Scriptures of Worship ~ Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

The late afternoon sun cast shadows across the simple home where Mary cared for baby Jesus. Joseph stood looking out a window towards the setting sun. His thoughts visited the events of the past several months - the journey he and Mary made to Bethlehem to pay taxes to Ceasar, the remarkable night of Jesus' birth where angels sang, "Glory!" and shepherds bowed in wonder as they beheld the Christ Child. He turned his head slightly to look on Mary as she kissed the soft, chubby cheeks of her child - the Son of God.

 "El Shaddai, Almighty God, You have visited us. How can it be?...yes, how can it be?" Joseph's voice trailed off as he, too, was consumed with wonder.

Hooves pounded in the distance. Joseph riveted towards the window. Dust billowed just over the knoll. As he watched, three camels appeared on the horizon. They were mounted by men clothed in rich silks and turbans - colors and clothing of royalty. The camels were bedecked with jewels and golden chains. The men stared upward towards the early evening sky. Simultaneously, the camels slowed. The men looked at one another and smiled and then broke out into a hardy laughter - pure joy! They commanded the camels to kneel. As the men dismounted, they hugged one another boisterously.

And then they grew silent.

Joseph met them at the doorway, his eyes wide with anticipation. The men looked past him and focused their gaze on the Christ Child. The small room became aglow with heavenly radiance. A holy hush fell upon the entire room.

"And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." ~ Matthew 2:11, NKJV

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Three symbols of worship in the ancient Tabernacle.

All of the vessels and furnishings in the Tabernacle of the wilderness were made of pure gold - God's finest. Frankincense was burned on the altar of incense to create a sweet aroma of prayer as the priests interceded for the children of Israel. On the Day of Atonement, the priests carried frankincense behind the veil into the Holy of Holies to evoke the Presence of God in their quest for forgiveness. Myrrh was the basis of the anointing oil used to consecrate - to set apart - men for the priesthood. It was also used to prepare bodies for burial.

Gold. God's finest.
Frankincense. Adoration of prayer and praise.
Myrrh. Set apart to share in His sorrows and those of the world.

Oh, what can we bring Him in this fast approaching new year?
I pray that my heart would overflow with an abundance of gold, frankincense and myrrh.



Father God, What can I bring You? I'll bring You my heart - a heart set apart for prayer and praise, a heart set apart to carry Your love into a hurting world. I will bring You my finest, Lord, all that I am and all that I hope to be. I love You, Lord. You are my God and I worship You.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Through The Eyes of A Child

Wide-eyed wonder. Spirit and mind like a sponge soaking in all the goodness God has to offer. No analysis. No intellectual debate. No personal agendas. Just pure faith. Pure trust. Awe.

This is the heart of a child.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." ~ Matthew 18:2-5, NIV



And now that you're smiling, here's one more. It comes complete with goosebumps and tears.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!



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If you received Morning Glory via email, you REALLY MUST visit the Morning Glory page to experience Christmas through the eyes of a child. Merry Christmas to each of you! I count you among my treasures from heaven.

Scriptures of Hope ~ Joy in the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter
     Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
     Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
     Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter
     Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
    Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
     When He comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
     A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
     Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
     Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
     And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
     Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
     Which adore.

Angels and archangels
     May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
     Thronged the air,
But only His mother
     In her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the Beloved
     With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
     Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
     I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
     I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him,
     I'll give Him my heart.
               ~ Christina Georgina Rossetti
                   1872 

"Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God." ~ Ezekiel 11:19,20, NKJV
               



Father God, Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the joy He brings to a fallen world. Thank You for the hope He brings to desperate hearts. And thank You for His amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. I love You Lord.
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Scriptures of Comfort ~ Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People...The Sandy Hook Tragedy

"Peace on earth, good will to men," the angels proclaimed.
"Do not fear, for lo, I am with you always," comforted Jesus.

Hope. Fear.
Comfort. Despair.

Disbelief.

Televisions everywhere carried the horrifying news of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The internet  buzzed with accounts of terror. Vile. Repulsive. Appalling images of a world gone crazy.

I gazed at the nativity scene nestled beneath our Christmas tree. Its serenity whispered hope to me, but the television screamed fear and gut-wrenching sorrow. Yet, the scene of my Savior's birth is as real to me as the gruesome scenes from Sandy Hook where the lives of precious children were snatched away. How can I resolve the disparity here? How can you? Why do bad things happen to good people?

I don't know that I have the answers, but I do have some thoughts.

There is a pat answer among Christian circles: We live in a fallen world. Yes, that is true. And yes, to some degree, that is the answer to beat all answers...our world is full of sin. But, somehow, that answer does not satisfy me. Some questions need more than a pat answer.

This is what I know: My God is sovereign. My God is good and faithful. My God is eternal. We are physical beings living in a physical world, but our GOD is all about eternity. Every moment of every day is monumental to us. Every moment of every day is important to the Lord because it concerns us, but our days and the circumstances therein are but a snap of His fingers. His primary concern is that we spend eternity with Him in close, intimate fellowship. The fallen children of Sandy Hook Elementary School are now with Him. These parents and families are surrounded by His love. Was His Presence known in Sandy Hook on Friday morning? I think so. I believe His ministering angels held each of these children as they passed from this sin-filled earth into the waiting arms of their Heavenly Father. I believe He wept. I believe the power of His Presence penetrated the evil snare harboring Adam Lanzo's heart and begged him to yield to the Father's love. But the shooter would not. That's the thing about our God. We all have free will. The shooter chose his free will that day.

This is what I know: Our God promises to work everything for our good when we love Him and are called according to His purposes. Everything. Even evil when it comes against His children. This I know.

In Deuteronomy 1:31, Moses is reminding the children of Israel of God's goodness and faithfulness, even in the bad times, "and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son..."

In our darkest moments, God reveals Himself in clear details. His tender mercies flow from His love into the desperate places of His people. His mercy brings hope. And life. And peace. His shadow covers and shelters us from the brutal storms that rage against us. I have learned that when we walk close with the Lord, the darkness immediately surrounding us is but the shadow of His wing because His Presence is so near.

This I know: The Lord our God holds us until our hearts beat as one - until our hearts reverberate with the strength to face a new day.



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Scriptures of Endurance ~ Rambling Towards Endurance

I'm going to share some rambling thoughts with you today, but they're good ones. I promise.

Consider Moses. "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27, NKJV).


"...for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."

Moses endured because He knew in his knower that Almighty God was with him. Even though the Lord was not visible to the naked eye, by faith, Moses could see Him. He felt His touch guiding him. Comforting him. Calming him.

Now let's jump ahead many, many generations to Matthew 1:23 which reads, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us.'"

God with us. Say it out loud with me, GOD WITH US!

Beloved, the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth is with us through the power of His Holy Spirit and because of His Son, Jesus Christ. Immanuel. Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Almighty God. Everlasting Father.

Jesus.

What are you facing this Christmas season? Is it a terminal illness? Loss of income? A prodigal child? Are you facing a divorce? Depression? By faith, I want you to close your eyes and picture Jesus standing next to you. His long robe is rippling in the breeze. A royal blue stole drapes His broad shoulders, the color immediately reminding you that He is the One True God. He looks you square in the eye, examining, pondering, searching for a response from you. Tenderly, Jesus brushes a stray lock of hair from your face and caresses your cheek, wiping a single tear that has escaped. And then? Then He takes your hand, and without saying a word, Jesus holds your hand tightly and begins walking the path beside you. Oh, He's been there all along, but now you have the eyes to see.

Moses endured because he opened his eyes to see the Presence of the Lord.

Surely, you and I will do the same.



Father, open our eyes that we might see and behold Your glory. Awaken our hearts that we might recognize the touch of Your hand on ours. Thank You for being with us. Always.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Shackled

True story.

Blonde, curly tendrils hung low over her piercing blue eyes. She wanted to hide, to run away from the despair threatening to consume her spirit. Her young faith clung to the Truth that God would never leave her nor forsake her - that He, alone, is the constant in her rapidly changing world.

But could she hang on or would she simply let go of her dreams and watch them slowly drift away from her grasp?

The Israelites encountered something similar.

In Exodus 6:7 & 8, the Lord is speaking, "I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord."

Promises. Sweet, sweet promises for the child of God. Promises we can stake our life on. 

But look at verse 9:
"Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their DISCOURAGEMENT and cruel bondage."

The Israelites were blinded to the goodness of God because of their very real and justified discouragement.

Life comes at us hard, rocking our world with confusion, anxiety, and fear. Discouragement sets in - if we let it - if we allow it to whisper failure and despair into our weary souls. Yes, discouragement will set in. You can bank on it. 

But the promises of God do not submit themselves to discouragement. He changes not. His love is from everlasting to everlasting. His hand is upon His child - the sheltering shadow of His Presence a lasting place of refuge.

My friend  made her choice. With every ounce of determination she could muster, she fell to her knees and cried out, "Lord! Lord...help me. I choose You Jesus. You are my Rock, my constant. I choose You. I belong to You...You are mine."

Her circumstances did not change, but she changed in the midst of her circumstances. Hope flowed through her and opened her eyes to see God in her midst. Inexplicable peace settled upon her, wrestling the fear to the pits from which it came. Her thoughts became filled with things worthy of praise - good things, things of good report. And her feet, once shackled by chains of discouragement now danced free.

All because she fell to her knees.




Father God, We belong to You...YOU! The Creator of the Universe, the Maker of heaven and earth! That reality is beyond our comprehension. Lord, open our hearts to know and take hold of this Truth, this promise. Thank You for loving us so very much. Grant us understanding of Your sovereignty in our lives and, through this knowledge, obtain Your perfect peace. In all things. In all ways. Fully. Create in us a clean heart God. Restore unto us the joy of our salvation. Renew a right spirit within us and fill us to overflowing with Your love and joy. Thank You, Lord. We love you.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please - you really MUST - visit the Morning Glory page. I found a music video by Jonathan David Helser titled, "Abba". From what I can gather, this song was a spontaneous moment of worship that occurred during a recording session. You will be SO blessed by this. I know you will experience God's sweet Presence as you listen. I love you my precious readers. God be with you...

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ The Lord is My Portion

I had such a sweet time with Jesus this morning. He reminded me of His love, His purposes in and for my life. He reminded me that I am not alone in my struggles.

He wants to remind you of the same...

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!'

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

"It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." ~ Lamentations 3:22-26



Father, Your love amazes me. Thank You. Thank You for Your grace, Your mercy and Your faithfulness. I believe in You, Lord. I belong to You. You are the reason that I live. Use me, Lord. Mold me into the woman You desire for me to be. Thank You for opening my eyes to see Your glory. I love You, Lord.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ What Am I?

Our country road was quiet this morning except for the occasional chatter of a bluejay. Long shadows criss-crossed our path as we hastened beneath the pine grove that stood as a strong sentinel against the vast wilderness beyond. 

The leash pulled taut as Blue and I rounded a curve. A stiff breeze whipped against my face. Thoughts tumbled through my restless mind: How are we going to make ends meet? How will we provide for our family this Christmas? How will I register for Writer's Boot Camp? What if the surgeon finds something when he checks me next week? How? Why? What if? Auurrgghh! I wanted to scream.

The wind picked up. Through tears, I looked up into a royal blue sky. I stood still long enough to let the rush of wind wash over my troubled spirit. My thoughts turned to Jesus. "Jesus...Jesus," I whispered. I felt His Presence in the wind. Peace settled over me like a fuzzy cloak of love. 

Following the Holy Spirit's lead, I looked at the tangled mess of brown underbrush growing along the road's edge. Much of it was broken and splintered. Several stalks of wild flowers, now brittle from winter's chill, leaned into the wind, refusing to lay down. 

And then I saw what He wanted me to see.

Mingled and woven into this prickly brown landscape were arches of cerulean blue, a bit frosty in nature, with undertones of scarlet. They were everywhere, looping through the bleak, tangled nod to winter. What is that? I wondered. I leaned in for a better look. "Oh my goodness!" I hollered at no one in particular. "These are the stems of the wild primroses. Wow!"

I scraped a bit of the frosty coating from one of the blue stems, revealing a deep scarlet color. I stood in awe as I recognized the symbols of God's Presence in my life: the gorgeous blue announcing  that He is the One True God - Maker of heaven and earth; the scarlet undercoating reflecting the Blood of Jesus - the One who died to set me free from these struggles. Even the thorns along the blue stems spoke loud and clear, reminding me of my Savior's love. 

All about me were long strands of blue, woven through this dismal sea of brown foliage.
All about me was the evidence that my God is near.

Psalm 8:3 & 4 reads, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You give attention to him?"

The Apostle Paul once said, "If God be for me, then who can be against me?" (Romans 8:31). Indeed! If God, Who made the heavens and the earth, is mindful of little ol' me and gives attention to my needs, then who am I to walk in the company of anxiety and despair?

I choose to walk with Jesus. 
I choose to walk with thanksgiving as I consider the wild primroses proclaiming the glory of my Lord.



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Scriptures of Righteousness ~ Knock, Knock. Who's There?

God is doing a work in me.

I am learning to rely solely on Him. I am learning to literally run to Him in my time of need - to listen and respond to His tender invitation to come - to sit at His feet while the world races by. I'm thankful for the lessons, painful as they may be, because I know my faith is growing deeper.

Lessons of the heart are not easily forgotten.

But I want you to consider something. Even though my heart's desire is to run to Jesus as naturally as I breathe, I know that my stubborn, self-sufficient self gets in the way. Can I get a witness out there? Why are we so stubborn and proud? Seriously!

I pondered these things in my heart as I took Blue for his afternoon walk. Beneath the long shadows of a chilly November afternoon, the Lord reminded me of something I read a few days ago in A.J. Russell's, God Calling:

"But to those who do not feel their need of Me, who obstinately reject Me, who shut the doors of their hearts so that I may not enter, to these I go in tender, humble longing. Even when I find all closed, all barred, I stand a Beggar, knocking, knocking."

My goodness, how we must grieve the Holy Spirit. It breaks my heart to think of the times I have rejected His tender nudging while He stands waiting for me to turn to Him in my time of need.

Revelations 3:20 reads, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."

Beloved, He is waiting. Knocking. Extending His grace. But if we don't open the door and let Him into our circumstances and struggles, He remains separated. Rejected. Longing to comfort, provide and restore.

This is heavy, isn't it? I'll pray for you if you'll pray for me...



Father God, please forgive us for our stubborn, hard-hearted ways. Soften us Lord. Create in us clean hearts that honor You, that hunger for Your touch. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. You are an amazing God.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory page. I found a powerful, AMAZING new song that will touch your spirit in a very special way. The title is, "Open Me" and is sung by Shawn McDonald. While you're there, leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Blessings...

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Jesus Asked Me to Come

"Come to Me, Nan...Come to Me," the sweet Holy Spirit whispered to my heart. Over and over again the message remained the same. Oh, it showed up in different places - scripture, devotions, songs - but the message was the same: "Come to Me". Little did I know that the Lord was preparing me to have new understanding of this familiar phrase.

The phone rang, jarring me out of my concentration. I laid the Christmas ornament down. "Hello?"

"Darlin," David said. "I just found out I won't get paid until NEXT Monday. Not today. I'm sorry."

"Oh. Okay. Oh man...Okay," I fumbled for words. "Sweetheart, don't worry about it. God will make a way. I don't know how, but I know He'll make a way." My spirit spoke faith. My flesh, quietly, went bananas!

"That's exactly what I am feeling in my spirit, too," my sweetheart said, unaware of my growing panic.

I hung up the phone feeling like a little duck on the water. On the surface the duck glides along looking peaceful and calm, almost serene, but underneath HE IS PADDLING LIKE CRAZY!! Yep, underneath I was swimming as hard as I could to get away from the feelings of fear that pressed in on me.

"Come to Me, Nan."

There it was again. The same tender message resounded within my heart.

I stopped what I was doing and knelt by the couch. Closing my eyes, I imagined Jesus sitting on an enormous rock in a gently sloping pasture. I sat at His feet and looked into His eyes. "Lord," I said, "I'm obeying You. I'm coming to You for My provision. I'm coming to You for a peaceful mind. I'm coming to You to steady my heart. Thank You, Lord, for asking me to come."

I poured out my heart, emptying myself of all anxiety and frustration. I sat quietly for awhile, basking in His Presence. My frantic paddling ceased. "Fill me, Lord. Fill me with faith, with confidence and hope, knowing that You are Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord Who Provides. Knowing that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Knowing that Your love never fails. You, Lord, are my peace."

In that moment, my panic subsided. Hope rose within Me. Grace covered me like a cozy blanket, protecting me from the enemy's tormenting glare.

Jesus told the people of Galilee, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Can you hear the still, small voice of Almighty God beckoning you to come? Please don't delay. He is waiting for you.



Father God, Your tender mercies are new every morning. Your faithfulness reaches to the highest heavens and Your love knows no bounds. Teach us to walk in these Truths. Teach us to live in each moment, knowing that You are in that moment with us. And Lord, open our ears to hear you calling our names, beckoning us to come and sit awhile with You. Thank You Lord. We love You so much.
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Scriptures of Thanksgiving ~ Bless the Lord, O My Soul

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.

"Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.

"Glory in His holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."  
~ Psalm 105:1-3, NIV

Always, always remember this: 

When we find it hard to praise the Lord and thank Him for our circumstances, we can always praise Him and thank Him for who He is. Amen?

Have a wonderfully blessed and joyful Thanksgiving. Sweet blessings to you!

Nan



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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Burton

Burton shuffles into the sanctuary. His body leans on a walker for stability; his eyes look to the cross for strength. A face-mask guards Burton's cancer-ridden body against infection. Jesus guards his heart against fear.

Burton's eyes twinkle, revealing a sincere smile of joy beneath the white gauze of the mask.

Though wracked with pain and debilitated by fatigue, this precious man of God finds his way to our place of worship each Sunday morning. Many times during the service he will cradle his head on the church pew in front of him, resting for just a bit - ears always tuned to the Word of God.

I see Jesus in Burton.
I experience God's peace when I speak to Burton.
I find tangible evidence of God's faithfulness when I consider Burton's refuge in his storm.

Isaiah 60:1 reads, "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you."

Read this again. Slowly. Let it sink deep within.

"...for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you."

I believe it is the Glory of the Lord that I recognize in my friend. A.J. Russell speaks of the Glory of the Lord in God Calling*, "The Glory of the Lord is the Beauty of His Character...the Glory of the Lord is also risen upon you when you reflect that Glory in your lives, when in Love, Patience, Service, Purity whatever it may be, you reveal to the world a something of the Father, an assurance that you have been with your Lord and Savior."

Burton knows the One in whom he has believed. He spends time with his Savior. He drinks of the Living Water. Daily. He absorbs the Light of God's Presence. Even in facing imminent death, Burton is alive with the Spirit of God.

And in so doing, the Glory of the Lord is revealed.

Oh, that I would do the same. 

*Russell, A.J., God Calling (New York: Dodd, Mead, & Company, 1945).




Father God, May others see Jesus in me. May the trials of this life reveal Your Presence in me. Be glorified in me, Lord. Mold me into Your image. I pray that You will use me to draw others to Your amazing grace. Praise You Lord. You alone are worthy to  be praised.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ So Was God...

The magenta sky dissolved into shades of navy, then charcoal, and black. Stars beckoned to the casual observer, winking, perhaps saying, "Child, if only you knew". Their twinkling lights danced like fireflies around the moon.

I remember, as a child, making a wish on the first star of the evening, enthralled by the carpet of stars that popped from one end of the universe to another. You know, those stars were there long before they caught my attention.

So was God.

I remember sitting on the front porch with my first date, pretending to watch the stars, but actually sneaking a peek at his dimples, instead. The stars and the moon provided a canopy over the sweetness of young love.  You know, those stars were there long before I appreciated their beauty.

So was God.

I remember walking down a long strand of sandy beach, hand-in-hand with the man of my dreams, the father of my children.  The magenta sky dissolved into shades of navy, then charcoal, and black. The stars choreographed a light show of praise to the Creator of Love. You know, those stars were there long before I knew what love was all about.

So was God. 

Just imagine this: God surrounded us with His Presence long before our eyes were opened to see Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He changes not. The Lord our God, Maker of heaven and earth, pursues us with His love until we fall to our knees in reckless abandon and join our hearts with His own.

Moses once asked God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?'

"And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'" (Exodus 3:13, 14).

I AM WHO I AM!

I believe God would say to His children, "Child, I AM all that You need. I AM constant, unchangeable, unsearchable. I have known you long before you opened your eyes to behold My face. I have watched from afar, ordered your steps, whispered your name and waited for you to say yes to my forgiveness and grace. I AM your God. There is none other besides me. I AM."

I know the day will come when I take my last breath. As I step across the threshold of eternity and run into my Savior's waiting arms, I look forward to seeing the prisms of light shooting from the stars beneath my feet. You know, those stars were there long before I knew resurrection life.

So was God.


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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Winds of Change

The election rocked my world.
Terminal illness of a loved one has us on a roller-coaster of emotions.
Our adult children sift through difficult days.
Uncertainty in the job market creates doubt and fear.
Health issues slow me down, creating frustration.

The winds of change, they are a'blowin'.

Have you ever heard that saying? It's often used in a negative context. That's certainly how I used it for several days last week. Until.

Until God got hold of me. Yep. Daddy God gave me a tongue-lashing when I complained about all the change in my life one too many times. Wanna know what He said? It's really awesome.

He said, "Nan, do you not know that I walk on the wings of the wind? Do you not remember that on the Day of Pentecost I showed up as a mighty, rushing wind?  I AM your sustainer and your defender. I AM your deliverer and provider. I AM. I am in control of all things that pertain to you and to any of My children. Do not fear change - in your life, your home, your family, your country. Do not fear. I am in the wind and I determine the direction it will blow."

Sweet friend, our God is Sovereign. He has all-authority over this earth. As His child, nothing - no thing - comes our way without His knowledge. Take comfort in this Truth today. Rather than fight the winds of change, I'm trying my darndest to embrace them. won't you join me?  The Lord has eternal purposes in all things that concern His children. He promises to work everything for our good when we love Him fully and are called according to His purposes.

The change brought in on the wings of the wind just might be a blessing in disguise. 

"For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth - the Lord God of hosts is His name" ~ Amos 4:13.



Father, teach us to trust you fully and to be content in all things. That's a hard one Lord, but You promise that Your grace WILL be sufficient. Thank You Lord. Thank You for orchestrating our lives in such beautiful ways. Even when we can't see clearly, we can know that we know that our "Daddy God's got this". Thank You for Your love. We praise Your Holy Name!
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Sapphire Blue

The glorious leaves of fall were tossed in the air as the brutal winds of an early snowstorm bellowed across the mountain ridges. Trees, once graced with shades of crimson, butternut gold and blazing embers now stood stark against the sapphire sky. Branches reached toward the heavens. Some lay broken from the storm. Others rested against nearby branches, too weakened to stretch toward heaven on their own.

As I stared out the window, numb from the stress-filled moments of the day, I heard a song. I leaned into the window pane. A blue blur rose within the charcoal branches of our apple tree. I leaned in closer. And listened. The song became a chatter. It was a bluejay. No...wait...it was THREE bluejays hopping from branch to bare branch. Pops of blue moved throughout the stripped branches that, only days before, were ablaze with the splendor of fall.

My thoughts turned towards the Lord.

Ezekiel 1:26 reads, "And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a Man high above it." Ezekiel was seeing a vision of God. God's throne had the appearance of a sapphire stone. Blue.

Isaiah 54:11 reads, "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted. Behold I [the Lord] will lay your foundations with sapphires..." The Lord is speaking through Isaiah about the restoration of Jerusalem. God's covenant of peace is central to the restoration of His people. Our foundation will be sure - built with the beauty and strength of sapphires. Blue.

And finally, Exodus 26:1, "Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them." These curtains billowed at the eastern entrance to the outward court of the Tabernacle. These curtains also hung within the Tabernacle to conceal the magnificent entrance to the inner court - the Holy of Holies. Passing through these curtains took the child of God, symbolically, from the physical realm of the world that consumed them into the Presence of a Holy God that loved and cared for them.

El Elyon, the Most High God, utilized the color blue - sapphire, to be exact - to draw the thoughts of His people towards Him. It is the color of the heavenlies. Our eyes look up to behold a sapphire blue sky and we are reminded of the One True God.

Lost in my thoughts, God interrupted and taught me a beautiful, visual Truth: Even though the apple tree was stripped of its splendor because of the fierce winter storm, evidence of God moved freely among the barren branches. So it is with our lives. The glorious joy of laughter may be gone for a season, but God's Presence is still with me. Always.

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" ~ Deuteronomy 31:6.



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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

"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.

"I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies." ~ Psalm 18:1-3


Please. Let's read this again. Out loud this time...


"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

"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.

"I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies."

The power of God's Word is amazing...
Breaking through the thickest chains. 
Flowing through the broken places. 
Rebuilding shattered lives.

God's Word is the embodiment of Who He is.

Find your rest in Him today. He alone is worthy of our praise.





Father God, Awaken our hearts to love You more. Open our eyes to behold Your majesty. You are far beyond our natural comprehension, and yet You reveal Yourself to us. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. You are faithful, Lord. You are worthy of our praise and adoration. Hold our hands and lead us to Your throne of grace where we can sit and rest awhile. Hasten us to Your side, Lord. We love you. Bless Your Holy Name!
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ An AHA Moment!

God gave me an AHA moment in Sunday School this past week. 

Let's look at Judges 6:11-13. "Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah...while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Gideon said to Him, 'O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?...'"

Notice verse 11: "The Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree..." 

The Lord sat under the tree watching Gideon work like crazy in his own strength trying to solve the problem of his enemies, the Midianites. He sat there! I wonder how long the Lord sat and watched His child before He intervened. How often does He come near and watch us, waiting for us to acknowledge His Presence and power?

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon in verse 12 and said, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Do you suppose the Lord heard Gideon's cries for help or do you suppose the Lord had mercy on His fearful child and responded before Gideon turned to Him? Something tells me Gideon had not turned to the Lord before this. I believe this is an example of God's grace and mercy. Verse 13 gives us the answer: "Gideon said to Him, 'O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?..."

Can anyone besides me hear your own voice saying the same thing?!

In the midst of our panic, God is right there. Waiting. Watching. Listening. I have learned that "the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro across the earth seeking those who need to be strengthened" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

But we have to choose to let go of the reins. We must choose to open our eyes to see the Lord our God in our midst, waiting for us to let go and trust Him.

I believe the Lord watched Gideon's frenzy and then encouraged him with words from a heavenly perspective, "You mighty man of valor!" (Notice the exclamation point - God's, not mine.) God, the Father, believes in us. He calls us by His Name.

But He also wants us to call Him by His Name.

Jesus.



Father, forgive us for the times we try to handle things in our own strength when You are right there waiting and watching, hoping that we will come to our senses and call on You. Thank You for Your faithfulness. You are an awesome God and we love You so much.
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Scriptures of Spiritual Warfare ~ Face to Face With the Adversary

The spinning blue strobe lights broke through the calm of the morning. A hastened siren blurted out one solid yowl, just enough to let the driver know she had one choice, and that was to pull over.

"Pull over?" she said to no one in particular. "That's all I need! I don't have time to pull over." But, reluctantly, pull over she did.

Her blonde hair was disheveled. She flicked it repeatedly over her shoulder as her fingers combed through her bag to retrieve a driver's license. License found. Thank You, Lord. Freshly painted red nails nervously clicked and tapped the steering wheel. Hurry Mister! Please, hurry!

The officer approached as the frazzled woman rolled down her window. Before he could say a word, the woman blurted out, "Sir, I don't think I was doing anything wrong! Why did you stop me?"

"Well, Ma'am, you look like you're mighty angry about something.

"Angry? Yessir, I'm angry! I'm angry at Satan for trying to disrupt this day God has made just for me! I'm getting married in a few hours and you have no idea how he has tried to come against me. I've been rebuking him in the Name of my Jesus!"

The officer took about five steps backwards. Slowly. "And another thing," the lady said, "God has brought me this far and I am not about to let the devil have his way with me! I am washed in the Blood of Jesus!"

"Uh, Ma'am, I..."

"God has given me the perfect man and He has restored our broken lives!" she continued. "I WILL not let Satan have this victory!"

"Yes, Ma'am," he surrendered.  "But, please do me a favor and calm down."

Apparently, the officer was no match for this little lady-warrior.

Paul told the Church at Ephesus that, "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
 ~ Ephesians 6:12

Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give you the authority...over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

James 4:7 reads, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Resist. The Greek word for resist is anthistemi (anth-us-tay-mee) and means - are you ready? - it means to vigorously oppose, bravely resist, stand face-to-face against an adversary, stand your ground.

And that is exactly what my friend Joy was doing in the true story above. Joy knows who she is in Christ. She is also well acquainted with our adversary, Satan. When Joy rebukes the devil, SHE REBUKES THE DEVIL! She enters into spiritual WARfare.

And there ain't nothin' prim and proper about spiritual warfare. 

It is intentional. 
It is done with God-given authority.
And it is done as if your life depends upon it.

Sweet child of God, YOU are somebody in God's Kingdom. You have been bought with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, and where the Blood is, Satan has no authority. Resist him and he must flee. Amen?

Amen.



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Scriptures of Comfort ~ The Soothing Touch of God

My eyes were swollen from crying. Satan's oppression was fierce, piercing my heart with tremors of fear and defeat. Honestly, at times I could scarcely breathe. It was horrible.

As I lay on the couch, I kept calling on the Name of Jesus. I pictured Him as my strong tower. I saw myself running to Him, but tripping and falling over rugged stones. Tears blinded me. Fear defeated me. My spirit opened and closed like the mouth of a baby bird, begging for Living Water.

I knew I needed help.

Facebook came to mind, but could I put my pride aside and ask my friends for help? Yes, I could. It took several prayers for courage, but I knew I needed my Christian family. I posted, "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I...that is higher than I. Prayers please."

Friends responded immediately with prayers and sweet words of encouragement. Their presence led me to His Presence. Although I had not revealed my source of panic, the Spirit of God opened their eyes to see. Chicken and potatoes came in. Gas money came in. Wood for the woodstove was provided along with money for rent. The chains of depression gripping my husband due to false accusations and unemployment broke in two, setting him free. My Mighty God reached down from heaven and set me high upon the Rock, high above my enemies and gave me peace.

Exodus 33:14 reads, "And He [God] said, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"

The Hebrew term for "give rest" is nu'ach (noo-ahch) and means "To rest, settle down, to be soothed or quieted; to be secure; to be still; to dwell peacefully."

There is nothing quite like the soothing touch of our Daddy God.

Do you need Him today? Are you experiencing panic? Fear? Doubt? Are you stumbling on obstacles as you run to Him? Your brothers and sisters in Christ are standing by to pray for you, to under-gird you and to give you Jesus. Please don't let pride stand in your way. We need one another.

Allow them to lead you to your Prince of Peace. Jesus.



Father God, Your love is amazing. Thank You for Your faithfulness and Your grace that flows like a river. I lift up my friends to You who feel their grip on Your hand slipping. Grab hold of them, Jesus. Let them know, without a doubt, that You are near. I ask that You meet their needs in mighty and tangible ways. Wrap them in a soothing blanket of Your love. Thank You Lord. We love You.
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My precious reader, if you need specific, personal prayer, please feel free to contact me at nan@jubilantlight.com. I would be honored to lift you before the throne of grace.
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It's just about that time! Christmas is around the corner. If you are looking for a Christian speaker for your Christmas events, I would love for you to consider me. Please visit my website at www.jubilantlight.com to gain further information. I travel from Western North Carolina. Thank you.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ In Your Unrest, Behold My Calm

"O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace." ~ Helen H. Lemmel

My darlin', through the pages of God Calling, the Lord would say to you and to me:

"Turn your eyes to behold Me. Look away from sordid surroundings, from lack of beauty, from the imperfections in yourselves and those around you. Then you who have the Faith-Vision will see all you could and do desire in Me.

"In your unrest behold My calm, My rest. In your impatience, My unfailing patience. In your lack and limitation, My perfection.

"Looking at Me you will grow like Me, until men say to you, too, that you have been with Jesus."*

Father God, Open our eyes to see Your face. Open our hearts to seek Your face and in the seeking, finding and in the finding, knowing - knowing that You hold us in the palm of Your hand. We are loved by an awesome God. Thank You for that knowledge Lord. Bless Your holy Name!

*A.J. Russell, God Calling (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1945), 199. 




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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ The Fierce Love of the Father

The young woman crumpled to her knees before the cross - its shadow draping her pain and permeating the empty sanctuary with its presence. Her shoulders heaved with sorrow. Fear and anguish rattled her brain with thoughts of the unthinkable.  Her hopes were dashed. Dreams teased her from a distance, mocking her determination to persevere. With a heart literally ripping in two, this precious daughter of the King cried out, "GOD! NO MORE! No more....I can take no more."

Her voice quietly slipped away.

A Holy Presence filled the sanctuary, cradling the woman in the warm light of God's love. The light was not visible to the naked eye, but it was there. Oh, yes. It was there. The dark crevices lurking in her heart were set ablaze with the Spirit of God. His Living Water flowed freely, seeping deep into the broken places. She rested beneath the shadow of His Wing.

And then the Spirit of God whispered to His Child, My daughter, You are Mine. I am with you. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. Why do you fear? Is there anything too difficult for me? Your dreams are My dreams - My purposes - for you. I have spoken these things to your heart and I will watch over My word to perform it. Do not give up. Do not give in to the lies of the enemy. Stand strong in My love. Stand strong in My grace. Be not ashamed, for you are Mine, the workmanship of My hands. It is I that orchestrates the events in your life. Trust Me. Trust Me and find Me faithful.

The young woman breathed deeply. Peace, that only moments earlier eluded her, now settled upon her troubled soul like a soothing blanket. She still did not know what the future would bring, but she remembered what her momma told her, "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One who holds tomorrow."

The woman rose. Taking the hand of her Father God, she stepped out into the sunlight of a new day - a day born of travail, but covered in grace and protected by the fierce love of the Most High God.

Beloved, is your spirit wracked with pain? Are fears of the future pummeling you?  Is the cry of your heart beating a hole in your chest? God, your Father, is yearning to hold you and wipe your tears. He only needs an invitation. Won't you run to Him today? Kneel before Him in honest dialogue. Give Him your burdens, your pain. 

You, dear one, are covered in grace and protected by the fierce love of the Most High God. Do not walk in fear. Your Daddy is holding your hand.

"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 



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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Breathe on Me, Breath of God

I rocked on the front porch surrounded by the crisp air of dusk. Leaves of gold and crimson danced in the gentle breeze. A songbird sang a melody of praise as, together, we watched the sky dissolve into shades of magenta. I sensed God's sweet Presence.

I settled back in the swing and tugged on my jacket, making it snug beneath my chin. Sitting in the quiet, I thought about the bible study I had been preparing for the ladies at our precious church. I was almost mesmerized by the gentle moments, lost in thought, safe in my Father's arms.

And then He opened my eyes to see something beautiful.

I want to take you back to Genesis 2:7 - back to the very beginning of mankind: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being."

In the verse just above this (verse 6) we are told that a mist came up from the earth and watered the face of the ground. That means the "dust" was moist and pliable, kind of like clay would be. Do you remember the words of Isaiah? "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter..."(64:8). I want you to travel back to the Garden with me. God, the Potter, scooped up the clay and, very meticulously, molded, shaped and formed it into the perfect vessel to receive His Spirit. The clay responded to the warmth of His hands. Slowly, the shape of a man emerged. But, it was only a shell of a man.

Now, here's the good part - the part God opened my eyes to see.

Imagine our great God bending over His creation and tenderly cupping Adam's face in His hands. Very gently our Father breathed into Adam. One breath. Two breaths. Perhaps God leaned back to observe. Then another breath. This time Adam's chest rose and fell in rhythm to His Father's love. He was alive with the Spirit of God.

Can you feel the tenderness? The love? The gentle care?

Now, dear One, think back on your moment of salvation - the moment your eyes were opened to see the Lord's face - the moment your heart was awakened to receive His love. You and I had been but a shell of a person. Life had no meaning - no purpose. Many of us lived without hope, a mere puppet in the enemy's hands of destruction. And then God came near. He sweetly cupped our face in His hands. Tilting our head back, He looked long and lovingly into our eyes, and then He breathed. God, the Father, breathed the Breath of Life into our weary souls. His strong and mighty Spirit permeated ours, filling us with new life. New hope. New joy.

Could there be anything greater than the Father's love?



Father God, My heart is burdened for my friends that need a fresh touch from You. Breathe on them, Lord. Remind them of Your great love, Your mercy. Pour out Your grace on them - let it rain, Lord. Let Your grace rain down upon them to strengthen and encourage. Fill them with joy anew, for it is Your joy that gives us strength. As my friends feel Your breath, let their spirit skip like a newborn calf - fully free. Thank You Father. We love You and we give You praise.
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Would you like for me to pray with you about something specific? Please feel free to contact me at nan@jubilantlight.com. I would be honored to stand with you before His throne of grace.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ His Grace Will Amaze You

Several years ago I stood at the choir door waiting to enter the choir loft. The sanctuary was animated with sounds of happiness and greetings. Our church was alive with the Spirit of God and His goodness.

Let's just say, the enemy wasn't too pleased.

My place in the choir line was behind a member of the congregation who was not happy with the recent church growth. As I was hugging a friend and laughing, Ruth* suddenly turned around and snarled, "Shhh! You are too loud!" Her softly wrinkled face was contorted with pure hatred. I stood stunned. Church had not begun. No one was being disrespectful or irreverent. We were merely celebrating the Lord. Ruth's venom gushed forth and sprayed me with the stench of evil. "Lord," I prayed, "Help me. What do I do? Defend me Lord." I knew this woman wanted us removed from the pastorate. I also knew that she was a bitter old soul.

I could feel God's Spirit rising up within me. In His mercy, God poured out His grace and gave me the courage to face my foe with His love. I extended my arms and gave Ruth a hug. I gently reminded her that the people were excited to worship God. Whoops. Big mistake. More poison sprayed my face, " Well, this is the Lord's house and everyone is too noisy. Especially you!"

The vicious words cut me deep. My eyes welled up with tears, my hands began to shake. "Father, help me," I prayed. With all the graciousness I could muster I said, "Ruth, I'm so sorry you are offended."

"Well, you should know better!" she said.

Within moments, we made our way into the choir loft. I smiled at the congregation, but on the inside I was a mess. "Father, help me forgive her. Please show me what to do." During the greeting time I again reached out to Ruth with God's love. This time the venom was gone. Just as quickly as the attack had begun, the evil had slithered away.

Are you, my reader, thinking, "Man, what a goody-two-shoes? I would've let her have it with both barrels!" Well...here's the thing...There was a time when I would have let her have it too. But, God's been working on me.

2 Corinthians 3:18 reads, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a  mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

...are being transformed into the same image...

What image? The image of Christ Jesus. As we seek the Lord - as we behold His glory - the Word tells us that we will begin to reflect that which we behold - HIM! Jesus.

God gave me the grace to reflect His Son that day. The transformation did not happen overnight and it is far from complete, but I have made a determination in my heart that I want to represent Jesus to a hurting world. Yes, Ruth was spewing poisonous words all over me, but the source of the poison was a root of bitterness deep within her, caused by past hurts and disappointments. Only Jesus could heal and deliver her. I was merely a vessel for God to pour out His grace and love on this hurting woman. God's grace diffused the venom and planted seeds of righteousness in her spirit.

Have you, too, heard the call to be like Jesus? You will find that His grace is sufficient and He will give you the wings of eagles to rise above the difficulty.

I encourage you: stand still and experience the goodness and grace of God in your trying circumstances.

His grace will amaze you.



Father, God, it is so hard to love the difficult people, but yet, You call us to do just that. I am reminded that it is not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit. Lord, show Yourself strong in our lives. Help us to lift Your banner high, to reflect Your glory to those around us. Lord, help us to be more like Jesus. Thank You Lord. Thank You for Your grace in trying circumstances. We love you Lord.
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It's time to plan Christmas events for your ladies. I would love to share God's goodness and Presence with them. I travel from the mountains of NC (Ashe County). If you are interested, please visit my website, www.jubilantlight.com or you may contact me directly at nan@jubilantlight.com. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
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