"I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing Your praise; I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your Name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word."
~Psalm 138:1-2
The word 'grateful' is often translated as a feeling about something but the biblical meaning of 'gratefulness' and 'thankfulness' goes far beyond a feeling. It is actually translated in the New Testament as "giving praise." The word in the Greek is "eukharistos"
with its root being the word "Kharis," which means "Grace" particularly, "the Grace of God." It is much more than just saying "thank you" to someone for something that they have done.
Gratefulness is not about thanking God for anything that we have, it is thanking God for the privilege of knowing Him as Lord and Savior. Gratefulness is an attitude not a feeling. Gratefulness is how we wake up in the morning, to begin our day knowing that we are alive simply because of the Grace of God. Gratefulness is not just a feeling but rather, the absolute knowledge of Who Christ is, what He did on the Cross, and what He is doing in our lives. Gratefulness is having the attitude that no matter what goes on in life, God is in absolute control. So as we go about our day, in the back of our mind, praise continues for God, toward God, and about God, simply because He is God. Gratefulness is our weapon against the world. Gratefulness, coming from our heart, develops into our minds and produces praise and glory to Jesus Christ.
Once we understand 'Eukharistos' as being the fullness of God's Grace in Jesus Christ poured out on our lives, we begin to get a gleaning of who God is. This is knowledge that gives us power in Christ. This is transforming power. This is the kind of power that builds our faith to a point where we are absolutely convinced when we say to the mountain, "move", it will actually move. This is the power that gives us the ability to move past failures, and pain, hurt and hard feelings, hatred and all of those other horrible things that life teaches us. When we understand the absolute grace of God, it translates us into an absolutely grateful person, living out our gratefulness in the lives of others.
So begin each day in 'Eukharistos', in the absolute gratefulness of who God is, for what God has done, and continues to do in our lives each and every moment. Begin your day in gratefulness and watch your life transform.
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6)."
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Get Some Sleep
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.”
~ Psalm 127:2
Sleep. We all need it, yet 1/3 of all adults sleep less than six hours per night when studies show we all need 7-9 hours per night. Unfortunately, I fall into the category of less than six hours of sleep per night… actually, six hours of straight sleep sounds like a dream because I usually get 3-4 hours of sleep. There’s a few reasons why I don’t sleep. The main one is pain. I am in an immense amount of pain all of the time but when sleeping, laying in one position for too long causes me to wake up. I also have furbabies who need to go out, and once they wake me up, I’m up for good. Another problem is light. As soon as it’s light outside, I’m awake. I remember the days when I could sleep. It was long ago and far away, but I do remember what it feels like to sleep and I often daydream about. To shut my eyes and drift off…
What is wrong with us? Why do so many of us fail to get enough rest when clearly, the Lord designed our bodies to need sleep? According to studies, caffeine is one of the biggest culprits. We love our coffee and we drink a staggering amount – 12 million pounds per year! That averages out to about six cups per person per day. Considering it takes approximately 3 hours for each cup of caffeine to wear off, we are probably still on a coffee high at bedtime, even if we don’t feel the jittery effects. Another culprit of sleepus interuptess is snoring. Not only does it affect the partner of the snoring sleeper, it causes the snorer to lose sleep. Snoring can deprive the brain of oxygen, which in turn causes the snorer to feel tired the next day. And then we have other problems, like changing schedules, stress, nightmares, children, pets, sirens, neighbors, traffic, etc. that all interferes with sleep. No wonder we feel like we need a nap! And to top it off, lack of sleep has some nasty side-effects:
• Sleepiness Causes Accidents. ...
• Sleep Loss Dumbs You Down. ...
• Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to Serious Health Problems. ...
• Lack of Sleep Kills Sex Drive. ...
• Sleepiness Is Depressing. ...
• Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin. ...
• Sleepiness Makes You Forgetful… To name a few!
We weren’t created to go without rest. It’s essential to our health, physically and mentally. God rested on the seventh day. He created the heavens and earth, and separated day from night (Genesis 1:5). “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from His (Hebrews 4:9-10).”
While I have yet to figure out how to get a good night’s sleep, I do know that during those sleepless nights, I have the opportunity to accomplish some spiritual tasks. Praying, reading Scripture, posting Bible study references on social media, are all good places to start. I suppose I could stop drinking coffee but…
~ Psalm 127:2
Sleep. We all need it, yet 1/3 of all adults sleep less than six hours per night when studies show we all need 7-9 hours per night. Unfortunately, I fall into the category of less than six hours of sleep per night… actually, six hours of straight sleep sounds like a dream because I usually get 3-4 hours of sleep. There’s a few reasons why I don’t sleep. The main one is pain. I am in an immense amount of pain all of the time but when sleeping, laying in one position for too long causes me to wake up. I also have furbabies who need to go out, and once they wake me up, I’m up for good. Another problem is light. As soon as it’s light outside, I’m awake. I remember the days when I could sleep. It was long ago and far away, but I do remember what it feels like to sleep and I often daydream about. To shut my eyes and drift off…
What is wrong with us? Why do so many of us fail to get enough rest when clearly, the Lord designed our bodies to need sleep? According to studies, caffeine is one of the biggest culprits. We love our coffee and we drink a staggering amount – 12 million pounds per year! That averages out to about six cups per person per day. Considering it takes approximately 3 hours for each cup of caffeine to wear off, we are probably still on a coffee high at bedtime, even if we don’t feel the jittery effects. Another culprit of sleepus interuptess is snoring. Not only does it affect the partner of the snoring sleeper, it causes the snorer to lose sleep. Snoring can deprive the brain of oxygen, which in turn causes the snorer to feel tired the next day. And then we have other problems, like changing schedules, stress, nightmares, children, pets, sirens, neighbors, traffic, etc. that all interferes with sleep. No wonder we feel like we need a nap! And to top it off, lack of sleep has some nasty side-effects:
• Sleepiness Causes Accidents. ...
• Sleep Loss Dumbs You Down. ...
• Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to Serious Health Problems. ...
• Lack of Sleep Kills Sex Drive. ...
• Sleepiness Is Depressing. ...
• Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin. ...
• Sleepiness Makes You Forgetful… To name a few!
We weren’t created to go without rest. It’s essential to our health, physically and mentally. God rested on the seventh day. He created the heavens and earth, and separated day from night (Genesis 1:5). “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from His (Hebrews 4:9-10).”
While I have yet to figure out how to get a good night’s sleep, I do know that during those sleepless nights, I have the opportunity to accomplish some spiritual tasks. Praying, reading Scripture, posting Bible study references on social media, are all good places to start. I suppose I could stop drinking coffee but…
Monday, September 11, 2017
Our Battle-Ready Warrior
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
~Ephesians 6:12
I spoke on this verse on 60 Second Scripture on YouTube this morning, and I just wanted to continue it because 60 seconds doesn't give me enough time to really say everything that needs to be said about this verse.
As Christians, our battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 14:47). And the way that we help Him fight that battle is in prayer, worship, and praise.
We see protesters running around the streets like crazy people, and we see protesters forming lines, standing in front of oncoming traffic. I am reminded of the story of Don Quixote, who had his head in the clouds, and his ideas of what was going on was really fantasy that overcame the rational mind. Humans get like that sometimes. The idea of what they want, or how they perceive life should be, overcomes the reality of how life is. That's not to say that things don't need to change, or that we cannot change the problems in this world, but there are ways to do it and there are ways not to do it; and then there are ways that just make you look like a crazy person standing out in traffic.
At present, there are a lot of crazy people standing out in traffic. We see it all over social media, we see it on the news, and we see it online. We make jokes about it because people are really good at laughing at others, and some of it is so farcical that there's nothing you can do except laugh. The problem is, laughing and making jokes doesn't help anything.
We are currently in a fierce spiritual battle. I see it every single day and it includes all of the things that are going on worldwide. We have a war that has been going on for 16 years, we have storms spinning out of control and wreaking havoc everywhere, we have fires burning out of control, and to top it off the crime rate is through the roof. And it seems that police are stretched to their limits, and aren't allowed to enforce laws without being accused of bigotry and racism. People can no longer speak freely about right and wrong, or mention God without being labeled a racist, or a hater. Common sense has gone straight out the window and lunacy prevails.
It can be easy to get caught up in physical battles against the things that we see going on around us. Those things affect our lives, they affect our loved ones, they affect our finances, and they surely affect our sanity. But as Christians, our battle is not against the people that we see doing these things, and it's not against the police, it's not against the law makers, it's not against Congress, and it's certainly not against the president. The battle that we are fighting is against spiritual darkness.
Jesus Christ has the victory won already. Jesus Christ defeated those principalities when he died on the Cross and rose from the dead.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14)."
Christians were never meant to be part of the physical battle going on around us. We have always been meant to join with Jesus Christ and battle with Him.
'O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries (Psalm 60:11-12)."
We are told in Ephesians 6:10-18 how we are to prepare for battle. We are told to put on the "belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
We are to rely solely on Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word and that Word is Jesus Christ (John 1:1). He was and is, and is to come (Revelation 1:8). So the next time you're facing battle, pick up your sword, the Word of God, get on your knees and let the Lord battle for you because in Him is certain victory.
~Ephesians 6:12
I spoke on this verse on 60 Second Scripture on YouTube this morning, and I just wanted to continue it because 60 seconds doesn't give me enough time to really say everything that needs to be said about this verse.
As Christians, our battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 14:47). And the way that we help Him fight that battle is in prayer, worship, and praise.
We see protesters running around the streets like crazy people, and we see protesters forming lines, standing in front of oncoming traffic. I am reminded of the story of Don Quixote, who had his head in the clouds, and his ideas of what was going on was really fantasy that overcame the rational mind. Humans get like that sometimes. The idea of what they want, or how they perceive life should be, overcomes the reality of how life is. That's not to say that things don't need to change, or that we cannot change the problems in this world, but there are ways to do it and there are ways not to do it; and then there are ways that just make you look like a crazy person standing out in traffic.
At present, there are a lot of crazy people standing out in traffic. We see it all over social media, we see it on the news, and we see it online. We make jokes about it because people are really good at laughing at others, and some of it is so farcical that there's nothing you can do except laugh. The problem is, laughing and making jokes doesn't help anything.
We are currently in a fierce spiritual battle. I see it every single day and it includes all of the things that are going on worldwide. We have a war that has been going on for 16 years, we have storms spinning out of control and wreaking havoc everywhere, we have fires burning out of control, and to top it off the crime rate is through the roof. And it seems that police are stretched to their limits, and aren't allowed to enforce laws without being accused of bigotry and racism. People can no longer speak freely about right and wrong, or mention God without being labeled a racist, or a hater. Common sense has gone straight out the window and lunacy prevails.
It can be easy to get caught up in physical battles against the things that we see going on around us. Those things affect our lives, they affect our loved ones, they affect our finances, and they surely affect our sanity. But as Christians, our battle is not against the people that we see doing these things, and it's not against the police, it's not against the law makers, it's not against Congress, and it's certainly not against the president. The battle that we are fighting is against spiritual darkness.
Jesus Christ has the victory won already. Jesus Christ defeated those principalities when he died on the Cross and rose from the dead.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14)."
Christians were never meant to be part of the physical battle going on around us. We have always been meant to join with Jesus Christ and battle with Him.
'O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries (Psalm 60:11-12)."
We are told in Ephesians 6:10-18 how we are to prepare for battle. We are told to put on the "belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
We are to rely solely on Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word and that Word is Jesus Christ (John 1:1). He was and is, and is to come (Revelation 1:8). So the next time you're facing battle, pick up your sword, the Word of God, get on your knees and let the Lord battle for you because in Him is certain victory.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Happy Birthday!
Join The Celebration!
Marie Is Celebrating Her Birthday With a Dual Book Release!
SHINE HIS LIGHT Lessons In Life - is a collection of Marie's writings from her Facebook page, Daughters Of The King, which also appear on this blog.
Both books will be released on October 1, 2017 and are available for pre-order with an exclusive offer. By pre-ordering, you will receive a special discounted price and a gift from Marie.
For more information on ordering, email shinehislightbook@gmail.com
Thursday, September 7, 2017
I Know Why
"For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is His thought, who makes the morning darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!"
~Amos 4:13
I have always loved moonless nights when I could lay on my back and look up at the stars. I remember when I was a kid we'd go down to the school yard and lay out sleeping bags and blankets on the Merry-Go-Round and watch the stars. Sometimes they would move and we thought they were UFOs but we were kids. Man has looked up into the stars and wondered what was up there, & what was beyond them since the beginning of time. Galileo, DaVinci, all of the great philosophers and artists looked up in the sky and wanted to know how the heavenly bodies came to be & what was holding them in place. I suppose scientists could give an answer as to how the stars got there, and what's holding them in place. I'm no scientist, but I wouldn't have a problem telling them they were wrong because I know how they got there, and how they stay in place - God Almighty and nothing else (Psalm 33:6).
The Lord created the heavens and the Earth with such care. He made the Earth separate from anything else that is in the sky. He made it absolutely perfect because He knew exactly what humans would need to survive on this planet. Then He made humans from the dust of the earth, and made all of it compatible with the rest. It is the most intricate symbiotic relationship there is. Consider a woman who carries a child from conception to birth. That didn't happen by accident. The relationship of one individual creating another individual with nothing but an umbilical cord to ensure life and health is a miracle.
There are a lot of things in life that I don't understand. There is a lot of things in life that I would like to change. But there is one thing in life that I have a complete understanding of and that is, God is in control. I know Who created the heavens and the earth. I know Who put life into motion. I know the God of the universe. I know that my life means something because He created my life. I know that He still walks on water. I know that He still holds the Earth in His hands. I know the stars stay in the sky because He tells them to. And I know that each person who is reading this has a specific place in this earth and has a specific calling from God because He also created you. He created your life. He put you on this planet for a purpose. And He is calling you now to fulfill that purpose.
"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)."
Your life was created for more than getting up, drinking coffee, breathing, going to work, coming home, and doing it all over again. Your life was created by God, for God, to be used by God. Your life was created so that those around you can know Jesus Christ.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)."
Look at the stars in the heavens and see what God has done for you.
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!"
~Amos 4:13
I have always loved moonless nights when I could lay on my back and look up at the stars. I remember when I was a kid we'd go down to the school yard and lay out sleeping bags and blankets on the Merry-Go-Round and watch the stars. Sometimes they would move and we thought they were UFOs but we were kids. Man has looked up into the stars and wondered what was up there, & what was beyond them since the beginning of time. Galileo, DaVinci, all of the great philosophers and artists looked up in the sky and wanted to know how the heavenly bodies came to be & what was holding them in place. I suppose scientists could give an answer as to how the stars got there, and what's holding them in place. I'm no scientist, but I wouldn't have a problem telling them they were wrong because I know how they got there, and how they stay in place - God Almighty and nothing else (Psalm 33:6).
The Lord created the heavens and the Earth with such care. He made the Earth separate from anything else that is in the sky. He made it absolutely perfect because He knew exactly what humans would need to survive on this planet. Then He made humans from the dust of the earth, and made all of it compatible with the rest. It is the most intricate symbiotic relationship there is. Consider a woman who carries a child from conception to birth. That didn't happen by accident. The relationship of one individual creating another individual with nothing but an umbilical cord to ensure life and health is a miracle.
There are a lot of things in life that I don't understand. There is a lot of things in life that I would like to change. But there is one thing in life that I have a complete understanding of and that is, God is in control. I know Who created the heavens and the earth. I know Who put life into motion. I know the God of the universe. I know that my life means something because He created my life. I know that He still walks on water. I know that He still holds the Earth in His hands. I know the stars stay in the sky because He tells them to. And I know that each person who is reading this has a specific place in this earth and has a specific calling from God because He also created you. He created your life. He put you on this planet for a purpose. And He is calling you now to fulfill that purpose.
"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)."
Your life was created for more than getting up, drinking coffee, breathing, going to work, coming home, and doing it all over again. Your life was created by God, for God, to be used by God. Your life was created so that those around you can know Jesus Christ.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)."
Look at the stars in the heavens and see what God has done for you.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Hope Springs Eternal
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
~Lamentations 3:21-23
Alexander Pope said, "Hope springs eternal in the human breast..." I'm sure it does, otherwise, we'd have given up long ago. However, I am more inclined to put my hope in something much more sure than myself - my hope is in the Lord (Psalm 39:7).
Hope is described as an aspiration, desire, wish, expectation, ambition, aim, goal, plan, design; but it's also described as "a feeling of trust." This is the hope we have in Jesus Christ because we are:
“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… (Titus 2:13)."
There's a lot of things to hope for in this world. We hope for good relationships, we hope for our children to be healthy, we hope for our lives to be long and full, but none of these things are within our control. We have that hope because the alternative is much too horrible to even think about. But when our hope is placed in Jesus Christ we don't worry about those types of things or their alternative. When our hope is placed in Jesus Christ, we know that our place is secure. We know that Jesus Christ has the very best plan for our lives, and we do not have to worry about the future no matter what may happen.
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).”
~Lamentations 3:21-23
Alexander Pope said, "Hope springs eternal in the human breast..." I'm sure it does, otherwise, we'd have given up long ago. However, I am more inclined to put my hope in something much more sure than myself - my hope is in the Lord (Psalm 39:7).
Hope is described as an aspiration, desire, wish, expectation, ambition, aim, goal, plan, design; but it's also described as "a feeling of trust." This is the hope we have in Jesus Christ because we are:
“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… (Titus 2:13)."
There's a lot of things to hope for in this world. We hope for good relationships, we hope for our children to be healthy, we hope for our lives to be long and full, but none of these things are within our control. We have that hope because the alternative is much too horrible to even think about. But when our hope is placed in Jesus Christ we don't worry about those types of things or their alternative. When our hope is placed in Jesus Christ, we know that our place is secure. We know that Jesus Christ has the very best plan for our lives, and we do not have to worry about the future no matter what may happen.
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).”
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Stop Clanging
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."
~1Corinthians 13:1(NIV)
There's a saying I like, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way," and it's especially true for today's world. Everything around us is in chaos -- natural disasters and unnatural disasters, which is a lot to deal with but on top of that, we have people with no real focus shouting at the top of their lungs, causing discourse, distress, & discouragement for no apparent reason other than to hear the sound of their own voices. They are, in essence, clanging cymbals. They are not acting in a loving, respectful way, and their only purpose is to disrupt the lives of those around them.
Our world is out of order in a serious way. Chaos is all around us, and it seems we barely have time to take a breath before the next disaster occurs. But God's world is one of order, love and freedom. He created everything according to this order, including us. So why does it seem everything is out of order?
Simply put, fewer people act out of love. In the above verse, we are told whatever we do without love is a loud, annoying noise. So the converse would be true as well, everything done out of love for one another would be music to our ears.
So many today seem to react to situations and people, instead of acting in a manner that shows love. However, the Bible commands us to act in love no matter what is going on around us.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35.)”
Following Jesus takes strength of character, and the resolve to be like Him. But once we decide to follow Him, that strength and resolve comes from Him. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)." Jesus Christ is our source for all things: strength, comfort, hope, love and the ability to rise above the things of this world that tries to drag us down.
Our evil behavior alienates us from God (Colossians 1:21), but because of what Christ did at Calvary, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18) simply by humbling ourselves before Him. And what a truly wonderful world it would be if everyone of us would stop being a clanging cymbal and start being a beautiful song in Christ.
~1Corinthians 13:1(NIV)
There's a saying I like, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way," and it's especially true for today's world. Everything around us is in chaos -- natural disasters and unnatural disasters, which is a lot to deal with but on top of that, we have people with no real focus shouting at the top of their lungs, causing discourse, distress, & discouragement for no apparent reason other than to hear the sound of their own voices. They are, in essence, clanging cymbals. They are not acting in a loving, respectful way, and their only purpose is to disrupt the lives of those around them.
Our world is out of order in a serious way. Chaos is all around us, and it seems we barely have time to take a breath before the next disaster occurs. But God's world is one of order, love and freedom. He created everything according to this order, including us. So why does it seem everything is out of order?
Simply put, fewer people act out of love. In the above verse, we are told whatever we do without love is a loud, annoying noise. So the converse would be true as well, everything done out of love for one another would be music to our ears.
So many today seem to react to situations and people, instead of acting in a manner that shows love. However, the Bible commands us to act in love no matter what is going on around us.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35.)”
Following Jesus takes strength of character, and the resolve to be like Him. But once we decide to follow Him, that strength and resolve comes from Him. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)." Jesus Christ is our source for all things: strength, comfort, hope, love and the ability to rise above the things of this world that tries to drag us down.
Our evil behavior alienates us from God (Colossians 1:21), but because of what Christ did at Calvary, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18) simply by humbling ourselves before Him. And what a truly wonderful world it would be if everyone of us would stop being a clanging cymbal and start being a beautiful song in Christ.
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