Jan. 28, 2025
Ep. 87 Embracing Trials in 2025
This episode emphasizes the importance of refocusing on our divine calling as we enter 2025 and reflects on how past trials can shape our purpose in life. We discuss the significance of intention, the necessity of prayer, and understanding our unique design to maximize our potential.
• Reflecting on our intentions for 2025
• Current events and their impact on our community
• The trials we face shape our character and purpose
• Importance of a prayerful attitude in guiding our steps
• Understanding our unique design and calling from God
• Aligning with God's plan for provision and fulfillment
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12:40 - Upcoming Podcast Changes & Well Wishes
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Well, welcome to the Words for Change podcast here on this Tuesday, man.
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We got an episode for you today.
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This is the first time listening.
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My name is Lionel and I welcome to all the guests here on the other side of 2025.
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Today's episode we're going to talk about refocusing and shifting our attention, following God's calling for our life, doing new seasons.
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That's the episode for today, but before we get started, what day is it y'all?
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Yes, here on this January 14th, man, there's a lot going on in the news today.
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At least 18, I'm sorry, at least 13 people are missing from the California fires down in Palisade.
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It spans over 22,000 acres.
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Over 11% of this fire is contained, but boy, the Eden fire of the North Seas, los Angeles, covers more than 14,000 acres.
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So let's continue to pray for the people in California.
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Those who are in the san fernando valley are not too far away from where we're located, and so our prayers go out to the people of california and palisade.
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It's not just about the fires.
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It's also about the families and memories of history that's been left behind.
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Meta and amazon have joined in a growing number of companies like Walmart, mcdonald's and Ford John Deere, for instance.
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These companies are all getting rid of the DEI.
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You know, if you guys are interested, interested or know about the diversity, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a lot of these companies now are turning back these programs.
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Someone says because of the change in the White House.
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Others will say it's just overdue, these programs are not needed.
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We know in our world, and I tell you what you know we may be at different stages and different belief systems about that, but this is something that's happening in the news, so let's continue to pray for that as well.
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Companies saying that the diversity and hiring program goes against fair treatment and may even violate some people's constitutional rights.
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Critics of the VA argue that these programs are discriminatory.
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This is why they are no longer needed.
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Here again, this is another issue that's going on.
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We know that our world is divided, but even our world is divided.
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Here again, this is another issue that's going on.
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We know that our world is divided, but even though our world is divided, the scriptures tell us specifically right that we should seek peace with all men.
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Romans tells us that as well, that we should pray for our leaders Romans 13, so that we may have a peaceable life.
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And of course, most of you know that we lost President Carter.
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I had the opportunity to meet him one time.
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I actually see him in Habitat building houses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
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So he was a great man, did some good work and a believer.
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Now he's gone home to be with the Lord and our heart goes out to him and his family.
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But boy did he leave a wonderful, wonderful legacy behind.
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Well, that's all we have in the news for today, on this January 14th, and let's get to the message that's most important Refocusing for 2025.
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Well, as we go forward into this 2025, the Lord spoke to me and said what are your intentions?
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I want you to think about that first.
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What are your intentions for living the life that you want to live?
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In other words, what does God say?
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What is the Lord saying to you about where you're supposed to go and what you're supposed to do?
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Well, it's one thing that we need to be emphatically clear about that God has a purpose and a plan for us as we approach, as we are now into 2025.
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Galatians 1 15 says this but when he who had set you apart even from your mother's womb and called you through his grace, god has gifted and graced you to do something specific.
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Think about this.
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God has gifted and graced you to do something specific.
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Okay, but it gets even better than that y'all.
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Okay, it gets even better because not only did God gift you and grace you, but, listen, god has allowed you to go through everything you've experienced in your life in order to help shape you and form you to the person that God wants you to be, to do the job that God needs you to do.
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So I need you to think about that.
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So I want you to think about all of the things that you've absorbed in your life.
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All of the trials, all of the circumstances that did not go your way, the temptations, how you may have fallen, how things didn't work out for you.
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How has those things shaped you to the person you are now?
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This is critical for us to think about as we move forward to 2025, as we begin this trek through 2025.
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Think about all of the circumstances you've gone through.
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How has these things shaped you?
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God allowed them to shape you, to make you the person that you've gone through.
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How has these things shaped you?
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God allowed them to shape you and make you the person that you want to be.
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Some people say that you know it's hard to become the person you want to become, the person God wants you to become, when everything is going away, because it is trials that shapes your character, trials that make you a better person, trials that give you a depth of thought, to help you to think about who you are and what it is you're supposed to do, what's most important in your life, just like pain, right?
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There's nothing like pain that makes you realize that you need to go see the doctor.
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There's nothing like trials that make you realize that you need to have a life of prayer.
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And so that's my second point.
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My second point is, in order for us to begin this trek in 2025 in a positive way, in a way that is directed as God wants us to, we must be people of prayer.
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Right, the Bible says that the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord.
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Philippians 4 says we should not worry about anything, but pray about everything.
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I don't know about you, but I have those experiences even as I approach 2025.
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Major changes happening in our lives and in our family lives.
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And guess what?
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These challenges will not be foolproof.
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These challenges are not foolproof without having an attitude and a mindset of prayer.
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But think about this, watch this y'all.
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In order for us to have a mindset of prayer, we need to realize that God is the source of everything.
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Think about that.
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That God is the source and the reason why you exist.
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What does that mean?
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That means that whenever we go forward and whatever we do, we must keep in mind that it is God's plan that started this whole process in our lives.
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Right, it is God's plan to start this whole process.
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Isaiah 49, 1 says the Lord calls me, called me from my mother's womb.
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The Lord called me from my mother's womb.
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The Lord called me from my mother's womb.
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That's what God told the prophet Isaiah, who was dealing with Israel, who were either going in or on the upside of coming out of the Babylonian captivity.
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But even while they were going through the trials of being captive, people battle Babylonians.
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The Lord had to remind the children of Israel that they had a calling in life.
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What's your calling?
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What's your calling?
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Think about what it is that God has originally called you to do.
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That God has number one.
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So we've just to recap, right, think about this one God has called you from your mother's womb, which means that everything that you've gone through has been a resource God is using to shape you, make you the person that God wants you to be.
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The second thing is this Sometimes we have to be careful because we will begin taking on tasks that are not designed, that we have not been called and designed for, that God hasn't called and designed us for.
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So, as we're going through 2025, we got to think about that.
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Are we doing tasks that God hasn't designed us for?
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Right?
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Jeremiah 1 5 says before I was formed in the womb, god knew me before I was formed in the womb.
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So if I, if God knew me before I was formed in the womb, so if I, if God knew me before I was formed in the womb, right, and that word translates roughly in the Hebrew means that God knew my inner parts, or, or God had specific purposes.
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Right, think about a vase.
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Or think about a tool.
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There's, a tool has a purpose.
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I like playing golf.
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A golf club has a purpose.
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How you use a driver versus how you use an iron is totally different.
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The trajectory excuse me, the trajectory of that club will do different things, right, based on what it is designed to do.
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What are you designed to do?
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What is your gift, talents and abilities?
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Ok, what are, what are your unique propensities?
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What are your gift, talents and abilities?
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What are the things that you are uniquely designed and called to do that God designed you to do as you go, as we go forward in 2025, think about it.
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If we, if we ignore that and take on tasks that we're not designed for, we'll be frustrated.
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People will be frustrated People.
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Ok, all right.
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So here's the last thing I want you to do.
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So, number one we talked about knowing that we have a purpose Right, and knowing that all the trials that we've gone through has prepared or is preparing us for 2025.
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Has prepared or is preparing us for 2025.
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The second thing I want you to keep in mind is this okay, is that God designed you for something specifically, and so if God designed you for something specifically, if you're not doing that, you won't maximize your potential.
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Okay, you won't maximize your potential.
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Here's the third and final thing I wanna share with you Whatever God has designed you to do, god has already provided, given provision, for you to do that thing and for you to have maximum impact.
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Okay, so when you have that mindset and you know that, then you do what the scripture says.
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That just shall live by faith.
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Hebrews 12 says what faith is a substance of things.
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Just shall live by faith.
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Hebrews 12 says what faith is a substance of things hopeful to evidence of things not seen.
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When you're walking according to your design and when you're walking according to how God called you here in 2025, you don't have to worry about provision.
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You can trust that God's going to provide.
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Why?
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Because you're doing exactly what God has called and gifted you to do.
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All right, this is important.
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Gifted you to do All right.
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This is important for us to consider.
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Okay, this is important for us to keep in mind.
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All right.
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Paul said this in Romans 1.1.
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God has set me apart.
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What For the gospel of God?
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Paul told the Corinthian church that what Our God will do, what Supply all you need according to his riches in Christ Jesus Sorry, that's in Philippians, the Corinthian text, sorry about that.
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Y'all Charge it to my head, not to my heart.
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But the Philippian, the Corinthian text talks about God gives gift, grace to the giver so that your gift may increase.
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What does that mean?
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When you're doing what God has called you to do, god will provide for you through the process.
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You don't have to worry, fear or doubt.
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God will provide, and if God doesn't provide, then maybe that's not what the Lord wants you to do.
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That could be a fleece for some of you out there listening here and 2025, so, listen, I want us to be successful, I want us to be pointed and focus.
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All right, and here in 2025, that's what God is calling us to do.
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So, once again, think about what God has gifted you to do something specific.
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The trials allow you to go through those things.
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Ok, you learn from those trials.
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Second thing is this which is vitally important is that the hardships you've gone through are shaping you for your calling purpose.
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And the third thing is God will provide for what God has called you to do.
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All right, so keep praying for us here in 2025.
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We got some new changes coming with the podcast.
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You'll hear about that in the next episode.
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Keep us, keep praying for us, as I know that we are praying for you listening on the other side of this microphone.
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Ok, so I want to go out.
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Make it a successful Tuesday and we'll see you back in the next two weeks.
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Ok, have a blessed and wonderful day.
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May the Lord bless you.
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May the Lord keep you.
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May the Lord cause his face to shine upon you from this time and evermore.
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God bless you.
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We talk to his face to shine upon you from this time and evermore.
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God bless you and we talk to you in two weeks.
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