Daily Reflection Verses

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Thursday – 28 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 6:12-28

Daniel 3:68-74

Luke 21:20-28

Daniel 6:12-28

¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

²⁶ “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.
²⁷ He rescues and he saves;
    he performs signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrusthe Persian.

Daniel 3:68-74

Dew and frost, praise and exalt him for ever. Ice and cold, praise and exalt him for ever. Frost and snow, praise and exalt him for ever. Days and nights, praise and exalt him for ever. Light and darkness, praise and exalt him for ever. Lightnings and clouds, praise and exalt him for ever. Earth, praise and exalt him for ever.

Luke 21:20-28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²² For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

SOLID FAITH

“Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” – Luke 21:28

An earthquake shook the Visayan region early 2012 and I experienced it. With the ground trembling, my initial reaction was to run. But instantly, I realized that running didn't guarantee my safety. Instead, I sat down and prayed. I prayed for Him to give me peace and make me prepared to meet Him if ever He was coming down for the second time at that very moment. After I prayed, peace and joy engulfed me and the fear quickly vanished!

Typhoons, floods and earthquakes happen in many places. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

It is faith, not feelings, that matters. Real faith believes God to the end. It is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Let us continue to fight this good fight of faith and not be swayed by what is happening in our midst. Remember that in His resurrection, Jesus clearly conveyed that in God, nothing perishes! – Danny

Prayer:

You are my refuge, Lord. I put my faith in You. Amen.

Wise Words:

“We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, and He packs our life with surprises all the time… leave that whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come.” Oswald Chambers

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Christian Community Bible (CCB)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Wednesday – 27 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

Daniel 3:62-67

Luke 21:12-19

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

¹³ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

²⁷ Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

²⁸ Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Daniel 3:62-67

⁶² O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶³ O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁴ O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁵ O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁶ O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁷ O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Luke 21:12-19

¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.

¹³ And it shall happen unto you for a testimony.

¹⁴ Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:

¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.

¹⁶ And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death.

¹⁷ And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake.

¹⁸ But a hair of your head shall not perish.

¹⁹ In your patience you shall possess your souls.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

TAKE A STAND

“By your endurance you will gain your souls.” – Luke 21:19

We had to pass through a dark street. From out of nowhere, three traffic enforcers hailed our car and charged us for entering a lane which they said was meant for public utility vehicles. As it was late in the evening, we didn't see the sign. We immediately apologized and asked if we could just go back. Refusing, they called two more men. One of them eventually told us that we wouldn't be charged if we would only give them some money for snacks. We explained to them that we were missionaries and would accept a charge ticket instead. They finally relented and let us go without a charge.

Bribery is a common practice. People say it provides the easiest way out. However, we are called to be light of the world (Matthew 5:14). We may be able to breeze through some difficulties through it, but is the momentary relief really worth losing our souls? Even if circumstances are oppressive, we are to pray and take a stand. We must not be weary in doing what is right, for God promises in Galatians 6:9 that “we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.” – Dondon

Prayer:

In a world filled with darkness, may Your light shine all the brighter, Lord! Amen.

Wise Words:

“He said not: thou shalt not be troubled – thou shalt not be tempted – thou shalt not be distressed. But He said: thou shalt not be overcome.” – St Julian of Norwich

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Tuesday – 26 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel 3:57-61

Luke 21:5-11

Daniel 2:31-45

³¹ “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. ³² The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, ³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. ³⁴ While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. ³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

³⁶ “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. ³⁷ Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; ³⁸ in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

³⁹ “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. ⁴⁰ Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. ⁴¹ Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. ⁴² As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. ⁴³ And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

⁴⁴ “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. ⁴⁵ This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

 

Daniel 3:57-61

⁵⁷ All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁵⁸ O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁵⁹ O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁰ O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶¹ O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

 

Luke 21:5-11

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

PARTNERSHIP

“The great God has informed the king what shall be hereafter.” – Daniel 2:45

God loves us so much that whenever He sees one of us going astray from His ways, He lets us know. He informs us in various ways. Sometimes, He speaks directly into our hearts, sometimes through signs, sometimes through other people.

There have been times when I felt God wanted me to speak to somebody to share the Good News, but I’d shy away. Instead of thinking about God’s concern for that person, I’d think about how embarrassing it might be for me. I’d miss out on the opportunity God was giving me to be part of His master plan of salvation.

God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). He is calling on His children to partner with Him in this. If we are only aware at all times of how awesome God is and His plans are, we’d always be on the lookout for such opportunities to reach out or witness to others.

The fields are ripe for harvest but there are not enough workers (Matthew 9:37). Let’s partner with Him and bring in the harvest! – Mark

Prayer:

Lord, may You always find me willing and ready to follow Your lead. Amen.

Wise Words:

“The Lord intends us to be powerful people – mighty in optimism and hopeful of spirit, powerful in evangelistic zeal, potent in influence, sturdy in moral fiber and purity. We can be powerhouses in prayer and preaching.” – David Jeremiah

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Monday – 25 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20

Daniel 3:52 - 56

Luke 21:1-4

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. ⁵ The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

 

Daniel 3:52-56

⁵² Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages.

⁵³ Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever.

⁵⁴ Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever.

⁵⁵ Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

⁵⁶ Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.

 

Luke 21:1-4

21 And looking on, he saw the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury.

² And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites.

³ And he said: Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

⁴ For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want, hath cast in all the living that she had.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

UNDEFILED!

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine. – Daniel 1:8

Today, information is king. We are not even content when we go to websites only to find out that the information we read has not even been updated – since five minutes ago!

This is the buffet laid before us – unending dishes of the latest trends, bottomless picks of knowledge, fancy plates of fame and fortune. They all look sweet to the eyes, and our souls salivate at the sight.

But Daniel, in today’s reading, knew something that we all could learn from. No matter how attractive the royal offerings looked, he knew his foundations. He discerned that what was laid before him would lead him to compromise his faith. So he stood his ground and held on to his non-negotiable.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” Let us, like Daniel, resolve to not defile ourselves with the world’s ways; rather, to strive to live blamelessly before God. – Mich  

Prayer:

Lord, please renew my mind that I may think like You and follow Your ways. Amen.

Wise Words:

“Apart from God, every activity is merely a passing whiff of insignificance.” – Alfred North Whitehead

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Living Water 2013

Last Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Sunday – 24 November 2013

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Verses:          
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122:1-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

FIRST READING: A Reading from the Second book of Prophet Samuel (2 Samuel 5:1-3)

David Becomes King Over Israel

5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. ² In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

³ When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 122:1-5)

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
² Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
⁴ That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

SECOND READING: A Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 1:12-20)

¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

GOSPEL: A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke (Luke 23:35-43)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

  

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

FIRST PLACE

“He is the beginning… so that he might come to have first place in everything.” – Colossians 1:18

I dabble in the arts, and as far as my artistic yield is concerned, I am the master, the one who decides the shapes and colors and textures of whatever I make. I have first and last say about what happens to my so-called creations.

As a created being, I should be happy to allow Jesus, through whom and for whom  I was created, to have first place in everything about me. However, I still find myself struggling when my feelings do not jive with what God wants – like loving my enemies and praying for my persecutors. But as I reflect upon Jesus’ love, I realize the folly of trying to be my own master.

In desiring not His will but His Father’s, Jesus fulfilled the reason for which He was placed here on earth. He then received His heavenly reward and is exalted as King of kings. By giving Jesus first place in my life, I can hope to fulfill, by grace, the reason for which God created me. I am willing to be whatever God wants for me, for in this way I shall be truly blessed and eagerly look forward to my heavenly reward. – Nelia  

Prayer:

I am willing, Lord Jesus, to be just exactly what You want me to be. Amen.

Wise Words:

“There are no ‘if’s in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety – let us pray that we may always know it!” – Corrie ten Boom

Source:

New International Version

Living Water 2013