ISAIAH 38
Hezekiah to get house in order before death verse 1
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death
and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him
and said to him –
Thus says the LORD
Set your house in order
for you shall die – and not live
Hezekiah prays verse 2- 3
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall
and prayed to the LORD
and said –
Remember now – O LORD – I beseech you
how I have walked before you in truth
and with a perfect heart
and have done that which is good
in YOUR sight
And Hezekiah wept sore
LORD gives Hezekiah fifteen more years verse 4- 6
Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah
saying
Go – and say to Hezekiah – thus says the LORD
the God of David your father
I have heard your prayer
I have seen your tears
BEHOLD I will ADD unto you days fifteen years
I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the
king of Assyria and I will defend this city
Sign of sundial turned backwards verse 7- 8
This shall be a sign to you from the LORD
that the LORD will do this thing that he has spoken
Behold – I will bring again the shadow of the degrees
which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz
ten degrees backward
So the sun returned ten degrees
by which degrees it was gone down
Hezekiah writes poem: Upcoming death verse 9- 14
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah – when he had been sick
and was recovered of his sickness
I said in the cutting off of my days
I shall go to the gates of the grave
I am deprived of the residue of my years
I said – I shall not see the LORD – even the LORD
in the land of the living
I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world
Mine age is departed – and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent
I have cut off like a weaver my life
HE will cut me off with pining sickness
from day even to night
will you make an end of me
I reckoned till morning – that – as a lion
so will he break all my bones
from day even to night wilt THOU
make an end of me
Like a crane or a swallow – so did I chatter
I did mourn as a dove
mine eyes fail with looking upward – O LORD
I am oppressed undertake for me
Hezekiah writes poem: Praise for extra years verse 15- 20
What shall I say? HE has both spoken unto me
and HIMSELF hath done it
I shall go softly all my years
in the bitterness of my soul
O Lord – by these things men live
and in all these things is the life of my spirit
so will you recover me – and make me to live
Behold – for peace I had great bitterness
BUT YOU has in love to my soul delivered it
from the pit of corruption
for YOU have cast all my sins
behind YOUR back
For the grave cannot praise YOU – death cannot celebrate YOU
they that go down into the pit cannot hope for YOUR truth
The living – the living – he shall praise YOU – as I do this day
the father to the children shall make known YOUR truth
The LORD was ready to save me
THEREFORE we will sing my songs
to the stringed instruments
all the days of our life
in the house of the LORD
Isaiah gives recovery medication verse 21
For ISAIAH had said
Let them take a lump of figs
and lay it for a plaster upon the boil
and he shall recover
Hezekiah goes to Temple verse 22
Hezekiah also had said
What is the sign that I shall go up
to the house of the LORD?
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. (2142 “Remember” [zakar] means mention, recorder, recall, bring to mind, to recall information or events, think about, meditate, or be mindful.
DEVOTION: My memory has been going for years. I sometimes walk into a room and forget to do two or three things because I am thinking about something else. I can recall many things about the Word of God but other things are I consider “non-essential” I forget easy.
Here we have Hezekiah asking the LORD to call to memory all the great things he has done in his life. Now we realize that the LORD is omniscience, which means, that HE knows everything. Did Hezekiah think that the LORD could forget anything? Do we think these thoughts?
He wanted to live longer. I have found individuals, when we talk about the LORD’S return, wanted to live to see their grandchildren married or some other event in the distant future. Is this how we should think?
Are we supposed to be ready to be with the LORD or rather wants to stay here for as long as we can? Paul looked forward to be with the LORD. He also thought that he needed to stay to help train more workers for the LORD. His reason was to do more service to the LORD.
Hezekiah seemed to think he could do more for the LORD. He told the LORD all the good things he had done in his lifetime. He walked in the truth of Word of the LORD. He had a perfect heart toward HIM. He stated that he did “good” in the sight of the LORD. Is that part of our testimony to the LORD?
Longer life was important to Hezekiah. He didn’t want to die. He thought he had more to live for than to end his life young. The LORD granted his request. HE gave him fifteen more years to live. During that time period he had a son named Manasseh. Manasseh did evil in the sight of the LORD.
Have we ever regretted a prayer that we had prayed and the LORD had answered? Should we watch what we pray for? Should we ask the LORD for wisdom regarding our requests to HIM?
CHALLENGE: Study the Word of God regarding prayer. Answer the questions asked above. Be ready to give an answer to someone who might ask these questions.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. (6148 “undertake” [arab] means to stand surety for, to be responsible for someone, lend support for, to give help or assistance, be of service, or to become surety.)
DEVOTION: Here we find the king of Judah asking the LORD for help. The LORD had given him a sickness to get his attention. He was not living as he should for the LORD and the LORD told him to prepare to die.
However, King Hezekiah prayed for the LORD to forgive him and the LORD answered HIS prayer with healing.
We need to realize that the LORD sometimes sends things our way to get our attention and to cause us to repent or deal with the judgment HE has sent on our life. We know when we sin and we know that sometimes the LORD waits a long time to send judgment on us but HE is going to chasten us to get our attention.
HE wants us to pray the same prayer that Hezekiah prayed. HE wants us to realize that if we claim to be a follower of HIS that we need to live a life that is pleasing to HIM. If we are not, HE is going to send judgment.
There are many people who claim to be followers of HIM but when the LORD sends judgment they don’t turn to him but just complain that HE is not doing what HE said HE would.
CHALLENGE: One sign of a genuine believer is when a testing come they will turn to the LORD and ask for HIS help and HIS forgiveness. Hezekiah realized this – do we??
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: 17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness; but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. (2836 “love” [chashaq] means be attached to, attachment, longed for, desire, set one’s affections or delight in.)
DEVOTION: Hezekiah is facing death. He doesn’t want to die. He prays for restoration. The LORD sends Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah that he has fifteen more years to live.
Hezekiah had no children at this point in his life. In the next few years he had a son named Manasseh. He was one of the worst kings of Judah. He did repent at the end of his reign. His son was one of the best kings in Judah.
The LORD not only healed him but gave him a sign regarding the healing. HE turned the sundial back ten degrees. With this in mind we find that historians say that somewhere in history there was a day lost. This is part of the day that was lost. The LORD is in control of the rotation of the earth. HE is in control of everything on this earth.
In John 3: 16, we find that “God so ‘loved’ the world” and here in book of Isaiah Hezekiah believed that only because of the delight of the LORD in him that HE cast all his sins behind HIS back.
Here there seems to be a connection between sin and sickness. This is not always the case regarding sickness but this verse implies that Hezekiah was not living the way he should. He was trusting in others besides the LORD alone. The sickness caused Hezekiah to change his direction. He reaffirmed his submission to the LORD. Isaiah came back in the room and gave him the directions for healing from the LORD.
When we follow Christ because of HIS shed blood on the cross our sins are forgiven and put behind the back of the LORD. They are buried in the deepest sea. They are as far as the east is from the west. We are delivered from the “pit of corruption” that is for eternity.
Hezekiah understands that it is not just the grave but he knows that once he is dead he can’t praise the LORD anymore. He knows that his sins need to be confessed and forgiven for the LORD to place them behind HIS back. God no longer looks on the sins of those who follow Christ. They are gone forever. Praise HIS name.
CHALLENGE: Do we understand the love of God? We must not place over HIS holiness. If we keep these two attributes of God in check we have a message to give to the world. If we place one over the other we lose our message.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. (2416 “recover” [chay] means live, alive, return to life, get over an illness or procedure, to flourish, or revive.)
DEVOTION: Does the LORD ever change HIS mind? We find here that HE tells Isaiah to tell Hezekiah to set his house in order because he is going to die. Hezekiah goes to the LORD and prays for healing from his physical illness.
The LORD answers his prayer by telling Isaiah that HE will give him fifteen more years to live because of his actions. What actions was HE talking about? The action of turning to the LORD in prayer when things were going wrong in the nation. He prayed for the LORD to spare the nation from the attack of Assyria. The LORD answered the prayer with deliverance.
Now we find that the LORD was going to allow Hezekiah to die from an illness and what does he do but go to the LORD in prayer and remind HIM of his past actions. The LORD honors his past actions by promising to heal him.
Now Isaiah comes with a second message and a cure for his illness. So the prophet who brought the news of his death was also the one who brought the cure for his illness and promise of life.
God still answers the prayers of those who are faithful to HIM. It would be great if there were prophets like Isaiah coming and going from the presence of the LORD to tell them when HE was going to heal them or help them.
Today we have the ministry of the Holy Spirit to come and give us the assurance that the LORD is always going to do what is best for us. Sometimes we wish HE was a human being that could come and talk with us like Isaiah but doesn’t seem to be the case.
It seems that those who are close to the LORD through their prayer life and personal service to the LORD know what is going to happen in given circumstances. HE still answers prayer. We have to be listening better today.
CHALLENGE: Do you want to receive a message from the LORD? Then we need to be faithful in our service to him and have a prayer life in which the LORD can speak to us. Are you listening?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Hezekiah’s prayer verse 2- 3
LORD heard Hezekiah’s prayer and answered verse 5
Life of my spirit verse 15, 16
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sing songs verse 20
Stringed instruments verse 20
House of the LORD verse 20, 22
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1- 5, 7, 11, 14, 20, 22
Prayed to the LORD verse 2
Word of the LORD verse 4
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 5
God of David verse 5
Promised to defeat king of Assyria verse 6
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 16
House of the LORD verse 20, 22
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
King of Assyria verse 6
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Bitterness verse 15, 17
Sins verse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
House in order verse 1
Pray verse 2, 5
Walk in truth verse 3, 19
Perfect heart verse 3
Good verse 3
Extended life verse 5
Deliverance verse 6
Sign verse 7, 22
Recover from sickness verse 9, 16, 21
Peace verse 17
Forgiveness verse 17
Praise verse 18, 19
Celebrate verse 18
Hope verse 18
Save verse 20
Sing verse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Hezekiah – king of Judah verse 1- 3, 5, 9, 22
Sick unto death
Prayed to the LORD
Wept sore
LORD added fifteen years to his life
Isaiah (son of Amoz) verse 1, 4, 21
Told Hezekiah to
Set you house in order
for you shall die
Take a lump of figs and lay it for a
plaster on the boil and he shall
recover
David verse 5
Ahaz verse 8
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Grave verse 10, 18
Pit of corruption verse 17, 18
Death verse 18
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QUOTES regarding passage
21–22. As one would expect, 2 Kings includes this record of Isaiah’s ‘prescription’ and Hezekiah’s asking for a sign within the flow of the narrative at the appropriate point (20:7–8). (See Additional note, below, regarding the abrupt intrusion of the same material here when, to all intents and purposes, the narrative has been concluded.) Poultice of figs … boil (21): whether Hezekiah’s health problem was a septic ulcer or some internal poisoning we are not told. Neither do we know whether figs were in current medical use, or if Isaiah was simply using the (lit.) ‘lump of figs’ as a visible symbol of the healing power of God, an ‘acted oracle’. His actual command was to ‘rub it on the boil’. There is, of course, no contradiction between healing in answer to prayer (2–5) and healing by means of medicine. There is no healing apart from the Lord (Exod. 15:27), who retains his sovereign authority to use or to dispense with ‘means’. The figs, coupled with the prophetic word, would have been a visible assurance to the king that healing was in progress. Coupled with the visible assurance of the figs, Hezekiah asked for (22) and received (2 Kgs 20:7–8) the cosmic sign of the movement of the shadow on the stairs. We move on, therefore, into chapter 39, in the light of promises made and vouched for in both ordinary and spectacular ways. Surely the king was fully equipped to stay in the pathway of faith …? (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 268–269). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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21–22 These verses occur in 2 Kings 20 immediately after the promise that the city would be delivered from the king of Assyria. Of course, 2 Kings does not contain Hezekiah’s psalm; so it would be most natural if the writer, dependent on the Book of Isaiah for the facts, inserted these verses in his narrative at that point. Most critics assume that the verses here have become dislocated from their correct position earlier in the chapter. Young (Book of Isaiah, in loc.), following J.A. Alexander (in loc.), vigorously contests this. The words of Isaiah and Hezekiah may have been recorded here to satisfy the reader’s natural queries about the means of healing and the reason for the sign. Hezekiah is not criticized for asking for a sign. After all, as several commentators point out, Isaiah’s two prophecies about him in v.1 and v.5 may have puzzled him by their contradictoriness. He sought not so much confirmation as clarification. (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, pp. 237–238). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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38:21–22. In the parallel account in 2 Kings these two verses in Isaiah precede the giving of the sign (see 2 Kings 20:7–9). A poultice of dried figs, a common treatment for boils and ulcers in those days, applied to the boil (possibly an inflamed ulceration), was used by God medicinally to promote the healing. This is an example of healing occurring because of a combination of prayer, medicine, and God’s work. Hezekiah’s question, What will be the sign …? did not evidence lack of faith. In fact it was the opposite. Believing that he would be healed, he asked God for confirmation of His word. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1090). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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There are some students who feel that Hezekiah was wrong in asking God to spare his life. Three years later, his son Manasseh was born (2 Kings 21:1); and he reigned for fifty-five years, the most wicked king in the entire dynasty! Had Hezekiah died without an heir, this would not have happened. But we have no guarantee that any other successor would have been any better; and Manasseh’s grandson was godly King Josiah, who did much to bring the nation back to the Lord. Manasseh did repent after God chastened him, and he ended his years serving the Lord (2 Chron. 33:11–20). It is unwise for us to second guess God or history. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 101). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Ver. 21. For Isaiah had said, &c.] Before the above writing was made, which ends in the preceding verse; for this and the following are added by Isaiah, or some other person, taken out of 2 Kings 20:7, 8. The Septuagint version adds, to Hezekiah; but the speech seems rather directed to some of his servants, or those that were about him: let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover; which was done, and he did accordingly recover. Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi, all of them say, that this was a miracle within a miracle, since figs are hurtful to ulcers; and so say others; though it is observed by some, that they are useful for the ripening and breaking of ulcers; however, it was not from the natural force of these figs, but by the power of God, that this cure was effected; for, without that, it was impossible so malignant an ulcer and so deadly a sickness as Hezekiah’s were could have been cured, and especially so suddenly; nor were these figs used as a medicine, but as a sign of recovery, according to the Lord’s promise, and as a means of assisting Hezekiah’s faith in it.
Ver. 22. Hezekiah also had said, &c.] Unto Isaiah, as in 2 Kings 20:8: what is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord? both of his health, and of his going up to the temple with thanksgiving for it; though the former is not here mentioned, as it is elsewhere; partly because it is supposed in the latter, for without that he could not have gone up to the temple; and partly because he was more solicitous for the worship and honour of God in his house, than for his health. The Syriac version transposes these verses, Hezekiah had said, what is the sign? &c. and Isaiah had answered, let them take a lump of figs, &c. as if this latter was the sign; whereas it was that of the sun’s going down ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz, ver. 7, 8 see the notes there. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 218–219). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Iran has hundreds of Shahab-3 missiles, and analysts estimate that Iranian proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza have at least 60,000 rockets and missiles aimed at Israel. In 1996, Israel passed a law requiring new homes and apartments to include a reinforced room that could withstand missile and rocket attacks, but many contractors have found ways around the law. (Posted 5/7/12) (Israel: The Eye of the Storm by Jill Nelson)
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Nothing to pay? – no, not a whit:
Nothing to do? – no, not a bit;
All that was needed to do or to pay,
Jesus has done in His own blessed way.
Nothing to do? – no, not a stroke;
Gone is the captor, gone is the yoke:
Jesus at Calvary severed the chain,
And none can imprison His freeman again.
Nothing to settle? – all has been paid;
Nothing of anger? – peace has been made:
Jesus alone is the sinner’s resource,
Peace He has made by the blood of His cross.
(H. A. Ironside)
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The Enduring Work of God
“Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14)
God is both omniscient and omnipotent. He has the wisdom to know what is best to do and the power to do it. Thus, He makes no mistakes and never needs to go back and revise or redirect something He started. What He does is forever!
This fundamental principle has many profound implications. It anticipates the basic scientific law of conservation, the most important and universal law of science. The basic physical entities which comprise and organize all natural processes—energy, mass, momentum, electric charge—are all “conserved” throughout nature, being neither created nor destroyed in the present natural order of things.
The same applies to the basic kinds of plants and animals— evolutionists to the contrary notwithstanding. “After its kind” is the universal law of reproduction, and there is not the slightest evidence in the real data of biology that this law has ever been violated, or even could be violated.
And it also applies to the created cosmos, as a whole. Many Scriptures (e.g., Psalm 148:1-6) assure us that the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the renewed earth, will continue to function through all the endless ages to come. Nothing can defeat God’s primeval purposes in creating them.
Most of all, it applies to our great salvation: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:28). “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him” (Psalm 103:17). “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away” (Daniel 7:14). “My salvation shall be for ever” (Isaiah 51:6). “The word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). The remarkable principle of universal conservation is given “that men should fear before him.” (HMM, The Institute for creation Research)
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Some conservatives are worried that the liberal Left and some upcoming Texas state bills may try “to ban Christianity in Texas.”
Erick Erickson, a conservative blogger and radio host, writes in The Resurgent, that some half a dozen bills will ban Christianity “in all but name.”
This continues a long line of thought first advocated by the Obama Administration, which sought to restrict the ‘free exercise’ clause of the First Amendment to a ‘freedom of worship’ standard. In other words, be a Christian in church on Sunday, but nowhere else,” he says.
“Christianity is not a religion of the church pew, but of the town square. Texas progressives are trying to ban it from anywhere outside the church,” he added in his column.
Erickson was referring to Texas bills, including HB 224, HB 254, HB 850 and SB 151, all which would prohibit the discrimination of sexual orientation or gender identity by businesses, including Christian-owned ones. Previously, Christian businesses have claimed they have the right to refuse service based on their religious beliefs.
Two other bills are also being considered. HB 517 would require Christian counselors to affirm transgenderism and SB 154 would force doctors to create birth certificates retroactively for patients who gender transition.
Dave Welch, president of the Texas Pastors Council, also said the bills could mean less rights for Christians.
“The mad dash by some Democrat House and Senate members to push false narratives that sexual behavior is the same as skin color and that mental illness deserves the same honored status as religious belief is ominous evidence that the criminalization of religious faith and common sense are on the horizon,” he said.
Texas Values, a state conservative advocacy group, has also mounted a campaign to show that the house bill #BanTheBible.
“#BanTheBible doesn’t have to mean confiscating physical Bibles yet,” the group said in a statement, “but it does mean something even worse — stripping Texans’ right to practice biblical teachings out of their lives.”
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A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. “He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, “Who still wants it…?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.
“My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.
You are special-Don’t EVER forget it.” If you do not pass this on, you may never know the lives it touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to, or the hope that it may bring. Count your blessings, not your problems. (Thanks Kasper)
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