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:10–11). When it was time to overturn the tables of the money changers, He did it with passion.

He was never frazzled by the Pharisees’ attempts to trip Him up and was always flowing with divine wisdom. He is steel and velvet, meekness and majesty, perfect manhood and deity.

This is Jesus and you are in Him! Begin to see yourself in Christ, who is always flowing with divine wisdom, always in control of the situation, and the same wisdom that flows in Him will flow in and through you.

I hope you were blessed with this devotional from Pastor Joseph Prince.

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Who is your refuge in times of trouble?

February 9, 2024 - By admin

Nowadays, when people have difficulties, they easily run to the phone, call friends and family for solutions. While that is not completely wrong, it is not the only way to deal with our challenges. God is our only refuge both in good and bad times.

Find out in this explicit devotional from Pastor Joseph Prince, how to absolutely find refuge in God, especially in the difficult times.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34 KJV

There is a teaching on the cities of refuge from the Old Testament that I believe will encourage you to take the Lord as your refuge and protector and run to Him.

The Lord told Joshua that when the children of Israel entered the land of Canaan, they were to designate six cities of refuge. Back in those days, if someone unintentionally killed a person, the closest relative of the deceased had the legal right to avenge him.

However, in His mercy, God appointed six cities and said, “Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed” (Josh. 20:3 NLT).

What is the significance of the city of refuge?

The cities of refuge were designed for people who had committed unintentional manslaughter, not for those who had carried out premeditated homicide. Deuteronomy 19 explains this, stating: “If someone kills another person unintentionally, without previous hostility . . . the slayer may flee to one of the cities of refuge to live in safety” (vv. 4–5 NLT).

The six cities of refuge are also a beautiful picture of our Lord Jesus, hidden for us to unveil. They are shadows that point to the substance—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, He is concealed. In the New Testament, He is revealed.

At the cross, our Lord Jesus put all our sins, including the sin of crucifying Him, under the category of “unintentional” when He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV).

He was not just referring to Israel or the Romans; all our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. He chose the nails and offered us complete forgiveness. Can you see how good and merciful our God is?

How does this apply to us today?

Today, if you call upon the name of Jesus, you are qualified to run to Him and take Him as your city of refuge. Jesus is your city of refuge. When you run to Him for refuge, the one seeking revenge (a picture of the devil) no longer has power over you.

My friend, we were all sinners and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Before the cross, the devil had the legal right to put a death sentence over your head. This is because of your sins. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus took that death sentence at the cross. In Christ, we can receive His forgiveness and His protection. Hallelujah!

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The only reason why you shouldn’t struggle in life

February 9, 2024 - By admin

We live in perilous times. Everyone has many challenges, and some people don’t know how to handle their difficult seasons. God doesn’t want us to struggle regardless of how the world is changing. He doesn’t expect us to fight to make ends meet for our lives.

Instead, he wants us to depend on him, absolutely excluding how we feel and what we see.

Here’s a short devotional of how to do that from Pastor Joseph Prince‘s devotionals.

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. . . . he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket . . . “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel . . . ” . . . Then he blessed Jacob there.

Genesis 32:24–29 NLT

Most people would have given up on Jacob, the scheming deceiver and manipulator. But not God.

One night, while attempting to appease the brother he had stolen from, Jacob met the Lord. He grabbed hold of the Lord and for hours, tried to wrestle a blessing from Him.

What to do when you struggle

What did the Lord do? He touched Jacob’s hip socket and put it out of joint, so that Jacob wound up helpless before the Lord.

The Lord changed Jacob that night. He showed Jacob how it was only when Jacob’s grabbing and wrestling finally stopped that His grace was able to flow. That night, God changed Jacob’s name from “deceiver” to “prince” (Israel), and added to him blessings that were beyond his own efforts.

You see, we cannot try to wrestle blessings from God. It is when we give up on our scheming, deceiving, and manipulating to get ahead in life, and completely trust His grace alone that His provision flows unabated.

I guess you are interested in reading other devotionals and Bible based articles, here’s the link.

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God Loves You Perfectly

February 5, 2024 - By admin

God loves us unconditionally. We start living life fully when we absolutely believe in this truth.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:8–9

God is a God of forgiveness. He knows you perfectly and still loves you perfectly. We are slaves to the idea that if someone sees our flaws, they won’t love us anymore. Well, while that may be true in human relationships, God is not like that.

God sees all our imperfections, failings, and flaws on Jesus at the cross. Our sins and ugliness do not turn Him off. In fact, to Him they are occasions to demonstrate His grace and forgiveness through the blood of His Son, who has removed all our sins efficaciously at Calvary.

So don’t be embarrassed about your flaws, mistakes, and imperfections. God knows your weaknesses better than you do, and He loves you just the same.

His Word reminds us that Jesus is not someone “who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” Instead, Jesus was tempted in all points, yet He was without sin (Heb. 4:15).

He understands every temptation and every trial that you are going through. He is not disappointed with you, and He is not waiting for you to live up to a set of dos and don’ts before He forgives and loves you.

God loves us in practical ways

The Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Rom. 5:8–9).

Did you get that? When did God love you?

That’s right, when you were still a sinner. Before you even knew Him, when you were still in sin, He already loved you. How much more today, when you have been cleansed by Jesus’ blood and made righteous!

Having received Jesus’ righteousness, you are righteous forever. Even when you fall into sin, your sins don’t make you a sinner again.

When you fall short today, you are still the righteousness of God. This is because your righteousness comes from Jesus.

In the same way that a beautiful butterfly cannot morph back into a caterpillar, once you have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, you cannot morph back into a sinner. Knowing your righteous identity in Him then gives you the power to overcome every sin, every addiction, and every bad habit!

Devotional from Pastor Joseph Prince.

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What does it mean to appreciate your blessings?

January 27, 2024 - By admin

God has given us all countless blessings in several ways.

Here’s how to appreciate them.

Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength . . . For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes.

Jeremiah 17:5–6

One of the saddest things about a man who trusts in his strengths and self-efforts—“who . . . makes flesh his strength”—is that he cannot see good when it comes his way.

As a pastor, I have seen, down through the years, people who don’t put their trust in the Lord when it comes to their marriages, finances, and other areas of weakness. They are determined to trust in their own efforts, and tend to be rather arrogant and frustrated with the people around them.

Many a time, when you observe people like that, you realize that they cannot see the good things that are right under their noses. They don’t appreciate their spouses, neglect their children, and even when other blessings come their way, they miss them!

Why is it that they can’t see their blessings when it comes?

It is because people who trust in their own efforts have no ability to see and receive blessings from the Lord. They only believe in the “good” that can come from their own efforts. That is why they are proud.

You would probably notice that such people don’t say “thank you” very often to the people around them. They feel like they are entitled to and deserve whatever they receive. They are rarely grateful or appreciative, and that is why they take their spouses for granted instead of seeing them as a blessing from the Lord.

In contrast, people who are living under grace and who trust in the Lord’s unmerited favor are constantly thankful, praising God, and giving thanks to Jesus. They are grateful and appreciative of the people around them.

A practical example

When I was still a bachelor, I had an idea of the kind of wife I wanted and brought my request to the Lord. But you know what? He over-answered my prayer and gave me Wendy! I am truly grateful to the Lord for Wendy and I know that it is the unmerited favor of Jesus.

When I look at my daughter Jessica, I know that I don’t deserve such a beautiful daughter, and yet the Lord gave this precious girl to me. You see, my friend, I did nothing to deserve it, but the Lord blessed me with an amazing family.

When you live under grace, you can truly enjoy the blessings around you because you know that they are undeserved. Look at the family, friends, and other blessings that God has given you today. See how He has blessed you with them because He loves you. And when you see them as blessings, they will enrich your life (Prov. 10:22)!

Devotional by Pastor Joseph Prince of New Creation Church.

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How to build your faith on God’s promises

January 13, 2024 - By admin

God’s promises are for the whosoever and anytime. We have the freedom to receive it only if we believe in him.

Below are a few ways to consider.

“He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. In famine He shall redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes. You shall laugh at destruction and famine.” Job 5:19–22

I believe the Lord gave me the following portion of Scripture, Job 5:19–22, to strengthen you. Let’s take a closer look at the first verse: “He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.”

Now, I have read this verse a number of times before, but the Lord quickened this Scripture in me, so let me share this fresh insight with you. I want to specially address those who have been greatly discouraged in the area of protection. Perhaps you have experienced a very difficult or even tragic event, or are going through a very challenging situation right now. Can I encourage you to build your faith upon His promises and not upon your experiences?

The Word of God says that in this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33). The fact that God declares in His Word that He will deliver us from troubles tells us that we will experience troubles. But God wants us to know that the more we hear preaching on Psalm 91, the more we quote it and remind ourselves of the Lord’s protection daily, the more our faith in His protection will grow.

What to do to receive God’s promises

Faith comes from “hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17 NASB). The more we hear, the more we believe! The more we claim and pray the prayer of protection, the more we will walk in its blessings.

That is the intention of my teachings on Psalm 91—to saturate you with the hearing and hearing of the Lord’s protection promises for your life until your faith is robust and overflowing.

My dear reader, deliverance from trouble is fantastic, but there is a promise that is even greater, and that is when you are at that place where “no evil shall touch you.” That’s my prayer for you and your loved ones.

While we live in dangerous times, we have an almighty God who watches over us. May we all increase and have a progressive revelation of the Lord’s protection in these last days.

While none of us, myself included, are there yet, we are on a journey of faith, of walking fully in the promises of God’s protection. Let’s give thanks to the Lord for His deliverance from all our troubles as we continue to believe we will come to the place where no evil will touch our loved ones and us!

This devotional is from Pastor Joseph Prince of New Creation Church, Singapore

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One way to know if you are successful

January 9, 2024 - By admin

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Genesis 39:1–2

Would you consider the young man Joseph, who was about to be sold into slavery, “a successful man”?

Of course not!

Yet, God says in His own words that Joseph was a successful man.

God’s definition of success is contrary to the world’s definition. Corporate America measures success based on what you have done, what you have accomplished, and what you have accumulated. It is based entirely on you focusing all your time, energy, and resources in meriting titles and collecting accomplishments.

My friend, I want to encourage you to begin to see that the world’s model of success is unstable and built upon a foundation that is shakable. It may have the appearance of the good life, but it is temporal, and we have all seen for ourselves how the world’s transient wealth can dissipate like smoke and easily slip away like the shifting sands in the desert.

From Genesis 39:2, it is clear that success is not what you have, but rather who you have! Joseph literally had nothing materially, but at the same time, he had everything because the Lord was with him.

The material things that you have accumulated or are feverishly trying to amass do not make you a success. It is the presence of the Lord in your life that makes you a success!

We need to learn to stop pursuing things and to start pursuing Him. God sees your relationship with Him as the only thing that you need for every success in your life.

I can’t imagine starting in a worse place than Joseph. He was completely naked. He had nothing! No bank accounts, no educational qualifications, no natural connections with people of influence, nothing.

Thank God the Bible records a picture of Joseph who began with nothing, so that you and I can have hope today. If you think that like Joseph, you have nothing, well, you can start believing in the power of the presence of the Lord in your life. Start looking to Jesus and claim that promise in that scripture for yourself!

Say, “The Lord is with ME, and I am a successful person.”

Say it a hundred times if you have to, and begin to see this as your reality. Stick this promise on your mirror, and every morning when you brush your teeth, remind yourself that today, as you go to work, as you go to school, as you start the day caring for your children at home (or do whatever it is that you need to do), the Lord is with you.

And because He is with you, YOU ARE ALREADY A SUCCESS! When you have Jesus in your life, you are no longer trying to be a success; you ARE a success!

This devotional is from Pastor Joseph Prince, the Singaporean leader of New Creation Church.

To read more of this and other Bible concepts, go here.

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How to believe God’s agenda in 2024

January 2, 2024 - By admin

It is very common for people to write 2024 resolutions. That’s a good idea, but does it include God’s agenda?

Here are some meditation points from the University of God for you to consider as you reflect over the new year.

Daniel 2:20-22 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and settles up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Genesis 1:14 And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

What do those verses mean in 2024?

These scriptures clearly indicate that it is God who determines the times and season of life.

God is the Divine Shepherd who opens the door and chooses the way; believers choose how to go through that door: by faith. He is the only one who has a roadmap. God is a God of purpose. To fulfill that divine purpose, God has an agenda.

Today, many have a calendar but don’t have an agenda. Those who do not have an agenda live by routine, led by their clock, which regulates the beginning and end of their daily activities.

God created man with a purpose. In the mind of God, every human He created is a stakeholder of His master plan. It is the duty and responsibility of everyone to find out God’s purpose for their life. That is why God gave us the scriptures to chart our divine course and cause in life. Matthew 7:7; Jeremiah 33:3.

How to have a 2024 agenda

To have a 2024 agenda is to have a purpose, projects, or a plan. That agenda records a set of planned actions necessary to achieve a desired goal.

God executes His master plan using His divine agenda and time.

• His agenda records in advance what is going to happen in your life.

• His time determines when it is going to happen.

In God’s way of doing things, God’s agenda and His time never conflict. Everything is fulfilled at God’s appointed time.

What is the difference between man and God’s agenda?

Man’s plan oftentimes hits the rock of life’s uncertainties and turn into disappointment. If you don’t want to end up with failure, embrace God’s agenda because God always backs up His agenda by setting in motion divine forces for its fulfillment. His agenda is the sure plan of success with a difference.

If you are to register for a divine appointment with Jesus Christ, begin to believe His Word.

You can only know God’s agenda by reading His Word, and His Word represents His heart’s desire for you.

What does His word say?

Revelation 3:7-8 “…These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that has The Key Of David, he that opens, and no man shut; and shuts, and no man opens; I know your works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.

A man without faith does not know his right in Christ Jesus. By faith, we look into God’s agenda.

The connection between God’s agenda and God’s appointed time is faith. Each day in God’s agenda is a new opportunity.

Faith is now. Faith believes now and acts now.

Now is the time to believe. Time to believe is time to connect with God’s agenda. Why? Believing is possessing.

Man can only have and exercise what he believes he has.

Examples of people in the Bible who knew God’s plan

• God showed His agenda to Abraham in Genesis 15:5. Abraham believed immediately (Genesis 15:6).

In times of failure, there is an appointment with success if Jesus is involved. Jesus never considers your past to determine your future. That is why He gives an appointment to put an end to your past and give birth to your future.

• By divine arrangement, Jesus walked to toward a frustrated Simon Peter; Peter came to believe his life of frustration came to an end.

•Similarly, Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob; she believed, and Jesus pointed her to her future.

• By divine arrangement, Jesus walked toward Zacchaeus in Jericho; he believed, and salvation came to his house.

• In the same way, Jesus came to the pool of Bethesda and the man who was paralyzed for 38 years; he believed and began to walk in newness of life.

Have you received your divine appointment with Jesus for the year 2024? An encounter with Jesus Christ in this new year 2024 will rewrite the history of your life!

The agenda of disappointment will be cancelled, and a new agenda will be opened – your appointment with a life that is full and free.

Spend time this 2024 to meditate on God’s word deliberately. He loves us. Click this link to ind a well of resources.

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