23. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

I guess you figured out by now that I am not posting this week.  I am so sorry but this time difference and conference had me just totally off.  I want to sleep when Australia is up and I am up when Australia is sleep and the conference is all day with night sessions and I usually pass out into a coma when I get home and then we go back to  church for sessions in the day so my plans to post did not happen.   Have a wonderful weekend and I promise that I will begin posting again on Monday.

Love ya all and again thanks for your support

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16. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our lesson today, we learn what happens to the both the priest Abiathar and Joab who had also sided with Adonijah to take the throne from Solomon.

Here is the story:

I Kings 2: 26 To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign LORD before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the LORD had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli. 28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!” 30 So Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!‘ ” But he answered, “No, I will die here.” Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.” 31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my father’s house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32 The LORD will repay him for the blood he shed, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them–Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army–were better men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the LORD’s peace forever.” 34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried on his own land in the desert.

Solomon lets Abiathar off the hook in terms of the death sentence but he does remove him from the priesthood.  If you notice, the text says that this fulfills the word that the Lord spoke at Shiloh about the house of Eli. 

For review, Abiathar was one of the priests from the line of Eli.  He was the fourth descendant after Eli and he was the only priest that survived the massacre that Saul did when he was pursuing David.   The prophecy to Eli for his disobedience in allowing his sons to desecrate the house God was that his whole house would be cut off.  The remove of Abiathar, the last one in the house of Eli was the fulfillment of this prophecy.

As for Joab, he did not get off so easily.  If you remember, David charged Solomon to make sure that he take care of Joab for sheading innocent blood and now Joab has conspired against Solomon to secure the throne.

When Joab hears the news that Adonijah was killed, he goes and grabs a whole to the horns of the alter for sanctuary and is instructed to come out.   If you remember, that was the place that people went for sanctuary but Solomon ignored the custom when Joab refused to come and take his punishment so they went in and killed him at the alter.

Joab probably thought he had gotten away with his crime and still to this day, nothing was ever mentioned about him finishing Absalom (David’s son) off .  Since David did not mention it, maybe he never knew what Joab did to his son. 

We must be careful how we live our lives and the things that we do for clearly this is an example that our past sins will find us out.  We reap what we sow  Joab may have thought that he was in the clear, especially since David allowed him to continue to serve as his right hand man in the army but I use to hear my pastor say all the day that the “wheels of God might grime slow but what we do know is that grime for sure.”

We will continue our journey on next week.  Have a wonderful weekend everybody.   I will not be posting on Monday and maybe Tuesday, it all depends on when I will get to Australia and how the jet lag will affect me. 

Last year, I think I was in a coma for a day after I got off the plane just trying to rest and adjust to the 14 hour time difference between the US and Australia. 

Keep me in your prayers, I will be leaving Sunday night and arriving in Australia on Tuesday.   I am excited about the conference that I am doing because what I have been studying in God’s word to deliver has me sooooooooooo excited.  I’m almost about to burst if I don’t let it out.

Be safe this weekend, show love and kindness, forgive, stay free and live happy.

Next time I’ll be posting, it will be from Australia.   Take care.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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15. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Today, we study Solomon’s response to his mother Bathsheba asking for Abishag (the concubine of David) to be Adonijah’s wife. 

If you thought it was a small matter, let’s look at how furious Solomon got.

Here is the text:

I Kings 2:19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand. 20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.” 21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him–after all, he is my older brother–yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24 And now, as surely as the LORD lives–he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised–Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!   Adonijah is dead…..  Solomon knew that he had used his mother to try to help him in another attempt to take the kingdom from him by requesting his father’s concubine. 

Solomon responds that he may as well have asked for the kingdom and he sentenced him to death for his request.   Just for the request, he never got the girl but for asking, he was killed.

Interesting…. Well tomorrow, the saga continues….

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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13. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

In today’s text, we begin our journey with Solomon as King.  Let’s see what’s happens at the beginning of his reign.

Here is our text:

I Kings 2: 12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly. 13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said , Comest thou peaceably? And he said , Peaceably. 14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said , Say on . 15 And he said , Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign : howbeit the kingdom is turned about , and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD. 16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on . 17 And he said , Speak , I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay ,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. 18 And Bathsheba said , Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

As you can see in our text, Adonijah is up to something again.  He wants the Abishag which if you remember was the Shunammite found for King David to keep him warm in his old age.   She became a part of David’s concubines.   Adonijah asks Bathseba to ask Solomon for her.   Now, why would Adonijah want such a thing.  This is an odd request but actually it speaks to his intent and what is still in his heart.   In the ancient world, if you took the kings wives then it was a sign that you were going after the kingdom.   In the ancient world, if a person was trying to steal the kingship then one of the first things that they  would do  to solidify their place as the “new” king would be to take over the wives and concubines from the old king.  

Evidently, Bathsheba doesn’t understand what Adonijah is doing because she agrees to take his request to her son.   Adonijah admits that he thinks he should have the kingdom but it was taken from him to give to his brother so he plays on her sympathy by saying since he did not get the kingdom then could he at least have David’s latest concubine.  Seems like an innocent request but what is the real motive?

We will study tomorrow what Solomon’s reaction will be to his mother’s request.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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12. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Welcome back from the weekend.  In our study today, David dies and gives his son Solomon advice on how to live and to take care of some loose ends.   For those of you that have been following me then the names in the passage that David calls out, you will remember the things that they did and how they were not dealt with.   For instance, Do you remember when Joab finished off Absalom when his head got hung in a tree and how he killed the commanders of the army both Abner and Amasa and how nothing was ever done to him.  Do you remember the man Shimei who when David was running from Absalom meet David at the city gates and cursed him and then later apologized when David was restored.     These people were never dealt were but were allowed to live peacefully during David’s reign however he gives the commander to his son Solomon to make sure he does not allow them to go to the grave in peace.

Here is our text.  Let’s look at the details of the story.

I Kings 2: 1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, 4 and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ 5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me–what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. 7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” 10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel–seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

As you can see in our text, the first thing that David instructs his son to do is to be strong and observe what God requires so that not only will Solomon prosper but God will honor the promise that he made to David that his heir would always be on the throne of Israel as long as they walked faithfully before God.

Tomorrow, we will begin the reign of Solomon.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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9. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our study today, we learn Adonijah’s response to David having made Solomon king.  Remember in our story, Adonijah was throwing his own party and had gathered some of David’s key people and proclaimed himself as king.

Here is out text:

I Kings 1:41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?” 42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.” 43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’ ” 49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ ” 52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”  

Wow, how powerful.  Adonijah was not stupid.  He clearly understood what it meant for Solomon to be king and the power that he had.  Solomon forgave Adonijah for trying to take over the throne and brought him from the alter and told him to go home in peace.

There is something that I want to point out.  When the text says that Adonijah took horns of the alter it means that he went there for sanctuary.  In Ancient Israel, the alter was sanctuary and when a person grabbed horns of the alter, they could not be killed as long as they stayed at the alter.

Have a great weekend everyone.  I’m trying to pack early and get ready to go to Australia.   Trying to make sure I get everything done this weekend so nothing will be last minute. 

Take care and I’ll see you in web land on Monday.

Love ya Bev in England, you’re the best..

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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8. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

I apologize for missing Tuesday and Wednesday but those days just got away from me.   My husband keeps telling me that I should write several days worth of blogs at a time so when those crazy busy days come then I’ll already have some done. 

All I can say is I think I’ll take his advice.  But I love studying it fresh with you and not looking ahead.   Well, I’ll figure it out.

In our text today, we are picking up our story of the Monarchy.  We have studied the complete reign of Saul and David which were covered in I and II Samuel and we are now in the book of kings.  Congratulations to those who have studied with me daily and you now know the intimate details of those reigns. 

We left off before the Easter breaking discussing how David’s oldest living son Adonijah had gathered together David’s top official Joab and others and had a party and self proclaimed himself as the next king since David is on his death bed.

In our last text Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba (Solomon’s mother) went in to tell David of the happenings and today we are going to be studying David’s response to the news.  Here is our text.

I Kings 1: 28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed low with her face to the ground and, kneeling before the king, said, “May my lord King David live forever!” 32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the LORD was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!” 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David’s mule and escorted him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

It is clear in our text of whose David’s choice was to rule after him.   David made sure that Solomon was anointed before his death to be Israel’s new monarch.   Adonijah though is still having his party and the text says that the noise of the rejoicing from Solomon’s anointing was so loud that the ground shook with sound which means that Adonijah and all his guests heard what David was doing.

Tomorrow, we will study Adonijah’s reaction to David’s appointment of Solomon as King.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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5. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Welcome back from the weekend.  I hope you had a wonderful Holiday weekend.  I had so much fun.   My best friends were off for a week from touring and it was so good to see them and hang out with them for a minute and go to church together.   It was great.

Today, before I get back to our study, I want to share with you my favorite resurrection story which is found in the gospel of Luke.   Here is the story.  It is just so powerful to me.

Luke 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself ! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

There a couple of things that I want to point out to you.   Every time I read the two men talking to Jesus and saying and “this is the third day”  I just get chills over my body….   This was the day that he was suppose to rise and there he was right there among them…  

Then the scriptures said that Jesus beginning at Moses which means the first five books of the bible (they were called the book of Moses) he began to teach them about him.  A lot of people have problems with teaching about Jesus from the old testament but during the time of Jesus, the New Testament did not exist, and the scriptures say that Jesus taught them about himself from the old testament.   How powerful. 

The last point I want to make is that when he appeared to his disciples again right before his ascension, the scriptures say that he opened up their minds so they could understand the scriptures and how he again verified that what was taught of him in the Law of Moses, Prophets and Psalms (Old testament) had been fulfilled and the text ends by saying that they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy..

Whooooooooohhhh…. Good stuff..

We will return to our study on tomorrow.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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2. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Happy Good Friday: 

Here is our text:

Luke 23: 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus’ Burial

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Have a wonderful Easter (Resurrection) weekend.  We will resume our study of the monarchy on Monday. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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1. April 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Today, we will read the story that entails Jesus’s  journey to the cross.

Here is our text:

Luke 23: 26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then ” ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ‘ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. “ 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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