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Family Bible Fellowship - Starts September 23rd, at 6:00 pm Family Bible Fellowship or FBF is a expanded verison of the current prayer meeting and bible study programs, which now includes dinner before bible study. There are studies for all ages as well as for those having a variety of interests, allowing the entire family to get involved. FBF will take place every Wednesday - dinner starts at 6:00 pm, followed by a ten minute homily. Bible study will start promptly at 7:30 pm. We will close each evening in general assembly for group prayer at 8:30 pm. The FBF program will run on a 3 semester schedule per calender year. The semesters are planned to occur as follows: 1 Semester September 23rd, 2009 - December 16th, 2009 2 Semester January 13th, 2010 - April 14th, 2010 3 Semester April 28th, 2010 - July 28th, 2010 We will not meet in the month of August 2010 for FBF -- However, regular bible study during that time will take place. See class schedules and opportunities below.
Bible Study Resources: Bible Gateway Crosswalk
(Online bibles, dictionaries, commentaries and more. Use the back button to return to SHBC.
FBF will provide separate classes for the following age groups: Children -13 years of age Youth 13 yrs - 18 years of age Adults - (anyone over 18) four classes will be available for the adult class. Everyone member, families, neighbors, and friends is invited to join us - registration will be taken before and after each church service - you can also register on September 23rd. CLASSES OFFERED Basic Bible for Kids - 12 yrs and under | A general overview of the Bible with attention given to key characters and important Christian doctrine. The class will be a fun time with arts and crafts, videos and other creative methods for teaching the lesson. | | Evangelism - Adult | Evangelism class will equip students to be actively involved in witnessing for the Lord. Students will gain skills and knowledge for witnessing through a variety of methods, including the study of biblical examples, role play, and group field experience in the neighborhood. | Christ in the Family - Adult | Christ in family will address the perils to the Christian marriage and the family in today's society. Students will be actively engaged in discussion and other activities as the topic of submission is explained and demonstrated. | Growing toward Spiritual Maturity - Adult | Growing toward maturity will teach the life long process for becoming a good disciple of Christ. Through role play, discussion, and individual work, the students should get a thorough understanding of the process for necessary discipleship. | | Living as a Teen in the World Today - 13-18 yrs | Living as a teen in the would today will examine music and other impacting factors that influence teen behavior. Through music, drama, discussion and other methods the teens will deal with their responses to the imposing factors. | | Leadership Training - Adult | Leadership training will explore the do's and don'ts of effective leadership, as well as looking at biblical criteria for service. |
Prayer:
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them, cover them, bless them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in
our time of need. Amen.' 
Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
24 Hour Journey in PrayerKeeping Our Lamps Filled in 2008
The Year In PrayerMonth | Prayer |
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January | Pray FOR MORE HUMILITY. Humility is key to living a life that is obedient to Christ.
Theme Scripture: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) | February | Pray for honesty. Honesty is being truthful and transparent with God, ourselves and others. Honesty is key to healthy relationships. Theme Scripture: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) | March | Pray for a repentant Heart. Repentance is submission and humility rolled into one. It requires that we acknowledge our wrong, regret it, and turn away from it. A truly repentant spirit does not commit the same offenses over and over again. Theme Scripture: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
| | Pray for God’s grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9 that God’s grace is sufficient for each of us, for (God’s) power is perfected in (our) weakness. We cannot make it in this life, nor live as victorious Christian women without God’s grace. Theme Scripture: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16) | | Pray for Higher levels of holiness. Since the Holy Spirit indwells the people of God, we are commanded and divinely equipped to live according to God’s will and way. Holiness is a word that indicates sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, IMPURE, or morally imperfect. Theme Scripture: “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you” (I Thess. 4:7, 8) | | Pray for higher levels of obedience. Our goal must be to achieve perfect obedience to the Word of God. We acknowledge at the onset that the imperfect results of even our m ost strenuous efforts, reveals our need for God’s grace in Christ. NOTHING LESS than entire self-surrender to GOD CAN lead us to obedience. Theme Scripture: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
(John 14:15) | | Pray for a clear conscience. When we have consciences that are clear, we have nothing of which to be ashamed. A clear conscience comes when we walk according to the Spirit and not the Flesh. Fleshly responses to life not only lead to a conscience that is not clear, but also, decisions that are later regretted. A clear conscience comes with living lives that are holy and pleasing to God. Theme Scripture: “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” (Acts 24: 16) | August | Pray for forgiveness and the ability to forgive others. Since Christ has vicariously borne all of our sins and since the believer’s standing in Christ is complete, the community of believers are forever forgiven, PERFECTED in Christ. When a believer sins, he is subject to chastisement from the Father, but never to condemnation with the world (1 Cor. 11:31). By confession the Christian is forgiven and restored to fellowship (1 John 1:9). Note also, that The believer is exhorted to be kind and forgiving unto others. The basis of the plea for such forgiveness is that we have been graciously forgiven. Theme Scripture: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) | September | Pray for higher levels of righteousness. Righteous living is based in the purity of our hearts. We know that Christ was the only one who is entirely righteous and at Calvary He took our sin upon himself and endured the punishment we deserve, thus making it possible for us to receive His righteousness. To walk in His righteousness we must submit to His will and His way. Thereby our being and doing are controlled by The Righteous God who is our Redeemer and Sustainer. Theme Scripture: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (11 Cor. 5:21) | October | Pray for a spirit filled life that brings your daily walk into the very presence of God. We should seek to live by the promptings, and power of the Holy Spirit. that is key to overcoming our sinful desires. If we are having difficulty walking in the Spirit, spend more time in daily meditation, prayer and reading the Word. Listen for the Holy Spirit’s direction and follow. Those are God’s tools for drawing us into a deeper relationship with Him. Theme Scripture: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16) | November | Pray for a personal devotional life in which we seek God daily. A Christian’s devotional is key to our spiritual growth and development. A good devotional life is more than having a daily devotional period; rather a good devotional life leads to devoted living. Theme Scripture: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) | December | Pray for greater appreciation of the gift of His Son. The coming of Jesus is the carrying out of the divine program that causes the world to marvel. His rule will bring eternal wholeness and well-being to those who are redeemed by His blood. Theme Scripture: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) |
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"Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour"
Matthew 25:13
Keeping Our Lamps Filled in 2008
Our prayer theme of the month of April is “grace.” Grace is God’s unmerited good will towards us. That means that God continually gives us His favor though we don’t deserve it. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9 that God’s grace is sufficient for each of us, for (God’s) power is perfected in (our) weakness. We cannot make it in this life, nor live as victorious Christians without God’s grace.
During your daily prayers and during the 24 hour prayer time this month, let’s focus on our theme. Please pray According to our Theme Scripture: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
When we only deserved judgment and condemnation, God provided for our salvation. That saving activity is manifested in the gift of God’s Son to die in the place of wretched sinners like you and me. God’s saving grace is seen in the redemptive work of Christ. It is also God’s grace that provides safety and preservation for the saved ones, despite our imperfections. It is God’s grace that perfects Christians forever in the sight of God because of the saved one’s position “in Christ” (our standing forever). It is our position “in Christ” that is key to our ability to live victorious lives in Christ as we grow in closer and deeper relationship with He who died to reconcile us unto Himself.
Those who experienced God’s saving grace and who live according to the gospel of grace, should manifest the fruit of the Spirit in everyday life. Let us strive to reflect the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that show our new position that has come by God’s grace. As people of God, we are in desperate need of God’s grace:
• Read Psalm 86:1-17. Pray that we will be a people (individually & as a body) who are humble enough to ask God for the help that we need. Pray that we would know for certain that God’s grace is available to meet any need that we have.
• Read Ephesians 2:1-9. Pray that we will be a people (individually and as a body) who have hearts of thanksgiving for God’s grace that pardons guilty sinners and reconciles us to Himself. Thank God that when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, without hope and direction, He rescued us from ourselves and the powers of Satan in our lives. Thank Him for doing for us all, what we couldn’t do for ourselves.
• Read Hebrews 4:15-16. Pray that we will be a people (individually & as a body) who will more often exercise God’s provision to talk to God through prayer. Pray that we will understand fully that at the throne of grace we find all that we need to overcome the temptation of sin.
• Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Romans 5:20-21. Pray that we will be a people (individually & as a body) who know and benefit from the fact that God has provided “a way out of no way” for us to escape from the sinful paths that we are on. That includes our lying, gossiping, hypocrisy, unfaithfulness, bad habits, and more. God’s grace protects us as we go through life and gives us what we need to endure. Thank God that where sin was present, His grace was even more present and powerful.
• Read Titus 2:11-12. Pray that we will be a people (individually & as a body) who will be restrained by God’s grace and who will give up ungodly and worldly behaviors and passions. Pray that we would live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives. A people who are living in God’s grace should do the will of the Lord at all times:
• Read 2 Corinthians 9:8. Pray that we will be a people (individually & as a body) who will be more serious about doing the work of God. Be grateful that God entrusted us with the work He has assigned to us and for His provision that equips us to do the work.
• Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 and 1 Peter 5:10: Pray that we will be a people (individually & as a body) who know (and act like we know) that God’s grace allows us to move forward in hope and confidence even when we are enduring the deepest pain. Thank God that He even makes us rejoice and hope in Him when we are suffering. Our weak times are perfect times for the world to see God’s strength at work in us and the all sufficiency of His grace.
• Read 1 Peter 5:5-11. That we will be a people (individually & as a body) who would be humble enough to experience fully the grace of God. Through grace God places us in His hand so we can rest “under God’s mighty hand” as He “lifts” us in due time. Thank God that His mighty hands are under us and over us. We are safe in His provision of grace. • Sit for a moment and think of the many benefits of God’s grace in your life. Think of where He brought you from and the gift of His saving and sanctifying grace. A people who live in God’s grace are able to praise God for His Majesty:
• Read Psalm 150. Those we (individually & as a body) know God’s name trust in him. Praise God for being our Peace, our Power, our Protection, our Provider, our Refuge, our Shepherd, Strong Tower and more. Sing forth with praises and thank God with our whole heart.
Pray all in the Mighty and Matchless Name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN
Our prayer theme of the month of May is “Holiness.” Our Theme Scripture is: “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you” (I Thess. 4:7, 8)
During your daily prayers this month and during the 24 hour prayer time this month, let’s focus on our theme. Please pray According to our Theme Scripture as you ask God for higher levels of holiness. Since the Holy Spirit indwells the people of God, we are commanded and divinely equipped to live according to God’s will and way. Holiness is a word that indicates sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, IMPURE, or morally imperfect. According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, Holy is “The Biblical term having to do with God’s separating from the world that which He chooses to devote to Himself.”
It is our position “in Christ” that is key to our ability to live victorious lives in Christ as we grow in closer and deeper relationship with He who died to reconcile us unto Himself. In that new position, we are set apart to God. When Moses heard God’s call, God told Him to take off his shoes because Moses was standing on Holy Ground. The ground that looked ordinary was now sanctified for God’s purpose and for His use. It was no longer just “dirt,” rather it was now that which God would use to accomplish His plan.
As children of the Most High God, we have been set aside for His use. We are called to live holy lives as God is a Holy God. 1 Peter 1: 13-16 says: (13) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (14) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. (15) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (16) for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Being Holy people of God carries responsibility. God’s chosen people, in separation from the world, are called to conform to God’s revealed Word. Remember: If necessary God will discipline His followers for their own good so they “can share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10)
Holiness means we have a heart like that of Christ:
• Read 1 Peter 1: 13-16. Pray that God would examine your heart, soul, mind, spirit and life and that He would reveal anything that shouldn’t be there. Pray for that God would convict you of those areas where you miss the mark and for the strength to move away from all that does not please Him. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read Psalm 119: 102- 112. Ask God to teach you as an individual and the church as a whole to understand more about His truths and His person.
• Read Ephesians 5: 1-7. Pray that you will walk in love. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ. Pray also that He would help you to see the truth about yourself, your life, and your circumstances. Pray that He would enable you to correct the error of your ways. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read Ephesians 5 8-14. Pray that you would have a heart for the things of God, a mind for the thoughts of God and a desire to go where He sends you to witness for Him. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read Ephesians 6: 10-18. Pray for the spiritual courage and strength to allow God to change you. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
A people who are living holy strive to live separated from sin and consecrated to God for His purposes and His use:
• Read 1Timothy 5:22. Pray that God would keep your heart, communication, thoughts, and activities pure. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read 1 Corinthians 15:34 and 2 Timothy 2:19. Pray that God would awaken you to righteousness and that you would not be as prone to sin. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read Romans 12: 1-9 and Psalm 4: 1-5. Pray that God would transform your thinking and renew your mind. Pray that you would grow to hate evil and cling to good. That means that you would grow to hate gossiping, backbiting, envying, jealousy, bitterness, anger, sexual immorality, addictions, and all that distracts and destroys the people of God. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read 1 Thessalonians 4:23-24 and Philippians 2:13. Pray that you would have a heart that actively cooperates with God. Pray that you would not hamper the work of the Holy Spirit who resides in your heart.
• Read Galatians 5: 16-26 and Philippians 1: 5-8. Ask God to tear down any arrogance, pride, fear, and insecurities. Ask Him also to reveal the ways that you provoke others to sin. Ask for forgiveness for the ways that you have transgressed God’s Holy will, and for the wisdom and strength to walk according the Christly model. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
A people who live in God’s grace are able to praise God for His Majesty:
• Read Psalm 150. Those we (individually & as a body) know God’s name trust in him. Praise God for being our Peace, our Power, our Protection, our Provider, our Refuge, our Shepherd, Strong Tower and more. Sing forth with praises and thank God with our whole heart.
• Read Hebrews 1:9. Praise God for gladness and joy which are the fruit of holiness.
Pray all in the Mighty and Matchless Name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN
June Our prayer theme of the month of June is obedience. Let us join together and pray for higher levels of obedience as individuals and as a body of believers. God loves His children and knows that we cannot fully experience and enjoy His love unless we are obedient to Him.
Our Theme Scripture: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”(John 14:15)
During our daily prayers this month and during the 24 hour prayer time for June, let’s focus on our theme. Please pray according to our theme Scripture as us ask God for higher levels of obedience. Since the Holy Spirit indwells the people of God, we are commanded and divinely equipped to live according to God’s will and way.” Obedience means that we surrender our will to follow God, and to serve Him by serving one another.
Like so many areas in our walk with God, obedience requires a daily, if not moment-by-moment surrender. That means we have to seek God each moment of our lives in order to learn His will and to gain His strength to obey. In our theme Scripture we learn that a demonstration of our love is to obey the Word of God.
Obedience is a positive response to listening to the Word of God:
• Read Philippians 2: 5-11. Pray that God would examine our heart, soul, mind, spirit and life and that He would reveal any patterns of disobedience. Pray that God would convict us of those areas where we miss the mark and for the strength to move away from all that does not please Him. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ.
• Read Luke 11:28. Ask God to teach us as an individuals and the church as a whole to be more diligent in reading and studying the Word of God. It is impossible to obey God if we don’t study His Word. Pray also that we would be more committed to attending midweek Bible study and Sunday services where the Word of God is preached and taught.
• Read 1 Samuel 15:1-15. Pray that we would understand that partial obedience is really not obedience at all. God demands that we not play games with Him, but rather we should do all that He tells us to do. Withholding truth or twisting the truth is still a lie. Let’s pray that we would obey God by being honest and right before Him.
• Read 1 Samuel 15: 22, Pray for the spiritual wisdom and strength to understand that God only honors our sacrifice when it is given with and attitude of obedience and devotion to Him. Pray that we would be obedient in our sacrifices to the Lord.
As we obey God, we show our love for Him.
• Read Philippians 2: 5-11. Pray that we would follow the Christly model for obedience and that we would have Christ’s attitude of obedience and self sacrificing humility as we serve one another. Pray about any specific issue of obedience that God is convicting you of. Pray that each of us would take the difficult step of obedience. Pray about any area where you find it difficult to obey God.
• Read John 14:21, 23-24. Pray that we will prove our love for God by obeying Him and following in the way that He would have us go. Pray the same for the entire body of Christ. Remember that our obedience is a sign of our love. Pray that we would understand that loving Christ results in obedience and obedience results in our experiencing God’s best.
• Read 1 John 2: 3-6. Pray that we would understand that to show our love for God, we must obey His Word. Pray that we would understand that by obeying God, we enter spiritual union with Him.
• Read 1 John 5: 1-5. Pray that we will seek the power of the Holy Spirit as we strive to obey God and that we would understand that our testimony is made real as we show love for God. Pray also that we would always remember that our greatest witness for God is our obedience to Him.
• Read John 14:15. Pray for our June revival – that the Word of God will go forth with power and clarity. Pray for the men of God whom God is sending to preach. Pray that the unsaved would hear and obey the call to salvation and the saved would hear and obey the call to higher levels of service to the Lord.
• Read Mark 10: 14-15. Pray that we would come to Jesus in obedience, humility and faith, just like that of an innocent child. Pray for the city of Philadelphia and that more would come to know Christ and put down the guns to pick up the Bible. Pray that men and women, boys and girls, in Philadelphia would show their love for Christ by obeying the commandment “not to kill.”
A people who live in God’s grace are able to praise God for His Majesty:
• Read Psalm 150. Those we (individually & as a body) know God’s name trust in him. Praise God for being our Peace, our Power, our Protection, our Provider, our Refuge, our Shepherd, Strong Tower and more. Sing forth with praises and thank God with our whole heart.
• Read Hebrews 1:9. Praise God for gladness and joy which are the fruit of holiness.
Pray all in the Mighty and Matchless Name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN
July
Our prayer theme of the month of July is our prayer for a clear conscience. When we have consciences that are clear, we have nothing of which to be ashamed. A clear conscience comes when we walk according to the Spirit & not the Flesh. Fleshly responses to life not only lead to a conscience that is not clear, but also, decisions that are later regretted. A clear conscience comes with living lives that are holy & pleasing to God.
Theme Scripture: “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, & toward men.” Acts 24:16
The apostle Paul understood the need to be right before men and God. As much as was under his control, Paul wanted to be sure that there was no offense standing between him and another person. To have a clear conscience means to have no unconfessed sin between you and God or any other person. Rather Paul desired to be able to stand before everyone he knew and have no one accuse him of doing wrong to them and failing to make it right.
Like Paul, we all can strive to seek forgiveness, and become reconciled in broken relationships. Even when relationships are not able to resume as they once were, we should seek to overcome bitterness, animosity, arguments, and those things that disrupt the body of Christ. Righting relationships means that we seek forgiveness for our part of any offense and forgive those who are seeking the same. When we forgive, it means that we stop striving to retaliate, to fight back or make a person pay for their wrong. We simply leave it in the hands of Christ. Then we can be sure that there is no obstruction in our fellowship with God or anyone else. Remember, we are not responsible for someone else. Only our part is under our control. Again, the rest is left to God.
God’s People Should Pursue a Clear Conscience & Leave no Known sin Unconfessed Before God.
• Read 1 Samuel 12: 1-4: Pray that we would be more careful to avoid sinning against God or others with words, actions or attitudes.
• Read Matthew 25:37-40, 45: Pray that we would be always mindful that we are accountable to God for how we treat one another. Pray that we would always understand that the good & the evil that we do to one another, we do to Christ.
• Read Ephesians 2:12-16: Pray that as people of God, we would understand that we are one in the Spirit of God. Pray that we would reconcile both to God & get rid of our hostility to one another.
• Read Ephesians 4: 1-6: Pray that we would understand that Christ has brought us into a new relationship with each other in the church. Pray that we as the body of Christ would display the wisdom & love of God in our relations with one another.
Be Humble Enough to Pursue a Clear Conscience
• Read Matthew 5: 23-24: Pray that we would take personal responsibility for our own actions & do whatever is needed to obtain a clear conscience.
• Read Acts 24:16: Pray that we would serve God with a clear conscience.
• Read 1 Corinthians 10: 23-33: Pray that we would know that we are here to serve others in the church. Pray that we would not be so focused on getting our own needs met that we offend a brother or sister along the way.
• Read Philippians 1:10: Pray that our morals & ethics are sincere & blameless. Play that we are without any mixture of evil & that we do not fall into moral failure.
Christians should be filled with righteousness:
• Read Luke 15:11-18: Pray that we will confess & ask forgiveness from God & others whom we have offended. (Tip: If the other person was also at fault, leave it to the Holy Spirit to convict him or her. God is asking you to clear your conscience, not theirs.)
• Read Genesis 50: 18-21: Pray that we would see God’s perspective & understand that what others intend for evil, God will use it for good. Pray that we would trust the sovereignty of God & not that He is bringing about His will – regardless of what we see. • Read Romans 8:28: Pray that we would trust God & understand that we don’t have to take things into our own hands. God is working it out for his glory & the good of His people.
• Read Proverbs 3: 5-7: Pray that as a church we would follow God in all that we do. Pray that we would trust & follow Him as He calls us to study the Bible & Pray. Pray that the prayer & study life of each member of SHBC would grow significantly during the month of July & continue throughout the coming years. Prayer is the benefit of those who are reconciled to God.
• Read 1 Chronicles 16: 8-22: Pray that we would stop gossiping, back-biting, & offending one another in other ways. Let us encourage one another whenever we have the opportunity.
A people who are honest are able to praise God for His Majesty:
• Read Psalm 118: 23-26: Praise God for being the creator of life & this day.
•Read Lamentations: 22-23: Praise God for His faithfulness.
•Read Psalm 138: 1-26: Praise God for His loving-kindness endures forever. Praise God for being our Peace, our Power, our Protection, our Provider, our Refuge, our Shepherd, Strong Tower & more. Sing forth with praises & thank God with our whole heart.
Pray in the Mighty & Matchless Name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN
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