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<v SPEAKER_00>Hi everyone, it's Nancy with your Wednesday edition of our daily walk.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This past Sunday we began a new sermon series in the book of Philippians, which begins with these two verses.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who were at Philippi with the overseers and the deacons.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Apostle Paul used that greeting of grace and peace often in his writing, so I did a little digging into that blessing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's a common one used in Christian greetings.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As I did so, I came across an article written by Katie Augustine.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Listen to her opening comment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Paul wrote 13 books of the New Testament, and guess what?

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<v SPEAKER_00>He started every single book with those two words.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Grace and peace to you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't believe me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Check out the verse view verses of each of his books.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Clearly, grace and peace was Paul's signature greeting.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If he lived today, those words would be considered his ministry's mission statement, his brand, and probably be on his Instagram profile.

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<v SPEAKER_00>End quote.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pastor Aaron talked about grace and took us to Paul's writing in Ephesians chapter two.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yet my mind lingered on the word peace, perhaps because there's some challenging things stirring in my life lately and taking my focus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I'm thankful daily for God's grace that picks me up and restores me when I fall short of his desires for me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His grace is sufficient to guide me and provide for me when I call on him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet the Lord is reminding me in fresh ways of the peace he offers if I will draw close and keep the eyes of my heart on him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Miss Augustine wrote, You can keep a quiet heart living in the light of God's grace and enveloped in the protection of his peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord's been reminding me that peace is not driven by circumstances being calmed down or cleared up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's a peace that flows from our relationship with him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It comes when we acknowledge his presence with us and trust that he's firmly in control of our lives.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Listen as I paraphrase a challenge from Ms.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Augustine's writing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, Look around at your life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>How are things today?

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<v SPEAKER_00>In divided, uncertain times as we look to the future with no clue what it will hold.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I urge you to hold on to the treasure of these two words, grace and peace, as a reminder that God sent his only son into the world to save us from our lost condition.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God knows what the future will bring, and we can trust we are safe in his capable hands.

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<v SPEAKER_00>With this faith in your heart, heaven is yours and earth holds nothing to worry you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And here is that phrase once again.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You can keep a quiet heart living in the light of God's grace and enveloped in the protection of his peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let me close our time here with this familiar blessing from Numbers chapter six.

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<v SPEAKER_00>May it wash over us in a fresh way today with God's grace and peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord bless you and keep you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.