REAL TIME... via the CHURCH Calendar

+ + + 

We Christians do things differently.  We keep our own time... REAL TIME... via the Church Calendar. We don't mark our days or months by the moon, the sun, nor by the Heavenly Lights or stars. We don't mark the celebrations and feast days observed on the masonic calender. We don't celebrate dead ... twice dead... national heroes' birthdays, death days, or battle days. The worldlings do all that, in every country. 

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We Christians are strangers and pilgrims here upon planet earth and mark our days by the events important in the HEAVENLY KINGDOM. Thus, we observe the dates related to CHRIST'S ministry here upon earth: Advent, Incarnation, Transfiguration, Pascha Passion, and the GREAT RESURRECTION.  We also mark Ascencion Day and Pentecost. All these days or seasons related to the key person who changed ... and will soon change again... HISTORY ON PLANET EARTH.

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So, on March 9, 2011, the 4th day of the week [known on the pagan calendar as "Wednesday"], will begin the season of deep repentance of the Pascha [ Passover ] with Ashes marking our foreheads in the sign of a cross.  Lent is the common name for the Preparation for the Passover, but lent is derived from a German word which simply meant "spring." Hence , we will call this season the Preparation for the Passover Passion.

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May The LORD help each one of us during this REAL TIME to deal with our hidden natures, our self-centered lives, and any self-indulgences we have allowed ourselves... all of which hinder our nearness to The LORD.

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May The LORD help each one of us to get into REAL TIME, the Eternal time-frame and mind-set, during this season before HIS+ death and Resurrection.

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May the LORD help us to SET APART time for HIM+... so that we may truly become a people set apart ... a peculiar people... of The LORD.

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An Invitation

Sister Judith Hannah will be sharing meditations as The LORD gives them to her.  OTHERS may feel free to write a meditation  also and email it to her, for posting on the blog. [Please do not send something NOT original, however, like an article read somewhere else.] If someone has an inspiring photo, also original and not lifted from some other place, that original photo may be sent along to her email address: srjudhan@yahoo.com  with a note of explanation, to be posted, if appropriate.  

Encamping ANGELS...

The Angel of The LORD

encampeth round about them that fear HIM and delivereth them.

Psalm 34 :7

~

Those angelic beings, ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation...

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This is part of a story by Jerry Golden, an American Jew who met The LORD JESUS CHRIST, The Messiah, and now lives in Israel to be  a testimony for The LORD.  Brother Golden has a website from Jerusalem called "The Golden Report." He bears a burden for the Jewish people to know their Messiah. His website is found at: www.thegoldenreport.com  Here is his true account of what happened to him during a snowstorm in Tennessee.

~

I am writing this report in hopes of encouraging you with a knowledge that God is looking out for you, possibly with an Angel.

It was 1973. Connie (my wife) and I had only been married one year when I got word that my grandfather had died and would be buried in two days; the family wanted me there. It was during the time of the gas embargo, Water Gate, and it seemed that everything thing else was going crazy in the country. We lived in Bethany, Texas.

~

I remember Connie telling me that I may not be able to make it to West Virginia simply because there were no gas stations open, and the few that were open had very long lines; some folks were waiting two days to fill their tanks.

We prayed about it and decided to trust God and make the trip. To make things even more difficult it was in the dead of winter, and what I didn’t know was that from Tennessee to West Virginia there was a very heavy snow storm raging.

Within an hour I was on the road, kissing good-by to Connie and our new baby Rachel (who has now given us three lovely grandchildren). I remember it took me a couple hours just to find a gas station that would fill up my tank, and that in an area I know well. I remember thinking this is really going to be a test of faith. I had my doubts if I was going to make it.

~
It seemed that God was with me and the Ruach Ha Kodesh ( Holy Spirit ) was going with and before me; every time I needed gas there was always a gas station that had some for me. That is, until I got the bottom of the highest mountain in Tennessee in the middle of a snowstorm. There was a gas station at the bottom of the mountain, with a big sign that read, "out of gas." My gas gauge said I had less than a 1/8 th. of a tank; my faith about then read the same.

It was snowing so hard you could hardly see where the road was. I got out of the car and went over and sat on the steps of the station and begin to pray. It was ten minutes, possibly more, when I heard a word in my spirit clearly say “TRUST ME+”. I knew I had heard from God or else was it an Angel.

One thing was certain when I stood up: I knew I had no choice but to begin the journey up that very long, dangerous, and twisting road to the top of a very big mountain. I knew also that I didn’t have enough gas to make it to the top and was thinking that the next service station could possibly be all the way down the other side.

I had just made it around the first big horseshoe turn when I saw him; he was an old man, standing beside a old green ford pickup truck. In his hands was a red gas can, the old type with the dome top that held only 5 gallons. I pulled up behind him and walked over to where he was standing ... making no effort to pour the gas into his truck.

I started to tell him why I needed some of that gas, but something inside of me said not to... just ask him for some gas. Many times in my life I was hearing from God and didn’t even know it at the time.

 ~

But as usual, I wasn’t 100% obedient. Instead, I said to the old man, "Could I buy some of that gas from you? I have a real emergency."

~

 With very little expression, just something that sort of resembled a grin, he said to me, "We don’t have any use for money, but you can have the gas." I thanked him and poured the gas into my tank. It was a five-gallon can, but it seemed to take forever for it to empty into my car.

~

As I started to drive away, I rolled down my window and was going to wave at him... but he wasn’t there! The truck wasn’t there! I stopped and got out and looked. There were no tire tracks in the snow !

~

It was then I knew I had met an Angel of God, possibly my personal Angel, who looked over me, for there was something inside of me that said I knew this old man all my life; his voice sounded so familiar.

~

With Holy Spirit "goose bumps" and feeling like I had a glancing shot at something Heavenly, I felt that I floated to the top of that mountain.

That five gallon tank of gas took me from Look Out Mountain in Tennessee to Morgantown, West Virginia. It was a miracle and one that started me knowing that we are watched by Angels and I had met mine...

By Jerry Golden, now in Israel.

~

+  +  +

The UNAVOIDABLE Refining Pot ...

.
Refining
.
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HE+ Who+ is coming after me is stronger than I , Whose+ sandals I am not worthy to pick up.

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HE+ will Baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT and with FIRE, Whose+ winowing fan is in His+ Hand. HE+ will throughly cleanse His+ floor, and will gather His+ wheat into the garner, but will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

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     Our LORD will refine His+ children.

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THAT IS A PROMISE 

seldom  acknowledged

nor claimed.

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It is similar to pruning. Both are painful, but are done for the health of the one receiving it, for his benefit.

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IT ALSO BENEFITS

the Kingdom of GOD.

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For everyone shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

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The fire shall test every man's work.

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(Yes, another couple of promises

seldom acknowledged and remaining unclaimed. )

Let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto GOD, which is our reasonable (Divine) service.

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Let us take heed to ourselves. Our life is like a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears.

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Let us all, along with Mary, the sister of Lazarus, choose that one thing that is necessary, which will not be taken away from us.

         

Amen.

Brother Brendon Patrick +
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In the Name of the FATHER,

His Eternal SON+,

and HIS Blessed HOLY SPIRIT

+    +    +

               

JESUS said...

Go into all the world,

and preach the Gospel

to every creature.

          I would like to mention a group of Christians, serious followers of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

          These young believers in CHRIST are making a serious effort to literally put into practice our LORD'S words of going into all the world. They are not able to go bodily at this time, but are working to send Bibles to Christians in Asia who do not have one, as well as making them available to new believers who come to JESUS and cannot obtain a Bible because of their small incomes.

         As another part of this outreach to those in the Asian part of the world, Gospel tracts are being sent for use by native missionaries to help them reach their people with the message of Life in CHRIST. This is a message that most have never heard before. These tracts are printed for 1/2 cent each! Most of the time these tracts are passed around and read by many people. The message inside is totally unique to them!

         These young Christians are the youth group at  Wellspring Mennonite Church, located in East Tennessee, U.S.A. They are wanting to raise a total of $30,000 for this purpose. Every cent of this money is being sent for reaching those in far off lands who have not heard or known of the beauty and peace of real life in JESUS CHRIST.

        If any reader would care to be a part of this endeavor, you can send any help or inquieries to:

                                      

GOSPEL OUTREACH for ASIA

% Reagan Schrock, Director

121 Co. Rd. 616

Athens, TN 37303

         If you'd rather, you may check their very interesting, well-done blog at: http://gospeloutreachforasia.blogspot.com .

Yes, it is a joy to know these serious-minded young Christians and to see their dedication in reaching those who sit in darkness, with the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, the Eternal SON+ and WORD+ of GOD.

Br. Brendon Patrick + O G S

+  +  +

In the Name of The FATHER

Who created you

And His Only-Begotten SON+

Who saves you

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT

Who sanctifies you.  

Amen

             

+  +  +   

A CLEAR EYE...

Picture found at WAJAMA, Kenya.blogspot.com

Keep a clear eye toward Life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as GOD'S creature. What you are in HIS+ sight is WHAT YOU ARE... and nothing more. 

Remember that when you leave this earth,you can take NOTHING you have received... but only what you have given....

attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

Scriptures from 1 Corinthians 15

verses 51, 52,  and 57, 58

Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed,

In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.

But thanks be to GOD,

which giveth us the victory

through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD.

+  +  +

HUNGRY ?

LORD, plant in me

a deep, unquenchable

hunger for THEE+.
~

I AM

The Bread of Life; He that cometh to ME+ shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME+ shall never thirst.

John 6:35

~

Yes LORD,

plant in me a deep, unquenchable hunger for THEE+.

+ + +

The Irresistible CHRIST+ ...

.

.

What Our LORD declares is Eternally true:

.

.

I,

if I be lifted up,

will draw all men

unto ME+ .

.

When once you know HIM+,

.

CHRIST

is

absolutely irresistible.

.

You can no more help trusting HIM+

than you can help breathing.

page 21, The GOD of ALL COMFORT, by Hannah Whitall Smith, 1956 ed.

Hannah Smith writes to the Christian:

The LORD wrestles with us in order to bring us to a place of ENTIRE dependence on HIM+. We resist as long as we have any strength; until at last HE+ is forced to bring us to a place of helplessness, where we are obliged to yield; and then we conquer by this very yielding. Our victory is always the victory of weakness. ...

And this victory will be ours, if we take the LORD to be our Banner, and commit ALL our battles unto HIM+.

from page 85, The GOD of ALL COMFORT.

.

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The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

.

HE+ maketh me to lie down

in green pastures,

HE+ leadeth me beside the still waters.

.

HE+ restoreth my soul.

.

HE+ leadeth me

in the paths of righteousness

for HIS+ Name's sake.

.

Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil

for THOU+ art with me.

.

Thy+ rod and Thy+ staff,

they comfort me.

.

THOU+ preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies;

.

THOU+ anointest my head with oil;

My cup runneth over.

.

Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me

all the days of my life

.

and I will dwell

in the house of The LORD

forever.

.

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST becomes absolutely irresistible for anyone who can see that HIS+ great good heart never changes towards HIS+ friends.

.

Do you know

The Irresistible CHRIST ?

+ + +

PSALM 27 ...

One thing

have I desired of The LORD,

that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of The LORD

all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of The LORD,

and to enquire in HIS temple.

Psalm 27:6

~ ~ ~

If any man defile the temple of GOD,

him shall GOD destroy;

for the temple of GOD is holy,

which temple ye are.

I Cor. 3:17

~ ~ ~

MY+ Kingdom is not of this world:

if

MY+ Kingdom were of this world,

then would MY+ servants fight,

that I+ should not be delivered to the Jews:

but now

is MY+ Kingdom not from hence.

John 18:36

~ ~ ~

An ILLUSION of UNION...

...is not what HE+ wants.

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Here is a brave letter from a brave heart to the unfaithful heart of the beloved... read on...

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Dear C...

I am returning this $1,000 you sent. Yes, there are crucial needs, but the greater need is for you to send your heart. I need not your money nor your presence here--- even as desperately lonely as I am without you--- until your heart returns to your home.

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Without your heart, you see, both your presence and your money are shallow... leaving me more hurt and hollow than before.

.

Indeed, both your presence in the house and your gift of money is simply for you, an illusion to make you feel better about yourself. It is not an offering of real love nor does it meet real needs. I need you, not your gifts.

.

And as far as wanting to drop by to fix the steps and screen door, well, truly they have needed a lot of attention for a while--- but you are not the one to fix them. They will go without repairs until I find a pure-hearted person who does not need to do good deeds to build an illusion about himself.

.

I'll ask someone whose heart simply is available for the chore. Your heart, you see, is not. It is not available to the home you left and it would be illusionary for you to make it seem like it was.

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Really, it would do more harm than good because a broken step is nothing compared to a broken heart. A torn screen door knows nothing of the pain of a torn and shredded covenant that once bound us together in love.

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So, I am returning to you these offers of your presence here, your skills, and your money so that there is NO ILLUSION established that your heart is right with me... no illusion in your mind nor in anyone who should see or hear of your activities.

.

All I want is your heart... all of it.

.

Your loving--- but Truthful--- Covenant Spouse

.

+ + +

.

JESUS answered

and said unto them,

"Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites,

as it is written,

'This people honoreth ME with their lips,

but their heart is far from ME. '

Word of The LORD,

recorded by Mark, chapter 7, verse 6.

Also see Isaiah 29:13

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Nevertheless,

I have somewhat against thee,

because thou hast

left thy first love.

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Word of The LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Revelation 2:4

+ + +

~~~ Thy+ Presence, LORD ~~~

I want to inhale THY+ Presence, LORD,

.

to fill my Self

with THEE+.

.

I want to inhale THY+ Fragrance, LORD,

.

For thus,

enabled be,

.

to inhale THY+ Being, LORD,

.

'til Self

forgets the me.

.

I want to exhale THY+ Presence, LORD,

.

awaking those

who sleep.

.

I want to exhale THY+ Fragrance, LORD,

.

to comfort

those who weep.

.

I want to exhale THY+ Being, LORD,

.

in THEE+,

my life,

to steep.

+ + +

.

Come close to ME+, MY+ Child. Do not hurry from MY+ Presence. Remove the gaps, the differences, the discrepancies between ME+ and THEE+.

.

Time is shortened now. It is crucial for you to be established unshakable in ME+.

.

Let MY+ Words become your words. Let MY+ thoughts take over your thoughts. Exchange your values for MY+ values And let MY+ SPIRIT overwhelm you.

.

Then you will be ready for ME+.

.

+ + +

ALL for HIM+ ...

.

Prayer of Consecration

adapted from a Brother Monk

in the Company of JESUS

(Andrew Counts)

.

O LORD GOD, Holy FATHER, Who, through the life and work of Thy Beloved SON+, my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, has graciously brought me unto THYSELF in salvation:

.

Take, I pray THEE, all of me...

as CHRIST has made HIMSELF+ mine

in the Incarnation,

in Holy Baptism,

and Holy Communion;

.

So I make myself THINE, through HIS+ Precious Sacrifice.

.

O FATHER, cleanse me from all that is repugnant to THEE . Take from me all impurities of mind and motive. Loose me from all earthly bonds of the heart ... excepting those which serve to bind me closer to Thy SON+ and Thy purposes for me.

.

I desire HIS+ Holy Presence to be the air I breathe. Make me to desire HIS+ Word, HIS+ Body and Blood as my necessary food. May I be always and only for HIM+; And yes, HIS+ to use without having to ask my permission.

.

And LORD JESUS, may those I love know Thy+ Love, and come to love THEE+ more through my love for THEE+.

.

Thus, I bind my mind to Thy+ Mind, my thoughts to Thy+ Thoughts, my will to Thy+ Will ... for in Thy+ Light alone shall I see LIGHT.

.

May my eyes see as THOU+ seest, my ears hear as THOU+ hearest.

.

May my lips speak Thy+ words, my feet travel Thy+ paths, my touch leave behind the fingerprints of Thy+ love.

.

.

O, accept this sacrifice of myself, as poor as it is, for it is all I have. Enlarge my soul to be a reservoir of Thy+ HOLY SPIRIT, O LORD CHRIST, that I may shed abroad Thy+ Light, Thy+ Love, Thy+ Truth... and the Radiance of Thy+ Holy Name.

.

This I pray through the Name of The KING+ of kings and LORD+ of lords, the ONE+ to Whom+ every knee shall bow and tongue confess... JESUS CHRIST , our LORD.

.

+ + +

What CHILD+ is This?

Incarnation 2010

Meditation #1

Haste!

Haste!

to bring HIM+ laud,

The BABE+ ,

the son of Mary.

.

Acclaim, praise... the lauds... are the first fruits of our lips, upon rising in the morning. Traditionally, they are the last 3 Psalms in the Book of Psalms. Practically, the lauds can be any praise, acclamation, or worship done early in the morning.

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But, why the haste?

.

The key to "haste" is in Psalm 2, a Messianic Psalm. Towards the end, it says:

.

Kiss the SON+,

lest HE+ be angry,

and ye perish from the way

when HIS+ wrath is kindled

but a little.

.

Kiss the SON+...

.

That means to fasten oneself unto HIM+, a means of attachment, to touch. Translated thus, it means to LOVINGLY attach oneself to the SON+.

.

Lest HE+ be angry...

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Yes. Disobedience, hypocrisy, and willful sin will put Christians on the WRONG SIDE of HEAVEN. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the LIVING GOD+.

.

And ye perish from the way...

.

The way here is the Hebrew word meaning "road" . Figuratively, it stands for the "manner of life." We all know what perish means.

.

When HIS+ wrath is kindled...

.

Who is this Messianic Psalm talking about? The SON+ !

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Christians, do not let anyone fool you: The SON+ has anger and will return ... not as a BABE+ nor as a meek, sacrificial LAMB+. HE+ will come with a Rod of Iron and HE+ will take vengeance, this time.

.

Not only does Psalm 2 talk about that , but listen to The Apostle's words in I Thessalonians 1:7,8, 9 :

.

And to you who are troubled

rest with us,

when The LORD JESUS

shall be revealed

from Heaven

with HIS+ mighty Angels,

.

In flaming fire

taking vengeance on them

that know not GOD,

and that OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL

of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST:

.

Who shall be punished

with everlasting destruction

from the presence of The LORD,

and from the glory

of HIS+ power.

.

Yes. HE+ has wrath against ALL disobedience and HE+ will not be placated. No excuses will stand. No-one will be able to hide behind the cloak of group membership or the doctrine of his "church."

.

...But a little...

.

The Hebrew says "in" a little. But a little would mean that it wouldn't take much provocation for HIS+ wrath to occur. In a little, the literal translation, would indicate that the time is short before HIS+ wrath occurs. Either way, it is true. Therefore:

.

Haste, haste

to bring HIM+ laud,

The BABE+,

The son of Mary.

.

What CHILD+ is this?

.

Whose child are you ??

What CHILD+ is This?

Advent 2010...

Meditation #7...

This, THIS IS CHRIST the King+

WHOM+ shepherds guard

and angels sing...

.

. .. .. .. .

.

.

.

WHOM+ angels sing... YES!

But

there is

ONE song

the angels CANNOT sing:

"Redeemed!

Yes, Redeemed!"

.

The angels, the Holy Ones who did not rebel against GOD during the Great Rebellion in Heaven, sing HIS+ praise. They sang as they welcomed HIS+ birth, knowing that that divine BIRTH+ was bringing Salvation to mankind. They also knew this: satan's days were numbered. Bless GOD!

.

The other angels --- one-third of Heaven --- who rebelled with Lucifer, who did NOT rejoice in HIS+ birth, rejoiced in HIS+ death. But little did they know: HIS+ death was their death warrant, delivered in Person+.

.

And, little did they know that death and all the demons of darkness couldn't hold Our LORD JESUS CHRIST in Sheol, Hades, or hell (as is commonly called).

.

Furthermore, these rebellious angels did NOT know ahead of time this fact: The FATHER would not suffer HIS HOLY ONE + , The LORD JESUS CHRIST, to see corruption.

.

Indeed, if the rebellious angels would have KNOWN what was GOING TO HAPPEN, they would NOT have crucified The LORD of GLORY+ . Bless GOD! Although they know a lot, they were NOT privileged to know that death couldn't hold the Coming Messiah, The LAMB+ of GOD.

.

Yet, they know that there is ONE GOD; the devils believe and tremble. (Oddly enough, the devils DO "believe," don't they ? Salvation must entail something more than "belief," yes?)

.

Now, there is NO WAY out for the angels who rebelled. They are doomed, as Lucifer, their leader, is doomed. They have no "Redeemer" to rescue them from Lucifer and the Lake of Fire, where they all will be, forever and ever, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.

.

Bless GOD! Mankind does NOT HAVE TO END UP that way, with the fallen angels. So, let us never neglect so great a Salvation. Let us join with the Holy Angels to lift our songs unto HIM WHO sitteth upon The Throne and unto The LAMB+.

.

For HE+ shall reign forever and ever. HalleluJAH! HalleluJAH! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of Our LORD and of HIS CHRIST. And HE+ shall reign... and HE+ shall reign... and HE+ shall reign FOREVER AND EVER. HalleluJAH!

+

Whose child are you ?

+ + +