December 23, 2024

Busted Heart

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Winter has come back again
Feels like the season won’t end
My faith is tired tonight
And I won’t try to pretend
I’ve got it all figured out
That I don’t have any doubts
I’ve got a busted heart
I need You now
Yeah I need You now

Hold on to me
Hold on to me
Don’t let me lose my way
Hold on to me

I am the wandering son
Enough is never enough
I keep chasing the wind
Instead of chasing Your love
I’m screaming out Your name,
Don’t let me fall on my face
I’ve got a busted heart
I’m in need of a change
Yeah, I’m desperate for grace

Broke Your heart a thousand times
But You’ve never left my side
You have always been here for me
You never let me go
You never let me go
Don’t ever let me go

Winter will come to an end
Soon the season will end
I surrender tonight
You meet me right where I am

 

For King&Country (Joel and Luke Smallbone) along with Ben Glover, Jenna Torres

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Are you in a season where you are tired, weary…and ready to give up?  I am in that very season right now.  Maybe you can relate…the season when life is coming at you in all directions and the darkness is closing in and it is hard to see the light….

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NLT

When the unexpected things happen and life starts closing in and it is hard to find our way that is the very moment when we need to run BOLDLY to the throne of Grace.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15 NIV

He is always there waiting with open arms to meet us right where we are at.

So be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.
For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you.
He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Deuteronomy 31: 6 NLT

Life is hard and unexpected things in life will happen. He is our Strength. We only need to put our hope and trust in Him and not the things of this world.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 KJV

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Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy in our time of need.  Thank You that when we are about to lose our way and our faith is tired you meet us right where we are at.  Thank You, Lord, for holding on to us and never letting me go. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

Holding Nothing Back

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I am chosen, I am free
I am living for eternity
Free now forever

You picked me up, turned me around
You set my feet on solid ground
Yours now forever

And nothing’s gonna hold me back
Nothing’s gonna hold me back
Nothing’s gonna hold me back

My chains fell off
My heart was free
I’m alive to live for You
I’m alive to live for You
Amazing Love, how can it be?
You give everything for me
You give everything for me
Everything

You washed my sin and shame away
The slate is clean: a brand new day,
Free now forever

Now boldly I approach Your throne
To claim this crown through Christ my own
Yours now forever

Free to live
Free to give
Free to be
I’m free to love You

 Jesus Culture / written by Martin Smith and Tim Hughes

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It’s amazing how, when life gets out of control and things get cloudy, how quickly we can forget that we are free from the chains of bondage. We are free to just be…. We are alive to live for Him. Let us not forget that God is the one that picked us up and placed us on solid ground. If we choose to be there….

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2

Are we solid in Him? Or do our circumstances sway us to and fro?

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 NIV

When you are going through difficulty it is easy to get caught up with all that is going on around you and get lost in the vortex of despair. That is when we need to dig deep and get our focus back on God.  He is the only one that can give us the strength to cling to the Rock…

“Christ is the ROCK and if we build our house, or our lives, on Him, we will not have to fear the storms of life which may come our way. For He is there to always help us in the time of need. The book of John, chapter 16 and verse 33 says: In the world you shall have trouble: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. We are in the world and because we live in the world, situations and troubles will come from time to time. But through building your life in Jesus, we, through Him can overcome our problems. In the book of Psalms chapter 94 and verse 22, it says “But the Lord is my defense; and my God is the ROCK of my refuge.” Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to know we have someone to turn to that loves us more than we’ll ever know, and has all the power of the universe to help us out of our troubles! It’s certainly helped my life go better the last 22 years. I cannot even imagine living on the sand! What a scary thought!”

Excerpted from Jesus Is the Rock  (click here to read article.)

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Heavenly Father, thank You that we are FREE in You. May we hold nothing back and forget the things of this world and solely place our focus on You. In Jesus’ Name…AMEN!!!

Desert Song

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This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me, Lord, through the flame

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

Performed by Hillsong United / Songwriter: Brooke Fraser

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Thank You, Father, that ‘in every season You are still God,
and, even in the desert, I have reason to sing’…because I have You.

Even in the fire we are being refined. And, just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abendago, we will come out better, stronger, and not even smelling like smoke. Thank You, Lord, for the victory ahead.

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 NIV

“Every one of us is a potential diamond in the rough. Embedded within each person are diamond-like qualities waiting to be mined bringing joy to our Maker, others, and ourselves. Are we willing to endure the pressure, the cutting, and the polishing of the Master Jeweler to bring out the diamond within us?”

A quote from God’s Diamond in the Rough.

Click here to go to Prevail Magazine.org

So, are we willing to let God refine us through the fire and be looking for the good that will come in the desert seasons?  When we give praise in the desert, He will give us the strength that we need to overcome.  God is our Victory!  Praise Him that He is here….

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him
Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that even in the desert You have not left us and that we always have a reason to sing in every season because we have You. Thank You for strength and peace as we are awaiting the triumph that is on the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When The Crazy Kicks In

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Here I go tiptoeing to the kitchen
And don’t you know, crash goes the coffee cup
My only chance to be still and listen
Lord, don’t let, don’t let the kids wake up
A little time with You, the only way to get me through the day

Oh, come meet me in this moment
Before it all gets going
And these plates start to spin
And the crazy kicks in
A circus of distractions
Is just about to happen
I’ll be ready when
The crazy kicks in

Pushed and pulled by a thousand expectations
And all the roles that I’m supposed to play
To hit the ground running is a temptation
But I have learned this lesson the hard way
A little time with You, the only way to get me through the day

You got me, where You want me, even through the highs and lows
You know me, and You hold me, and You show me that You’ll never let me go

Singer/Songwriter: Francesca Battistelli along with Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood

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“Oh Lord, thank You that You are the peaceful place in the midst of the crazy in life….” Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” in Matthew 11:28 NLT.  “Oh Father, come meet us in these moments….”

I think this blog “Wounded But Victorious”states it so well:

“Meet me in my broken place….hold me now.
I am so thankful that I have a God that meets me where I am at, when my faith is weak, when my legs wobble under life’s weight, He is steadfastly there. Sometimes it appears as though He is missing in action, sometimes it feels as though my cries fall on deaf ears, but He is always there. Usually it seems He is waiting for me to grasp the latest concept or lesson that He wants me to learn, to humbly follow Him in complete surrender. I love my Lord and at the end of the day, I know that He alone can be counted on.
Though my life’s lessons have been hard at times for me and usually because of my stubborn reluctance to say ‘Yes Lord,’ I can reflect and say He has always been there.”

(Click on the link above to visit this blog.)

Even in those times when we FEEL as though God isn’t there we can rely on this promise:

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.
For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you.
He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

These are the times that we must continue to be strong and courageous and remember “Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world…”. We can remain strong in the midst of life’s difficulties because we are strong in Him.

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Heavenly Father, Thank You that I am not the different roles I play in the midst of my busy life. That I am whom You created me to be. May we remember each and everyday who we are living for—and that is You. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!

Overwhelmed

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I see the work of Your hands
Galaxies spin in a heavenly dance,oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming
I hear the sound of Your Voice
All at once it’s a gentle and thundering noise, oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You
God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free, forever You’ll be my God
All that You’ve done is so overwhelming

You are Beautiful, You are Beautiful
Oh God, there is no one more Beautiful
You are Beautiful, God, You are the most Beautiful

You are Glorious, You are Glorious
Oh God, there is no one more Glorious
You are Glorious, God, You are the most Glorious

Big Daddy Weave / Songwriters: Michael Weaver and Phil Wickham

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Do you ever get overwhelmed when you think about the glorious majesty of the Father???  I love, love, love the part in this song that says “…unashamed because of mercy…”  We don’t have to be ashamed because of the mercy of the Heavenly Father; we can run into His arms and receive His unconditional love.

God’s love is unconditional.  Unlike earthly affection, His love does not fluctuate.

The Father doesn’t care for us more when we have pleased Him
or less when we have failed or sinned.
Charles Stanley

But God showed His great love for us
by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:8 NLT

Are you captivated by the beauty of the Father? I love this quote from Captivated By Christ!  (Click here for the full article by George Dillahunty.)

In our Holy Scripture text, for today, Jesus, the Christ, was talking to the Disciple/Apostle Thomas – “Doubting Thomas!” Every blessing – for the Christian true believer – is obtained – by being captivated by Jesus, the Christ – the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Having entered through the “Door,” by repentance and faith, we can continue to experience His Grace by following the path that only He can provide!

Jesus saith unto him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
John 14:6

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My prayer for this day:
Father, may we all be so ‘captivated by Your beauty’ that we are ‘overwhelmed by Your mercy’ and ‘run into Your arms’…in Jesus’ Name! AMEN!!!

Little Ol’ Me

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 

Well I was just a kid coming up those steps
All dressed up in my Sunday best
Learning to sing, learning to stand
Right in the front, holding mamma’s hand
I still remember listening to my dad
Even if I didn’t always understand
Cause deep in his heart, deep in his soul
There was a fire that I wanted to know
And those memories are still burning brightly
Oh Jesus how I love the way You’re writing my life

However could it be, to have a part in your story
Bigger than what I can see, little old me, little old me
I may not know Your plan but I’m safe here in Your hands
Cause I know that You believe, in little old me, little old me

Walking through the halls on my way to class
Caught my reflection in the trophy glass
Who was this girl, trying to be
And who in the world is she trying to please
Suddenly ignited by a spark I hear my Savior’s voice speaking right to my heart
“Don’t give up now, and don’t be afraid, you know who you are,
you got something to say”
And those memories are still burning brightly
Oh Jesus how I love the way You’re writing my life

Turning the page, I’m up on stage
But I’m still a kid in a lot of ways
So many dreams, that are coming true
But Lord when they see me, I hope they see You
Nothing but You
(God I know, I know You got big plans for me)
Little old me, little old me

Singer/Songwriter: Jamie Grace Harper along with Morgan H. Nichols, Juan Otero, Joel Parisien
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Suddenly ignited by a spark I hear my Savior’s voice speaking right to my heart, ‘Don’t give up now, and don’t be afraid, you know who you are…’ “

Do we REALLY believe who God says we are??  Would we walk our walk with Him differently…fully confident with our head held high KNOWING we are more than conquerors??  God never meant for us to be living a defeated life and walking around in despair.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 NIV

As long as we have God on our side there is never a reason to lose hope in any situation.  Our hope is in Him.

I pray that God, the Source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace
because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NLT

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Heavenly Father, may we never lose sight of the hope that we have in You and knowing with full confidence that ‘if You are for us WHO can be against us’.  Thank You for the promise in Jesus’ name.  AMEN!!!!

Blessings

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We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Singer/Songwriter – Laura Story

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Blessings in disguise. Are you looking for those blessings even in the hard days? What you focus on is what you will magnify…good or bad. What are you choosing to magnify in your life?  My prayer is that even when we are going through hard times we will choose to magnify God and focus on Him.

“I thought about how when I looked through my magnifying glass all I could see was the object that I was focusing on. Then I thought, when we go through hard times we need to focus on the Lord. We need to MAGNIFY HIM above our troubles and see only His helping hand in every situation.
In Psalms chapter 34 and verse 4 it says, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” We need to seek the Lord in our times of troubles and look to Him for our help. Psalms 69:30 says,” I will praise the name of God with a song, and will MAGNIFY Him with thanksgiving.” When we praise and thank God for being their for us in our times of need and our times of gladness,….when we like Joseph in the Bible, thank God for every situation we find our selves in, we can have peace of mind that God will come through for us.
When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison they didn’t sit there and gripe and say WHY ME….why did we get put into prison…were people of God… how could God let this happen to us!!!!! No… instead they sang the praises of God. They MAGNIFIED the LORD in their situation and the Bible says that the earth shook and their shackles opened up and the doors of the prison opened up for them. There is POWER in magnifying the Lord in our lives Psalms 40 and verse 16 says, “Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let such as love thy salvation say continually, THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED!
So the next time you find yourself in a hard place in your life, be a Paul and Silas…. sing praises and MAGNIFY the Lord and see His mighty hand come to help you. And as Psalms 35 and verse 28 says,” My tongue shall speak of YOUR righteousness and of YOUR praise all the day long!”

excerpted from Living Truth website “Magnify The Lord”

click here to read entire article

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Heavenly Father, thank You for when we choose to magnify You in the midst of our troubles that You are faithful in each and every one. Thank You for the blessings in disguise. May we focus on You so that we may find them…in Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

Everything I Need

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

When every step is so hard to take
And all of my hope is fading away
When life is a mountain that I cannot climb
You carry me, Jesus carry me

You are strength in my weakness
You are the refuge I seek
You are everything in my time of need
You are everything, You are everything I need

When every moment is more than I can take
And all of my strength is slipping away
When every breath gets harder to breathe 
You carry me, Jesus carry me

I need You
You are everything I need
I love everything about You

You are strength in my weakness
You are the refuge I seek
You are everything in my time of need
You are everything, You are everything I need

Jon Michah Sumrall, Dave Lubben  ~ Kutless

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Father, when life gets to be too overwhelming it’s Your refuge I seek. You are all that I need!

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV

It is in our weaknesses that we are made strong through Christ. Jesus is all we need. He is the strength in our weakness. God is our everything in our time of need.

I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
Psalms 18:1-4

Jesus is the one who carries us when we feel as though our strength is slipping away. It is in these moments that we must turn our focus back to Him.

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are my strength in ALL my weakness and it is in my weakness that You make me strong.  You are my everything!  Father, I need You!  Thank You for Your faithfulness to see me through to the victory that lies ahead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!!!

Hold Me

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You, the way You

I’ve had a long day, I just wanna relax
Don’t have time for my friends, no time to chit-chat
Problems at my job, wonderin’ what to do
I know I should be working but I’m thinking of You and
Just when I feel this crazy world is gonna bring me down
That’s when Your smile comes around

Oh, I love the way You hold me, by my side You’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love the way You hold me, in Your arms I’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love You more than the words in my brain can express
I can’t imagine even loving You less

Lord, I love the way You hold me
Whoa, oh, I love the way You hold me
Whoa, oh

Well ya, took my day and You flipped it around
Calmed the tidal wave and put my feet on the ground
Forever in my heart, always on my mind
It’s crazy how I think about You all of the time
And just when I think I’m ’bout to figure You out
You make me wanna sing and shout

I’m so grateful and thankful for all You’ve done
Wish I could tell You in a short story or poem
But all I have is my voice and this guitar
And You have my heart

Oh, I love
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me
I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me, hold me, hold me

Written and Sung by Jamie Grace and Toby McKeehan along with Chris Stevens

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Where do you run when you have one of those days?  To Jesus???  He is our comfort….

“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NLT

“Gracious ‘word’ of a gracious Savior, on which the soul may confidingly repose, and be at peace forever! It is a present rest—the rest of grace as well as the rest of glory. Not only are there signals of peace hung out from the walls of Heaven—the lights of Home glimmering in the distance to cheer our footsteps; but we have the “shadow” of this “great Rock!” in a present “weary land.” Before the Throne above is there “the sea of glass,” without one rippling wave; but there is a haven even on earth for the tempest-tossed, “We who have believed DO enter into rest.”

(I love this word picture! It is taken from gracegems.org.  Click on the link to read more of this article.)

And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14 ESV

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that when it has been one of those days, we can find comfort and peace in You!  I love the way You hold me.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

Good Morning

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Wave away my yesterday
‘Cause I’m leaving it behind me
Hello sunshine, come what may
I feel something new inside me
I hear the birds singing
Now my alarm’s ringing
Get up, get up, hey

It’s a good morning
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning
I’m stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning
You give me strength
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that’s rising in me
It’s a good morning

Slow down, breathe in,
Don’t move ahead
I’m just living in this moment
I’ve got my arms raised, un-fazed
Jump out of bed
Gotta get this party going
I went to bed dreaming
You woke me up singing
Get up, get up, hey

Now I’m smiling, and I’m kissing all my worries goodbye
Got the feeling, if I spread my wings I might even fly
You are my Truth, my Way
Give me the strength to say
Get up, get up, get up
‘Cause it’s a good morning, hey

Hey, top of the morning to you ‘disa
You smoothie, me ice cold pizza
Cafe au lait, latte dah
You do the zumba, but I do not
Give me like half a marathon
I’ll give you the gospel of St. John
Hits me like a wake-up bomb
Cuz’ we both know that His mercy flows
In the morning

Performed by Mandisa and TobyMac
Songwriters: Toby McKeehan, Mandisa Hundley, Aaron Rice, Jamie Moore, Carey Barlowe

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I love the gift of a new day, new sunrises, and new blessings!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23 ESV

Each day is a gift. All we need to do is open it and see the blessings even the ones in disguise.. They are there. We just need to look for them.. It’s all in your perspective.

“One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful. We let what was once a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to His goodness it becomes a routine.”
Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential – Joel Osteen

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Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of a new day.  Thank You for the many blessings in each and every day.  May our perspective be one that looks for You in all things…in Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!!