Soul Food

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Today’s Devotional | July 11 | PSALM 33 | In The Lord

Memory Verse
Rejoice in the LORD, 0 ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright (Psalm 33:1).

Rejoice in the Lord” is a command given in both the Old and New Testaments. Paul admonished the Christians at Philippi: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

But how can one rejoice when all his castles are tumbling and everything seems to go wrong? Can we rejoice over unpaid bills? Poor health? A divided family? The loss of a job? Jangled nerves?

Perhaps not.

But we can rejoice in the Lord!

When everything seems to be coming apart, He is unchanged. Though others forsake us, He remains faithful. If financial reverses come, He provides for our needs. When earthly gain turns to loss, He offers permanent treasure in the bank of heaven. If death seems imminent, He has given eternal life. Though the love of those nearest us cool, His love is constant.



Regardless of the circumstances, we can rejoice in the Lord. Christians should never be “under the circumstances.” Our Lord is above all. Today’s problems have not taken Him by surprise. Praise the Lord!
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 12 | ROMANS 13:1-7 | Must Christians Obey The Law?

Memory Verse
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1).

Christians ought to obey the law. Though some laws may be irritating and seem senseless, if they do not conflict with the Bible, we are obligated to obey them.

Commenting on this text, Dr. H. A. Ironside wrote: “The position of the Christian in this world is necessarily, under the present order of things, a peculiarly difficult and almost anomalous one. He is a citizen of another world, passing as a stranger and a pilgrim through a strange land. Presumably loyal in heart to the rightful King, whom earth rejected and counted worthy only of a malefactor’s cross, he finds himself called upon to walk in a godly and circumspect way in a scene of which Satan, the usurper, is the prince and god. Yet he is not to be an anarchist, nor is he to flaunt the present order of things. His rule ever should be: ‘We must obey God rather than man.’ Nevertheless he is not to be found in opposition to human government, even though the administrators of that government may be men of the most unrighteous type.”

So clear is this text that one must understand that to disobey the law is to be out of the will of God.

And that logical conclusion presents another: you may not have found the will of God for your life because you are not obedient to the laws of the land.

Sound farfetched? Better reconsider.

We learn God’s will through His word. Obey it. All of it. Even Romans 13!

read more here: https://www.jvim.com/todays-devotionals/
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 14 | PSALM 68:1-19 | The Righteous

Memory Verse
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice (Psalm 68:3).


Righteousness is rewarded.

Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way.

Knowing there would be times when it appeared the wicked were coming out winners, the psalmist wrote: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (Psalm 37:1,2).

Things are seldom what they seem. Outward success is meaningless unless the heart is right. Sin detracts from delight. The so-called “beautiful people” are often among the worlds most unhappy.

Only the righteous can truly rejoice.

But it is sad when the righteous do not rejoice. Those who have every reason to be glad sometimes spend their days groaning about trivial matters. Equipped for daily victory they are continually defeated. Having become citizens of heaven they live like hopeless earthlings. Though heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, they have allowed themselves to take on the mental attitudes of spiritual paupers. They are more often found pouting than praising, fault-finding is their specialty and nothing escapes their criticism. They are part of the body of Christ and have great potential for service, but they spend their time murmuring and complaining instead of rejoicing and reaching out to the lost.

Let the righteous rejoice! This is the will of God for each one of His children.
 
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Imagine! One day after my birthday too! hhhhhhhh



Today’s Devotional | July 15 | PSALM 71 | Old Age
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Memory Verse
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed (Psalm 71:23).

“Let it be our unceasing prayer that as we grow older we may not grow colder in the ways of God,” said good George Muller.

Muller lived up into the late nineties — always bright, full of interest, hopeful, joyful. In his last years, he would often stop in the midst of his conversation to exclaim, “Oh, I am so happy!” And it was not a mannerism, nor was it feigned.

“As we advance in years,” he had written long before, “let us not decline in spiritual power; but let us see to it that an increase of spiritual vigor and energy be found in us, that our last days may be our best days… Let the remaining days of our pilgrimage be spent in an ever-increasing, earnest consecration to God.”

“The devil has no happy old people,” it has been said. And that is understandable. How sad to have lived only for these few passing years and the thrills or compensations of them! In that case, old age is like a solemn countdown to the end. Treasures must be left behind. Moments must be drained of all good, for nothing good is expected beyond the grave.

In contrast, the Christian can rejoice in old age. He is still young in the light of eternity and every beat of his heart moves him closer to glory. He is not leaving his treasures but going to them. The end of life is but the end of his limitations. He savors every moment as another opportunity to serve his Lord and to be with loved ones, but he knows that better things are ahead and that a great reunion is coming in heaven.

Whether in church, his home, or in heaven, he can say, “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee.”
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 19 | GALATIANS 5:1-9 | Ye Did Run Well

Memory Verse
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Galatians 5:7).

The church at Galatia had known better days. Once it had been vibrant and alive. Love for one another had been evident to all.


Now they were locked into a system of legalism. And it had happened so easily. The logic of adding law to faith had appeared to be so right. But in adding to Christ, they had taken away from Him. They had traded the simple Gospel for a complex system of man-made rules.


Paul analyzed their problem… saw through their charade. He asked: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1). He knew that their downward trek had begun when they had started to listen to a new voice, one given to a message that twisted the true Gospel. Now he was calling them back to the truth.

Has your church known better days?

Can you pinpoint the time the decline began? Has warm fellowship given way to cold legalism?

The way back is the way of surrender. Stop following religious pied pipers who offer methods and doctrines built on human effort and exalting man’s ability: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).

Come back to the simple, wonderful, Gospel message. And share it with others. Take the lead in calling your church back to the Saviour by rededicating your own life to Jesus and by reaching out to the lost.

You did run well.

And that means you can serve your Lord again!
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 20 | PSALM 119:161-168 | The Bible

Memory Verse
I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil (Psalm 119:162).

In our youth, most of us have fancied finding buried treasure. As adults, millions buy lottery tickets or gamble in other ways in the hope of receiving great treasure. The psalmist valued God’s Word far more than any earthly bonanza.

If you have difficulty rejoicing today, praise God for the Bible. Think about its worth. Dwell on its riches. Apart from this divine revelation, we would know little of the personality of God. We might conclude that He is powerful and the Creator, for “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1), but we could never understand His love and would therefore miss life’s greatest blessing.

---

The earth has some traumatic days ahead. Christ is coming. The dead will be raised. Christians will be raptured. Tribulation will overtake the earth. Political and religious chaos is sure to come. But none of these things will take God by surprise, and students of the Bible have been given a preview of these events.

Christians who read God’s Word are “in the know.” They are better informed than the world’s most able news analysts.

What a book! Rejoice in it. Praise God for it. Let its message rule your life today!

read more at JVIM.com
 
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upload_2018-7-21_12-13-30.jpeg Today’s Devotional | July 21 | GALATIANS 5:10-15 | Religious Cannibals


Today's Devotional

Memory Verse
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another (Galatians 5:15).

Many a missionary has come back from the foreign field with thrilling stories of the power of the Gospel to change cannibals to Christians. Missionary books abound with like accounts. That kind of transformation in people gives proof of the reality of salvation. How wonderful to think of a man feeding his soul on the Word of God, who once fed his body on the flesh of his fellowman?

Interestingly, Paul speaks of another kind of cannibalism.

The Galatian church had once been a center of dynamic Christianity. Paul, himself, had ministered there. The Gospel had been presented clearly and the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the people had been evident. The love of Christ was an active force in personal relationships. Paul said they had loved him so much that they would have been willing to pluck out their eyes and give them to him to improve his poor vision, if that had been possible.

Sadly, things changed. The church became legalistic and love left. Paul lamented their spiritual poverty.

Observing their bickering and infighting, he warns that if they keep eating away at one another they will eventually consume one another. They had become Christian cannibals.

There is no room for cannibals among Christians. Instead, we are to “…love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Peter 1:22).

When Christians conquer their spiritual cannibalism, another great missionary story will be told. Those observing real love among the people of God will turn to the Saviour. The church will fulfill its mission at home. And this will enlarge its missionary ministry the world around!
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 22 | PROVERBS 5:15-23 | Husbands and Wives

Memory Verse
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth (Proverbs 5:18).

Here is a good test for married couples. Estimate the number of years you have left together. Figure the number of hours that totals. Divide the number by three and subtract the answer from the total to find the number of waking hours together. Now divide the remaining amount by two to arrive at the approximate time apart because of work. How do you intend to spend the hours that remain?

How many hours do you intend to spend arguing? In hand-to-hand combat? Pouting? Administering the “silent treatment”? Grumbling? Finding fault? Putting one another down? Criticizing one another before friends? Being apart unnecessarily? Now that you’ve removed the clutter, what will you do with the time that is left to invest?

How many hours have you reserved for expressing your love for each other? Holding one another? Complimenting? Walking together? Laughing? Sharing projects of mutual enjoyment? Relaxing together? Planning new adventures? Enjoying your children or grandchildren? Praying together? Studying the Bible? Attending church services? Telling others of God’s blessings?

Generally, we do not think about how quickly life escapes. The Bible speaks about the importance of “redeeming the time.” Unless priority is given to rejoicing together, as God intends, couples may waste most of their lives in unpleasant tasks or sour attitudes, thereby missing God’s will for their lives.

“Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.” And enjoy your husband while he’s with you. It’s the Bible way to live!
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 24 | LUKE 6:20-28 | Persecution

Memory Verse
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake (Luke 6;22).

Pastor J. H. Crowell, when about sixteen, shipped on a sailing vessel where he was the only Christian in a crew of twelve. Before leaving his mother he promised to meet her three times a day at the throne of grace, and so he regularly went below and prayed knowing that his mother was praying at the same time at home beside her bed.

The other crew members were furious over his praying and persecuted him severely. They threw wood at him and poured buckets of water over him, but they could not put out the fire in his soul.

Finally, they tied him to the mast and laid thirty-nine stripes on his back. Still he prayed on. At last, they tied a rope around him and threw him overboard. He swam as best he could, and when he took hold of the side of the ship, they pushed him off with a pole. When his strength gave way and he thought he would die, he called out: “Send my body to my mother and tell her I died for Jesus.”

The wrath of the angry sailors seemed finally to be exhausted and they pulled the young Christian up on the deck and left him there unconscious. Shortly after he revived, conviction began to seize his companions on the ship. Before night, two of them were saved. Within a week, everyone on board, including the captain, had been born again.

The persecution was difficult, but J. H. Crowell met it as a Christian, counting it joy to suffer for Christ. The Lord rewarded him with the conversion of his persecutors.

Can you rejoice in opportunities to suffer for the Lord? (See 2 Timothy 3:12.)
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 25 | REVELATION 3:1-6 | The Dead Church

Memory Verse
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God (Revelation 3:2).

The church at Sardis was dead. Active, but dead.

C. H. Spurgeon once said: “Have you ever read ‘The Ancient Mariner?’ I dare say you thought it one of the strangest imaginations ever put together, especially that part where the old mariner represents the corpses of all the dead men rising up to man the ship — dead men pulling the rope, dead men steering, dead men spreading the sails. I thought what a strange idea that was. But do you know I have lived to see that time. I have gone into churches, and I have seen a dead man in the pulpit, a dead man as a deacon, a dead man handling the plate, and dead men sitting to hear.”

Paul wrote that the last days would be characterized by dead religion instead of living faith: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:5).

The Gospel gives life but just going through the motions brings death. Jesus did not come to found social clubs, organizations to fill the time of members to keep them from boredom or religious corporations given to successful money raising. He came to save the lost… to impart spiritual life to those who were dead in sin. And He gives life to those who trust Him: “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10),

If your church is dead, start sharing the Gospel with others. When people are saved through your faithful Gospel witness, the church will come alive!
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 26 | REVELATION 2:18-29 | Church with a Few Faithful

Memory Verse
But that which ye have already holdfast till I come (Revelation 2:25).

The church at Thyatira contained some bad people. The Lord’s letter warns them of coming judgment. Nevertheless there was a faithful remnant there. And the Lord lets them know that they have not been overlooked. He knows His own sheep.

Nearly every church has a faithful few who serve the Lord because they love Him and are not upset by the failures and compromises of other members. If there are two groups in your church, join the faithful few.

Chester Shuler’s, “The Faithful Few,” concludes:

“God bless, I pray, the faithful few,
And may their tribe increase —
They must be very precious to
The blessed Prince of Peace.”

George Eliot shared his secret of remaining faithful as follows:

“I will try this day to live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity and the habit of holy silence; exercising in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity in every trust, and a childlike faith in God.

“In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, physical exercise, eating and sleep, which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.

That all my powers with all their might To God’s sole glory may unite.”

Daily Devotionals


As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…”
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 28 | LUKE 15:8-10 | Rejoicing in Heaven
Memory Verse
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10).

The man who knelt beside me was the son of a preacher of the gospel. His father had gone to heaven long ago. Now the son, a grandfather, was asking the Lord Jesus to save him. When he had finished his prayer of faith, I rejoiced with him in his salvation and then said, “Your father knows that you have been born again.”

“I hope so,” he sighed.

“I guarantee it,” I said reassuringly. Then I shared our memory verse with him.

There is no doubt about it. Those in heaven know when any person on earth is saved and it brings great rejoicing there. The angels are glad and joy breaks out among the saints. Another soul will share heaven with them.

I would like to have been there when that former circuit-riding preacher was notified of the salvation of his son, Bill. I’m sure he had led many to Christ in days gone by and had rejoiced to see them saved, but always there had been that longing over his son. Through life he had prayed for him, expecting his conversion year after year but never seeing it happen. Perhaps he had experienced times of doubting that his prayer would ever be answered. Preachers are human enough to go through valleys of doubt and depression. Sometimes he may have felt like giving up — but always he went back to his knees. It was all he could do. Then, finally, his earthly sojourn ended and he went to heaven without his prayer answered. It may have been the only touch of sadness that he felt in arriving there. But now the victory had come.

Heaven rejoiced!
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 29 | REVELATION 3:14-22 | The Lukewarm Church


Memory Verse
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot (Revelation 3:15).

Some churches are prosperous outwardly but are poverty stricken as to real spiritual values. They see themselves as successful but God sees them as failures. They are religious, perhaps even sound in Bible doctrine, but they have no fire. They are lukewarm.

Long ago, Joseph Seiss lamented: “Many consider themselves Christians, and Christians of the better sort, who are quite indifferent to the doctrines they hold. They make nothing of creed, despise it, and want nothing to do with those who are in any wise strict and earnest about it. Their religion is a mere goodish ness, which has something of moral warmth in it, but which when tested is only a tepid sentimentalism, having nothing of the solid backbone of Christianity in it.

“Others are very rigid and punctilious about sound doctrine. They make orthodoxy everything, and are ready to fight and suffer for it, but are not so particular about their lives. They stickle earnestly for the creed and the unadulterated truth; and so far they are warm. But when it comes to orthodoxy of practical godliness, they are anything but warm, and hence must be classed with the lukewarm.”

Some churches are sound, but as Spurgeon said, “sound asleep.”

Paul was on fire for Christ. There was nothing lukewarm about his life. He suffered the loss of all things for His Saviour and did so gladly. The world still feels the impact of his life and ministry.

Is your church lukewarm?

Be a thermostat… not a thermometer.
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 30 | REVELATION 3:7-13 | Church with an Open Door

Memory Verse
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name (Revelation 3:8).

A minister was once asked by a friend, whom he met in a distant city: “How many members do you have in your church?”

“One thousand,” the preacher replied.

“Really.” the friend exclaimed, “And how many of them are active?”

“All of them are active,” was the response. “About two hundred of them are active for the Lord; the balance are active for the devil.”

Few churches take full advantage of the opportunities given for service. Some are even guilty of looking for ways to trim their outreach in order to save money.

Someday we will all stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an account of our service. There the Lord will remind us of all the doors that were open but that we shunned.

Since our Lord knows the potential of each of His children, it is reasonable to conclude that He will open doors for any church that will employ all the talents and gifts of the people in that congregation. A church is not really active unless the members are being used to the ultimate of their ability and dedication. Activity for Christ cannot be determined by how busy the church schedule appears or how full the calendar, rather the true test is the use of the members in the areas of service for which they are equipped by the Holy Spirit.

Is there a door of service open through which you have not passed?

How will you handle this at the Judgment Seat?
 
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Dr. Jean, Thank you for sharing these memory verses and devotionals, which are a blessing to all of us, and to God. These devotionals are a rich source of inspiration, encouragement, and learning. We're grateful to you for bringing them to the forums. Glory to God. Amen.
 
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Today’s Devotional | July 31 | I PETER 1:1-9 | In Trouble

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Memory Verse
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (1 Peter 1:6).

Though Christians will not pass through the Tribulation, in this world we have tribulation. This is not strange. Salvation transforms sinners into citizens of heaven but it does not deliver them from earthly trials.

Some seem to have more than their share. Perhaps you feel you are one of them.

Still, God is faithful and has promised that He will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able. Henry Ward Beecher wrote: “No physician ever weighed out medicine to his patients with half so much care and exactness as God weighs out to us every trial. Not one grain too much does He ever permit to be put in the scale.

So, the Bible says we can rejoice in our trials.

Does this seem contradictory?

Not at all! These trials are designed to try our faith. And through them all we are kept by the power of God (see 1 Peter 1:5).

Like Peter, who began to sink when he looked at the wind and the waves while walking on the sea to Jesus, we may waver at times. But He never wavers. Our faith may sometimes be weak. But the object of our faith — Jesus — is strong.

No wonder we can rejoice in our temporary troubles. We have everlasting life! And we are in the care of our Eternal God.
 
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Today’s Devotional | August 1 | DEUTERONOMY 6:1-8 | Love God

Memory Verse
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5).

An old Indian chief constantly spoke of the Lord Jesus and what He meant to him. “Why do you talk so much about Jesus?” asked a friend. The old chief did not reply, but slowly, deliberately gathered some sticks and bits of grass, making a circle of them. In the circle he placed a caterpillar. Still silent, he struck a match and lit the sticks and grass. As the fire caught around the circle, the trapped caterpillar began to crawl around rapidly, seeking a way of escape.

As the fire advanced, the helpless caterpillar raised its head as high as it could. If the creature could have spoken, it might have said, “My help can only come from above.”

Then the old chief stooped down. He extended his finger to the caterpillar which crawled up his finger to safety.

“That,” said the chief glowingly, “was what the Lord Jesus did for me! I was lost in sin. My condition was hopeless. I was trapped. Then the Lord Jesus stooped down, and in love and mercy drew me out to safety. How can I help but love Him and talk of His wondrous love and care?”

Moses’ call to love God is but a call to respond to God’s love. He loved first. John said it well: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:10).

Though we love God with heart, soul and might, our love will still fall short of His great love for us. He deserves complete devotion with deepest emotion.

How much do you really love your Lord?
 
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Today’s Devotional | August 2 | ROMANS 1:14-32 | Not Ashamed


Memory Verse
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

What is the Gospel?

“Good news,” someone answers.

True, but what is this good news?

Let Paul answer: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1,3,4).

Isn’t it strange that there are so many divisions over this simple and wonderful message? Why do cults rise with far-out formulas for salvation?

Blindness.

Christ died for you and me. He was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures. That message produces the new birth. All who go to heaven arrive there because of this message. God has made His way of eternal life understandable. How sad that man makes it complicated.

To believe the Gospel is to receive Christ by faith.

So, we do not follow the theological concoctions of some self-styled religious charlatan. Our faith rests in the everlasting gospel. And that is good news worth sharing.

Let the whole world know.

Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. It’s the power of God unto salvation…needed by all. Cut through meaningless conversation. Speak up for Christ today.
 
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