One day a man who had been walking, catching rides and using Uber to go to work every day was given a car by a family member. He was so thankful. All he had to do was have a few things fixed. As he drove it home, he stopped to get gas and the car wouldn’t start. Wow! He had to have the car towed to the shop. After they fixed it, as he drove it home he let the window down and it wouldn’t come back up. He said, “Are you serious!!!!”

As he drove back to the shop so they could fix the window he noticed stains on the seats.

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He said, “Why does everything I get have to have something wrong with it? Always ‘STAINED’?”

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He then immediately remembered that he had transportation to work, the store or to take his lady friend out on a date. He also remembered the fact that the price he paid for the repairs was still better than having a car payment for years. He immediately thanked God and asked him to forgive him for so quickly allowing frustration to take away the excitement of his blessing.

So many times God will bless us and if it’s not exactly the way we wanted it or comes with some imperfections, inconveniences or responsibilities, we can find ourselves with an unthankful attitude.

The bible reminds us that every gift God gives is perfect…

James 1:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The next time you begin to see stains on your blessings, remember that every gift from God is perfect.

Any stains we see are on our eyes and not the blessing.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

If you knew…

Some of the things your Pastor thought you wouldn’t want to hear another sermon…

Some of the things the politician you respect most did, you wouldn’t vote again…

Some of the nasty things your doctor has done, you wouldn’t want him or her touching you again…

Some of the things your spouse thought you wouldn’t trust them again…

No matter who we are or what we do, we are all FAR from perfect.

Before you judge someone unworthy of your respect and love…

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How much would YOU respect YOU, if YOUR secrets EVERYONE knew?

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Romans 3:22-25 (NKJV)

 ²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all^[a] who believe. For there is no difference; ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

How does it make you feel to see someone who has hurt you….hurt?

We must be careful that we don’t wish evil on our enemies or adversaries. Remember that it’s bigger than our disagreement, or even the fact that they may hate us for no reason.

They are God’s creation too.

They were made in His image too.

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God doesn’t love your enemy ANY LESS than He loves you.

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He wants them delivered too.

When something bad happens to them, sometimes we find ourselves saying, “Good, that’s what they get!”

When we judge in our hearts that they are getting what they deserve, we are setting ourselves up for the same judgment.

Remember Matthew 7:1,2…

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” If you continue reading, Jesus uses strong words here calling us hypocrites when we do this.

Stop and think about the things you have done to hurt someone else. Think about who you may have mistreated.

Think about the fact you’ve given some of your ‘haters’ a good reason to feel ‘some kinda way’ about you.

Most of all, think of how you’ve hurt God.

Psalm 103:10 is a good reminder that God doesn’t deal with us as we deserve….

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.”

We should extend to one another the same grace and mercy that’s given to us. Rather than celebrate your enemy’s misfortune, we should pray that it brings them closer to Our heavenly Father…because ultimately, that’s what God wants.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

We all notice the unmistakable silence of Yeshua, Christ Jesus from 12 years of age until 30.

Luke 2:41-52 (NKJV)

⁴¹ His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³ When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother^[a] did not know it;⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” ⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. ⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

I have heard and read much speculation and conjecture as to what happened during that time. There are even apocryphal accounts (Book of Thomas) of events that took place when Jesus was young. However, I think there is enough information given to us in Matthew 13 and John 2 to let us know that nothing miraculous happened. That, after amazing the teachers when He was twelve years old, Jesus went back to being an ‘apparently’ very good boy and young man. No Jesus didn’t sin. His ‘goodness’ ( much like Joseph in Genesis) could have led to His brothers’ initial unbelief and antagonism…

John 7:5-7 (NKJV)

⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

Think about what is reported in Matthew 13 when Jesus was rejected in His hometown of Nazareth…

Matthew 13:53-58 (NKJV)

⁵³ Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. ⁵⁴ When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? ⁵⁵ Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses,^[a] Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” ⁵⁸ Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

…If Jesus had spent His youth sharing His wisdom and His supernatural powers, the people of His town would not have wondered ‘where did this man get this wisdom?’. They would have known He was unique among His half-brothers and sisters. They would have recognized Him beyond being ‘Joseph’s son’ and a carpenter. They were around Jesus every day as He grew and would not have been surprised at His wisdom if He had revealed that He was special after 12 years of age.

In fact, this implies to me that Jesus spent His teenage years and twenties doing the work of a carpenter while He and Mary held His divinity in their hearts.

As Jesus said at the wedding in Cana after His first miracle, His time had not yet come. And, yes John Chapter 2 confirms that turning the water to wine was Jesus’ first miracle. So no miracles could have happened before that.

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The fact that Mary was anxious for Jesus to do something about the wine dilemma at the wedding could imply that she was ready for Him to ‘get the show started’.

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She hadn’t even told her other children about their Holy brother. We all know how hard it can be to hold some things in our hearts. How hard it can be to keep a huge secret…especially one this big.

John 2:1-12  (NKJV)

2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” ⁶ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. ⁷ Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. ¹⁰ And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” ¹¹ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

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PROTECTED BY ANONYMITY?

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We all know how the enemy used Herod to kill baby boys Jesus’ age killed trying to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled. God very well could have been protecting Jesus in anonymity to protect Him and His identity until His time had come.

Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”^[a]

God’s wisdom goes beyond our desire to know what happened before Jesus began His earthly ministry. As I said earlier, we can speculate and guess, but that is all it is…guessing and speculation.

Besides, what’s most important is what happened after Jesus began His earthly ministry. His occupation was carpenter but His calling and purpose was SAVIOR.

Jesus’ silent years are one of the greatest lessons in the wisdom of God doing all things in HIS OWN TIMING. And, that we should relate this lesson to our own lives. Even the Son of God didn’t begin His purpose before it was time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

Does everyone ALWAYS practice what they preach? Do we always hold true to our standards, values, morals, disciplines…all the time? Do we all sometimes have lapses in our character?

Yes!

The apostle Peter was with Jesus from the beginning of His earthly ministry. He was there when Jesus performed miracles. He was an intimate part of Jesus’ inner circle. We all know that he betrayed the Lord, but Jesus warned him beforehand and restored him afterward.

Luke 22:31-34 (NKJV)

³¹ And the Lord said,^[a] “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” ³³ But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” ³⁴ Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

John 21:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,^[a] do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Peter went on to be used by God to help birth the church, spread the Gospel, perform miracles himself and co-author the New Testament. To say he was anointed and used by God would be an understatement, but he was also far from perfect…just like us.

In fact, Paul(as Saul), who didn’t walk with Jesus. Who wasn’t there for the miracles. Who may have even consented to His death at the cross was also eventually anointed and used mightily by God. Notice what happened when Peter would associate and eat with Gentile believers unless Jews were around…then he would separate himself from them fearing what they would say and how they would react.

Galatians 2:11-16 (NKJV)

¹¹ Now when Peter^[a] had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you^[b] compel Gentiles to live as Jews?^[c]

Peter was being a hypocrite. Paul withstood Peter to his face, called him out and corrected him…publicly.

I know you are saved and sanctified. I know that you love God. I know that you are devoted to God, but are you a hypocrite sometimes too?

When have you found yourself acting outside of your integrity?

Sometimes publicly.

Sometimes privately.

Sometimes no one knows about it but you and God…but you do know. Don’t you? You notice it. You think about it. You may even pray about it and ask forgiveness, or you may be comfortable as long as no one else knows.

I’m not going to go through a list of the possible areas in life that we are sometimes hypocrites, but it could be as simple as…you portray yourself or even brag about being a law abiding citizen, but you sometimes drive above the speed limit.

That’s why God’s grace and mercy should never be taken for granted, because it is impossible for us to totally avoid sin, and hypocrisy is a subtle manipulation from the enemy which we ALL fall for sometimes.

The truth is that even when someone you love or someone you know has a hypocritical moment, you still know their true character…

So, let’s make sure that any lapse in our character is just that…a lapse. Because enough lapses in your character becomes your character.

Let’s hold one another accountable in love.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The older I get the more I realize that in so many ways, some of us never really grow up. This is especially proven every day in politics and on social media.

We all have our ‘immature’ moments.

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But, when you think about it, it’s not difficult to see how we all sometimes have trouble acting our age.

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Even though we have role models, some better than others, we can still have trouble progressively moving on to our next role in life.

One reason is that ‘Western’ culture not only values youth, but doesn’t value the blessing of getting older. Aging and maturing is looked upon with dread. People hate being told that they are acting like an ‘old man’ or an ‘old woman’.

However, I feel the main reason that people have trouble acting their age is simple…

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As you get older, you’ve never been that age before.

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Young adults have never been an adult before. Unless you were forced to ‘grow up’ through difficulties of life, we have all still been a ‘child’ for most our lives until we’re in our early 30’s.

As you approach middle age, you’ve never been 40 or 50 years old before.

As you become a ‘senior citizen’, you’ve never been 60 years old before.

And, many people who consider themselves ‘elderly’ will tell you that they don’t ‘feel’ as old as they are. Even with more aches and pains their minds don’t feel ‘old’.

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As you get older, that age never seems to be what you though it would be. You don’t suddenly feel older.

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That’s why so many middle-aged and older people get injured during physical activity because they still feel as though they can still be just as athletic as they used to be. They still feel they can work as hard. They still feel they can lift just as much, but sometimes our bodies will let us know that we must make some adjustments. This happened to me when I was 42 years old while playing flag football with several people in their teens, 20’s and 30’s. I was ‘hanging with them’ really well, but after a couple of hours, even though I still felt great, fatigue had set in and I completely ruptured my Achilles tendon.

I learned a valuable lesson. We aren’t always able to do what we feel like doing. Our bodies can remind us how old we really are. Yes, we can maintain a great quality of life through taking care of ourselves, but we still must be realistic.

As we get older, we must mature mentally, physically and most of all spiritually. But, let us learn to be patient with ourselves and one another through the transition.

Corinthians 13:11  (NKJV)

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You don’t have the title…

You don’t have the salary…

You don’t have the connections…

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You have THEE connection (God)!

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You have the influence.

You’re the subtle leader.

Selfish leaders force people to follow…

Subtle leaders quietly influence.

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Selfish leaders love to lead…

Subtle leaders lead to love…

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Selfish leaders lead out loud.

Subtle leaders live out loud.

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Selfish leaders believe in muscle…

Subtle leaders believe in meekness.

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Selfish leaders SHOUT to get your attention…

Subtle leaders know a WHISPER forces you to listen.

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Selfish leaders love for you to serve them…

Subtle leaders love to serve you…

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Selfish leaders want people to look UP to them…

Subtle leaders direct people to look UP to God.

Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Are your children ever disobedient or disrespectful? Come on, now even ‘good’ kids have their moments.

Are your adult children ever unappreciative, disconnected or disrespectful?

Mark 7:8-13  (NKJV)

⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men^[a] —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” ⁹ He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’;^[b]and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’^[c] 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), ¹² then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³ making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Most if not all Christian parents love to remind their children of what the bible says about being obedient to parents…

Ephesians 6:1 (NKJV)

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

 Colossians 3:20  (NKJV)

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

And, most parents get frustrated and angry when their children…

Disobey them…

Disrespect them…

Deny them…

Embarrass them…

Don’t appreciate them…

Don’t ask for their advice…

Don’t take their advice…

Don’t talk to them…

Respect others more than them…

Or, even rebel against them.

Have you ever had, or are you going through any of these situations as a parent? Did you put your parents through any of these situations?

All parents want their children to listen to them…to honor and respect them. And, they don’t want it to be a ‘burden’ to do so. They want them to do it freely out of love for them.

So, parents, the next time you are frustrated because your children aren’t listening, or aren’t giving you the respect you deserve, remember this verse…

1 John 5:3 (NKJV)

³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

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Then, I ask you to join me in asking yourself, “Is this how God feels when I…

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Disobey Him…

Disrespect Him…

Deny Him…

Embarrass Him…

Don’t appreciate Him…

Don’t ask for His advice…

Don’t take His advice…

Don’t talk to Him…

Respect others more than Him…

Rebel against Him…

Don’t listen to Him?

Why should we expect any more out of our children than we give to God?

Maybe, just maybe, God is sometimes trying to teach us a lesson through our children.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have all done things of which we are ashamed. Sometimes we feel we have done things that God will never forgive, especially when others won’t forgive or we are living out the consequences.

Sometimes we can commit sins after we’ve been ‘saved’ that make us question our salvation.

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Especially when God has allowed YOUR SECRET(S) to remain secret.

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But, let me give you a short encouraging reminder that not matter what you’ve done, God WILL forgive you. No matter how low you have gone, God can reach down and save you. He can even deliver you from the consequences of your sins, bad decisions and weaknesses.

Here is the one caveat. We must always come to Him in humility and never belittle or speak in disrespect or irreverently of His Holy Spirit…

Mark 3:28-30 (NKJV)

And remember, you don’t have to ‘curse’ or ‘cuss’ to do this. Be careful that you’re never disrespectful to the authority, convicting power, intercession of or work His Holy Spirit in your life or the life of anyone else. But when we stop and think before we speak, this isn’t difficult to avoid.

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Click this link…YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY “GD” TO TAKE GOD’S NAME IN VAIN…

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So, be encouraged! The price Yeshua, Christ Jesus,  paid for us on the cross leaves no sin out of reach from His saving power.

Isaiah 59:1 (NKJV)

Hebrews 7:24-25 (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

We all have circles of friends and circles of influence. There are circles that we want to be in, and circles that we don’t. Even Jesus had an inner-circle of disciples who were given greater access into His life and ministry…

Matthew 17:1-2  (NKJV)

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Matthew 26:36-38  (NKJV)

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Most of the time we think either you’re in someone’s circle or not, but there is one more space that one can occupy…

IN someone’s circle…

When you’re IN someone’s circle, you are a part of their lives. Some are closer to the ‘center’ and some are not as close, but still they’re IN your circle. You’re important to all of them and vice versa. You have access to them pretty much when you get ready. And, most of the time the access and influence is mutual.

When your OUTSIDE…

of someone’s circle you’re not important to them at all. You don’t have access to them when you get ready. And, most of the time they don’t want access to you, nor do you have any influence in their life.

But, when you’re ON someone’s circle…

You’re important to them WHEN THEY GET READY. They have access to you when they’re ready, but you don’t have access to them. Being ON someone’s circle most of the time means you’re available to for their use, but they have no real desire to be close to you, to know you or at least to know you intimately. You are there at their disposal.

This is the thing. When you’re on someone’s circle, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t see value in you. It means that they do, they only want a relationship with you on their terms.

Are you ON anyone’s circle? Is anyone ON your circle?

Manage your circle wisely. Give everyone respect no matter where they are relative to it.

And, thank God that once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we’re all in His circle…

Ephesians 2:13-18  (NKJV)

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

You may also enjoy these posts too…

HERE’S THE REASON THEY WOULDN’T LET YOU IN ‘THEIR” CIRCLE…

THE BLESSING IN WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO ‘USE YOU’…

3 SIGNS YOUR HATERS REALLY SEE THE VALUE IN YOU…

BE BLESSTIFIED!