The song I will be singing next monday. It is beginninng to be real at this point. Praise God.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
loving the Lord
Neglected Caroline: theunfetteredpreacher
Neglected Caroline: It has been a while since I last saw these. Steady neglect.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
A Decade of Decision, Destruction: theunfetteredpreacher
A Decade of Decision, Destruction: It was 1966-67, when I went off the rails. I had a license and a car, booze and drugs were easy to acquire, and imbibe. A lot of the next 10 years are lost to blackouts and confusion.
I had a friend, whose mother lived in town, and his dad in upstate NY. Whenever he was around we hung together. His sister was maybe 6 or 8 years older than us and had her own apartment in a nearby town.
My friend’s sister had become one of the Jesus People. The movement was real and many counter-culture people joined the bandwagon. they exchanged the highs of booze and drugs, for Peace and Love of the Holy Ghost.
As baby Christians, they attended all the Crusades available, and some found good Churches, others muddled through on their own. I remember many nights studying Scripture, sitting on this young woman’s bed, while she was in her nightgown, (with her bra and panties).
We were so Spiritual.
I welcomed the Lord into my heart that year, I was 17. I distinctly remember saying, ‘Lord I love you and will serve You every day of my life, BUT, I want to have 10 years of fun first.’
What a stupid declaration, 10 years of hell were soon upon me.
Blackouts became an ongoing ritual, soon grass, speed and occasionally LSD, entered and became my gods. I was destroying my own as well as other peoples lives.
I fell long and hard, and hurt many whom I can never forget or forgive myself for. Yet life, for me, went on. I married, divorced, changed multiple jobs, (some actually good jobs). Then the 10 years were coming to a close. (I needed to change my ways).
I had 7 weeks until my retirement account was vested when I quit and moved to Florida. I found a job selling pianos and organs, was fired, once again hitting the bottom, I found Jesus.
Life was finally looking up.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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The Long and Winding Road: theunfetteredpreacher
The news from Minnesota is good. God has once again shown His Love and Grace for our family.
My sister-in-law Janet, is recovering nicely from her brain aneurysm and operation. I understand she is (just in the last few days), communicating easily, and walking, without a walker.
We are so thankful for the prayers and love you have sent her way. It is the prayers of the Saints, and the Power of God, that has brought these improvements to pass.
A special thanks to the Doctors, Nurses, and staff at the hospital, (from food service to housekeeping), all are equally important to the patients.
I will try to keep you updated.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Happy, happy Thanksgiving: theunfetteredpreacher
I pray your day is great, the food and company delicious and agreeable. Your travels safe and pleasant.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Led or Stirred? theunfetteredpreacher
Are we being led by the Spirit of God or Stirred by the Holy Spirit? Is your concern personal, or for the body?
Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tried and tested. (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1). He triumphed.
We are encouraged to be Led by the Spirit.
Romans 8:13-14
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Galatians 5:16-18,25
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Being led by the Spirit, seems to be a test or trial, to show us our strength and position with and in God. Are we strong enough to defeat that sin that so easily besets us?
We are led by the Spirit to a place of a personal battle, a place of testing. Will we overcome the sin, the evil that attempts to draw us away from God.
Like Christ overcome evil with good?
This brings us to being stirred by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can cause us to know and do what might seem impossible.
Being Stirred by the Holy Spirit is a different thing entirely. It seems to be connected to the growth of the Kingdom.
Acts 17: 16.
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Stirred
Exodus 35: 21-22
And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
Chronicles 36: 22,-23
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
Ezra 1: 1-2
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Haggai 1: 13. Then spake Haggai the LORD’s messenger in the LORD’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. 14. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15. In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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The Baby with the Bathwater: theunfetteredpreacher
I could not be more different from my Mother and Sister.
I moved out of the house as a teenager, I came back one weekend to find them both in my old closet, throwing away old pictures and love letters from my early teen years.
When my Dad and my brother died, we had to hurry and get rid of their personal stuff, that which reminded us of them. We sent the clothes to charity.
Poof! It’s almost like they never existed.
How am I different? I keep every little thing that brings a smile with the memory. When my Mom died, she left family pictures and all the other stuff that made up her life.
She was 90. I expected Martha to outlive her, so I didn’t rush to pick up family memories.
My error. All the old pictures I the young Bob Cote family and life are gone.
I write this today in hopes that someone may have pictures of Bob’s Fix-it Shop, from before the new expansion. Maybe from the ’50s?
Also of the house and barn that were right at 4 Main Street, before they were torn down, again the 50’s. There was also the little speakeasy from prohibition, that my Dad used as a tire room.
If anyone has old pictures, and can easily find them, I would appreciate the memories.
Thanks so much.
Bill
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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It only took 50 years: theunfetteredpreacher
50 years ago, I was a 16-year-old kid working part-time at a local wooden chair manufacturer. I had just escaped 4 years of working for my Dad as a grease monkey, gas jockey and tire technician.
At the chair factory, I tended machines, (an adult ran them, I took the wood off and stacked it). I also stacked wood in the kiln to dry. Nothing too hard but I guess I was doing ok.
One day the boss brought me down to the paint shop. (In my parents time it had been a dance hall). When we got there, there was a line of chairs stacked four high, from the drying room, (which was full of stacked chairs), into the dance hall to the loading dock.
I was told a truck was on the way, I was to load so many chairs and the boss left.
I soon found out I had trouble keeping the trucker busy. As the truck filled up, he walked less while I was running back and forth to the drying room and pulling stacks of chairs.
All I can say is the truck was finally full, and neither one of us had any idea how many chairs were aboard. We both signed off and left.
The next day, the boss wanted to know how many chairs had been shipped? (Apparently), I had shipped out more than should have gone, and also let the driver take a stack of moving blankets. (Oh Boy).
Surprisingly, the boss said little but never had me load another truck.
Well, he had turned on a switch, and in the middle of the night last night the light bulb turned on.
The boss had left a blueprint. So many chairs in a row, if I had understood and taken the time to count and bring out the rest of the chairs I needed. I would have had the correct amount in place, and a lot less trouble filling the order.
I would have shipped the correct number, with less work.
Why did the light bulb go off now? 50 years too late?
I now teach the Bible. I realize, that we can give out too much information and the whole shipment can be lost.
The Bible is the drying room, it has more product then we need to ship each day. We need to bring out the amount to fill the order and just ship out that portion of the product the Lord would ship, and the truck, (the student), can comfortably accommodate.
Preparation is the key. I have not always, KISS. Clyde our Pastor once told me to remember who I was talking to.
One day, I hope all the lights come on and I become a productive member of the Lord’s Army.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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The power of the Lord was present to heal them: theunfetteredpreacher
“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.” (Luke 5:16-18)
Luke 5 is an interesting chapter, it includes the fishing partners, experiencing their largest catch, and leaving it behind to follow Jesus. (‘Put your nets on the other side‘).
Next, Jesus healed a leper, who asked; ‘If you will you could heal me.’ Jesus said; ‘I will’. He touched the untouchable and made him clean.
The multitudes sought Him, to hear and be touched by His Power and Grace. He went to the wilderness to pray.
Next, He was teaching, and Pharisees and Doctors of the Law were sitting under His teaching.
We then come to a sentence I have read many times and just today realized what and to who it was directed.
“The Power of the Lord was Present to Heal THEM.“
The Power of the Lord was present to heal ‘The Pharisees and Doctors of the Law’.
In this chapter, He had a Word of Wisdom for the Fishermen, and they had their greatest catch. He had healed a leper, and would soon see the Faith of the four lowering the paralyzed man through the roof, and forgive his sins.
Yet the emphasis is on the Power to Heal the leaders, those who would charge Him for healing on the Sabbath. Those who were upset when he forgave the paralyzed man his sin.
Jesus perceived their thoughts said: “What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?”
He was again telling the leaders Whosoever could be forgiven, or healed of their unbelief, their hard hearts, blind eyes, and deaf ears.
It was a statement delivered to those who resisted the Revelation Knowledge that He was God.
The Power of the Lord is Present to Heal TODAY.
If we would only learn to get alone with God and pray for His Wisdom, Knowledge and Power. Then step out in Faith and lay hands on the sick.
What say you?
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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A Tale of Two Ezrahites: theunfetteredpreacher
In my Bible studies this week I have read Psalms 87-89, I saw a post about Psalms 88, and how it is a hopeless call for Grace Grace and Salvation.
In my studies, I discovered two brothers, (Ezrahites), who react differently to the troubles they see and experience.
The first Ezrahite mentioned is Ethan, a man that was so wise that it is said only Soloman was wiser. (1 Kings 4:29-31)
We next see Heman the Ezrahite. He wrote Psalms 88, which the Amplified Bible Explains is: [ A Petition to Be Saved from Death. ] [ A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician; set to chant mournfully. A didactic or reflective poem of Heman the Ezrahite. ]
This Psalm has only 18 verses, most describing his life’s conditions. (My prayers are often along these lines).
“For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.” (Psalms 88:3)
He blames the Lord for his condition:
“Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.” (Verse 7)
His friends have deserted him:
“Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.” (Verse 8)
He wonders why the Lord doesn’t seem to hear his cry.
“Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.” (Verses 9-10)
He has lost all Hope.
“LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.” (Palms 88:14-18)
There are three verses that show him reaching out for help.
“O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.” (Psalms 88:1,2,13)
Here was a man full of woe, he was losing hope, almost ready to give up life as he knew it.
Then in the next Psalm (89), we find Ethen the Ezrahite. The Ezrahite with Wisdom. Again from the Amplified Bible.
[ The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions. ] [ A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Ethan the Ezrahite. ]
Ethan experiences some of the same troubles but realizes it is because of the sins of himself and the people.
“How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.” (Psalms 89:46-48)
He had discussed the sins of the people and the promises of God. The Psalm started and ended looking up to God.
“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.” (Psalms 89:1,54)
Verse 1 is a song I sang in Bible School many years ago. If you allow the words to work within, your troubles become less with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory (1 Peter 1:8) become bigger in your life.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Neglected Caroline: theunfetteredpreacher
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Some believed and some is disbelieved: theunfetteredpreacher
As a Christian, it troubles me that some believe and others disbelieve. Not just when I share, but when Paul, Peter and even Jesus spoke. Only those for ordained believe.
“The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people, and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’ “Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations. They will also listen.” (Acts 28:25-28)
All we can do is share, to those who will accept, and be healed. Both physically and spiritually. It is the Holy Spirits job to prepare and change the hearts. Some are hardhearted, and will never accept.
Others we can pull from the fire. We can not tell, without the Holy Spirits direction which is which.
Just be faithful to our calling.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Hear, Yahweh, and answer me: theunfetteredpreacher
Psalm 86:1-7
“Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions. In the day of my trouble, I will call on you, for you will answer me.”
Lord, daily I fail and fall short, I cannot be the man you have called me to be. I sin, I repent, You forgive, I rejoice, I sin…
It is a never-ending story, I fall short of the Glory of God. I am not worthy of Your love and grace. Yet, You are ever faithful.
Lord, our needs are great today, please forgive my stupidity, and supply our needs by Your riches in glory. Give Your angels charge over us, protect and draw us under Your wings.
I love and need You Lord. Help me, answer our prayer, You are our Shepard, we Shall Not Want. You said it, I believe it, now I need to experience it. (Sadly, once again).
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Destitute of the Truth: theunfetteredpreacher
In Virginia since the election, excitement is in the air. Now that the Democrats are in control, they can try to erase our history once again.
Confederate History MUST BE REMOVED!
It is more important to believe the lie than to obey the law.
If you do not accept more than 2 Genders, if you believe in biblical truth, if you stand up for Truth, Justice and the American way. YOU ARE A THREAT TO THE LEFT.
I know I have allowed the left too much leeway, they have taken over main street, education, politics and even the Church. (How about you?)
Saints, we must Stand and Fight for the Faith. The Bible is the Word of God, if our ‘Christian Leaders,’ are ignoring the Truth and teaching a lie, we must STAND FOR THE TRUTH.
Walk away from the lies and towards the Lord.
1 Timothy 6:3-6
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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To Repair a Flank: theunfetteredpreacher
Anyone who has seen me since I had a kidney removed in 2008, has noticed the hernia on my left side. It started out about the size of a half a football, only sticking out 3 or 4 inches.
Over the years it has grown, considerably. The Dr calls it a Flank repair.
A couple of months ago I had an umbilical hernia removed, and am scheduled to have this soccer ball on my side removed December 9th.
I ask for your prayers and wisdom. I can continue to live with this hump, but I would rather not.
Is my problem just vanity?
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Not Out of the Woods: theunfetteredpreacher
My sister-in-law law, (Janet), is having a time of it. She walks towards daylight, when the woods close in around her.
It is a time of great concern. She was successfully operated on, for the brain aneurysm, and things looked good.
Then the little foxes began to spoil the vine. They keep running tests and changing meds, in an attempt to keep her on a path to recovery.
I ask you to pray with us for Wisdom and Knowledge for those who are treating her. For Grace, Peace, and Comfort for the families.
As I have mentioned, they are all committed Christians and believe all is possible with God.
Thanks for your continued prayer.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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A Second Chance It Is! Tears of Joy: theunfetteredpreacher
My sister-in-law (Janet), came through the operation today in good shape. I understand this evening even her sense of humor works.
She’s going to be under the watchful eyes of the Medical people for a while, but it looks better than this am.
We thank you for your continued prayers, recovery is not going to be a walk in the park, but recovery brings tears of Joy and Thankfulness.
I know she will have the support and love of her family, and friends.
Thank you again for your love and prayers.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Tears of Joy: theunfetteredpreacher
The operation went well. Will be in ICU for a time. Not out of the woods, but a good report.
Thank you for continuing prayers.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
A Second Chance, or Just A Second? theunfetteredpreacher
A few years ago an older friend from church was diagnosed with brain cancer. He had not been sick, or even feeling poorly, but his life changed in a second.
He passed soon after.
Last year, my sweet wife Bette was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer. She had hurt her back she thought from lifting a heavy planter.
Our lives changed in a second.
Thankfully, the chemotherapy has delayed the progress of the disease, and she is doing well.
Last night we received a text from one of her sisters, the youngest of the six (Janet), has had a brain aneurysm, she is in the hospital, the family is gathering and prayer and love is being communicated to the Father.
Many lives, plans, and hopes have changed in a second.
We are praying and planning for a full recovery, for Wisdom and Knowledge for the Doctors, Nurses and others who are caring for her.
Special prayers for Comfort, Peace, and Grace for her daughters, grandchildren and her 5 sisters and their families.
She lives halfway across the country, so our current connection is in the Spiritual Realm. Please pray with us, that this change in a second, becomes a second chance.
I know no other family as full of love and faith as this family.
During our second of change, all the sisters, and some husbands rotated in and out of here to help and love us through. I know Janet will receive the same devotion.
Lord, heal her please.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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True Lies: theunfetteredpreacher
The division of the right from the left, is not at all surprising.
The days of 3 tv channels and the NY Times as the paper of record are long gone.
The real problem now is the insistence that we have our ‘Own Set of Facts,’ that are more true than yours. CNN, MSNBC, NPR, ABC, CBS, NBC, all with one point of view, and the oddballs, FOX, along with Christian and Conservative talk with another.
WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE???
Oh to go back to the days when the News was the News, and we could trust it. Except, those days were never real. We only received one point of view.
We still only get one view from the Main Stream News. You can listen to any one or all of them, the same order, and opinions are given.
We cannot miss what they think or say. To find the other side you have to look for and listen for it.
If you can find a neutral poll and examine it, you find that 95% of News people are Liberals and voted for the Clintons and Obama.
If you look closer you find that Conservatives are better informed on politics. All you need to do to prove this is to watch any man on the street interviews.
It is funny, till you realize these people are allowed to vote. They do not know who the Vice President is, who is on the Supreme Court, or worse yet, who their Congressional Representatives are, Senate or House.
Yet they have opinions. Why? Even those who choose to avoid the News, cannot help but hearing the Main Stream Nonsense.
PLEASE, I BEG ALL YOU LIBERALS, LOOK BEYOND YOUR NORMAL NEWS SOURCE. FIND OUT THE REST OF THE STORY. Discern the truth.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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