tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24513441097770217712024-03-13T12:58:22.411-07:00God things...danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-10060719532425410292013-04-01T07:01:00.002-07:002013-04-14T11:40:38.393-07:004-1/sharing...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 15</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my lenten project.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it is also tuesday, april 2, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i want to welcome you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSTts6iEoRFRlkAJ0lTtDxfTF2uqhQ5l4Sr9vRpxsomSmOfcrNW7qk8PWMJK_j7g1tgpZdqFwUotLuoVwoNblasbU2Em5j8uxhbeVTLsIXOvLDZWiOaHsqNwUhCburM6vmah2Z8vGRpSg/s1600/581582_321020601297296_1351176561_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSTts6iEoRFRlkAJ0lTtDxfTF2uqhQ5l4Sr9vRpxsomSmOfcrNW7qk8PWMJK_j7g1tgpZdqFwUotLuoVwoNblasbU2Em5j8uxhbeVTLsIXOvLDZWiOaHsqNwUhCburM6vmah2Z8vGRpSg/s320/581582_321020601297296_1351176561_n.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<i>i reached over and touched ric's hand.</i></div>
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<i>"can i tell them?"</i></div>
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<i>i whispered,</i></div>
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<i>"i </i><b>need</b><i> to tell them."</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"you want to tell them?"</i></div>
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<i>he looked at me searching</i></div>
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<i>for fear</i></div>
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<i>i think.</i></div>
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<i>"are you sure?"</i></div>
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<i>i shook my head,</i></div>
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<b>yes</b><i>.</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>ric helped me up from my knees </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>then up the steps</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>and handed me a microphone.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i looked out at the sea of faces...</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>some in their seats,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>some knelt at my feet,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>some standing in the area behind the pews.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>they were the faces of people</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i'd known for many years.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>they were the faces of people</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i loved.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i hadn't prepared to share,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>but GOD had prepared me</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>to share.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>so,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>i.shared.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i stood there before my church family</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>and bared my soul...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>as tears flowed down my face</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>and the words flowed from my mouth,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>i saw their expressions change...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>from curiosity</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>to sympathy</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> awe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>(i'm not sure anyone had ever shared</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>his or her story of salvation</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>with this congregation.)</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><b>GOD</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 21px;">not i</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>had awed this crowd.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>HIS SPIRIT</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>was there.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it was in every fiber</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my being.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i finished by reiterating,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>HE.IS.REAL.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i handed the microphone</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>back to ric.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i don't know how i made it back to my pew</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>where my john</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">(my hero and love of my life)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>was waiting for me</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>with open arms,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>but i did</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">(jelly-legs et al.).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"and the disciples were filled with joy</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> with </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>the HOLY SPIRIT."</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>(niv, acts 13:52)</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>love and GOD's blessings,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>dani xxx</b></span></span></div>
</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-51858915419417267032013-03-31T06:08:00.000-07:002013-04-14T11:40:13.124-07:003-31/go and tell...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 14</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my lenten project.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it is also Easter sunday, march 31, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i want to welcome you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o9_MS5cqY7lghsdhTeOPKqtqUPgK3Itqsx-HDINOZ9mj6dSyHG6nXHdERwb9NgJl2Bv1i9GIw-otHKuIDDBUVVNWDM6PtMpb0E_FQleK39fYaJWh5WC36dxBgEYGoQx0-0vHyf1fZYv-/s1600/556689_427293540670001_1220475474_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o9_MS5cqY7lghsdhTeOPKqtqUPgK3Itqsx-HDINOZ9mj6dSyHG6nXHdERwb9NgJl2Bv1i9GIw-otHKuIDDBUVVNWDM6PtMpb0E_FQleK39fYaJWh5WC36dxBgEYGoQx0-0vHyf1fZYv-/s1600/556689_427293540670001_1220475474_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>in moments of my retreating</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>back to the kneeler,</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>my body got got,</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>i began to feel weak,</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>my legs</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>(bent beneath me)</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>turned to jelly.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>i </i>knew<i>...</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i><b>HE</b>.WAS.THERE!</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>ric gave his sermon that morning;</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>his sermon was about where he had been</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>and his call to come to our church.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>he told our congregation he was there to love us.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>he was allowing GOD to use him</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>to attempt to repair that which was broken</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>apparently, his sermon touched many.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>for...</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>that morning</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>at the end of ric's sermon</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>when he invited us to come to the altar,</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>we came</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b> in.droves.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>kneeling next to ric,</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i felt the HOLY SPIRIT</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>urging me to tell</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><i>my story</i>.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i reached over and touched ric's hand.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">"can i tell them?"</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i whispered,</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">"i <i>need</i> to tell them."</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">"you want to tell them?"</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>he looked at me searching...</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>for fear</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i think.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">"are you sure?"</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>i shook my head, </b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>yes</i>.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>then JESUS said to them,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> <span class="woj">“<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">do not be afraid.</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><b> <i>go and tell</i> </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><b>my brothers<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24206A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span> to go to galilee;</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">there they will see me.</span>”</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><b>(niv, matthew 28:10)</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>HE.IS.RISEN.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>happy Easter!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>love and God's blessings,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>dani xxx</b></span></span></div>
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danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-89944238050810836282013-03-30T07:15:00.002-07:002013-04-14T11:41:12.526-07:003-30/are you here, GOD? it's me, dani...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 13</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my lenten project.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it is also saturday, march 30, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i want to welcome you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOthP7gahQRGjbUz30qZp-YCYBe0ZwiO1CskW1OnA6n5H0x3pP9zc_quL72cfUQISj_Zx_a5epv7NVnumu3Ujo7nAvMg2NxTrhnjaVUWj80uc7ymBXiht3RlwlouRGBg5ArA4KTbCyVks/s1600/HendFirstMeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOthP7gahQRGjbUz30qZp-YCYBe0ZwiO1CskW1OnA6n5H0x3pP9zc_quL72cfUQISj_Zx_a5epv7NVnumu3Ujo7nAvMg2NxTrhnjaVUWj80uc7ymBXiht3RlwlouRGBg5ArA4KTbCyVks/s320/HendFirstMeth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">i decided that i would arrive early</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">for church and pray at the altar.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">i <b>knew</b> GOD would be there!</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>before ric became pastor </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>at our church,</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i could probably count on one hand</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>how many times </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>we, as a congregation, had been invited</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>to the altar to pray.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i personally had only accepted one invitation</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>as it was the sunday after</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i had miscarried...</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>as i wrote before,</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>our church </b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>was steeped in tradition.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>further, our tradition was to use the altar</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>only for communion.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>however,</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when ric became our pastor</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>he gave an open invitation</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>at the end of every service.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>at first there were only a few of us</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>(mostly those of us who were on</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>the pastor parish relations committee)</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>who accepted the invitation.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when i arrived at church</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>that sunday morning,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i was the only one there.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>having a key to the building,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i let myself in and made my way to the sanctuary.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i remember standing</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>at the entrance</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>to the rather dark chancel,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>our holy of holies,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> only lit</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>by only that early morning sun,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>which could make its way through</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>the thick, stained-glass windows</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>adorning the expansive area.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"are you here, GOD?</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it's me, dani,"</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i asked as i walked down the aisle</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>leading to the altar.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when i reached <i>"my place"</i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i knelt,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> rested my elbows,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>put my hands together</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>(intertwining my fingers)</i><b>,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>bowed my head,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and began to pray.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it started something like this...</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>FATHER,</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i want to invite YOU to join us here today.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i want YOU to feel welcomed</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>and loved.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i love YOU, FATHER.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>YOU know our church has been through</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>so much turmoil</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>over the past several years.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i know YOU have had nothing to do with it!</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>this church has acted as our church...</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>not YOUR church.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>please forgive us.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>please come unto us,</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>and help us heal.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>FATHER,</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>YOU are an awesome GOD;</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>YOU reign!</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i> i love YOU so much.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i know YOU have the power</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>to soften hardened hearts</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>and allow their bearers</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>to love and be loved</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>in return.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>i don't know exactly</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>what ric's intentions are for this morning,</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>but please be with him.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>allow him to use YOUR healing words.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>we need YOU, FATHER, please!</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>as i was praying,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i heard the foyer area doors open;</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i heard muddled voices.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>then i heard the footsteps of someone</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>walking down the aisle of the sanctuary.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i felt the presence of someone behind me.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i stopped praying and turned</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>to see a fellow parishioner</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>sitting in<i> "her seat"</i> on the front pew.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she had sat in that same spot for as long</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>as i had been a member of the church.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>anita was<i> special</i>.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when our eyes met</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i smiled.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>in return</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she did as well.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i gathered myself,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>walked over to her,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>bent over and hugged her,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>taking her hand in mine</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>sat down next to her.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"now, what are you doing here so early?"</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she asked me with her stereotypical,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>kentucky drawl.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"i came to pray," i answered her.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"you know, i had a dream about you last night,"</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she said matter-of-factly.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"you did?" i responded.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"yeah, ric was in it too," she continued.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"do you remember it?" i asked.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"yeah, there was a big, long line</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>all waiting to meet JESUS. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i was there too," she awkwardly giggled.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"were we in heaven?" i asked.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"i don't know, but we wernt dead..."</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she nervously rubbed her chin</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>with her knuckles thinking.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"at least i don't thank we were,"</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>again, she awkwardly chuckled.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"do you remember anything else?"</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i waited with bated breath...</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>for.more...</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"yeah, you said you were there</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>for 'healin'."</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>my adrenaline began to flow</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>like no body's business!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i asked her if she would like</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>to join me at the altar to pray for healing.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she accepted my offer.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>there the two of us prayed together...</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>for a while, it was just the two of us.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when my dear friend,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>dawn,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>arrived i asked anita if i could share her </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>dream with dawn.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she turned and looked up at dawn</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>(as if she was sizing whether to allow me to share her story).</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she cocked her head to the side</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and looked at me with the face </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of a child in disbelief.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"she was in that line too."</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>after sharing with dawn,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>dawn knelt on the other side of the altar</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and began praying with us.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>within moments of my retreating</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>back to the kneeler,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>my body got hot,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i began to feel weak,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>my legs bent beneath me</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>turned to jelly.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>i knew...</i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>HE.WAS.THERE!</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">"for where two or three gather in my name,</span></b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">there I am with them." </span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">(niv matthew 18:20)</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>love and GOD's blessings,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>dani xxx</b></span></span></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-47109654663604044442013-03-28T05:17:00.001-07:002013-04-14T11:41:47.617-07:003-24/a dream come true...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 12</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my lenten project.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it is also thursday, march 28, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i want to welcome you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7bcn6IHEdnf8nXac4wgmrpoRwTpc6QZrohCI4goNP9BJJ8-1ex55y8HwkyY4ypu7_zGHBI1ttJOABFdopvmaQKoafOcnVjQH8c2qcAApXqL8N0lU7dpIvm10nsMknUdm10P2Bhs6SiJc/s1600/dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7bcn6IHEdnf8nXac4wgmrpoRwTpc6QZrohCI4goNP9BJJ8-1ex55y8HwkyY4ypu7_zGHBI1ttJOABFdopvmaQKoafOcnVjQH8c2qcAApXqL8N0lU7dpIvm10nsMknUdm10P2Bhs6SiJc/s320/dream.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i had no idea what i was in for...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the only church i'd ever known </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was steeped in tradition,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bound by ritual.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i wondered to myself </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">what this new church of thought was</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and how it was going to be different</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">from the church i'd grown to know.</span></div>
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>on the thursday night</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>prior to our leaving for the conference,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i dreamed i walked into our sanctuary.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>reverend holladay was the only one there.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>he was blanketing the pews with huge strips</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of purple and gold, satin fabric.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"what are you doing, ric?" i asked.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"i'm preparing the church," he answered.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>the next morning</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when i arrived for friday morning <i>bible</i> study,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i poked my head in ric's office.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>he and our associate minister</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>were tying up loose ends for the conference.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i told him about my dream</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and asked him what he thought it meant.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>he gave me a sheepish look</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and told me he had no idea.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>"when the magicians, enchanters,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>astrologers, and diviners came,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i told them the dream,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>but they could not interpret it for me."</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>(niv, daniel 4:7)</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> at the end of the conference,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>we were asked to pray around our tables.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when jane </b>(my <i>bible</i> study leader)<b> took her turn,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she prayed for sunday's church service.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she made a point to pray</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>that the sermon bless</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>our congregation.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>our church needed blessing.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>it needed revitalization.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>it needed GOD!</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>before ric arrived that summer,</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>our church had been in a very bad place.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>there was very little trust </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>among the staff,</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>among the parishioners.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>with so much animosity</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>there was very little room for GOD.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>jane knew something we didn't.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>trusting her lead,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i prayed hard!</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>when we were finally back in the van</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and on the road,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i turned around to jane who was sitting behind me</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>and asked her about her prayer.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>she said that ric asked her</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> to pray for his sunday service...</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>that it was going to be a tough one.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i decided that i would arrive early</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>for church and pray at the altar.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i knew GOD would be there!</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>love and God's blessings,</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>dani xxx</b></span></span></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-82136439731473039072013-03-22T08:02:00.003-07:002013-04-14T11:42:47.414-07:003-22/the words in red...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 11</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>lenten</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> project.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it is also friday, march 22, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>i want to welcome you.</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLhmN1SKHMFuMpYh2fVf_d_qAtrkULf9n4fTKGW_xPOi7rxh8VLGdz-KVnyCd1yolmczNXbVGYUiOvmeADXEw2izIRh2Ut9Xl5Of4pLKDfLISo1oD4H0FzbAE8CSYJ6rNJ6g36mkwTg3B/s1600/IMG_6979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLhmN1SKHMFuMpYh2fVf_d_qAtrkULf9n4fTKGW_xPOi7rxh8VLGdz-KVnyCd1yolmczNXbVGYUiOvmeADXEw2izIRh2Ut9Xl5Of4pLKDfLISo1oD4H0FzbAE8CSYJ6rNJ6g36mkwTg3B/s320/IMG_6979.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</span><br />
<i>i felt GOD's presence in that van.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>i KNEW we were on the cutting-edge</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>of doing GOD's will...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by stepping out of our comfort zone</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>with this new church </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>science.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i was the youngest member</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>of our purpose driven team.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>most of the team were in their 40's and 50's;</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i had just turned 30.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>because they were older than i,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i assumed they were all born-again-Christians.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i assumed they had a far more mature</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>relationship with GOD than i had.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i assumed GOD placed me there</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>to learn from them.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i made those assumptions based</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>on the fact that they were older than i was,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>they were all</b> (so far as i knew)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>life-long church goers,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i knew them to be the<i> movers and shakers</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>of our church,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i was possibly the only one of the bunch </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>who had never held a church office.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>when we arrived at the hotel,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>we unpacked, freshened up,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and met back at the van.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>there were several who hadn't come up in the van.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>they met us there and rode over to the convention with us.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>i had no idea what i was in for...</i><br />
<i>the only church i'd really ever known</i><br />
<i>was a church steeped in tradition,</i><br />
<i>bound by ritual.</i><br />
<i>i wondered to myself</i><br />
<i>what this new church of thought was</i><br />
<i>and how it was going to be different</i><br />
<i>from the church i'd grown to know.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>when we arrived,</b><br />
<b>we made our way down a rather long hallway</b><br />
<b>to the convention area.</b><br />
<b>the area was already full.</b><br />
<b>there was a huge projector screen</b><br />
<b>with a contemporary music video streaming on it.</b><br />
<b>thankfully, the words to the music were also on it...</b><br />
<b>as i'd never before heard the song.</b><br />
<i>but i liked it... </i><br />
<b>there was so much energy in that room!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>GOD.WAS.THERE.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>after a brief introduction,</b><br />
<b>we were told to partner with someone</b><br />
<b>from our designated table</b><br />
<b>and pray for one another.</b><br />
<b>so, i prayed for david,</b><br />
<b>and david prayed for me.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>afterwards,</b><br />
<b>the leaders detailed how the conference would ensue.</b><br />
<b>then we began what was planned for the evening.</b><br />
<b>we were asked to outline the highlights/low-lights</b><br />
<b>of our lives to present</b><br />
<b>so we could see where we had been...</b><br />
<b>so we could see how we had gotten</b><br />
<b>to where we currently were.</b><br />
<b>then they asked us</b><br />
<b>to <i>quickly</i> write down our favorite <i>bible</i> verse.</b><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>i panicked!</i><br />
<i>i didn't have a favorite bible verse!!</i><br />
<i>i hadn't read them all yet!!!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>but, i knew all of JESUS' words were in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">red</span>,</b><br />
<b> JESUS' time on earth was chronicled</b><br />
<b>in the gospels of</b><br />
<b><i>matthew, mark, luke,</i> and <i>john,</i></b><br />
<b>and that they were located </b><br />
<b>closer to the end of the <i>bible</i>.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"GOD, help me find a good one,"</b><br />
<b>i prayed,</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"quickly!"</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>GOD as my witness,</b><br />
<b>i opened my <i>bible</i></b><br />
<b>to find</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>my.new.favorite.<i>bible</i>.verse.</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(<b>my.GOD-chosen</b></span>.<i>bible</i>.verse.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">)</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b>the only verse</b><br />
<b>with JESUS' words in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">red</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">on the two visible </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">pages.</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">furthermore,</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> it wasn't located in </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>matthew, mark, luke,</i> or <i>john</i>..</span>.</b><br />
<b>but in </b><br />
<b><i>the second book</i></b><br />
<b><i>of </i></b><br />
<b><i>corinthians...</i></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><b>three times I pleaded with the LORD to take it away from me. </b></span><b>but HE said to me, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.</span>" therefore i will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that CHRIST's power may rest on me. (niv 2 corinthians 12:8-9)</b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">perfect!</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">thankyouGOD!</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b>love and God's blessings,</b><br />
<b>dani xxx</b></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-30940138243169349002013-03-20T05:22:00.003-07:002013-04-14T11:44:22.830-07:003-18/renaissance...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 10</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>of my </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>lenten</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b> project.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>it is also wednesday, march 20, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>i want to welcome you.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0_-3RScX0fNLFNBvPT_WLVe1S0gZg0py3i9ikce_1hQ5wYHvG-HO__VcWBcDv51HJ9XiuE42SB1de0cmaT1f9Z0JYaTlLsjeu_axNbskPfuf4-MGeIQAHtIV0gkfwmP_nIRqDmoRWOzk/s1600/39190_1537113396043_5029807_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0_-3RScX0fNLFNBvPT_WLVe1S0gZg0py3i9ikce_1hQ5wYHvG-HO__VcWBcDv51HJ9XiuE42SB1de0cmaT1f9Z0JYaTlLsjeu_axNbskPfuf4-MGeIQAHtIV0gkfwmP_nIRqDmoRWOzk/s320/39190_1537113396043_5029807_n.jpg" width="246" /></b></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">my brother often laughs </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">and refers to this period of my life</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">(the time between katherine's birth</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">and the time she was old enough</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">to enjoy </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">pop culture)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">as my </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"dark period".</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">truth be told...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the only time in my life</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in which i experienced a </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dark period</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was the two years following </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my mamaw's death.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">even with all the assurance</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and reassurance from GOD,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i missed her terribly!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">she had been my rock.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i was sick.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i was tired.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i was so, so lonely...</span></b></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(making matters worse,</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">john was spending a great amount of time</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in europe on business.)</span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i was depressed!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">without her i was sinking.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i needed someone to throw me</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a life ring.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when i finally asked,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GOD not only threw me one...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HE swam me back to shore!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i needed cpr...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HE never hesitated;</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HE breathed life back into </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">me.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've already spoken in my videos</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sweetly repenting</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">saving grace</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HIS HOLY SPIRIT</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">blessed assurance.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the aforementioned when added together</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">brought about in me</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">renaissance...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i experienced</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">love</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">joy</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">peace</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">patience</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">grace</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">goodness</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">faith</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">kindness</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">stability</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">all fruits promised of</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the HOLY SPIRIT.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i wanted to go to the highest mountain</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and shout out to all the world</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>GOD IS REAL!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>"the angel said to him, 'i am gabriel. i stand in the presence of GOD, and i have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this <i>good news</i>.'"</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> (luke 1:19 niv)</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">instead,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i shared my story with</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">only those really close to me.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i knew i needed</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to know more</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">before i shared.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thus, i started going to friday morning bible study.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i signed up for thursday night discipleship study.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">then, there happened to be an opening</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to be on the <i>purpose driven church</i> committee.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ric, our preacher asked if i wanted to join</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">this rather ground-breaking group.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enthusiastically, i accepted his invitation!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about a month later,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">our committee had our first weekend conference.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the drive there was filled with a lot of fellowship.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a different kind of fellowship</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">than i had ever experienced</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the confines of our church.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">before i go any further i must explain...</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when i joined our church</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i only really knew a handful</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of my fellow parishioners.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">however, it wasn't long after my joining</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that i personally knew most all</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of the congregation,</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and we had a rather large congregation.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i loved them ALL</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and felt nothing but love in return.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THIS fellowship meant the world to me;</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it was just different than what i later felt</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">among our purpose driven church group.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i felt GOD's presence in that van.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i KNEW we were on the cutting-edge</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of doing GOD's will...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">by stepping out of our comfort zone</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with this new church </span></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">science.</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">love and GOD's blessings,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dani xxx</span></b></div>
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danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-9313480903129459312013-03-11T10:47:00.001-07:002013-04-14T11:47:09.239-07:003-11/the prequel 4 (doubt)...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good morning today is day 9</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>of my </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>lenten</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> project.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>it is also monday, march 11, 2013.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>i want to welcome you.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>i happened to glance over at</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>a flat of geraniums i had never planted.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>the whole flat had been dried up (dead)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>for two months or longer.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>i just hadn't taken the time</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>to discard them.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>well, the whole flat had come to life.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>the leaves were green,</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>and the flowers were in full bloom!!!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>i knew...</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>yes, i said i sat there "knowing"...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>knowing GOD was with me,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>knowing mamaw was with HIM,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>knowing the flowers had been dead,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>and knowing HE'd breathed life</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>back into the flowers.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>but, i suppose i </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>(who didn't really know HIM yet)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>wanted...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>needed...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b> further affirmation.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoJp4ElPFZFrUOFPpdfonDKFE9DLajoD1tvUEo488AfJnZfa1EHT61NBrFduIYrkkZoeNa3PYS3nAhQ-DHVpH5UrCNnb9SP4CLEz3S7DaizszqTumfQ4J9qWzZoBknyLXZWS7oww8qaqJ/s1600/rk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoJp4ElPFZFrUOFPpdfonDKFE9DLajoD1tvUEo488AfJnZfa1EHT61NBrFduIYrkkZoeNa3PYS3nAhQ-DHVpH5UrCNnb9SP4CLEz3S7DaizszqTumfQ4J9qWzZoBknyLXZWS7oww8qaqJ/s320/rk2.jpg" width="255" /></b></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>when my mamaw died in 1997,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>katherine was only four-years-old.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i mention this because </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>my brother often laughs </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>and refers to this period of my life</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>(the time between katherine's birth</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>and the time she was old enough</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i>to enjoy </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i>pop culture)</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>as my </b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"dark period".</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>it is true...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i hardly listened to any relevant radio.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">further,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">unless it was on nickelodeon</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or disney,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i did not watch it on television.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">however,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on the afternoon following</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my mamaw's death,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i went in to work to get</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">things finished ahead of time</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">knowing i was going to have to</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">be away for several days.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i remember the silence was deafening;</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so, i turned on the radio.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the first song i heard was a song</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that spoke to my soul.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i didn't know who the artist was;</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nor did i know the title of the song.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">however,</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i knew it was <i>for</i> me.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it spoke of sorrow melting away.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it spoke of strength.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it spoke of survival.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">most importantly,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it spoke of hope!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">this song i was hearing</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for the first time,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GOD was using to reassure me.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but, i needed more!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hence,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HE provided me with more.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the song was on the radio</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on my way home from work that day.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the song was on the radio</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the afternoon as i made my way</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to the funeral home</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for our family's</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">visitation.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the song was on the radio</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as we drove home from </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">mamaw's funeral.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the song was my song.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it had been released</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">at.just.the.right.time.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or so i believed.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i had to have a copy of it.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i needed it.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>but, </b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i still didn't know who the singer was,</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>and</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>
</b></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i still didn't know the title of the song.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span></b></span>
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">i remember going to the cemetery</span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
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at dusk</div>
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the night we entombed mamaw.</div>
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i couldn't get the random</div>
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words out of my head.</div>
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<br /></div>
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hence,</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
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when i left her mausoleum,</div>
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i drove directly to our local walmart.</div>
</span></b></span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i made my way to the electronics department</b></span></div>
<div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>in order to purchase the single.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>once in the music area,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">i looked at every one of the top singles' titles.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i didn't see anything that remotely looked</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">like what </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">i imagined the title to be.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></b></span></div>
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</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>thus, i looked for someone to help me,</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>but there was only one woman working</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>in the department,</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>and she was covered up</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>
</b></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>with a line of people</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">there to pick up photos.</span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
so, i made my way once again</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
back to the top singles area.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>"it has to be here,"</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i thought to myself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
as i was having this thought</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i glanced down and saw</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
a random cassette</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
lying on the shelf beneath </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
the singles.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i picked it up and looked at it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
it was the album of an artist</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by the name of mariah carey.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i glanced at the back of the case,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and one song title caught my eye</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
immediately.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>hero</i>.</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>"GOD, is this it?"</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
my bargaining began.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>"i'm going to buy it.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>if this is the song</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>i have been hearing,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>i will really know</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>the flowers weren't</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>just a fluke.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>i will KNOW know</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>this is YOU</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>talking to </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>me.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>i will KNOW mamaw is with YOU!"</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
i rushed to the checkout lane,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
paid for the tape,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
asked the cashier to cut</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
the thick plastic, stocking frame</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
off of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
then i raced to my car,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
turned on the ignition,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
ripped the packaging off the cassette's</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
case,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
stuck it in my player,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
and fast-forwarded it to </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
track number 4.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
when the song started playing,</div>
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my eyes welled with tears.</div>
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<i>hero</i> was the song</div>
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i had been hearing on the radio.</div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
"<i>thank YOU, FATHER!</i>"</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></div>
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"then HE said to thomas,</div>
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'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">put your finger here;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">see my hands.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">reach out your hand</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">and put it into my side.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">stop doubting </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">and believe.</span>'" </div>
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(niv/john 20:27)</div>
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</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i believe GOD speaks to</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">each one of us based upon</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">our individual need</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and</span></b></div>
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</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in a very individual</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">way.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">at this point in my journey,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i knew HE was speaking to me </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>through song </b><b>and nature.</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">however...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HE was also speaking to a </span></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"numbers woman"</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in numbers.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i had just yet to recognize it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>love and God's blessings,</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dani xxx</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span><br /></b>
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>ps. mariah carey's <i>hero</i> was released 4 years prior to my hearing it for the first time... on the 10/19. additionally, it was ranked number 11 on the billboard for that year.</b></span></div>
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</span></div>
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danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-80799847538924965332013-03-06T06:51:00.001-08:002013-03-06T06:51:03.120-08:00HE has one...<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GV89lTMaqeA" width="459"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a sense of humor that is!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">love and GOD's blessings,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">dani xxx</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"at that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (luke 10:21)</span></i></span></b></div>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-85146449723783581322013-03-05T05:17:00.000-08:002013-04-14T11:46:32.548-07:003-5/the prequel 3 (knowing)...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">good morning today is day 7</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">lenten</span> project.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it is also tuesday, march 5, 2013.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i want to welcome you.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74e7vrEORmPiFosNil7E8eO5HICPns2EEM3J27gpGBdHTYqrhf1ukM8ZcwfjxBfrh0BK34XGuHHbygbOid5AYX9qfOwXpETj-6PE18-3GdJxHmkFi3n9YiJUnbARh0Rm6VdCcHFfdBKye/s1600/vcm_s_kf_repr_319x227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74e7vrEORmPiFosNil7E8eO5HICPns2EEM3J27gpGBdHTYqrhf1ukM8ZcwfjxBfrh0BK34XGuHHbygbOid5AYX9qfOwXpETj-6PE18-3GdJxHmkFi3n9YiJUnbARh0Rm6VdCcHFfdBKye/s1600/vcm_s_kf_repr_319x227.jpg" /></span></b></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(mamaw and grandmommie)</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">where my grandmommie was instrumental</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in developing my Christian beliefs and values at a very early age,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my mamaw was instrumental in bringing me</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to God when i was a young woman.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the fact that it was my mamaw</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">who brought about my relationship </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with God might be surprising...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">she was not a church goer.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">actually, the only two times</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i recall her ever setting foot</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in a church</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">were when i got married</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when katherine was baptized.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that being said,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i never doubted she believed.</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>(i knew when she was growing up</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>she had gone to church</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>with her mother.)</i> </b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">however, i never really thought about it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as i found it very normal for Christians</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to abstain from talking about their faith.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on my </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://purple11d.blogspot.com/2008/05/11-years.html">my life on the lane</a></b></i></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">blog,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i wrote about my relationship</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with my mamaw.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><b>sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that i lost her and can hardly breathe... other times it seems like she's been gone forever, and i miss her like crazy... and then at times it seems like she was just a most wonderful dream God sent to me one night.<br /><br />i know all grandmothers are special; my grandmommie meant the world to me as well!!!<br /><br />but, there was this one time when i was 16 that i realized what i meant to my mamaw and what she meant to me. i was hospitalized; and i guess i had fallen asleep with my mom in the room. while i was sleeping my mamaw came in to my room to see me.<br /><br />i remember awakening; but mom and mamaw didn't know i was awake. i overheard my mamaw, through tears, tell my mom that if something happened to me and i died, she wanted to die too. she didn't want to live in this world without me...<br /><br />i pretended to be asleep as tears rolled out of the sides of my closed eyes. at the same time that my heart was breaking because she was afraid of losing me, it was also singing. i always knew my mamaw loved me... i even knew that she loved me to the moon and back (and the love was mutual). but, to hear her say that she literally loved me more than her own very precious life... there are no words that i could type right now that could even touch the kind of blessed i felt.<br /><br />mamaw lived to see me graduate high school and college, me get married, me give birth to katherine, and katherine start pre-school... and then on a night in late august, 1997, she flew to heaven.<br /><br />to this day i believe she made sure that God would show me the love He had for me to fill that huge void her leaving me left. and He did. He let me grieve and then He came and showered me with the same unconditional love i had known from her. i have been totally blessed since then and very at peace that she is in a good place with the One that can love her the same way i did until i can be with her again.</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><strong><i><br /></i></strong></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3399bb; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><strong><i><br /></i></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>you may wonder HOW i KNOW</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>she is with GOD...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>one of the first</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>signs HE ever sent me,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>he sent me the day we entombed</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>mamaw.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i asked HIM to let me know</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>she was with HIM...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>to send me a sign.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>hence, when we returned</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>from the cemetery,</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i remained on the deck;</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i sat down to gather my thoughts.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>when i did</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i happened to glance over at</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>a flat of geraniums i had never planted.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>the whole flat had been dried up (dead)</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>for two months or longer.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i just hadn't taken the time</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>to discard them.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>well, the whole flat had come to life.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>the leaves were green,</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>and the flowers were in full bloom!!!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>i sat there with the warm sun</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>on my face</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>and with a soft breeze in my hair...</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>knowing...</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>my.prayer.had.been.answered.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="22" cellspacing="0" class="mainbk" style="background-color: #b9e3ff; color: #001320; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td class="bluebk3" style="background-color: #fffefd; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat;" width="98%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>"they were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God's Spirit. in this way, i have fully presented the good news of Christ from jerusalem all the way to illyricum."</b></i></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i>(romans 15:19)</i></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">love and God's blessings,</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">dani xxx</span></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-46865721777913776032013-02-28T08:12:00.001-08:002016-05-03T04:36:31.846-07:002-27/the prequel 2 (a perfect stranger)...<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>good morning!</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>today is day 6 of my </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>lenten </b></span><b>project;</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>it's also february 28, 2013,</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>and i want to welcome you:)</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>on tuesday i wrote that </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , "freemono" , monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>once i was on the other side of</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>my being saved</b><i> (born again),</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i realized one of the great gifts</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>of HIS HOLY SPIRIT</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>was i could really see and understand</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>where i was and how i had gotten there</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>most importantly,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>that HE was with me all along the way.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i explained the HOLY SPIRIT</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>is also a great reminder;)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>i shared in my first video</b><br />
<b> i was baptized in the catholic church,</b><br />
<b>and then yesterday i revealed </b><br />
<b>my middle name was chosen</b><br />
<b>from a catholic saints book.</b><br />
<b>with all this talk of the catholic church </b><br />
<b>one might assume i was raised </b><br />
<b>in the church.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>however, i was not.</b><br />
<b>i did go enough, though,</b><br />
<b>i memorized </b><br />
<b>most all of the prayers and creeds;</b><br />
<b>but, that was the extent of my church experience...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>until i was nine years old.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1mWICr_SAvWDwtWFQAJv6MlPt2UusMRbHfijwv5Jek9Ce1RgCrw_06RpRsLN6d-p2CEnOt60qEv2ZvyjINmqqXEt6P-N3PFipYiQ3xipNj_XGC0fPeQwJijKWpdN4rCRzKzcqVJWeKC9/s1600/40728_1625178797623_3343276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1mWICr_SAvWDwtWFQAJv6MlPt2UusMRbHfijwv5Jek9Ce1RgCrw_06RpRsLN6d-p2CEnOt60qEv2ZvyjINmqqXEt6P-N3PFipYiQ3xipNj_XGC0fPeQwJijKWpdN4rCRzKzcqVJWeKC9/s320/40728_1625178797623_3343276_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>when i was in the fourth grade,</b><br />
<b>sherry, a dear friend and co-worker of my mom,</b><br />
<b>invited us to her church. </b><br />
<b>it was a small, southern baptist church</b><br />
<b>on the edge of town.</b><br />
<b>we attended regularly for almost a year.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>in that short period of time,</b><br />
<b>i learned a lot!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~i learned GOD was a savior.</b><br />
<b>~i learned, if saved, one would not go to hell.</b><br />
<b>~i learned being saved is another word</b><br />
<b>for being born again</b><br />
<b>and...</b><br />
<b>~i learned i wanted to be saved</b><br />
<b>so i would not go to hell.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>ha, i suppose i learned plenty about hell!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>oddly, though, all that talk of hell</b><br />
<b>never scared me. at least i do not remember</b><br />
<b>ever being afraid.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>(maybe it was because</i><br />
<i>she</i><br />
<i>was sitting right there behind me.)</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>in that short period of time,</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>i met a perfect stranger.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>her name was</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>miss.mary.slaughter.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>she was an older lady who walked with a cane</b><br />
<b>and sat on the third row from the front</b><br />
<b>on the right </b><i>(the piano side)</i><b>.</b><br />
<b>she sat right behind jennifer, daphne, and me.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>for some reason she took to me</b><br />
<b>and i to her.</b><br />
<b>i felt like she loved me</b><br />
<b>for no reason at all.</b><br />
<b>and i loved her.</b><br />
<b>i never knew much about her</b><br />
<b>other than the obvious,</b><br />
<b>but we shared something </b><br />
<b>rare and intimate...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>something quite unconditional.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>the twinkle in her eyes spoke to my soul.</b><br />
<b>in return i hope my smile and warm embrace </b><br />
<b>spoke to hers.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>though i learned a lot of baptist terminology</b><br />
<b>in that short period of time,</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(terminology that would someday mean EVERYTHING to me)</i></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></b>
<b>the most important lesson i learned</b><br />
<i>(at the time)</i><br />
<b>i learned from</b><br />
<b>mrs. slaughter. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>it was to live life as a <i>perfect </i>stranger...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>to greet each person</b><br />
<b>without condition and go from there.</b><br />
<b>it was and is my way of paying what</b><br />
<b>miss mary slaughter taught me...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>forward.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>love and God's blessings,</b><br />
<b>dani xxx</b></div>
</div>
</div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-75134884256468863212013-02-26T08:30:00.001-08:002013-04-14T11:45:43.915-07:002-26/the prequel (it's all in a name)...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>good morning!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>today is day 5 of my </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>lenten</b></span><b> project;</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>it's also february 26, 2013,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and i want to welcome you:)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>there is no video today</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>because i think it may be important</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>to see this in print...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>so, i've talked about:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>my repentance,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>GOD's saving grace,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and being filled with</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>HIS HOLY SPIRIT.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>today's topic is "the prequel",</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>the times leading up to my experience...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>the first signs</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>on my road map to finding GOD.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>once i was on the other side of</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>my being saved (born again),</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>i realized that one of the great gifts</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>of HIS HOLY SPIRIT</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>was that i could really see and understand</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>where i was and how i had gotten there</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>most importantly,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>that HE was with me all along the way.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnWO7Hj_t2AZUe_Jb32DHeFEbqatC5BctsnaL9B48fEaEX1pgQA5KwdbZnic5IQtwudpP2Hv4MOV_Y3ZjmtQigwZB9uatK_L9g_SEALkO_gu1MfxDnO5Aom3tIvO4emrKgJ2FxhUjS_St/s1600/baby+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnWO7Hj_t2AZUe_Jb32DHeFEbqatC5BctsnaL9B48fEaEX1pgQA5KwdbZnic5IQtwudpP2Hv4MOV_Y3ZjmtQigwZB9uatK_L9g_SEALkO_gu1MfxDnO5Aom3tIvO4emrKgJ2FxhUjS_St/s320/baby+me.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>my mamaw named me dani</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>because she saw the name</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>in a hollywood magazine and loved it.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(in the months leading up to my rebirth,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>we were studying daniel,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>a man of signs and numbers...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>i am a woman</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>of signs and numbers!)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>my mom and aunt sue (my godmother)</b><br />
<b>looked through the catholic book of saints</b><br />
<b>searching for my middle name,</b><br />
<b>a name that would go with dani.</b><br />
<b>there they found denise.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>drury, of course, was my family name.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>dani means:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"GOD is my judge"</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"delivered by GOD"</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>and</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"interpreter of dreams"</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>st. daniel the stylite:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>st. daniel is the patron saint of the church.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>his feast day is</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>december 11th</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(katherine's birthday;)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>st. daniel lived a very simple life</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>keeping mainly to himself.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(i like to keep my garden small.)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>denise (my middle name) means:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>goddess of wine</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>st. denis is the patron saint of headaches.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>his feast day is october 9, 272.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>drury (my maiden name) means:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>love and friendship</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>my name was even important.</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">your</span> name is important;</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>it's a large part of who you are!</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><i>"before I formed you in the womb,</i></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><i>I knew you." jeremiah 1:5 niv</i></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">@</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">~</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>there was a trend</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>even before i was born...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(the first time;)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>love and God's blessings,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>dani xxx</b></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-3073731204750994842013-02-22T09:32:00.001-08:002013-03-29T06:15:11.723-07:002-22/blocks...<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YcB4KrzuObU" width="459"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>love and God's blessings,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>dani xxx</b></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-10873666718761321242013-02-21T09:34:00.001-08:002013-03-29T06:14:53.726-07:002/21/the Holy Spirit...<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7SxZEkiuoHs" width="459"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>love and God's blessings,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>dani xxx</b></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-48291358119905034652013-02-20T09:49:00.001-08:002013-03-29T06:14:38.736-07:002-20/grace...<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d6opxNvUVrE" width="459"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">love and God's blessings,</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dani xxx</span></b></div>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451344109777021771.post-76047986122443068722013-02-19T10:09:00.000-08:002013-03-29T06:14:23.888-07:002-19/introduction...<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dmpVJmK-XE0" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
love and God's blessings,<br />
dani xxx</span></b></center>
danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238327752920852333noreply@blogger.com0Henderson, KY 42420, USA37.8039941 -87.519801137.4026601 -88.1652481 38.205328099999996 -86.874354099999991