Category Archives: Miracles

He’s Alive!

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Believe It!!

And Base Your Whole Life Around That Truth!

(We did a human video drama of this song for Fine Arts Competition several years ago…)

So Powerful!!

John 19:35

“The man who saw it

has given testimony,

and his testimony is true.

He knows that he tells the truth,

and he testifies so that you also may believe.”

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The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin’ through
To drag us all away

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers’ feet

But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she’d been
She said they might have moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stone’s been rolled away
And now His body isn’t there

We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they’d taken Him
Was more than I could tell

Oh, something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn’t lift me very high
‘Cause I’d seen them crucify Him
Then I saw Him die

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I’d promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His Name
And even if He was Alive
It wouldn’t be the same

But, suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried

Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace

He’s Alive!  Yes, He’s Alive!
Yes, He’s Alive, and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s Alive!  Yes, He’s Alive!
Oh ,He’s Alive, and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s Alive!  Yes, He’s Alive!
Hallelujah!!  He’s Alive!
He’s Alive, and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s Alive!  He’s Alive!  He’s Alive!
I believe it!!  He’s Alive!
Sweet Jesus!!

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John 20:19

“On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the disciples were together,

with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,

Jesus came

and stood among them and said,

‘Peace be with you!’

After He said this,

He showed them His hands and side.

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”

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Acts 1:8-11

“But you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.

After He said this,

He was taken up before their very eyes,

and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going,

when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

‘Men of Galilee,’

they said,

‘why do you stand here looking into the sky?

This same Jesus,

who has been taken from you into Heaven,

will come back

in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven.’”

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Acts 2:33

“Exalted to the right hand of God,

He has received from the Father

the promised Holy Spirit

and has poured out

what you now see and hear.”

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Revelation 1:18

“I am the Living One;

I was dead,

and now look,

I am alive for ever and ever!

And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

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He’s Our Risen Savior!

Allow Jesus To Be Alive In Your Life!!

Amen!

Yes, I Am

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Who Are You, Lord????

John 8:56-58

“Your father Abraham

rejoiced at the thought of seeing My day;

he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,”

they said to Him,

“and you have seen Abraham!”

“Very truly I tell you,”

Jesus answered,

“before Abraham was born,

I Am!”

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Think about it…

He Is…

Maker of the Heaven  

Bright and Morning Star  

Breath of all Creation

Who Always Was

And Is To Come

One Who Walked on Water  

One Who Calmed the Seas  

Miracles and Wonders

So Come and See

And follow Him

You will know

Fount of Living Water
Risen Son of Man
Healer of the Broken

And When You Cry…

Your Savior and Redeemer
Who Bore the Sins of Man
The Author and Perfecter
Beginning and the End

He Is

Spirit Deep Inside You
Word Upon Your Heart
One Who Even Knew You

Before Your Birth
Before You Were

Before the Earth
The Universe
In Every Heart

Where You Are
The Lord of Love
The King of Kings
The Holy Lamb

Above All Things!

Yes, He Is!

Almighty God Your Father
Risen Son of Man
Healer of the Broken

And When You Cry…

Your Savior and Redeemer
Who Bore the Sins of Man
The Author and Perfecter
Beginning and the End

He Is

Right there beside you!!

Amen!

Comforting, huh???

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Ya Gotta Believe in Yourself…

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Because God believes in You!!

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you;    

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;    

I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.”

Here’s the triumphant story…

I received through e-mail…

Of a little pup, called Daisy…

Who overcame all obstacles!

The vets suggested putting her to sleep…

But Daisy’s eyes and her spirit said otherwise…

She wanted to LIVE!!!!

So people refused to give up on her…

Nor did she give up on herself!!

It’s a story about strength…

Friendship…

And love…

But most of all…

It’s a story about believing in ourselves!

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”

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The inspirational music…

“You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban…

Is sung as a contemporary hymn in church services…

People find it embracing and emotionally strong…

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on Your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

There is no life – no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when You come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up

To more than I can be.

God never gives up on you!

He sent His Son, Jesus…

To rescue you…

So you can run, too!!!

John 6:29

Jesus answered,

“The work of God is this:

to believe in the One He has sent.”

Matthew 9: 28-29

“When He had gone indoors,

the blind men came to Him,

and He asked them,

Do you believe that I am able to do this?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied.

Then He touched their eyes and said,

According to your faith let it be done to you’;”

Believe!

God has not forgotten you…

He couldn’t possibly love you anymore than He already does…

Believe what God has said in His Word…

About you!!

I’m Gonna Love You Through It!

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When I first heard this powerful song…

I heard Jesus saying these words…

“I’m Gonna Love You Through It!”

“It”

Being, anything that life throws at me!

Then, I heard…

“And I will send you angels…

Those in Heaven…

And those dressed in flesh…

To support you…

Help you…

And love you through life’s rough spots!”

Cancer…

Affects us all…

Those who’ve experienced it…

And those of us who have loved those who have…

My prayers are with you and your families!

May God always love us through it…

And bless us with people who will go through it with us!

To those who have survived…

I celebrate your life!!

She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, “I know that you’re afraid and I am, too
But you’ll never be alone, I promise you

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

She made it through the surgery fine
They said they caught it just in time
But they had to take more than they planned
Now it’s forced smiles and baggy shirts
To hide what the cancer took from her
But she just wants to feel like a woman again
She said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore”
He took her in his arms and said “That’s what my love is for”

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

And when this road gets too long
I’ll be the rock you lean on
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.
I’m gonna love you through it.

Luke 4:10

“For it is written:

‘He will command His angels concerning you

to guard you carefully;”

Amen!

Thank you, Jesus!!

Nicaragua

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Our friends from church,

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Mike and Janene Harper and their family (Brittany, Bethany, and Nataley)

are in Nicaragua working with

YWAM (Youth With A Mission)

http://www.ywam.org/

for about 10 days.

Many in our church family have helped sponsor and support them

on their last couple of trips.

Our Pastor shared last Sunday

about being the “Salt & Light” of the World…

Now they’re sharing the Light of Christ in Nicaragua.

He asked for prayer for them and the team that is there,

along with the country they’re serving…

Prayer for their safety,

for the people there who do not know Jesus,

and that lives will be forever changed!

Here’s the latest update from the Harper’s

and it’s truly amazing to read.

“Boy, are we beat!

 

We spent yesterday in the town of Masatepe learning the town.

 

We began prayer-walks all over the city that we’ll distribute Bibles in.

 

They’re hard covered whole Bibles,

 

and the people are so excited we’re coming.

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The churches were asked to respond, if they wanted to help.

 

Over 35 churches and 180 people responded! 

 

Amazing!

 

Today our 4 teams of 12 will start distribution.

 

My team will be at the construction site

 

and at the YWAM base, building a home,

 

 and working on updating the base.

 

This town is Dirambe. 

 

It’s a very poor area,

 

where the base started its vision in 1996

 

of getting a Bible into the hands of every Nicaraguan family by 2020.

 

This first city reached, has seen dramatic changes in crime and violence.

 

They have become a city with Hope!

 

 They love Jesus!

 

And now reach other cities!

 

I can’t wait to visit this city again.

 

Kelly, the director, should be there today.

 

 He has been a missionary in Nicaragua

 

through YWAM for a long time.

 

We’ve worked with him before,

 

so it’s nice to know a face there.

 

The YWAM school we are considering is his school.

 

It’s a bilingual school.

 

 My husband, Mike, preached last night

 

for about half an hour

 

on the importance of relationship with Christ,

 

and allowing that overflow to pour out to others.

 

The Nicas “Amend-ed” and agreed! 

 

He had a translator, who is our team leader.

 

She’s from Spain.

 

Her name is Gail.

 

They worked great together.

 

The church was an Assembly of God.

 

It was a whopping 1 1/2 hour worship time.

 

Wow! 

 

We sang,

 

‘Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord’

 

in English and Spanish

 

Wow! 

 

How it pleases God’s heart to hear our worship!!

 We’re all still well, so far.

We’ve eaten many foods and styles of foods.

It was hard on the tummy at first,

but it’s getting better.

We’ve had an amazing several days.

God’s given the girls great boldness in witnessing.

We’ve been distributing Bibles with churches.

My team has 2 precious Nica ladies.

They helped me lead a family

to Jesus, who

they had never even heard of.

I got to tell them the whole story.

They cried,

and were excited to give their lives to Christ.

When we left,

we saw them reading the Bible already.

Amazing!

Their names were taken down by the local church,

who saw many families already added to their numbers.

The church had new people show up for the Wednesday service to hear more.

The Pastor could not stop thanking us,

and the people in America who sent us.

It put feet to the ministry God started for him.

Some locals and our team ministered at the dump with about 100 children.

I met Eduardo (an 8-year-old boy) there,

and again God allowed my heart to break.

Oh, my heart!

We fed them and played with them.

It was such a day!

I so could have packed him up and kept him.

I could have kept all of them!

Today was distribution and school ministry.

The Principal allowed us to minister to 250-300 kids.

This was a public school!

It was unheard of before.

We went from class to class with the Gospel.

Only God allowed such favor!

We talked to the children about how the world labels us,

and how Jesus cuts those labels off,

and calls us His children!

Each of us spoke.

Brittany gave the Gospel to high schoolers.

What boldness!

Please keep praying.

When I felt very low and overtired,

I prayed,

and God revealed to me

that there are so many lifting us to the Father

right at that moment!

I so needed that.

Thank you for agreeing to do that for us.

We love you

and thank you all for believing in this mission.

Live from Nicaragua (Tuesday PM)

“Today was a very long day for us,

but we saw God do great things.

We had the privilege of teaming up with several local churches

to hand out Bibles door to door.

We told many people the Gospel,

encouraged them to read their shiny, new Bibles,

and laid hands on the sick.

Many gave their lives to God!

In spite of our poor attempts at the Spanish language,

God still used us to do great things!

Later in the day, 

we went to one of the city dumps,

where many families live by digging through the garbage for their food and belongings.

One person said it well, 

‘It was hard for us to take, but it was well received by them.’ 

We fed them,

demonstrated God’s love for them,

and made them feel important.

Here, many consider them ‘garbage.’ 

Yesterday, we helped build a house for a needy family,

did some much needed painting at the YWAM base here in Nicaragua,

and did street ministry.

We are definitely not sitting around wasting time

and, as you can see, neither is God!! 

He is answering your prayers,

working in our hearts

and moving in Nicaragua! 

He is a great God to say the least!!

Love, Janene and familia”

 

Please pray for our friends…

For the children and people of Nicaragua…

That Jesus would become real to them!!

Isaiah 52:7

“How beautiful on the mountains  

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,   

who bring good tidings,   

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,   

‘Your God reigns!'”

Amen!

 

It’s Only A Mountain!!

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Jesus rebuked the demon,

and it came out of the boy,

and he was healed from that moment. 

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked,

“Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He replied, “Because you have so little faith.

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.”

Matthew 17:18-20

Another day…

Another fight…

Another uphill climb…

Another step…

Another mile…

Story of your life…

It’s hard…

Costs you everything you’ve got…

Back against the wall…

Ready to give up…

This is only a mountain!

You don’t have to find your way around it…

Tell it to move, it’ll move…

Tell it to fall, it’ll fall…

This is only a moment!

You don’t have to let your fear control it…

Tell it to move, it’ll move…

Tell it to fall, it’ll fall…

Find your second wind…

Not as high as you think it is…

Don’t give up and don’t you quit…

You gotta climb if you wanna win…

It looks big…

You feel small…

Faith can change it all!

Ask like you believe…

Trust like you can see…

Take your fear…

And say…

“There’s nothing in my way…

Oh, No!”

Especially when it looks big!

Especially when you feel small!

Your faith can change it all!!

It’s only a mountain!!

Through Jesus Christ…

We’ve been given authority to tell it to move!

Amen!

Faith asks, without doubting!

See your mountains move!!

“Truly I tell you,

whatever you bind on earth

will be bound in Heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth

will be loosed in Heaven.

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth

agree about anything they ask for,

it will be done for them

by My Father in Heaven.

For where two or three gather in My Name,

there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:18-20

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Witness “The Resurrection!”

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“The Resurrection”
A 12 x 40 mural, oil on canvas.
Painted by Ron DiCianni
It’s a depiction of the precise moment
Jesus emerges from the tomb!
This mural was commissioned by the
Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas,  Texas.

The doctrine of the resurrection is one of the most fundamental teachings of the Christian faith.

“…But now is Christ risen from the dead …

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

1 Corinthians 15:19, 22  KJV

“Our salvation and justification before God

is based upon our belief

in the resurrection of

Jesus Christ.” 

Hebrews 6:1, 2  KJV

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe

                               in thy heart                                

that God hath raised him from the dead,

thou shalt be saved.” 

Romans 10:9  KJV

 

Witness…Alive…Faith…Believe…Confess…Be Saved

                       

Believe In The God Of The Burning Bush!

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Exodus 3:2-6  NIV

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.

Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

 So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look,

God called to him from within the bush,

‘Moses! Moses!’

And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’

‘Do not come any closer,’ God said.

‘Take off your sandals,

for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’

Then He said, ‘I am the God of your father,

the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac

and the God of Jacob.’

At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.'”

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Holy!

Purifying Fire!

Majestic!

Awesome in Glory!

Divine Deity!

Righteous!

Almighty!

Consuming Fire!

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“To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”

Exodus 24:17  NIV

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“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

let us be thankful,

and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

for our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:28-29  NIV

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“…God, the blessed and only Ruler,

the King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone is immortal

and who lives in unapproachable light,

whom no one has seen or can see.

To Him be honor and might forever.  Amen”

I Timothy 6:16  NIV

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“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’

This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

‘I AM has sent me to you.’

God also said to Moses,

Say to the Israelites,

‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—

has sent me to you.’

This is my name forever,

the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.”

Exodus 3:14-15  NIV

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When Isaiah looked into the throne room of heaven, he saw angels praising God.

Isaiah 6:3-5  NIV

“And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!’

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out,

and the house was filled with smoke.

So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts.’”

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“There is no one holy like the Lord;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.”

I Samuel 2:2  NIV

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“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.”

Psalm 103:19  NIV

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“Thus says the Lord,

‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool…'”

Isaiah 66:1  NIV

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“Immediately I was in the Spirit;

and behold, a throne was standing in heaven,

and One sitting on the throne.”

Revelation 4:12  NIV

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“In a loud voice they were saying:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!’

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth

and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!’”

Revelation 5:12-13  NIV

“You Are I Am”

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God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

Exodus 3:14 NIV

 

The Christmas Vultures…And Other Christmas Realities!!

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Here’s an email I sent to my dear cousin in NJ who sent us a lovely “Tour of Italy” basket this Christmas!

“Dearest Cousin!!

Thank you so much!!  We love it!!  Such a wonderful little tour of Italy!!  How lovely!!  So thoughtful of you!!!

I believe it was a beautifully decorated tin with bow, with all boxes filled with goodies, and cellophane intact, but the ‘Christmas Vultures’ in my house…tore open everything while I was at church last night…and by the time I got home, the mixed nuts were devoured by the BIG vulture…and the cheese swirls were gobbled up by the cute little vulture!!

So I had to hide all the chocolates from them…lest I have nothing!  Ha!  And then I dug out the beautiful bow from the discarded box, and place it lovingly back on the gorgeous tin basket around the pasta packages that were miraculously still uneaten!!

I get to open so few gifts…I felt cheated!!

My brother and his wife sent a Texas Yahoo Coffee Cake, and the BIG vulture had a trail of crumbs from the table to his chair…so he couldn’t even deny it was him who tore into it!!  The vultures are instructed to not open any gifts without me ever again!!  Especially those from MY side of the family!  Ha!

Have a Very Merry & Blessed Christmas, Cuzzie!!  Love you so much!  Me”

Her response came quickly!!

“Well, at least you got a little bit of it!!!  Next time I’ll have to have it wrapped in a box with a lock that only you can open!!  (Only kidding, of course.)  There is no way to keep “vultures” out if they want to get in!

Hope you have a Merry Christmas, too!  Love you!  Me”

I laughed so hard I almost couldn’t type back!

“Thanks, Cuzzie…that was my early morning laugh!!!!  I liked your idea of the lock, though!!  The cute little vulture said, ‘I guess I should have taken a photo of it!!!’  Duh…that would have been nice!!  Since his generation takes photos of everything…hence the allure of FB!!  If I make it ’til Christmas, it will be a miracle!  Pray for me!”

Other Christmas Realities!!

I took on too much…

I can’t continue to eat like this…

I stressed too much…

I will never again make all my yearly doctor’s/dentist’s/etc. check-up appointments in December!!

I’m not used to working…

AND doing Christmas!!

It’s been 10 years since I retired!

But Hallelujah…

I did get it all done…

Thank you, Jesus!!

I enjoyed celebrating YOUR Birthday!

And the day after Christmas…

Ahhh…Peace was mine!!

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