The God-Given Lot

Welcome: TURN to ECC. CH. 5 (8-20)

!! OPEN in PRAYER !!

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Introduction: WHAT IS YOUR LOT?

If I were to ask you: “WHAT is YOUR LOT in LIFE?” WHAT COMES to MIND?

WHAT is YOUR LOT?

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HEALTH/POOR HEALTH?

BAD REPORT from DR

ACHES & PAINS

“MY LOT”

POOR/BAD FINANCIAL SITUATION?

STRUGGLING to PAY BILLS

OLD CAR/BREAKING DOWN?

UNMET DESIRES?

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YOUR “LOT” = USUALLY HAS NEGATIVE CONNOTATION…RIGHT??

WRAPPING UP COMPLAINTS: “THAT’S JUST MY LOT in LIFE...”

BUT WHAT IF: IT DIDN’T HAVE to BE NEGATIVE…?

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KEEP in MIND… AS WE OPEN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER...

PRAY TEXT UPLIFTS YOU—AS IT HAS ME...

(T) I WANT TO BEGIN BY READING THE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE.

ECC. CH. 5.... (V5-20)...

THE TEACHER WRITES,

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PASSAGE READING:

Ecclesiastes 5:8–20 (ESV)

8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,

14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.

15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.

16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?

17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.

19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

RECAP:

TEACHER = BACK to ADMONITIONS for LIFE...

Last Wk:

SPECIFIC COMMANDS REGARDING GATHERING FOR WORSHIP...

“GUARD YOUR STEPS”

FEARING GOD—STANDING in REVERENT AWE of HIM/ OBEYING HIS COMMANDS...

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This Wk:

TEACHER SPEAKING to EVERYDAY LIFE

SERVING GOD in ORDINARY—NOT JUST “WORSHIP”

(T) B4 ADMONITIONS— HE HITS ANOTHER OBSERVATION...

LOOK W/ ME AGAIN @ VS. 8-9

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PASSAGE PREACHING:

THOUGHT 1: VANITY OF RULERS (V8-9)

IF YOU SEE IN A PROVINCE THE OPPRESSION OF THE POOR AND THE VIOLATION OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, DO NOT BE AMAZED AT THE MATTER, FOR THE HIGH OFFICIAL IS WATCHED BY A HIGHER, AND THERE ARE YET HIGHER ONES OVER THEM.

DON’T BE SURPRISED W/ INJUSTICE...

THOSE @ TOP MISTREAT THOSE BENEATH—NOTHING NEW

THE WHOLE HIERARCHY FUNCTIONS THIS WAY...

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ROOT PROBLEM?.....SIDNEY GREIDANUS: “GREED”

GREED CAUSES HONEST PEOPLE to BETRAY, USE, LIE, CHEAT...

OTHERS = COGS in the MACHINE… NOT SEEN as PEOPLE...

GENERAL REALITY of MANY HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURES...

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ONE EXCEPTION:

V9 BUT THIS IS GAIN FOR A LAND IN EVERY WAY: A KING COMMITTED TO CULTIVATED FIELDS.

GENERALLY STRUCTURES ARE BAD…

BUT IF GUY on TOP CARES FOR LAND—ALL BENEFIT...

SOMETIMES GOOD COMES—FREQUENTLY JUST AVENUES for GREED.

(T) BUT NOT ONLY IS THIS A PROBLEM IN THE HIERARCHIES OF POWER,

IT’S ALSO A PROBLEM FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.

LOOK AT VERSE 10,

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THOUGHT 2: THE VANITY OF MONEY (V10-12)

10 HE WHO LOVES MONEY WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH MONEY, NOR HE WHO LOVES WEALTH WITH HIS INCOME; THIS ALSO IS VANITY.

FROM OPPRESSION & GOVERNMENTAL GREED.... TO PERSONAL GREED.... A LOVE for MONEY.

LOVE for MONEY/WEALTH = INSATIABLE

THESE THINGS— VANITY— FUTILE—MEANINGLESS...

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THERE’S ALWAYS MORE to BE GAINED...

YOU’RE NEVER “FULL”

ALWAYS MORE MONEY to MAKE

ALWAYS MORE STUFF to BUY

HUMAN EYE is NEVER SATISFIED

MILLIONAIRE—MULTI-MILLIONAIRE—BILLIONAIRE...

1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

MONEY ISN’T EVIL… IT’S the LOVE of MONEY

LOVE of MONEY TAKES OTHERWISE HONEST PEOPLE & CAUSES THEM to LIE/CHEAT/STEAL

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MONEY = NECESSARY… WE AREN’T in a BARTERING SOCIETY.

EVEN CHURCH USES MONEY to KEEP LIGHTS ON...

WE ALL NEED MONEY (FUNCTIONALLY)

BUT WE MUST FIGHT the LOVE of MONEY

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IF JOY & SATISFACTION = FOUND in LOTS of MONEY… YOU’LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH...

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Part of the Problem:

V11 WHEN GOODS INCREASE, THEY INCREASE WHO EAT THEM, AND WHAT ADVANTAGE HAS THEIR OWNER BUT TO SEE THEM WITH HIS EYES?

MORE MONEY = MORE COSTS/EXPENSES

TAXES

TODAY’S WORLD— AMOUNT & PERCENTAGE

INFLATION

HITS EVERYONE—NO RESPECTER of PERSONS...

FAMILY GROWING

MORE MOUTHS to FEED.

“FRIENDS” GROWING.

WELL OFF?? PEOPLE WILL TRY & DEPEND on YOUR GENEROSITY

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LOVE of MONEY—NOT SATISFIABLE....

NEVER HAVE ENOUGH

EXPENSES COME to FIGHT IT...

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(T) CONTRASTING THIS…TEACHERS SAYS (V12)

· V12 SWEET IS THE SLEEP OF A LABORER, WHETHER HE EATS LITTLE OR MUCH, BUT THE FULL STOMACH OF THE RICH WILL NOT LET HIM SLEEP.

ANOTHER PROBLEM of LOVE for MONEY & WEALTH...

WORRYING ABOUT LOSING IT

BUSINESS VENTURE

STOCK MARKET

PROBLEMS KEEP YOU UP @ NIGHT...

FULL BELLY? CAN’T SLEEP.

LABORER SLEEPS WELL:

LESS WORRIES

WORKED HARD W/ HANDS—EXHAUSTED.

HUNGRY? STILL SLEEPS GOOD.

(T) AND WITH THIS IN MIND,

THE TEACHER OFFERS ANOTHER VANITY UNDER THE SUN REGARDING MONEY:

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THOUGHT 3: THE VANITY & FLEETINGNESS OF WEALTH (V13-17)

13 THERE IS A GRIEVOUS EVIL THAT I HAVE SEEN UNDER THE SUN: RICHES WERE KEPT BY THEIR OWNER TO HIS HURT, 14 AND THOSE RICHES WERE LOST IN A BAD VENTURE. AND HE IS FATHER OF A SON, BUT HE HAS NOTHING IN HIS HAND.

B4—RICHES—NOT PROMISED to SATISFY...

NOW—RICHES NOT PROMISED to STAY!

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TEACHER KNOWS—MAN W/ LOTS of MONEY—

MAN KEPT HIS MONEY

BIT TIGHT

WON’T ENJOY HIS MONEY

ONE BAD VENTURE—LOST HIS WEALTH…

MONEY = IDOL… COULDN’T ENJOY IT...

ONE MISTAKE & POOF… IT’S GONE..

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HAPPENS...

20 YEARS AGO—ENRON WENT BANKRUPT...

PEOPLE DOING REALLY WELL UNTIL THEY WEREN’T.

ADELPHIA— GOOD UNTIL THEY WEREN’T.

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SOME PEOPLE — SO OBSESSED W/ MONEY THEY AREN’T WILLING to SPEND...

ALL INTO INVESTMENTS THAT MIGHT GO SOUTH.

WE CAN’T TAKE IT WITH US…

WE MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY IT RESPONSIBLY to SOME DEGREE!

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MAN in STORY—FORMERLY WEALTHY...

NOW HAS NOTHING to LEAVE to HIS SON...

FURTHERMORE:

15 AS HE CAME FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB HE SHALL GO AGAIN, NAKED AS HE CAME, AND SHALL TAKE NOTHING FOR HIS TOIL THAT HE MAY CARRY AWAY IN HIS HAND.

ALL HIS HARD WORK… AND HE GETS NOTHING for ALL HIS TOIL.

WORKING for YEARS…ONLY to LOSE in a MOMENT...

LEAVING WORLD NAKED & EMPTY as HE CAME...

16 THIS ALSO IS A GRIEVOUS EVIL: JUST AS HE CAME, SO SHALL HE GO, AND WHAT GAIN IS THERE TO HIM WHO TOILS FOR THE WIND?

ORIGINAL QUESTION:

Ecclesiastes 1:3 (ESV)

3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

THIS GUY = GETS NOTHING!

END of STORY:

17 MOREOVER, ALL HIS DAYS HE EATS IN DARKNESS IN MUCH VEXATION AND SICKNESS AND ANGER.

(T) SO, IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE THINGS…WHAT OUGHT A PERSON TO DO?

IN VERSE 18, THE TEACHER SAYS:

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THOUGHT 4: THE SOLUTION FOR VANITY—JOY IN ONE’S GOD-GIVEN LOT (V18-20)

18 BEHOLD, WHAT I HAVE SEEN TO BE GOOD AND FITTING IS TO EAT AND DRINK AND FIND ENJOYMENT IN ALL THE TOIL WITH WHICH ONE TOILS UNDER THE SUN THE FEW DAYS OF HIS LIFE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN HIM, FOR THIS IS HIS LOT. 19 EVERYONE ALSO TO WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS AND POWER TO ENJOY THEM, AND TO ACCEPT HIS LOT AND REJOICE IN HIS TOIL—THIS IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

AGAIN, THE TEACHER COMES BACK TO WHAT HE’S TOLD US MANY TIMES.

GOOD & FITTING:

EAT

DRINK

FIND ENJOYMENT in TOIL

FEW DAYS of LIFE GOD HAS GIVEN...

ENJOYING GOD’S LITTLE THINGS = OUR LOT!

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WE MENTIONED “LOT” @ BEGINNING...

LOT CAN MEAN a FEW THINGS...

LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES/SITUATION// FATE...

CASTING LOTS—DICE ROLLED…

JUST the WAY the DICE LANDED...

THIS CONTEXT—HB. WORD— MEANS YOUR “PORTION/SHARE”

TYPICALLY REFERS to DIVIDING INHERITANCE/LAND

**FOUND MANY TIMES in JOSHUA/DEUTERONOMY for DIVISION of PROMISED LAND**

YOUR “LOT” = YOUR PORTION/SHARE.

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THINKING—LOT = PORTION...

CHURCH.... LIFE is LIKE PIE.

YOUR LOT = YOUR PIECE.

FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS??

EVER HAVE SOMEONE DISH UP DESSERT?

W/ IN-LAWS...MOTHER-IN-LAW CUTTING & DISTRIBUTING

KIDDOS LESS

MEN MORE

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ONCE IT’S CUT & DISTRIBUTED…YOU’VE GOT WHAT YOU’VE GOT.

COULD WANT BIGGER PIECE

COULD WANT DIFFERENT PIECE

PERHAPS WANTED an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND

CAKE???

YOU’VE GOT the PIECE YOU’VE GOT… WILL YOU CHOOSE to ENJOY IT.

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CONSIDER HOW THIS APPLIES TO LIFE & GOD-GIVEN PORTION ....

TEACHER OUTLINES 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE

ENJOYS FOOD, DRINK, TOIL (V18)

NOT WEALTHY

ENJOYS WHAT THEY HAVE

THOSE to WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN WEALTH, POSSESSIONS, POWER to ENJOY! (V19)

HAS MUCH MORE

BIGGER PIECE of PIE

(V19B) ACCEPT LOT… REJOICE in HIS TOIL… “THIS = GIFT of GOD”

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IF YOU’RE HERE & WEALTHY— YOU SHOULD BE ABLE to ENJOY GOD’S GIFTS...

DON’T FALL PREY to GREED/LOVE for MONEY

ENJOY HIS BLESSINGS

IF YOU’RE HERE & NOT WEALTHY

ENJOY the SIMPLE, LITTLE THINGS GOD HAS GIVEN.

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ALL HAVE SOMETHING to REJOICE IN...

GOD’S NOT a SOCIALIST— DOESN’T PROMISE EQUAL “BLESSINGS” to EACH PERSON…THAT’S OKAY

LET’S BE THANKFUL WE HAVE PIE! (LIFE!)

NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT SIZE

KIND— FRUIT VS. DESSERT

CAKE???

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(Q) WILL YOU CHOOSE to ENJOY the PIECE of PIE GOD HAS BAKED, SLICED, AND GIVEN...

OR COMPLAIN THAT YOU’D RATHER HAVE a DIFFERENT PIECE?

YOUR LIFE is DELICIOUS SOMEHOW...

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IF YOU FIND YOUR PIECE DELICIOUS—

YOU WON’T WORRY ABOUT the FLEETING NATURE of LIFE…

BECAUSE GOD WILL KEEP YOU OCCUPIED W/ JOY in the PRESENT...

V20- FOR HE WILL NOT MUCH REMEMBER THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE BECAUSE GOD KEEPS HIM OCCUPIED WITH JOY IN HIS HEART.

(T) SO, in SIMPLE TERMS… WHAT’S the TEACHER SAYING TO US THIS MORNING?

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PREACHING IDEA:

· WE OUGHT TO ACCEPT OUR GOD-GIVEN LOT WITH JOY.

WE MIGHT WANT MORE

WE MIGHT SUFFER @ HANDS of GREEDY

WE MIGHT FIND WEALTH FLEEING...

WHEREVER WE’RE AT—LET’S ENJOY IT.

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GOSPEL:

TRULY GOD HAS BLESSED ALL OF US.

CARED FOR US:

PROVIDING FOOD

DRINK

SHELTER

CLOTHING

TRANSPORTATION

ETC.

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PERHAPS IT’S NOT as MUCH AS YOU’D LIKE

TRANSPORTATION HAS TOO MANY MILES

BANK ACCOUNT/PAYCHECK = LACKING a FEW 0’s....

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GOD HAS TREATED ALL of US BETTER THAN WE DESERVE.

GOD DOESN’T OWE US ANYTHING....

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THIS = WHAT WE DESERVE!

WE DON’T DESERVE ANY of GOD’S GOOD BLESSINGS in LIFE!

WHOLE NATURE of GRACE = BEING GIVEN WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE.

BEAUTIFUL THING— GRACE = GIFT… NOT WORKED FOR!

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YOUR LOT in LIFE MIGHT NOT BE WHAT YOU WANTED...

WHAT MATTERS MOST = LOT in the LIFE to COME...

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PARABLE of the RICH MAN & LAZARUS (LUKE CH. 16)

RICH MAN—CONSTANTLY FEASTING—LIFE = GOOD.

POOR MAN—LAZARUS— LIFE = HORRIBLE

TIME PASSES—BOTH DIE.

RICH MAN—FIND HIMSELF in TORMENT

POOR MAN—FINDS HIMSELF COMFORTED

LAZARUS— “GOD HELPS”

RICH MAN—BEGGING for RELIEF—EVEN DROP of WATER:

THE RESPONSE IS, “CHILD, REMEMBER THAT YOU IN YOUR LIFETIME RECEIVED YOUR GOOD THINGS, AND LAZARUS IN LIKE MANNER BAD THINGS; BUT NOW HE IS COMFORTED HERE, AND YOU ARE IN ANGUISH” (LK. 16:25).

REALITIES of LIFE to COME = FAR MORE WEIGHTY THAN WE’LL EVER KNOW....

NO MATTER HOW “POOR” YOU ARE DOWN HERE…

IF YOU KNOW JESUS CHRIST— YOU’RE RICH.

YOU’VE GOT an INHERITANCE THAT is OUT of THIS WORLD

Romans 8:18 (ESV)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

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HERE WITHOUT HOPE— SPEAK to ME AFTER SERVICE

WHAT MATTERS MORE THAN ENJOYMENT in THIS LIFE = ENJOYMENT in LIFE to COME...

SECURED ONLY BY GRACE of GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST....

(T) AND NOW, TO THE BELIEVER, I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU THIS MORNING:

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APP:

I’M SURE WE ALL HAVE THINGS ABOUT OUR LIVES THAT WE WOULD CHANGE.

MORE MONEY

BETTER HEALTH

SOMETHING...

WE PROBABLY ALL HAVE SOMETHING WE COMPLAIN ABOUT AT TIMES...

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SOME THINGS CAN BE CHANGED...

HEALTH—DIET & EXERCISE, MEDICATION

WEALTH— STARTING BUSINESS, SAVING MORE

BUT MUCH of LIFE ISN’T in OUR HANDS.

IT’S OUR “LOT”

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AGAIN GENERALLY “LOT” = BAD CONNOTATION...

WE DON’T REJOICE in OUR “LOT” IT’S ALWAYS a BAD THING...

Personal Testimony:

GAMUT of LESSER-HEALTH ISSUES

“MY LOT”

BUT OTHERS HAVE it WORSE.

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I WOULD DARESAY:

WE ALL HAVE THINGS WE’D CHANGE

BUT OTHER THINGS WE WOULDN’T CHANGE for the WORLD

MAYBE JOY ISN’T “OUT THERE”…

BUT INSTEAD IT’S RIGHT HERE.

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INSTEAD of “THIS is MY LOT”—NEGATIVE SENSE...

REPLACE//YOU CAN THINK,

“THIS is MY PIECE of the PIE, & I’M GOING to CHOOSE to ENJOY IT”

MIGHT’VE WANTED a BIGGER PIECE

DIFFERENT KIND

CAKE??

ARE YOU WILLING to ENJOY the SLICE of PIE THAT GOD HAS SERVED YOU?

ENJOYING SIMPLE GIFTS—FOOD, DRINK, TOIL…

or WEALTH if WE HAVE IT?

THERE’S SOMETHING DELICIOUS ABOUT IT. GOD’S GOT a GOOD RECIPE.

CAN WE FIND the JOY in GOD’S BLESSINGS…TODAY?

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ONE OF MY FAVORITE HYMNS OPENS WITH THIS,

“WHEN PEACE, LIKE A RIVER, ATTENDETH MY WAY,

WHEN SORROWS LIKE SEA BILLOWS ROLL;

WHATEVER MY LOT, THOU HAST TAUGHT ME TO SAY,

IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.”

I MIGHT BE on a PEACEFUL RIVER

I MIGHT BE in a STORM

EITHER WAY....

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. AMEN?

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