1 Peter 2:16

 

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, 

but living as servants of God.

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

You may also like:

- "Gratitude for our Veterans" November 11, 2019 (includes a really great video)

- "Give thanks for freedom" August 21, 2020 (includes a quote from Billy Graham)

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Please join me this week in praying for the brave men and women who serve and have served in the military. Pray for them, their families. Pray for a day when there will be no more battles.

     Please also pray that the Church will come together, that there will be a revival in this country, and that we will not throw away our freedom to worship the one and only true living God.

     Also, join me in rejoicing the dedication and perseverance of the apostles. Let us praise and give thanks for their sacrifices, and for our merciful Father who paved the way, that the gospel was received.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #MemorialDay #freedom #gratitude #remembrance #thankful #apostles #disciples #GoodNews #gospel #salvation

Hey, Good News!

 

We should also remember the original apostles (minus Judas, plus Matthias and Paul) plus others later commissioned, who sacrificed everything to spread the Good News. If it weren't for them, think about where we'd be right now?! I'm especially thankful to our loving and merciful Father for allowing the Gospel to spread to the gentiles.
     You can do an internet search of 'how did the apostles died' for a detailed explanation of what is known based on historical records. I also found from various places where some of them traveled:

- Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter 1:1 ESV
- Paul traveled through Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain (See the book of Acts for more information).
- Thomas and Bartholomew traveled through Iran and India
- Philip and Mark went to Egypt (separately and to different places)
- Matthew went to Ethiopia
Note: This isn't an exhaustive list and you should do your own due diligence before quoting me on any of this.

Because of them, we are free. Because of them, we will live forever with the saints.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Luke 4:18-19 ESV

Don't let it stop there. Continue their work. There are still so many people who have never heard the Gospel. They may even be your neighbors.

Please add to your prayers, that we rejoice in the dedication and perseverance of the apostles. Let us praise and give thanks for their sacrifices, and for our merciful Father who paved the way, that the Gospel was received.

You may also like:
"Palm Sunday April 9 2017"
"Faith comes from hearing" from February 21, 2019

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Please join me this week in praying for the brave men and women who serve and have served in the military. Pray for them, their families. Pray for a day when there will be no more battles.

     Please also pray that the Church will come together, that there will be a revival in this country, and that we will not throw away our freedom to worship the one and only true living God.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #MemorialDay #freedom #soldiers #gratitude #remembrance #thankful #apostles #disciples #GoodNews #gospel

A journey

We attended a prayer meeting Sunday evening for a friend of ours who is about to have a bone marrow transplant. You've prayed for him with us in the past as "D.A." This has been a long and difficult journey for him, his wife, their children, and grandchildren yet you wouldn't know it in speaking with them. 

     He and his wife shared about the outpouring of love they've felt from God. They always focus on the positive, how God has used this illness to introduce them to people they never would have met otherwise, people who they've shared the gospel with. They are vivid image-bearers for the Lord, always praising Him, giving Him the glory. Their love, hope, and confidence in the Lord is so evident and so inspiring; I'm moved to tears every time I think about it. They are my examples of what it means to be Christlike and to be image-bearers.

     A.A. (D.A.'s wife) shared with us the Bible verse that they cling to through this journey, and it resonates with me, that this is a verse I need to meditate on. It shows where their hearts are, and where all of us, I believe, as Christians need to be in order to truly share Christ with the world:

But I do not account my life of any value 

nor as precious to myself, 

if only I may finish my course and the 

ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, 

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24 ESV

Please pray for D.A. and A.A. throughout this procedure. 

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Please join me this week while we pray through scripture, meditate on scripture, filling our hearts and minds with love and gratitude. Pray that we find hope and peace in Jesus; that we focus on and do the will of our Father and that we live our lives emulating the characteristics of Christ so that others may seek Him.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #bonemarrow #cancer #confidence #gratitude #hope #humility #journey #praise #prayer #scripture

Pray through Scripture

I've heard people say that they pray through scripture, but I had no idea how to go about it until one of the women who leads our Sunday morning bible study shared the process with us. I can probably do it more justice with an example rather than explaining it... prayer:

Lord, I praise You!

I praise You in Your sanctuary;

    I praise You in Your mighty heavens!

I praise You for Your mighty deeds;

    I praise You according to Your excellent greatness!

This was based on Psalm 150:1-2 ESV which reads:

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

You can use a verse or part of a verse as your prayer; as your entire prayer or simply a part of your prayer. There are no rules, of course. Prayer should come from the heart, but it's a wonderful practice to seek out scripture for what is on your heart and relay that back to the Father. I feel even more of a bond with Him when I look up Bible Verses that speak to what I'm feeling.

     So much of the Psalms are perfect for this. For me personally, I like having the words to properly praise our Father because so often I can't think of words sufficient to do justice to how I feel toward Him. He has done so much for me and is always there for me. I'm forever amazed that not only did He know my name in the very beginning, but He cares enough, and loves me enough to listen to me. 

     I know what He wants from me but there are many times when I'm just not feeling up to it and times when I'm just not feeling "it". But, He gives me grace and encouragement. He understands and doesn't judge me when I fail. He communicates with me through Scripture, other people, songs, thoughts, and feelings. He knows I'll repent and get back on track, and He is patient until I do. 

For all He does, I would love to literally:

Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!*

but since I don't have all of those instruments, I praise Him with words, pen, singing, and dancing.

I love my LORD!

*Psalm 150:3-5 ESV

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Please join me this week while we pray through scripture, meditate on scripture, filling our hearts and minds with love and gratitude. Pray that we find hope and peace in Jesus; that we focus on and do the will of our Father and that we live our lives emulating the characteristics of Christ so that others may seek Him.

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #cymbals #gratitude #praise #prayer #scripture

Jesus washed their feet

I can't even imagine our Lord and Savior kneeling on the floor washing my feet. The disciples must have been completely humbled by His actions. I know it humbles me. If Jesus can do this, I should be able to do anything and everything He calls me to do. There is no task beneath me.

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, 

“Do you know what I have done to you? 

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, 

you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

John 13:12-14

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

God loves a humble servant

Words aren't coming to me this week which is why I'm only posting the Bible Verses, but it just hit me that this is why. How we serve Christ and others is a personal matter between us, individually, and Him. We put ourselves last, serving all of those before us. In doing this, we can be among the first within the Kingdom of Heaven. It's a complicated lesson, to me at least, but the part about what we're doing here on Earth is very clear.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 9:35 NIV

I guess God gave me some words to write after all. :D

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Love in deed

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 NKJV

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Give

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, 

that you must support the weak. 

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘

It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Acts 20:35

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Find your gift

Did you know that God gave you a gift chosen just for you? He gives each of His children a spiritual gift*, that allows us to spread the Good News and minister to others. I was so excited to learn this because I thought we were all supposed to be able (and comfortable with) going up to strangers and asking "Do you know Jesus?" (some people are able to do that - I am not). I felt like I was letting Jesus down; after all, look at what His disciples went through to spread the word.
     The parable of the talents finally made sense to me! (Matthew 25:14-30 and similarly Luke 19:11-27) Discover your gift and use it. If you ignore it (or bury it in the dirt) it's wasted. I'm sure there are tests online you can take to discover your gift, or you can pray for God to disclose it to you.**
     Last evening I gave my testimony on video in preparation for being baptized by immersion (I was previously baptized as a newborn and at the age of 16 by being sprinkled in the Methodist Church). I couldn't sleep all night worrying about how I came across (because I worry about sounding prideful), but I get really excited about what God has done in my life lately, and there's so much more I wanted to say but forgot. I must've talked for over 30 minutes as it was and Pastor Brian will somehow chop that down to 3-5 minutes, so what I forgot to say doesn't matter, but my point is it is so exciting to discover the ways that God has equipped me to serve others and I want to share that with everyone who'll listen! I just encourage you to find your gift and run with it. It will change your life!

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11

* For a list of spiritual gifts, check 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4.
**I recommend reading: Evangelism for the Rest of Us: Sharing Christ Within Your Personality Style by Mike Bechtle

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Acquiring a servant's heart

I used to resist the idea of "serving" or "submitting" to others. I thought everyone should be strong and be able to take care of themselves and I expected the same of myself, but then I met this incredible woman, we'll call her Kitty. I said something about not liking where the bible tells us to submit to our husbands (Ephesians 5:22-23) or to anyone for that matter. She looked at me with disbelief. She said, "I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve Jesus." That cut me to the quick.
     In Ephesians, we're told to submit to (or honor or respect) our husbands and they are to love us because neither of these traits are fundamentally inherent in us. When we do this then, we are honoring Christ and the men are loving Christ.
     Jesus tells us flat out that when we care for someone, we're caring for Him (Matthew 25:31-40) and we will ultimately be judged for that.
     Kitty serves Jesus with everything she does. She is kind and loving and giving. With her one comment, she completely changed my attitude and my heart. It made me realize that my attitude was not only selfish, but a missed opportunity to serve the Lord and to spread His lovingkindness. Thank you, Kitty.

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Ephesians 6:5-8 ESV

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Gratitude for our Veterans

These brave and selfless veterans defended our country with a servant's heart. They did this for you and me, risking their lives for us.

The video refers to Matthew 20:28:

 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, 

but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (NKJV)

Galatians 5:13 ESV says:

 For you were called to freedom, brothers. 

Only do not use your freedom as an 

opportunity for the flesh, but through love 

serve one another.

Join me in thanking our veterans and letting them know that they are appreciated.

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This week we are praying for a servant's heart. I'll personally be asking God to quash my pride and fill me with the desire and opportunity to serve others. (Like I wrote previously if you pray for this be prepared for God to give you someone fairly quickly).

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

A representative of Christ

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 3:17 NKJV

God is good

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1 ESV

Signs from God

You may think I'm crazy, but I believe that God gives me signs when I ask for them. Some Christians don't believe that He does that anymore and all I can say is, "ya-huh" (as in, 'He does too'). Either way, I would feel very remiss if I didn't share this testimony with you...
     My husband and I had a bit of a rocky start in our relationship in 2011, 2012, 2013...so I would ask God for a certain sign that everything would be okay, that my husband and I would get married someday and live happily ever after (okay, maybe that last part is a stretch). Each time, God gave me this sign and each time we worked things out and we did get married.
     Back in May of this year, God gave me that sign again, just out of the blue and I thought, "Huh. That's strange," because I didn't ask for that reassurance and as far as I was concerned my husband and I were getting along fine. Well, I got home and words were said and I moved out.
     I was so crushed that I wanted to just put everything behind me and sever all ties and even get divorce proceedings going. The whole time, God kept giving me this one sign over and over again and I was so confused even though I knew what He was trying to tell me, but I kept telling Him that I was confused, so He had the Pastor call me and tell me to "slow down." I couldn't ignore that, so I did slow down and calm down. My heart even softened. We communicated through the Pastor for a couple of days and then started texting each other, and then started seeing each other.
     We started actually communicating for the first time ever and decided we were ready to reconcile, but I still had some doubts and I wasn't sure if the timing was right to move out of my mom's house because of everything she's dealing with so I asked God for a sign. I wanted to do this in God's time not our time because up until this point, our timing hadn't been very successful, but my husband assured me that it was time and that I didn't need a sign from God to tell me that, so I listened to him - all the while feeling funny about it. I thought about King Saul not waiting for Nathan like he was instructed and you know what a disaster that was! I started thinking maybe the sign I asked for was too far-fetched, but it really wasn't impossible, just unlikely unless it was from God. My husband played this song from 1994 at our wedding and we danced to it for the first time as husband and wife. It wasn't "our song" and it wasn't even from an artist that I was particularly fond of so I couldn't remember the title or any of the lyrics when I asked this of God, but I knew that when I heard it, I would know that was the song and I would know that it was from God. I could've heard it in someone's car, or at a restaurant; it could've even become a commercial jingle, but I never heard it.
     Last night I did 2 things...1. was admit to a trusted friend my role in the failing of my marriage. 2.  was begin a Christian lesson on being a Godly wife. I'm not sure which of those 2 things did it, or if it was a combination, but I got ready for bed and started singing that song out loud. After I sang the chorus I literally was stopped in my tracks. Where did that come from?! How did that song pop in my head? And I had to drop down and give praise to God for coming through for me and giving me this clear sign that I'm doing what He wants me to do when He wants me to it. This was such a wow moment for me that my heart is just so completely replenished with love and optimism for the future. I had been depressed all week and didn't know why; now I realize it's because I felt like God didn't want me to move back in yet. All of these obstacles kept blocking my progress, but now I know that I have a green light because now I have this sign from God.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17 NKJV

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Please join me this week in gratitude for our Lord and Saviour. Let's give thanks for His love, mercy, and grace. Let's rejoice for His answers to our prayers.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

His steadfast love

During the past year, God has heard our prayers and worked out in His perfect timing to answer several prayers in a combination and sequence to heal numerous hearts.

When we prayed for the lonely, the elderly, widows and widowers, parents and family, He brought them all together in one household to help each other through their lonliness and grief. He helped the elderly widow find new purpose and a sense of being needed.

When we prayed for our Pastors, a changed heart, those who moved home, those facing a life change, for patience, to listen, those considering a divorce, God stepped in and had the Pastor call me to soften my heart and listen to my husband and really hear him and consider what he was feeling. I had moved home not because of a failed marriage, but because that's where God needed me to be at that time for my mom who had just lost my dad, for my daughter who had just sold her house. When all of this happened, I couldn't see the "why" but stepping back and seeing the whole sequence of events, I'm in awe of what God orchestrated to help those in my life whom I had prayed for and to help me through my grief and what I was going through emotionally. My husband and I have reconciled and our marriage is so much better now. This had to happen the way it happened in order to fulfill God's plan to answer our prayers. We're here to build relationships and be there for each other and to bring glory to Him. We can glorify Him by being image-bearers and praising how He works in our lives. God is love.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1 ESV

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Please join me this week in gratitude for our Lord and Saviour. Let's give thanks for His love, mercy, and grace. Let's rejoice for His answers to our prayers.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Prayers answered for addiction

During the past year, our prayers for those with addiction have been answered.

A young man who had a drug problem suffers from depression. He hung around with other users and had a girlfriend who was a bad influence on him. At his lowest point, he tried to kill himself. By the grace of God, he changed his mind after taking the pills and was able to call someone. They got him to the hospital, saved his life, and enrolled him in an inpatient care facility where he got the help he truly needed. Since that time, he has separated himself from his friends and girlfriend and has been able to stay away from drugs. Hallelujah!

But by the grace of God I am what I am, 

and His grace toward me was not in vain; 

but I labored more abundantly than they all, 

yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

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Please join me this week in gratitude for our Lord and Saviour. Let's give thanks for His love, mercy, and grace. Let's rejoice for His answers to our prayers.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Rejoice

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 ESV

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Please join me this week in gratitude for our Lord and Saviour. Let's give thanks for His love, mercy, and grace. Let's rejoice for His answers to our prayers.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Let's celebrate

During the past year we have prayed for:

• bullies
• salvation for the unsaved
• those struggling with an addiction
• the lonely
• those suffering from physical pain
• government
• victims of hate
• veterans
• we prayed with thanksgiving
• the Church
• the elderly
• those going through a divorce
• our needs in order to bring us back into focus on Christ
• Christ
• for the New Year
• caregivers
• widows and widowers
• the homeless
• for Jesus' love
• our Pastors
• for a changed heart
• to listen
• the power of words
• anger
• those who abuse alcohol
• eternal life
• family
• jobs
• money
• the terminally ill
• those facing a life change
• for patience
• to become a servant for Christ
• those who moved home
• emotions
• the military
• survivors of a natural disaster
• graduates
• parents
• our faith
• no fear in sharing the Gospel
• those who are judgmental
• for parents to raise their children in a Godly home
• missionaries
• the disabled
• to put an end to violence
• family
• that people learn to forgive one another
• for perseverance
• for the protection of our children
• for the people who support us

How many of these did you pray for? How many of these did you see the fruits of your prayers?
If you didn't notice an answer to prayers, did you open your eyes and ears to see and hear the Lord? He answers all prayers. Some are 'yes', some are 'no'. He answers in His time, not ours. Some of the people we prayed for we may not know what happened in response to our prayers, but rest assured that something did happen, even if it was that a seed was planted, or a plan was set in motion.
This week, let's revisit those we've prayed for over the year. Meditate on them, pray for them again, contact them and follow up on our prayers. Then, if you feel inclined, share your stories. You can send them to me for me to post anonymously, or use them as testimony when you speak to others about your faith. This week is all about gratitude for what God has done in our lives and in response to our prayers. We have an awesome God who loves us and cares for us! Let's celebrate!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

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Please join me this week in gratitude for our Lord and Saviour. Let's give thanks for His love, mercy, and grace. Let's rejoice for His answers to our prayers.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Earth angel

Hopefully, you have someone in your life you can lean on; someone who will just listen to you when you want to rant but will offer advice when you need it. Hopefully, you have someone in your life who says or does just the right thing just when you need it. Maybe it's a family member, an online friend, a Pastor. Identify that person and send them a text or email today letting them know how grateful you are for them being such an important part of your life, and that you appreciate them. You can include this bible verse:

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 

Ephesians 1:16 ESV

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Join me this week in praying with an appreciation and gratitude for the person(s) who supports you in life.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Message of Christ

Daily Bible Verse

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly 

as you teach and admonish one another 

with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, 

and songs from the Spirit, 

singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16 NKJV