#Day22_WeMadeIt!

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DAY 22: We Made it! 

It has been an absolute joy and journey to sacrifice and study and pray with you over these past three weeks.  I trust you have been blessed and filled and stretched and strengthened!  It can be a little tempting to dive right back into a "diet of celebration," but I encourage you, if you have been on a liquids only fast with us, to take small steps:

1. Eat small portions.  You may feel a big hunger, but your stomach can only handle a small offering.
2. Avoid "extreme" foods - things overly spicy, greasy, acidic, etc.  Ease your way back into your favorites.
3. Take advantage of the cleansing.  This may be the time to permanently remove certain things from your diet.  Ask the Father if this is part of His health plan for you.  Now is the best time to make the change a lifestyle.
4. Finally, maintain the deeper intimacy with the Lord.  Don't binge on TV, Social media, etc., and step away from the cozy habit of enjoying extra time with Jesus that has developed over the past few weeks.

READ:  Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

LISTEN & PRAY: As you continue to celebrate His presence, feel free to enjoy this beautiful worship time from IHOP's Onething 2016...such a beautiful offering, turgid with the glory of God!

#Day21_PoweredByTransformation

Feel free to download and/or print the PDF version of the Calendar, if you like.  

DAY 21:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession is empowered by transformation." 

Transformation is both a catalyst for and a fruit of intercession.  As we pray, surrendering ourselves to Papa God, worship erupts from within us.  We taste and see His goodness, which compels us to avoid conforming to the broken, inferior world systems.  We choose, rather, to renew our minds and experience transformation.  This transformation awakens us to a greater consciousness of the desires and designs of the Lord.  This heightened awareness and alignment with the mind of God fuels and empowers our intercessions, increasing their effectiveness and leading us into even more personal transformation.

READ:  Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day20_CourageInTheCourts

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DAY 20:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession is courageous in the Courts of Heaven." 

Our King and Judge sits on a throne of power and justice.  He also happens to be our Father.  He also happens to be our Savior.  He also happens to be willing to supply us with all the mercy necessary to be forgiven and the grace needed to live free.  Intercessions will take us into the Courts of Heaven, where there may be complaints against us for various crimes committed against the King.  When you go to your knees to deal with these, do so with the boldness of spirit befitting your status as a much loved child!

READ:  Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day19_KnowYourTarget

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DAY 19:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession knows its target." 

The armory for intercession is not comprised of natural weaponry (See 2 Corinthians 10:4).  As intercessors, we must remember the difference between welfare and warfare targets.  The people around us are targeted for blessings.  Their welfare is highlighted and secured by our intercessions.  The warfare we wage in the spirit, however, must be aimed toward those dark targets mentioned in Ephesians 6:12.

READ:  Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day18_BreedingRepentance

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DAY 18:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession breeds repentance." 

Way to own it, David!  The more time we enjoy in the presence of our Loving Father, the more comfortable we are with repentance.  If in our intercessions, we are willing to own the issues that have demonstrated a deficiency of character (repentance), we will find GREAT mercy from the Lord and spare MANY others from reaping the consequences of our own folly.

READ:  2 Samuel 24:17 (NKJV)
Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.”

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day17_PromotesMercy

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DAY 17:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession promotes mercy and stays the hand of judgment." 

Intercession promotes mercy.  Abraham's interaction with the Father on behalf of Lot and his family is a famous example of this.  Lot left the favor of fellowship with Abraham for the allure of Sodom and Gomorrah's exotic flair.  The Word says he suffered for this, internally tortured by his repeated exposure to an unholy culture (see 2 Peter 2:7).  Abraham held no grudge for the rejection, didn't seek a self-affirming judgment against Lot; but rather, rescued him with force, when needed, and with pure faith through the intercessions we see in this story.  The best prayer life breeds and births the mercy of God.

READ: Genesis 18:23-33 (NKJV)
23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” 27 Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28 Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” 29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” 30 Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” 32 Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”  And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” 33 So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day16_IntercedingIsPractical

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DAY 16:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession is practical." 

Intercession is not an exercise whereby we avoid what is practical, but through which the practical is empowered.  Prayer makes the practical possible and prosperous.  Also, Paul uses the practical to reinforce the faith being expressed through intercession.  "Prepare a room!" Paul says.  "We are believing for an open door to be together, so prepare a room."  In other words, our practical efforts reflect the faith we express in prayer and our prayers open the doors for practical advancements.

READ: Philemon 1:22 (NKJV)
But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day15_ProclaimingBlessing

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DAY 15:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession proclaims a blessing." 

Blessing is the core and simplest aim of prayer.  Our intercessions must be constructed with this in mind.  Too often, we fall prey to the enemy's distortions of prayer - using our precious intercessions for complaining, correcting, or criticizing others.  Resist this!  Stand firm in the grace of Christ and speak blessings that will transform people's hearts and circumstances.

READ: Numbers 6:23-27 (NKJV)
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week's music grabbed my eye with its title "Oceans of Holy Spirit" and then squeezed my heart with nearly two hours of beautiful, worshipful flow.  Hope you enjoy listening as we wrap up our last week of the fast!

#Day14_AmplifyingAgreement

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DAY 14:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession amplifies agreement." 

Intercession kindles the fires of revival in a unique way when we cooperate and coordinate our prayer efforts.  This fast is an excellent example of that.  We have chosen to align our hearts with God and one another during this time of soaking and sacrifice.  Our prayers, right now, amplify the effects of our agreement and we can expect exponential returns on those investments.  God rewards our diligent partnership of seeking Him!

READ: Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day13_RememberingFamily

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DAY 13:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession remembers God's people." 

Intercession remembers that we, God's children, are a family.  Our prosperity is not as individualistic as we might like it to be.  Not as isolated as American culture indicates.  Interceding for Israel, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, or any of our brothers and sisters around the globe for that matter, reconnects the family of God and opens the door for true and comprehensive prosperity - the Shalom of God.

READ: Psalm 122:6 (NKJV)
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:  “May they prosper who love you."

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day12_DeclaringForgiveness

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DAY 12:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession declared forgiveness." 

Forgiveness is the bedrock of power in intercession.  We are allowed to pray as a benefit of God's forgiveness showed toward us.  We will not be effective in prayer if we cannot reflect that forgiveness toward others.  Assume the same posture and perspective as Jesus and recognize that it is the ignorant heart that sins.  We falter because, on some level, we just don't truly know what we do.  Forgive from this place and empower your intercessions with Christ's compassion.

READ: Luke 23:34 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day11_PromisingRestoration

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DAY 11:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession promises restoration." 

Intercession must be laced with a faith large enough to believe for the restoration of those whose souls or circumstances are estranged from the goodness of God.  Faith is not designed to fail.  Returning to God is a normal result of prayer; and those who intercede must learn to expect restoration as a fruit of their prayers.

READ: Luke 22:32 (NKJV)
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day10_CapturingHisHeart

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DAY 10:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession recaptures the heart of God." 

Complaining, or its religious twin "com-pray-ning" is a surefire way to lose touch with the grace and loving-kindness of the Father.  It opens the door for a death and distance that is not our destiny as King's kids.  Intercession restores us as receptacles of grace and recaptures the heart of God in and for our community.

READ: Numbers 11:1-2 (NKJV)
1Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day9_UnitingDestiny

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DAY 9:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession unites destiny." 

No matter where we are, or how we got there, the Father wants us to bless our community and its environment.  We share a destiny, regardless of our individual assignments or what the future holds.  Interceding for the various circles of people and places in our lives releases a shared sense of peace and destiny.

READ: Jeremiah 29:7 (NKJV)
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day8_ToughLove

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DAY 8:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession includes praying for our enemies." 

We've heard the phrase "tough love" many times before.  Let's tweak it a little today. Today, "tough love" means the love that is hard for us to share because of those to whom we must show it - our enemies.  Dig deep, friends and pray for those who have hurt or hindered you in the past.  Let's show the devil that true love truly wins.

READ: Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you. This week, I'll be listening to this gentle offering from Christopher Georges that is just over 30 minutes long and is completely instrumental.

#Day7_IntercessionHeals

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DAY 7:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession heals spirits, souls, and bodies." 

Oh, how God loves to heal!  Our spirits, souls, and bodies are billboards that can boldly showcase the glory and goodness of our Great God.  Intercession compresses our faith into specific expectations for healing, creating experiences of healing that become lifelong, undeniable testimonies of God's love.

READ: James 5:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses[a] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Day6_WinningWanderers

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DAY 6:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession wins the wandering soul." 

If we desire to see our Great King become famous among men, we must pray!  Intercession is essential to wooing and winning the wandering soul; and we are wise to intercede before we attempt to intervene.  Amen?

READ: Romans 10:1-4 (NKJV)
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Day5_CreatingOpportunity

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DAY 5:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession creates opportunity." 

Intercession clears out the cobwebs of complacency, confusion, and competition, creating powerful opportunities to connect with Papa God and step more fully, and more successfully, into the destiny He has and is continuing to prepare for us.

READ: Genesis 24:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Day4_EstablishingCommunity

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DAY 4:  

CONCEPT:  "Intercession establishes communities." 

Intercession creates a supernatural protection around the family of God, like an incubator, that enables Holy Spirit to knit us together and display His goodness through us as a community.

READ:  Isaiah 62:6-7 (NKJV)
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Day3_CommandingDeliverance

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DAY 3:

CONCEPT:  "Intercession commands deliverance." 

Intercession is not merely a passive request, but an authoritative command.  As we collaborate with the Father, we enjoy the privilege of using our favor to pull our friends and family members into the light of freedom in Christ.

READ:  Philippians 1:19 (NKJV)
For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

LISTEN & PRAY: In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Day2_ReleasingFavor

Feel free to download and/or print the PDF version of the Calendar, if you like.  

DAY 2:

CONCEPT:  "Intercession releases favor." 

As we intercede, our compassion and faith mingle in the heavenly realms, creating an aroma that gets Papa's attention.  He so loves to release His favor into the lives of His children and intercession opens a door wide for just such a blessing and paves the way for great expressions of thanksgiving. 

READ:  2 Corinthians 1:11

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Day1_RevelatoryPrayer

So, here is DAY 1:  

CONCEPT:  "Revelatory Prayer" 

The goal is for us to expect that God will reveal supernatural and practical truths to us as we engage in intercession.  Prayer is more than the listing of needs or the exercise of applying our theology to our trials and tribulations.  It is a collaborative, relational experience through which Papa God reveals to us His perspectives and plans.

READ:  Daniel 10:12-14
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

LISTEN & PRAY:  In your soaking and meditation this week, feel free to use whatever music or worship that blesses you.  I have found a beautiful gem on YouTube that I will be using this week.  It starts off with some powerful, passionate prayer and then shifts into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

#Pre-Fast_HereWeGo!

Once again, we will be cleansing the palate of our souls and creating some additional “sacred space” for communing with Papa God.  By doing this corporately, we unify our focus throughout the fast and build supernatural momentum, wrapping ourselves around common verses and prayer themes.  Don't be scared - YOU CAN DO THIS!  No fear, no judgment, no guilt, no shame...just Love and Grace and Unity and Growth.

Feel free to download and/or print the PDF version of the Calendar, if you like.  

This year’s topic is “Intercession” and we are so excited about it!  We are convinced you will be blessed and transformed through the process.  As always, here are a couple of encouragements as you go:

• Fasting is voluntary and unto the Lord.  You won’t be judged for your participation.  If you opt to not follow this schedule, thinking it too intense, we encourage you to determine your own level of fasting and then follow along with the daily readings and prayer.  There is power in all genuine sacrifice.  Also, if you have any concerns about fasting that are related to medical issues, consult your doctor before participating.  Seriously, we would visit you in the hospital, but we don’t want to have to. ;-)
• Fasting is about denying ourselves those things that are normal and natural to surrender more of our attention to that which is normal and supernatural – His Presence.  That is why we include the modern element of media in our fast.  Many of those innocent diversions consume massive amounts of energy and focus.  Gifting that time to God reaps amazing rewards.
• Fasting doesn't earn us brownie points with God, but it does clear space within and around us for Him to move and speak and reveal in ways we may have yet to experience.  Expect your level of sacrifice to be met with new levels of grace, faith, power and, yes, PRESENCE!

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Love you!

Pastor Chris