Sunday, December 31, 2017

Nathanael Under the Fig Tree

Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree one day. We don’t know the details but he probably prayed, “Lord, can you see me under this fig tree? Can you hear what I’m praying? If you can, I’ll follow wherever you lead me.”

Sometime after that, Philip comes running to him and says, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth…Come and see.” When the Jesus saw him coming He said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (John 1:45-50)

Although they had never met, Jesus knew everything in his heart. Like a computer program scanning for viruses, He scanned Nathanael’s heart and couldn’t find any deceit. The first words Jesus said to Nathanael must have stunned him: “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Even though Jesus wasn’t anywhere near the fig tree, He saw him there. This was an unmistakable sign to Nathanael that Jesus was the Messiah and the one to follow.

Nathanael said, "You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel." Although we usually give credit to Peter as the first to say Jesus was the Son of God (Matt. 16:16), Nathanael was the first disciple to do so. Jesus said, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” Jesus not only saw Nathanael under the fig tree but He also saw his future.

Just as Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree, He sees where you are at this very moment. He knows what you’re going through and wants to lead you through this life. He knows what’s ahead in 2018. If you’ll follow Him like Nathanael did, you will see greater things too—both in this life and the life to come. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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Making Life Count Ministries
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Thursday, December 21, 2017

The Prophet Predicted Bethlehem

The prophet Micah, who lived 700 BC, recorded a future event in the Scriptures: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2).

Out of all the cities in the world, Micah predicted Bethlehem would be the place where the Messiah would be born. Micah’s prophecy also explains the dual nature of Christ—both God and human. The Messiah would be born in a physical body but the prophecy explains He existed in heaven in eternity past. Jesus told us where He came from, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven” (John 6:51).

Centuries passed without the prophecy being fulfilled. Then approximately 720 years later, events began to unfold to bring it to pass. Caesar Augustus issued a decree to tax everyone living under Roman rule. This required everyone in Israel to return to his or her own city to register. Caesar didn’t realize his order would set in motion the fulfilling of Micah’s prophecy.

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth but both were from the house of David, which meant they had to travel to Bethlehem to register. What were the odds they would arrive in the town at the exact time Mary gave birth to Jesus, which fulfilled Micah’s prophecy from 700 years before? Only God could make that happen. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” The living bread came down from heaven to be born in Bethlehem—the house of bread.

This is just one of many prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, proving the Bible is inspired by God. For more about Bible prophecies being fulfilled read The Sure Cure for Worry.
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Saturday, December 16, 2017

How Did the Shepherds Find Baby Jesus?

You know the story. An angel appeared to some shepherds at night and announced the birth of Jesus saying, “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). That’s it? No further instructions? How did they find Him? Maybe it happened something like this…

In April 2001, my friend Eugene needed his car windshield replaced. The repairman would be coming to town on a Sunday so Eugene left his vehicle at his workplace at 7 am. It was a cold morning and a storm was coming, but for some reason Eugene decided to walk home instead of having his wife pick him up. After walking a few blocks it started to lightly rain and he heard a baby crying in the distance.

As he kept walking, the cries grew louder and sounded desperate. He looked at a nearby bowling alley, which was closed, and noticed a baby stroller parked behind the building. Eugene sprinted to the stroller. Inside was a little baby that had turned blue due to the cold. He ripped off his shirt, quickly wrapped up the infant and called 911 on his cell phone. The police came and took the baby to the hospital.

The baby was too far away from the street to hear from inside a car. Only someone walking down the street could have heard the cries. Just minutes after the police left, it started pouring rain with winds reaching 40 mph. If Eugene hadn’t been walking down that street at that precise time, the baby would have died in the storm. Later it was discovered that a little boy who lived in a nearby apartment complex took the baby for a stroll and left her there.

Did God lead Eugene to find that baby? Yes He did. But Eugene didn’t know God was leading him. The Lord put a thought in Eugene’s mind to walk home in bad weather instead of calling for a ride. And that’s how God guided him to the right place to find the baby.

God did something similar with the shepherds. I believe as they hurried into town the Lord put a thought in their minds to turn left at the tax collector’s office rather than right. As they walked down the street they heard a baby crying and followed the sound to find Jesus.

THE LESSON: If someone wants to find Jesus, God will make sure the person will find Him. And He can lead us by putting thoughts in our minds, even if we are unaware of it. For more about God’s guidance & divine appointments read The Sure Cure for Worry.
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Sunday, December 10, 2017

It's How You Say It

You can control how people respond to you by the way you say it. An Army private was serving apricots in the lunch line to the other soldiers. As the first 100 soldiers passed through he asked, "You don't want any apricots, do you?" Only 10% replied they did.

When the next 100 soldiers came through, he changed the question and asked, "Would you like some apricots?" When asked this way, half the soldiers wanted them. He asked the next 100, "Would you like one bowl of apricots or two?"  This time 50% wanted one bowl and 40% wanted two bowls.

Asking negatively brought a 10% response but asking positively brought a 90% approval. By changing his wording he changed their perception of the apricots. It changed from something they didn't want…to something they wanted…to something so good they wanted more.

This shows that relationships can improve or be destroyed by our words. “From the same mouth proceed blessing (building up) and cursing (tearing down)….these things out not to be so.” (James 3:10). We can bless instead of curse by doing 3 things:

1. Check your motive. Jesus said, “The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matt. 12:34). Look inside your heart and make sure you’re “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

2. Choose your words wisely. Think before you speak. “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18). We can actually heal a wounded person’s soul by first thinking, then speaking.

3. Change your tone of voice. “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:1). A gentle answer is a soft tone of voice and calms the other person. Harshness is loud and obnoxious, which evokes anger in the hearer. Can you see how lowering your tone can restore a strained relationship?

Remember, it IS what you say, but it’s also how you say it. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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Friday, October 27, 2017

Are Ghosts Real?

Ghost hunters try to video paranormal images from “haunted” houses in an attempt to prove ghosts really do exist. For example, they’ll claim to see a soldier wearing a Confederate uniform who was killed in the Civil War. They’ll ask questions to the deceased person and record EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) that seem to give an intelligent answer. According to ghost hunters, this is proof the spirits of dead people are still wandering in the place where they died.  

But think about it. How could a ghost wear clothes? A uniform is made of cloth, so how could the material appear as a ghost? What the hunters see and hear may actually be real, but they aren’t ghosts. They’re demons. These demons are called “deceitful spirits" (1 Tim. 4:1) because they try to convince people they are disembodied spirits of dead people.

Demons are fallen angels who were kicked out of heaven for rebelling against God and are now on earth, trying to lead people away from Jesus Christ. They’re also called “familiar spirits” (Lev. 20:6, Isa. 8:19) because they’re familiar with people who lived in the past and can easily impersonate them. They disguise themselves (2 Cor. 11:14) and can pretend to be a Confederate soldier wearing a uniform, or someone else who has died.

Why? They want us to believe that people don’t go to heaven or hell when they die. Hebrews 9:27 says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Second Corinthians 5:8 says when a believer dies he or she is absent from the body and present with the Lord. There is no in-between state where a spirit is trapped.

Christians don’t need to be afraid of demons who appear as ghosts because "greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he who is in the world (demons)" (1 John 4:4) and He has given us authority “over all the power of the enemy” (Satan). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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Sunday, October 22, 2017

The Lord Make His Face Shine on You

Archaeologists in Israel discovered two small silver scrolls in 1979 that recorded a priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” God spoke this to Moses approximately 1500 BC and the scrolls were dated to the 7th century B.C., which means the blessing was still being honored 800 years later

Why was this Scripture so important and what did it mean? Since God told Aaron and the priests to say this blessing over future generations (Numbers 6:22-23), it must have an important purpose. This blessing is an appeal to God to look favorably on His people and to grant His presence, blessing, guidance, and grace.

1. The Lord bless you asks God to extend His favor and bless what we do.

2. And keep you requests God’s protection from evil and harm.

3. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you suggests that God does NOT shine on everyone or give His grace. He causes His face to shine on those who seek His face and want to know Him. These verses ask God to not hide His face from them (Job 13:24, Psalm 27:9, 44:24, 69:17, 88:14, 102:2, 143:7). Today we’d say, “Please don’t turn your back on me.”

Jesus said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). Jesus informed us that the angels watch over children and at the same time are looking at God’s shining face in heaven. Sometimes we forget God in heaven is that close.

4. The Lord lift His countenance on you is a picture of a father smiling and taking pleasure in his child. When the Lord lifts His countenance upon us, it shows that He is looking on us for our good.

5. And give you peace. Peace calms your soul and keeps your soul from being tormented. Only God can give peace to your soul.

God wants to bless us. He wants to protect us. He wants to smile on us, be gracious to us, and give us peace. But it doesn't come automatically. It happens when we seek to know and please Him. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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Sunday, October 8, 2017

Paul's Unplucked Thorn

When my daughter was five years old she came to me crying. “Daddy, I’ve got a sticker in my finger and I want you to pull it out.” I grabbed some tweezers and held her finger as I attempted minor surgery. She pulled her hand back and said, “I’ve changed my mind. I want you to leave it in!”
     Apostle Paul was tormented by a “thorn in the flesh” and asked God to use heavenly tweezers to remove it. Paul described it as a “messenger of Satan to buffet me” (2 Cor. 12:7). God decided to leave it in.

What was the thorn? It was a “messenger” from Satan. The Greek word is angelos and is also translated angel. It was a fallen angel--a demon assigned by Satan, which caused all Paul’s persecutions and troubles mentioned in 2 Cor. 11:23-26. Because Paul had received many great revelations from God, including a glimpse of heaven, the demon was allowed to “buffet” him to keep him humble. The Lord used hate and rejection by others to keep him from exalting himself. Paul needed to stay humble so God could continue to use him.

Paul’s response to the thorn. Paul doesn’t say when the thorn was given to him, but it may have been shortly after his visit to heaven since he seems to connect them (12:2-7). His first reaction was to get rid of it. After he cried for help three times, Paul had to be wondering if the Lord had heard his request. Then the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (12:9). God’s power is connected to our dependence on HimWhat can we learn from this?

1. God is more interested in your character than your comfort. He will use difficult circumstances and evil people to drive out pride and keep us from exalting ourselves.

2. God may answer your prayers differently than you ask. God did answer Paul’s prayer but not in the way he had asked. The Lord didn’t remove the thorn but gave him the grace to endure it. If Paul hadn’t learned to hear God speak to him, he never would have understood why the Lord allowed it.

3. God will give you the grace to endure what you're going through. If God doesn’t deliver you from your problem, He will give you the grace to get through it. Paul learned to embrace His grace to endure his difficulty. God’s grace is like a spiritual shock absorber that softens the full impact of the negative forces trying to crush us. If your car hits a hole on the highway, your shock absorber cushions the impact and gives you a smoother ride. God’s grace cushions us from the full pain of spiritual attacks and empowers us to live through difficulties. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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Making Life Count Ministries
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Sunday, September 24, 2017

The Invisible Fence

My friend installed an invisible fence around his property to make sure his dog wouldn't run into the street and get hit by a car. He buried an electrical wire around the perimeter of his property. A small box sent out a signal to a receiver in the dog's collar. If the dog walked near the boundary line the collar vibrated, which warned him to back away. If he ignored the warning and kept going, he received a small electrical shock, which turned him back. The invisible fence taught his dog where he couldn't go.

God uses two types of invisible fences.
First, He puts a conscience inside everyone. “The Gentiles (unbelievers)…show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness [to right and wrong], and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them” (Rom. 2:14-15). Adam and Eve crossed the invisible fence to look at the forbidden fruit. When people continue to override their consciences nothing will bother them anymore—even torturing and killing others. They’ve become “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron” (1 Tim. 4:2) and are heading for the shock of their lives.

Second, the Holy Spirit who lives inside every believer convicts us of right and wrong. He speaks to our hearts to guide us on the right path and warn us when we’re going the wrong way. But He also empowers us to live for Him. His warnings are not just trying to keep us from getting run over, but to keep us living in the area of joy and freedom. “For you were called to freedom, only do not turn your opportunity for the flesh” (Gal. 5:13).

When you walk in the Spirit, you won’t keep trying to sneak across the invisible line. You’ll enjoy living in the land of freedom so much that you won’t want to leave it.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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Making Life Count Ministries
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Sunday, August 6, 2017

Imaginary Movies in Your Mind

When was the last time you watched a movie? Not at the mall, but the imaginary movies in your mind. Satan has produced a number of films he wants you to watch. He projects imaginary movies on the screen of your mind, trying to stir up ungodly emotions so you’ll react in the wrong way.
A seat is reserved for you. Admission is free. The popcorn is ready and the show is about to begin. All Satan asks is for you to believe what you see even though none of it has yet happened.

The Worry movie plays in your mind and you see every tragedy happening to you or someone you love. The Angry movie stars foolish people who keep doing things you don’t like, trying to steal your joy. You are the star of the dark Depression movie where you seemingly have lost all hope. The Temptation movie shows you doing something wrong without any consequences. Killers watch the Murder movie before they do the crime. You’ve probably seen the Jealousy movie, Envy movie, and Rejection movie. Have you ever noticed how the movies in your mind never have a happy ending?

This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Notice we must carry out a two-step process—stop and replace.

STOP THE MOVIE!Casting down imaginations.” You don’t have to keep watching it. You can turn off the movie by commanding the thoughts to leave in Jesus’ name. You realize Satan has made the movies and you’re determined to shut down his operation. When you take a stand against him, he’ll leave and take his movie projection with him. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)

REPLACE IT. “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” It’s not enough to cast down the imaginations. We also need to replace it with right thinking. Don’t leave the lot vacant but build a godly house there. If we’ll dwell on godly thoughts (Phil. 4:8) we’ll be happy both now and in the future.
FOR MORE about the movies in your mind read Slaying Your Giants.
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Making Life Count Ministries
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Sunday, July 30, 2017

Humbling Yourself Under God's Hand

Don’t skip first base. A relationship with God begins with humbling ourselves before Him. Humility is the key that unlocks God’s grace and mercy in our lives. “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:5–6). Notice 4 things:

1. God opposes proud people but gives grace to the humble. How would you like God to oppose everything that you do? Proud people see themselves as self-sufficient and don’t need God. When we humble ourselves it opens the door to receive God’s grace and mercy, which brings His blessing on our lives.

2. The only one who can “humble yourself” is yourself. No one can do this for you. Only you can do humble yourself. Humility means to yield right of way. A “yield” street sign means to let the other person go before you. We view others as more important than ourselves. “With humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself” (Phil. 2:3).  

3. Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand. We realize God’s hand is powerful and that He is ruler over the entire world (1 Chron. 29:11-12). Humbling ourselves means we yield completely to Him and let Him have His way in our lives.

4. God exalts humble people at the proper time. The proper time means in eternity after this life is over. Humbling yourself in this life means you will be exalted in the next life. Jesus said, “For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

Have you humbled yourself under God’s mighty hand? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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DO YOU KNOW WHAT MORMONS BELIEVE
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Making Life Count Ministries
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Sunday, July 16, 2017

Do You Trust the Kicker?

Suppose you’re at a football game and your team is on the other team’s 20-yard line with the clock stopped. One second is left in the game and you’re losing by 2 points. The kicker runs on the field and if he kicks the field goal your team wins the game.

Only one problem. The kicker is terrible! He’s missed most kicks all year. Nervous fans are squirming and afraid to watch. A fan yells, “He'll miss this one, too!” Why are they worried? They don’t trust the kicker.

Consider another scenario. A different kicker comes in for the final play. This player has never missed a field goal all season. The fans give each other high-5's because they're confident he will make the kick. Why aren’t they worried? They trust the kicker.

Here’s the real kicker. Worry is a trust issue. We worry because we don’t trust that God is in control and will fail us in our time of need. Worry never trusts—and trust never worries. You can’t worry and trust God at the same time. Since trust forces out worry, your worry will leave by placing your complete trust in God. Here's how.

1. Trust begins with having a relationship. I can’t trust someone that I don’t know, so trusting God begins with having a relationship with Him (Rom. 10:13) and trusting His heart.

2. Trust grows as we believe what He has promised. Trust increases as you deepen your fellowship with God. Although you won’t see God until after you die, you can see what He has promisedin His Word, the Bible. God has given us proof the Bible is true through fulfilled prophecies about the future. It’s impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18) and He stands behind His promises (2 Cor. 1:20).

3. To quit worrying we must choose to put our trust in God. Psalm 56:3-4 says “When I am afraid, I will PUT my trust in You…in God I have PUT my trust. I shall not be afraid.” To “put” means to transfer from one place to another. You put gasoline into your car by transferring it from the gas pump to the tank. So when you put your trust in the Lord, you transfer it from yourself to HimFor much more about trusting God for provision and the future read The Sure Cure for Worry.
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Making Life Count Ministries
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Sunday, July 9, 2017

Catching a Connecting Flight

My wife and I were on a flight from California to Florida when the pilot was forced to land in Texas due to severe weather. We stayed that evening in Houston and the next morning caught a connecting flight to Jacksonville. Even though our original travel plan was interrupted and diverted, we still ended up at the right destination.

As we seek to follow God and His plan, sometimes we’re diverted to another path. That doesn’t mean we can never get back to the right place. God’s sovereignty works like catching a connecting flight. He takes you where you are right now and redirects you to the correct destination.

1. We can be diverted to another path by others’ rejection. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him as a slave to some Midianite traders. Joseph caught a “connecting ride” to Egypt where God promoted him to be a ruler (Gen 37, 41). If you lost your job or went through a divorce, remember that God still has a plan you.

2. We can be diverted to another path by our own rebellion. God told Jonah to go preach to the people in Nineveh. Instead of obeying Him, Jonah caught a ship going in the opposite direction. The sailors threw him overboard and a “connecting whale” swallowed him and took him back to Israel. No matter how far you’ve strayed from God, He will still provide a way back to Him.

3. We can be diverted to another path through adverse circumstances. These are unforeseen situations that sidetrack us, like the severe weather that forced our plane to land in Houston. The apostle Paul was sailing to Rome when a terrible storm wrecked the ship on the island Malta. After God used Paul to heal many people on the island, he caught a “connecting ship” (an Alexandrian boat) and still ended up in Rome (Acts 27-28).

Trust God to lead you in your current situation and show you the steps to take. Prayer: “Lord, please forgive me for choosing the wrong way. I surrender to you and ask you to lead me in the right path.” www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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Sunday, July 2, 2017

How to Forgive Your Enemy

Jesus told a parable about a king that forgave a slave who owed him $50 million in today's dollars. It would take him 4,500 lifetimes to pay it off, yet the merciful king dismissed him from the entire debt! You’d think the slave would be so grateful for being forgiven that he would forgive everyone who owed him as well. Not so with this guy. When he found a fellow-slave who owed him $15, he started choking him, saying, “Pay back what you owe me!” (Matt. 18:28).

Are you choking someone who has hurt you? You aren't physically strangling your enemy, but what about in your mind? The $50 million debt represents the debt we owe to God. When we ask God's forgiveness, the merciful King dismisses the debt. Since we’ve now received His mercy, He wants us to extend mercy to our enemies and dismiss their debt as well.

How can you forgive those who have hurt you?
1. Focus on what God did FOR you, not what that person did TO you.
I can’t give away something that I haven't first received. I can't give you $15 if I haven't first received $15. And I can't give forgiveness to others until I’ve first received it from God. But since the Lord has forgiven my $50 million debt, it’s no problem for me to forgive $15.

2. Change the way you view the person who hurt you. You won’t forgive as long as you’re angry at your enemy, so you’ll need to change how you view him. The king was angry at first but then "felt compassion" for the slave, which moved him to forgive him (Matt. 18:27). When his emotions changed from anger to pity, forgiveness followed. Find a way to feel pity and compassion for your enemy. Perhaps the person is lost, is mentally ill, or was abused as a child—see them in that way. (I’ve shared real examples of this in my book Slaying Your Giants pp.59-70.)

3. Let go by taking your hands off your enemy’s neck. People owe different kinds of debts. Some people owe money. Others might owe you an apology. Perhaps you’re upset because someone hasn’t thanked you. Keep in mind that hateful people never apologize, and ungrateful people don’t say thank you. Quit expecting your enemy to make things right with you. Instead of choking him (or her), trying to force him to repay, take your hands off his neck. Take the loss and let it go, just as the king let go of the $50 million debt that was owed to him.

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for forgiving my $50 million debt. I choose to forgive (name the person) for (describe the offense). I’m letting go of (person) and I’ve changed the way I view him/her.”
When you forgive your enemy you’ll stop being tormented inside. And that's worth a whole lot more than the $15 debt you forgave. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett