A Curse on the USA Friday, Apr 24 2009

A Curse Upon the USA

In 1997 my husband and I were leading a mission trip in Juarez, Mexico. We were ministering to a pallet-board village of about 1500 souls. That night I was to preach at a nearby church. I was praying before the service and all of a sudden I had a vision.

I was no longer kneeling at the altar but standing at the USA/Mexico border looking north – northwest. I saw blood flowing thick and totally covering the Western half of the United States coming down from Canada and spreading across all the states going south to the edge of Texas to the border of Mexico. Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado were all covered with the spreading blood.

I cried out in horror – “Lord, what is this?”

The Spirit of the Lord answered me and said, “I will judge your country for prostituting Mexico to the idol of materialism. You see it today and you will begin to see more and more as the destruction of the family in Mexico grows greater and greater. Even in countries further south as greed and envy will work together to chain men and women in materialism. What you see is the curse upon your nation for turning people into slaves for money.”

I came back to myself sobbing. My heart was broken and I had no idea what to do or say even though I was to preach only moments later. I could not preach. I asked the pastor to continue the worship longer so I could regroup.

Then when I had a peace from the Lord, I began to minister the scripture in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” NASU

I urged the people there to be content with 2-3 tortillas and not seek to get to the USA. I urged them to stay, build their communities, trusting God to supply all they lacked. I begged them not to serve the god of materialism, but to be content in their circumstances. To take dominion of their environment and change it by God’s might and power to be a place of blessing and favor. Scott and I went 8 times to this pallet board village in 2 years. We urged friends and other ministries to do the same to benefit and educate the people so that they might have the favor of walking with the Lord even in their distressed circumstances.

It is now 2009. Scott and I spent 29 days living in El Paso, TX which is across the border from Ciudad Juarez. We could not cross the border because we were urged not to do so, by US friends, employers and Mexican friends alike.

The government of Mexico is at war with drug cartels and both the US and Mexican government have sent in extra troops and federal police to keep the peace. There have been dozens of abductions and extortions daily in this city of two million. Life in Ciudad Juarez, a city infamous for the unsolved murders of hundreds of young women in the 1990s, was never like it is now.

Since the new war between rival drug cartels broke out this year, law and order has collapsed. “The social fabric of the city has never recovered from the femicides,” said Clara Rojas of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez. “Killing women like that was so brutal and the authorities never responded, provoking this kind of impunity.”

Mexico’s most-wanted man, Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman, head of the Pacific-coast Sinaloa cartel, has declared war on the local drug baron, Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, and sent his foot soldiers to drive out the Juarez cartel. The Gulf cartel based around the Gulf of Mexico coast has joined the fight. The battle for the city’s drug trade and smuggling routes into the United States has killed 1,100 people since January — that’s nearly four people murdered each day.

With the rash of killings, which can be out-of-the blue shootings or the result of gruesome torture sessions, those police not working for drug gangs are too scared to go on patrol. Many quit their jobs after cartel hit-men put up lists in public with the names of cops they plan to kill.

The deployment of 3,000 troops, received as heroes by city residents earlier this year, hasn’t changed a thing. The emergence of vigilantes in Juarez is a new twist to a vicious drug war that killed 5,700 people in Mexico last year. This forced the US to give hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Mexican government.

While I never intended to give you a news report – it is fairly obvious that the drug wars that threaten economy and border factories is just another example of the love of money – materialism working to destroy the nation of Mexico.

What will we do as Christians? Every week I get email from people afraid they will not have social security money to live on because of aliens taking their benefits. Their answers to the problems are all fear-based rather than demonstrating and understanding of the problem from a Kingdom viewpoint.

The aliens do work most US citizens will not do. If we deported every one of them our economy would fail. Farmers, restaurant owners, landscape and construction companies would go bankrupt within weeks for the simple reason that they all employ these very people.

How long will Christians turn a blind eye and refuse to find out what the problems really are?

How long will we buy our children bigger and better toys, get our hair and nails done at the spa, and drink gourmet coffee when thousands starve?

How can we condemn those who are looking for the lifestyle we enjoy?

How long can we turn a blind eye to the follies of our Homeland Security?  Some might call it Homeland Insecurity!

How long will we enjoy what the aliens do for us and at the same time want them gone? Will we stop using the products and services bought with their sacrifices? I think probably not.

How would losing Mexico as a friendly neighbor affect our nation, especially our border states? What if they turned against us because we deserted them in their hour of need?

How long have you spent praying over this problem? My hope is that you will at least spend as much time talking to the Savior about this crisis in Mexico and on our borders as you do forwarding emails filled with hatred, bigotry, fear and lies.

My hope is that we will do something about the impending judgment on our United States for taking advantage of cheap migrant labor and prostituting people to the god of materialism.

My hope is that some of you who read this will ask the Lord to send you there to bring Kingdom principles and abundant life to the people living there.

The maids who worked at our hotel live in Juarez and told me the stories I am sharing with you. They also said the press is having a hey-day with this horrible situation and that it is not as bad as it seems. With over 2 million in the city there are thousands who never see nor hear any of this. That does not negate the facts that it does though. But what they are saying is that they love their city and they don’t want it known for these things. I don’t either.

Pray. Pray now. Please.

PS I have to say that I am not one who easily posts something like this.  But with things escalating along our borders I felt I must send out a warning to Christians.  We are the only ones who can detour satan and overcome him by the blood of the Lamb.

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BLESS YOU! Friday, Apr 24 2009

Most are familiar with the beginning of the Aaronic blessing; “May the LORD bless you and keep you”(Numbers 6:24). We often read or say these words without really knowing what they mean. The words “bless” and “keep” are abstract words which we are familiar with in English. But, the ancient Hebrews were concrete thinkers who related all things to concrete ideas.

The Hebrew word for “bless” is “barak” which literally means “to kneel”. A berakah is a “blessing” but more literally, the bringing of a gift to another on a bended “knee”. When we bless God or others, we are in essence, bringing a gift on bended “knee”. A true king is one who serves his people, one who will humble himself and come to his people on a bended knee.

The Hebrew word for “keep” is “shamar” which literally means “to guard”. A related word is “shamiyr” which means “thorn”. When the shepherd was out in the wilderness with his flock, he would construct a corral of thorn bushes to protect the sheep from predators, a guarding over of the sheep.

With this more Hebraic concept of Hebrew words we can now read the beginning of the Aaronic blessing as, “Yahweh will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection”. The remaining portions of the Aaronic blessing can also be examined for its original Hebraic meaning revealing the following:

Yahweh will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection, Yahweh will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will beautify you, Yahweh will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

Most are familiar with the beginning of the Aaronic blessing; “May the LORD bless you and keep you” (Numbers 6:24). We often read or say these words without really knowing what they mean. The words “bless” and “keep” are abstract words which we are familiar with in English. But, the ancient Hebrews were concrete thinkers who related all things to concrete ideas.

The Hebrew word for “bless” is “barak” which literally means “to kneel”. A berakah is a “blessing” but more literally, the bringing of a gift to another on a bended “knee”. When we bless God or others, we are in essence, bringing a gift on bended “knee”. A true king is one who serves his people, one who will humble himself and come to his people on a bended knee.

The Hebrew word for “keep” is “shamar” which literally means “to guard”. A related word is “shamiyr” which means “thorn”. When the shepherd was out in the wilderness with his flock, he would construct a corral of thorn bushes to protect the sheep from predators, a guarding over of the sheep.

With this more Hebraic concept of Hebrew words we can now read the beginning of the Aaronic blessing as, “Yahweh will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection”. The remaining portions of the Aaronic blessing can also be examined for its original Hebraic meaning revealing the following:

Yahweh will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection, Yahweh will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will beautify you, Yahweh will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

The credit for this goes to my friend Chrissie Gregg who sent it to me for my birthday.
Thanks Chrissie!
I am truly blessed.

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HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009 Friday, Apr 24 2009

HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing
& Record of Sales Act of 2009

This is a bill before Congress which would prohibit ownership of handguns by those who have not obtained firearm licenses.

On the outward – that sounds reasonable doesn’t it?

People who own guns should have government permission shouldn’t they?

What they don’t seem to realize is there is already permission to own a gun.

It is called the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which reads

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

A friend recently sent me this “Firearms  Refresher Course.  If you don’t like any part of it – please enjoy not liking it, but don’t go off on me because you don’t.

□ An armed man is a citizen.  An unarmed man is a subject.

□ A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.

□ Colt:  The original point and click interface.

□ Gun control is not about guns; it’s about control.

□ If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?

□ If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.

□ Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.

□ If you don’t know your rights, you don’t have any.

□ Those who trade liberty for security have neither.

□ The United States Constitution (c) 1791.  All Rights Reserved.

□ What part of ’shall not be infringed’ do you not understand?

□ The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.

□ 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

□ Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians.

□ Know guns, know peace, know safety.  No guns, no peace, no safety.

□ You don’t shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

□ 911:  Government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.

□ Assault is a behavior, not a device.

□ Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer.

□ If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.

□ Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.

□ You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.

□ Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don’t make more.

□ When you remove the people’s right to bear arms, you create slaves.

□ The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

For further reading see: http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/blairholt.asp

One more comment:  Don’t profile me!

Rather shouldn’t you be considering others of certain age and ethnicity who have a proven track record of terrorism and hatred of America?

If I were President Obama I would put Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano right out of office.

But since I cannot do that – i will pray for those in authority as 1 Timothy 2:2 admonishes us to do. I will pray they seek the wise counsel of a Holy, Loving God before they pander to lobbyists  or vote because of compromises they’ve already made.  I will pray they seek the wisdom that comes from above and never forget America was founded on Godly virtues and that God was the God of the Bible.

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Perez Hilton – shame on you! Wednesday, Apr 22 2009

I saw Perez Hilton being interviewed Today Show  TV/ Skype with Matt Lauer regarding a controversial political question he asked of Miss California – Carrie Prejean.  (California – you should be proud of this young woman!)

If PH did not want her opinion why did he ask it? He didn’t really want her answer, he wanted his.  Shame on him.

This is America. You can even say what you want. Our soldiers put their lives on the line every day for that freedom.

But really – PH – don’t we all have the same rights you do?  Or are you special?  You want her to leave her politics out – but not you!  You chose to be “offended” – and you chose wrong – or you’re a hypocrite and as unbalanced as anyone I’ve ever heard of.  Furthermore, to  talk in public as you did to a young woman shows exceedingly bad taste.

WARNING TO PARENTS: The videos do not bleep out the bad words sufficiently in my opinion.  You can still see what is being said so if you don’t want children to be sullied, please do not let them see them.

Matt asked PH if he wanted Miss California to answer honestly, true to her belief, or “pander to the judges?”

HURRAH for you Carrie – you said, “When asked a specific question I will give a specific answer.”  She refused to “pander” knowing it could cost her first place.  But she won first place in hearts for honesty under fire rather than more of the same-o, same-0 compromise.

Barak Obama gave a like answer on August 16, 2008 when interviewed by Rick Warren, during the Presidential campaign.  When asked the same question, President Obama said he believed marriage was between a man and a woman.  (Don’t go off on me because of his current position – he did say this – it’s a matter of record.)

Tell me – which is more critical – a beauty contest or a presidential election?

PH behavior after Carrie’s answer left me numb. How on earth did he get to be judge?  Certainly not because of his maturity.  Come on America – wise up.

Gay rights is not really about their rights – it’s about anyone who believes differently than they do.  Our son Ben put it right at age 8 when he said, “It’s not “civil rights it’s civil wrongs.”

And don’t go off on me about this – watch the videos yourself.

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Talkin’ about Jesus Thursday, Apr 16 2009

Many years ago I learned a song that went like this,”Well, I’m talkin’ about Jesus in a song, talkin’ about Jesus all day long.”

It was a fun song, but those of us who sang it truly enjoyed talking about Him, telling of His love, His exploits and how He changed our lives.

(Remember Judy, David, Bill, Sandie?)

God did wonderful things with the group that sang that and many are ministering today – nearly 40 years later.

Today, another friend, Lynn, sent me this scripture and it brought back all those wonderful times of singing and talkin’ about Jesus.

Malachi 3:16-18 “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD  gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My  own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

Let’s do it more and more and more as the time for His coming approaches – okay?

I think the world – the lost and dying world – needs our testimony of a great and loving God.  One who thinks so highly of our words to each other about Him that He puts in a special book!

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Judgemental criticism Tuesday, Apr 14 2009

“Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.

But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.

You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all. “

These verses were from The Message – Romans 2: 2- 5

Throughout life we all have opportunities to judge one another and sin.  What makes the difference?

Criticism is not evil.  An orange is an orange.  A Chevy is a Chevy.  An ocean is an ocean. Each time you identify something you are using critical acumen.  That’s not the problem.

The problem is when you give into judgmental criticism.

Judgmental criticism is when you are angry with someone for doing something to you or to someone else.  You do not know the depth of why they do what they do.  You may think you do, but “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  Jeremiah 17:9

And if you do not direct your anger toward the source of the problem (the enemy of their soul) and respond in a manner Jesus would not approve of – you’ve sinned.

You actually compound the problem.  Because now you have become a problem yourself.

The individual who sinned against you has their own set of problems.  If you observe their lives you can probably see the fruit of this sin.  Be merciful, forgive!  Forgiveness heals!

Forgiveness is a choice.  It’s also a commandment.  We all know the prayer that begins, “Our Father, who are in heaven…..”  Let’s look at then in the New American Standard Updated version.

Matthew 6:9-15 Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.   Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Amazing isn’t it. God has provided a way for us to walk without sinning.  That is what the Good News is all about!  Jesus rose from the grave with the keys to death and hell and the grave.  He lived a sinless life as an example to us that by our choices we could live that way also.

When stuff happens – we must flee judgmental criticism.  It’s fine to say or think – “that thing that person just did or said is horrid.”  But then we must fly into the loving arms of Jesus and say, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.”

You may say, “But they did know what they were doing!”  They may even believe they are led of God. Perhaps the individual carefully scripted your trial.  Perhaps their lives are so full of unforgivness, bitterness and resentment it spilled over onto you.  Perhaps they are running from accountability and so blame others for everything they don’t like.

So what?  If they truly, deep in their hearts, knew that every time they refuse to choose forgiveness they were sinning against the Jesus they claim to love – they would not do it.  I really don’t know anyone I would consider totally and without recourse wicked.  The Greek word for unreasonably wicked is “atopos.“  There’s another word for un-persuadably wicked, apietha.  Satan is apietha.

You see what I mean?

We have to be filled with the fruits of the Spirit and the grace (unconditional love) of God!  We must tap into heavenly resources when this kind of thing happens.

We must give one another the benefit of the doubt.  We must cover them in prayer – believing God to do miracles and heal the place in their lives where the lies have taken hold.

Elsewise – we may say “Jesus is Alive” – but our own lives deny it.

I know I am not perfect.  I know I am a sinner.  I am thankful that when I ask forgiveness – I get it.  Jesus is ALIVE!

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I am convicted Sunday, Apr 5 2009

20 years ago I made a choice to begin swearing.  Lovely testimony – right?

Background: We lived on a farm and there is plenty of fecal matter on a farm with 94 animals.  I was raised in farm country, so I began again to call it what I had previously deemed unfitting to say.  Yes, it was an excuse.  I also had a circumstance in my life that could be described as “Compost happens.”  Like everyone else on the face of the earth – this is normal life, so no excuses here either.

I am convicted.  I am guilty, I am embarrassed and I have decided to become publicly accountable so I might for once and for all stop swearing when something happens that I am not pleased with.  Even mentally, I want no cursing (either in words or thoughts.)

I hereby give anyone who knows me permission to tell me to “Watch your words,” if you will also pray for me that I will be strengthened in my resolve to stop swearing.

I think it takes that for me for this thing because I’ve done Bible studies, prayed, received deliverance, my husband gently reminds and corrects me.  I have have thought that I truly hated having a carnal and banal mouth.  No, apparently not.  Circumstances proved me wrong again.

I condemn no one.  What comes out of your mouth is your business. But lest anyone think they are blameless – I ask you to examine yourself.  Is what comes out of your mouth in stressful situations edifying?  I could not always say yes.

This article Judy Nedom sent me cinched it.  Thank you!

Thank you Scott, my darling husband, for being a man of God and loving me.

“What Have You Put Out in The Atmosphere?”

by Cindy Trimm
Apr 5, 2009

Everything in the universe begins with and revolves around two things: words and thoughts. These two elements are divine gifts created by God and given to man. They form the creative substance that molds and shapes the destiny of humanity. Each of us becomes the person we are, chooses the direction we take, and accomplishes everything we do based on these two primary elements.

Just as in every seed, there is life-giving power that resides in every spoken word. This principle illustrates how the spiritual law of incubation and manifestation works. Everything you see in the natural began as a spiritual seed—that is, as a thought.

We are told in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that God, in His infinite wisdom, has already given us all things pertaining to life (the Wycliffe version says, “all things of His God-like virtue”) that we might partake of His divine nature. Included in this celestial equipping are divine thoughts and inspired words.

As a spiritual being created in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26) your spiritual genes hold the creative power to frame your personal world by the thoughts and words you think and speak, which are divine tools given for your creative use. All you are, experience, and ultimately achieve can be traced back to how you have made use of these two simple, yet vastly powerful, tools—your words and thoughts.

What Occupies Your Mind Determines What Eventually Fills Your Mouth

The power of the spoken word is one of life’s greatest mysteries. All that you will ever be or accomplish hinges on how you choose to govern what comes out of your mouth. By what you allow to occupy your mind and mouth, you can either bless your life to great heights of success or send it orbiting into realms of failure, sadness, and discontentment.

This is why Proverbs tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7), and urges, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus followed suit by declaring, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart” (Matthew 12:34-35).

What occupies your mind determines what eventually fills your mouth; your outer world showcases all that has dominated—and at times subjugated—your inner world. Because the law of cause and effect is continually at work, there is always an inner cause for every outer effect. Your outer world is a direct result of your inner world.

Every circumstance in life is a result of a choice—and every choice is the result of a thought. All those things that fill your mind hold the keys to your reality. Your thoughts provide the fuel for your words, and your words provide the fuel for your world.

It is paramount that you become the master of your thoughts. The greatest man has become so by the scrupulous attention he gives to controlling what goes into his mind and what comes out of his mouth.

So, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:6-8).

Blessings,

Dr. N. Cindy Trimm
Cindy Trimm International
Email: info@cindytrimm.com

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
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www.elijahlist.com
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The Most Important Thing Friday, Apr 3 2009

This morning I was praying and thinking about my friend Pam Bluemel.  She lost her sweet husband Craig (http://www.bibleanswerstand.org) in June of 2007 and on March 30, just a few days ago, her daughter Julie died having just given birth to her 4th child, Gabrielle Sophia.The babe is doing well – and will be released from the hospital when her lungs are functioning normally.

But I was seeking the Lord for Pammy – who is now with her son-in-law and 3 little kidlets – taking care, grieving, and all the other that goes with a family death.

What is the most important prayer I could offer up at this time??

I prayed for the supernatural peace of God to come to them.

Jesus is prophesied as being the King of Peace in Isaiah 9:6-7 – and as His loving subjects we can live in Peace even in the most difficult and trying times.  He told us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”

The best the world gives is tranquilizers, sedatives and mood-altering drugs along with behavior modification and stress relieving exercises.

Inadequate.

Totally inadequate in times like Pam is going through now, or that I’ve gone through from time to time.  Only Jesus brings 100% peace that passes understanding – even at a cellular level.

My prayer then is for her and her family to bring everything to dead stop before His Throne – to lay it all down and worship Him.  For in so doing – He will step in and they will be healed and energized for tasks to come.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

Hebrews 13:20-21Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I love you Pammy.

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