Everlasting Love
From ‘The Gift of Jesus’ by Charles Stanley
The greatest gift God has ever given: Himself.
The greatest thing that exists.
The history-changing day when ‘God became flesh
and dwelt among us.’
John 1:14
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The awesome wisdom and simplicity of the name Jesus.
Even a child can say it.
It means God’s deliverer.
When you learn about Jesus you are interacting
with your Living Savior,
'who took the form of a servant’
to have a relationship with you.
Philippians 2:7
God’s love sent His Son into the world
‘that we might live through Him.’
1 John 4:9
4
The invention of the airplane changed the course of history.
How much greater the gift of Jesus
to transform every life into peace and love
and bursting joy for all eternity?
God loves each person with a ‘love so deep to know
would break your heart.’ J. McGee
He wants to heal your body, soul, and spirit,
and fill your life with
every wondrous possibility.
We grow weary when we focus on our circumstances
instead of Him.
5
In the beginning the Word was with God,
The Word was God. He was made flesh,
Jesus, and dwelt among us.’
John 1:1, 14
He set the sun, moon, and stars in place,
created all living things, breathed in His breath of life,
and sustains it all perfectly from the smallest particle
to the vast workings of the universe.
He stood in the highest place,
the right hand of the throne of heaven.
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He traveled every distance,
sacrificed everything to be with you forever.
Absolute holiness, infinite power, unfailingly faithful,
glorious splendor, infinite love.
The beautiful, powerful, majestic, and mysterious
is seen kind, loving, and approachable.
Almighty hands that formed mountains
touched blind eyes to restore their sight.
Three persons of the Trinity in perfect union and essence,
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are bringing all who will back to His very heart.
Jesus, the radiance of the Father’s glory,
shows us what it looks like when the incomprehensible God
interacts with us.
In Him we see endless mercy, love, holiness,
wisdom, creativity, justice, healing, beauty, and power.
Christ said, ‘He who has seen Me
has seen the Father.’ John 14:9
8
God arranged history to prepare for this event.
The law was given through Moses
to show us God’s standard of holiness
is far beyond our reach).
What He requires of us is overwhelming,
so we will trust Him for it, not ourselves.
The most glorious mystery is
‘Christ in you.’ Colossians 1:27
Because Jesus is alive in us,
we can be filled with His grace and power.
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And personally guaranteed
nothing will be impossible with God.’ Luke 1:37
And they will call His name Immanuel,
which means God with us.’
Matthew 21:23
He wasn’t born in a royal setting
as would be fitting for the eternal Son of God,
but on the ground in a smelly stable
to connect with the lowest place.
The infinitely perfect and beautiful One was
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looked down on, despised, rejected, betrayed,
and totally forsaken,
so He knows every place you might be or have been.
Your life has the greatest value to Him.
He gave His life to buy you for Himself.
You are never alone or helpless.
Don’t be afraid or discouraged,
I am with you.’ Isaiah 41:10
Always with you at your best and worst
to lift and make new.
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In your darkest times
He draws you closer.
Shepherds, a lowly smelly job,
treated as outcasts,
were watching over their flacks at night
when an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord surrounded them. saying,
I bring you good news of great joy
for all people,
for today, born for you is a Savior
who is Christ the Lord.
Then a vast host of majestic angels appeared
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saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace, (delight, pleasure ) to men.’
Luke 2:10-14
This awesome, loving Savior was coming
to take them from the lowest place in society to the highest.
He that overcomes will sit with Me on My throne.
Revelation 3:21
And this is ‘the victory that overcomes,
our faith. 1 John 5:4
Our Divine warrior has already won every
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battle for us: All powerful,
He never loses.
‘Glory to God in the Highest
and earth peace, to men.
Eden, the name of God's garden where
He put the man before the fall
means pleasure, delight,
telling us this astounding Savior was coming
to undo 'the works of the devil.’
1 John 3:8
All the suffering and unspeakable horrors
of time and eternity,
to be forever reversed.
14
For unto us a child is born,
a Son is given.
And the government will be on His shoulder:
and His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace,’ Isaiah 9:6,7
He will be great.
He will be called the Son of the Highest.
The Lord God will give Him the throne.
And His kingdom will never end.
Luke 1:32, 33
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Every Wondrous Possibility
Talking with God
Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8
From Charles Stanley’s,
The Ultimate Conversation
Everyone has the privilege of coming
into the very throne room of the universe:
Invited into intimate conversation
with the One who cares about you most:
to talk to the Lord of all that exists.
He loves us and wants us to know Him.
Our good, loving, powerful, heavenly Father
is always available.
He delights to hear from us.
Call, I will answer
and show you great and mighty things.
Jeremiah 3:33
So constant a helper; So faithful a friend
We can approach God boldly
because Jesus’ death in our place made us
‘Holy as He is holy.’
The power isn’t in the prayer
but the God to whom we pray:
our Lord, Maker,
King, Mighty warrior, Redeemer,
and faithful High Priest.
He who is eternity, everywhere,
and can’t change, always with you.
He is our adequacy. He can literally
move heaven and earth for you, like Joshua
the day He made the sun stand still.
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:14
Approach Him humbly and expectantly.
Looking to ourselves robs us
of the awesome power
of His love and Presence.
The One who has infinite power
is absolutely faithful
to keep His promises.
Immeasurable value,
the eternally existing Life Giver.
Let’s turn our thinking away from troubles
to our Matchless God
who can triumph over any difficulty.
The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23
Shepherds dedicate their lives to their flocks,
tenderly caring for them.
Our heavenly Shepherd is always here:
guiding, protecting from harm,
and satisfying your soul continually
with love, acceptance, companionship,
and worth, as no one else can.
We listen to God more closely,
depend on Him more fully
as we walk with Him through adversity.
His aim is to bring us deeper
into an intimate relationship with Him,
the Source of all we have
and our Defender in every situation.
The Lord spoke the entire universe into existence,
placed the billions of stars, worlds,
and galaxies in their orbits,
naming each one.
Everything that exists
from the smallest particle
to the infinity of space
rests in the omnipotent hand of
our omniscient Father.
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He suffered and was tempted in every way.
He knows heartache of being rejected, betrayed,
and the absolute agony of being forsaken.
And He faithfully walks through
each challenge with you.
When you pray,
go into your inner room,
and close the door.
He wants you all to Himself.
'Your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly.' Matthew 6:49
Jesus told us to call
the Lord of heaven Father.
Matthew 6:9
‘The Father of mercies
and God of all comfort
who comforts us in all our afflictions.’
2 Corinthians 1:3
Ask Him anything in My name
‘that your joy may be full,’
said Jesus in John 16:24
Talking to Him brings real answers
from the real God who cares,
who unfailingly accepts us.
You are a vital part of His royal family:
wanted, needed, and loved!
He sacrificed everything
to have a relationship with you
and went to the cross.
You become all He created you to be
as you look to Him.
Tell all to your Father and let Him free
you from any hurt
and bitterness in your heart.
Casting all your cares on Him
for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Only follow One who knows the way.
The Lord’s work is perfect.
All His ways are just.
Deuteronomy 32:4
I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8
We are not to trust in ourselves
but in God who raises the dead.’
2 Corinthians 1:9
As we pray, Jesus,
our High Priest transforms
our prayers into exactly right,
pleasing ones,
ascending as beautiful incense
to the Father.
None can stand against the Living God.
‘I am the Lord, the God of all flesh;
is anything too hard for Me?’
Focus on His awesome power
(which spoke the universe into being)
and trust His perfect timing
(that keeps all the galaxies
on precisely correct paths).
The Lord will rescue Me from every evil
and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.’
2 Timothy 4:18
We serve the eternal God.
We live for what matters and what will last.
We joyously give thanks to the Father
Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance
of the saints in Light.’
Colossians 1:11,12
Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
Hebrews 7:26
Nothing can separate us
from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus.’
Romans 8:38, 39
Prayer, the most awesome privilege in life.
Through it we can touch anyone, anywhere.
We can move mountains
and change nations.
Let Me hear your voice
for it is sweet.
Living in Joy
I will know as I am known
Translated from French: notes, conversations, and letters by Nicholas Herman,
of Lorraine, a lowly and unlearned man who after having been a footman and a soldier
was admitted as a lay brother among the barefooted Carmelite monks at Paris in 1666
and was afterwards known as Brother Lawrence.
3
Lawrence grew in the knowledge and love of God,
trying to constantly to walk in His presence,
living only as a steward,
to stay in ‘the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.’
2 Corinthians 11:3
His one aim was union with God.
‘The inexpressible sweetness I taste there
yields great joy.’
In turmoil, 'I possess great tranquility
as in the quietest prayer.
Knowing He is with me.’ Hebrews 13:5
4
Seeking God's Presence
by continually conversing with Him,
without fear of being troublesome,
he resolved to make the love of God
the end of all his actions.
Long fearing he would be damned,
he saw this arose from lack of faith. '
Faith comes by hearing the word of God.'
Romans 10:17
Realizing this, he lived in perfect liberty
and continual joy.
5
He knew he could do nothing of himself.
God was his strength.
Speak with God simply and plainly,
for He invites, ‘Let Me hear your voice,
for it is precious to Me.’ Song of Solomon 2:14
With prayer he found unwelcome tasks
easy and well done.
When overcome by a fault, he confessed to God,
knowing the Savior cleansed them away at the cross.
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Useless thoughts spoil all.
We ought to reject them
as soon as we perceive their impertinence
and return to communion with God.
Our only aim is to love and delight ourselves in God
(while pointing others to the same).
And to expect the pardon of our failings in this
through the Blood of Jesus.
The greatest pleasures in this world
are but pale shadows of the wonder of Him.
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The trust we put in God honors Him much
and draws down great graces.
Knowing the comfort of His nearness
and turning away from everything
that does not lead to God,
unspeakable pleasures followed.
When distracted from the thought of God,
a fresh remembrance from God invested his soul
and so inflamed and transported him
that it was difficult for him to contain himself.
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In difficulties when we look to Jesus
everything becomes easy.
Leaning on His help brings us to adoring
and loving Him incessantly.
We rely only on the merits
and ability of our Lord Jesus.
To the soul being insensible to everything
but His love,
life passes in continual joy.
His life is in us to reflect Him
without our effort and to our exceeding great delight.
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When filled with great sentiments of the Divine Being,
Lawrence went to work in the kitchen for he was the cook.
Keeping Him always before us,
brings a holy freedom where we ask
and are granted whatever we need,
bringing awe of His great goodness to us.
The Presence of God, always with and in me,
brings great delight, a profound inner peace,
a center place of rest.
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A simple, secret conversation of the soul with God.
In failure, far from chastising me,
He embraces me with love,
gives me the key to His treasures.
In whom are hid all the treasures. Colossians 2:3
A little lifting of the heart to Him suffices,
even on a march with sword in hand.
There is not in this world a kind of life
more sweet and delightful than c
ontinual conversation with God.
In troubles turn to Him often.
He is nearer than any of us know.
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Everyone is capable of familiar
conversations with God.
Sufferings are sweet
while we are with Him.
Leave Him not alone.
You would think it rude to leave a friend alone
who came to visit you.
Think on Him often,
adore Him continually.
Put all your trust in Him
and you will soon find recovery.
God permits us to suffer a little to purify our souls
to continue with Him.
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The Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your soul. Isaiah 58:11
I, who deserve the severest discipline,
feel joys so continual and so great
I can scarce contain them.
Humble, affectionate conversation
with God brings the peace of paradise.
The deeper our knowledge of Him,
the greater will be our love.
Stay always with Him even in unfaithfulness.
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God is with you at the very depth of your soul.
Quiet times with God
destroy the love of self unconsciously,
finding our joy in the eternal Source of all.
To Him all hearts are open.
His perfection is infinite and Sovereign.
What great surprise awaits in these times
with Him,
who delights with all His being
in this communion.
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Joy that has no measure,
without a single effort on our part.
Dazzled by the Majesty of His Infinite Being.
The greatest glory we can give Him
is to trust and commit ourselves to His safekeeping.
God allows trials to purify the soul.
Let us seek Him in our sorrows and pains
just when they begin to press upon us.
If I had only known Him sooner.
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Your Presence is fullness
of Joy
Thy Kingdom Come
Showers of blessings
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the Presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
The Lord God called, Adam, where are you? And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.
Who told you that You are naked?
Have you eaten of the tree, that I forbid,
3
(breaking union with God, who alone is life?) The man said, The woman You gave me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.
Genesis 3:8-12
The Lord is long suffering toward us, not willing that any perish, but that all come back to Him.
2 Peter 3:9
So, the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden, to work the ground.
4
He brought down their heart with labor.
Psalm 107:12
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
This fall brought much suffering on mankind and unfathomable suffering on God to save us,
Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we, being dead to sins, could live to righteousness:
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by whose wounds we were healed!
1 Peter 2:24
After being arrested, Jesus stood silently while many lies were spoken against Him. The high priest stood up, You have nothing to say?
Jesus didn’t answer. The high priest demanded, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Jesus said, I am!
And You will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power,
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and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mark 14:60-62
For as the lightning comes from the east,
and shines to the west
the coming of the Son of man will be.
Matthew 24:27
Behold, He comes with clouds
and every eye will see Him,
even those that pierced Him.
Revelation 1:7
And His feet will stand that day on the mount of Olives,
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and the mount of Olives will split east and west making a very great valley.
Zechariah 14:4
He will send His angels
to gather His own from the four winds,
from the farthest part of heaven.
Mark 13:27
And will gather out of His kingdom
all things that offend,
and those that do iniquity,
and cast them into a furnace of fire
where there will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
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Then the righteous will shine as the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.
Matthew 13:41-43
The Son of man will come in His glory,
and all the holy angels with Him,
and sit on the throne of His glory
with all nations gathered before Him:
and He will separate
them as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats, setting the sheep on His right,
but the goats on the left.
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Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you blessed by My Father,
inherit the kingdom
prepared for you
from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:31-34
And He will judge among the nations
and rebuke many people.
They will turn their swords into plows
and not learn war anymore.
Isaiah 2:4
He will cause evil beasts
to cease out of the land.
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And the cow and the bear will eat together
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
Isaiah 11:7
I will cause showers to come down in season; showers of blessing.
And the trees and fields will be fruitful.
and all will be safe in their land.
None will make them afraid,
for I, the Lord their God, am with them.
Ezekiel 34:25-31
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Eye has not seen, or ear heard,
or entered the heart of man,
the things that God has prepared
for those that love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure
hidden in a field which when found,
for joy of it,
a man hides it, sells all he has,
to buy that field. Matthew 13:44
You are that treasure.
For God so loves the world
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that He gave His only Son
that whosoever believes in Him
will not perish but has
everlasting life.
John 3:16
This Man, after offering
one sacrifice for sins forever,
sat down on the right hand of God
waiting while His enemies
are being made His footstool.
Acts 2:35
Who by one offering
has perfected forever those that believe.
Hebrews 10:14
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Imagine never thinking or saying
or doing even a hint of wrong,
but everything you do is infinitely right, always: high, holy, infinitely precious things
through worlds without end.
That’s what Jesus did for us,
for all the universe, forever.
And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
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full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
In Him was life
(the eternal life of God for He is God);
and that life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4
God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness
has shined in our hearts
to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4
When Christ, who is our life, appears,
then you will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:3, 4
with Him in glory
Until I Come
Hold fast what you have
until I come.’ Revelation 2:25
Jesus, the brightness of God's glory,
upholding all things by the word of His power,
when He had purged our sins,
sat down at the right side of the Majesty on high.'
Hebrews 1:3
Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
higher than the heavens' Hebrews 7:26
By one offering perfected forever
those being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14
3
I will come and receive you to Myself,
that where I am you will be.' John 14:3
The majestic Lord of heaven and earth
invites all to walk with Him forever
on streets of gold
in a place where nothing bad can happen.
Ezekiel saw visions of God.
I was among the captives by the river of Chebar
when the heavens were opened:
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I saw a sapphire throne and a fiery amber gemstone
form of a man on it flashing forth rainbows.
This was the Glory of God.'
Ezekiel 1:26-28
The treasure of the universe.
A treasure that only multiplies
as you give it away.
A Living Treasure
that guides you away from every
possible trouble and shields you from
every danger and evil.
5
For I will be a wall of fire around them,
and Glory in them.'
Zechariah 2:5
You will keep in perfect peace, whose minds
are stayed on You.
Isaiah 26:3
And the One who holds the universe together
is your strength.
The Lord is my strength and my shield.' Psalm 28:7
He renews our youth like the eagles:
Bless the Lord, O my soul:
bless His holy name.
Who forgives all our sins;
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who heals all our diseases, crowns us with His love,
and renews our youth like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5
He solves every problem. 'Call to me.
I will answer and show you
great and mighty things you don't know.
Jeremiah 33:3
He provides for every need.
My God will supply all your need
from His riches in glory,
promises the Holy One who owns the universe.
Philippians 4:19
Our faith leads others to highest place.
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The heart of God,
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before You formed the earth and the world,
from eternal ages, You are God.' Psalm 90:1
Ones that overcome will sit with Me on My throne.'
Revelation 3:21
I go to prepare a place for you.
I will come and receive you to Myself,
to be with Me. John 14:3
8
Moses kept the flock of his father-in-law
and came to the mountain of God.
The angel of the Lord appeared in a fiery thorn bush
that wasn't consumed.
Moses said, I'll go see this great sight.
God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses.
And he said, I'm here.
God said, 'Don't come close. Take your shoes off.
You're standing on holy ground.
I am the God of your fathers.
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Moses hid his face, afraid.
The Lord said, 'I see My people,
hear their cries, know their sorrows.
(as He sees us and knows our sorrows.)
I've come to deliver (all) to a good, spacious land,
flowing with milk and honey.' Exodus 3:1-8
I cried. The Lord heard
and saved me out of all my troubles.
The angel of the Lord camps
around those that fear Him
and delivers them. Psalm 34:17,7
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The Lord is a sun and shield.
He gives grace and glory:
He withholds nothing good those
that walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:14
After six days Jesus took Peter, James,
and John up a high mountain
to Himself:
Everything in life is Him bringing us more
to Himself.
And He was transfigured before them.
His face shined as the sun.
His clothing was white as the light.
And Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Him.
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Peter said, Lord, it is good we are here:
let's make dwellings; one for each of you.
While He spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them
and a voice said, This is My beloved Son,
in Him I'm well pleased.
Hear Him. Matthew 17:1-5
Hear the One who knows everything
and never makes mistakes.
Delight yourself also in the Lord:
and He will give you
the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
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Everything about Him is delightful wonder.
And He loves you with all His heart:
dying to take all sin 'as far as east is from west.'
Psalm 103:12
God showed what is good: do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with Him.' Micah 6:8
I am the vine,
My Father is the gardener.
Stay in me, and I in you.
Without Me you can do nothing.
If you stay,
Ask anything and it will be done for you.
John 15:1-7
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
Always look to Him. He will guide you.
Proverbs 3;5,6
The Lord God is mighty to save.
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout.
The dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we will be caught up in the clouds
to meet the Lord and will always be with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
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To the only wise God our Savior, be glory, majesty,
dominion, and power, both now and forever. Jude 1:2
Come!.
Be filled with all the fullness of God.'
Ephesians 3:19
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Ever with the Lord
..............
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