Holy Thursday prayer

O Lord, what can I say? I am at the same time full of sorrow – heartbroken over what you suffered and sacrificed for me and for us all – and full of joy – grateful beyond words for your great love that knows no limits. As I remember today your last hours before your death, I am filled with many things. My thoughts are too many to express. My heart feels like it will burst. Enlarge it to hold all this love, all this pain…all of YOU. I love you, my Lord. I worship you. I adore you. I am ready. I am willing. I want to follow you – to follow in your holy footsteps. I want to lose myself completely, so that I can be found in you. I want to obey all the way to the end. Help me, Lord! Keep me awake, so I can watch and pray. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Please give me more of your Spirit!! Pray for me and through me, Holy Spirit. Wash me today, Lord. Cleanse and purify me. And, make me like you. Let me go out in love and humility and serve others, so that they can know you and receive you. I want everything you came to give me. My heart and hands are open. I don’t deserve any of it. O, thank you, GOD! I am overwhelmed by the goodness of your gifts, the extravagance of your love!! I want to go with you to the end. Keep me faithful. I know I can’t do it on my own. You are my Strength! Help me to persevere in you and on your path. Lead me, Holy Spirit. Direct every step. Jesus, you are holy! You are worthy! Be glorified in my life. Let ALL THE WORLD see you and what you have done.  Draw all people to yourself! Let your will be done! Thank you, Jesus!! In your name – Amen.

2012
04/05
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remembering my liberation

This Easter week has me remembering my liberation - remembering how the Lord has set me free through Jesus. It is good to remember. This morning I was thinking of how when I had my first child, my precious daughter, I cried out to God for the first time after many years of going astray – walking in sin and darkness, ashamed and afraid. The moment I saw my daughter, I was flooded with this love that was almost too much too bear. I got a little taste of the amazing love God has for me, His daughter. I also realized very quickly that I did NOT have what it took to parent her as I wanted. I desperately needed help. Even though I hadn’t called on God in years, I started to cry out to Him. I knew in my heart He was the only One who could help me. This was the beginning. It started with prayer – nothing fancy, just heartfelt cries for help. God answered. He welcomed back His prodigal daugher with open arms and love (Lk. 15:11-32)! He started His rescue of me. He began bringing people into my life that were walking with Him. They loved me with His love. They accepted me where I was. I was drawn to them, and through them, I was drawn to Jesus.

It took time. I didn’t know how trustworthy God is, how loving and compassionate, forgiving and merciful. God is so patient. He was patient with me. He never gave up. A few years later, I had another problem. I cried out again. I was again desperate. God sent more help. My family and I were now attending a church, so we were surrounded by a community of people who loved us, and we had support through them and the resources they provided. I started digging into God’s precious word, the Bible. I was desperate to hear from God. He spoke. He guided. He healed. This has happened more times than I can count. It is an ongoing process. As I grow closer to the Lord, His light shines brighter. He is continually bringing me into freedom in different areas of my life. He pours out His grace daily. He is bringing my life competely under His authority. He is helping me by the power of His Spirit in me to live in obedience to Him and His word, which is the only place of true freedom. I can now look back and see the many places He has been faithful, and that helps me to look forward in faith, knowing He will continue to do this. He never changes. His love never fails. He never leaves me, never forsakes me, always helps me. He is working in me and won’t stop till the work is done! It is His plan. And, nothing can thwart His plan!

Jewish people (and many Christians) all over the world are celebrating Passover this week. Passover is the feast that was being celebrated right before Jesus’ death. It was the last meal He ate. That is no coincidence. Passover is a feast commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery to the Egyptians. To liberate means to set free from domination of a foreign power (Merriam-Webster online). God delivered and liberated His people. He brought 10 plagues on the Pharoah and Egypt, where the Israelites were in bondage and used as slaves. The 10th plague was that the firstborn in each household would be killed. God told His people to slaughter a lamb and put the blood on their doorposts. This would be the sign that those homes were to be passed over. No one in those homes would be killed. Any home that was not covered with the lamb’s blood was not safe from death (Read this amazing story for yourself here: Exodus 11-12).

Jesus is our Passover Lamb.

He sacrificed Himself to save us. His blood now covers us and protects us from death.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.”  Isaiah 53:6-8

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”  John 1:29

Jesus has liberated us. He has set us free from the domination of sin - from the bondage and slavery we were in, from our enemies who were too strong for us. He has taken the punishment for every sin we have commited, so that we are no longer condemned. We are free and washed clean, new creations in Christ!!

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”  Isaiah 61:1

“He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.”  Psalm 18:17

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.”  Romans 8:1-3

This good news is for EVERYONE! That makes it the best news of all!! If you are bound up, broken-hearted, a prisoner to some sin, held captive by an enemy that is too strong for you, do not despair. Your Rescuer has come – It is JESUS!! In Him is life, freedom, love, peace and joy! I know you may have heard this before. It may just look like words on a page, sounding too good to be true. But, these are not just words, they are truth! I am living it. I was trapped in sin. It ruled over me. It was too strong for me. I could not break free. I didn’t even realize I was trapped in it. It was so normal to me. I couldn’t see because I was in darkness. But, in my desperation, I called out to the Lord, and He came and rescued me. He brought me to Himself. He forgave my sins (and there were many). And, every day, He draws me closer. Every day, His light and love go deeper. Every day His word heals and changes me more and more. I am being transformed, renewed, restored - made into what I was created to be. And, the joy is indescribable! The freedom is unbelievable. The LOVE is perfect and unending and liberating!! If this is speaking to you, stirring up hope in your heart, it is because GOD is speaking to you! All this is for you, too…It is not something you can earn. It is a gift. Just receive it. Say yes to Jesus!!

“Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.’”  Mark 1:14-15

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

O my sweet Jesus! Thank you! Thank you for saving me, rescuing me. Thank you for loving me so much that you came for me. I feel so inadequate to express my love and gratitude. I humbly lay myself at your feet. Please, use me! I live only because of you, through you and for you! It’s all about YOU. You are the Light of the World! In you are all riches: love, life, forgiveness, hope, joy, peace, healing. Oh, Jesus, please let all see you and know you!! When they know you and your great love, they will come. Let your plan for each person come to fruition. YOUR WILL BE DONE. I want to follow you, to obey you. Help me, Holy Spirit. Make me faithful and obedient all the way to the end. Direct every step. YOU are the Way, Jesus. Show me. Live in me. Live through me. Make your whole body, the church, obedient. Fill us with you. Be our foundation. Be our head. Live in and through us. Let others be drawn to you through us…Let them be drawn to you IN us! Thank you, Jesus! You are good. Your love endures forever. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Every word you have spoken will come to pass. Hallelujah!! Let this special, holy week honor you and bring you glory. Be high and lifted up in all the world!! In your mighty name – Amen.

 

2012
04/03
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Our help comes from the Lord.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV)

I thought someone might need this. It’s a post I wrote last year about praising God in the hard times: praising in the storms (click link to read).

Many of us are in hard times. We are in personal struggles, relationships struggles, work struggles, afraid, sick, discouraged, at the end of our ropes, seeing no way out, no solution. Many of us are in impossible situations. Let us cry out to God in our time of need! He hears our cries! And, He is the One to cry out to, the only One who can save us! He is the God who does the impossible! Let us confess our deep need and that Jesus is the only Way. Let us put all our faith, all our hope, all our confidence in the Lord!! When we are in desperate need and call out to Him, He responds. Our prayers prayed out of the deepest places – out of our love, pain and hurt – go up before Him like incense…They rouse Him from His holy dwelling!

“…they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.”  Psalm 107:27b-28

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  Psalm 61:1-2 (KJV)

“Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”  Psalm 141:1-2 (KJV)

“For nothing is impossible with God.”  Luke 1:37

“Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  Luke 18:27 (NIV)

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  ~ Jesus’ words from Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV)

“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”  ~ Jesus’ words from Mark 9:29 (KJV)

1I will love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. 8 Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. 10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. 12 From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. 14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O Lord, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. 19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me

Psalm 18:1-17 (NKJV)

2012
03/31
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built to last

“When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”  Prov. 10:25 (NKJV)

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  ~ Jesus’ words from Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)

“11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”  1 Corinthians 3:11-17 (NKJV)

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)

Thank you, Jesus, for making me part of your family! Thank you for the unfathomable gifts you have given me through your life, death and resurrection!! Build my whole life on YOU! Purify and refine me. You are the Everlasting Foundation, and your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Only what is built on you will last. I give you complete authority in my life! Help me to hear your voice clearly and obey – to DO what you tell me to do! Let me be not just a hearer but a doer of your Word! Only when my life is lived according to your Word can I withstand the storms that come and the winds that blow. Let your Word go down deep and be my anchor. Have mercy on those who have not yet received you as their Savior. Let your light shine brighter and brighter! Show them now that what they have will not endure and that you are the Rock to run to! You are the safe place they are looking for. You are the life they are seeking. You are the love they have never known! In you are abounding riches. You are the Reward, the Prize! In your holy and precious name – Amen.

2012
03/30
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prayer from Ezra 5

Lord, I feel the opposition to your work. But, I feel your presence more! I know your strength will carry us through! Your never take your eyes off your people. Thank you, God! Help me to remember that you are stronger than anything that comes against me. I claim your victory in and through Christ! I give myself over completely to your work – to building your house and to letting you build me up in and on you. I submit to your authority in every area of my life. Help me to give thought to my ways and turn from sin and repent. Make me a pure and holy vessel, so you can fill me to all fullness with you. Rid me of pride, fear, self-reliance, judgment, bitterness, envy, anger, unforgiveness, every sin. Forgive me, Lord.  Forgive us all. We have worked building our own houses, and we have built them on the sand. Let your winds blow in your great mercy, so that everything not built on you, the Rock, will crumble now. Tear down everything built on worldly “wisdom”. Build your house, Lord! Pull us in closer. Connect us fully to you, Jesus. Abide in us and help us to abide in you. Tear down strongholds and high places. Prune us. Prune me, Lord! Your rebuke is oil on my head. Correct me through your Word and your Spirit. Take out the parts of me that are dead and choking out your life-giving Word. Make me completely obedient to you and your commands. All I want is to hear your voice and walk in obedience to it. I love you, Lord! I live because of you and for you. I want to know you more. I want more of YOU! I want more of your Word, more of your Spirit! You alone are good. You alone are what is needed.

Come, Lord Jesus!! Protect me and all of your people. Let your Spirit fall on each of us. Stir us up! Light your holy fire in each of us. Let your flame of love consume us and refine us. Strengthen us for your work. Give us courage. Help us to persevere to the end in your will. Many people have had so much opposition in their lives that they have come to a standstill. Lord, have mercy on them! Bring your refreshment and revival! Encourage each of us. Help those who have stopped to start moving in and with you again. Let no one feel the burden of guilt. That is not from you! Let us move forward yoked to you and in the freedom of your love, knowing you are using everything for your good. Nothing is wasted in you. Redeem everything, Lord. Teach us. Let us learn from our past mistakes. Help us to rely wholeheartedly on you and put all our hope and confidence in YOU! Let everything we do bring you glory and serve your purpose. Glorify your name! Help us not to consider or shrink back from death. Even if we die, we live. Nothing can separate us from you and your everlasting love! Let nothing deter us from doing your will. Protect us from evil. Hide us in the shadow of your wings. Keep our feet firmly planted on your path. Make us bold and stout-hearted. Let Love strengthen us and compel us. Guide our steps, Holy Spirit. Let each of us grow strong in you. Develop our gifts, so we can serve you better. Train us. Mature us in you. Make all the parts of your body work together as one. Move us out of living selfish lives and into living totally for you! Let us decrease so you can increase. Let your kingdom come and your will be done, Lord! Bring all the lost to you. Send us out in love to minister and serve. Let your good news go into every corner of the earth, into the dark recesses of every heart. Bring your light. Bring your healing. Open eyes! Open ears! Open hearts to receive you!! In Jesus’ name – Amen.

2012
03/29
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Ezra: Chapter 5

In the last post I wrote about Ezra (waaaay back in January), I talked about chapter 4. In case anyone wants to check out the other posts about Ezra, they are here: Jewels out of Ezra, Ezra: Part 2, Ezra: Part 3. In case you don’t want to read those, here’s a quick run-down: In the book of Ezra, the people of Israel were coming out of captivity in Babylon, and they were working to rebuild the Lord’s temple which had been destroyed during the invasion years earlier. Many people were working against the Israelites, doing everything they could to stop the building. At the end of chapter 4, the opposition to the rebuilding of the temple had finally gotten so bad that the work came to a standstill after a formal complaint (accusation) was written to the king at the time, Artaxerxes:

“As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop. Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.”  Ezra 4:23-24

I think this is SO relevent today. As God’s people work for Him and allow Him to work in them, the opposition gets so forceful, many times we come to a standstill, afraid to go on. We can become paralyzed by fear, discouraged and weary. Let’s look at chapter 5 of Ezra for some encouragement and insight on how to get back to work! It starts with Haggai and Zechariah prophesying to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, encouraging them to stop building their own houses and get back to work building God’s temple.

“Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.”  Ezra 5:1-2

“In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, ‘Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, ‘The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?’”  Haggai 1:1-4

Both Haggai and Zechariah have books in the Old Testament that tell their story and more of what they shared with the people. I highly recommend reading them! In fact, it’s hard not to stop here and talk extensively about both of them.

I can’t help myself…I will just say a “little” about Haggai. Haggai 1:1 tells us that the word of the Lord to start building the temple again came through Haggai to Zerabbabel and Jeshua (called Joshua in Haggai). My ears are pricked up to that the “word of the Lord” came to Haggai. We must stay in God’s word! We must be listening! His word is alive and active (Heb. 4:12)! The Holy Spirit works as we ingest and digest it, using it to prune and refine us. For this to happen, we must be taking it in, feeding on His every word daily and submitting ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit. Only by remaining in Jesus and His word can we obey His commands and do His will. When we allow Jesus, who IS the Word, to abide in us and live through us, we then move in His love and do His will (Gal. 2:20).

“Give us each day our daily bread.”  Luke 11:3

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:4

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”  John 4:34

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you…As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”  John 15:4-7, 9-10 (NKJV, italics added by me)

Haggai didn’t necessarily speak to everyone; He spoke to Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Then, those two passed it on to others. This is often how God works. It is personal. He speaks to one and has them share with another. In that way, the fire is kindled one by one. God is a God who works through personal relationships – though fellowship with Him and with each other. So, first and most importantly, we must each have a living, active, personal relationship with the Lord! Only as we remain connected to the vine do we bear fruit. Only as His word lives in us and we allow Jesus and His word to be our daily food are we truly alive and able to move forward in love. His Spirit in us is what stirs us up and moves us!

“Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD. So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.”  Haggai 1:13-15

“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.’”  Zechariah 4:6 

Second, we must be living in community and willing to listen to others and submit to them in Christ to receive what the Lord brings us through them as well. We must also be listening to Him ourselves and willing to share what He is saying to us. This is vital if we are to be a fully functional body of believers. Also, each person has a specific role to follow. The message Haggai received was for two specific people. Different people receive different messages that are related to God’s plan for them and the work He has for them to do. This is why discernment and seeking godly wisdom and advice is also so important. People with different jobs will receive different parts of the message. And, we all must be willing to obey God’s promptings. Just think if Haggai had not obeyed God and shared His message, or if Zerubbabel and Jeshua had not received and responded to Haggai’s message. Every link in the chain – every person – must be connected, active and ready to obey!

“Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.”  Haggai 1:12

Something else I think it’s important to know is that Zerubbabel was an ancestor of Christ. He was part of Jesus’ family line. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it was Zerrubbabel that got the call to start building again. We, too, are in the lineage of Christ. We are part of His family now. Those who belong to Christ are the only ones who can work on the Lord’s temple. We ARE the Lord’s temple. His word is coming to us now. He is stirring us up to work for Him, serving Him with our lives. He is telling us to rebuild His temple, His house!! Also, Jeshua was the high priest. God still works through our spiritual leaders. We do well to listen to them and follow as they lead and to continually pray for them, that they will stay hidden in Christ and hear His voice clearly.

Back to Ezra 5…

Haggai and Zechariah prophesied, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua rallied the people together to get back to work on the temple. No sooner had they started to work than the governor and his officials came to question them, asking who they were (their names) and who gave them authority to start back to work. I love their answer! It is given a little further down in the letter the governor wrote to King Darius, who was the current ruler. Here it is:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.”  Ezra 5:11

We can pretty much bank on this: If we are working for the Lord, and if the Lord is working in our lives, we will come up against opposition. We will be questioned. And, this is our answer anytime we hear the accusing voice of the enemy asking us who we think we are:

We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, THE Great King! And, we are doing His work, building His house!

It is under His authority and by His power that the work is being done, and no one on earth has the ability to stop it! Our identity must be in Christ. It is not in the power of our own “names” but in the power of the One whose name is on us – in who we belong to - that we move forward in victory! Is anybody else as excited about this as I am?! This truth is extremely powerful!

Now, verse 5 says that “the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius.” God was keeping His eye on them. He kept them from being forced to stop. Let’s call on God for the same thing! We know we are the apple of His eye (Ps. 17:8, Zech. 2:8b). Let’s ask our Lord to never take His eyes off us and to help us continue faithfully in His work and service. He alone has the power to do this! And, He is constantly looking for people who have pure hearts turned toward Him – people who are willing to give themselves over completely to Him and His will.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”  2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)

The report was sent to Darius. This is where chapter 5 ends. I will pick back up here next time…

2012
03/28
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This is just the beginning.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.  And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 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. 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!”

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”  John 2:1-11

I find myself thinking about this story a lot lately and telling others about it, so I thought I would share it here, too. It was Jesus’ first miracle where He turned water into wine at a wedding celebration. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the first public sign occurs at a wedding reception. When we become the bride of Christ, joining Him in holy union, two become one as His Spirit dwells within us. And, it is as we celebrate Jesus and rejoice in His great love that He works! We are God’s precious possession whom He loves and treasures. As we come to know that in our relationships with Him, the praise naturally flows out of our hearts…

“…’a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”  Ephesians 5:31-32

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (HCSB)

“I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”  Isaiah 43:20-21 

This first miracle happened at what looked like the end of the celebration – when the wine had run out. The real miracles in our lives often happen when we think it’s the end – when we have “run out” of time, money, energy, hope, strength, etc. When we are empty vessels, God has all the room to fill us to all fullness with Himself. Then, people will see that His love is unfailing and He is the Perfect Provision.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”  2 Corinthians 4:7

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This miracle also happened as the result of a problem. Only because of the problem did Jesus’ mother ask Him to help. It is the same with us. We ask for help when there is a problem. When we call on the Lord in our own times of trouble, He always answers! Then, people see how much He cares, that He comes in our weakness with His power! So, in this way, even our problems are gifts. God uses everything in the lives of those who love Him for His good (Rom. 8:28)!

Some people may not recognize the source of the miracle, that it is Jesus at work, but we, His servants, know! We are to proclaim His greatness, giving Him all the credit for all He is doing and revealing that His love and mercy go on forever!

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”  Psalm 115:1

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”  Psalm 118:1

Jesus turned one thing (water) into something else completely (wine). He can change anything! He is changing us. When we come to believe in Him, He makes us new. And, He continues to work out our salvation and transform us as we draw closer to Him and allow Him to reign as King over our lives.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”  Philippians 2:12-16

Just as the servants had to do just what Jesus said in order for the miracle to occur, we must obey Jesus with every step, even if we don’t understand or see what the end result will be. In this way, we become blameless and pure and shine for Him! It’s really all about following the Lord in complete obedience out of our great love for Him and by the power of His Spirit at work within us. This is how Jesus manifests His glory in and through our lives. This is how our faith is deepened and how many others will come to believe!

Just as that was just the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the mighty miracles He would perform, so this is just the beginning! Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our God is the same God of the Bible. He has not changed. And, we haven’t seen anything yet!! He is just getting started! We may feel like things are coming to the end, and maybe they are in some ways. But, the end is actually the beginning! The old has gone. The new has come. God is making a new heaven and a new earth. Jesus is among us - in us and with us. He is living through us! We ARE the body of Christ. As we become His holy vessels, He is filling us with Himself. He is transforming us into His image. He is working miracles in our lives as we walk in obedience. His glory is being manifested!! Faith is growing. As faith grows, so will the mighty works we see and are a part of.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20

O Lord, I am so excited!! I hear you saying that this is just the beginning and that wonderful things are to come. Hallelujah! Show your great love and power to all! Come, Lord Jesus! We need you. We love you. We can do nothing without you. We are relying on you. Help us.! We need you desperately! We are empty. We want to be filled by you. We will do whatever you say. Speak, Lord. And, lead us in obedience by your Spirit. This is not the end. It is the beginning! Help us to remember this and not get discouraged and lose heart. We believe in your love and power! Unleash it all over the earth. Let your Spirit fall! Open the eyes of every heart and let every person receive you as their Lord and Savior. Let us, your body, represent you and be you ministers. Unite us. Let us be of one heart and mind. Grow and mature us. Make us your faithful, humble servants. Help us to do whatever you say – to obey with every step. Purify us, so we are holy vessels. Give us boldness to proclaim you and to tell all what you have done and are doing! Increase our faith. Deepen our love. Bring whatever will give you the most glory. Thank you for problems and weakness and trials and everything that helps us to more fully rely on and trust in you. Your power is made perfect in our weakness! Let all see that your grace is sufficient. We love you! We praise you! You alone are worthy! You are the source of life and love and all good things. Let your perfect will be done. We are waiting in faith and hope.  We believe and know you are the Holy One of God. You never change. You are the same yesterday and today and tomorrow! Let your kingdom come, Jesus! In your holy name – Amen.

2012
03/22
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Psalm 120-125 shot

Many people get B-12 shots for energy and to get the vitamins they are missing. I thought we might all take a shot out of Psalm 120-125 this morning, injecting His Holy Word into our souls to give us energy and strength through the truth of His love, protection and faithfulness…

“In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.”  Psalm 120:1-2

We cry out to God, and He hears us. He delivers us from every lie and from being deceived.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”  Psalm 121

We look to God. We keep our eyes on Jesus. He is where our help comes from. There is no power on earth or in heaven that can contend against the Lord and win, so we have nothing to fear! God watches over us night and day. He never sleeps. He never takes His eyes off us. He will keep us safe now and forever.

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together,Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord…

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”…

Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.”  Psalm 122:1-4, 6-7, 9

We go to and live in God’s house when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We ARE God’s house, his Spirit dwelling in each one of us. We abide in Jesus and He in us. When we obey the Lord’s commands, we live in the safety of His boundaries and are safe in His house. All the people of God are His city. We draw closer to one another. We live compactly – in fellowship. Each tribe helping, serving, honoring and loving the other. We thank God, because we know this is only done in and through Him – by His grace lavished upon us because of His great love for us. We commit to be a house of prayer and to pray for peace within the body of Christ and peace for His chosen race, the Israelites. We commit to pray for all to come into and be a part of His house. We, the individuals who make up the Lord’s house, become the walls that protect as we pray and love and live together in unity through the Spirit. Peace and prosperity are only found in Christ. We seek the Lord and His good, not our own.

“Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us!”  Psalm 123:1-3
We take our eyes off earthly things and fix them on heavenly things. God is our Source – where we get everything we need, where we see who we really are and what we are made to be and do. The Lord is our Master, our Guide. We look to Him, and He shows us mercy. We need His mercy each day!
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive…Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth…Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 124:1-3, 6, 8
Only in God through Christ is there victory! Without Him and apart from Him, we are defeated. Praise God! Bless His holy name! He has not let us be overcome but has overcome evil and made a way for us. Jesus is our Help and our Hope!
“Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.”  Psalm 125:1-2
When we put our trust in the Lord, we will not be shaken. When we build our lives firmly on Jesus, we will stand firm to the end! As we abide in Him, we are hidden in and covered by Him, so that nothing can snatch us from His mighty hand! The Lord surrounds us now and forever. Hallelujah!!
2012
03/19
CATEGORY
Bible/God
Christianity
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consequences of unbelief

My last post was about the miracles Jesus performed that are recorded in Mark 5.  They are amazing. Each one is so powerful. Then, when you put them all together…just WOW! Jesus’ love and power shown through all three stories is mind-blowing! He expelled demons that had violently tormented a man. He healed a woman of an ailment that had caused bleeding and pain for 12 years, and He raised a 12 year-old girl from the dead. Doesn’t get much better than that! What a faith-boosting chapter! You rush forward into chapter 6, excited and wondering what amazing things you will read about next…

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV)

Chapter 6 of Mark begins with Jesus returning to His own country, His hometown. He was going back to where He was from. These people had known Him growing up. You’d think that would make them even more receptive to Him, but it didn’t. Jesus did the same thing He always did…We went into the synagogue to teach. The people were astonished and amazed (vs. 2). Sounds like a good start, but it wasn’t. The people were amazed because they didn’t think Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph, the carpenter, should have this kind of wisdom.

Wow! This is so convicting to me. How many times have I rejected wisdom or counsel because of who it came through? How many times have I seen the person with human eyes instead of spiritual eyes and completely missed the blessing? My unbelief and inability to see the Spirit in people can limit the work of God: “He could do no mighty work there” (vs. 5)! That is serious stuff. I think it is especially easy to do this with people we have known a long time. We label people and those labels box them in. We decide who someone is and what they are good at (and not good at), and we don’t take into account that they are growing and changing. In doing this, we bind them and restrict them. We all need freedom (and to give one another room) to be who God made us to be and to grow and mature in Christ. Once Jesus lives in us, we are being transformed, so we are constantly changing. We are not the same as we were. “The old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17. We have the power of God in us! We must remember this, and that it is not just the case with us but with every Christian we encounter. Each person is a holy vessel carrying the precious Spirit of God. And, we are all different parts of the body of Christ. We need each person and the gifts they have to offer! We must receive each person with love and honor them. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,” Ephesians 5:21.

Jesus was perfect, so it’s hard for me to imagine why His friends and relatives and those He had grown up with didn’t recognize who He was and that He WAS wisdom, love and power – the One they were all waiting for! But, if they didn’t recognize Him, how hard is it and can it be for me to recognize the Spirit within each person? Pretty hard. Impossible on my own. That is why I must rely and lean completely on the Lord and His wisdom, letting His Spirit guide and direct each step (Prov. 3:4-5 & 20:24).

Jesus came into the world in a very humble way, and He was born into a humble family. Joseph was a carpenter. Today, we would call that a blue-collar worker. Jesus was born into a working-class family. He was not born into a family of priests (the intellectually elite, the most honored among the people & the ones people looked to for spiritual wisdom). I know there are so many reasons for this. I think one of them was so that people would have to look past appearances. The people from Jesus’ hometown illustrate this perfectly. They couldn’t do it.

I think another reason was so that others who are born into lowly, humble circumstances will know that the Lord is with them and in them! He comes to dwell in humble places – in the hearts of sinners who repent and love Him and believe in Him. He does mighty works in those who believe! But, those who are offended by Jesus and do not believe – who are unable to see Him for who He really is – cannot receive Jesus and all that He has to offer them. He will never push. He works according to our faith. He works in response to our belief in Him. If we reject Him – if we keep the door of our hearts closed – He will not force His way in (Rev. 3:20). He will continue to go from place to place, from person to person, teaching and offering Himself to all. When a heart is hard (there is no room for Him there…Lk. 2:8, Jn. 8:37), He keeps searching. He gives Himself to everyone who believes and opens their heart, to everyone who makes room for Him and invites Him in. No abode is too humble. No heart is too dirty. He has the power to make every heart clean, to wash away every sin!

Lord Jesus, I see you! I want to see you more! You are so beautiful in each person! The more I see you in others, the more I know you. You reveal yourself to me in this way. It is a wonder that I cannot fully grasp, but I am in awe of it and of you! Open the eyes of my heart to see and recognize you in whatever form you take - in every heart in which you reside. Give me ears to hear your your message and a heart to receive it. Give me a Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know you more. Let your Spirit in me quicken every time I am with another believer. Let us be drawn to one another like magnets! Let our hearts leap for joy when we are together! Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I have rejected you, for all the times I have not recognized you and honored you and for my unbelief.  Increase my faith! Please help me to submit to you and to each believer out of reverence for you. Purify each of us, so that we are able to speak in love and teach one another. Grow and mature your body, so that we work together as one for your purpose. Help us to live in freedom and to give one another freedom. Let us all live in obedience to you and follow your commands wholeheartedly. Fill us with your Spirit. Help us to love and receive you fully and to love and receive one another! Thank you, Lord, that you have come to dwell in me, the worst of sinners. You have cleaned me and made me new! Help me to be worthy of you. Help me to love you and thank you and serve you with every breath, every step. Make my holy as you are holy. Let others see that you love them and are longing to make them your home! Come, Lord Jesus, into every heart! Let your kingdom come and your will be done. In your holy name – Amen.

2012
03/14
CATEGORY
Bible/God
Christianity
Prayer
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begging & believing

I was reading in Mark 5 yesterday and today. This chapter is chocked full of healing miracles Jesus performed.

The first story in this chapter is about a demon-possessed man. This man had lived in the tombs. No one could bind him. He was completely out of control. He was in torment. He would cry out and cut himself night and day (vs. 2-5). When this man saw Jesus coming from afar, “he ran and worshipped him,” Mark 5:6. The man (and the demons within him) recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God (vs. 7). The demons implored Jesus not to torment them and begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the country (vs. 7 & 10). Even the demons believed in Jesus’ power and knew He had all authority. They KNEW who He was and what power He had, so they begged Jesus to send them into some pigs, and He gave them permission to do that (vs. 11-13). I don’t know much about the belief system of demons, but I do think it is note-worthy that even the demons begged Jesus because they knew of His power!

The man that Jesus drove the demons out of then begged Jesus to go with Him because he wanted to stay with Him (vs. 18). Jesus did not permit him to go with Him, but instead told the man to go back home and tell others the great things the Lord had done for him (vs. 19). The man obeyed Jesus and began to proclaim all that He had done for him (vs. 20a). The man believed Jesus and trusted that whatever He said to do was best. Because of his obedience and faith, many others heard about Jesus and marvelled at what He did (vs. 20b).

The next story in Mark 5 is about a synagogue leader, Jairus, and his sick daughter.

“…a great multitude gathered to Him (Jesus); and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.’”  Mark 5:21b-23

Jairus knew that Jesus was the One with the power to save his daughter. He went to Him, begging and believing. It was a dire circumstance. His daughter was at the point of death! But, Jairus knew that if Jesus would only come and touch her, she would be healed and live! So, Jesus went with him.

I love the next story that is sort of wedged in the middle of the story of Jairus and his daughter. As Jesus was travelling with Jairus to his daughter, a woman in the crowd who was very sick – who had been bleeding and suffering for 12 YEARS – came up behind Jesus and touched His garment (vs. 25-27). She also believed in Jesus. She had suffered and gotten worse, even after many physicians tried to help her, but she believed that if she only touched Jesus’ clothing, she would be healed (vs. 28)! When she touched his cloak, she was immediately healed and the bleeding stopped (vs. 29)! Jesus felt the power go out of Him and asked who touched Him. The woman came and fell at His feet. She told Him “the whole truth” (vs. 33). And, this is what Jesus said to her in reply:

“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”  Mark 5:34

This woman acted out of desperation. Her reaching out to Jesus was her begging for His healing. She reached out to Him because she believed He could heal her, that even just touching His clothing would make her well. Amazing faith!! And, Jesus said that her faith made her well.

After this happened, some people came from Jairus’ house to tell him that his daughter was dead. They told him not to trouble Jesus any more. When Jesus heard them, He said to Jairus: “Do not be afraid, only believe,” Mark 5:36b. He then took Peter, James and John and went into Jairus’ house. He told the people the girl was not dead but only sleeping. Some of people there ridiculed Jesus (vs. 40). They did not believe. Jesus put all of those who didn’t believe outside. Then, those with Him (who did believe) He took up to the little girl’s room. He spoke to her, telling her to arise (vs. 41). She immediately did!!

So many things in these stories to learn from and emulate. We must go to Jesus, begging earnestly for His healing, His power, His life-saving love for all who are in need. Even those who seem too far gone are NOT! Jesus wakes up those who are sleeping. Even those who are dead in sin and transgressions can be raised by Jesus! His Spirit is at work everywhere! We must beg for the Holy Spirit to fall on every person! We must continue to follow after Him and reach out to touch Him for our own healing. Even those things that have been with us all our lives, tormented us and that seem completely out of contol can be brought under the authority of Jesus! We must stay so close to the Lord that we can touch Him and hear His voice. And, we must be willing to tell the “whole truth” of our stories to Him – to tell Him everything. He already knows. He is just waiting for us to tell Him and to entrust ourselves fully to Him. When we confess and repent, He always meets us with forgiveness, healing, love and mercy. We must be on our guard about those who do not believe and who ridicule Jesus. They can even be people in our own “houses” – people we are close to, people in the body of Christ, even unbelieving parts of ourselves. We must not be deterred but continue to beg Jesus, believing Him for everything! The time is NOW. Jesus is here among us! He is going from place to place in search of those who need Him and cry out to Him. He answers us according to our faith!

Jesus, come and help us! Heal us! Raise us from the dead! Awaken us! Lord, we need you. We believe in you. You are the Holy One of God, the only One who can save us. And, we believe that you will!! We beg you…COME, LORD JESUS!! Come into every house! Help us to keep seeking after you, to keep asking you for healing and help. There are so many in need of your healing, so many sleeping, so many dead in transgressions. Please come and speak to them. Speak to us all! Open every heart to receive your word. Open every eye to see you! Wake us up! Continue to heal those within your body. Convict us of areas of sin in our lives and help us to repent. Bring us completely under your perfect, loving authority. Free us from everything in us that torments us and harms us. Refine and purify us, Lord. We want to be holy as you are holy. We want to be full of your Spirit and to represent you to others. We want to love you more and to love those around us. Guard us against doubt and unbelief. Forgive us for our unbelief. Increase our faith, Lord! Help us to put those lies out of our head that tell us things are not possible. Help us not to listen to others who doubt and ridicule. Everything is possible for you and for those that believe in you!! Help us to see those who are sick and to bring them to you. Come to them, Lord! Come to their houses and their rooms. Bring your healing! Let your will be done in every person’s life. Use us. Let our lives serve you and serve others, helping them come to you. Help us to stop being selfish and thinking only of ourselves. Only you in us can do this! We want to live for you and build your house. Make us your tools, your trustworthy messengers, your faithful servants. We are relying on you. We are begging for more of you! We believe in you! Let your perfect will be done, Lord. Work everything for your good. We love you. We need you. Our eyes are on you! Be glorified! Reveal your love and power to all, so that all will come to you! In Jesus’ name - Amen.

2012
03/12
CATEGORY
Bible/God
Christianity
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