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

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Speaker 1: is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio.

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Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find

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Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've

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Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head

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Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com. Now. Remember, you can have

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Speaker 1: full access to all our sleep stories commercial free. Just

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Speaker 1: text Abide to two two four three three for twenty

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Speaker 1: five percent off the app. Now relax your mind and

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Speaker 1: body as we hear tonight's sleep story. Hello and welcome

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Speaker 1: to this sleep story from Abide. I'm Tyler. Thanks for

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Speaker 1: joining me for our story Quiet waters. Are you weary?

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Speaker 1: It's your soul thirsty for the refreshing comfort of God's love.

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Speaker 1: In a few moments, we'll take a scenic journey to

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Speaker 1: ancient Israel, where we will explore tranquil streams and marvel

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Speaker 1: at the wonder and beauty of God's creation. We'll also

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Speaker 1: journey through the psalms and rest in the everlasting promises

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Speaker 1: of God's word as we drink it deeply from his will.

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Speaker 1: The God who created you, the God who is holding

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Speaker 1: you in the palm of his hands is offering you

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Speaker 1: living water. This is what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm

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Speaker 1: forty two. As the deer pants for streams of water,

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Speaker 1: so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul

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Speaker 1: thirsts for God, for the living God. The living water

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Speaker 1: of Almighty God never runs dry. It is hope giving,

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Speaker 1: it is thirst quenching. It is filled with everything your

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Speaker 1: tired spirit needs. Love and joy and peace and patience.

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Speaker 1: It's filled with kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

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Speaker 1: The living water that God offers is unlike anything found

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Speaker 1: in this world. It's overflowing with grace and mercy and

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Speaker 1: redemption and second chances. It's brimming with hope. In the

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Speaker 1: words of Psalm twenty three, he makes me lie down

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Speaker 1: in green pass. He leaves me beside quiet waters. He

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Speaker 1: refreshes my soul. The same God who gave living water

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Speaker 1: to the ancient Israelites, who offered it to the woman

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Speaker 1: at the well, is the same God who is pouring

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Speaker 1: living water over your weary soul, refreshing you with his

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Speaker 1: boundless love and perfect peace. Rest in his promises. Before

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Speaker 1: we begin our story, must take a moment to make

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Speaker 1: sure everything around you is just right for a long,

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Speaker 1: peaceful sleep. Maybe you need to tuck in your blanket

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Speaker 1: or adjusture pillow. Perhaps you need to adjust the room's

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Speaker 1: temperature or dim the lights. You can pause the story

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Speaker 1: on the app if needed. Now that's out of the way,

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Speaker 1: let's begin preparing your body in your mind for sleep.

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Speaker 1: Roll your neck gently from side to side. Stretch out

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Speaker 1: your arms and legs. Wiggle your fingers and your toes.

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Speaker 1: Allow yourself to sink deeper into the bed, letting your

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Speaker 1: muscles relax. Take a long, deep breath inhaling through your

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Speaker 1: nose and exhaling through your mouth. Take another deep breath

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Speaker 1: at this time. Hold it there for a moment. One, two, three, four,

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Speaker 1: Now exhale. Think back on your day and consider what

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Speaker 1: cause do you stress. There could be something at work

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Speaker 1: or at school, maybe at home. It might be a

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Speaker 1: big problem, or well that you think about it, a

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Speaker 1: small one. Whatever it is, you can give it to God.

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Speaker 1: He's a miracle working God who is abounding in grace

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Speaker 1: and mercy. He fixes things, he restores things, he repairs things.

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Speaker 1: He picks up our broken pieces, and he makes us

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Speaker 1: whole again. He's an all powerful God who created the sun, moon, stars,

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Speaker 1: and no doubt He's powerful enough to carry your burdens.

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Speaker 1: Right now, surrender to God whatever is troubling you. God's

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Speaker 1: love and grace are like a powerful stream, constantly flowing,

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Speaker 1: always refreshing and bringing life to everything he touches. He

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Speaker 1: nourishes our souls. He grants us peace and joy. He

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Speaker 1: forgives our sins. Drink from his living water and let

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Speaker 1: it wash away your worries. Let me pray for you,

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Speaker 1: Dear Father, Thank you for this child of yours. Thank

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Speaker 1: you for your unfailing love and constant presence in their life.

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Speaker 1: You provide peace, comfort, and strength even in times of trouble.

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Speaker 1: Thank you for their gifts, their talents, their many blessings.

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Speaker 1: Open their eyes Lord to the many ways you have

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Speaker 1: blessed them. Help them to swim in gratitude. Father, you

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Speaker 1: are the living water in their lives. You nourish, sustain,

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Speaker 1: and refresh them daily. You surround them with your love

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Speaker 1: and grace. You guide them with your wisdom and light.

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Speaker 1: You fill their hearts with joy and peace. They are

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Speaker 1: like a tree planted by a nourishing stream, drinking from

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Speaker 1: you each day. Now, Father, I pray that this child

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Speaker 1: of yours will fall asleep peacefully surrounded by your warm presence,

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Speaker 1: drinking from the living waters of your grace. Watch over them,

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Speaker 1: protect them, grant them peaceful dreams of You and your kingdom.

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Speaker 1: It's in Jesus's precious holy name that I pray. Amen.

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Speaker 1: We begin our story along a stream in ancient Israel.

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Speaker 1: The first light of dawn is gently breaking over the horizon,

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Speaker 1: casting a soft golden glow across the landscape, a glow

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Speaker 1: that reminds you of the promises of the God who

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Speaker 1: loves you unconditionally and provides abundantly for all your needs.

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Speaker 1: He is the light of the world, the source of

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Speaker 1: all comfort and peace. The stream's gentle babbling is a

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Speaker 1: soothing melody to your mind and soul, harmonizing with the

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Speaker 1: soft rustle of leaves in the morning breeze. Tall slender

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Speaker 1: reeds sway gracefully along the water's edge. There are tops

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Speaker 1: glistening with dew drops that the early sunlight. In the distance.

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Speaker 1: The rolling hills of Israel are painted in shades of

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Speaker 1: soft green and gold, creating a tranquil backdrop that invite

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Speaker 1: you to immerse yourself in the peaceful beauty of God's creation.

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Speaker 1: The hills seem to whisper stories from Israel's past, stories

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Speaker 1: of God's faithfulness and providence. You can almost hear the

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Speaker 1: voices of prophets and shepherds, kings and common full who

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Speaker 1: experienced God's unending love and mercy. Olive trees stands scattered

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Speaker 1: across the fields. There's silvery leaves sparkling with morning dew.

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Speaker 1: The air is crisp and fresh, filled with the sweet

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Speaker 1: scents of wild flowers, mingling with the earthy aroma of

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Speaker 1: the fertile soil. A herd of sheep raises peacefully nearby,

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Speaker 1: their soft bleeding, adding to the symphony of nature's sounds.

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Speaker 1: Birds begin to awaken, flitting from tree to tree, their

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Speaker 1: songs a gentle chorus welcoming the new day. As the

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Speaker 1: sky changes from the pale hues of dawn to the

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Speaker 1: brighter light of morning, a sense of calm envelops the land,

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Speaker 1: inviting you to breathe deeply and relax. The stream continues

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Speaker 1: to flow gently, crystal clear water, reflecting the blue of

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Speaker 1: the sky above one or two small clouds drifting peacefully

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Speaker 1: across the surface. The water's movement is constant and steady,

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Speaker 1: ready to refresh creatures who come to drink. Amid the

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Speaker 1: gentle flow of the stream, you notice a collection of colorful,

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Speaker 1: smooth stones scattered across the river bed. Their hues range

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Speaker 1: from deep blues and vibrant greens to warm ambers and

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Speaker 1: soft pinks, each one polished to perfection by the flowing

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Speaker 1: water by the marvelous hand of God. They glisten in

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Speaker 1: the sunlight like hidden gems, reminding you of the countless

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Speaker 1: blessings and the steadfast love that God provides. A few

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Speaker 1: steps from you, upstream, a graceful deer walks towards the water.

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Speaker 1: It's delicate hoofs barely making a sound on the soft earth.

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Speaker 1: The deer bends down to drink, its soft brown fur,

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Speaker 1: lending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Unaware of your presence,

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Speaker 1: it continues to sip from the stream, embodying the tranquility

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Speaker 1: and safety of this sacred place. Psalm chapter forty two says,

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Speaker 1: as the deer pants for streams of water, so my

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Speaker 1: soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God,

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Speaker 1: for the living God. When can I go and meet

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Speaker 1: with God? My tears have been my food day and night.

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Speaker 1: While people say to me all day long? Where is

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Speaker 1: your God? These things I remember as I pour out

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Speaker 1: my soul, How I used to go to the House

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Speaker 1: of God, under the protection of the Mighty One, with

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Speaker 1: shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why

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Speaker 1: my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

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Speaker 1: Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,

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Speaker 1: my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me.

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Speaker 1: Therefore I will remember you from the land of the Joy,

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Speaker 1: the heights of Hermann, from Mount Misar, Deep calls to Deep,

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Speaker 1: in the roar of your waterfalls. All your waves and

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Speaker 1: breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs

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Speaker 1: his love. At night his song is with me, a

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Speaker 1: prayer to the God of my life. I say to God,

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Speaker 1: my Rock, Why have you forgotten me? Why must I

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Speaker 1: go about mourning oppressed by the enemy. My bones suffer

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Speaker 1: mortal agony, as my foes taunt me, saying to me

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Speaker 1: all day long, where is your God? Why my soul

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Speaker 1: are you downcast? Why so disturb within me? Put your

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Speaker 1: hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my

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Speaker 1: Savior and my God. Psalm sixty three. You God are

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Speaker 1: my God, earnestly I seek you. I thirst for you.

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Speaker 1: My whole being longs for you. In a dry and

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Speaker 1: parched land where there is no water. I have seen

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Speaker 1: you in the sanctuary and beheld your power into your glory.

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Speaker 1: Because your love is better than life. My lips will

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Speaker 1: glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live,

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Speaker 1: and in your name I will lift up my hands.

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Speaker 1: I will be fully satisfied, as with the richest of foods.

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Speaker 1: With singing lips, my mouth will praise you. On my bed,

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Speaker 1: I remember you. I think of you through the watches

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Speaker 1: of the night, because you are my help. I sing

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Speaker 1: in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you.

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Speaker 1: Your right hand upholds me. The king will rejoice in God,

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Speaker 1: All who swear by God will glory in Him, while

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Speaker 1: the mouths of liars will be silenced. Let me pray

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Speaker 1: for you, dear Father. Just as the thirsty deer seeks

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Speaker 1: out the thirst quenching water from this ancient stream, this

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Speaker 1: child of yours comes before you, seeking the living water

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Speaker 1: that only you can provide. Their soul is parched and weary,

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Speaker 1: longing for your presence, Your love and your peace. Be

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Speaker 1: with them. Flood them with your power and glory in

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Speaker 1: their lives. Help them Lord to rest in the assurance

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Speaker 1: of your unfailing love. Your love, God is better than life.

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Speaker 1: As they drift into sleep, O Father, let your living

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Speaker 1: water flow over them, washing away the worries and cares

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Speaker 1: of the day. Refresh their spirits with your peace, which

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Speaker 1: surpasses all understanding. In the stillness of the night, Help

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Speaker 1: them to remember and think of you. Father. We sing

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Speaker 1: in the shadow of your wings, finding safety and comfort

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Speaker 1: in your embrace. Let your calming presence fill them with

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Speaker 1: a sense of security and peace. May they be fully

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Speaker 1: satisfied in You, resting in the knowledge that you provide

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Speaker 1: for all their needs. Remind them that your love and

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Speaker 1: grace are ever present. You are the source of all

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Speaker 1: comfort and peace, and in you they find their rest.

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Speaker 1: We praise you for your goodness and faithfulness. Oh, thank you,

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Speaker 1: Father for quenching our souls. In Jesus' name, Amen, as

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Speaker 1: we return to our peaceful stream. In ancient Israel, the

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Speaker 1: tranquill scene is gently interrupted by the rustling of leaves

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Speaker 1: from the cover of the nearby trees. A small, tawny

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Speaker 1: squirrel emerges, its bright eyes, alert and curious cautiously takes

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Speaker 1: its way to the water's edge. It's a bushy tail,

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Speaker 1: twitching with each step. The sunlight filters through the canopy above,

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Speaker 1: casting dappled shadows on the forest floor and illuminating the

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Speaker 1: squirrel's soft fur with a golden hue. The squirrel pauses briefly,

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Speaker 1: its nose twitching as it takes in the fresh, earthy

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Speaker 1: scent of the stream and the surrounding wildflowers. Confident in

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Speaker 1: the safety of this serene haven, it steps closer to

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Speaker 1: the water, its tiny pause just barely making a sound

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Speaker 1: on the smooth stones. The gentle babbling of the stream

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Speaker 1: creates a soothing symphony, blending harmoniously with the distant songs

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Speaker 1: of birds and the rustle of the leaves in the

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Speaker 1: morning breeze. The squirrel begins to drink from the stream,

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Speaker 1: its reflection shimmering in the crystal clear water. The sight

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Speaker 1: is both calming and captivating, as the squirrel's delicate movements

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Speaker 1: contrast beautifully with the steady flow of the stream. Each

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Speaker 1: sip brings refreshment not just to the squirrel, but to

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Speaker 1: your spirit as you observe this simple act of God's

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Speaker 1: handiwork as it finishes drinking. The squirrel looks up, its

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Speaker 1: eyes briefly meeting yours, as if to acknowledge the shared

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Speaker 1: piece of this moment. Then, with a graceful leap, it

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Speaker 1: scampers back into the forest, leaving you with the renewed

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Speaker 1: sense of wonder and a gratitude for the beauty and

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Speaker 1: harmony of God's creation. Psalm thirty six reads, Your love

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Speaker 1: Lord reaches to the heavens, their faithfulness to the skies.

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Speaker 1: Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like

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Speaker 1: the great deep. You Lord, preserve both people and animals.

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Speaker 1: How priceless is your unfailing love of God. People take

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Speaker 1: refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on

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Speaker 1: the abundance of your house. You give them drink from

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Speaker 1: your river of delights, for with you the fountain of life.

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Speaker 1: In your light we see light. Continue your love to

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Speaker 1: those who know you, Your righteousness to the upright and heart.

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Speaker 1: May the foot of the proud not come against me,

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Speaker 1: nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. Psalm

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Speaker 1: twenty seven says the Lord is my Light and my salvation.

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Speaker 1: Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of

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Speaker 1: my life, of whom shall I be afraid when the

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Speaker 1: wicked advance against me to devour me. It is my

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Speaker 1: enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though

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Speaker 1: an army besiege me, My heart will not fear the

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Speaker 1: war break out against me. Even then I will be confident.

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Speaker 1: One thing I ask from the Lord. This only do

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Speaker 1: I seek, that I may dwell in the house of

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Speaker 1: the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze

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Speaker 1: on the beauty of the Lord, and to seek him

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Speaker 1: in his temple. For in the day of trouble, he

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Speaker 1: will keep me safe in his dwelling. He will hide

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Speaker 1: me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set

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Speaker 1: me high upon a rock. Then my head will be

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Speaker 1: exalted above the enemies who surround me. At his sacred tent.

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Speaker 1: I will sacrifice with shouts of joy. I will sing

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Speaker 1: and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when

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Speaker 1: I call, Lord, be merciful to me and answer me.

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Speaker 1: My heart says of you. Seek his face, your face, Lord,

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Speaker 1: I will seek. Do not hide your face from me.

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Speaker 1: Do not turn your servant a weigh in anger. You

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Speaker 1: have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me. God,

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Speaker 1: my Savior, teach me your way. Lord, lead me in

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Speaker 1: a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn

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Speaker 1: me over to the desire of my foes, for false

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Speaker 1: witnesses rise up against me, sprouting malicious accusations. I remain

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Speaker 1: confident of this. I will see the goodness of the

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Speaker 1: Lord and the land of the Living. Wait for the Lord.

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Speaker 1: Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

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Speaker 1: Let me pray for you, dear Father. Your word says

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Speaker 1: we can take refuge in the shadow of your wings

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Speaker 1: and feast on the abundance of your house. I pray

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Speaker 1: that this child of yours finds comfort and protection under

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Speaker 1: your mighty wings, experiencing the safety and peace that only

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Speaker 1: you can provide. Lord. Their soul thirsts for you, the

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Speaker 1: Living God, just as the deer pants for streams of water.

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Speaker 1: Their heart longs for your presence. I ask that you

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Speaker 1: meet them and their deepest need, quenching their spiritual thirst

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Speaker 1: with your living water. May they recognize that only you

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Speaker 1: can satisfy the longing within them, and turn to you

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Speaker 1: for refreshment and renewal. Each day we drink from your

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Speaker 1: river of delights, and I pray that my friend is

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Speaker 1: filled with the life giving water that flows from your throne.

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Speaker 1: That this water bring revitalization to their spirit, filling them

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Speaker 1: with your peace, joy and strength. In moments of dryness

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Speaker 1: and weariness. Draw them closer to you, reminding them of

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Speaker 1: your constant presence and unfailing love. Father Mash, that you

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Speaker 1: shelter this child of yours and the shadow of your wings,

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Speaker 1: providing refuge and care in every circumstance. May they feast

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Speaker 1: on the abundance of your house, receiving the spiritual nourishment

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Speaker 1: that comes from an intimate relationship with you, experience the

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Speaker 1: fullness of joy that comes from being in your presence.

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Speaker 1: Thank you, Lord for your endless grace and mercy. As

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Speaker 1: my friend drinks from your river of delights, fill them

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Speaker 1: with your holy spirit, and they overflow with your love

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Speaker 1: and become a beacon of your living water to those

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Speaker 1: around them. In Jesus' precious name, I pray Amen as

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Speaker 1: we return to our stream. In ancient Israel, the deer

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Speaker 1: we saw earlier returns to the water, its elegant form

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Speaker 1: moving slowly through the trees, coming into view with a

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Speaker 1: cautious grace. The deer pauses, lifting its head to scan

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Speaker 1: the surroundings. Ears twitching in the stillness of the morning.

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Speaker 1: With a sense of assurance, the deer steps forward and

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Speaker 1: lowers its head to drink from the refreshing stream. The

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Speaker 1: clear water reflects the soft brown of its fur in

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Speaker 1: the light of its underbelly. As it drinks, the gentle

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Speaker 1: movements create small riplets in the stream, adding to this

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Speaker 1: symphony of nature's sounds. The deer looks up, satisfied by

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Speaker 1: the cool, refreshing water. Just as the deer returns again

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Speaker 1: and again to the stream to quench its thirst, so

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Speaker 1: do we continually seek our God again and again to

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Speaker 1: satisfy the longing of our souls. My butterfly let's buy

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Speaker 1: its wings a vibrant flash of color against the lush greenery.

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Speaker 1: But the final glance, the deer turns and melts back

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Speaker 1: into the forest Psalm twenty three. The Lord is my shepherd.

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Speaker 1: I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures.

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Speaker 1: He leaves me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul.

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Speaker 1: He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.

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Speaker 1: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will

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Speaker 1: fear no evil, for you are with me. You're roding

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Speaker 1: your staff. They comfort me. You prepare a table before

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Speaker 1: me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my

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Speaker 1: head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely your goodness and

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Speaker 1: love will follow me all the days of my life,

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Speaker 1: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Speaker 1: Let's clothes in prayer. Father, God, thank you for being

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Speaker 1: the living water for this child of yours. You quench

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Speaker 1: their thirst, You provide for their needs. Father, I ask

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Speaker 1: that you fill them with your peace and comfort. Calm

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Speaker 1: their mind, carry their burdens, fix what is broken, Help

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Speaker 1: them to know they can return again and again to

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Speaker 1: drink from your everlasting well of love and grace. Help

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Speaker 1: them to wake up refreshed and renewed. It's in Jesus

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Speaker 1: name that I pray. Amen, Jesus is the living water

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Speaker 1: that your soul needs. He alone can quench your thirst,

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Speaker 1: and he alone offers the hope and joy, grace and

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Speaker 1: mercy that you so desperately desire. Rest in his promises.

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Speaker 1: Let his love wash over you, bringing calm to your mind,

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Speaker 1: in peace to your heart. Trust in his unfailing presence.

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Speaker 1: Find comfort knowing that he's watching over you, protecting you,

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Speaker 1: tending to your every need. He is the good Shepherd.

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Speaker 1: He is the living hope, He is the living water.

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Speaker 1: Sweet dreams, good Night,