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It is by humility that the Lord allows Himself to be conquered, so that He will do all we ask of Him.

August 6, 2008

When: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:00 AM to Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli’jah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli’jah." He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead."
Matthew 17: 1 – 9
 
It is by humility that the Lord allows Himself to be conquered, so that He will do all we ask of Him.
— St. Teresa of Avila
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful for all Your blessings, grace,  mercy and for a humble spirit that even though I made my human form of mind and body a instrument of pride and pain by giving in to my selfishness and desires of under the sun, I now walk awakened to truth of the almighty power of the humble spirit that has You as my source of source to seek oneness with You through Jesus in the Spirit; and through oneness with You the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit oneness with all of creation, the universe. I cannot hide my doubt from You, no more than I can the fear which may be the drink and bread of that form I created under the sun over almost fifty years. A doubt and fear that hides itself in anger, impatience and isolation; but worse than this form became my legacy to mine. Thankful am I for the blessing of chance and opportunity and the grace by which I keep walking and mercy by which I get up after falling; and humbled am I to know how foolish and selfish I have been in thinking that I would know how and could overcome the ways under the sun. For only Jesus has overcome the world and only through and in Jesus is my hope through faith and love; and if I after almost fifty years can find the faith to walk and the hope to rise with Jesus and allow myself to be conscious enough to be led by my spirit which is my true being and what I am, I have faith and hope that Your love and the passion of Jesus through the Spirit will touch mine to also awaken to their spirit and overcome. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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Let me get through today, Lord, and I shall not fear tomorrow. My Jesus if You uphold me, I shall not fall.

August 5, 2008

When: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 12:00 AM to Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
Matthew 15: 1 – 2, 10 – 14
 
Let me get through today, Lord, and I shall not fear tomorrow. My Jesus if You uphold me, I shall not fall.
— St. Philip Neri
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humble, I need Your guidance and energy to help me persevere over what lies ahead today and this week while continuing to grow in the Spirit of Jesus which lives within me. For while I know I have much to do, nothing is more important than continuing to remain conscious to today’s Gospel teachings of Jesus; for one harsh word can erase days, weeks, months, years – no all of one’s good works! While I now know I may never be able to control temper and tame my mouth and the hurt and pain which comes from it, I also know there is no reason, thing, or person that be used as an excuse. For with all the hurt and pain created in others the one I hurt the most is myself; for what is more painful than knowing my lack of discipline has caused so much pain in those I love so much. I know that through awareness and in Jesus is my only hope to break the cycle of hurt and pain, and create a legacy of hope rooted in Jesus as the source of source for faith that if I honor and seek to walk in His teachings I can find heaven on earth under the sun, a treasure truly worth more than anything from under the sun. Keep me conscious, keep me rooted in Jesus, and keep me close. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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When we do something we dislike, let me say to God: "My God I offer You this in honor of the moment when You died for me."

August 4, 2008

When: Monday, August 04, 2008 12:00 AM to Tuesday, August 05, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.
Matthew 14: 22 – 36
 
When we do something we dislike, let me say to God: "My God I offer You this in honor of the moment when You died for me."
— St. John Vianney
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humble yet seeking wisdom to do what is best for me and mine; for I feel the time is near for me to move out and begin to walk among the wolves to do and provide for mine. Help me Lord God, speak to me through the Spirit of Jesus who lives and walked with me. Liken my heart to that of Jesus with the discernment that can only come from doing what Jesus would do in everything, big and small. Let Your presence be visible to mine so that they too will turn to You and seek You first. O Lord God that You will continue to bless me and mine, enlarging our territory for You.  Let Your hand rest upon us to comfort and give us rest from the pressures we put upon ourselves trying to do to much on our own without seeking Your guidance. Keep us from evil and from causing any pain. Help us to be strong in accepting those things we cannot change, but granting us the courage to change those things we can, with the wisdom to know the difference. In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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Take heed not to meddle in things which do not concern you, nor even allow them to pass through your mind; for perhaps then you will be able to fulfil your own task.

August 4, 2008

When: Sunday, August 03, 2008 12:00 AM to Monday, August 04, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Matthew 14: 13 – 21
 
Take heed not to meddle in things which do not concern you, nor even allow them to pass through your mind; for perhaps then you will be able to fulfil  your own task. 
— St. John of the Cross
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humble and knowing that I need You through Jesus in the Spirit to be the father You intend me to be; knowing when to listen, and when to speak words that like Your Gospel shed Your light on the issue in  Your Word and leaving it to Jesus in the Spirit to counsel my children. For as Jesus proclaimed ‘let him who has ears hear, and he who has eyes see the truth in You Words, and the Wisdom in Your teachings.
 
1  "Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 
2  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness. 
3  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 
 
35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 
38  For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 
39  nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
O Lord God that You would bless me and mine, and enlarge our territory for You. That Your hand would be with us to keep us from evil and from causing pain. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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What a man is before God, that he is, and nothing more.

August 2, 2008

When: Saturday, August 02, 2008 12:00 AM to Sunday, August 03, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
A vision comes to a young woman in Nazareth (Today’s Gospel)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 
Luke 1:26-33
 
(First words of Jesus in Luke)
Twelve years later: the boy Jesus goes with his parents to Jerusalem
Every year at the Passover festival Jesus’ parents used to go to Jerusalem. When he was twelve years old they went up to the city as usual for the festival. When it was over they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, without his parents’ knowledge. They went a day’s journey assuming that he was somewhere in their company, and then they began to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. They failed to find him, however, and turned back to the city, looking for him as they went. Three days later, they found him – in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All those who heard him were astonished at his powers of comprehension and at the answers that he gave. When Joseph and Mary saw him, they could hardly believe their eyes, and his mother said to him, "Why have you treated us like this, my son? Here have your father and I been very worried, looking for you everywhere!" And Jesus replied, "But why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"
Luke 2:41-49
 
Jesus faces temptation
Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and he was led by the Spirit to spend forty days in the desert, where he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during that time and afterwards he felt very hungry. "If you really are the Son of God," the devil said to him, "tell this stone to turn into a loaf." Jesus answered, "The scripture says, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’ ." Then the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of mankind in a sudden vision, and said to him, "I will give you all this power and magnificence, for it belongs to me and I can give it to anyone I please. It shall all be yours if you will fall down and worship me." To this Jesus replied, "It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve’." Then the devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest ledge of the Temple. "If you really are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here, for the scripture says, ‘He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you’, and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’." To which Jesus replied, "It is also said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’." And when he had exhausted every kind of temptation, the devil withdrew until his next opportunity.
Luke 4:1-13
 
What a man is before God, that he is, and nothing more.
— St. Francis of Assisi
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, humble, thankful and aware I come to You. Humbled by my weaknesses and nature, thankful for Your blessings and unconditional love which is the source of Thy mighty grace and mercy by which I walk under the sun, aware of Your presence always seeking to be conscious of Your will and purpose for me under the sun. As I feel I know You more I am humbled by the thought which becomes knowledge through Your grace by which I walk for it is by Your grace and mercy that I have been given the time and numerous chances to awaken to Your truths which are rooted in Your unconditional love, grace and mercy brought to life through Jesus and alive in me in the Spirit. It is through these truths that I feel blessed to know it is by Your grace and mercy that I am truly blessed, and can count the blessings as I feel them. I know I have many self create issues to deal with, but I also know I must now walk and deal with them according to who I am, not what have been. This secret brought to me through Jesus and available to me, mine and us because of His sorrowful passion as shown and taught me, through repetition that I can die to what I have been and rise in Jesus as what I am; and by this too I am humbled, thankful and aware. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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God is ready to heal those who sincerely wish to amend their lives, but cannot take pity on the obstinate sinner.

August 1, 2008

When: Friday, August 01, 2008 12:00 AM to Saturday, August 02, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13: 54 – 58
 
God is ready to heal those who sincerely wish to amend their lives, but cannot take pity on the obstinate sinner. The Lord pardons sins, but He cannot pardon those who are determined to offend Him. He who receives pardon is pardoned through the pure mercy of God, and they who are chastised, are justly punished. God is not obliged to wait for your repentance.
— St. Alphonsus Liguori
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, awakened, aware, humbled and thankful I come to You today singing the words of the Psalmist ‘O God, thou knowest my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from thee. .. For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me. When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.’ In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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He is generous even to exhaustion; and what is most wonderful is, that He gives Himself thus entirely, not once only, but every day, if we wish it. Every fresh Communion is a new gift which Jesus Christ makes of Himself.

July 31, 2008

When: Thursday, July 31, 2008 12:00 AM to Friday, August 01, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
Matthew 13: 47 – 53 
 
He is generous even to exhaustion; and what is most wonderful is, that He gives Himself thus entirely, not once only, but every day, if we wish it. Every fresh Communion is a new gift which Jesus Christ makes of Himself.
— St. Ignatius of Loyola
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humbled and fighting off preoccupation of a busy mind, burdened with the load of my past I come to You today and as always You reach into and touch my heart and soul with wisdom that is faith, hope and love. O that as You spoke to Jeremiah that You would ‘like the clay in the potter’s hand‘ continue to mold me into what You intend; making new all that was broken and removing all that is not of You in Jesus, making one in myself as I seek to be one with You, in Jesus through the Spirit. O Lord God, for the sake of His sorrowful passion and mercy on me and mine, and on the whole world. Continue to bless me and mine indeed, enlarge our territory for You, let Your hand be with us to protect us from evil and from causing pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. 
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
The Art of Presence By: Eckhart Tolle In The Art of Presence, Eckhart guides you through seven hours of transformational insights that allow "presence to naturally arise" in you. With his one-of-a-kind instruction, you will learn how to ground yourself in the vibrancy of your "inner body" while simultaneously breaking free from the illusion of separation from the outside world.
The Brain That Changes Itself: Personal Triumphs from the Frontiers of Brain Science (Unabridged) By: Norman Doidge The discovery that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains – even into old age – is the most important breakthrough in neuroscience in four centuries.
The Shack Mackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack’s world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You’ll want everyone you know to read this book!
 
 

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