Church; March 10, 2026

Posted on March 11, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

This is a very famous verse, for good reason, and it has also generated a lot of controversy. Some people think it says Christ will build His church on Peter, and some people rebel strongly against that idea, pointing out that “Peter” and “rock” are here two different Greek words, with the “rock” one indicating a much bigger boulder. The Japanese specifically uses a term that indicates a very big rock, or even cliff face. Rocks can break off of the cliff face, and are thus the same material, but the scale is entirely different. That lends weight to the idea that Jesus will build His church on the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of God. I certainly lean toward that interpretation, but to me, the most important point is that it is Christ who will build His church. Matthew is the only Gospel that includes the word, church, and only in two places, here and in chapter 18, where Jesus is talking about dealing with people who persist in sin while claiming to be believers. It’s important to remember that the word, ecclesia, never refers to a building, but to an assembled group. In modern usage, the majority of the time, “church” is used to refer to a physical structure, and that misses the point. The Japanese term for “church” is literally, “learning meeting.” I’m not sure I like that completely, since faith isn’t just a collection of facts, but it does seem better than calling it a building. That said, even in Japanese, the word is most often used to refer to a building, which seems ironic. The thing is, the devil desperately wants to confuse us about what the Church is, because as Jesus says here, the gates of hell cannot stand against the assembled people of God. We need to grasp what Jesus means by His Church, and rejoice to be used by Him in building it up. Peter himself confuses the picture a bit in his first letter, where he says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) However, he was referencing Isaiah 28:16, which he quotes in the next verse, which calls Christ the cornerstone. The point is still that we are the Church, not some physical building.

This is very applicable to our situation right now. We have a nice building, that is universally referred to as a church. However, the actual church is the people who gather here. I think we have a general idea of that, but each one of us has a different slant on it. That’s not surprising, since each of us is differently gifted, as I’ll be teaching on again after lunch this coming Sunday. However, most of the people have a subconscious, at least, image of this church as “Jack’s church,” and that’s a problem. Yes, I started the gathering that grew into this body, and it has persisted for over 40 years, but if it is simply my church, then everything is in vain. I belong to this church, not the other way around! That is going to be taught and exercised in another month, when my wife and I will leave for three weeks to visit the US. Many things I do each week will need to be done by someone else, or else recognized as non-essential. That’s a very good thing! We’ve all got to remember that it is Christ who builds His church, even though He sometimes uses us in the process. I’m not to be anxious about what will happen in my absence, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice in God’s perfect plans for us. I am to be sensitive and obedient to whatever the Lord tells me to do, but not feel that I’ve got to carry the load. It’s His Church, and He will build it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the experience of wrestling with what to do about the interdenominational prayer meeting that meets here each month. I agreed to take responsibility for it, but so far I haven’t done a very consistent job. I ask for clear guidance, because Your Church certainly isn’t limited to this congregation. May we all be built up as You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Provision; March 9, 2026

Posted on March 10, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 15:34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

Jesus was teaching His disciples something very important, even though the passage says nothing about teaching. That was, whatever they had was enough for whatever God wanted them to do, regardless of what society or even logic might tell them. Jesus had previously fed a large crowd from one boy’s lunch, and here He was about to do it again. The point wasn’t how much they had, but whether it was fully given to God. It isn’t that supplies and logistics are unimportant, but that our focus needs to be on God and what He’s telling us to do. Many projects have been abandoned because of human, materialistic thinking, when we serve the God who created the universe with a word. If He says to do something, He will supply everything necessary for the task.

This applies to me in several areas right now. In the first place, my wife and I will be going on a trip that in dollar amount will cost close to our annual income when we were first married. Of course, inflation over 57 years has drastically changed the practical value of a dollar in that interval, but it’s still a significant amount. However, God has made it clear that this is His plan for us, and He is providing the funds and everything else necessary. In the second place, just before we leave, the church will be holding its annual business meeting, and some in the church who are from a denominational background are very concerned about a budget and project planning. I love them, but that has never been the way God has guided this church. We do need to ask the Lord if He has specific events for which we are to plan, but He has always provided what we needed, sometimes in shocking ways and sometimes later than we wanted, but always perfectly. I am to be aware of what we have on hand, as in the bread and the fish, but I am never to hold back from what God says to do because what we have, as the world sees it, seems insufficient. As the saying goes, “Where God guides, He provides.” I am to walk in peace in that assurance, focused on listening obediently to my Lord and trusting Him with everything.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I ask for wisdom in dealing with all the people and expectations around me. Help me share Your love with them, not rejecting anyone or anything, but allowing You to grow us all as You see fit, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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True Religion; March 8, 2026

Posted on March 9, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Religion is a funny thing. It claims to be about connecting man to God, but it quickly devolves into man controlling man. Nowhere is that more clear than in Islam, which very name means, “submit,” or “submission.” The thing is, such a tendency is hardly limited to specific religions, but is common to all mankind. God puts out rules for our good, to keep us from hurting ourselves or each other, but we twist that around to control others. As the saying goes, “Rules for thee but not for me.” That is abundantly clear in politicians, who trumpet, “No one is above the law,” but then ignore the law themselves whenever it seems convenient. We are rightly disgusted at such behavior, but sadly, swallow it whole when the shoe is on the other foot. And of course, that is doubly true when it comes to religion, as in today’s passage. When Jesus was asked which rule was most important, He really stripped it down to brass tacks: “ Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We quote that, and at the same time, ignore it. Life is about relationships, first of all with our Creator, and then with the people around us. If we get those right, everything else falls into place, just as Jesus said. If we mess those up, nothing else is right.

Of course, this applies to me as much as it does to anyone else. As a “religious professional,” it applies especially to me! I have always hated legalism, but that doesn’t mean I can ignore the things God has stated clearly. Likewise, I get into patterns/habits/ruts that can feel like they’re essential, but I’ve got to focus first on my Lord, and let everything else flow from there. Three weeks of traveling, from the 14th of next month, will play havoc with my devotional/blogging schedule, particularly with crossing the International Date Line both directions, so I’ve got to let God show me when to do what, and value the people around me in the process. There are all sorts of ramifications to the “rest, relax, rejoice” that He’s told me to do!

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for the practicum on what You have me preaching this morning! Thank You for the clear awareness that my faith, trust, and obedience aren’t perfect. Help me keep growing in all those areas, to be Your agent to all around me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Divinity of Jesus; March 7, 2026

Posted on March 8, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

You can’t really be a disciple unless you know whom you are following. Different groups label Jesus in different ways. Muslims and JWs deny the divinity of Jesus, and Mormons say He was the brother of Satan. Apart from such formal groups, many so-called Christians are very hazy about the divinity and the humanity of Jesus. It is ironic in the extreme that some people who have been to seminary and have “divinity degrees” aren’t really convinced of the divinity of Jesus! The 12 Apostles had lived with Jesus enough that they were very aware of His humanity, and this incident cemented their conviction of His divinity. I frequently explain to people that Jesus had to be fully human in order to take on the sins of mankind on the cross as our representative, but He had to be fully divine for His one death to be sufficient to atone for us all. On a day-to-day level, we need to be fully assured of His divinity in order to trust Him fully with all the details of our lives. We are all too prone to forget that nothing is too difficult for Him! (Jeremiah 32:27) It is only when we understand His humanity, that He genuinely knows and empathizes with what we’re going through, (Hebrews 4:15, 5:2) as well as His divinity, that nothing we can encounter compares with His wisdom and power, that we fully walk as His disciples. This is the basis on which He said that those who believe in Him would do greater things than He did in His earthly ministry. (John 14:12) Such people are His disciples indeed.

I know all of this in my mind; the issue is whether I live it out. I teach others about Jesus all the time. How well do I practice what I preach? I have long known that James 1:22 applies directly to me, because I am very familiar with the Bible, but I must be careful not to confuse knowledge with obedience. It doesn’t matter if I’m a walking concordance, if I’m not living out God’s truth. On the particular issue here, I need to be fully assured that Jesus not only knows how I feel, He isn’t dismissing it as unimportant, because He has allowed my circumstances to train and strengthen me. And of course, by His grace I will emerge on the other side as more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I am very aware of the persecution and martyrdom that is going on even at this moment, and I know that I am in no way superior to those brothers and sisters in Christ, and that eventually, we will all celebrate Christ’s victory together before the throne. That will be glorious indeed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I got the tickets for our trip next month paid for yesterday. Thank You for Your plans for today. Help me flow with Your Spirit throughout today, allowing You to use me to do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Jewish Gospel; March 6, 2026

Posted on March 7, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Matthew was a Jew, writing primarily for a Jewish audience. We only have Greek manuscripts, (though very ancient) but modern computerized linguistic analysis indicates that he probably wrote in Aramaic, which would have been fairly exclusively for the Jews of the 1st Century. Of course, the good news of Jesus is for people of every linguistic background, so what he wrote was very quickly translated into Greek, which was the 1st Century equivalent of English today, used by people of many different nations and cultures. I have seen testimonies, through organizations like One for Israel and Jews for Jesus, in which Jewish people expressed their shock at reading Matthew, saying, “This is a Jewish book!” As a Jew, Matthew was very aware that Jesus wasn’t simply the Savior, He was the promised Messiah that Jews had been looking for ever since Moses prophesied His arrival. (Deuteronomy 8:15) Intellectually honest Jews today acknowledge that the statistical probability of one person fulfilling so many Old Testament prophecies if He weren’t the Messiah is vanishingly small. Jesus is the real deal, and Matthew wanted everyone to know it! Each of the four Gospels has its unique features, but all point to the same historical Person, and to His Father, who loved us enough to send His Son to save us from our sins.

I love all the Gospels, and indeed, the whole Bible, but I will confess to a personal fondness for John. That said, I deeply appreciate Matthew, and not just for the record of the Magi in chapter 2 and the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5 and following. The Visual Bible never made it past Matthew and Acts, that I’m aware of, but their enactment of Matthew, using only the NIV for their script, blessed me immensely. The actor who played Jesus, a committed Christian, said that he prayed earnestly for how to portray Jesus, and his guiding principle was that Jesus was delighted to be doing what the Father had sent Him to do. When He healed someone, He was as happy as the person who was healed! And the love that permeates the rendering of chapter 23, which is a vigorous takedown of the Pharisees, is astounding. Matthew never got over his amazement and gratitude that Jesus chose him, a tax collector and traitor to his people, to be one of His close disciples, designated by Jesus as an apostle. That gratitude shines through every word of what he wrote, and the world has been immeasurably blessed as a result. I need to let my own gratitude and obedience shine, so that people will be blessed by me as well.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for giving me Sunday’s message yesterday, so clearly and simply. I pray that just as Matthew shared what he heard You say, that I would be accurate in sharing what You say to me, so that people will be drawn to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Choice to Listen; March 5, 2026

Posted on March 6, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

It is important to note that the seeing and hearing here are not a matter of innate ability, but of choice, just as Isaiah prophesied. God doesn’t exclude people, but they exclude themselves. That is an absolute tragedy, because as the Lord said through Isaiah, anyone who chooses to listen and see and so turns to God is healed. (verse 15) That healing isn’t just physical, but extends all the way to eternity. I’m reminded of the thief on the cross beside Jesus, who chose to see Jesus as the innocent Son of God, and so asked to be remembered in His kingdom. That choice brought him eternal life! Our theme is Training Disciples, and that too involves personal choice. God chooses us, but we have to choose to respond, and we have to choose to grow. The more stubborn we are, the more painful it is! It ultimately comes down to faith. We have to believe that God loves us and has the very best plan for us, and accordingly, listen carefully to everything He says to us, choosing to obey promptly and fully. It is incredible how we balk at that, but that’s how we are. Every parent has experienced times when their children would refuse to listen at all, or perhaps, appear to listen but then go off and ignore everything they were told. Conversely, there are times when those same children will be like sponges, absorbing everything their parents say to them. Those are a lot happier for everyone involved! That said, on the human scale, we are imperfect parents, and we all too often impart things we wish our children didn’t pick up! However, God is the perfect Father, so He doesn’t have that problem. Everything we get from Him is for our good.

I wish I could say that I’ve always listened attentively and obediently, but that would hardly be accurate. My own experience should give me patience with people under my care who don’t seem to listen very consistently! Being a pastor is a hard job for precisely that reason. I’ve got to keep listening and growing, because I’m far from perfect, and my job is to shepherd God’s people in the path of growth. I have to tell people about the spankings I’ve received so they can avoid them! I need to have discernment to know when God is using one of the multitude of voices that clamor at me, and which voices are just noise, or even active attacks from the devil. I’m tempted to say, “That’s beyond my pay grade,” but it’s actually one of the fundamental tasks of every human being. I need to be humble enough to know that I can’t keep it straight on my own, and trusting enough to know that God’s got it all in control, if I will relinquish that control to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m in a little bit of a panic moment about the arrangements for our trip next month, but that’s not an issue for You. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, knowing that You are going to guide perfectly, if I will just listen. Thank You. Praise God!

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Family; March 4, 2026

Posted on March 5, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 12:49-50 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

This is an absolutely magnificent statement that Jesus claims all who are obedient to God as His family, and at the same time, it presents some real challenges to our usual ways of thinking. It is not teaching us that we are to write off our biological families. As Paul said, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8) After all, honoring our parents is in the 10 Commandments! However, connections of faith can often be stronger than connections of genetics. It is my conviction that any healthy church is going to have a very family atmosphere, as in the Gaither song, The Family of God. This passage also throws a further curve in the Catholic practice of referring to Mary as “the Mother of God.” In the first place, she was certainly the mother of Jesus’ physical body, but no created being could ever be the parent of a member of the Trinity. This extends that further, pointing out that relationships are by faith, and here, obedience. We can indeed sing with joy, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.”

This is very timely for me, since we are making plans to visit biological family in the US, for the first time in seven years. The three drivers for that are the hospitalization of my brother, visiting the grave of my wife’s brother, and meeting our new great-granddaughter. Those things are important, but at the same time, we have our family of faith here in Omura, and actually, around the world. I’m thrilled to say that keeps growing. I have “close kin” who will be returning from Hong Kong at the end of this month, and a sister who will be getting back from Canada this week. It’s a big family! I’m particularly excited about a man I’ll be seeing this morning who seems on the verge of committing to Jesus as Lord, which will make him also my brother. God’s family keeps growing! I’m thankful for my personal heritage, that is deeply rooted in this reality. When my mother’s younger sister was baptized, she said, “Now I’m Daddy’s little sister!” She understood Kingdom dynamics from the outset. I have the privilege of being God’s agent in growing and strengthening His family, and I am to give my all to that end. That is indeed doing His will, just as Jesus said.

Father, thank You indeed for being our Father. Help me relate rightly to all my siblings, both genetic and otherwise, so that You may be pleased as Your will is done, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Training; March 3, 2026

Posted on March 4, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

Here’s an important detail about Jesus’ ministry that we might overlook. In the previous chapter it talks about how Jesus sent His disciples out, giving them authority to do what He had been doing and teaching them in some detail about the level of commitment they needed to have and how they were to deal with the reception they would or wouldn’t get. Then, we have this verse that tells us what Jesus did in the meantime. He didn’t just go to a spa! Rather, He got back to work doing what He had been doing all along, essentially the same thing He had sent His disciples to do. In delegating work to His disciples, Jesus was multiplying His own impact. The time would come when He would leave and they would continue, but this wasn’t it. A wise leader will do this, giving people responsibility but not dropping them off a cliff. Not every ministry is going to look the same. The Grahams come to mind. Billy was all about large meetings, and multitudes were indeed saved, but Franklin, though he does do some big meetings, is much better known for the work of Samaritan’s Purse, sharing the Gospel through meeting physical needs. It will be interesting to see how the ministry continues when Franklin joins his father in heaven – if the Lord hasn’t returned by then! We are to prepare our successors, but not demand or expect them to be our carbon copies.

This is a very timely Word. It’s still over a month away, but my wife and I will be away for three weeks, and the believers are somewhat uptight about it. I am to prepare them, helping them understand all the things that are done each week so that they will know what to do and what not to worry about. A number of things are question marks at this point, so this is good training in listening to the Lord. One real issue is music, because my wife generally chooses it and plays the piano. We have people who can choose music, but they aren’t as familiar with the considerable library we have available. Also, I have been creating the Power Point for projecting the music each week, and I don’t know that anyone in the church would be up to that. We have had other pianists in the past, but not at the moment, so any accompaniment will need to be guitar. This will very much be a learning experience for everyone, but I’m trusting the Lord to make it a good one. That said, I need to lay the foundation carefully, so that people will feel encouraged and not abandoned. They need to understand that I will be ministering in various ways on this trip, and not just having a vacation! In a number of ways, it would be far easier on me not to go, but I feel assured that this is indeed God’s plan, for my wife and me, for the people we will see in the US, and specifically for this church.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Thank You that I’ll be communicating our definitive itinerary to the travel agent today. I pray that they will be able to get the tickets we need at the best routing and best price, and that everyone involved will be at peace with the result, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Peace; March 2, 2026

Posted on March 3, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

This is a verse many people wish wasn’t in the Bible. It is in direct contrast to the idea of “Go along to get along.” As Paul said, we aren’t to spark conflict needlessly, (Romans 12:18) but we aren’t to compromise our faith for the sake of external harmony. Jesus did say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” (Matthew 5:9) but that is never to be in violation of God’s principles. Being quiet in the face of injustice isn’t being a peacemaker. Failing to warn someone they are headed for hell isn’t being kind to them, even if they react violently against being told that. There are many seeming contradictions in Scripture, but only if we look at them from a strictly human perspective. Our definitions of “peace” and “sword” don’t necessarily agree with God’s! Right now there are various places on earth that are in active conflicts, notably including Iran. We might be upset at various aspects of what is going on, but the question is always, what is God’s aim in this? We are not to be knee-jerk “peaceniks,” but rather “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33) allowing Him to show us His plans and our part in them. Ultimately, the only peace that really counts is peace with Him.

Having been born in Japan shortly after the end of WWII, spending the first day of the first grade in bomb shelter drills because of the Korean War, and being drafted during the Vietnam War, I am all too familiar with active conflict. At the same time, my personality tries to avoid conflict. I have endured more of it than I would like, but I am well aware that it is part of life on this earth. I keep coming back to the fact that Jesus never promised us things would be easy here. However, He offers us inner peace in the middle of all the conflict. (John 16:33) I am not to pick arguments, but I am to speak the truth in love, regardless of the response. I should aim for peace, just as Paul said, but remember that peace on this earth isn’t the ultimate good. After all, Revelation is pretty violent! I am not to let my soul, my spirit, be agitated by conflict, but rather stand firm and secure in Christ Jesus my Lord. That is peace worth dying for!

Father, thank You for this Word. I run into all sorts of definitions of peace and expectations of peace. May I be a carrier of Your peace, and at the same time be uncompromising in Your truth, so that Your truth may indeed set people free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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To Be Like Jesus; March 1, 2026

Posted on March 2, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:24-25 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.”

This is a powerful truth. Humanly speaking, sometimes we try to violate it, but the “above” is only in achievement, not in net worth. Jesus Himself said that those who believe in Him would do greater things than He did on this earth. (John 14:12) However, we have no claim to an easier life than He had, and He was scourged and crucified! This was the specific area Jesus was referring to here. As He said very clearly in the Upper Room Discourse, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In places like Japan and the US, we tend to expect things to be easy, and indeed, we live in what would have been unimaginable luxury not so many years ago. However, we need to recognize that is strictly by God’s grace, and not something we are due, because of how wonderful we are. Gratitude is definitely the name of the game when it comes to successful living. In terms of Jesus’ immediate audience when He said this, the only one of the 12 apostles to die a natural death was John, and he had it much rougher than his brother James, who was the first to be martyred. (Acts 12:2) In places like mainland China, a commitment to follow Christ includes an expectation of persecution. We tend to express “accepting Jesus” as all sweetness and light, but that is a disservice to those to whom we minister. If they expect “easy street,” they are likely to fall away as soon as things get difficult. This again is part of Jesus’ famous parable of the seed and the soil. (Matthew 13:3-23) Paul likewise compared it to an athlete, who commits everything in order to win the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:25 and more) In our case, however, the prize is more than worth anything we could go through in this life. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I have always liked the little chorus, To Be Like Jesus. However, I need to remember all that means. I can never be the Savior, but I can reflect His character and express His truth, whatever is going on in and around me. Jesus talked about that in the Upper Room Discourse, too. As a pastor, it is my desire to instill that desire, that expectation, in each of the believers under my care. They see my imperfections, certainly. I desire that they understand that when God can use me in spite of my imperfections, He can use them in spite of theirs, too – and maybe, far more than He uses me. I do proclaim the truth God speaks to me, but I don’t want the believers dependent on me. I want each one connected directly to the Source, hearing what He is saying to them, regularly and consistently, through the Bible and otherwise, so that together we may all rise up as a mighty army in His hands, destroying the works of the devil and setting people free, (1 John 3:8) for His glory alone.

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Thank You for how things are falling into place for our trip to the US. I ask for Your continued guidance in that, and particularly in the preparations that need to be made right here, for this congregation, so that our 3-week absence will be a growing time for everyone, moving us further along in Your plans, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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