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DAY 4: THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES









                       “I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”
                                  Exodus 31:13


            I was reminded of what God told Paul when he prayed for
            the  thorn  in  his  flesh,  a  messenger  of  Satan,  to be  taken
            away. The Amplified version of the Bible says it is “the gift
            of a handicap” that Satan’s angel inflicted to torment, harass
            and get him down. He pleaded with God  three  times.  He
            begged,  but  he  received  an  unexpected  answer.  God
            promised that the weaker he gets, the stronger he becomes.
            He learned that  if  he  drew himself  in God’s strength  and
            power,  he  could  overcome  whatever  situation  he  was  in.
            God’s grace is sufficient in ALL circumstances.
            Mastectomy  left  an  ugly  scar  on  my  body,  a  forever
            reminder of what I have gone through. But why would I be
            ashamed of this scar when it reminds me of how God has
            shown  His  power  in  me?  I  felt  this  was  His  way  of
            sanctifying me. He set me apart through suffering so I would
            dedicate and depend my whole life to Him.

            Tim, my eldest son, and his wife Nathasha gave me a watch
            with a note written on the Christmas card saying, “We hope
            that our gift to you would remind you of God’s faithfulness
            during your trial and a standing testament of how God will
            continue  to  bring  you  through  even  in  your  darkest
            moments. Engraved on the back are three words: Strength.
            You  have  shown  that  no  matter  how  weak  you  felt,  you
            clung to the One that gives you strength. By God's grace,

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