The War Of Faith
It is becoming apparent for everyone to see just how fragile the hopes of this world are. It only took a microscopic organism to expose that the hopes of this world don’t deserve our trust.
Mary and I learned this lesson twenty-three years ago when diagnosed with ALS. My health was taken from me, and I lost my career. We sold our home and the family van. Every aspect of our lives, every worldly hope we had, was shaken and crumbled because the motor neuron cells in my brain were dying off.
Hopefully, not to the same extent, but many of you are feeling what we went through so many years ago. Can you see what’s happening?
(God is removing and exposing) “…things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” (Hebrews 12:27-28).
Putting hope in God through Christ is the only Unshakable Hope that exists. If you don’t know this hope, I pray that you’ll become a follower of Christ today. In the midst of this chaos, God is shouting to you. He’s telling you that He loves you and that He gave His only begotten son so that, regardless of what’s happening in the world, you can find joy, peace, and hope in this life, and for the next.
“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” – C.S. Lewis
Of course, followers of Christ should be sharing the Good News and helping the needy all the time, but especially at times like this when so many need real hope and even simple necessities like toilet paper.
Back in the Chicago area, my good friend Dave retired in early February. Dave has a boat and is hoping to find time to fish. He also has two grandsons and is hoping to spend more time with them. All of that will have to wait because the primary reason he retired is to have more time to share the Good News and to help others. He doesn’t just want to help his elderly parents and sick neighbors, but also people he doesn’t know. As I am typing this, Dave is trying to hunt down some toilet paper for a food pantry.
In some twisted plot to take over the world, an evil villain has cornered the toilet paper market. Right now, he’s standing in a giant warehouse of toilet paper laughing. I watched a lot of James Bond movies growing up. The truth is, a lot of good people stocked up on toilet paper and other essentials out of a concern for their loved ones. If you’re one of these people and you can spare some toilet paper and other staples, please consider donating some of your stockpile to the organizations helping the needy. It’s bad enough to be stuck at home, but being stuck at home without TP is cruel and inhuman punishment.
Even though he makes sure, they have everything they need, Dave’s eighty-something-year-old parents don’t like being told not to leave their home. This war on Covid-19 brings up horrible childhood memories for his mom. His parents are Serbian and immigrated to America in 1959. His mom is from Belgrade. When the Nazis invaded in 1941, they took her dad to a concentration camp and confined her mother and the kids to their home. His mom was just three years old. The Nazis placed antiaircraft guns in the neighbor’s yard, and the family spent many nights huddled in the basement during air raids. I understand why being told to stay in their home because an unseen enemy is lurking outside is frightening to them.
“Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” – C.S. Lewis
![](https://unshakablehope.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/war-picture-.jpg?w=604)
If you committed to follow Christ, you are a soldier fighting a very real war. Jesus is our Commanding Officer and, according to the 6th chapter of Ephesians, the Bible is our sword. It’s a spiritual war, and our actions, or inaction, will not only be seen in this life but throughout eternity. In this war, some of our most valiant soldiers are little old ladies going to battle in their prayer closets, their “war rooms.” In this war, even a completely paralyzed man without the ability to speak can fight. I refuse to retreat when the battle is heating up.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” (2 Corinthians 10:-4).
We are fighting for a far better “country,” regardless of where on Earth we live. This current world is not our home, and we fight in the hopes of getting others to join us in the battle – this unseen battle.
(They/we) “…confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland…they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:3-16).
What follows is one of my favorite passages from C.S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity:
“Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven, and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at Earth and you will get neither.” – C.S. Lewis
Update: my friend Dave got almost two thousand rolls of toilet paper donated to the food pantry. He’s moved on to finding unscented bars of soap. Good job, Soldier!
Mary and I read all of your comments. Other readers read them, too. If you have a prayer need, please mention it in the comment section so Mary and I can pray for you.
Thanks for reading.
Bill
Posted on April 3, 2020, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 171 Comments.
So well said Bill!
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Thank you.
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Keep up the good work Bill. You are doing a great work here and God will reward you. From https://dailycrosswalk.com
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Thank you for your encouragement.
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Talking about faith, blind faith is bad. Imposing others on the issue of faith is as bad as well.
Faith is something personal and requires understanding and some sprinkle of trust as well.
And there is nothing wrong for someone to admit that they do not know everything to have faith but they should have faith based on certain but reasonable assumptions
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Thank you for your comments. I don’t think it’s possible to “impose” faith on others. As you said, faith is personal (We believe it in our soul/spirit). Because we believe that Jesus is the only way (to God) and making a commitment to follow Christ gives us eternal life and better citizens, we feel compelled to tell others. Jesus commanded us to tell others.
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Happy Wednesday Bill!
BACK STORY:
I recently posted on finding joy and happiness in the midst of trauma, and if my readers thought that was possible. I also include a video of my own personal memories of trauma and overcoming beginning at the age of 5 when I witnessed my Dad’s law office on fire.
MY THESIS:
I BELIEVE HAPPINESS AND JOY IS THE FUEL THAT LIGHTS OUR WAY IN THE DARKNESS.
THIS WHERE YOU COME IN:
One of my blog community members – Mitch Teemley – share a link to your blog and shared how you were living proof of my theory!
THIS MORNING:
I read your story of courage, hope, happiness, and faith. Which I promptly shared with husband John during our coffee talk this morning.
Now you have come to inspire us too!
(My grandfather’s name is Bill. He lived to 100.)
Thank you for being the light for all of us.
Your New Friend,
Andrea
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Thank you for your encouraging comments, Dr. Andrea. It sounds like you have good genes. You better plan for a long retirement 🙂
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Amen Bill! That’s what my CPA Accountant husband always says! SAVE UP ANDREA. It’s going to be a long glorious ride. And may my prayers for your health reach you as you read this note. One more light shining on you, from Canada to your hometown. Have a beautiful night 🙏💡💙
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Great move marrying a CPA. Thanks so much for your prayers.
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I was lead to your post again to release a blessing and say, the Lord be with you, the Lord make His face shine upon you, May the Lord of Angel Armies be on your side.
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Amen! Thank you, Sophia.
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Please remember to be alert to God’s answer and to testify to His glory
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Awesome post. God is so good. We will continue to share the Good Word and sing His praise through the storms of life. “Be still and know that I am God”
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Amen! Thank you, Katie.
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Appreciate your post! So True, hope in God through his son Jesus is the only real hope we have. That’s the only true comfort we can rely on. And yes we need to share the good news of God’s kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray for at Matthew 6:9,10. Under his kingdom there will be no more death, suffering, sickness or pain, Revelation 21:3,4.
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Amen! Thank you, Michelle.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SEE–GOD’S WORD DOES….APPLY TO REAL LIFE!!!! 😀
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Thank you for the reblog, Jonathan.
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You are welcome!!
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MAY I SHARE YOUR POSTS WITH OTHERS–VIA REBLOG—PLEASE—TO GOD’S GLORY?
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I’d be honored, Jonathan. Thank you.
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THANK YOU!
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Dear Bill – I have shared this exquisite essay to my Facebook page and also emailed it out to several who are resisting the imperative to be on Facebook. In my sharing, I noted that you have ALS and type every word letter by letter on a computer guided by your eyes. I recall the years when mouth-painting by paralyzed people astounded the world and spoke glory to God. Surely, Bill, you and your adoring wife have joined that company of Overcomers.
(If you’re not familiar with Tony Evans’ CD study guide and series entitled “The Jesus Challenge,” I encourage you to investigate on TonyEvans.org and recommend it to others who are so impressed by you. In that series, Tony focuses upon the Risen Christ and His words to those who overcome given to the 7 churches in Revelation. As a woman routinely incapacitated by bipolar episodes of mania and depression, this study meant a great deal to me.)
I have drawn great encouragement and spiritual nourishment from your labors over the years I’ve been following this blog. I had once hoped to have a writing ministry myself but that has not yet materialized. However, I’m 64 years old and there is room for our Life-Giving King to use that longstanding aspiration.
Thank you.
And Thank you for saying that you are able to read all our comments. Jesus blesses me through your careful and prayerful attention.
In Christ,
Sande Rajcic
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Sande,
Thank you so much for your comments. Wow. Thank you also for sharing this post.
Mary and I love Tony Evans. We were sorry to hear about the passing of his wife. But he is pressing on. Thanks for the recommendation of his series.
You are only 64, don’t give up on your writing ministry. You are an overcomer!
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well expressed note Sande.
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Every day with the King shared your blog post and I’m so glad she did! How very precious! Thank you this was just what was needed
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Thank you, Nina. I’m so glad something I wrote helped you.
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you are so right Nina.
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Absolutely yes Nina.
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Excellent and thought provoking post, Bill. Thanks and God bless you and Mary. 😊
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Thank you, Dee.
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I agree.
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Happy Easter, my friend! ❤
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Happy Easter, Anna!
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Aim at Heaven, and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at Earth and you will get neither.” – C.S. Lewis. The whole paragraph was so full of truth it made my heart leap with joy. When we went to our first third world country with Ethnos360 mission formally, New Tribes Mission I knew exactly why I was going. People would try to lift me up as if I was something special, a missionary, leaving it all, sacrificing for the sake of the gospel. I tried to bust their bubble right away but telling them truth….there is no other reason I would leave a good country, good family, good friend, good church, a nice home, all the America offers, freedom except for a lost soul. How could I not be willing since He left heaven for me. The sweetness of the gospel is something you want to give others, some do it next door, next town, on the job, some go across the seas, but there is nothing like following God’s heart which is for the lost where ever He has planted you. This is a great post.
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Amen, Betty. Happy Resurrection Day!
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The Problem of Pain was the first book I read as a new believer. Lewis became my virtual mentor and, because of my ongoing issues with anxiety, that first quote above was one of the first I could apply to the “why” of my emotional pain. See you on the healing side, my friend. In the meantime, He is risen!
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He is risen indeed, Mitch!
I have learned the hard way that emotional and physical pain is God’s megaphone. Pain is humbling and it’s when we’re humbled, we hear that still small voice.
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I pray that you will experience Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals each time you feel pain and then when victory comes you will raise a banner to Jehovah Nissi
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Amen! Thank you, my friend.
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I always appreciate your writing!
Too good not to share.
May we all keep our aim in focus.
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Thank you, Helen.
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I am enjoying the pleasure of sharing your post on my blog today 🙂
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Thank you so much.
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Thank you for these words! This truly is a war, but it sure is worth fighting. Hope you and you have a wonderful weekend!
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Thank you, Mary. I agree, it’s a fight worth fighting. Have a good weekend.
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Thank you for sharing this. I am humbled in that I have not been sharing as often as I should about the Grace God has shown me as a follower of Jesus. This is a difficult time for most. I am praying particularly for my friends, my son’s family and others I know with health problems that covid could harm.
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Thank you, Eric. I am hoping and praying that this pandemic leads Christ’s followers to share the Good News. Like you, I am praying for people in poor health.
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Hi Bill,
Thanks for fighting the good fight on lots of level, brother. Pray for our extended families openness to the Gospel even behind closed doors.
Have a great week.
Gary
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Thank you, Gary. I am praying that closed doors will result in open hearts.
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Absolutely true in every respect. I also appreciate your humor about toilet paper. Of all things, right? God is doing an amazing work of getting our attention so we can open our eyes to see his hope for us in Jesus Christ. As those who already believe, we are called to press in, search our hearts, repent of anything that has subtly captured our attention away from our God, and share the hope we have. For those who don’t yet know him, I pray daily for his love and kindness to surround them and open their eyes so that they too can know Jesus and hope for their future. Praying for you too, Bill as a high risk person. May God’s hand be upon you, Mary and Mary’s mother as you hunker down and spread the good news from a place of hibernation (growing, resting and preparing) rather than isolation. 😉
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Laura, we are on the same page and we’re believing for the same result out of this pandemic. Good can, and will come out of this. Thank you for your prayers.
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Thank you. This FHA’s been a hard week. Personal work failures have shaken what confidence I used to have. I am stuck with no way forward. I need God I’m a big way. Thanks for praying. You are in my prayers too.
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I’m sorry you’re going through a difficult time. When it looks like there is no way out, God will make a way. I am praying for you even as I type this. Read Psalm 51 and pray verse 12 –
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
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Thank you. I am so grateful for prayer.
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Our obedience to Him is our priority!
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Amen!
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Amen! Truly we are in a serious battle spiritually! This truly encouraged and blessed my heart and to remain focus on that which is above and not on the earth. So happy Dave got through with the toilet paper! Great is our GOD! Blessings! 🙂
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Thank you, Tammy. TP is a blessing, too 🙂
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Most welcome, 🙂 yes indeed!
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This lifted my soul and spirits. Thank you both for all your inspiration on a daily basis to each of us. Blessings and hope to everyone! ~Cordelia
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Thank you, Cordelia.
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Peace be with you and your family.
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Thank you, Doug.
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Than you Bill & Mary. God bless you.
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Thank you, Mary.
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Wonderful post and comforting quotes, Bill. My prayer is that hospitals in the world don’t run out of the supplies they need. May the Lord multiply the masks etc. like He did the bread and fish before giving them to the disciples to serve to the crowds.
Blessings to you & Mary ~ Wendy Mac
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Thank you, Wendy. Great prayer request. Let’s go a step further and pray that the hospitals run out of patients.
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Amen, Bill. 🙂
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Pray that my faith grows! I want to please God and love Him more deeply while I’m here! I absolutely love you and Mary! Your post always build me up! I’m so grateful for your friendship! ♥️
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Thank you, Theresa. We’re thankful for Don and you. We are praying for you.
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A good word from one who has been on the front lines for a long time! Thanks, Bill.
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Thank you, Allan. I hope you’re well.
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Yes Bill! No retreat!! I’m on your team my brother!
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Thank you, Ron.
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I particularly appreciated the C.S. Lewis quotations in your post. My husband and I are in a more fortunate position than most. Please pray for the homeless.
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Thank you, Liz. I have learned a lot over the years from C.S. Lewis. The homeless need our prayers and our help.
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Thank you. Your faith has blessed me through the years. My mom only live 3 1/2 years with ALS. Thank you for the blog and long faith walk.
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Thank you, Melissa. 3 1/2 years with ALS is the average. Your poor mom. I’m sorry. Like you, we hate ALS!
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It is so obvious, when reading your blog, that in spite of your limitations, you have a wonderful mature faith! And I know that it can only be so because of the way God, the Holy Spirit, has worked in your life. Therefore, reading your words gives me so much encouragement! You are God’s workmanship, created to do good works prepared ahead of time for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Thank you so much for sharing God’s wisdom, causing hope to overflow in my heart.
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Thank you for your encouraging message. “Mature faith?” Not me. It seems that every time I think that I’m maturing, something happens to remind me I’m an infant 🙂
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Up until recently this has been not so hard to deal with. My husband and I are 82 and 79
respectively. We both have some memories of WW2 rationing (although we were quite young) so we know what it is to have to do with what you have and what you can do. Then this week things changed. He came down with an infection (some form of UTI) and was delusional, antagonistic, and from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde. H couldn’t manage his medicine especially insulin and fought me about helping. We managed to get him to a local doc and on meds and he is recovering slowly. This was the kink in my armor. I will gain mental strength with God’s helps but It made me realize how vulnerable we. This is nothing compared to your journey and God has been with me every moment but prayers would be wonderful for Suzanne and Hap. You and yours are also in my daily prayers.
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I’m sorry, Suzanne. Life is hard for couples like you. You really need outside help. We are vulnerable, too, so I know how you feel. Thank you for your prayers. We’ll add you and Hap to our prayer list.
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Thank you so much and God bless you!
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LOL, I am one of those little old ladies in their “war rooms.” Lately I am spending more and more time in my war room. I have finally stuck the world map and other relevant things on the walls and removed all irrelevant clutter.
One of the ministries I have been praying for daily is the “JESUS” Film Project, which takes the gospel in movie form to nations around the world, especially in areas with a great deal of illiteracy. It is the most translated movie of all time – they are approaching 1,000 languages! When they go into a village, set up a screen, and show the film, often at the end the whole village responds to the altar call!
I have been praying for God’s direction for them, as travel for their teams has obviously been greatly hindered by all this, and yet God may be reaching even more people through them now. I just got word that He has opened the door for the “JESUS” film to be shown EASTER SUNDAY in Turkey, on six different secular TV stations! Think of how many souls, homebound and bored, and missing whatever Easter celebrations they’re used to, will be tuning in! God is not hindered at all by our crises. 😉
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Thank you, Ann. You are a lady and a prayer warrior, but you don’t yet qualify as “old” 🙂 The Jesus Film is an amazing ministry. That’s great news about Turkey. One of my daughter’s friends is a missionary in Turkey.
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Awesome! Well, I hope (s)he is ready for an influx of people! 😉
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UPDATE:
WOW. Last night I heard there are now 72 countries that will be airing “JESUS” on Easter! They include India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Columbia … and some “undisclosed, restricted countries” that they aren’t naming for security reasons … !!! I guess we have plenty to pray about in the next six days.
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Awesome!
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Amen Bill!! Let’s fight the good fight of faith.
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Thank you, Meghan.
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Dear Bill and Mary, I have thought of you and your family since this battle has been going on (before then praying for you every day and now). I was wondering what your thoughts might be. Here, they are more than I could have imagined. It is these times the Lord brings His best work through us, while He is doing His. We need such times as this for Him to prove His presence and power with us. The world will never be the same. Praise Him for calling us to the battle with Him. Love and blessings to you all.
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Thank you, Fran. I hope you and Jerry are well. Mary is protecting her mom and me like a bouncer at a nightclub 🙂 she won’t even let my hospice nurse in to see me, “she’s been in nursing homes. around people with Covid-19.” I agree with you, the world will never be the same.
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Mary is able with the Lord’s wisdom and strength to take of you during this time. What a blessing you are to each other and to us.
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Thank you for all the work you put into this wonderful blog, Bill. I feel greatly blessed and inspired, every time I read another one of your posts.
I am asking for prayers for my granddaughter Samantha and her husband, Yahya. They live in Syracuse, New York. Thank you! ❤❤
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Thank you, Linda. I feel horrible for New York, this has been so bad up there. We’ll be praying.
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You are — as always — an inspiration, Bill. It is an honor to serve along w/ you in the army of Christ. May God keep you, Mary, and the family safe during this difficult time.
With love,
Anna ❤
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Thank you, Anna. Stay safe up there, you are living in the epicenter.
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Bill, I always look forward to (and read, of course) your posts, whether I have anything relevant to reply or not. G.C. Bevington was a U.S. evangelist during the deadly “Spanish” flu epidemic of 1918. More Americans died from this outbreak than during the entire Civil War, although the population was much smaller than today. This humble man of God, after being baptized in the Holy Spirit (or “sanctified”, according to the locution of his day) took the fight straight to the devil, seeing many lost people saved (including a host of “meeting house” Christians), miracles performed, and God’s protection upon his own health and safety, even though he was exposed to many flu cases and other diseases, When God spoke the faith to him that He wanted to heal or save someone who had asked for prayer, he would battle on his face in prayer for hours or even days at a time until the answer came, sometimes in simple and sometimes in spectacular ways. He was like the Apostle Paul of the 20th century, during a time when our grandparents or great grandparents were still living! God is the same today, and now, more than ever, He is looking for people who are completely surrendered to Him. God meant for this to be the “norm”, not a cycle of “institutionalized powerlessness” which describes so much of the church today. Bevington’s bio is a great faith-builder for anyone struggling or shut in right now. Available in paperback or free .PDF online: http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Bevington%2C%20G.%20C.
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Thank you, Bryan. The Spanish flu pandemic was horrible. I just found the audio version of the book on YouTube.
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A beautifully-written post, Bill. It is so encouraging to hear from one who has such a serious health problem and yet can keep faith in the Lord and look on the positive side. Many people could learn from this when they are overcome with fears and negative thoughts as they realize their problems are not half so bad as they think. You have an amazing testimony to share with the world. I had an uncle who died in 1952 with ALS. I was just a child and it was many years later before I found out what he suffered from. May God richly bless you as you continue to speak for Him with your writing.
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Thank you, Diane. Through it all, I’ve become convinced that God’s grace increases to the level of our trial if we turn to Him. He is good!
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Reblogged this on For Such A Time As This.
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Thank you so much for the reblog, Nina.
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Thank you for this encouraging message and to persist in prayer.
May this time turn many to Christ.
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Amen! Thank you.
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Reblogged this on Meeting Jesus and commented:
Speaking about heroes today and in my next 2 scheduled post. I ran across this blog. To me, their heroes of the faith. Won’t you keep them in your prayers.
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Thank you so much! I like how you change the header image to fit every post.
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I like for things to match. 😊can’t tell it by my clothes but in writing I hope it makes a difference. And you’re quite welcome.
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(God is removing and exposing) “…things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” (Hebrews 12:27-28). That scripture had not come to mind concerning the trial or battle that currently dominates this world…for a time. It certainly resonates truth to the situation. Thanks for sharing. May God bless you and your wife with strength and wholeness, grace and peace.
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I do think that God allows these things to strip away our false hopes. He alone is our hope.
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Bill, I value your thoughts ….when some question why ‘God’ is doing this or try to understand His possible reasons; My thoughts are such as God is not doing this… but He will use it for His greater purpose…. I would appreciate your thoughts … Diane
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I agree with you, Diane. God isn’t “doing this.” I hope you’re doing well.
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Good job soldiers!
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Thanks, Phil.
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Bill, I’m printing this out and snail mailing it to my m-in-law who is 91 and in seattle. An episcopalian who picks and chooses what she believes from the Bible. And her husband, Mike’s dad, was an Episc priest and later Bishop. The other family member to whom I’m mailing this is Mike’s brother who is retiring in June at age 60 and is a nominal catholic. I pray every day that God would be merciful and open his eyes and heart and mike’s mom….thank you for your labor.
Your loving sister in christ who prays for you EVERY day and your wife who is your care-taker…How is your mom? amd your girls and your grandchild? And your money situation?
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Thank you, Maria – especially for your prayers. We will be praying for them. Having never read the Bible until I was 21, I didn’t know enough to pick and choose what to believe so I just believed it all 🙂
It’s Mary’s mom who lives with us. She’ll be 88 this year and she’s still a big help around the house. She just text Mary and said she read my blog post on her tablet 🙂 Everyone is doing well and Mary hasn’t worked since being laid-off November of 2018, but, like the loaves and fish, God has been taking care of us.
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I love God stories of provision. You are blessed with good and godly and hard-working women in your life! Thank you for your prayers
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Hi Bill and Mary, what with my wife and I being somewhat confined in our day to day movement, as we currently are, due to this virus, it quite often seems to make me be even more mindful of you and Mary, when I say my morning prayers. The things that we too often take for granted, until they become diminished, or are taken away from us, take on a greater appreciation. That’s my clumsy way of saying that I can’t help but be reminded of what a witness to Christ’s love and His faithfulness, the two of you truly are. And once again, here you are, encouraging us, as you so frequently do. I’m hoping that when we’re all sitting down at the marriage supper of the Lamb, that from my vantage point, I’ll be able to see the two of you, who will be a tad close than I, to the head table. I sincerely thank the two of you for your witness and encouragement. May God’s grace, love and peace shine continuously of you and yours. – Bruce
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Thank you so much for your comments and especially for your prayers. We feel them! You are another great encourager. I hope you and Peggy are getting out and enjoying the weather. Not being able to eat, I’m looking forward to that supper 🙂
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Thanks for sharing this powerful perspective Bill.My daily prayer each morning “Lord, let my words and my life shine a light on someones shadow of fear today” Someday those stories will be told…here or home.
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Thank you, Gary. I like your daily prayer. I’m looking forward to meeting you and hearing those stories.
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The battle we are fighting is one of the toughest ones yet. I am thankful God is with us and will continue to be with us. Praying for you and your family.
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Thank you for your prayers, Melissa. It is a tough fight. We have to believe that even this will turn out for good, eternally speaking, at least.
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I commented earlier, but fail to mention that I will be reblogging this. I have multiple chronic conditions. I can identify with this piece wholeheartedly. Thanks again.
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Mary and I will be praying for you. I hope you don’t mind, but I was encouraged by your “about me” and I think others will, too, so I wanted to include it in my reply to your comment:
“I’m a retiree and a nineteen-plus year survivor of cancer (Multiple Myeloma). I’ve come from some of the most humble beginnings anyone could experience. I now find myself old and blessed in ways for which I can only thank God!
I now find myself at a point in life where I think I know what life is about, and wondering why I couldn’t have figured this out years ago. God, family and friends are the real things of value.”
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Hi Bill and Mary, Thank you for the wonderful post. I will be sure to pass it along. Love you
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Thanks, sister. Love you.
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Reblogged this on oldblessedwordpresscom.
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Thanks so much for the reblog!
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This certainly puts things in proper perspective for the time in which were are living. Thanks for the read.
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Thank you for reading and for your comments.
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So convicting – yet so uplifting and hopeful. Thank you.
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Thank you, Terri. Mary and I are praying for you. I hope you are well.
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Wonderful post.
I find the quote: ‘Aim at Heaven, and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at Earth and you will get neither.’ by C.S. Lewis particularly encouraging and may use it in my next post 😊
I think what also encourages is the thought that CS Lewis was an atheist who published a book on atheism but later became one of Christianity’s greatest writers. This gives me hope for my atheist family members and friends.
I have thought about you both as we have entered physical distancing in Australia. We are now heading into Autumn (your favourite season I think?)
Even though you have been home bound for so long I am encouraged in thinking of how regardless of your challenges you and Mary continue to impact the world from home – so as an able bodied person I have no reason not to also find my sphere of influence in these days and be a light.
As we enter Easter and the time of Pass Over I with 1000’s of others pray that this virus will pass over, and supernaturally be extinguished (much like the extensive fires in australia were supernaturally extinguished with rain, although no rain was forecast).
With God nothing is impossible.
Continue to write Bill (and Mary a virtual hug for you).
Beth xxx
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Thank you, Beth.
Yes, I love autumn, especially here in Texas because it means that cooler weather is on the way. I’ll be praying that this horrible virus will be extinguished like the wildfires in Australia – maybe on Good Friday – “It is finished!” More than that I hope and pray for many to come to Christ through this horrible time.
Thanks for your prayers.
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Thank you once again Bill for your insight on all this mess. I truly think this was a big wakeup call for everyone and I hope the opportunity is not squandered. I sit here and think once again that none of the stuff we think matters, matters at all, AT ALL. It is faith that I can get through each day without going mad. I know He has a plan and I pray for those fallen to this illness and for those who don’t believe to open their eyes and hearts. Like my preacher said this past Sunday, when this is all over, he hopes the parking lot is overflowing with cars and the pews are packed and that there is standing room only in the church. What a great revival it will be. I pray that happens to all churches. I continue to pray for you and Mary and as I have told her many times, you both are such an inspiration to me. Thank you.
Love and hugs to both.
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This is my hope and prayer, too. It would be great if this resulted in another Great Awakening, but… It will only happen if the Christians participate in sharing the Good News. Thank you for your prayers.
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Thank you for being God’s soldier in sharing his truths and love. I did have to chuckle on the image of an evil villain with a warehouse of toilet paper. Someday someone may make a cartoon about that. My prayers go to you and your family in hopes you stay safe. May God bless you and your words.
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Thank you very much for your prayers, Anita. I can see the evil villain in my mind 🙂
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Hi Bill, I agree that putting hope in God through Christ is the only Unshakable Hope that exists. May this crisis bring people to Christ our hope and salvation.
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Amen! This is my hope and prayer.
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Dear Bill, your words are alive; they jump and they dance with joy. It is hard to believe that your legs cannot do tango. Your spirit is very alive. You truly communicate well with all of us who read your posts. Your words are like wine squeezed from ripe purple grapes. I pray for you and for your ministry. You have the heart of a pastor. God bless you and Mary (your wife?)… the two of you shine like the stars in the night. Be strong! Be joyful! In Jesus’ name!
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Thank you, Dr. Silvia, especially for your prayers. Even at my healthiest, I couldn’t dance 🙂 Mary and I will be praying for your ministry. Good job!
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I did not know you then… But I can read your words now, to me… you are now at the healthiest, with dancing butterflies in your spirit… too deep for any virus to stop the music… I admire you, Brother Bill!
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Amen, Bill. Timely, insightful, and important post. God’s richest blessings upon you!
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Thank you, David. I am still praying! (You know what).
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Wow Bill, so full of timely truths! “We are fighting for a far better “country,”” If only the church could focus on the coming King and the certainty of His Kingdom we would stand stronger for Christ. Israeli Christians said, “We believers in the Middle East are longing for God’s Kingdom. Western Christians just want to be forgiven and have a better life here.”
I so want my focus upon eternity.
Great post my brother, so glad you’re still with us in the fight! 😷
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Thank you, Lisa. There is a big difference between Christianity in the East and the West. The so-called “prosperity gospel” is just silly to them. If we are truly living for eternity, why would we storing up treasures on earth? My friend Dave worked hard since we were in high school and now he wants to spend the rest of his life storing up eternal treasures.
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Thank you so much. Could you please pray for my sister-in-law, Kathryn? She says she’s a Christian. She taught Bible Study fellowship for 3-4 years. Yet she is so caught up in the virus turmoil she’s neurotic! They live in a Houston, a huge place which adds fuel. She is dear to me but won’t listen. My brother has no influence, either. So I pray.
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Thank you. We’ll be praying for Kathryn. There is a lot of fear spreading. It is one thing to keep up with the news like we do, but we have to filter it through the Good news. Jesus told us that these times were coming.
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There’s one thing to avoid in the midst of this temporary crisis, that is fear. If you are a child of the King, your hope lies in Him, not in this world.
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Amen! Thank you.
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Amen! Honestly, I have been praying this will last longer than what we think. I know that sounds weird, and I don’t want to see illness and death, but God help us all to wake up to truth! I know He’s revealing so much to me and our family in this time. It’s tough, but God is good and He is doing something marvelous, beyond what we can see in this time. Thanks for your wise words, once again.
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Thank you, Amber. Having been through so many difficult times, our hearts ache for these people. Like you, we hope this crisis results in bringing many to Christ and draws Christians closer to Him.
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Amen Bill! God bless you and your family! Praying for you all!
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Thank you, Ryan. We’ll be praying for you. I hope you’re doing well.
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This could be one of the most powerful and convicting posts ever written by anyone.
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Thank you so much, Robert.
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Bill, this post blew me away. THANK YOU for every word! I will be reading all these comments, too … and will be praying! Sending a big ole (cyber) hug 🙂
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Thank you, Heidi. Thanks also for joining us in praying for people. My daughter Lauren and her husband James have three friends with sons, little boys, who have cancer. Their names are Abram, Burson, and Jacob. Please pray for them.
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On it!!!🙏
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I cannot imagine living in these times without faith in God and hope of heaven. I’m praying that the fear and worry many are experiencing right now would turn people toward Jesus–the only anchor for our souls that can hold us firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19). Thank you for fighting the battle in your war room, Bill and Mary!
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I know! I imagine those who don’t know Christ think like I used to think, “that stuff is for weak people.” “I’m strong!” is the ultimate deception. Compared to nature and the spiritual war going on around us, the strongest of men is as helpless as I am without Mary 🙂
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Thank you again for this message of hope.
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Thank you, Tom.
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I’m so grateful for your persistence in fighting the good fight, in encouraging us in the battle, and in reminding us that this isn’t home. We fight for a home that is not yet seen, a place that is all we could hope for, with a God who is everything we could ever need or want. I love the sweet spirit of your friend Dave, a man willing to give of himself for the cause of Christ. We don’t fight against flesh and blood for sure; our enemy is committed to seeing us destroyed, killed, have everything of heavenly value stolen from us. Thank you for your commitment to encourage us to stay the course. You are a gift to us all, you and Mary both.
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Thank you, Dayle. Keep up the good fight. These are difficult times. We need every soldier in the battle.
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Thank you, Bill! Love your perspective and your C.S. Lewis quotes. I know that blog took a lot of work, and I appreciate your taking the time to do this. It really helps us all to remember to “aim for Heaven”. Praying for you and Mary all the time and am so thankful for your friendship.
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Thank you, Debbie, for your friendship and for your prayers.
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