Suffering leads to hope

Our prayers can move mountains. Let's concentrate our efforts on these brothers and sisters who are suffering from illness or disease; some are going through surgeries this week.

Please join me in praying for:

A.M. having surgery today

T.K. high-risk surgery on Wednesday; large mass on ovary not yet biopsied, complete hysterectomy

D.A. who is preparing for a bone marrow transplant in the coming weeks; please also pray for his donor.

B.F. who has stage 4 cancer

T.F. who has cancer

S.S. who has pancreatic cancer

J.S. who is recovering from a heart attack and an illness

M.W. who has a lung or respiratory disease

T.H. who has stage 4 cancer

S.S. suffers from chronic pain due to CRPS and damaged nerves

W.D. who has a rare eye infection.

J.M.

those who have and have had the coronavirus

U.S.A. our country, leaders, and residents

Family, caretakers, and loved ones of those noted above

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for healing for these brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering from disease or illness. Pray boldly and with your whole heart, knowing that whatever we ask for and do not doubt, God will do.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bible #BibleVerses #prayer #healing #disease #illness #petition #intercession #surgery

Pray for the sick

We did this before the pandemic and I saw so much good and healing come from it that I thought this would be a good time to repeat those emphatic and heartfelt prayers.

Let's all pray for these people specifically and watch God be glorified by healing them! 

Please join me in praying for:

D.A. who is preparing for a bone marrow transplant in the coming weeks; please also pray for his donor.

B.F. who has stage 4 cancer

T.F. who has cancer

S.S. who has pancreatic cancer

J.S. who is recovering from a heart attack and a bleeding ulcer

M.W. who has a lung or respiratory disease

T.H. who has stage 4 cancer

S.S. suffers from chronic pain due to CRPS and damaged nerves

W.D. who has a rare eye infection.

J.M.

U.S.A.

Send me anyone you would like for us to pray for this week to archadia7@yahoo.com and put in the subject line Prayer Request. Or IM me through social media.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Psalm 34:17-20 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for healing for these brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering from disease or illness. Pray boldly and with your whole heart, knowing that whatever we ask for and do not doubt, God will do.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bible #BibleVerses #prayer #healing #disease #illness #petition #intercession

Aim for restoration

I am genuinely distraught over the chaos and violence and hatred ripping through our nation. It's my opinion that the best way to get through this tumultuous time (or any time, really) is to trust wholly in God, pray without ceasing, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, 

comfort one another, agree with one another, 

live in peace; 

and the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

One body

For as in one body we have many members, 

and the members do not all have the same function, 

so we, though many, 

are one body in Christ, 

and individually members one of another.

Romans 12:4-5 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

The tie that binds

A friend of mine became a widow in her late forties. When she felt ready to date, she joined a couple of dating sites and wrote in her journal what her idea of a "perfect man" was. She described him as:

loves the arts, to go places, to travel yet staying at home is ok, too

ability to be spontaneous

not an outdoor person per se

spiritual

liberal

a man’s man, but not so aggressive as to start a fight over every little thing

someone supportive, not overpowering or controlling

who talks a lot but can also listen and respond to what I’m saying

isn’t afraid to express his emotions even if they don’t make sense

a little romance would be nice, maybe even a gift and/or flowers on occasion and it doesn’t even have to be an occasion

would be nice to have someone who can fix things but can also allow professionals to step in when needed.

These were things that she felt were most important from the lessons she learned during her first marriage.

     The following week she prayed about it. The very next day she was contacted by the man who would become her husband. He fit the bill almost perfectly except he doesn't "love" the arts, (but he will accompany her to certain events), he is very much an outdoor person and is about as far from liberal as you can get. Despite those few differences, she felt like he was sent from God in response to her prayer and that he was her perfect man in every other aspect, so it was meant to be. However, it became evident very quickly that they were complete opposites in nearly every way, which confused her notion that they were destined to be together.

     Politics played a huge roll in accentuating their differences. She didn't understand why it was such a big deal and she especially didn't understand why he constantly wanted to talk about it. They broke up several times while they dated and even separated once after they were married but they always got back together. There was something bigger than their differences at work. Some positive force that always reunites them. I think that positive force is God. I think He has a plan for them or at the very least, sees a reason they should be together.

     Maybe He feels that their love for Him and their commitment to Him is way more important than their differences. The break-ups are just to remind them they love each other and can't live without the other one. Missing each other makes all of the differences between them seem insignificant. Over the years, they've learned to compromise and to allow each other the grace to have their differing opinions.

     Maybe, we as Christians can draw from this just how important our love for God and our commitment to God are. It's the tie that binds us together. It's the most important aspect of our lives that we have in common and it's greater than all of our collective differences. If we can rest in that and be a loving, peaceful, united front, then maybe the world will take notice and want to be a part of what we have. 

     We need speech that unites us, that spreads 

        grace, not blame

        love, not hate

        peace, not violence

        hope, not despair, ...

 

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 14:19 ESV 

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Dwell in unity

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Psalm 133:1 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Walk in Unity

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, 

beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, 

bearing with one another in love, 

endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit 

in the bond of peace. 

There is one body and one Spirit, 

just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 

one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

one God and Father of all, who is above all, 

and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

With one voice

That together you may with one voice 

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:6 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Brothers and Sisters

There are so many things to divide us: race, religion, politics, worldview, opinions. With the pandemic, we have yet another separation of those who wear masks, and those who don't. It's just one more thing to get worked up about; one more thing to draw our focus away from Jesus. Sometimes it's hard to love one another when we can only see the differences instead of the one thing we have in common...we are God's children, brothers and sisters in Christ. 

     As such, we have a duty to show the world that we are filled with the Holy Spirit by our words, actions, attitudes. We can agree to disagree. We can have tolerance and forgiveness, grace and mercy for everyone, no matter what. It's difficult, and I myself and not very good at it, but I keep trying. When I slip, I ask for forgiveness and strength and guidance. 

     This can have a positive effect on everyone we come in contact with, like ripples in the water, radiating outward. This entire world needs to see acts of love and unity, especially now when Satan seems to be running rampant, dividing us, keeping us apart and on edge.

     I love what Peter wrote:

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, 

sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, 

and a humble mind.

1 Peter 3:8 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

I'll give it tomorrow

Do not say to your neighbor,

“Go, and come back,

And tomorrow I will give it,”

When you have it with you.

Proverbs 3:28

Time to One Who is Eternal

For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it is past,

And like a watch in the night

Psalm 90:4 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for today; asking the Father what His will is for us for this day. Let's also pray to keep what's most important always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Pray for boldness and encouragement to be Christlike in all that we do and His image-bearer to everyone He sends our way.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Boastfulness

I've probably read this verse a handful of times, but today it struck a chord with me. I actually said, "whoa," out loud. What a great reminder that very few things in this life are certain and therefore don't boast about anything. It's like a hard-hitting version of "don't count your chickens before they've hatched," only this involves armor so being able to remove your armor at the end of the day means you survived, you were victorious, or at the very least, you were successful in making it through alive. What a great life lesson!

And the king of Israel replied, 

"Tell him: 'The one putting on his armor 

should not boast like one taking it off.'"

1 Kings 20:11 NIV

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Please join me this week in praying for today; asking the Father what His will is for us for this day. Let's also pray to keep what's most important always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Pray for boldness and encouragement to be Christlike in all that we do and His image-bearer to everyone He sends our way.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

God's wisdom for us

But, as it is written, 

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 

nor the heart of man imagined, 

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for today; asking the Father what His will is for us for this day. Let's also pray to keep what's most important always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Pray for boldness and encouragement to be Christlike in all that we do and His image-bearer to everyone He sends our way.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

We are a mist

The passage below is about making plans separate from God. I came across a quote from Charles Spurgeon about this: "There are two great certainties about things that shall come to pass - one is that God knows, and the other is that we do not know." 

      Things to contemplate/meditate on: why don't we think to check in with God more often? Pride? Independence? Or we just don't think about it? How can we be more mindful about including our Father in all aspects of our lives?

 

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for today; asking the Father what His will is for us for this day. Let's also pray to keep what's most important always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Pray for boldness and encouragement to be Christlike in all that we do and His image-bearer to everyone He sends our way.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Eat, drink and be merry

When I was thinking about what to pray about this week, "The parable of the rich fool" came to mind. My husband and I discuss and pray for family members who profess to be Christians, but for whom we're concerned about their actual salvation. And so, he presented this question to one of them: "If the rapture were today, would you still be here tomorrow?"

     It's something we should ask ourselves. Do we know for certain that we're saved? Or, do we just talk the talk and walk the walk? Are we consumed with earthly treasures or is our focus on our Father and His plan for us while we're here? I confess, there are times when I get caught up in my "stuff". I spend time and money organizing it, displaying it, moving it, but rarely spend time enjoying it, or even using it.

     We're here in this world to bring glory to God, to share the Good News, and to build relationships. Everything else is just busywork. 

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16-21 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for today; asking the Father what His will is for us for this day. Let's also pray to keep what's most important always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Pray for boldness and encouragement to be Christlike in all that we do and His image-bearer to everyone He sends our way.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Today is a gift

As Oogway once said: 

Yesterday is history, 

tomorrow is a mystery, 

but today is a gift. 

That is why it is called the present.*

This week may be a little different as far as praying ... I'd like for us to do a little self-reflection. I can't help but think the rapture will occur in our lifetime and may even be just around the corner. Even if I'm wrong, we're not guaranteed tomorrow. I get to thinking about this stuff and what would I do differently if I knew that tomorrow wouldn't come? How would I spend my time? What would be my biggest regret?

     My intention is to start each day giving thanks, and then check in with God as to what He would like me to do that day. There was a story I heard along those lines where the person put God first, giving up her wants and desires for His. It was just a wonderful testimony of trusting God and making Him an integral part of our lives. 

     When I originally started putting this week's topic together it was about "tomorrow", but then I realized that it's really about the possible absence of tomorrow, which makes it about "today."

     I am forever planning and mapping out my days, managing my time to the extent that I get caught up in the future, what I'll do next, instead of enjoying the present, living in the moment. 

     I also spend a lot of time reflecting on the past, remembering, rehashing, regretting certain events. It's kind of a shame because we're giving this fresh start each and every day. We need to cherish it and spend it wisely, doing God's will. That's my hope for this week of prayer. I hope you'll join me.

Do not boast about tomorrow, 

for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 27:1 ESV

* From Kung Fu Panda 1. I also think it is a quote from a philosopher, but didn't have time to look that up.

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Please join me this week in praying for today; asking the Father what His will is for us for this day. Let's also pray to keep what's most important always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Pray for boldness and encouragement to be Christlike in all that we do and His image-bearer to everyone He sends our way.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Throne of grace

Let us then with confidence draw near 

to the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy and 

find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Be merciful

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Forgiveness and Prayer

“And whenever you stand praying, 

if you have anything against anyone, 

forgive him, that your Father in heaven 

may also forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:25 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

By God's grace

As each has received a gift, 

use it to serve one another, 

as good stewards of God's varied grace

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Grace thru forgiveness

Bearing with one another and, 

if one has a complaint against another, 

forgiving each other; 

as the Lord has forgiven you, 

so you also must forgive.

Colossians 3:13 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Grace for diversity

I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday morning..to me, grace is allowing others to be themselves; allowing others to do what they want to do, think what they want to think, feel what they want to feel. It's acknowledging that we're all different and although we may disagree, we're still all God's children and we're to love one another. There's no caveat there, no asterix or exceptions. It is God's law to us. The first is to love God above all else. The second is to love our neighbors (aka everyone) as we love ourselves. 

Grant grace to those who 

- do or don't wear masks. 

- to those who belong to the opposite political party

- to those with a different skin color

- to those who speak a different language

- to those with a different religion

- to those who dance to a different beat

Let your speech always be gracious, 

seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4:6 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Grace to those who hear

I want to pray this week for grace; not necessarily for God's grace for us, or others' grace for us, but for us to "give grace" to those we encounter. It turns out, the word grace is a lot more complicated than what I originally thought. After doing a little research it seems as though there is a whole lot packed into that little word. It can mean to lift others up spiritually, to be patient or forgiving; it's often used as God giving us what we do not deserve especially through the sacrifice of His only Son on the cross. Even all of this feels like I'm missing the mark, but it's my hope that with all of the divisiveness in the world right now, that we as the church can make a daily impact on those we come in contact with by our speech and our actions. We need to come together as Christians and show the world what God's love looks like.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, 

but only such as is good for building up, 

as fits the occasion, 

that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the ability to give grace to those we come in contact with. Pray for the opportunity to be Christlike and image-bearers to the unsaved that they may see God's love for His children, through our speech and actions.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Pursue peace

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 14:19 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for peace and unity. Let's pray for the violence to stop.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Plan peace

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

Proverbs 12:20 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for peace and unity. Let's pray for the violence to stop.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Sown in peace

But the wisdom from above is first pure, 

then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, 

impartial and sincere. 

And a harvest of righteousness is 

sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:17-18 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for peace and unity. Let's pray for the violence to stop.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power