BUT, GOD!

Author: Lacy Scott 
Scripture: Gen 37:22-27 & 50:20
 

Brothers and sisters, each of us have encountered situations where we just felt like throwing in the towel. We felt like the whole world was against us. We felt like no matter what we did things would turn out bad. We’ve often said to ourselves, “No matter what I do, things still won’t change” or we feel that we have gotten so far down that there is nothing that can bring us up. Brothers and sisters I want you to know this evening that this is not so.

Those of us who have a hope in Christ don’t have to feel this way. We have to realize that because we serve a risen Savior, we can live victorious lives. Brothers and sisters I want to talk to you this evening on the subject “but, God”. There are a number of powerful 2-word phrases found in the Word of God. Phrases such as: Healed all; gathered in; cast out; raised up; and pulled down.

Each of these phrases are used in context with the power of God. However, there is one phrase used some 43 times in Scripture that surpasses them all. And that phrase is “BUT, GOD”! This small two-word phrase communicates a tremendous message to all that hear it. It is God’s response to Satan’s challenge! It is the bottom line! It is the last word! It is all over but the shouting!

“But, God”, when viewed in relation to the challenges of life, is what up is to down; what life is to death; what in is to out. “But, God” stands totally opposed to the negative roar of the world. The world says no — “But, God” says yes! The world says can’t — “But, God” says can! The world says won’t: “But, God” says will! The world says stop — “But, God” says go! The world says don’t — “But, God” says do!

The world says defeat — “But, God” says victory! “But, God” climbs the highest mountain; crosses the darkest valley; and sings songs of victory in the midnight hour! “But, God” exclaims, “I’m going to the enemy’s camp and I’ll take back what he stole from me!” “But, God” is courageous, confident and conclusive!” Brothers and sisters you have to realize that I’m speaking to you this evening from God’s perspective! 

Too many times we look at things through our own eyes and can only see failure. “But, God” tells us to look at it as God sees it! Brothers and sisters I’m encouraging you this evening to put your Kingdom glasses on and see things as God sees them! I want you to know it’s not over until God says it’s over! Sometimes when we go to a sporting event or watch it on TV, if our team is not winning as the end draws near we leave before it’s over not knowing that we might see a miraculous ending!

I’ve come to urge you brothers and sisters to stay for the entire game — wait until the last seconds tick off the clock; wait until the “home team” has had its chance! Wait until the last out is made! If you quit too soon, you’ll leave before victory is seen! I want to tell you this evening that the jury may still be out in your situation — all the votes are not in -- the fat lady has not sung — God hasn’t had His final say!

I’m speaking to you this evening on the subject “But, God”! I’m telling you this evening that in that book of miracles we read from everyday, there are many instances where our adversary is confounded and confused. There are stories of his elaborate schemes going wrong, because he failed to realize that God would have the final say! The devil had worked so hard to get everything just right, yet just when he thinks he is victorious, he hears “But, God”!

As we look at our text brothers and sisters we are reminded of the story of Joseph. How he had been humiliated by his brothers and sold into slavery. How he had been slandered by the wife of Potiphar, yet stood steadfast. How he had been forgotten by the chief baker after interpreting his dream, yet was faithful. The life of Joseph is perhaps the best Old Testament example of the accuracy of the verse in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”.

The sale of Joseph as a slave was meant for harm by his brothers. The end result was Joseph becoming prime of Egypt, becoming reunited with his family, and saving their lives. Joseph endured many trials and tribulations. Satan had done so many things to him that were meant for bad, “But, God” meant it for good! So many times the devil throws things our way, things that are meant to make us stop trusting God!

Things that are meant to make us feel sorry for ourselves! Things that are meant to make us give up! Things that are meant for bad, “But, God” means them for good! God takes us through things to make us stronger! I don’t know if you realize it or not but among the thorns you generally will find a beautiful rose! Yes Satan means it for bad, “But, God” means it for good! Those times when everything is going well in our lives and then all of a sudden it seems like the bottom falls out remember Satan means it for bad, “But, God”!

Whenever husband and wife seem to be on the opposite sides of the room; Satan means it for bad, “But, God”! When it looks like your children just don’t hear what you say; Children when you think your parents just don’t understand. Yes Satan means it for bad, “But, God” means it for good! Brother pastor, when it seems that the deacons don’t want to work with you and the members refuse to do as you say; Satan means it for bad, “But, God”! All the things that happened to Joseph, to the average man it would have seemed like too much.

I can hear Joseph saying, “My brothers, my own flesh have betrayed me and sold me as a slave. My master’s wife has accused me and caused me to fall out of favor with him and have thrown me in jail. The chief butler, whose dream I interpreted has forgotten me and left me here in this prison”. Yes, to the average man it might have seemed quite bleak. But Joseph knew that no matter what was thrown at him, no matter what was done to him, no matter how Satan attacked, the God he served, would allow him to say “I may be down now, “But, God”!

Brothers and sisters that is the type of attitude that we need in the church today! We need to understand that no matter what we may go through, no matter how bad things might get, no matter how the enemy may attack us, always remember It may look dark now, “But, God”!

You see the devil always tries to bring confusion when there is order. If good things are happening he wants to break it down. The devil thinks he has it all worked out, “But, God”! He Thought He Could Stop the Plan of God! “BUT, GOD”! He Thought He Could Stop the People of God, “BUT, GOD”! All of us used to be just as those in the world! Our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into! 

Brothers and sisters we started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God’s anger just like everyone else! “But, God” is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead--only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms--all because of what Christ Jesus did!

Brothers and sisters, I’m just trying to tell you this evening that no matter what the situation, no matter how bad it might look, no matter how bad you have been, no matter whether it is day or night; remember that whatever comes, “But, God”!

My bibles says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

My brothers and my sisters, Satan says, “such were some of you”, “But, God” says “ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”!

Satan says, “you can’t make it on your own”….“But, God” says, “If I am for you, I am more than the world against you”!

Satan says, “Hold on to all your problems for no one can help you”….“But, God” says, “cast all you cares on me, for I care for you”!

Satan says, “Take the easy way out”…. “But, God” says, “the race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to the one that endureth until the end”!

Satan says that your enemies have you surrounded come out with your hands up”…. “But, God” says, “I’ll make your enemies your footstool”!

Satan says, “There’s nothing else the doctors can do”…. “But, God” says, I can change the diagnosis”!

Satan says, “I will make you a slave to sin”…. “But, God” says, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son”!

Satan says, “I’ll take your Son and hold Him in the Grave”…. “But, God” says, “After three days I will rise again”!

Satan says, “I’ve got Him now”…. “But, God” says, “Death, where’s your sting, grave where’s your victory”?!

Brothers and sisters don’t listen to the lies and disparaging words of our enemy! Realize that God has the final word! See things from the Father’s perspective! Incline your ear and hear “But, God”! Satan says defeat, “but, God” says victory! Satan says disease, “but, God” says healing! Satan says hate, “but, God” says love! Satan says destruction, “But, God” says restoration! Satan says division, “But, God” says unity! Satan says abandonment, “but, God” says redemption!

Brothers and sisters Satan meant it for bad, “But God”! Every time you feel low lift your spirits by thinking, “But God”! Whenever it seems like the devil has his foot holding you down, realize that you can’t beat him, “But God”! If this Old World has gotten you down and you can’t find no way up, remember the phrase, “But God”!

Because no matter what the situation, no matter what the problem, no matter how bad it may be, “But God” can make it better! You see, I could have been:

1. An alcoholic...
2. A drug user...
3. A child abuser...
4. On my deathbed...
5. Out of my mind...
6. Without a roof over my head...
7. Without food to eat...
8. Without money in my pocket...
9. Without a friend...
10. Lost and on my way to Hell...
 

“But God” loved me so much that he saved my soul! He sent His only Son to live and to die as the payment for my sins! And that’s what we have to do is make it personal! He died for you and He died for me! “But God”, early one Sunday morning got up with all power in His hands! He didn’t get up with black power! He didn’t get up with white power! “But God” got up with all power in the palm of His hands! That’s why I can stand here tonight and say, God will take care of you!

We might think that we have it all figured out! We might think that we know what is best! “But God” has a plan for every life in here and all we have to do is seek after His will! The bible says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”.

Brothers and sisters, I just stopped to tell you this evening, that if you follow His ways, if you let Him lead you, if you seek after His will, you will find that there’s nobody else that can do like He can, “But God”! He can open doors that have been shut; he can close doors that no man can open! Nobody else can do that “But God”!

He can give sight to the blind! He can make the lame man walk and the dumb man talk! Nobody else “But God”! “BUT GOD” CAN DO ANYTHING, BUT FAIL! 

Source: http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/but-god-lacy-scott-sermon-on-gods-omniscience-82325.asp

She Who Kneels Before God Can Stand Before ANYONE!!

She who kneels before God can stand before ANYONE...

Dear Princess, Daughter of the Most High God,

 

Have you knelt before your King today...or even yesterday or the day before? Have you praised Him and thanked Him for your salvation that came at such a high cost? Have you asked Him to forgive the sins in your life that keep you from getting the healing that you need and hinders the sweet fellowship you could be having with a loving, yet holy and omnipotent God?......

 

(Most likely, you know what these transgressions are because you may have been hiding them from the rest of the world for quite some time... but, if you do not know.... "ASK" if there be anything that hinders you and He will show you. It is of utmost importance to Your Lord. He saved YOU to have a relationship with YOU. You are precious to Him because you are His child... YOU are HIS beloved. He will help you lay down that which besets you and keeps you from running the race He has set before you.)

If you have not gone to Him today, it's not too late. Do it right now before satan snatches this moment from you. Your Savior is calling and He is only a prayer away.....

I know and you know, from experience, that when you have been in His presence, unhindered by sin, it is glorious and we feel a power coursing through our veins that the world cannot know. It causes us to stand our ground even when we find ourselves standing alone. It causes us to love the unlovable and stand against injustice done to the weak and not turn a blind eye. It helps us to be more than conquerors. It gives us holy boldness to be a witness to ANY man... not fearing what man would do to us. It causes us to fear NO ONE, but God... and we will not feel the sting of rejection because we will know that we are accepted by, His Majesty, the One who loves us and gave Himself for us.

Precious one, satan is jealous of this power and he will do whatever is necessary to keep you from having it. DON'T let him have his way with you any longer! 

 

Are your secret sins worth more to you than our loving God and Creator and the sacrifice He made? Are they worth hanging onto and causing you to continually live in defeat... or is it time to rise up and say, "I'm not going to live like this anymore! Satan has destroyed too much... taken too much! It is time for his reign of terror to end! It is time to take my rightful place as a joint heir with Jesus Christ... as priests and kings. It is time to live a holy, dedicated, and separated life! It is time to stop living in the trap satan has me in... living like a slave to sin... living below my means... living like a pauper instead of a princess..."

 

Oh friend, listen......"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)

 

Ask for forgiveness and be set free --- FREE from anger, anxiety, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, lying, stealing, cheating, coveting, gossiping, judgmental attitudes, being unfaithful to God's cause, lack of empathy for the lost, fornication, drunkeness, addictions, selfishness, every form of wickedness, feelings of inferiority, feelings of rejection, lack of faith, disobedience, not hating what God hates and loving what God loves! Run, to Him dear child and lay it down! He loves you and He wants to heal you! No one is holding you back...ONLY YOU are holding you back! There is victory and deliverance in His precious name! LET GO AND LET GOD! Feel the power of His presence!

 

There is NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING worth hanging onto...NOTHING of such worth that it should come between you and your GOD... between you and living the abundant life that God intended you to live... a life free of the burdens you were never meant to carry!!! DO NOT delay my sister-in-Christ!! Today is the day for your deliverance! Not tomorrow... for it may never come!! Shake it off! Lay it down! You know that you must! Nothing will change until you do.......
 

I love you because of Calvary,

~The Princess Warrior ♔

P.S. Friend, I felt pressed on all sides to share this message. God knows that someone needs to hear it. Someone may be on the last leg of their journey and is fearful to meet God, someone may be on the verge of placing themselves on a shelf to never be used of God again, or someone may be ready to throw in the towel on life. Don't do it! There is still hope! As long as you have breathe... THERE IS HOPE! Realization, belief, and repentance are the steps to reconciliation and healing.

If you've never known the feeling that I have described in the letter above... if you've never had the power of God on your life before, I would be glad to lead you to its source.... JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!!! There's just something about that name! I can show you how to receive Him today. Just leave me a comment and I WILL respond... I care, but most of all, GOD CARES and He will meet you where you are!!

Copyright Information 

Copyright © 2009 The Princess Warrior Ministries. All articles are copyrighted on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

Why I Hate Religion Video

Why I Hate Religion Video Raises Question If 'Religion' Is Opposed to 'Gospel'

Sun, Jan. 15, 2012 Posted: 10:42 AM EDT

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A lot of attention has been paid to Jefferson Bethke’s video "Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus". Jefferson is a great, humble, teachable brother who loves the gospel. But the response to his video has been varied. Many love it. Others hate it. And still others have raised a caution flag – uncomfortable with the way “religion” is often contrasted with the gospel.

Wary of the trend amongst younger evangelicals to justify their jettisoning of the institutional church and theological traditions and the importance of obeying God in favor of a vague, individualistic, a-theological, a-historical, version of modern licentious spirituality by saying “All of that other stuff is religion…and Jesus hates religion,” is a point of contention for those who questioned the fruitfulness of Jefferson’s video. If that’s what people think when they hear the word “religion,” then I understand the concern. I too am concerned by the individualistic, church despising, “moralistic therapeutic deism” that seems so palatable and popular amongst some younger evangelicals today.

But, this does raise some important questions. For example, in the Bible, is the word “religion” ever opposed to the gospel? Or, is the main idea of “religion” opposed to the main idea of the gospel? What about what people hear when they hear the word “religion”? Do they hear the word and understand something different than what the Bible says about the gospel? Good questions. Obviously words have their meaning in context and thankfully Jefferson provided context for his use of the word “religion” in the video by writing on his website:

[This is] a poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it’s core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth.

Regardless of what you think about the video, Jefferson’s definition of “religion” above and Tim Keller’s definition of “religion” below does highlight a crucial distinction between “religion” and the gospel (a distinction that, ironically, even those who raised concerns about the video agree with).

Justifying the contrast between religion and the gospel, Tim Keller has pointed out that the Greek word for “religion” used in James 1 is used negatively in Colossians 2:18 where it describes false asceticism, fleshly works-righteousness, and also in Acts 26:5 where Paul speaks of his pre-Christian life in strict “religion.” It is also used negatively in the Apocrypha to describe idol worship in Wis 14:18 and 27. So, according to Keller, the word certainly has enough negative connotations to use as a fair title for the category of works-righteousness. In the Old Testament the prophets are devastating in their criticism of empty ritual and religious observances designed to bribe and appease God rather then serving, trusting, and loving him. The word “religion” isn’t used for this approach, but it’s a good way to describe what the prophets are condemning.

Keller goes on to tease out this distinction with this helpful comparison list:

RELIGION: I obey-therefore I’m accepted.
THE GOSPEL: I’m accepted-therefore I obey.

RELIGION: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.
THE GOSPEL: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

RELIGION: I obey God in order to get things from God.
THE GOSPEL: I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.

RELIGION: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or my self, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.
THE GOSPEL: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

RELIGION: When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a ‘good person’. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.
THE GOSPEL: When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a ‘good person.’ My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism.

RELIGION: My prayer life consists largely of petition and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.
THE GOSPEL: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with Him.

RELIGION: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel insecure and inadequate. I’m not confident. I feel like a failure.
THE GOSPEL: My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am “simul iustus et peccator”-simultaneously sinful and yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering nor sniveling.

RELIGION: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to ‘the other.
THE GOSPEL: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.

RELIGION: Since I look to my own pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols. It may be my talents, my moral record, my personal discipline, my social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them so they serve as my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I may say I believe about God.
THE GOSPEL: I have many good things in my life-family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.

So let’s not lose sight of the fact that, as defined by these two brothers, there is an antithetical relationship between religion (the burden of achieving rescue and right standing with God) and the gospel (the blessing of receiving rescue and a right standing with God in Christ alone).

One final thought: as I mentioned above, for a thousand different reasons people hear different things and draw different conclusions when they hear the same words (Cornelius Van Til). So, let’s not forget as missionaries that if the gospel is ever going to reach people in our day it’s going to have to be distinguished from religion (as described above) because “religion” is what most people outside the church think Christianity is all about-rules and standards and behavior and cleaning yourself up and politics and social causes and ascetic appeasement and self-salvation and climbing the “ladder”, and a whole host of other things that Jefferson rightly points out.

Soli Deo Gloria!

by Tullian Tchividjian

Source:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-i-hate-religion-video

Copyright © Christianpost.com. All rights reserved.

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I recently posted this video on The Princess Warrior Ministries Facebook page. The other day I saw a negative reaction to the video in another area of the internet so I decided to do a little research and came across this article. I thought it very informative as to the thoughts behind the creation of the video. I think this article gives a great explanation, but I would like to give you my thoughts as well on the word, "Religion".

In James 1:27, the Bible gives us a definition of "religion" -- "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." In this verse, religion seems to be a positive thing, showing a compassionate attitude of the heart. BUT, in it's context, it is conveying the fact that we can be doing right things for all the wrong reasons. When a person has a true relationship with Jesus Christ we have God's Holy Spirit residing within us and because of this only do we have the desire to help those in need and to keep ourselves separate from the things of the world. However, there are those who "do good" to try to earn access to God and/or to elevate themselves above others. The motive behind the act is not to glorify God in doing His will and coming to Him, His way -- it is to make our own way and that, my friend, leaves the heart unchanged.

The verse (26) preceding the definition of religion states, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Matthew Henry's commentary says, "When men (or women) take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands."

Religion is an attitude and intent of the heart and is driven by either faith in God or faith in "self". In Jesus Christ, our religion is pure and motivated by our love and devotion to Him. When self gets involved it is motivated by our need to be in control and make our own way to God instead of the way He has pointed us to...through His Son, and His Son only. God is not the author of confusion. There are not many ways, there is One way, and Jesus tells us that HE is the way, the truth, and the life, and NO ONE comes to the Father, but through Him (John 14:6) No amount of "good deeds" will ever bring us to God. It doesn't matter if we feed a thousand widows or give clothing to ten thousand orphans...there is still only One way.

If you've never realized that before today, then now is a good time to make it right. Every person on their own journey comes to the crossroad of life. There is One way, leading to glorious life eternal and another, leading to destruction and eternal separation from God. To go down the road of life eternal a few things must happen -- we must realize and comprehend that WE have sinned against a holy and righteous God. "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) And God says, "There is none righteous, no, NOT ONE." (Romans 3:10) We have broken His laws and He is the Righteous Judge, who being a good judge, must bring us to justice. God said, "For the wages of sin IS DEATH!" (Romans 6:23a) God means spiritual death (an eternity in hell, away from His presence...forever). BUT, because of His great love for us, He offered up His own Son in our place. Jesus Christ, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God was slaughtered and paid the sin debt for the whole world -- for all sins: past, present, and future.

In the second part of Romans 6:23, it says, "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God has given us the most precious gift we could ever receive. It is a free pardon through the sacrifice of His only Son, BUT this gift (pardon) MUST be accepted and you must place your trust in Jesus and what He did to acquit you of your sins. So, when we accept God's Pardon we receive eternal life and will have a home with Him forever.

Our belief leads us to repentance (turning from the things of the world to God), and confession (laying our sins out before God and asking Him for His forgiveness). So, now our changed heart causes us to do good works, not to earn our way to God and not to make ourselves look righteous, but because the Holy Spirit of God now resides in us, imparting to us the love and compassion of the Savior.

But, we can bypass this road and choose the other by opting to "not believe" or we can try to make our own way to God. This road, however, does not end well. God is not there. This road ends in our destruction, torment, and separation from Him forever and ever. It will end in a place where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. It will end in a place called hell.

My friend, it is VERY important, that we examine ourselves. Do we belong to God? Are we on the right road? Are there signs in our lives that we have accepted His Pardon? I pray so!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Are You Good Enough To Go To Heaven?  
• Put On The Parachute!  
• Proofs Of Genuine Salvation 

For His Glory,

The Princess Warrior

Visit me on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/WandaPrincessWarrior


Copyright Information 
Copyright © 2009 The Princess Warrior Ministries. All articles are copyrighted on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.