Tabernacles in Time

Old Testament : Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
(Ex. 25:8)
Old Testament-prophetic:  I will give you a new heart ...I will put my spirit in you!
(Ezekiel 36:26-26)    
New Testament:  Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?
(1 Cor. 6:19)




I have consecrated this house...and put my name there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.   (1 Kings 9:3)
                                                               Amen and Amen



In biblical terms, sanctuary and temple can basically carry the same connotation.  The terms reflect a sacred place of refuge, a place of habitation. As Christians, our bodies house God's spirit and as the dwelling place of God's spirit we can be considered a tabernacle, a spiritual sanctuary.


I want to be a sanctuary adorned in holiness for endless days.   (Ps. 93.5)
I want to be as passionate about the tabernacle/sanctuary as David. (2 Chron. 6:7)

I want to be as deliberate with details as Moses and Solomon. (Ex. 25:8,  1Kings 6,7,8)



Apparently there are only a few chapters in scriptures referring to the creation of all the universe.  Yet  the book of Hebrews, combined with the first five books of the bible (the pentateuch) alone,  contain over 50 chapters about the tabernacle. This speaks volumes  of the importance God places on His desire to dwell with His people.  In fact, the word for "dwelt" in John 1:14 is skenoo  and is translated in the greek as "tabernacled".  
                            The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

                                            Immanuel:   God with us.  God in us.
                                                                   (Matt 1:23)

                                                 Adorn your house with holiness:

***Pray God would grant you new life to rebuild the house of your God and repair its ruins. (Ezra 9:9)  The waves of sin will lap at the shore of our selfishness. We will desire things we shouldn't. Sometimes we may even feel as if we have "ruined" our holy place with improper speech and desires, unholy attitudes and actions, foolishness and folly.  But it is never too late--Repent! Rebuild!

   

*** Devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God... bring the sacred articles into the temple.  (1 Chron. 22:19)
                                               I envision the "sacred articles" as;
                                  confession  penitence  adoration  obedience  prayer
                             Experiencing the "presence, vision and enjoyment of God"   (1)

       

***If your sanctuary is desolate, if Gods spirit does not dwell in you as a new creation by spiritual rebirth or as a christian you are in a  spiritually dry place,  ask the lord to look with favor on your desolate sanitary, to listen and to hear your prayer, to forgive and fill you with His presence. Then you will be a people called by His name. (Dan 9:17-19)


***I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well!!  We were created to be in fellowship with the Lord;  body, heart, spirit and soul. (Ps 139:14)
The Lord has prepared a place for His spirit in your beautifully crafted human tent.  Invite Him in!
Desire to adorn your house with holiness.

"May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, 

this place of which you said, 

My Name shall be there..."

1 kings 8:29

                                                                                                       

--  Romans 10-9-10  If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

-- Eph 3:8 For it is by faith you have been saved through faith- and that not of yourselves, it is THE GIFT of God- lest any should boast.


(1) C.S. Lewis

More Moments with Moses...

Random Revelations from Dabar--

Dabar;  Hebrew--desert. sometimes wilderness.



*Darkness that can be felt will spread over Egypt.
The sun rises, peeking over the distant horizon, and even the smallest sliver of light brings illumination to  half the globe.  A candle, a flashlight, a nightlight, a campfire. All these are small sources of light that have the potential to brighten hallways, rooms, fields and forests for not only feet but miles.
Light disperses darkness.
When the Lord cast a plague of complete and utter darkness on the Egyptians, it was a palpable darkness so deep that it kept them confined indoors.  (Ex. 10:21-23)
I have been in darkness like that when exploring underground caves. That kind of blackness is thick and disconcerting.   Yet even in such blackness a small beam of light can project some radiance.
But it isn't the darkness that draws my curiosity. It's the fact that  the light in the midst of the Israelites  didn't illuminate the community of Egyptians even though both dwelt in close proximity to the other.
(Ex. 10:21-23)
In a sense, this seems to be the spiritual climate of today.  Jesus illuminates the believers soul with truth,  yet the unbelieving world remains shrouded in darkness.  Jesus, the true light  has come into the world, yet the world, through unbelief and sedition, has chosen not to see.  (John 1:9-10)

*A lot of stuff went down on that Mountain of Sinai.
 --- I am intrigued about Mount Sinai  being the place of God's revelation to Moses, the place where Moses' faith story and journey begins, and the specific destination Moses sought the minute his sandals hit the desert sands.
In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt... they came to the desert of Sinai... and camped there in front of the mountain.  (Ex. 19:1-2)
If we were to emulate the example of Moses in witnessing to others,  shouldn't it be as simple as this-- taking people to our Sinai story?  That place where we first realized who God was?
Every christian has a testimony, a personal story!  Are you prepared to give an account of that story?
Always be prepared to give a reason to everyone for the hope in you. (1 Peter 3:15)
 ---Moses saw and heard  some amazing things;
1.)  God's voice.  The people also heard!   (Ex.19:9)
2.)  Angels!  In order to craft the cherubim for the ark, Moses would of had to have seen them. (Ex.25:18).
3.)  He was shown the pattern for the lamp stand. Can you even fathom laying eyes on an actual hard copy of a divine architectural pattern? (Ex.25:40)
4.)  He was shown the plan for the tabernacle.  (Ex.26:30)

*I brought your divisions out of Egypt.
God referred to the  Israelites as His divisions. (Ex. 7:4, 12:17)
The King James Version uses the word armies.
I am a christian, the concept of also being a "division' challenges me.
These titles infer the general concept of service.  Primarily, Gods plan is to rescue us from the slavery of sin and oppression and give us the gift of eternal life.  However, following our salvation, the call to take that gospel message to the rest of the world is issued.  (Acts 1:8)
Being a christian isn't passive, it is active and purposeful.

*The Peoples Representative
Moses was instructed by his father-in-law to be the peoples representative. (Ex. 18:19)
He had the responsibility of teaching them God's word, of showing them how to live and the duties they were to observe.  As Christian's, we have that same calling.
The question then, is;
Am I living a life of holy obedience, purity and service as an example? (Titus 2:12)
Am I being very careful how I live, so that when others watch, they are drawn to God?  (Eph 5:15)
Do I claim to know God, but by my actions deny Him?  (Titus 1:16)
Am I setting an example in speech?  (1Timothy 4:12)

*Confusion of the Egyptian Army
The Lord threw the Egyptian army into confusion.  (Ex.14:24).  What a thought for us to consider when we are being pursued by an enemy, whether it be man or Satan!
David prayed along those lines;  "oh Lord, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness."
(2 Samuel 15:31).
Next time you find yourself in a trial or hardship, pray as David did, ask God to frustrate or confuse the counsel of your enemy!  Watch The Lord throw your enemy into confusion . Experience Him come and stand between you and your enemy as a wall of protection!!  (Ex.14:19,24)

*Stand Firm
Moses answered the people and told them to --stand firm.  (Ex. 14:13)
God's response;  why are you crying out to me?  Move on!.  (Ex. 14:15)
Aside from the humor in the disparity here, is the conviction that  I better be sure I am giving the right information before sharing a word from God.!!!!

*Plundered profit
The Israelites plundered the Egyptians in the course of their exodus out of Egypt. (Ex. 12:36).
They found themselves the beneficiary of silver, gold, precious stones and other material gain liberally thrown at their feet!
However,  they weren't in the desert very long before part of the purpose of the plunder was revealed. God requested a free will  offering from the people be brought to Moses for the construction of a sanctuary. A place where God could dwell and live in the midst of them.  (Ex 25:1)
God reminds us that anything we possess comes from Him and is ultimately meant to be used for His glory.  (Romans 11:36)
Hosea 2:8, though not directly referring to the story at hand,  tells us that it was GOD that gave Israel the grain, new wine and oil...the silver and gold.
I am not convinced all the materials God instructed the Israelites to use in the construction of the sanctuary wasn't  indigenous to the desert.  It's highly probable most of the supplies were from the plunder taken in Egypt.

*God let it happen
Life is hard. People get sick. People suffer. People die. Humanity is inhumane.
Our sinful nature still opposes our spirit. And our arch enemy Satan, the prince of the power of the air  presently reigns. (Eph. 2:2)
And.... God lets it happen.  (Ex 21:13).
It's the proverbial scenario;  "If God is so good, why is there so much bad?"
For some reason,  God lets the tares and the wheat,  good and evil, survive together.  (Matt 13:30)
Habakkuk, the prophet to Judah, addressed this very subject indicating that  the revelation awaits an appointed time.   (Hab 2:3)  This would indicate that the answer to the question is, "we don't know!"
But we will, someday.
The corollary here is actually one of reassurance, however, because nothing takes God by surprise!
He lets it happen, He saw it coming, it has a purpose.
He is not willing that any should perish.  (2 Peter 3:9)
He has a plan for man.  (Jeremiah 29:11)
When tragedy or hardship hits,  I take comfort in knowing that  God has gone before me to lead the way.  (Deut 1:30)  God let that hardship happen and He has a divine destination in mind for me by means of it.
He is sovereign, my life and its events are not random, they are ordained and allowed. They have a purpose.

 I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself as my treasured possession
  Exodus 19:4-5

The Gift of Grace

There seems to be a common thread running through my soul these days, one I can't deny or dismiss.  It keeps coming back. It keeps pursuing me. In my personal study, in literature I am reading, in sermons I attend, even in conversations with friends it is there. It is relentless. It is stalking. It is ageless. It is:

GRACE

Grace-  Websters;   a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior. mercy. clemency. pardon.

Grace-  Hebrew;   (chesed- noun)  chesed must have an action occur to exist,  i.e.  redemption from  something such as an enemy or sin.

That said, inherent in the object of grace, is the obligate nemesis or "action" of sin! 

No subject on grace would be complete without including the matter of sin, and as ironic as it may seem, that can actually be a good thing, because;

"where sin increased, grace increased all the more...."  Romans 5:2

Unfortunately, the harder I tried to stop sinning, the more of a foothold my sin seemed to have on me. It got to the point where I would just roll out of bed and onto my knees in the morning and instead of praying for strength to overcome and be victorious, I seceded in hopelessness and defeat;

"This thing is too big for me, God!"  Exactly!  

"This thing is too strong for me, God!"  Exactly!   

"My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak, God!"  Exactly!

My moaning soul would wail;  "Here it is Lord, I'm just going to give it to you straight up;  "its" going to happen again today.  Bank on it.  I will repeat and replay this compulsive sin of mine today, so please just forgive me now, ok?

Oh the infamous, notorious hamster wheel of humanity;
Sin...confess...repent...repeat

Yep, that's me alright.  But if we are honest, isn't it all of us?
Don't get me wrong. Confession is good. Confession is commanded. Confession is necessary. It just isn't meant to be a repetitious religious prayer recited over and over again for the same sin.
Contrary to popular opinion, more right behavior + less bad behavior does not = righteousness!

Religion says,  "If all we bring to God is our moral striving, we're back at the same lie that put us in need of salvation. We're stuck with our independent talents, longing, and resolve to make it happen.
We want God to make our life work and our behavior seems like the price tag." *

Grace says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

The work of forgiveness is finished and eternal if you have accepted  The Truth and covenanted with God to live it!  Any actions on your part hereafter will not add to the equation of salvation through grace.
The same applies for personal sin once confessed.
"If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.." 1 John 1:9
He will remove our sins from us as far as the east is from the west!  Psalm 103:12

I have a very good friend who would tell me that it helps him to write his sins on a chalkboard, list them one by one, confess them and then erase them.  In God's eyes they are erased and forgotten, now move forward in grace and forget it,  he would advise.

My pastor recently restated the same truth.  We are human, we sin, we sin again, and again, why are you so surprised?  The christian way of life is a deliberate veering to the right once you have confessed.

Yes, we are sinners saved by grace. But beyond that lies the truth that we are also saints who sin.

It is who we are. It is what we do. It is how we have been wired since the bust of Eden... for now.
Paul could confirm that fact to you from a personal perspective;  "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15
I'm still trying to grasp the grace concept thing, and am guessing I will still be trying to figure it out until the day the lord calls me home.  In the mean time I don't want to miss a minute of grace. I don't want to waste time beating myself up for a sin already confessed, forgiven and forgotten. I want to live out who God says I am  --  forgiven...by grace...through mercy.

       Oh what glory and what grace,

       What blessed surrender sweet,

       that I, my Lord

       might find forgiveness

       at your feet!

       (L. Paddock)

*John lynch,Bruce McNicol, Bill Thrall    "The Cure"

Let my people go!

...Caught in captivity (Egypt)


We all have our own Egypt-- the list is legion I'm sure.
If you are currently in a place of bondage to a particular sin, stronghold or station, you are very aware of how miserable your place of captivity is.  You don't need anyone to tell you. Whether it is an illness you didn't ask for or a tidal wave of temptation that has swallowed you whole, probably doesn't matter.  The fact of the matter is that it sucks the life out of you.  It dominates your day and rules your nights.  It steals your joy and sears your soul. Often we are helpless to deliver ourselves. We can become too beaten down to even hope or try anymore.  But there is hope!
Whatever our lot in life,  there IS good news!  For God says to our task master, our oppressor ;   "Let my people go!"
In the course of convincing Pharaoh to let His people go, God warned of the many plagues that would occur in order to effect the exodus. The road to rescue and recovery is often arduous, the adversity of an adversary can be be as relentless in its pursuit of us as pharaoh was with the the Israelites.
Adversity.
Adversity propagates Gods purpose so that His power is seen and His name proclaimed.
Adversity brings us to our knees so we can see God, grasp grace and walk in faith.
Adversity can often lead us on a pilgrimage through an arid land.
But, there is hope in the journey. There is help in the waiting.
The wellspring of deliverance awaits.


...Stuck in Sinai (round and round we go)


Desert drudgery.  Are you tired of circling around the same mountain of adversity?
Essentially that's what the children of Israel did. They circled Mt. Horeb over and over again. They walked the scorching sands of Sinai in bitter protest and faithless purpose.  They lost sight of the goal...to hear the voice of God and learn the lesson of leadership through the wilderness experience.   They walked in circles around the problem and missed the point... hearing God speak through the suffering and learning to trust in the crisis.
But Moses heard, he heard God speak from a burning bush.  "When the lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush...I have indeed seen the misery of my people, I have heard their cry, I am concerned about their suffering."
Did you catch that?  The lord saw Moses  HAD GONE  to look at the bush. God was at a distance watching Moses walk up to the bush. Then, God called to him from WITHIN the bush.  God MOVED!  How awesome is that?  God sees our plight, prepares our deliverance and then moves to where we are to bring relief and revelation.
Is a darkness of despair your mountain right now?  While it is true we are to walk in the light, "There comes a time, as you draw close to God, that you are consumed with darkness.  This is true when you are abiding in the shadow. The closer you get to God, the less you understand Him.  In the darkness of His presence, under the shadow of the Almighty, we learn to believe." (1)
A.W. Tozer put it another way; That God can be known by the soul in tender personal experience while remaining infinitely aloof from the curious eyes of reason constitutes a paradox best described as, Darkness to the intellect but sunshine to the heart." (2)
It's been said that faith looks at God, unbelief looks at the obstacles... so, look for the burning bush, that THING God is using to get your attention, and experience Him come to you in that place.
"The tragedy of our wilderness experience is not that we have to go through grief and suffering, but that we often miss the blessings from burning bushes--the things through which God speaks."
"This is the lesson of the desert. When your branches are barren, when all your buds have dried up, when your leaves droop in discouragement--remember your roots. Remember that just beneath the sand there are underground reservoirs where the water is pure...and know that in your season, you shall bear fruit again." (3)




...Possessing the promise land


The promise land. Heaven!
Heaven is so much more than "streets of gold and gates of pearl."
Job commented that, "The earth takes shape like clay under a seal."
Molded by its impression, I believe earth is the mirror image of heaven.  I'm convinced God took the trees and the meadows, the grass and the leaves, the stones and the streams, the rolling hills of heaven and gave us a tangible taste of our future home.
"The land you are crossing (into) is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.  It is a land the Lord your God cares for;  the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end."

In my mind, I see The Lord coming to greet me barefoot, on the banks of the Jordan and asking;  "So, want to go for a walk with me?"

Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?

Who is like you-

majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory,

working wonders?

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

You will bring them in and plant them

on the mountain of your inheritance-

"Then there will be... no going into captivity, no cry of distress in the streets."

Then may you say with Joseph,  "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."



(1)  Corrie ten Boom
(2)  A.W. Tozier,  The knowledge of the Holy
(3)  Jamie buckingham,  A Way Through the Wilderness.

Exodus 9:13     Exodus 3:7,  3:4     Job 38:14   Deuteronomy 11:11-12
Exodus 15:11,13,17  Psalm 144:14  Genesis 41:52

Clothe me Lord

       

         " Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God..." 

Ephesians 6

It was clear from the very beginning, around 12 weeks of age to be exact, that this one was going to be a fireball.  She was "strong will" personified.
Our beautiful daughter knew what she wanted and wasn't shy in expressing her thoughts. Capitulating to her was, well,  just easier.  Most of the time.   But as is the way of life, there are just some things that are non-negotiable.  Dressing appropriately for day and  season was one of those.  No, you cannot wear a T-shirt without a coat in the dead of winter.  No, you cannot wear a mini skirt sans underclothing to school. Morning rituals in our home were rife with rebellion and resistance and typically resembled a scene straight out of the movie--Curly Sue. The struggle became such a battle that I eventually coined a ditty just to accomplish the conflict of dressing:  "One little arm(y) in there, that's half the battle, another little arm(y) in there and the battles' done." Got it. Shirt on. Whew! The rest followed somewhat uneventfully. Eventually the feat of getting the day rolling was accomplished, but not without a battle plan and intentional strategizing.

At times I have experienced a similar scenario played out in the mornings between me and my heavenly father. Getting dressed, biblically dressed, in the morning is sometimes a sloppy, slothful and truth be told, sinful endeavor for me!  Yes, I spend quality time in prayer, meditation and worship every morning. But I don't always take time to dress myself by deliberately reading this passage and applying its truth to my routine before I set out.  Not wise..the world is not a safe place to be when your spiritually naked!!!
Chuck Swindoll, in his daily devotional Insight for Living,  stated this well;  "Because the path of servant hood is so perilous, we need to cultivate a sensitive walk with God marked by obedience."
 God has laid out a daily attire for us;  a complete  ensemble of armor.  The belt of truth. A breastplate of righteousness. The gospel of peace for our feet. The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. Eph. 6:10-18.  Sometimes, however, I simply don't have time to dress as commanded. Sometimes I  underestimate the spiritual climate of what the day could hold. Sometimes I just plain feel contrary. Those are the days I simply kneel and pray;  Lord, Dress me, I don't have the energy today.
As my heavenly FATHER, He carefully clothes me as a parent would clothe a young child incapable of attending to the details of dress yet.  Patiently and meticulously He raises my arms, lifts my head and moves my body to clothe me with the spiritual armor He knows I must have. Armor that not only protects us from the spiritual assaults of our enemy but guards and protects our mind and heart, our faith and our witness. Holy garb is a necessity.
Taking us by the hand, He escorts us to the door and takes us into the world with a promise,  I love you, I am with you always, I will protect you. Don't forget.

On her first day of kindergarten, I gave my daughter a gold locket with a picture of me inside  as a reminder of home and my love for her.  Feel for the locket over your heart whenever you miss me, or want to be reminded of home, I told her. This was one way I clothed her for the hours ahead when she might find herself  feeling lonely, scared, homesick, rejected or insecure. A locket of love around her neck and over her heart. The heart, the wellspring of life. We need to guard the heart. No wonder one of the pieces of spiritual dress is a breastplate.

Lately I have followed a thread of verses that have spoken to me about an inner attire as well.

*Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Gal. 5:22) .
*Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12).
*Goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance,  godliness, kindness, love. (2 Pet. 1:5-7)

Overwhelmed by the preponderance of preparation required in your daily routine?  Don't be, God doesn't demand anything from us that He isn't willing to do Himself. He also dresses. For us. On our behalf.
He goes before us to prepare the way.  He went before us to the cross to gain our salvation. He has gone before of us into our day and will show Himself faithful through anything we might encounter.  If there is a battle you face, be assured, He has armed/clothed you with strength for the battle. With His help you can scale a wall and advance against a troop. And remember, "There is no place where God is absent, no time when He is silent."  (1)
So go on, get dressed, and if you just can't find the strength or desire, let Him do it for you.

He put on righteousness as His breastplate,

and the helmet of salvation on His head;

                                                  He put on the garments of vengeance

   and wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Isaiah 59:17

And may you be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God.  1 sam  25:29




Matthew 28:20  Ephesians 2:4  Psalm 121  Proverbs 4:23  Deut. 31:8  Psalm 18:29,39
(1) Eugene Petersen.  Praying with the Psalms

Risen!

Today

let us worship you with singleness of heart

and steadfastness of faith.

let us hear your word and walk in you ways

shunning evil and pursuing purity.

 For by you nations rise and kings rule,

the day dawns and the sun sets,

by you our sins are forgiven

and our righteousness restored,

by you our enemy is conquered!

                                      (l.Paddock)

                                                                          Redeemed!

Luke 24:6  Jeremiah 32:39, 6:16,   proverbs 3:7   Daniel 2:21   Psalms 103:12  1John 1:9

The Story

"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun who rides the ancient skies above to help you." 

                                                 He who's power is in the skies.

                                                               Psalm 68:34

.
Imagine for a moment the concept of that power. Supernatural power that rides the skies...for YOU!
Power that resurrects a dead body,  forgives our sins, suspends the stars, gives birth to the dawn and laid the earths foundations.
Power that spreads the northern skies, wraps up the waters in His clouds, and covers the face of the moon.


While it is true that God is in His sanctuary in heaven, it is also true that scripture refers to us as the sanctuary and dwelling place of His spirit. If we have made a deliberate decision to believe The Story, the biblical account of Jesus, and committed to that truth as the foundation for living, Christ promises through the presence of His spirit to come and make His abode within us. We become a new creation. The eternity set within us is awakened.
So, what does that mean?
It is one thing to cognitively comprehend the historical facts of Jesus,  it is quite another to recognize the reality of the resurrection and make it personal.  In other words, we do more than just practice a religion, we embrace a life changing, spirit filled, sold out relationship with Christ.
The ultimate end is the fulfillment of the eternal  pursuit of our souls; salvation from sin and restored intimacy with our creator as was the original design in Eden. Now and forever.

Recognizing the deity of Christ, Repenting of our sins, Receiving  faith (to believe) =salvation.



                                              For if you confess with your mouth
                                    (that Jesus is The Christ and died for your sins) 
                                                    and believe in your heart
                                                 (that He rose from the dead),
                                                          you shall be saved."
                                                            Romans 10:9-10  


How I love to just simply and quietly look up and ponder the inconceivable, undeniable, indescribable glory and power reflected in the heavens above.
"Truly He is awesome in His sanctuary."  "He has set His glory above the heavens."
May you be reminded of His love and provision of eternity for you every time you look up.
And may you remember that He has exalted His name and His word above all things and know that He is above every hour and event, every trial and triumph that might come your way.
He fills the whole universe and is over all and through all and in all. He rides the ancient skies, for you.
That's a power I want to harness and hold on to as I walk this place called planet earth.


 


O Lord god, ancient of days, may we sincerely take words to you and ask for forgiveness and be received graciously, seeing the benefit and experiencing the blessing of new life with you.  Amen.


                        
                                       

1. Deuteronomy 33:26,  Psalms 68:33,   Job 26:7-9, 14,   John 14:23, 
2.  Ecclesiastes 3 :11,    Psalms 8:2, 68:35, 138:2,  Ephesians 4:6  Hosea 14:2