A Very Merry Christmas to you all,
and A Blessed and Prosperous
New Year!
John 3:16 reminds us about Christmas by telling us:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
However, Romans 6:23 says:
…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Corinthians 9:15 says:
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
-Remember to celebrate Christmas with the Love of our Heavenly Father, the Gift of His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Giving with His Grace. Do all for the glory of God.
-May your celebration of Christmas brings the very Presence of God to you and yours.
-May you experience His Love, Joy, Peace and prosperity throughout the coming New Year.
+++Blessed you are and blessed you will always be and to God be all the glory.
Amen!

” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”  So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (Job 1:8-10 NKJV).

“Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”(John 10:25-29 NKJV).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace  which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:3-14 NKJV).

” Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”( 2 Timothy 2:19 NKJV).

” Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,  saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”  And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:  of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;  of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;  of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;  of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.” ( Revelation 7:2-8 NKJV).

” Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,  To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” [Jude 1:24-25 NKJV].

” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.”( Deuteronomy 6: 5-6 NKJV).

” And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. “(2 Kings 23:25 KJV)

” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”( Jeremiah 29: 11-13 KJV).

” Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.”(Proverbs 3:5-8 KJV).

” Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV).

” Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”( Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV).

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”(Romans 12:1-2 NKJV).

” Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,  To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”[ Jude 1: 24-25 NKJV].

God has the plans for your life,have you consulted with Him,seek Him,or even ask Him,for it?
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. [13] And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”(Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).

I serve a God who has a plan and a purpose in my life. Who is greater than all worries and who makes all things possible. Therefore, I will: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. [8] It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3 : 5- 8 NKJV).

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.  “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”(Matthew : 22-34 NKJV).

” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”(Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”[Jude : 24-25 NKJV].

JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE, yesterday, today, and forever. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE.”(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).

“You will keep him in perfect PEACE, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 36:3-4 NKJV).

“Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your PEACE would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” ( Isaiah 48:18 NKJV).

YOU HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD IN YOUR HEART, AND IN YOUR MIND. What is peace ?
PEACE: quietness with rest, calm and tranquility.

Jesus said in John 14:27 NKJV:
“PEACE I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of PEACE will be with you.”(Philippians 4: 6-9 NKJV).

-The peace of God in your life keeps you from worries, keeps you from being troubled, and to keeps you from being fearful.
-Do not allow yourself to be agitated and disturbed.
-Do not permit yourself to be fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled.
-Settle and rest yourself in the Peace of God.

” And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”(Colossians 3:15-17 NKJV).

” Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians : 23 NKJV).

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.” [2 Thessalonians : 16 NKJV].

+++Blessed you are and blessed you will always be and to God be all the glory. Amen!

Keep saying, I am blessed, and highly favored of God,with all of life’s necessities from heaven to earth. Because, according to Philippians 4:19: God  has supplied all my needs according to His riches in glory through  Christ Jesus.

Psalm 1: 1-3 says: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water; that bringeth forth fruits in his season; his leaf shall not withered and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Job 22:28 NKJV says:
“You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.”

” I declare blessings and financial stability over your life today in the mighty name of Jesus.

Today child of God rise in purpose.
Your home is blessed
Your ideas are blessed
Your hands are blessed
Your future is established
This is your season of divine overflow in Jesus Mighty name amen.

” Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;  for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” ( 2 Peter 1: 2-11 NKJV)

As Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV says :
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

All Decisions in life are Important, and some are final. Heaven or hell ,are important and final before death.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says:
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed (children) may live:
+Our lives are composed of our choices.
+A decision is not made in a moment of time it is already rooted in our characters and experiences.
+Be wise in making decisions. All decisions can become habits, and all habits can become a part of our character.
+Let us not choose what we want but rather what God has already chosen for us:
+Choose the Lord Jesus Christ. For in Christ we…
+Choose life not death.
+Blessings not cursing.
+Health not sickness.
+Riches not poverty.
+Victory not defeat.
+The Kingdom of God not the world.
+When we chose Christ we choose Love, Faith, Holiness, Righteousness and Truth.

Joshua 24:15 NKJV says :
” And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Finally Jude 1:24-25 NKJV :
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, [25] To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

We are in Authority and Power with Jesus.

” And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”(Matthew 28:18 NKJV).

“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:17-19 NKJV).

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—..” ( Ephesians 6:10- 18 NKJV).

Let’s analyze verse ten: Finally, my brethren, be STRONG in the Lord, and in the POWER of his MIGHT.
+Notice the Word of God didn’t say to GET STRONG in the Lord, but instead it says to BE STRONG in the Lord.
+Get Strong means that we are not Strong so we have to go and get Strong.
+Be Strong means that we are already STRONG in the Lord, and all we have to do is to function like you are strong in the Lord, and to do it in Faith, Confidence and Boldness.
+Because What God says is exactly what He said.
+Don’t wait to feel strong to be strong. You can feel weak and still be strong.
+Being in the Lord is not based on feeling. It is based solely on the Word of God and faith in His Word.

Psalms 27:1-5 NKJV says:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: 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 inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. Hallelujah!

+Because the Lord is the Strength of your life you are God-Strong! Hallelujah!
+Accept this TRUTH by Faith in Christ Jesus and step out in Faith knowing that God is the STRENGTH of our lives, and be Blessed forevermore. Amen!

+To stand STRONG in the Lord we must know, accept and let it be settled in our hearts that we are STRONG in the Lord.
+We must also exercise the corresponding FAITH that demonstrates that we are STRONG in the LORD.
+LORD here emphasizes OWNERSHIP, RULERSHIP, AUTHORITY, and POWER.

“Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”(Luke 4:31-36 NKJV).

+With the same AUTHORITY and POWER Jesus also raised the dead, calm the storm and worked many other HEALINGS and MIRACLES.
+We have the SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH in Christ Jesus to do the same works and greater.

In John 14:12-17 NKJV Jesus said :
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

+You can do it by faith in Christ Jesus. Amen! Go for it in Jesus’ Name!

•Continue to let the WORD of God be the standard for your life. Always LOVING others like Christ Jesus loves us while keeping our Faith, Trust and Confidence in Him.
•BLESSED you are and BLESSED you will always be and to God be all the GLORY. Amen!

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, [25] To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”[Jude 1: 24-25 NKJV].

” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

LET’S  PRAY :
HEAVENLY FATHER, God of light and hope, as we reach the second Sunday of December and the heart of this Advent season, we pause to acknowledge your faithful presence in our lives.
We thank you for the gift of this day, for the peace that comes from contemplating the mystery of your coming, and for the promise of renewed life found in Christ.
We bring before you our usual requests, knowing your great compassion.

We pray for all those who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit. Bring your gentle comfort to the grieving, your soothing touch to the sick, and your restorative peace to the anxious and weary. May they feel your steadfast love sustaining them through every trial.

Illuminate the paths ahead of us. Grant us clarity of thought, discerning hearts, and the courage to make choices that honor you and serve our neighbors. Help us to be mindful stewards of the gifts and responsibilities you have given us.

Look upon the places torn by conflict, injustice, and strife. Inspire leaders and peoples everywhere to seek understanding, reconciliation, and lasting peace. Let your Kingdom come on earth, bringing wholeness and harmony to all creation.

Strengthen the bonds of family, friendship, and community that enrich our lives. Help us to be sources of encouragement, kindness, and grace to one another, reflecting your unconditional love in our every interaction.
As we await the celebration of Holidays, prepare our hearts to receive the joy and grace of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. May this week be filled with moments of generosity, reflection, and quiet wonder.
We offer this prayer in the name of the One who came to dwell among us, EMANUEL GOD WITH US,NOW AND FOREVER.AMEN.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” [ Jude 1:24-25 NKJV].

1 Peter 5:6-11 KJV tells us to:
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7] casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. [10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. [11] To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 KJV says.:
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] 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.

However, 2 Peter 3:10-14 NKJV reminds us of this fact: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. [11] Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. [14] Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;..”

Finally  1 Corinthians 1:4-10 NKJV says:
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, [5] that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, [6] even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, [7] so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, [8] who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [10] Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Jude 1:24-25 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, [25] To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”