Tag Archives: Jesus

The Bridge Called, ‘How’

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Warning: This bridge has the capability to bring out the best in us, or knock us to the ground!

Since ‘How‘ is a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done or achieved, I believe it’s a word worth looking into. ‘How‘ is the bridge to questions getting answered. It can challenge us to identify new problems, lead us to research further, or to connect in a new way. What lies on the other end of this bridge called, ‘How‘ is determined by the way we view it. From new opportunities to fear, knowledge to despair, this most commonly used word is a powerful asset to our next steps. Simple yet influential this three letter word, can change the course of life for one, or for all.

“What makes you come alive?.. Go and do it!” These are the words that came to me, accompanied by the thoughts of a friend and her concerns for her son. “How can I help him?” she asked. That evening during prayer, her words echoed once again. This time, the word, ‘How‘ triggered my curiosity even further. Contemplating its meaning, I decided to look up its definition and connection. What I found was that this most often used word is action-packed in a way that it has not only changed the way people live, but has also assisted in changing the course of history!

For example:

George Washington Carver an agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of helpful products using peanuts, sweet potatoes and soybeans had a great interest in knowing ‘How.‘ His pursuit in this innovative word, led him with zeal to a path of writing down his findings in agricultural bulletins such as “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it For Human Consumption” along with many other ‘How‘ to do it, journal entries. From a heart for helping others, to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, with faith and prayer, George Washington Carver, integrated ‘How‘ into his life and that ripple effect has inspired and educated the lives of many.

Mary was a 1st century Galilean Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and, the virgin mother of Jesus, who’s attentiveness to ‘How‘ lead her becoming the Mother of God. “Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you…” These are the words the angel spoke to Mary, followed by ‘how‘ she would bring forth a son, and that, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Mary responded with, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?…” God had a plan and Mary had an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Mary’s “‘How‘ lead to God’s invitation conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38). Mary’s role as mother of God places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive plan. The greatest rescue story of all time started with love, truth and Mary’s determination to know ‘How‘, this changing the course of history and assisting in saving the world and that includes you and me!

‘How?’ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16)

So, what are your goals, your dreams, your aspirations? Come alive and go and do it! Just remember to start with this awesome privilege and gift we all have, and that is to carry everything to God in prayer.

A few fun facts about the word ‘how’:

  1. It’s worth 9 points in the Scrabble game
  2. It’s the Native American greeting
  3. It’s a question word that can be an adjective, a noun, a conjunction or an adverb
  4. It’s a unique member of ‘The 7 club’ Who, What, Where, Why, When, Whom, ‘How‘
  5. It’s good at making friends, knowhow, however, somehow, nohow, anyhow, howsoever, howdy…

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, be with us, direct our path, fill us with the riches of Your grace, transform our mind with a healthy balance that is good for our body and soul. Guide us with Your gracious love, that we may press forward to being all that You created us to be. In Your Holy Name we pray… Amen

Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com 

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
 Proverbs 19:20

What do you want to be when you grow up?

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Encouraged.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked my junior high school counselor, as we pieced together my high school schedule. You see, I was my own kind of Amelia Bedelia, struggling to learn, with no talent whatsoever and fearful of my own shadow. After pondering the direction of my future for a few seconds, I responded, “I’d like to be kindergarten teacher.” With a respectful smile, he replied, “I don’t recommend that for you. You don’t like school and teaching means you would need further education. I don’t see you doing that.” Eager to know his thoughts, I replied, “What do you think I should do?” “Do what your mom does” he said, and that afternoon, I watched carefully as my mom cut and styled her client’s hair. Clueless yet curious, thoughts of, “The apple never falls far from the tree” came to mind. After telling my mom about my conversation with my counselor, she blessed me with words of wisdom, “If this is what you want to do, then I want you to get a job this summer in a salon to make sure it’s right for you…”

In sharing this story, many people are offended by my counselors dispirit. However, to me his recommendation was a truly valuable puzzle piece to my life. Like an angel in disguise, he helped guide me to dig deeper into becoming all that I was created to be. We all have a purpose in life and God gives us exactly what we need in order to accomplish all that we are called to do. We may not always hear what we want to hear, or get what we want when we want it, nevertheless, the direction we take with what we have been given is up to us. For me, it wasn’t that I couldn’t be a teacher; it just wasn’t a good fit at that time. Truthfully, styling hair has been a tremendous gift to me. 

Life doesn’t always do what we want it to do, but it is comforting to know that God’s love remains steadfast for each and every one of us everyday. We don’t need to lose faith when we see others receive answers to their prayers, while we feel like we haven’t yet received our own blessings. We can rest assured knowing that our time is coming, and when it hits the ground, the earth will feel it. My mom recently shared with me this motivational story:

“An elephant and a dog became pregnant at the same time. Three months down the line, the dog gave birth to six puppies. Six months later the dog was pregnant again, and nine months on it gave birth to another dozen puppies. The pattern continued. On the 18th month the dog approached the elephant questioning: “Are you sure that you are pregnant? We became pregnant on the same date. I have given birth three times to a dozen puppies and they are now grown to become big dogs, yet you are still pregnant. What’s going on? The elephant replied: “There is something I want you to understand. What I am carrying is not a puppy but an elephant. I only give birth to one in two years. When my baby hits the ground, the earth feels it. When my baby crosses the road, human beings stop and watch in admiration. What I carry draws attention. What I’m carrying is mighty and great!”

The key to mighty and great in the word of God simply teaches us that God is our Hero. The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is an on going question, that continues to grow within us no matter how old we may be. As I look back over the years, I can appreciate God’s intimate love in the details of all things. Our path is designed by God and bound to be glorious if we are willing to follow Him. Everyday is a stepping-stone of grace to use as a tool to move forward in the grand puzzle of life.

Be encouraged and committed as you take bold steps and healthy risks. Remember, without the struggle, it’s difficult to find your strength. While serving others, we will see more clearly the bigger picture. At the same time, recognize the little blessing that come to us daily. “Say your prayers” were the closing words my Dad would speak as he hit the light switch after tucking us into bed every night. Years later, I am still praying. It gives me great pleasure to share the word and love of God with others. As a catechist (teacher of the principles of Christian faith) my prayer for everyone I meet is to come to know and feel the love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who traded it all in for the Cross; giving His life as a sacrifice to set us free from the spiritual chains of slavery that trap us in a web of confusion, addiction and sin. The Bible is filled with so many treasures and tools. The Word of God is our sword and shield as we all travel or wander like a pilgrim on this journey through life. Here are a few scriptures to ponder:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. [Luke 16:10]

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. [Hebrews 13:2]

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, be with us, direct our path, fill us with the riches of Your grace, transform our mind with a healthy balance that is good for our body and soul. Guide us with Your gracious love, that we may press forward to being all that You created us to be. In Your Holy Name we pray… Amen

Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

Michael’s hands: My 3rd grade student 2020-2021

The World Needs People Who Have Come Alive

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Jesus Did…

When our older daughter was graduating high school, she sought after the perfect quote to add to her yearbook picture. As a family friend became aware of her needs, he put forward for consideration one of his favorites by a prominent religious figure who played a leading role in relations between individuals and society, in the twentieth century.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman

An opportunity to do, to be, and to live everyday awaits us. All we have to do is see it that way.

One morning, sweet words from my friend Donna Moore-Stewart, (through her morning radio segment) woke up my intellect. Donna asked, “Do you know your assignment?” The word “Assignment” resonated with me. At the time, I was in the process of creating a beat sheet for my book Delilah, in order to be a bit more organized and have a clearer picture of what I was writing. As I decided to make a commitment to go through each chapter with a fine-tooth comb, I gave myself nine days to stay focused on eight chapters, along with the introduction page. A chapter a day, weaved in through working full-time, homemaking and all that life has for us to do.

God’s timing is always perfect. Donna’s words came at the very point that I was working on a particular section of the book. She conveyed how assignments are universal. They are a course of action which one is required to take, whether it’s within a family, school, place of worship, employment, and-so-forth. She noted that some assignments are meant to be completed and yet others are on-going, even beyond our lifetime. Donna also touched on the most beautiful and important part of her definition for this discussion, in her words, “Jesus did exactly what He was ‘Assigned’ to do. Our Lord and savior came to perform miracles!”

Jesus’ course of action: 

● Raise the dead  ● Heal the sick 
● Teach us how to live victoriously  ● Serve others 
● To to testify to the truth 
● To give life 
● To reveal the Father  ● To call all sinners to repent 
● Ultimately, to be a ransom for many.

Jesus is the Savior of the world; of you, me and all of history, if only we want Him to be. He does not force Himself on anyone, none-the-less, is here for everyone!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

Scripture is a beautiful invitation that encourages us to dig deeper into the treasures of God’s marvelous love!

Highlighted by the birth of Jesus, the scriptures consisting of the Old and New Testament provide us with knowledge, discovery, and implementation, making it relevant for enriching any present day living. What’s more and to the point, it concerns the future comings of our spiritual state of everlasting communion with God. Your assignment is waiting for you ~ the world needs YOU, Come alive!

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Let us thank the Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. Let us praise You Lord, our God in Your sanctuary. Teach us to do Your will,
for You are our God; Let Your good Spirit lead us on level ground. For the sake of Your Holy Name, O Lord, revive us. In Your righteousness bring our soul, the souls of Your people all over the world out of trouble. And in Your lovingkindness, be with us in all we do. For we are Your servants…

Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

Teachers go to work every day to transform and inspire ~ A classroom treasure from 2016 ❤️

A Bird’s-Eye View

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Land of Opportunities

In a world that is filled with awe and wonder, it is with great expectation I seek to dig deeper into the rich soil and elegant beauty of God’s (Creator of all things) marvelous love. A flowing river of wealth that lies within God’s creation. Words are powerful, words have meaning, words are like seeds with roots that go down deep into our mind, and soul. Below the threshold of sensation or consciousness, the word ‘Subliminal‘ takes a seat. It holds a message meant to slip passed our mental radar, embedding itself deep into the subconscious affecting the mind without us even being aware of it. This being both good and/or evil, let’s aim to give a bird’s-eye view of what goes on in the environment connected to the works of subliminal:

*Sub ~ to act as a substitute: under: beneath: below
*Limen ~ a Latin word that means “threshold”
*Al ~ is a suffix that means relating to, process of, or an action.

What we listen to has a strong affect on us emotionally. Take the power of music, it has a huge influence on our mood, emotions, and our day. When we merge the strength of music with the heart, hope and passion of the Gospel, it has the ultimate power not only to change our day, but to impact us for eternity. In a similar way, who and what we surround ourselves with, affects us intellectually. As each person is responsible for his or her own choices, the consequences for our behavior come at a cost. Businesses, in the same manner know that subliminal messages are one of the elements that most attract attention in advertising, film, art and television work; otherwise, billions, would not be spent trying to convince us that we need what they are selling or have. Bottom line, what we read, what we watch, and what we listen too, affects us. If we are exposed to what God calls good, then we are more likely to be affected for the better. If we are exposed to what God calls evil, what is immoral is more likely to get the better of us and bring out the worst in us.

When the Holy Spirit is within us and the Word of God is teaching us, all of creation takes on new beauty, and magnificent blessings. The sky shows a deeper blue, and the earth becomes richer in its glorious tones. We just don’t see creation; we see our Creator, our Heavenly Father, who cares so deeply for and about us. In the Olympic Games, rules, fouls and penalties play a major part in all their sports and are regulated and enforced vigorously by referees, umpires, judges and other officials. Every participant knows the boundaries must be set and behavior monitored or the game will disintegrate into chaos. There are laws in the world as well; boundaries and rules for living, established by God. These boundaries and rules are not set to harm us, but to bless us, protect us, keep us safe and ultimately bring us victory for eternity. The greatest victory is knowing God and the love He has for each and everyone of us.

There is an affirmation in the Good Book, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” These few words follow up with the simple conclusion, “Because you have forgotten the law of your God.” [Hosea 4:6]

God’s love for us is not based upon our performance:

  1. “We love because He first loved us.” [1 John 4:19]
  2. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” [Romans 12:2]
  3. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” [Philippians 4:8]

Where there is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land; there you will have cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, idolatry, disorder of structure and function which break all bonds.

Let’s take a look into the stylish motion of the rhythmic word, ‘Opportunity.‘ We are all given an equal amount of time each day and how we use it determines its value. The word of God tells us to make the most of our time on Earth. Our choices will have an unswerving effect on our lives and the lives of generations yet to come. As opportunity knocks, let us look at this word in more detail. “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” [Ephesians 5:16]

*Op ~ A set of planned actions for a particular purpose: operation; observation post *Port ~ A place on the coast at which ships can shelter, or dock to load and unload *Unity~ The state of being united or joined as a whole.

God’s divine land of opportunities, may be challenging, convicting and even candid sometimes, but it is a reminder of the many ways in which God desires to use each of us daily in His beautiful purpose and plan. May we rise-up and take a bird’s-eye view in the beauty of His unlimited possibilities that were made just for you.There is power in words, there is grace in heeding the call, there are miracles waiting for you to take action! Rocky Balboa, said it right:

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth! But you gotta be willing to take the hits. And not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! I’m always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain’t gonna have a life.” ― Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Let us thank the Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of His, Holy Spirit. “Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in his mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” [Psalm 150:1-6]

Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

Photo By: Ricciardi Photography ~ Outlook

When God Came To Earth

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I am so proud of my 4th grade class, they gave all they had to present a beautiful Christmas Pageant. Christmas is a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His unending love for us, as we celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought magnificent joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this extraordinary event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

There is a pome that reads:
Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today.
He has no feet but our feet to lead men in the way
He has no tongue but our tongue to tell men how He died
He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

As we lifted our hands to pray before the curtain opened, it was our prayer to share this life given message, about a time when God came to earth, to share His love with us. A love that truly can not be expressed in words.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

Merry Christmas Blessings,

Deanna Danielle

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4th grade 2016

LOOKING FOR A TREASURE

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Have you ever wondered how time goes by so quickly? I know when I was a child, it seemed as though the summer months lasted forever. However, as the years go by, they seem to be getting noticeably shorter.

Here we are, once again, at the start of a new school year, and I am excited to share with my class what I have learned about God’s awesome love for us.

As I held up the Bible and a small treasure chest, I explained, “If we are looking for a treasure, these are two places we are sure to find it.” As I looked around at my new 4th graders, their eyes widened, and beautiful smiles appeared on their faces.

I then explained, “The only difference between these two treasures, is that one holds something temporary (as I held up the small box), and one holds something that will last for eternity (as I held up the Bible).”

I told them that the Bible is not meant to be read as a history book. It is a love letter to us. So, starting today, we are going to be looking and exploring some of the greatest treasures through the lives of those who loved God in His beautiful words to us.

I heard a priest once say, “I fell asleep and had a dream that life was a joy. When I woke up, I saw the reality that life was a servanthood, and in serving, I realized that the joy of life was in serving others.”

Blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

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Pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to My words. Don’t let them out of your sight. Keep them in your heart. They are life to those who find them. They are health to your whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22

 

 

Teachers, Get Ready

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As I began to prepare my class for a test, these words from an old quote came to mind; “Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I‘ll understand.” So, I gathered some props in order to involve them, in what they were expected to remember.

During class, we went down a list of words, using a Bitty Baby wrapped in  white to act out Baptism. Sharing the story of Adam and Eve, I held up a light bulb, explaining how they walked in the light of God. To show the fall of man, I pulled out a black light bulb. Every eye went wide open, and they had lots of questions. I now believe they have Original Sin down pat.

While giving them all I had to bring every word to life, I called upon Frankie and James to act out the word Covenant. As Frankie was walking toward the front of the classroom, he lifted his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and asked, with uncertainty, ” Are we getting married?” “No,” I explained, “You’re exchanging property.” With a sigh of relief, he responded “Oh.” He understood the word better then I expected.

Reflecting on marriage and the promises two people make before God, Joseph expressed, “Divorce is not bad.” I could only respond with, “God loves everyone. He loves people who are married, divorced, and single. However, before divorce, there is sometimes a lot of suffering, and God wants us to love each other, not hurt each other.”

As I thought about the title for this blog, I could only come up with; “Teachers, get ready,” because we can’t  always prepare for all the questions that will be asked. I am so grateful that our class’s last word was Virtue. I could only look at the Cross, smile, put on an apron, and with a bowl, watering can, and paper towels, reenact Jesus washing the feet of His Disciples. His humble service shows us how God loves the world, and how He wants us to display that love in a very special way, through beautiful acts of kindness.

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“When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17

 

 

 

The After Party

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It’s been two weeks since our last class. I had promised that after the Easter break we would have a celebration with an egg hunt and treats. As my students entered the classroom today, not one of them forgot that promise. The first thing they all asked was, “Are we going to have an Easter egg hunt?” It’s a good thing I remembered as well.

Along with a treat, all the hidden eggs contained scripture. Cecilia was the first to read her finding: Ephesians 3:14 “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” And this became the topic of our class lesson.

During the lesson, I explained the importance of investing, and how making bank deposits will give us the opportunity to watch our money increase. In the same way, if we invest in the gifts that God has given us, it will serve as a deposit, and a cornerstone that will help us to prepare to be all that God has meant for each of us.

Having them view the story of the Good Samaritan, they were able to see Jesus share a story about a man who was attacked by robbers, and left him dying. Two men saw him lying on the ground, but continued to walk on the opposite side of the road. However, when a Samaritan came upon the man, he immediately took pity on him and bandaged his wounds. He then took the man to an inn and paid the innkeeper to care for him. He said he would reimburse him for any extra expense he may have.

After we celebrated with great joy the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, we now join  the after party, giving God all the praise and honor. We thank Him for all His marvelous wonders, too numerous to count. May we invest in living our lives like the Good Samaritan, taking care of all that God has given us!

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Drawing by; Madeline – Psalm 96:11-12″ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”

 

Putting Others First

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As we walked into the classroom, Gabriella asked if she could speak to our class. I said, “Of course.” Giving her the option to speak now or later, she chose later.

When our workbook lesson was complete, Gabriella got up to speak. She shared with our class how one of her friends had lost everything in a recent house fire. Also, how he was in need of anything extra that we could donate, such as clothing, blankets or money, because he and his family now have nothing.

After she spoke, I put on a movie. It was the story of Ruth, a woman who held the attributes of what it truly means to love, to be loyal, and to live out a pure, unselfish lifestyle. As the story goes, Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law, Naomi, after their husbands had died. She said to Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you, or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

While watching the film, I couldn’t help but see Gabriella’s kindness reflecting that of Ruth. I saw a heart that cares so much for someone else, that nothing stops them from putting others first. Gabriella put away any of her personal thoughts as she stood up and requested help for a friend.

As we celebrate this Easter Season, let us remember the words of John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus did this for us so well.

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8