Category: Devotionals

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

One of my favorite subjects to study and teach is grammar. I know many people find this a difficult (boring) topic, but I love the challenge of learning to maneuver my way through the twists and turns of the complexity of the English language.

Take a look at the above verse. Most of us are quite familiar with it. I know I think of it often when I face situations that are seemingly difficult to overcome. But until today, I haven’t really thought about the grammatical implications of this verse.

This verse tells me that I have the capability to do all things through Christ. That’s the meaning of the word “can.” This word refers to my potential, the skills I have to accomplish something. It is simply a word used to state my ability to do something because I have the knowledge to do so. Because this verse is written in the Word of God, I know that it is true. There is no doubt that I really can do all things through the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore it is factual to say when God asks me to do something, I can accomplish it through the empowerment of the Saviour.

What kinds of things might God ask of me? Maybe it’s to teach a Sunday school class, work in the nursery, homeschool my grandchildren, give a little more to missions, participate in a visitation program, etc. This list could go on and on and on. There isn’t anything that God would ask of me that I could not do. I have the confidence that I could successfully complete every one of them because of my relationship with His Son because Philippians 4:13 says that “I can…”

But it’s really not a matter of “Can I?” It’s a matter of “Will I?”

The word “will,” refers to a willingness on my part. It directly relates to my commitment to the task. When I say, “I will do it,” there is no decision to be made regarding my ability. Instead, it is a decisive word. I am committed to action; I am determined to undertake the task and complete it. When I say, “I can do that,” I am referring only to my capability to act; when I say, “I will do that,” I have fully committed myself to doing something. It is a choice I make to act. Luke 9:23 speaks of Jesus when it says, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” This was a choice that Jesus offered. He never forced anyone to follow Him, and He never will.

When God asks me to do something for Him, He simply waits for my answer. He’s ready to provide all I need to accomplish His work. However, if my only response is “I can do all things…,” it’s not enough. I need to answer Him with a hearty “Yes, Lord! I will do all things…” And then I just need to go and do it “… through Christ which strengtheneth me!”

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.

(from “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go” by Mary Brown)

“What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” Psalm 25:12

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What will your answer be when God asks you to do something for Him?

“For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.” 2 Samuel 22:29

Years ago, I visited the infamous prison of Alcatraz. Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, it was a favorite tourist stop for many. As I toured the facilities, I thought of how horrible it would be to be incarcerated here. The cells were cold and empty, a sharp contrast to the gaiety of life just across the water. When the tour guide brought us to the cells used for solitary confinement, she asked if anyone wanted to go inside one of the cells. Several of us enthusiastically volunteered, and she ushered us into one. She told us that she would close the door, and it would become very dark, but not to worry as she would reopen the door and release us after a few seconds. I was eager for her to close the door. However, when the heavy metal door clanged shut, I was immediately immersed into total darkness, and it was very unsettling for me. I thought that as my eyes adjusted, I would be able to see a little bit and view those in the cell with me, but it didn’t happen. I held my hand up before my eyes, but I couldn’t even see a remote outline of my fingers. A chilling twinge of panic began to creep up in me, and I stood frozen in the dark. We were all totally enveloped by blackness. No one said a word in the cell… I think we were all stunned at the depth of darkness that had descended upon us, and the fact that until the door was opened from the outside, we were all blinded by the lack of light and unable to escape.

True to her word, the tour guide did reopen the door despite my fearful thoughts of “What if she leaves us here?” After what seemed like forever (in reality just a few seconds), the tiniest sliver of light penetrated the black interior of the cell, and my rapidly blinking eyes could see again! Outlines of the people inside the cell with me took shape, and I could see my fingers wiggling. Light began to flood the room, and nervous laughter could be heard from us “volunteer prisoners” as we quickly exited the cell. It felt so liberating to be free and finally walking in the light!

This is just like sin.

Sin is enticing, drawing us near it out of our own curiosity. It whispers lies to us. “Everyone’s doing it!” “What harm is there in one little drink?” “I’ll show him who’s boss!” “I’m entitled to it, and I’m going to get it no matter what!” “It’s not really a baby yet.” This list of lies goes on and on, and then when we rationalize sin to fit the world’s morality and acceptability, we willingly partake of it, slowly sinking lower and lower into its darkness until we are totally immersed in its evil blackness. Satan has successfully blinded us to the reality of sin and its horrifying consequences on our physical and spiritual lives. Once entrapped by sin, it squeezes out everything else until the only things that we can “see” are hopelessness, despair, and defeat. We are plunged into the total blackness of the depravity of sin.

How do we escape? Read more

“And as he passed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.” Genesis 32:31

As I grow older, I experience more aches and pains than I did as a younger woman. Most are transient… here today, gone tomorrow. Sometimes when one ache disappears, a different one reappears, and then when it is gone, another one pops up! Unfortunately, I do have chronic pain in a hip joint. My doctor says it is arthritis, and some future day I may be a candidate for treatment that is more extensive than taking a couple of anti-inflammatories for the discomfort.

As I lamented over this current diagnosis, I read the story about Jacob wrestling with God and being afflicted with a painful joint. This affliction, given to him by the Lord, remained with Jacob for the rest of his life. This reminded me of Paul and his “thorn in the side” as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12. Why were these men afflicted in such a manner? I think these physical problems enabled Jacob and Paul to deepen their trust in the Lord. For Jacob, he would always remember that God would fight for him as evidenced in his new name, Israel. For Paul, he would always humbly remember that God’s grace was sufficient for anything he needed or faced in life, as Christ would be his strength.

Bearing this in mind, I thought about my own physical problem. While I wished it was not an issue for me, the reality is that it is, and I can either grumble about it or use it to draw me closer to God, just as Jacob and Paul were drawn nearer to God through their infirmities. I know that God knows all about my health issues, and He could heal them all in a heartbeat if He so chose. Instead, He has allowed them to continue for a purpose. I believe that the purpose is to deepen my relationship with Him. (I definitely pray more about my health than I ever did before, and any time I take the time to talk with God, it is a very good thing.)

While I am not quite at the place where I am thankful for all the joint pains I have, I can say that I am happy my eyes have been opened a bit more to the understanding that all things (even chronic pains) “…work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus, my Saviour, abides with me still.

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

(From “Moment By Moment” by D.W. Whittle)

“But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” Psalm 73:28

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Take a moment now to thank God for helping you through those aches and pains of life!

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:6

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of classic books like Treasure Island, spent his childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 19th century. As a boy, Robert was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighters who went about with a ladder and a torch, setting the street lights ablaze for the night. One evening, as young Robert stood watching with fascination, his parents asked him, “Robert, what in the world are you looking at out there?” With great excitement he exclaimed, “Look at that man! He’s punching holes in the darkness!”  (Hearings, Volume 1, Aid to Fine Arts, pg. 177, US Congress, 1961)

We live in a very dark world. It was darkened the moment sin entered into it in the Garden of Eden, and it continues to blacken our world. Once, the darkness of sin was so thick that the Lord had to directly intervene. He did so by sending rain for the first time on this planet. Thick black clouds occluded the sunshine as water destroyed all land animals and nearly everyone on earth. When this judgment was over, God “punched a hole in the darkness” with His glorious rainbow that spanned the sky and promised “Never again!”

Throughout the ages, there have been additional periods of sinful darkness, waxing and waning over time as wickedness and evil manifested themselves in every nook and cranny of humanity, but through them all, there have been godly lamplighters punching holes in the darkness through which the light of the gospel would shine. You might be familiar with some of them… Jonathan Edwards, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot, and so many others. In fact, if you look to your left or right on Sunday morning, while you’re sitting in your pew, I think you’ll see a few more lamplighters for Christ ready to punch holes into the darkness of sin whenever the need arises!

How can you tell who is a lamplighter for Jesus? Lamplighters punch holes in the darkness when they…

• radiate joy through the hard times
• forgive those who’ve wronged them
• help those in need
• pass on an encouraging word
• sing praises despite having a broken heart
• trust God no matter what
• walk in the footsteps of Jesus
• share Christ with others

My dear friend, Mrs. Dody Hall wrote this poem that tells how you can be a lamplighter for Jesus.

Punching Holes in the Darkness

I’m punching holes in the darkness
By the way I live each day,
I’ll live my life for Jesus,
I’ll trust Him come what may,
Shining His light around me,
No matter what the cost,
I’m punching holes in the darkness,
For the souls that might be lost.

“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalm 18:28

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Do you see a lamplighter for the Lord when you look into the mirror?

“And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

When life is going well, God often takes a backseat in our lives, but when we are facing hardships, very often He is the first one to whom we go. For example, when the September 11, 2001 attacks happened, churches reported sharp increases in attendance during the weeks that followed. I know when I am experiencing times of trouble, I do not hesitate to call upon the Lord. Why? Because it is through His strength alone that I see hope because I know that God can do anything, and I am helpless in my own power. God’s grace… His good will toward me… is sufficient to see me through whatever I am facing. His strength is perfected in my weakness because I can see how God works in my life as He comforts me and guides me through every situation.

In my times of fear, frustration, or despair, God’s grace becomes more precious to me than the exact relief for which I pray. His grace becomes the all-enveloping security and peace that I need to endure through hard times. His grace draws me closer to Him and helps my faith in Him to grow.

I have heard people criticize those who seemingly only go to God when the going gets tough, labeling them as hypocritical when it comes to their faith. I disagree with that completely. I believe God expects us to flee to Him when we face adversity, and therefore instead of eliminating all our trials and tribulations, He uses them to draw us closer to Him. Proverbs 18:10 states, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Psalm 9:9 tell us “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” The problems I face in my life, whether big or small, are all used by God to draw me nearer to Him. Those troubles serve a spiritual purpose in my life that God uses to remind me to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), so that my faith in Him will increase as I see Him work in ways that only He can do.

Am I glad when I have health issues, financial woes, or relationship problems? Not really, but I am glad that I have the promise of God to make all things good. And for me, that “good” is a deeper and more trusting relationship with God.

Many times I’m tried and tested
As I travel day by day.
‘Oft I meet with pain and sorrow
And there’s trouble in the way.
But I have a sweet assurance
That my soul, the Lord will lead.
And in Him there is strength for every need.

Oh, His grace is sufficient for me.
And His love is abundant and free.
And what joy fills my soul,
Just to know, just to know
That His grace is sufficient for me.

(from “His Grace is Sufficient For Me” by Mosie Lister)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

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How have you seen God work in your life through the difficult times?

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Yesterday, I was in a very unfamiliar city. I managed to reach my destination without too much trouble, thanks to my daughter’s directions, but when it came to heading back home, it was a much different story. I made a wrong turn from the store parking lot, but I figured I was heading in the right direction to the freeway, so I kept going. After about half an hour, I ended up back at the same store! I had driven in circles! Realizing I turned left when I should have turned right, I decided to head in the opposite direction. Another 30-40 minutes later, I was driving down a long road that dead-ended in a lake community! Finally, in desperation, I turned on my car’s GPS as I backtracked down the road. Following the GPS instructions, I was on the correct road within minutes and on my way to my final destination.

Life is very much the same. I often head out on my own facing obstacles and situations that threaten to stop me from my goals. I forget about my own inner GPS. Without using this GPS, it is so easy to get lost!

My first spiritual GPS was “God’s Plan of Salvation.” It was very easy to understand and follow. Here were the directions I was given.

The Romans Road

1. Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The Bible tells us that there is no one who has lived a perfect life. When we are measured against God’s standard of perfection, we all come up short. We are all sinners regardless of whether we have lived a “good” life or been a “moral” person. Romans 3:10 states, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
2. Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Sin first entered the world in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s command to refrain from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Since that moment, the sin nature has been passed down to all humanity, making us all sinners in the sight of God.
3. Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God desires us, His creation, to be with Him for all eternity, but because of sin, we cannot stand before Him due to His holiness. In order for us to one day be with Him in heaven, our sin has to be removed. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, so that we could have the forgiveness of sin available to us by accepting Christ as our Saviour.
4. Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The penalty of sin is death, or separation from God for all eternity. Jesus took the punishment for our sin upon Himself when He died upon the cross, providing the only way for us to have our sins forgiven and obtain God’s precious gift of eternal life in heaven.
5. Romans 10:9-10 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” To receive Christ’s forgiveness of sin, all a person needs to do is admit he/she is a sinner, believe that Jesus is God’s Son, who died on the cross for all, and ask Him for forgiveness of their sins. In doing so, Jesus becomes their Saviour and their Lord.
6. Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” When Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion, He proved He was truly God and the only One who could forgive the sins of a person. If you call upon His name, the Bible says that you will be saved from the penalty of your sins, forever forgiven.

Once I accepted Christ as my Saviour, I was ready for my spiritual GPS upgrade! The upgraded GPS that I now have is the spiritual directional system within me, powered by the Holy Spirit of God. It is “God’s Positioning System,” and it keeps me on the right path when I use it. It works in tandem with God’s Word. When I am headed off into life, the Holy Spirit reminds me of what I have read in the Bible that is applicable to the circumstance in which I find myself. I then have all I need to make the right choices and move down the path that is aligned with God’s will. It makes for a stress-free journey every time!!

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.

(from “He Leadeth Me” by Joseph Gilmore)

“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:10

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Are you on the right path? Hook up to your spiritual GPS today!

“A friend loveth at all times…” Proverbs 17:17a

My life is blessed with so many wonderful friends. Many of them I have known since I have lived in California, while others are new friends whom I have known only since I have moved to Georgia. Some I know only from social media, but regardless of how we have met, we are friends, and I am there for any one of them if they should need me.

I also have an awesome family, and I love each member with all my heart. We have shared so much, and no matter how far apart we are, the bonds of love remain strong. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for any one of them.

With that in mind, I have a question for you: If you knew one of your cherished friends or family members was going to die today in a way you could prevent, what would you do to save them? How far would you go to help them? Wouldn’t you do whatever you could? These are the ones you love; the ones for whom you care deeply.

Life is unpredictable. No one knows if their tomorrow will ever come, so today, because I love you, I am asking my family and friends this: If you were to die before tomorrow, what would happen to you? Have you thought about it? Most people don’t like to think about death, especially their own, but we all think about it from time to time. Do you know where you would be if you should die today? Do you have an answer, or would you have to say, “I don’t know”?

If you’d like to know, I’m here for you.

“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:5

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I read this on social media from one of my friends. With her permission, I have included part of her post with my own thoughts interwoven. I pray it is an encouragement to you to share Jesus today with someone you love.

“But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:19

If you’ve read some of my previous blogs, you know that prayer is an area in which I have struggled, and that God has shown me that the root of my “prayer troubles” has been my reluctance to totally trust Him. Since that eye-opening revelation, I have been learning to trust Him more, and my prayer life has been much more real and honest. I know that God will answer my prayers, and if He choses to answer in a way that differs from my expectations, I realize that is because He is doing what is best for me and for those for whom I pray. Trusting Him for the outcome has become so liberating for me. I can truly say I am learning to “cast all my cares upon Him” (1 Peter 5:7) and not pick them up again in my own attempts to control the issues at hand.

Case in point: My husband has had some serious health issues lately, and we have been waiting for certain blood test results. I have been praying for a positive outcome and trusting God for good results. Have I had perfect peace about this? Not completely. I still had worries, but in my “trust journey,” I have been able to pray with a different kind of peace in my heart. I know that whatever the results, God is handling it. He is doing what is best. No longer do I pray holding back my heart’s desire in fear that God will not answer. This time I was able to pray without reservation or fear. I prayed boldly for a drop in my husband’s numbers.

Yesterday, we got the blood test back, and I think you can guess the results. The numbers had decreased! Praise the Lord!

Trusting God is something I’m still learning, but I know that He is faithful. He will always listen to my prayers, and He will always answer them according to His will, which will always be what is best.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

(from “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph Scriven)

“Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.” Psalm 66:20

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Prayer touches the heart of God.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

People have strong feelings about their beliefs. Most believe their particular religion or faith is the true “way” to God. I know I believe that my faith in Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God. I believe with my whole heart in John 3:16, which states “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I believe without reservation that when Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” in John 14:6, that He meant it. He is the only way to heaven and being in the presence of God. I believe that the Bible is the actual Word of God, and it is in its pages where I can find all the truths about God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I believe that the Bible is my manual for living and that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:17).

Many people would agree with me, but there are many who would not. In fact, those who disagree with me believe in their religion as strongly as I believe in mine. Many of them also have religious books into which they put their trust as fervently as I have done. So how can I know for sure that my way is the right way? Read more

“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

Before he retired, my husband worked as a general contractor. He was a great builder, and often he would work on some remodeling projects at our house. Sometimes, he would ask me to help him. The first time, as a new bride, I was excited to help until I realized I knew absolutely nothing of what he was doing. I remember once I had the very simple task of holding some kind of metal piece, and since I didn’t ask for any guidance from my husband, I promptly sliced my thumb open! On other occasions, he might ask for a certain tool, and I would be clueless! I became apprehensive about helping him, and when I did, I was a reluctant worker.

Nevertheless, he wanted me by his side on most occasions. Maybe it was more for my company than assistance, but whenever he needed me to do a task, he was always careful to explain it, and then help me if I needed it. In the beginning of our life together, I was not a very good carpenter’s aide, but as the years progressed, I realized he was there to help me, so I asked more questions, followed his instructions, and became a better worker. It’s been years since my first “job” with him, and I can say that since then I have learned to listen and follow his instructions, “No more sliced thumbs!”

As I reminisced, I realized I have had the same feelings about my work for God. Sometimes God has called me to do something that I feared I was inadequate to do. Here are a few areas from which I shunned away: visitation (What do I say when they open the door?), leading a ladies’ group (What if I present the lesson incorrectly?), start a blog (What if I have nothing of interest to write?)… This list could go on and on. Do you see the commonality in these areas? It’s “I.” All my issues focused on me! I was afraid of failure, inadequacy, embarrassment… again, the list goes on and on! I forgot something very important. The Bible tells me that I should do all things as unto the Lord not unto me!

When I helped my husband, I didn’t work for me. I worked for him, and he never put me in situations where I would be in harm’s way. No sawing wood with the Skillsaw; no walking on thin boards on a rooftop. He put me in teachable situations from which I could learn, and that he knew I could handle. He always made sure I was prepared for whatever task he had for me, and he was always nearby, watching me and helping me whenever I required it.

God is exactly the same! He never puts me in situations that would be detrimental to my well-being, and in every circumstance, He prepares me for the task at hand. Whatever skills or talents I need to accomplish His goals, He gives me, and His Holy Spirit leads me to exactly what I should do or say! Instead of focusing on how my feelings of inadequacy might affect me, I need to focus on how my lack of service would affect the cause of Christ!! I must remember that He will never leave me in any situation, and He is always ready to come to my aid if I should need it.

My verse reminds me that God will never forsake me, fail me, nor leave me. He is with me every step of the way, fully equipping me and helping me until my work for Him is completed. When will that be? I don’t know. I just know that I need to be busy for God today because one day soon, the trumpet will sound, He will call me home, and my work for Him will be finished. That day may be today! Not much time left to do my work, so I better get going!

Work, for the day is coming! Children of light are we;
From Jesus’ bright appearing, pow’rs of darkness flee.
Soon will our strife be ending, soon all our toils below,
Not to the dark we’re tending, but to day we go.

 (from “Work, For The Night is Coming” by Annie Coghill)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

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Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

May that be our hearts cry as well.