I believe you, God, for every good and perfect gift; for doubting that would cause me to be adrift on the devil’s sea of unbelief, with its dangerous waters and treacherous reef. Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. I believe Your Word and reject any fright. You’ve promised to shepherd me each new day– With Your rod and Your staff, You’ll lead the way. You’re the Light of the World, I can’t go wrong– I can do all things in Him Who makes me strong. Strong I am, and it’s easy to receive– for You have said, just pray and believe. Your help is sure, and you’ve said I can command victory over the enemy by Your mighty hand!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” James 1:17
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“The Lord is my shepherd…He leads me…He guides me…Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me…Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life….” (from Psalm 23)
“And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:18-20
“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
“I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” Mark 11:24
See also the following regarding God’s mighty hand:
trusting in the name and shed blood of the Holy One…
If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.
Through Him, we’re victorious in any situation.
Despite sins, mistakes, or things we’ve done wrong,
He is our success. In Him, we are strong.
P. A. Oltrogge
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18
“…And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, MIGHTY GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6…
It’s important to contemplate the “BIGNESS” of our God. That’s a rarely used word, as some have considered its usage to be odd.
But BIGNESS is very appropriate for Almighty God’s description. And, for the renewing of our minds, it’s an excellent prescription…
to keep us from thinking small, when the works of our God are VAST. Trees, mountains, planets and the stars by His words were cast.
The Israelites were enabled to cross over the Red Sea upon dry land, when the waters were parted by Moses’ reliance on God’s victorious hand.
God’s GREATER power delivered three men from Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace fire. They didn’t even smell of smoke despite going through something that dire.
And the GREATNESS of God’s merciful love was plainly displayed…when all of mankind’s sins on His own beloved Son were laid.
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” are words that Jesus said. That BIGNESS was displayed when He raised Lazarus from the dead.
And many other difficulties brought before Jesus turned out to perfection—but the GREATEST triumph of all was at the moment of Jesus’ own resurrection.
So let’s remember the BIGNESS of our MIGHTY GOD in heaven—in every situation—even BIG forgiving—seventy times seven!
And remember to give as BIG as you can to others who have needs. “He who waters will himself be watered.” There’s blessing in such deeds.
The WIDENESS of His mercy, the BIGNESS of His heart…Don’t think small when thoughts that are BIG are what God wants to impart.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27
“Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men.” Psalm 31:19
“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12
“For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2
“Sing out the honor of His name. Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power, Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.’ Selah” Psalm 66:2-4
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:2-4
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“…and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NASB
“The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25 NASB
I believe in miracles, because I’ve had some God-given ones prior. I believe in miracles, are words that encourage and lift us higher.
And I believe in Jesus, the miracle worker, who was called a Nazarene. With our expectation in Him, and what He’s already done, miracles are sure to come on the scene.
…whatever the pain or problem, tell Him you’re trusting in His bigness over it…
TheLord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Recently, this verse came to mind and I focused especially on the Lord being the strength of the believer’s life…
Would it not be a valid thought, therefore, that one could say that He is the strength of my heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, knees, bones, immune system, (or whatever area in which you feel you have some problem or concern?) For example (and I like to say the Lord Jesus, though we, at the same time, honor our triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)…
The Lord Jesus is the strength of my bones…
The Lord Jesus is the strength of my muscles…
The Lord Jesus is the strength of my heart…
The Lord Jesus is the strength of my knees…
The Lord Jesus is the strength of my vision (eyes) and hearing (ears)…
or any area that seems needy…but, truthfully, is not, because the Lord is the strength of my life!
One could even say that He is the strength of our faith or prayers since He is the author and finisher of our faith…
…the possibilities are many… how about the strength of my courage?
_______________
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
“Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself]. Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us.” Romans 8:33-34 (AMP)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
“I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (AMP)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Jesus’ words in Luke 12:27
Hardy are the flowers which come up from the snow… Hearty their spring greetings, saying winter’s soon to go.
Though their bulbs were asleep within the frozen ground, God awakened them to rise, and spread His peace and joy around!
P. A. Oltrogge
of Jesus:
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5
“Jesus said to her, ‘Iamthe resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…” John 11:25-26
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” Mark 9:23
…just as the flowers break through, so, also, God’s promises do… We’re believers, not doubters…
“…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” 1 Peter 1:23
Shalom, shalom from your home in the Holy City, your Friends of Zion Center. This great lighthouse of Christian love only exists because friends like you have made it possible. And Israel so urgently needs it right now. The briefings and updates I’m getting confirm the serious nature of the threats. They are much worse than what the news is reporting, and the Jewish people need our prayers and help right now as they are under attack. As the Houthis in Yemen continue to launch long-range missiles, the warning sirens here in Jerusalem go off again and again. Each time this happens, hundreds of thousands of people have to go to bomb shelters just in case. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing those sirens, but they are a powerful reminder of just how great the needs of the Jewish people are right now
Today I’m asking you to do something great for God by comforting the suffering people of Israel. There are thousands who are still homeless…thousands mourning the loss of a loved one…thousands struggling to just get enough food to eat…hundreds of widows and orphans. The suffering in Israel is worse than anything I’ve seen in 50 years of ministry. These precious people need our help right now.
Your support of the Jerusalem Prayer Team today allows us to comfort the people of Israel who have survived the terrorist attacks, to continue to purchase and deliver food, medicine, clothing, and other necessities of life for the poor Holocaust survivors and refugees of Ukraine, to continue to operate the Friends of Zion Museum, to stand up and speak out for Israel, and to meet urgent humanitarian needs among the poor Jewish people living in Israel. Thank you so much for being part of this vital worldwide prayer movement.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
He strengthens me; HE strengthens me…
With each step forward, He strengthens me;
with each step up, He strengthens me.
If I suffer a setback, He strengthens me.
If I feel weak, I’ll resist being distraught…
No, “He strengthens me” must be my thought,
for that is what the scriptures have taught.
This confidence I have, for I’m blood-bought.
So, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might,”
just as David found strength in God for a Goliath fight!
P. A. Oltrogge
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19 NLT
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on 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 40:29-31 NKJV
“Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” Joel 3:10 NKJV
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23 KJV
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28 NASB
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2 NKJV
“(The Armor of God) Finally, Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Ephesians 6:10 NASB
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands….’” 1 Samuel 17:45-46 NASB
“For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.” 2 Samuel 22:30 NKJV
“For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.” Psalm 18:28-33 NKJV
Photos/Pixabay
Postscript: Whatever you have to do, the Lord will see you through!
For “101 Things God Said About Healing,” Old Testament and New, put “101” into the Search bar of this blog for healing scriptures..
Sharing today…by Sara Whitten, as posted on Elijah List
Reef the Sail
“This is a time of bringing down and building up.” The Lord stirred me with those words, and I had been digging into that statement when I was caught by an image.
Instantly I saw the image of a sail, full and whipping in a stormy wind. The vessel it was tied to was helplessly being powered along with the storm. Then the sail was folded and taken down, and though the storm still raged, the power of the storm to move the vessel was greatly diminished.
(Strong’s Greek Lexicon teaches, “In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of bringing something down could be associated with both physical actions, such as lowering a sail or casting down an enemy, and metaphorical actions, such as overcoming an argument or defeating a rival” [G2702, katapheró, Strong’s Greek Lexicon.])
I began to read about sailing in storms in the natural, because God often shows us parables all around us in His created world.
In sailing, when it appears a storm is beginning, the first thing to do is “reef” your sails. This is a term used to describe the process of folding or rolling up a sail so that its surface area is greatly reduced, the sail is preserved, and the influence of the wind power of the storm on the boat is minimized. This protects against unexpected gusts or changes in wind that would capsize the boat.
The enemy’s attacks often feel like storms. They are loud, disorienting, and full of threats to steal, kill, and destroy. We’re so busy trying to look at the storm that we sometimes forget to look at the vessel—us! Are we still at full sail? Are we being blown around by everything the enemy is bringing against us? (Photo above via CreativeCommons)
To “reef” is to regulate the size or length of something. When we “reef our sails” spiritually, we’re regulating the size and length of influence the enemy has on our response. The storm may still be going on around us, but we are less moved by it. We can take what the enemy hoped would overturn (capsize) us and overcome.
Be Moved by the Whisper, Not the Wind
As our focus becomes less on the storm, we make an important shift: we are moved by the whisper, not the wind. I am reminded of Elijah, who we find hiding in a cave in 1 Kings chapter 19. Outside the cave, there was all sorts of threatening clamor going on.
“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave…” (1 Kings 19:11–13)
Elijah, who knew the Lord’s voice, knew not to be moved by the powerful wind. He waited. What moved him was the “gentle whisper.” This word for whisper, qol, can mean “sound” or “voice” (G6963, Strong’s Lexicon), and is the same word found in Genesis 3:8: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (italics mine).
These sounds of the Lord in the garden came after a different metaphorical storm of the enemy in which he baited humanity into the fall. In this instance, they were moved by the storm instead of the sound (or whisper) of the Lord.
Peter faced a similar scene. He and the disciples were amidst a storm that was no doubt loud and chaotic. Matthew 14:24 says the wind was causing waves that buffeted against them. But amidst the wind, there was a sound. As Jesus walked by, He said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (v. 27). Peter, when stepping out of the boat, had the choice to be moved by the wind of the storm or to be moved by the beckoning “come” of Jesus.
It’s Safer in the Deep
It’s never easy to go outinto a storm. The truth that is powerfully illustrated in this story is thatin the middle of the storm, it is safer to go out deeper with the Lord than to run for the shallows. In my research on sailing, I ran across an interesting tip from North Sails: “While running for cover would seem the preferred choice, the danger lies in being caught in the storm, close to shore, with no room to maneuver or run off” (North Sails, “How to Sail Safely Through a Storm”).
The enemy would love us to abort our mission, to throw in the towel, to go running for land because the waters have gotten too stormy. The truth is, we have more (not less!) chance of being shipwrecked on the shores of mediocre faith. We are safest in the deep. When we stop being blown in response to the blustering chaos of the enemy, we can move in response to the much gentler whisper of the Lord.
Don’t let the storms of this season cause you to seek shallow waters. Stay the course. Wait for the whisper.
Encounter Questions:
Lord, what “blustering” lies of the enemy am I letting fill my sails and move me?
Holy Spirit, what truth do You want to speak to these lies?
Lord, could You show me how I am being tempted into shallow waters?
Jesus, what does it look like to go deep with You?
What whisper are You speaking to me through the storm?
The Lord’s great heart of compassion is at work always–at times, behind the scenes.
He answers prayer for salvation, guidance, protection, healing, and provision well beyond our means.
Let’s not limit Him by doubting that He can do more than we could ever ask or think.
Jesus came to establish the new covenant. Now, through Him, we have that blessed link.
“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works,” the Bible’s stated.
God’s desire is to love, through His Son, to even greater measure, every person He’s created.
“If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, you shall be free indeed,” Jesus said, all because of that compassionate heart.
When you take Jesus as Savior, you can forget the past, knowing God’s given to you a fresh start.
Even if there are times when you don’t recognize that He’s working in your life right then,
He encourages you to always keep the faith. He’ll bring things to pass, though you may not know when.
Jesus told us of God as His heavenly Father. Those in Christ are children of God. Therefore…
as part of His beloved family, we can expect all of the good things that He has in store.
P. A. Oltrogge
And likewise, we want to extend loving compassion to others, through caring prayer and action…
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV
“…to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 NKJV
“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9 NKJV
“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:25
“…to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24 NKJV
“If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 KJV
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15 KJV
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8 NASB
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Jude 21-22 KJV
Psalm 78:38; 111:4; 145:8; Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Mark 1:41; 5:19; 6:34; 8:2; Luke 10:33; 15:20; John 3:16; 1 John 3:17
One quiet morning I sat down and began thinking of situations I faced that seemed impossible. The Lord gently said to me, Write all the things that seemed impossible but happened.
I pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, sat at my desk, and began writing a list of the impossible circumstances, mindsets, health concerns, and financial obstacles that once seemed unlikely to resolve. While writing this ever-growing list of my past, one by one, the memories of the challenges flooded my mind. I felt gratitude to God for changing those impossibilities into possibilities that are now testimonies. I filled multiple pages with these former hardships and my soul filled with joy because of what God did to turn those things around for my good and how He empowered me to take action as well.
Next, God said, Write the things that currently seem impossible in your life.
I grabbed more paper and wrote a list of things that seemed impossible in my life at that moment. I sat the lists side-by-side, and this changed my perspective. The current list of impossible circumstances became a list of things that had “not yet” occurred opposed to things that will “never” occur. I felt joy as I thought of looking at this list in the future and rejoicing over what the Lord did to transform my circumstances.
Luke 1:37 (NKJV) states, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
This Scripture reminds us that God does not have limits like we do as humans. He can do anything He desires.
What situations are you facing that seem impossible to overcome? What situations from your past once seemed impossible but happened anyway? Consider making a list of the things God did in your past. This list can serve as an encouragement for you now while facing new trials.
Matthew 19:26 says, Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Humans face impossibilities, but God does not. Remember this as you overcome the challenges you face. Trust God to do the impossible for you.
Prayer: Dear God, I am facing situations that seem impossible. I know through You, nothing is impossible. Help me focus on Your possibilities instead of my limitations. Help me remember the impossibilities I once faced but have overcome. Help me to place my hope in You as I wait. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dayna has been with CBN since 2005. She is an Employee Engagement Manager unifying CBN and OB staff through technology, communication, and prayer. She has a Master’s of Business Administration and graduated from Regent University with a Master of Divinity. She enjoys family time, reading, running, weightlifting, fishing, and traveling in her spare time.
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