The Lord's Unfailing Love

Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to the book of Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament—Precedes Matthew.

!! Open in Prayer !!

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Introduction: The Need for Proof of Love

The IDEA of LOVE is TRICKY:

EMOTION

FEELING

ACTION

SEEMINGLY—A BUNCH of THINGS…

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YOU MIGHT “FEEL” YOU LOVE SOMEONE—

— BUT if YOU DON’T “SHOW” IT… THEY WON’T “FEEL” LOVED.

Marriage Illustration: NOT ENOUGH to HEAR “I LOVE YOU”

NEED to SEE “I LOVE YOU.”

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w/ TOPIC of LOVE— SCRIPTURE PRESENTS— CONFOUNDING DOCTRINE “THE LOVE of GOD”

NATURAL RESPONSE, “HOW?”

WHERE’S the PROOF?

WORLD FRAUGHT WITH HARDSHIP— WHERE?

Focus: TODAY—WE’LL BE LOOKING @ LOVE of GOD — & SEE the PROOF of HIS LOVE THROUGH the AGES… 📷

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Transition: LOOK W/ ME @ PASSAGE…

READING CH 1.... V1-5 TODAY

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Passage Reading

Malachi 1:1–5 (ESV)

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob

3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ”

5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

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Transition: This is God’s Word for us this morning.

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Book Background: Setting the Stage 🏗️

DIVING INTO NEW BOOK—LOOK @ SETTING.

MALACHI TAKES PLACE DURING “REBUILDING/RECONSTRUCTION”

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O.T. TRACES a TIMELINE:

GOD’S COVENANT W/ ABRAHAM (& DESCENDANTS)

DESCENDANTS (ISRAEL) BECOME a NATION in NUMBER

MONARCHY = ESTABLISHED (cf Wednesdays!)

MONARCHY = DIVIDED **SEE P.P.**

ISRAEL (NORTH)

JUDAH (SOUTH)

GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE CONQUERED

ISRAEL— ASSYRIA — 722 B.C.

JUDAH — BABYLON — 586 B.C.

ASIDE: WORLD CONSTANTLY CONQUERED BY SUPERPOWERS

ASSYRIANS

BABYLONIANS

PERSIANS

GREEKS

ROMANS

AFTER PERSIA CONQUERS BABYLON—JUDAH ALLOWED to GO HOME.

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=> THIS = SETTING for MALACHI

450-500 B.C.

POST-EXILE

TEMPLE REBUILT— AROUND TIME of NEHEMIAH (PROBABLY)

ENTHUSIASM HAS FADED

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Transition: THIS = ESSENTIAL BACKGROUND for OUR TEXT TODAY…

DIVE IN:

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 1

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Passage Exposition: Malachi 1:1-5

Thought 1: Introduction (v. 1)

Malachi 1:1 (ESV)

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

ORACLE — BURDEN — ENTRUSTED to MALACHI (MY MESSENGER)

KNOW NOTHING of MALACHI PERSONALLY ASIDE from PROPHET

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Background: Prophets

ROLE of PROPHET = VERY DIFFICULT 😬

ISAIAH to MALACHI —MANY TOUGH MESSAGES

RARELY “GLAD TIDINGS”

FUTURE HOPE MIXED W/ PRESENT/COMING JUDGMENT

PROPHETS CALLED PEOPLE to REPENTANCE

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EVEN PREDICTIVE PROPHECY— FREQUENTLY COMING JUDGMENT!

COMP. ROLE of PASTORS...

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PROPHETS GIVEN DIVINE REVELATION from GOD:

2 Peter 1:21 (ESV)

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

YOU WOULDN’T “ASPIRE” to BE PROPHET

Background: JEREMIAH’S “FIRE in HIS BONES!”🔥

PROPHECY KEPT GETTING HIM in TROUBLE

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Overview: Malachi’s Style

STYLISTICALLY—MALACHI’S WRITING = UNIQUE…

PATTERN:

TRUTH-CLAIM from GOD

RESPONSE of PEOPLE

REBUTTAL BY GOD.

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Transition: BEGIN— WE’LL SEE the LORD’S FIRST CLAIM

FIRST PART of V2…

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Thought 2: Truth Claim & Refusal (v. 2a-2b)

Malachi 1:2 (ESV)

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

MALACHI’S MINISTRY — BASED UPON this FOUNDATIONAL CLAIM

LOT of CONFRONTATION— ALL ROOTED in LOVE!

HB. LOVE: NOT JUST “AFFECTION” BUT “LOYALTY”

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Exhortation: God is & Has Always Been Love

Encourage: “GOD is LOVE” DIDN’T ORIGINATE in N.T.

Theology Point: GOD is IMMUTABLE—HE DOES NOT CHANGE. 📌

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Struggle: LOVE ABSENT from O.T.??

HERETIC, MARCION— YAHWEH & FATHER = DIFFERENT GODS!!

MOVED PAST THIS GOD??

**SEEMS GOD’S WRATH = FOREMOST ATTRIBUTE in O.T.**

Quote, Lactantius, “He who loves the good also hates the evil, and he who does not hate the evil does not love the good

because, on the one hand, to love the good comes from hatred of evil and to hate the evil rises from the love of the good.”

GOD’S HOLINESS & JUSTICE = SOURCE of WRATH UPON SIN...

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GOD DOESN’T CHANGE!

God was still LOVING back THEN and He is still JUST & HOLY TODAY.

Response 1: GOD is STILL WRATHFUL—HOLY & JUST

READ REVELATION— LAKE of FIRE

Response 2: GOD WAS LOVE THEN

Psalm 103:8 (ESV)

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Quote: “One scholar has pointed out: “In fact, in comparison to His love, His anger passes quickly (Is. 26:20; 54:7–8; 57:16–19) while His love endures (Jer. 31:3; Hos. 2:19).”[1]

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Transition: APPARENTLY— PEOPLE of MALACHI’S DAY STRUGGLED W/ LOVE of GOD…

SEE THEIR RESPONSE— NEXT PT of VS. 2…

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Sub-thought: The People’s Question (v2b)

Malachi 1:2 (ESV)

2 But you say, “How have you loved us?”

GOD SAYS: I LOVE YOU

PEOPLE SAY: REALLY, HOW?!

GOOD QUESTION

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Recap O.T. History

Background: REMEMBER, ROUGH TIME to BE an ISRAELITE

PROSPEROUS UNDER DAVID

VERY PROSPEROUS UNDER SOLOMON

PROGRESSIVELY DOWNHILL from THERE…

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GOD DESIRED EXCLUSIVITY— PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY WORSHIPED LOCAL gods…

Illustration: DIDN’T WANT PARTIAL CUSTODY — SHARING W/ DAGON, BAAL, MOLECH, ASHERAH…

Background: GOD’S WARNING

DEUT. CH. 28— GOD WARNED ABOUT SCATTERING the PEOPLE

CAPTIVITY = CONSEQUENCE for THEIR SINS… GOD KEPT HIS WORD!

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THEIR HARDSHIPS WERE RESULT of GOD’S COVENANT-KEEPING FAITHFUL LOVE:

Hebrews 12:6 (ESV)

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Parenting Illustration:

KIDS DISOBEY—LOOKING YOU in FACE— WILL YOU FOLLOW THROUGH on YOUR THREATS?

GOD ALWAYS DOES

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Malachi’s Day: TEMPLE = REBUILT AFTER EXILE— DIDN’T COMPARE to PREVIOUS TEMPLE

EZRA CH. 3… PEOPLE WEPT —

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Tough Times:

BACK HOME—BUT SEEMED GOD DIDN’T CARE.

STILL UNDER PERSIAN RULE…

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Connection: EVEN TODAY— PEOPLE SAY, “HOW HAVE YOU LOVED US?”🤔

PERSONAL HARDSHIPS

WORLD PROBLEMS

LOOKING AROUND — WHERE is GOD?!

EASY to SAY “AMEN” to LOVE of GOD on GOOD DAYS— BUT HARD DAYS??

Struggle: IF GOD LOVES ME—HOW COME LIFE CAN BE SO HARD?!

IF GOD = ALL-POWERFUL & ALL-LOVING… WHY IS IT LIKE THIS?🥺

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Transition: DOES GOD LOVE ISRAEL? DOES HE LOVE US?

WHAT EVIDENCE WILL HE BRING?

LOOK W/ ME @ NEXT PART of V.2

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Thought 3: The Lord’s Rebuttal (v. 2c-3a)

Malachi 1:2–3 (ESV)

2 “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob

3 but Esau I have hated.

Focus: TO PROVE HIS LOVE—💡 GOD POINTS to COVENANT ROOTED in HIS SOVEREIGN CHOICE. 💡

Scriptural Testimony: GOD = COVENANT-MAKING & COVENANT-KEEPING GOD.

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O.T. History W/ Abraham

GEN CH. 12— GOD MAKES COVENANT W/ ABRAHAM

INNUMERABLE DESCENDANTS/GREAT NATION (ISRAEL)

POSSESS LAND of CANAAN

THROUGH THEM—BLESSING to ALL NATIONS…

Summary: STORY of O.T. = FULFILLMENT of GOD’S COVENANTAL PLAN

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GOD’S COVENANT TRACED THROUGH:

ISAAC, NOT ISHMAEL

JACOB, NOT ESAU

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GOD “LOVED” —CHOSE ISRAEL,, to NEGLECT of ESAU

**DOESN’T MEAN GOD “HATED HATED” ESAU—BUT SIMPLY HE WASN’T the CHOSEN ONE.**

Quote, “In Jacob’s case, God’s love signaled his election and call for service. In Esau’s case, God’s hatred was not a sign of God’s disdain, disgust, or desire for unmitigated revenge.”[1]

WHY?

WHY DID GOD CHOOSE JACOB?

👉👉 BECAUSE HE WANTED TO.

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Background: JACOB = SCOUNDREL, DECEIVER, CHEAT.

HE’S NO GOOD APART from GOD!

✨Takeaway: GOD CHOSE to SET HIS LOVE on JACOB & ISRAELITE PEOPLE—

—JUST BECAUSE —

— TO BE a CHANNEL of HIS BLESSING CULMINATING in the MESSIAH

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Transition: TO PROVE HIS LOVE—GOD WILL BRING ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

LOOK W/ ME @ NEXT PART of V.3-4.

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Thought 4: The Lord’s Supporting Evidence (v. 3b-4)

Malachi 1:3–4 (ESV)

3 I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ”

Contrast:

THINGS BAD for ISRAEL

THINGS HORRIBLE for EDOM (ESAU’S DESCENDANTS)

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God’s “hatred” INITIALLY — “NOT CHOSEN”

THROUGH the AGES— EDOM MISTREATED ISRAEL.

EXODUS PERIOD—EDOM REFUSED ISRAEL PASSAGE

587 B.C. — EDOM HELPED BABYLON CONQUER ISRAEL!

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Focus: RESPONDING to SIN of EDOMITES— YAHWEH DECREED THEIR DESTRUCTION

“EXCEPT the LORD BUILD the HOUSE”

GOD SAYS— THEY WON’T GET ANYWHERE…

312 B.C. OFFICIALLY WIPED OFF the MAP—NO LONGER AROUND.

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Conclusion: ISRAEL— YOU’RE STILL HERE!

“COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE”

LIFE MIGHT NOT BE PERFECT—BUT YOU HAVE EVIDENCE of GOOD THINGS…

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Shifting Perspective

Connection: HOW OFTEN DO WE TAKE LITTLE THINGS in LIFE for GRANTED?

LIFE ISN’T PERFECT

PERHAPS YOU’VE HAD a BAD:

DAY,

WEEK,

MONTH,

YEAR,

LIFE…

GOD HAS STILL BEEN KINDER to YOU & ME THAN WE DESERVE.

Perspective Shift: “IT’S ALL DOWNHILL BUT the UPHILL”

EVERYTHING in LIFE is GOOD—MINUS the BAD.

Challenge: WHEN DEBATING OVER GLASS HALF FULL/EMPTY—💧WE FORGOT to BE THANKFUL WE HAVE WATER!!💧

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Takeaway: ISRAEL HAD REASON for THANKSGIVING — ROOTED in GOD’S COVENANT-KEEPING FAITHFUL LOVE.

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Transition: TO CONCLUDE— GOD TELLS THEM THEY WILL SEE THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 5…

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Thought 5: Conclusion (v. 5)

Malachi 1:5 (ESV)

5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

ISRAELITES WOULD SEE the DECIMATION of EDOM & RESPOND in WORSHIP

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Exhort: GOD = SOVEREIGN OVER the NATIONS 👑

NEBUCHADNEZZAR (BABYLON) CALLED GOD’S SERVANT

CYRUS (PERSIA) CALLED GOD’S SERVANT

Proverbs 21:1 (ESV)

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

GOD CHANNELS the GREATEST RULERS LIKE a FARMER IRRIGATES CROPS. 🤯

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Powerful Truth: YAHWEH = not JUST the KING of ISRAEL—

— BUT the KING of CREATION

PEOPLE WOULD RESPOND in WORSHIP

ONE DAY—GOD’S GLORY WILL COVER the EARTH as WATERS COVER the SEA…

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Transition: BUT in the MEANTIME—THERE’S TROUBLE HERE.

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Gospel Connection: The Unmerited Covenant ✝️

Many still ask, “How have you loved us?” when life is difficult.

HARD to “FEEL LOVED” WHEN LIFE ISN’T GOING OUR WAY.

AGAIN:

BAD DAY, WEEK, MONTH, YEAR, LIFE...

SOMETIMES LIFE REALLY STINKS.

LIFE UNDER the SUN = BACKWARDS, CROOKED, NOT ALWAYS EASY.

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Challenge: GOD’S LOVE ISN’T PROVEN THROUGH PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

—BUT COVENANTAL FAITHFULNESS…

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Bridge to Jesus:

GOD’S COVENANT W/ ABRAHAM & ISRAEL—TO BE a BLESSING to the NATIONS— AND THIS is FULFILLED in JESUS CHRIST.

“NEW COVENANT”

GOD HAS CHOSEN US “IN CHRIST”

Ephesians 1:4 (ESV)

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,

IN CHRIST—GOD HAS CHOSEN to SAVE THOSE WHO BELIEVE

1 Corinthians 1:21 (ESV)

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

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GOD = FAITHFUL to HIS COVENANTAL PROMISES

KEPT HIS PROMISES to ISRAEL

KEPT HIS PROMISES to CREATION of a COMING MESSIAH…

THIS = the LASTING PROOF of GOD’S LOVE.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Scandal of Grace

THE SCANDAL of GRACE = GOD’S LOVE for UNDESERVING SINNERS… 🤯

WHY JACOB?! HE’S a LIAR & CHEAT

👉 WHY ME......

BECAUSE GOD is LOVE—IT’S HIS NATURE. 🙌

TOTALLY UNMERITED.

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THIS LOVING GOD—EXTENDS OFFER of COVENANT THROUGH CHRIST to US TODAY…

WARNED of CONSEQUENCES to ISRAEL—THEY DIDN’T LISTEN.

Problem: WARNS US TODAY— WAGES of SIN = DEATH—

— WILL WE HEED HIS WARNING?

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Solution: IN CHRIST WE CAN HAVE SALVATION—

— HE BORE the JUST WRATH of a HOLY GOD— SO WE CAN BE SAVED from SIN…

Invitation: WILL YOU PUT YOUR TRUST in HIM TODAY,… ENTERING INTO COVENANT W/ GOD?

TALK AFTER SERVICE…

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Transition: ALL in ALL— SCRIPTURE TEACHES US TODAY...

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Application: Taking God at His Word—He Loves Us ✅

Sermon Idea

The Lord’s unfailing love is proven through covenant-faithfulness not personal circumstance.

IT CAN BE EASY to DOUBT— SOMETIMES LIFE is REALLY HARD.

DOUBTING GOD’S LOVE?? — LOOK AGAIN @ CALVARY

GOD’S MEANS of SALVATION— SIGN of HIS LOVE — BASIS for HIS COVENANT.

God’s love is NOT BASED on subjective feelings

but on the FACT that CHRIST JESUS came to SAVE SINNERS—among whom I am chief.

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WHEN WE REALIZE HOW TOTALLY UNDESERVING WE WERE & ARE— AND HOW GOOD GOD HAS BEEN…

WE WILL BE HUMBLED BY GOD’S LOVE TOWARDS US....

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Apostle John:

1 John 4:9–10 (ESV)

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

THE LOVE of GOD = EXPRESSED @ the CROSS & THAT is UNCHANGING

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& NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US from THAT LOVE:

Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Conclusion:

GOD’S LOVE = PROVEN THROUGH COVENANT-FAITHFULNESS,, NOT PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCE…

IF WE EVER WANT to FEEL LOVED—

— WE SIMPLY HAVE to TAKE ANOTHER LOOK @ an OLD RUGGED CROSS…

… AMEN?

!! Close in Prayer!!