Have you read Exodus 26:1-36? If not, skim the verses below to get an idea of how God gave detailed details as to how He wanted His Tabernacle built.

Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. ⁸ All eleven curtains are to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide, ⁹ Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. ¹⁰ Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. ¹¹ Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit. ¹² As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. (NIV)

Pretty thorough would you say? After I read those instructions, I started thinking: I sure would love for the Holy Spirit to give me detailed details for my life. I know His universal plan for mankind is found in His Word; I also know He’s not going to lay out the whole floor plan of my life at once (wouldn’t want Him to); nevertheless, I want detailed directions for the step I’m currently involved in; decisions I must make now. After I had finished thinking, the Lord put this into my spirit:

“I still give detailed details; but not everyone is willing to listen and do.”

The more we listen and do—the more we hear.

Okay, I get it; not everybody wants all those details. Maybe it’s because the more they know to do, the more they’re beholden—to do. As for me, I want every detail the Holy Spirit is willing to share at this time. I will prayerfully follow them the best I can. Being a Christian, I know I’m traveling through a crazy world. I know there’s an enemy trying to entrap me and waste my time on foolishness. The way I see it, I don’t have to play the devil’s games when I have the Holy Spirit to guide me through.

We respectfully listen when we know the value of God’s instructions.

When we have a revelation of the value of divine instructions, we are willing to do whatever it takes to receive them. The enemy knows it’s in our best interest to follow God’s blueprints; that’s why he will do whatever it takes to distract our attention. Therefore, when our flesh doesn’t want to obey the Spirit’s plans, instead of us giving in, we must pray and ask God to give us the desire to do His will. As we wait for that shift in attitude, we must press through by faith until the change comes. That push signals how serious we are to do it God’s way.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Blueprints are specific; we may not understand or agree with every point, but every point has purpose. There’s no flexibility for alterations; selective hearing/disobedience not an option if we’re following the Spirit’s plans.

If you want God’s best, follow His blueprints step-by-step.

 © 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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When meteorologists tell us to be on watch for severe hazardous weather conditions, we become frantic—wasting no time to prepare. Grocery store shelves are stripped as everyone stockpiles food, water, and other vital necessities. As conditions mount and become life-threatening, highways become jam-packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic as people evacuate the area altogether. These storm watchers do a pretty good job tracking these systems so we won’t get caught off guard.

Nonetheless, there’s a perilous threat in the atmosphere meteorologists can’t detect even with all their sophisticated technological know-how. Regardless of their inabilities to inform us of this pending threat, we have been warned (see Matthew 24:44; Luke 12:39-40). But the panic to prepare for this evil seems to fall far short as compared to when natural disasters are in the forecast.

It’s not a comforting thought, but Christians are the devil’s main focus; he doesn’t need to waste time on sinners who he already has. Believing-believers, who stay prepared are his challenge. It’s only when we let down our guard of defense, we become vulnerable to his ploys.

Stay ready!

Having a close intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit is how we stay prepared. There’s no other way to safeguard our lives from the enemy other than by the Spirit. The more we read and do the Word of God, and the more one-on-one time we spend listening to Him speak to our spirits—the more threatening we are to the kingdom of darkness. But we aren’t to fear, as long as we stay on God’s narrow path.

And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21, AMP)

The way to hear the Spirit’s directions, is to purposefully pay attention. Even though believers are to rest in the Lord; giving Him all their worries and cares doesn’t mean to start removing pieces of the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:13-18). Why would soldiers lay their weapons down in the middle of warfare? Despite what the devil will say, there’s a spiritual war taking place.

The devil doesn’t blink; he winks!

The adversary never takes his attention off believers as he finds ways (some pleasantly alluring) to entice them to make certain compromises with the Word. He’s hoping they take on the mindset that it doesn’t take all that holy living to be in right standing with the Lord.

Consequently, we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern the enemy’s sly winks of approval as he plots to remove our armor. We must ask the Spirit to give us the desire to pray even when we don’t see the need to do so.

Even though meteorologists can’t warn us to take cover from approaching spiritual storms, Psalm 91:1 tells us exactly where to take cover.

He Who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadows of the Almighty [Whose power no foe an withstand] (Psalm 91:1, AMP).

Don’t get caught off guard!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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After I prayed the other day, God gave me this thought: Don’t be surprised when it happens. That caught my faith OFF GUARD! It was as though the Holy Spirit splashed iced water on my face—Whoa! God knows my faith can still be challenged when facing “big ticketed” issues; so, the Master Teacher mercifully took me by the hand and gave me that word of encouragement to jump start my faith.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20)

To borrow from my title two weeks ago, “Guard Your Nest,” I knew to hurry up and immortalize this divine message (date and time) into my journal before the devil had a chance to weave threads of doubt. If I don’t carefully guard my faith, the enemy will tell me: God didn’t say that.

If you read my blog on a regular basis, then you know me well enough to know I’m not suggesting God is some celestial being under obligation to grant our every wish. But I am saying, when we live our lives the best we can according to His Word; and when our prayers are according to His will, then we should expect our prayers to be answered—without being shocked or surprised.

Being on one accord with God is key to getting prayers answered.

It says in Matthew 6:33 to first seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto us. In Psalm 37:4, it says to delight ourselves in the Lord; and He shall give us the desires of our hearts. When we seek and go after the things of God, and when we delight ourselves in Him, then we’ll want what He wants. Therefore, when we pray, He will bring it to pass. … I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12b, AMP).

Don’t lose heart—God is able!

Now here’s where you come in: If the Holy Spirit is tapping your heart to apply this word (Don’t be surprised when it happens) to your circumstances, then by all means receive it by faith. Because I doubt very seriously, God only speaks these weekly posts to me; after all, He is the One who inspired me to write on the Internet—released to the world.

Expect God to do it!

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

© 2019

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Giving all glory to God; I’ve been truly blessed by numerous replies from people who are encouraged by these weekly posts. They say things like: it’s a timely word; it’s confirmation; it’s exactly what my pastor taught in Bible study. Some have even reached out and asked for prayer during difficult trials. I read all comments; and I do my best to respond.

On the other hand,

I’ve heard from people who characterize Christianity as foolish make-believe nonsense—devoid of facts and reality. They see Christians as the simple-minded weak—who cling to an imaginary friend—they call God.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit will tell me exactly how to respond to their misrepresentations; then there are other times when He doesn’t give me the words to say. As much as I would love to come to His defense, I’ve learned not to allow contrary spirits to lure my flesh into making comments when the Spirit has not anointed me to do so. Without the power of God, my words will fall flat on deaf ears.

The nonbelievers who read this blog are a small percentage of a vast population who are lost and have no desire to be found. Some of them will give you their last dime; will bend over backwards to offer a helping hand; good people, but when it comes to Christ—No thank you!

Buried alive!

One day the Holy Spirit revealed to me that many dissenters are speaking out from layers of pain and disappointments. They walk around and function in society; nonetheless, they have no idea they’re buried alive without Christ in their lives. No one is belittling or criticizing them for being entrapped in these graves; we were buried at one time; we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23).

Blasting through harden ground!

It’s difficult for anyone to hear Truth from under heaps of skepticism unless drawn out by the Spirit. All God wants believers to do is have the faith to love and respect the nonbelievers. Believers must be ready—on call, when the Holy Spirit needs them to intervene. At the appointed time, the POWER of God will blast through the harden-crusted ground.

No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day (John 6:44, AMP).

God conveyed this to my spirit:

For the most part, it’s the same skeptics who keep commenting on your blog; they read it—frequently; they read it so often that you know many of them by name. They might think they’re attracted to the postings only to find fault, poke fun, and criticize. However, the main point is they’re reading it! So, as long as you allow Me to write through you, I—will be the One to respond to them. All you have to do is tell them:

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

© 2019

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You can pray high-powered prayers, but praying is only part of it; after you say Amen comes the hardest part to getting your prayers answered. The other day when I finished praying, the Holy Spirit laid on my heart not to wavier; the devil was on his way to fill my head with doubts and fears. God used the analogy of a bird guarding its nest from predators to explain how my prayers had to be protected from the evil one (see 1 Peter 5:8).

… If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).

The strategic warrior

A close relationship with God is essential to believing His truths over the lies of the devil. The more intimate we are with the Holy Spirit, the better we can discern the enemy’s intentions to shift our position of faith in God, to his avalanche of fears.

The emotions derived from fear is too disruptive not to take seriously. Its purpose is to tear down our faith and leave us vulnerable to evil plots. Instead of succumbing to the wiles of the adversary, the strategic warrior suits up with all seven pieces of God’s armor (see Ephesians 6:10-18).

• Belt of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Shoes of peace
• Shield of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword the Word
• Prayer

All the pieces are indispensable in in a spiritual warfare; we can’t name a piece that is dispensable. However, depending on individual circumstances, some pieces of armor may be used more than others at any given time, nonetheless, we must be clothed completely at all times.

After Amen . . .

I use the shield, the sword, and prayer mostly. As soon as I notice the devil has slipped me one of his illegal suggestions of doubt, I lift the shield of faith to block the inrush of lies; I weld the Word of God as a defense. If a Scripture doesn’t come to my mind at that given moment, I call on the name of Jesus; then I pray for strength and encouragement to keep me in the fight.

This back and forth exchange last as long as the devil pounce out fabrications. The good news is—he will eventually leave; however, the bad news is—he will return; I can’t get relaxed in his departure and start removing pieces of armor.

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time (Luke 4:13).

In the meantime, I write it down what I’m believing God for; when I do that, I can see exactly what the enemy is after, and what I’m guarding.

After the Amen is just the beginning—guard your nest; the predator is on his way.

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

Do you want to pray the kind of prayers Heaven can’t refuse? If yes, visit the Boston Collection Bookstore and order your Paulette Talks Faith book(s) and other products to promote faith growth. Click the flyer below to visit the bookstore today!

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Back when I was a toddler, I learned how to skillfully yank and pull folk’s strings to get what I wanted. Of course, I felt it was my duty to share this vital information with my peers so they could get unshackled from all the unjust “stop—NO—don’t do that” rules. For example, one day my mother overheard me giving my sister (who was two years older) some of my valuable advice on how to get whatever she wanted: CRY!

Strings—invaluable!

We might be able to put a spoiled-bratty kid in check, but what happens when we are being controlled subliminally? Who’s controlling those strings? Who bought those controlling rights? It’s no surprise the advertising industry invest million plus dollars to study subtle ways to dominate our actions and other factors to enrich their bottom line.

On the other hand, some of their techniques are overt; we know exactly what’s going on, but being controlled subconsciously have the most damaging lasting effects if coordinated by evil intentions. If we’re not paying attention, we can find ourselves acting in ways that’s against our convictions for no apparent reason. It makes one wonder: Are these my independent actions and thoughts, or am I being controlled by some unknown entity? Who or what influences are governing my behavior?

Manipulated?

The root of evil is not from those who selfishly compromise our well-being for their personal gain; for sure they play a part, but they’re not the root. The venom is being generated and pumped out of the principalities of darkness; underground worlds of wickedness as described in Ephesians 6:12.

Those who are unsuspicious, unaware, or don’t care that these principalities exist, make the best targets. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” An unoccupied mind makes the perfect workstation for evil to set up shop. Left idly unattended, the enemy will wrap your strings around your throat and choke you to death.

Help cometh from the Lord!

We don’t have enough information on how these conspiracies work; and since wicked supernatural forces seek us, then by faith, we need to put our trust in the Supernatural Council of the Holy Spirit to guide us. In Proverbs 28:26 it says, He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered. (AMP)

Who legally purchased the rights to our strings?

Jesus Christ bought the rights to our strings when He gave His life so that we are not bound by the kingdom of darkness (see John 10:10-11). When Jesus gave His life on the cross, [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over in Him and in it [the cross]. (Colossians 2:15, AMP)  

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the complete armor of God; while Colossians 3:1-2 tells us how to stay safeguarded all the time against these evil forces.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Question: Who or what is controlling your strings?

© 2019                            See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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Whew! This is Paulette Talks Faith’s 312^th post; resulting in six Paulette Talks Faith books—five of which are published. I owe it all to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Without His help, I could not have written one single word—worth reading. He kept this blog going consecutively all these weeks in spite of a few: grammatical glitches, punctuation—Opps, a couple of meltdowns, and two computer crashes. Whew!

Get back to work!

If God inspired you to do something that you laid aside due to frustration, disappointment, or whatever—don’t you dare call it quits; dust off your faith, take a deep breath—splash some water on your face—and get back to work.

[You] can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [you] (see Philippians 4:13).

It doesn’t matter what obstacles come your way; if God is the originator of your desires, He allowed the obstacles. He can turn it around for good if you love and trust Him (see Romans 8:28). However, you, have to actively use your faith and do whatever the Holy Spirit tells you to do. (See James 2:17.) Even if the enemy meant for those obstructions to stop you; let God use them to make you stronger and wiser.

As far as Paulette Talks Faith is concerned, I have no idea what plans God has for this blog as I finish book 6; I’m taking it week-by-week. In the meantime, in commemoration of the 312^th post, I would like you to visit excerpts from past writings:

Book 1: Devil, You Went Too Far—Now I Gotta′ Cut Cha!

Sometimes when the devil shows up in your life, he will do little pesky annoying things that will cause you some kind of inconvenience, like hiding your car keys. BUT THEN! There are those times when the predicaments you face can be catastrophic. What should you do when disaster knocks on your front door? What should you do when the enemy has your child by the throat? Just simply tell the Devil: You went too far—now I gotta′ cut cha! Cut him down with the Word of God. The Word is your Sword (Ephesians 6:17). The devil can walk around roaring like a lion (1 Peter 5:8). However, you have the Lion of Judah inside you. Sling the Sword; he can’t stand up against the Word when spoken in faith, by a believer.

Book 2: Return to Sender!

Suppose everyone in the world selfishly kept their gifts, talents, and blessings to themselves. If that were the case, there would be no art galleries to tour, no orchestras to hear, no books to read, no plays to enjoy, and no pretty smiles to inspire. God gave us these gifts so that we can bless others. Faith will help us to confidently walk in our call. God is the Sender. We return to Sender when we use our blessings to bless others.

Book 3: Trust God or Go Stone Crazy

Okay, here are the choices: We can either put our faith in God to lead, guide, and protect—or we can go absolutely stone-crazy with fear, worry, and anxiety. When we look at it that way, the only wise choice is to trust God.

Book 4: Guided by Circumstances and Situations

Since my prayers can’t override a person’s free will, I pray for God to arrange incidents, maneuver movements, control conditions, and synchronize episodes that will suggest the right path for them to take. Some of His guidance will come in the form of open and closed doors, favor, timing, and even dead ends. In other words, shine a super-natural light that overshadows all the confusion so they can see clearly. Now—it’s on them to make the right choice.

Book 5: Haters Need Prayer, Too

I know it’s not always easy to extend a helping hand to someone who just might bite it off—I get that. Nevertheless, there are people who are drowning in their own hateful ways. We could leave them out there to sink; after all, they’re getting what they deserve—right? But it’s the believers’ job to pray for the haters. They need God’s love, mercy, and grace, too. So, go ahead and throw them the Life Raft! 

_________________________

Until God says differently, it’s time for me to get back to work and start on Paulette Talks Faith Book 7.

I would like to take this time and give a heartfelt THANK YOU to all my faithful Readers!!!!! Your participation to read and share my post encourages me more than you could ever imagine.

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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I cannot recall a time when a rainbow was visible and no one pointed it out; its majestic splendor captures attention. I hope the attraction isn’t because of the connotation that the world has attached to it: leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and big pots of gold. I like to think the attraction is because of the spiritual connection we have with God. His rainbow doesn’t offer meaningless platitudes of luck and fortune; instead, it’s a reminder of the covenant He made with Noah and to the generations that follow. I believe we can parallel that covenant to the promises He gives us when perilous times fog our lives.

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: (Genesis 9:13-14)

God is in the storm

If you want to have a close intimate relationship with God—walk with Him through a personal storm. When you get tired of being hunted and chased by the devil’s hellhounds, and your response to the Holy Spirit is: “Yes, Lord,” trust me—you’ll get to know Him.

When we embrace the covenant of God through life’s storms, we are welcoming the Holy Spirit our: Comforter, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby (see John 14:26, AMP) to guide us through.

He knows everything there is to know about us and the smog we find ourselves in. If God is for us who can come against us? (See Romans 8:31; Psalm 118:6.) He has given His angels charge over us (see Psalm 91:11-12).

When we dwell with the Holy Spirit and obey His Word, we become sensitive to His nudges; we begin to recognize His voice when He speaks to our spirits.

Yes, storms are frightening; and yes, the enemy will bombard our minds with gloomy thoughts of hopelessness. That’s why it would be a foolish mistake to focus on the storm and miss the beautiful majestic splendor of God’s rainbow:

• God’s Rainbow of Comfort– Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me (Psalm 23-4, AMP).
• God’s Rainbow of Hope– May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peaceas you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13, NIV).
• God’s Rainbow of Peace– Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27, NIV).
• God’s Rainbow of War– For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, (2 Corinthians 10:4, AMP)
• God’s Rainbow of Rest– Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

It doesn’t matter how challenging things may be, view it with a positive eye of faith, and experience the  radiation of God’s Rainbow.

© 2019

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze (Isaiah 43:2, NIV).

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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The only way to cultivate your spiritual ear—is to use it! In other words, do as you are told. When the Holy Spirit prompts you with instructions, obey them. Sure, there will be times when you think He wants you to do this; when He really wants you to do that. But that’s how you learn—by trial and error. God needs His people to be able to discern His voice and obey His commands. The more you try to listen and obey—the more faith you’ll have in your ability to hear what He wants you to do.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).

God has a plan.

Since the fall of man, God has involved people in His restoration plan to restore mankind. Some declined, some wilted, and some fearfully stepped up to the challenge.

Apprehensive—but did as told.

God has always challenged His people to stretch beyond their apprehensiveness, and do as told.

• Moses’ lack of self-confidence was evident when God asked him to go before the Pharaoh on behalf of the Israelites. Moses responded: I don’t speak well.

However, he did as he was told.

• God asked Gideon to confront the Midianites. Gideon responded: I’m the weakest of my clan.

Nevertheless, he did as he was told.

• God anointed Jeremiah to be a spokesman before powerful leaders. Jeremiah responded: I’m too young for such a task.

Even so, he did as he was told.

Those were ordinary people who didn’t allow timidity or excuses stop them from doing extraordinary feats through the power of God. One thing is for sure, we all have a part in the plan.

What will be said about you?

Even still, ___________________ did as he/she was told.

 

God’s plan still unrolling . . .

It’s good we can read how those trailblazers’ faith overcame their insecurities; but now we have the baton; it’s our turn. For that reason, we should ask the Holy Spirit:

1. Where do I fit in the plan?
2. What’s at stake if I wilt or decline?
3. Am I doing what You told me to do?

Sometimes we are waiting for God to move in our lives, and His waiting for us to—

Do as We are Told!

  © 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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Are you, like many of us, waiting for God to answer your prayers? Have you been praying relentlessly for weeks, months, or perhaps even years about the same issues and concerns—never seeing any signs of a breakthrough? If you are walking in God’s will and doing your best to stay hopeful, then the only thing left for you to do is—Wait! God is secretly working on things you know nothing about.

Stay in faith—————————————————this might take a minute!

In our minds, our prayers are straightforward, but they could be more complex than we realize. For instance, when our prayers involve other people, a whole chapter in their life might have to be played out before we see any answers to our prayers. There could be lessons that they have to learn and experiences they must experience—first! These things take time.

The lessons and experiences could start an avalanche, a chain reaction in other people’s lives connected to the person we are praying for. The situation in those other lives might have to be dealt with, and so on, and so forth. (Excerpt from Paulette Talks Faith Book 1: “This—Might Take a Minute!)

Can you think of a better way for God to develop our faith than to make us wait?

God cares about our spiritual growth; therefore, sometimes a delayed prayer is more about: molding the fruit of the Spirit in our character (see Galatians 5:22-23); drawing us nearer to Him (see Matthew 6:33); transforming our desires to reflect His will (Psalm 37:4); and developing our faith to trust and obey (see Proverbs 3:5-6).

In the meantime, as we wait,  

• Look for unexpected answers and blessings along the way;
• View waiting as a time to grow spiritually;
• Meditate on a good outcome;
• Draw closer to God;
• Trust Him to do what’s best;
• Be kind and do good in other people’s lives; and
• Praise Him before you see anything.

God isn’t going to give us a play-by-play of His actions; we wouldn’t understand it even if He did (see Isaiah 55:8). We might not be able to trace His every step, but in the end, we’ll know—only God could have pulled it together so masterfully.

 “So, that’s why it took so long.”

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

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