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“”Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, and lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.

There the Lord will display His glory, and the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”

And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind, and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will song for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and the springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals one lived.

An a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.

Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.”” (Isaiah 35, NLT)

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“After all, who is Apollos” Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important to who does the planting, or who does the watering. What is important is that God make the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.” (I Corinthians 3: 5-9, NLT)

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“Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow His commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps yet the Lord will protect you – protect you from His anger on that day of destruction.” (Chapter 2, v 3, NLT)

“For the Lord their God will visit His people in kindness and restore their prosperity again.” (Chapter 2, v. 7B, NLT)

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Chapter 3, v. 17, NLT)

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“”Then Jesus shouted out again, and released His spirit. At that moment, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs were opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

The Roman officer and other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!””

Matthew 27: 50-54, NLT)

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Excerpts from Habakkuk’s Prayer

“This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:

I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by Your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as You did in years gone by. And in Your anger, remember Your mercy.

I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, The Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens and the earth is filled with His praise. His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from His hands, where His awesome power is hidden.” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

“…yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, and able to tread upon the heights.” (vv 18-19, NLT)

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Made Alive by Christ

“One you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness towards us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by His grace, when you believed. And you can’t take the credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planed for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:1-10, NLT)

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Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grown down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth that you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” (Colossians 2: 6- 10, NLT)

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Paul’s Work for the Church

“I am glad when I suffer for You in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for His body, the church. God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming His entire message to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory.

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” (Colossians 1:24-29, NLT)

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“Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and that I was torn up inside. I was so foolish and arrogant- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You.

Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth.

My health my fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.” (Psalm 73: vv. 21-28, NLT)

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Living Stones for God’s House

“”You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor.

An you are living stones that God’s is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the meditation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem*(Isaiah 28:16), chosen for great honor, and anyone who trust in Him will never be disgraced.”

Yes, you who trust in Him recognize the honor God has given Him. But for those who reject Him, “The stone that the builder rejected has now become the cornerstone. “

And, “He is the stone that make people stumble, the rock that makes them fall*(Ps 118:22)”.

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, so they meet the faith that was planned for them.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation. God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He call you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

“Once you had not identity as a people; but you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy: now your have relieved God’s mercy.* (Hosea 1:6,9, 2:23)””(1 Peter 2, vv. 4-10, NLT)