WEBVTT - Take Hold of Hope

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abides Sleep Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation

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<v Speaker 1>is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio.

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<v Speaker 2>and body as we hear tonight's sleep story.

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<v Speaker 3>Hello and welcome to this sleep story from Abide. My

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<v Speaker 3>name is Jonathan. Thanks for joining me for our story.

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<v Speaker 3>Take Hold of Hope. In Colossians chapter one, verse twenty three,

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<v Speaker 3>Paul and Timothy encourage believers to take hold of the

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<v Speaker 3>hope offered in the gospel. This is a powerful message

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<v Speaker 3>of grasping the hope found only in Christ. They say,

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<v Speaker 3>continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not

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<v Speaker 3>move from the hope held out in the Gospel. This

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<v Speaker 3>is the gospel that you heard, and that's been proclaimed

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<v Speaker 3>to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul,

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<v Speaker 3>have become a servant in this peaceful Bible meditation. You'll

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<v Speaker 3>experience renewed hope to continue in whatever measure of faith

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<v Speaker 3>you have. You'll also be encouraged to remain in Christ Jesus,

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<v Speaker 3>secure and established in Him. Find rest as you hear

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<v Speaker 3>powerful scriptures offering hope for your journey, and sleep soundly

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<v Speaker 3>as you encounter faith building illustrations that encourage and inspire.

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<v Speaker 3>Let go of all worry, anxiety, and stress as you

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<v Speaker 3>receive genuine prayers of faith and covering. Listen as long

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<v Speaker 3>as you like, or as long as you need to

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<v Speaker 3>fall asleep in the presence of the Lord. Allow this

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<v Speaker 3>to be a time of full surrender, letting your thoughts

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<v Speaker 3>and emotions be calm by God's love. Together, we will

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<v Speaker 3>invite Him to be with us, guiding us on this

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<v Speaker 3>peaceful sleep journey of renewed trust. Will follow His direction

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<v Speaker 3>every step of the way. I'm truly grateful you're here,

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<v Speaker 3>my friend, and I pray you'll be blessed by the

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<v Speaker 3>words of Paul and Timothy encouraging you to take hold

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<v Speaker 3>of the hope found in Christ Jesus. When you're trying

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<v Speaker 3>to define what hope means, it can feel a bit elusive,

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<v Speaker 3>but When we turn to the scriptures, we're given a

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<v Speaker 3>treasure of hope filled wisdom for our journey. In Kalassians

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<v Speaker 3>Chapter one, verse twenty three, Paul encourages us to remain

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<v Speaker 3>steadfast in hope, saying, continue in your faith, established and firm,

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<v Speaker 3>and don't move from the hope held out in the Gospel.

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<v Speaker 3>This is the gospel that you heard, and that's been

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<v Speaker 3>proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul,

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<v Speaker 3>have become a servant. But the hope found in Christ

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<v Speaker 3>shine on you like the bright morning sun light your

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<v Speaker 3>heart with joy and peace. Feel the strength God gives

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<v Speaker 3>restoring hope as you rest and trust in Him. According

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<v Speaker 3>to the Dictionary, hope means a feeling of trust or

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<v Speaker 3>a desire for something to happen. Let the thought of

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<v Speaker 3>deeper trust settle over you for a few moments, all

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<v Speaker 3>doubt fades away. As you put your trust in Jesus,

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<v Speaker 3>you can count on Him, my friend. Whatever you desire

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<v Speaker 3>can be committed to the Lord with full trust that

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<v Speaker 3>he hears, sees, and blesses according to his will. Rest

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<v Speaker 3>for a moment in the holy will of God. It's good,

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<v Speaker 3>pleasing and perfect. Continue resting quietly in the peaceful tranquility

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<v Speaker 3>of the room, as I share our key passage again.

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<v Speaker 3>Here's what it says. Continue in your faith, established and firm,

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<v Speaker 3>and do not move from the hope held out in

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<v Speaker 3>the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard, and

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<v Speaker 3>that's been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of

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<v Speaker 3>which I, Paul have become a servant. Rest on the

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<v Speaker 3>phrase continue in your faith. Let it strengthen you as

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<v Speaker 3>you sleep. It's good to continue in wisdom and truth.

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<v Speaker 3>Be steadfast in what you know to be true. Jesus

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<v Speaker 3>is the truest thing in your life. Envision a brick building,

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<v Speaker 3>well established and solid in structure. Each brick is layered

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<v Speaker 3>with the strength of mortar in between. The foundation is

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<v Speaker 3>fortified and stable. This building is a symbol of your faith,

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<v Speaker 3>established and immovable. In Matthew chapter seven, verses twenty four

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<v Speaker 3>and twenty five, Jesus says, everyone, then, who hears these

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<v Speaker 3>words of Mine and does them, will be like a

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<v Speaker 3>wise man who built his house on the rock. And

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<v Speaker 3>the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds

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<v Speaker 3>blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall,

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<v Speaker 3>because it had been founded on the rock founded on

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<v Speaker 3>the rock. Feel the strength of that statement. Your faith

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<v Speaker 3>is built on solid rock. As Deuteronomy chapter thirty two,

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<v Speaker 3>verse four says, He is the rock. His works are perfect,

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<v Speaker 3>and all his ways are Just feel the support underneath you.

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<v Speaker 3>You're safe, protected, upheld, and supported by the God who

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<v Speaker 3>loves you. There's no need to fear. You are immovable

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<v Speaker 3>in Christ Jesus, as Paul encourages, Therefore, my beloved brothers

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<v Speaker 3>and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work

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<v Speaker 3>of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor

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<v Speaker 3>is not in vain. The writer of Hebrews says, Let

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<v Speaker 3>us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

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<v Speaker 3>Rest soundly and the unshakable faith you've been given. Let

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<v Speaker 3>it comfort and assure you that you belong to Christ.

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<v Speaker 3>Gracious God, please speak words of life and truth to

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<v Speaker 3>this precious listening friend, reminding them that they're yours. I

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<v Speaker 3>ask that you strengthen them as they sleep, provide just

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<v Speaker 3>what's needed to be unshakable in the days ahead. Thank you,

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<v Speaker 3>Lord for putting your heads around them and shielding them

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<v Speaker 3>from any storm that comes. You are a holy refuge

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<v Speaker 3>of peace and security in Jesus' name. Amen. In the

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<v Speaker 3>New American Standard Bible, Paul and Timothy encourage the Colossians

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<v Speaker 3>by saying, continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast,

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<v Speaker 3>and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that

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<v Speaker 3>you've heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven,

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<v Speaker 3>and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Dream

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<v Speaker 3>of walking along the beach at night, your feet sinking

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<v Speaker 3>into the soft sand. You stroll along the water's edge

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<v Speaker 3>and stop and gaze at the gentle ocean waves. Almost rhythmically,

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<v Speaker 3>waves form in the deep, cascading towards you and landing

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<v Speaker 3>softly at your feet. Let the continual lull of the

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<v Speaker 3>ocean remind you of the continuance of your faith. No

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<v Speaker 3>matter how strong the waves, you remain steadfast and secure

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<v Speaker 3>in Christ Jesus. Sleep soundly in the security you have

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<v Speaker 3>in Christ. As I read a hope filled passage from

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<v Speaker 3>Psalm one hundred and thirty six, here's what it says.

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<v Speaker 3>Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for

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<v Speaker 3>his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God

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<v Speaker 3>of Gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. To him

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<v Speaker 3>who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.

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<v Speaker 3>To him who, by understanding made the heavens, for his

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<v Speaker 3>steadfast love endures forever, To him who spread out the

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<v Speaker 3>earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever,

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<v Speaker 3>To him who made the great lights, for his steadfast

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<v Speaker 3>love endures forever. The sun to rule over the day,

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<v Speaker 3>for his steadfast love endures forever, the moon and stars

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<v Speaker 3>to rule over the night. For his steadfast love inders forever.

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<v Speaker 3>Take hold of the hope offered by your steadfast Lord

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<v Speaker 3>and Savior. He is good to you, and he wants

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<v Speaker 3>the best for you. God of Gods and Lord of lords,

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<v Speaker 3>his love endures forever. Rest in the great wonders He's

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<v Speaker 3>done in your life. He has fashioned you for a

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<v Speaker 3>mighty purpose. He has breathed life into your lungs. He

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<v Speaker 3>upholds you with his righteous right hand and fills you

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<v Speaker 3>with renewed hope and joy. The creator of the universe

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<v Speaker 3>already had you in mine when he out the earth

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<v Speaker 3>above the waters and place the sun, moon and stars

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<v Speaker 3>in specific order for sustained life. What a wonderful maker,

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<v Speaker 3>beautiful Savior, and perfect redeemer you have. Sleep deeply and

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<v Speaker 3>his loving care. He's with you every moment. Let me

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<v Speaker 3>pray for you one last time, Holy God, as this

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<v Speaker 3>precious child rests in full assurance of your loving presence.

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<v Speaker 3>I pray for their mind to be filled with messages

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<v Speaker 3>of hope and peace. By your spirit. Lord, press on

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<v Speaker 3>their hearts the beautiful truth of your gospel. Anew. The

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<v Speaker 3>good news is that Jesus is their hope eternal. Please

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<v Speaker 3>cover them with your love and goodness, renew their trust

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<v Speaker 3>in You, and draw their gaze to your continued work

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<v Speaker 3>in their life. Thank you for keeping them within your good,

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<v Speaker 3>pleasing and perfect will in Jesus' name. Amen. According to

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<v Speaker 3>the Dictionary, hope means a feeling of trust or a

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<v Speaker 3>desire for something to happen. As we close this sleep meditation,

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<v Speaker 3>you can rest assured that every feeling of trust in

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<v Speaker 3>God is much more than a feeling. It's a knowing

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<v Speaker 3>that the one and only true God is for you,

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<v Speaker 3>not against you. He loves you with an everlasting love

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<v Speaker 3>and seals you with the promise of eternal life with him.

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<v Speaker 3>Every desire you have is known by the Father, and

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<v Speaker 3>he invites you to ask of him. Let your asking

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<v Speaker 3>be in the name of Jesus. Your intentions be for

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<v Speaker 3>his glory, and your hope be rooted in Him. And

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<v Speaker 3>as always, continue to abide in Christ

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<v Speaker 1>Anything, anything,