I recently read a book with my third grader about what life may have been like in Nazareth when Jesus grew up there. It was fascinating to learn about the mud floors and daily schedules of farmers back then. But what stuck out to me most was a note about the homes of some Hebrew people—the author of the book presented the idea that some of God’s people did not put any pictures on their walls. This was possibly done in an effort to avoid the temptation of looking up at something and wanting to worship it instead of God. I looked up from the book we were reading at our own walls. We have some Scripture on our walls, but I also saw a painting of my husband’s grandfather’s family farm, some dried flowers, and photographs of our kids. I was reminded of this moment when looking at our reading today.
In today’s passage, God’s people left Egyptian slavery behind and found themselves in the wilderness awaiting the promised land. There were all types of people in this group, some of whom were set apart as priests. And in one of today’s key verses, we are reminded that the priests’ inheritance looked different from the rest of the people’s.
While many of those wilderness wanderers may have been looking forward to the fulfillment of more tangible promises, like land to pass down to their children as an inheritance, there were priests and Levites who knew they were to inherit “God Himself.” Even with all the special privileges that came with being a priest, I wonder if any of those priests ever felt jealous of the people whose inheritance was the physical land.
I live on some land, and we still have that painting of the land my husband’s family owned on our wall. A tangible home is a big deal, a need, and a longing. It’s also easy to make the comfort of home an idol. It’s easy to make your whole life about where you live, as if your inheritance ends with four walls and what’s inside them. I’ve walked with Jesus for twenty-four years now, so it’s much easier for me today than it was at first to remember times when I experienced God’s presence, His comfort, His miraculous power. But I’m still tempted to hang other things on the wall and put my hope in them, you know? I can forget what a treasure it is to have God Himself be my inheritance.
Back when the book of Numbers was written, the Israelites had to go through the priests to be cleansed from the sin that separated them from God. We are now living more than two thousand years after the cross, and Jesus, our High Priest, gives us direct access to God. We can experience the beautiful inheritance of with-ness with Him, in our cars and bedrooms and back porches and church sanctuaries. What an unbelievable gift.
Whether or not my walls and floors look like those of the Hebrew people, I certainly tend to hang things on the walls of my heart and mind that threaten to steal away worship and adoration of the only One who is worthy. Maybe it’s the same for you. I’m praying today that we each see the beauty of our inheritance in our relationship with Jesus.
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85 thoughts on "Provision for the Priesthood"
The website has commentary:
https://shereadstruth.com/provision-for-the-priesthood/
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SARAH D.. My love, you are all over the place.. you are working yourself up to a frenzy!
Breathe…
Breathe.. and again,
Breathe..
Agreeing 100% with EMILY B,
God says in Jeremiah.. “..for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to bring about the future you hope for..” God is working dear heart, it may seem slow to you, but His timing is going to be the difference between the right ‘one’ and the ‘second best’
My prayer for you is peace. I pray it much like our Father God sings over you, because He delights in you, I cover you in peace, of heart, mind and soul..
Breathe.. He’s got this!
Hugs..❤️
Praying for you @SARAH D.! Happu Thursday ladies.
Now I’ve commented, I can only see my comment, I can’t scroll beyond my comment!!
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer for everything technical to fall into place and for the technical SUPPORT TEAM to not lose anymore of the number of hairs you know in their head. Amen.
Thank you, TECHNICAL SUPPORT for all you are doing..
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Tina, thank you so much for your continued patience and understanding as we work towards a fix. We’re so grateful for you!
I don’t know why but I can only see the comments from SEARCHING down.. I have responded to the comments I could!
We WILL get there by HIS grace Grace..
Hi Tina! I have shared your message with our App Team and they are looking into this issue. We are so grateful for your patience and understanding!
Curious why this isn’t up on the app♀️
Why is the devotional reading not here but is in the website?
Hi Claire! Thanks for reaching out about this. Our team is looking into it and we hope to have this resolved soon. In the meantime, we would love for you to read alongside us at shereadstruth.com/plans!
How do you find the plans on the website? I only see where you can buy them, and it will do nothing good for my spiritual health if I have to try to figure it out myself. I am already trying hard not to get inordinately angry about this..
Hey Margaret!
Thanks for your questions! For further help, please reach out to our Community Engagement Team at [email protected]. They would be happy to help you.
Do everything from the heart as if unto the Lord. Love the Lord genuinely with all our heart, mind and soul. Let the Lord be truly our desire. God wants to be loved by us. And He commanded so lol. Isn’t that funny but also so sweet? Yesterday I was walking to sight see an old church, that was built in a small tourist beach city in Vietnam back in the French colonization. It was so heart warming for me. It’s a stone church, Orthodox style with intricate curved arch architecture, and a very tall chapel, perhaps built in the 1600s by the French missionaries who came to Vietnam. It was an incredible sight. I was sharing the gospel with our driver he was a Buddhist, and it was well received. There is another assistant driver sitting near and he was listening to what I had to say. And then at the end, he told me he was also a believer in Christ. It was a beautiful moment for me to see how to gospel was sowed, and evidence of it (the church) and the efforts during my travelling. God truly is amazing. Be blessed dear sisters.❤️
Wow! Thanks for sharing that special moment! ❤
What joy for you!
❤️ thank you for sharing that experience with us, beautiful.
Beautiful ❤️
May God bless you and keep you and continue to be glorified in your life and interactions
What a good reminder that everything we have is a gift. Our jobs. Our talents. Our positions in life. Gifts we didn’t earn. Yes, we put in effort … but God gave us that strength to even get up every day and work. ❤️
Hi Michelle, I am well by God’s grace. Trying to cope with the heat and humidity haha.❤️
The older I get, the closer to eternity I get. And my priorities change. “God is my portion” didn’t sound so great when my kids were little and I wanted to do all the things on this earth. But now “God is my portion” sounds wonderful, and the things of this earth are growing less important all the time. Yes, I still very much love my kids and grands, and I enjoy the life God is giving me now, but I don’t hold them as tightly as I once did. They don’t define me. And they don’t dictate my internal joy. It helps me to relax more and not take every little thing so seriously. And I have much more joy. Thank You, Jesus!
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(This post is for the SRT team that responded to our posts yesterday.)
I had posted about scrolling issues with the website, not the app. I do not use the app. I think it is a good split between app and website users here. I view the website from my phone, since I do not have a laptop, on a web browser. I’m pretty sure it was the app team who responded. I am using the /plans page (as you suggested and what I already have been doing) and still having scrolling issues. Thank you!
Thank you for the further help Michelle! I’ll be sure to pass along your message to our App team!
This brought to mind a scripture that jumped out to me years ago when I was grieving the loss of both my parents, 2 months (to the day!) apart in 2010.
Psalm 16:5-6
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
It really helped me during that time, knowing that the Lord is the constant in my life, and my future is secure in Christ, no matter what I would face.
Praying for you all, dear She’s!
Beautiful scripture!!!
One of my go to Scriptures as well ❤️
I was getting a little lost in Numbers 18 so I generated a summary using Perplexity (AI tool). Main take away for me was how the instructions God set up around tithes, sacrifices, and offerings weren’t arbitrary details – it was all part of how God provided the “portion” for priests and Levites.
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“1. Tithes:
– The Israelites were commanded to give a tithe (10%) of their crops, herds, and flocks to the Levites (Numbers 18:21-24). This was the Levites’ inheritance since they did not receive a territorial allotment.
– The Levites in turn had to give a tithe (10%) of what they received from the Israelites to the priests (Numbers 18:25-28). This is called the “tithe of the tithe.”
2. Offerings and Sacrifices:
– The priests received portions of the various offerings and sacrifices brought by the people:
– The burnt, sin, guilt, and grain offerings – the priests received specified portions to eat (Leviticus 6-7)
– The firstborn of flocks/herds belonged to the priests (Numbers 18:15-18)
– The first fruits and best portions of oil, wine, and grain went to the priests (Numbers 18:12-13)
– The Levites assisted the priests in the work of the tabernacle/temple and received a portion to eat from some of the offerings like the peace offering (Numbers 18:8-20)
– The people ate portions of some sacrifices like the peace offering after giving the required parts to the priests/Levites (Leviticus 7:11-34)
3. Other Provisions:
– Every third year, a special tithe was kept and distributed to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows within the towns (Deuteronomy 14:28-29, 26:12-13)
– The people could not harvest the corners of their fields so the poor could glean from them (Leviticus 19:9-10)
In summary, the tithes went to the Levites who in turn tithed to the priests. The offerings and sacrifices had specific portions assigned to the priests and Levites for their sustenance, with parts also given back to the people. Special provisions were made to care for the poor and needy as well.”
It is so beautiful how God gives us the best. He is cb our source and our portion. When I look to others or something else to fill that need, I’m always disappointed. BUT GOD, He never disappoints!
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.3.20-21.NIV
How beautiful a reminder that He alone is worthy of all our worship…we should love Him most, and place Him first in all we do. Thankful also that He will never leave us. His with-Ness is always there with and for us!
What is weird is once you comment you can no longer see the other comments! I was reading through and commented back to Rhonda and poof all else was gone. Bummer
Hi Traci! I will be sure to share your feedback with our App Team. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding!
Today’s reading brought this song to mind:
If I’ve Got Jesus by Ben Fuller
I’ve had friends that walked away
And I’ve even lost myself a time or two
There were bridges crossed and burned
But through all the wreckage I have learned
There is one thing that I can never lose
If I got Jesus
I’ve got all that I could ever need
Take the world away from me
And I’ll be okay
If I got Jesus
There’s a hope that’s living deep inside
A joy that I could never hide
And a safe place to fall
If I got Jesus, I got it all, mmm
I’ve seen weakness turn to strength
I’ve seen failures met with grace
And it’s not from what I’ve done, it’s Christ in me
A miracle I can’t explain
Oh, he’s given me his name
I’m the richest man that I could ever be
If I got Jesus
I’ve got all that I could ever need
Take the world away from me
And I’ll be okay
If I got Jesus
There’s a hope that’s living deep inside
A joy that I could never hide
And a safe place to fall
If I got Jesus, I got it all, oh
Someday that trumpet’s gonna sound
And the King of Heaven will ride upon the clouds coming down
I’ll hit my knees, oh Lord, then sings my soul
I’m going home
If I got Jesus
I’ve got all that I could ever need
Take the world away from me
And I’ll be okay
If I got Jesus
There’s a hope that’s living deep inside
A joy that I could never hide
And a safe place to fall
If I got Jesus, I got it all
If I got Jesus
I got it all, mm
Mm-mm
Songwriters: Jeff Pardo, Ethan Hulse, Ben Fuller.
I love that song. And there is a version with him singing with the girl (can’t recall her name right this sec) that won American Idol last year…so pretty!!! Search Ben Fuller duet with..and it shoulc come up!
Yes, Megan Danielle! She was one of my favorites last year!
Notes from today…
LOVED this quote from today’s devotional:
“But what stuck out to me most was a note about the homes of some Hebrew people—the author of the book presented the idea that some of God’s people did not put any pictures on their walls. This was possibly done in an effort to avoid the temptation of looking up at something and wanting to worship it instead of God. Whether or not my walls and floors look like those of the Hebrew people, I certainly tend to hang things on the walls of my heart and mind that threaten to steal away worship and adoration of the only One who is worthy. Maybe it’s the same for you. I’m praying today that we each see the beauty of our inheritance in our relationship with Jesus.” -Scarlet Hiltibidal
*SCARLET HILTIBIDAL, would love to know the title of the book you read, so I can read it too!!
Scriptures..
Numbers 17:8 The next day Moses entered the tent of the testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, formed buds, blossomed, and produced almonds!
*I LOVE this verse!!! Not only does God answer, when we ask, seek and knock.. but He answers SO abundantly and CLEARLY that we KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is HIM!!!! Wow!!! We are SO Blessed!!! Incredibly grateful!!! Thank You God!!!
Numbers 18:1 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your ancestral family will be responsible for iniquity against the sanctuary. You and your sons will be responsible for iniquity involving your priesthood.
*God is our portion and our inheritance!! We are responsible for representing and reflecting Him and His Light!! Anytime we choose to do something outside of Him and His will we are diminishing that Light!! Wow!! This brings in a whole new seriousness and accountability!!! Reminds me of the virgins with their oil and lamps.. as well as Luke 8:16-18 A LAMP ON A STAND
“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
…may we ALWAYS be seeking You, being wise and prepared!! May we never diminish or hide what You want to SHINE!!! And may we never forget or diminish who You are and ALL that You’ve done and are doing!!! Amen.
Lamentations 3:24 I say, “The Lord is my portion,
therefore I will put my hope in Him.”
*yes Lord. Help me to put my hope in You, and You alone!! Amen.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people
*LOVE the reminder to do everything as I am doing it for God, while He is watching me!! Holds me accountable and makes everything more honest and real!!
Have a truly blessed and wonder-filled day dear She’s!! Xoxo
*God is our portion and our inheritance!! We are responsible for representing and reflecting Him and His Light!! Anytime we choose to do something outside of Him and His will we are diminishing that Light!! Wow!! —-So Good Emily!! I will remember this!!
I’m almost afraid to push “enter” of fear that the comments will vanish before this post that I have not got to yet….eek!!
I can’t see a devotional for today, and I was wondering what’s up with that. I’m on the app, and I haven’t had any of the problems I see the rest of you talking about, but I have no devotional today. What’s going on??
Notes from yesterday…
Mathew 7
*I pretty much highlighted and underlined this whole chapter, SOO MUCH in here, jam-packed with corrections, encouragements, reminders, analogies, parables and TRUTH!!! Absolutely wonderful!!! May we live by the instructions given here and by Your guidance Lord!!! May we KNOW and be so tapped into YOU that all else fades away!! Help us be undistractable!!! And may we remember that all that glitters isn’t gold, that the treasures You share with us are only meant to be shared as You lead!! And that honesty, obedience, humbleness and genuineness of heart is what You seek!! Ask. Seek. Knock. I forget to do this for myself.. help me Lord to remember to do this!! Forgive me Lord for judging, I don’t want to be judged the way I judge!! I want to give ALL to You and have You be the judge, for You are the only One worthy to judge!! Forgive me for seeing the speck when I should be focused on my plank!! Refine me Lord and help me to let go of everything that isn’t You or focused on You!! Amen.
Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.
*God, You are my God now and forever and I will EVER praise You!! Help me to remember that You are constantly leading and guiding, and that You are and will do this until the very end!! Help me Lord to follow and obey You willingly and without hesitation!! Amen.
My husband and I have been in ministry for over 30 years. We came straight from seminary to my husband being the pastor of a small church in a very well to do community. We live in a parsonage and have never owned our own home. If we were to leave here tomorrow, we have no place to go to.
It’s so easy to look around at what others have and want that for yourself. But I must be content with where God put me and with what He’s given me. And I know that when the time comes for us to leave here, God will provide a home for us – just as he has for the 38 years of our marriage. Until then, I am to serve Him with all my heart, as working for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23
Have a blessed day sweet sisters! “I’m praying today that we each see the beauty of our inheritance in our relationship with Jesus.”
This is good…I love your faith and trust!! Some (most) would want their “own” house to have exactly what they want and do so how ever THEY want!!
You are someone I look up to, Sharon. You and your husband’s dedication to the Lord is so beautiful. I appreciate what I learn from you here at She Reads Truth. You both have a beautiful inheritance in the Lord for your service for 38 years ❤️ God bless you!
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Father thank You for being the ultimate provider. In Jesus name.
Good morning ladies, I would love your prayers. This week has been very difficult with my pre-k class and emotionally for me. My “friend” from church that I have thought likes me has been on my mind a lot, and I was disappointed I didn’t get to talk with him much on Sunday. I have a lot of doubts coming in, like what if he’s changed his mind and who else would there be for me. My class at school has also been acting out, specifically one of my very challenging kids, and it’s so hard. Also trying to be happy for my roommate as she has a boyfriend, happy for my friends who are pregnant or have a baby, while also desiring that so much. I think its hurting even more that I see a godly guy that is one of the godliest guys I have met, and I’m scared of things not working out. I will see him Saturday for our young adults group, so that should be fun. Please pray my thoughts would settle and that I would keep trusting God’s timing, and that I would keep bringing these requests to him. I have been trying to focus on service and serving others, to get the focus off myself. I am so so thankful for where God has brought me, and I think that’s what has made me emotional too. I can see his faithfulness in my life, and I know he WILL use this in some way. He is already using it to teach me something about him. It’s just so hard in the midst of it at times. Please also pray for my joy to come back, regardless of what happens with my friend. My hope is in Jesus, and my future is heaven. I need him every moment. I can do nothing apart from him. Thank you all.
Praying for you, Sarah, for your classroom and for your friend at church.
Hi, Sarah—I’ve been where you are, in terms of desiring a godly husband and trying to discern if a man is right for you. It can be SO hard to trust God in those moments, especially with someone/something we want so badly. When I was single and had a crush on someone or was in the pre-dating stage with him, I would do two things: I would pray that if he wasn’t the right man that God would remove my feelings, and I would ask myself if my desire to be in a relationship with him was because I truly liked him or simply because I liked the idea of having someone in my life. God used both of those things to help me be discerning, and looking back I’m so glad I didn’t end up with any of the men that were in my life before I met my husband. God will give you discernment and encouragement!
So good and true. If we force the relationship..like I did many times, it ends in disaster! It must be God’s will not your own to be blessed!! We don’t want to be an Esau and trade our future for our present needs and wants! But so, so hard of course!! I say this so strongly because I have been divorced twice, and it brings lots of heartbreak. And then lots of short term relationships that led to more heartbreak.
Agree 100%!
Sarah my heart goes out to you. Praying that God will make it very clear to you if this friend is so one you should pursue or let go of. Waiting is so hard, but like you said, there is so much to learn during that time. ❤️
Praying for you and your classroom.
Yes, me as well Sarah!! It has been good to follow your story for the last few years and see how God has answered some prayers…yet we always kinda focus on our “wants” now. I get it. Love you and sending your name up to our Lord, Saviour, and provider!!! He will provide exactly what and when you need it! :)
Praying for you Sarah D
Sarah D – breathe. Close your eyes and just take deep breaths. Let the Lord give you His peace.❤️
Praying, SARAH, as you seek His will, for the Lord to fill you with His peace and patience in your waiting. Echoing other sisters on the huge downside of not waiting on the Lord, and instead pursuing a relationship that is not God’s best for you. My rebellion of not waiting on Him landed me in more than one miserable, doomed relationship and one train wreck of a failed marriage (to a fellow church member.)
Praying for your little ones in class, for peace in their hearts, minds and their lives at home. May you help make school a supportive place for them.
Yes KELLY, our minds can’t comprehend all that God is. Thankful that He loves us, oh, how He loves us … that song by Crowder and the rooftop video ❤️
“I can forget what a treasure it is to have God Himself be my inheritance”. I am with you, SCARLET HILTIBIDAL…
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1 Peter 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
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Dear Father,
Through the sacrifice of Your Firstborn Son, we are chosen to be Yours.
Just as You told Aaron and the Levites, You tell us: “I am Your portion and Your inheritance”.
Your Presence goes with us, You lead us, You give us purpose and hope.
May this truth sink down deep into our hearts: We have Jesus, so we have all we need.
May we shout it from the rooftops and bring You praise.
May we joyfully give what belongs to You.
And with SCARLET I pray that “we each see the beauty of our inheritance in our relationship with Jesus”.
In His name,
AMEN.
Thank you, I copied some of this to remember!
Love your prayers❤️
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I cannot wrap my head around the idea that God, through Jesus, is my portion…but I am thankful nonetheless.
Again, sorry!!! When I proclaim He is my portion I am saying He is all I need, and that I trust He will take care of my needs. Amen. Have a great day! ❤️
“The Lord is my portion”, how many times have I read or sung these words and not really understood their meaning, but today it became a bit clearer. The Lord was the Levites share of the inheritance.
Amen. Tina, thank you for sharing. How powerful. HE IS ENOUGH!
When my partner of 15 years left us, 18 months after the death of our daughter for ‘pastures new’, and it became public knowledge, I would often respond, when friends showed sadness and hurt for me with, “it’s okay, the worst thing that was ever going to happen to me already happened..” I was already hurting, broken and in a constant state of weeping and grief. . This was an add on.. (I did eventually deal with that grief and sadness)
I tell you this, not to make you sad, but here’s the thing, in those sad, heart breaking days, God made Himself tangibly visible to me, and in His gift to me, I grew to understand that He IS my source, strength and stay.. He is ALL I need, I may not act like it sometimes, and may even fall off the wagon, often, BUT GOD s heart for me, has meant that I hold fast to Him, in the good, the bad and the ugly and the good, and my heart, as unclean as it is, I give to Him, for HE and only HE IS worthy and has my worship. I have the VERY, VERY, VERY BEST looking out for me, I HAVE JESUS, there is absolutely nothing else to add, to enhance, or make better..
It is well.
AMEN.
Praying blessings over you, dear hearts.❤
Amen TINA ❤️ thank you. He IS our everything …reminded of the chorus …. He’s all I need, He’s all I need, Jesus is all I need.
Amen, Tina! ❤️ You reminded me of this Corrie Ten Boom quote: “You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”
Julia C – thanks for reminding me/us of that quote. I needed it.
Amen Tina ❤️
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I felt the same Tina. When my world was crashing, God was all I wanted.
I can only imagine Traci and Tina, and others who have lost their precious children, that you are at your lowest and can’t go anywhere from there, and rely solely and God’s portion to fill you. I think that is how my ladies in jail feel, the ones that are stuck there in the first several months, they have lost everything and their freedom, contacts, comfort, family most times, and so much more…and are in the wait. Then they turn to God and you see them slowly change, because He is filling them, it’s a beautiful thing. That is why it serves us when we serve, we can see the true miracle of Jesus and the light it gives.
Amen Tina❤️
Tina amen! I’m so excited this is the first time all week I’ve been able to read your comments or anyone who posts early. I went on about 8:30 this morning and all I got was one comment and reply. I’m thankful to “see” each of you today! Still using computer and didn’t change anything! Hugs and prayers.
Thank you for your patience Donna! Our App team is working to resolve this issue!
I needed to hear this ❤️. After losing my daughter, I fell away from my faith. But now that I am beginning my walk on my faith journey, I cannot agree with you more. God is my strength and His love and care for me is a gift that I feel I truly do not deserve but am ever so grateful for. Thank you for sharing this ❤️
TAYLOR G.. We all deal with grief differently yours may have been to walk away from God for a while.. The good news is He, never left you! He was with you in your ‘wilderness’ Through the tears, deep deep sorrow, questions, questions, and more questions, guilt, wherever your wilderness journey took you He was there! He sure is our source and strength….
God bless you dear heart and I pray the Lord God continue to hold your heart close and give you peace..
Much, much love,
Tina.❤
Thank you ❤️
Good morning, sweet sisters and friends! ❤️
Good morning!
Good morning, Adrienne! ❤️
Good Morning, ADRIENNE.❤