I am going to confession and Mass tomorrow night.

Please pray for the grace of a good confession.

God bless

And who did Cain build cities for ?

When God Marked Cain who was going to kill him ?

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, thanked Trump and the Salvadorian president, Nayib Bukele, for securing the agreement.
“Ten Americans who were detained in Venezuela are on their way to freedom,” Rubio tweeted.

Those ten Americans are fortunate.

Colbert told his audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater that he had learned Wednesday night that after a decade on air, “next year will be our last season. … It’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”

The audience responded with boos and groans.

“Yeah, I share your feelings,” the 61-year-old comic said.

Three top Paramount and CBS executives praised Colbert’s show as “a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist” in a statement that said the cancellation “is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Click to expand...

For once, I believe CBS.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more crowing about this.

"The database will reveal to ICE officials the names, addresses, birth dates, ethnic and racial information, as well as Social Security numbers for all people enrolled in Medicaid. The state and federally funded program provides health care coverage program for the poorest of people, including millions of children."

By now Palentir has it all.

My wife and I are struggling to maintain any form of relationship with God right now just because of all that we have to do now that we have our child. What can we do to seek God more? It’s especially going to be hard if I get put on 10s at work and am getting up at 3 in the morning. I’m not really sure what to do other than have a rigid schedule, does anyone else have advice?

It took evolution 300 million years ago to cut off the production of Coal.
This first 4 minutes of this video goes into a lot more information into how coal was produced than I understood. The rest is a plea for money to plant trees.

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Hi all,
as much as I disagree with almost everything about Trump with every fibre of my being, I personally doubt there could be anything devastating against him in the Epstein files simply because I'm sceptical about conspiracy theories - and feel human beings are too prone to leaking something THAT big!

Mind you - decades ago I was a Department of Community Services officer in the NSW government. I can tell you with some authority that sick, powerful men in a society do cluster together and form paedophile conspiracies. They form networks to enable their sick addictions.

Leaks like this can be kept quite by the same logic with which NATO have not nuked Russia - it's Mutually Assured Destruction. I don't have details on me, but have read departmental training material on various local cabals in NSW back in the day. The only stuff more disturbing? When this gets combined with "Ritual Abuse" - when it gets into Satanic stuff. Even us DOCS officers were not to attempt investigating THAT stuff - we would tell our managers who would escalate it to a special unit. (I like to think of them as a child welfare version of Mulder and Scully! Fortunately I never had a case like that. But the curiosity of this old X-Files fan does sometimes make me wish I knew more about that special unit. From a distance. I don't even know the unit's name!)

The thing that makes me sceptical about a cabal in Federal Administrations - especially under Trump - is the sheer scale - and the venomous energy of those he burns! Think about the vast number of public servants he has yelled "You're fired!" at like he's the star of his own reality TV show. I guess he still is? Unfortunately for us, it's called "The News!"

If any of the more bitter ex-staffers knew anything - surely it would have been leaked by now?

HOWEVER - having said all that - Trump is not helping himself!


QUIZ TIME: Trump has explained away the Epstein files by claiming:-
A: They're one of America's largest conspiracies - written by Obama and Hilary Clinton and Democrats and "Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration",

B: Then tried to blame the Democrats for NOT releasing the files THEY created!?,

C: In doing so contradicted US Attorney General Pam Bondi who says there ARE NO Epstein files (even though she had them on her desk in February),

D: Anyone who asks about Epstein all these years later is a bad person. (Even though he still can't stop lying and crying about the 2020 election 'being stolen' and a thousand other petty grievances he has with anyone ever who has ever opposed him or his policies.)

E: Said of his own MAGA base asking these questions - "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!"

F: ALL OF THE ABOVE!
30 seconds thinking time...
...
...
...
...
ANSWER:
The correct answer is E - all of the above!

Well done! You have demonstrated you have a grip on logical inconsistencies and self-contradiction. Just as his MAGA base are starting to discover!

This was his first ever "Truth Social" post to get MORE COMMENTS than likes - indicating the MAGA base want to question him more than adulate him. This is a new low with his OWN base - and now he is turning on his own base as 'weaklings'. Interesting times.

Full coverage here on Australia's ABC
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I recently had a conversation with someone explaining the Provisionist mode of salvation. They said that 'God chooses those that choose Him'. I was brought up more Calvinistically, but I have thought about it since, and I have two questions;

1) Was the Apostle Paul chosen or did he choose to be saved?

2) Was he forced or was he drawn to believe?

I thought of Acts 9:15 'But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:'

The way I see it, by this method, God 'chooses' as a result of man's choice. For this to fit Paul's testimony, Paul would need to have accepted by his own choice before he was chosen, but I do not see this Biblically. If you are a Provisionist, how would you answer these two questions? Please explain this to me.

Thank you.

Speaking as someone who once walked in the ways of the world and of the flesh and of sinful desires, but who has also walked in the ways of the Lord in obedience to the Lord in holy living, I can tell you from experience that there is no better life on this earth but to walk in the ways of the Lord, and no longer in sin, and no longer according to the sinful patterns of this world. Even with all the persecutions and rejections that come along with being a follower of Christ, I would never want to go back to living in sin and for self.

Faith in Jesus Christ, if it is of God, and not of the flesh of man, will result in us dying with Christ to sin and us walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. For in Jesus’ death on that cross, he put our sins to death with him so that, by God-persuaded faith in him, we will now die to sin and live to God and to his righteousness, in holy living. We are now to be followers of Christ who walk in his ways, following him wherever he leads us in doing whatever it is he calls us to do, no matter the cost, because we love him.

We should be those who seek the Lord with our whole hearts, eager to do his will, to be his witnesses in taking the truth of the Gospel to the people of the world, and in loving the people of this world enough to tell them the truth, even if they hate and persecute us in return. We should be people of God who minister God’s love and grace to others because we love God, and because we love the people of this world, so we want them to know Jesus as we know him, and to be saved from their sins and to have new life in him.

I would not trade the life I have in Christ with any other way of living, by his grace, in his power. Knowing that I am loved by God, and that I am in the center of his will, doing as he commands, in daily practice, is the best life ever! And knowing that I am making a difference in other people’s lives, in sharing with them what the Lord is teaching me from his word each day, brings me much joy. And this is how I feel, even when I am being hated by some, and when I am being attacked and falsely accused sometimes, too.

So, I would encourage everyone who is reading this today, if you have not already done so, to surrender your hearts and lives completely to the Lord, to doing his will, to obeying his commands, and to walking in his ways and in his truth and righteousness, and no longer in sin. Let him truly be Lord of your lives, and serve him in doing what he has for you to do as one of his followers. Then you will have the hope of salvation from sin and of eternal life with God, and you will be blessed of God in your walks of obedience.

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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With Uprightness of Heart
An Original Work / July 18, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Substitutionary atonement is the biblical teaching that Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners, taking on Himself the punishment we deserved, so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God through faith.

In other words:

1. We broke God’s law.

2. We deserve judgment (Romans 6:23).

3. Jesus stepped in as our substitute, taking the penalty in our place.

4. Because of His sacrifice, God’s justice is satisfied, and His mercy is freely given to us through faith.

So the cross is both justice and love meeting together. Let us not forget this beautiful gospel message.

Reading Thomas Merton Ascent of Mt Carmel p 92-93. Help me wrap my head around this.


"But there exists no word, no idea, that can contain the reality of God. We must never talk about the wisdom and justice and power and even the being of God as if these divine perfections could be fitted into the definitions of these things as they are known to us. [ok. I get that.]

Saint Thomas says, of every concept of the divine perfections, that “the reality [in these divine names] remains unbounded, exceeding the signification of the term.” All the perfections of God are unlimited and they are therefore all one identical reality. [ I am not sure about that "one identical reality".]

It is impossible for us to understand the notions of justice and mercy unless they are somehow divided from one another and opposed. In God, justice is mercy, mercy is justice, and both are wisdom and power and being, for all His attributes merge in one infinite Reality that elevates them beyond definition and comprehension. [Sound like we are just playing with words now.]

Nevertheless, although all the Divine Names are objectively one identical reality in Him, they are not to be understood as synonymous by us. Like white light, broken up into different colors by the spectrum, the one Reality of God can only be attained by us under many different aspects."

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee blasted the Israeli interior ministry for continuing to restrict visas issued to Christian organizations working in Israel in an exceptionally harshly worded letter that leaked to the Israeli press on Thursday.

In a response letter, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party expressed his shock, claiming that his office had quickly addressed every request that was brought to his attention.

Arbel added he was “particularly surprised” about the manner in which Huckabee raised his concerns, as he sent copies of his letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

Continued below.

We know God's will for our life in the broad sense, of course:

1 Timothy 2:3–4 (ESV)
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise... He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV)
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
“...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 2:15 (ESV)
“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

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

Micah 6:8 (NIV)
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

John 13:34–35 (NIV)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples...”

Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV)
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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BUT, WHAT ABOUT SPECIFIC EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE?

Specific daily events that are trivial compared to the concepts and commands in these Bible verses.

For example, if my car broke down as I was going to the coffee shop to get coffee, am I right in saying it was God's will for the car to break down?

What are your thoughts, guys?

Hi, I am from Ukraine and currently doing my duty in military service literally at war. I mention this only just to clarify why I have some restrictions and physically can't do something in the usual way. I can't attend offline (I am far away from civilization) or online (I don't have a stable schedule and have some other restrictions) groups/classes/services/etc.

Some time ago I was in a emmm really bad situation, and I promised (to myself) that if Jesus got me out alive, I would dedicate part of my life to religion. It wasn’t like a sudden conversion on the warzone or something, but maybe just the end of a long worldview and spiritual search that began long before the war.

But I have no idea how to grow in faith while on duty, since my schedule is unstable and I only have good internet from time to time (1-2 times on the week in random days)

It’s not crucial for me to follow a specific denomination, but I’m mainly looking towards the Western tradition like Episcopal/Anglican, Old Catholic or something similar. It's more important to spiritually growth educate systematically step-by-step, from the basics maybe.

If it matters, I'm 35 years old, baptized in Eastern Orthodoxy in childhood, but didn't attend church or anything like that. In civilian life I was a software engineer.

Thanks for any help

Gov't must form commission within 30 days

LAHORE, Pakistan — In what attorneys in Pakistan termed a “huge ray of hope,” a federal high court on Tuesday directed the government to form an inquiry commission within 30 days to investigate blatant abuse of blasphemy laws.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the formation of the body to investigate widespread misuse of the harsh laws, strengthened during the 1980s by military ruler Gen. Ziaul Haq in an apparent bid to win over Islamist groups and safeguard perceptions of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, and the Quran.

Justice Khan issued the order while hearing a case involving multiple blasphemy cases that came with allegations of repeated patterns of abuse. Families of more than 100 victims of false blasphemy cases alleged that officials from the anti-blasphemy unit of the cybercrime section of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), lawyers and others conspired to honey-trap innocent people, including Christians, into sharing content deemed blasphemous, later using it to extort money by threatening legal action.

Continued below.

Former President Barack Obama suggested during an appearance on his wife's podcast earlier this week that men need gay friends to learn "empathy and kindness" while preparing for potentially fathering a son who identifies as gay or non-binary.

Appearing during an episode of "IMO," a podcast hosted by former first lady Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, the former president discussed with the two how best to raise boys.

At one point during their hour-long discussion, Barack Obama — who noted he was raised by a single mother — suggested that boys need male figures in their lives other than their fathers to provide perspective, and then immediately pivoted to explain the influence one of his gay professors at Occidental College had on him.

Continued below.

Hello,
I'm struggling to find a church or group I could join where I live near Crail in Fife.
I have to work Sundays (9:00am start) and have failed so far to find any early services close enough to me that I could get back from in time. My days off are Tues/Weds and so far I haven't found any groups or services in the area on these days.
I don't know any other Christians to ask for help from.
I don't know what denomination I am, I guess I would be called a born again Christian. I would like to focus on Jesus and the bible. I'm a 40 year old man originally from England.
If anyone could advise or signpost me I would be grateful.
Thank you
Richard

I like a few ministries and listen everyday to several. Most of them have so much money now that when they travel they fly business class and stay at great hotels.
They go to Africa and take 10 friends along with them and don't pay a dime of their own money. They build a 20 million dollar bldg and have it paid for on opening day. I give the 10 dollars now and then. I wonder if that's too much.

If you’ve never heard the agony of a doubter and despair of a near apostate, I would like to provide you a glimpse. In 2013, I received an email from Jane [a pseudonym], a teenage girl in the final stages of doubt — marked by depression, despair, and nearly ready to depart. Here’s what she wrote:

Hello Bobby, my name is Jane Doe. I’m a 17-year-old Christian. I’ve been a Christian for many years. I’ve always had God inside of me keeping me comforted. There’s always been that comfort inside of me. But lately, I’ve been in what I would call a “crisis of belief.” Lately, I’ve been having doubts in my head about the Bible and what it says. For example: How’s it physically possible for one to rise from the dead? Is it really God or is it all in my head? Why isn’t God there to help me when I really need Him? Doesn’t the Bible have Scripture saying that He will help? Sometimes the doubts are statements that electrocute my mind and belief, such as: “You’re wasting your time.” Or “You’re believing a fantasy,” and “It’s only a part of your brain that makes you believe.”
…But it’s not like I want to believe these doubts. Because when I think of them, something burns in my heart and mind. My depression begins to act up badly. Lately, I’ve had many anxiety attacks about it along with other stress. It’s not helpful when atheists surround me in my school too. There really aren’t many people I can ask for help. So, I’m asking you. What do I do? Because I’m scared to say I’m lost.

Click to expand...

Can you sense her agony, emptiness, confusion, and split mind? Of course, I responded, but unfortunately, I never heard back. And many times, I’ve wondered how Jane turned out.

Continued below.

I am very thankful to God for my fellow Christians who are following the Lord Jesus with their lives. I am encouraged by their walks of faith and by their testimonies for the Lord Jesus. We mutually encourage one another in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord, and we help strengthen one another in our walks of faith in the Lord. True biblical Christian fellowship is beautiful! And it helps us so much to remain faithful in service to our Lord, in sharing the truth of the gospel, and in living holy lives, pleasing to God.

For the Christian faith and practice is not an easy road to follow. And Jesus never promised us that it would be easy. He said it would be hard, and that we would be hated and persecuted for our faith and for our testimonies and for our walks of obedience to Christ as our only Lord. And that is the absolute truth! For if our lives are committed to Christ, to doing his will and purpose for our lives, not everyone is going to like us, and many may turn against us, even many who profess faith in Jesus Christ, too.

For not all who say, “Lord, Lord,” are truly of genuine biblical faith, walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. Many give lip service only to Jesus, but their hearts are far from him. For he is not truly Lord (Owner-Master) of their lives, for they are still masters over their own lives, choosing their own life course, living however they want to live without regard for what God wants for their lives. There really is not much difference between how they live and how those who do not believe in Jesus live their lives.

And it appears that they are largely in the majority, and it is the minority of those professing faith in Jesus Christ who are actually living for the Lord Jesus, doing his will, obeying his commands, in practice, and who are encouraging one another to walk holy, to live for Jesus, and to obey his commands. And this is not saying that there are some of us who have reached absolute perfection. We are still clay in the hands of the Potter being molded into the image of Christ, being perfected in him, by Christ our Lord.

But being in fellowship with other Christians who are truly following the Lord in obedience, in practice, who are living for the Lord, to do his will, and who are spreading the truth of the gospel of our salvation to the people of the world, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, helps to encourage us to do the same, and it lifts our spirits. Having like-minded followers of Christ in our lives, where we can mutually encourage one another, is such a blessing! And this fellowship can be long-distance, too, and not always face to face.

So, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, living to please the Lord, be encouraged! Know that you are not alone, even if sometimes you might feel like you are all alone. There are others of us out in the world who love Jesus Christ and who are following him with our lives, some of whom are being persecuted for our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord. Many of us are going through trials and tribulations and we need encouragement, too. So just hang in there, keep pressing forward, and never give up hope!

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Lu 6:27-28; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Ac 1:8; Ac 2:14-18; Ac 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Gal 6:1; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Eph 6:10-20; Php 2:1-8; Col 1:9; Col 3:12-16; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; Jas 5:19-20; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6; Jude 1:22-23]

In Harmony

Based off Romans 12:9-21; 1 Peter 3:8-17
An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

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Mutual Spiritual Encouragement
An Original Work / July 18, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I've heard allegations that suspect Israel's attack on the Church in Gaza was retaliatory, now Cardinal Pizzaballa has expressed doubt that it was a mistake as Israel is officially suggesting. If we enter into the realm of the hypothetical for a moment, let's say Israel doesn't take kindly to His Eminence's comments leading to a tragedy that compels a fed up Pope Leo to call for the mother of all crusades.

Now in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries the nations were properly Catholic and Kings would commit their armies to the cause of the Church, with at least some Kings themselves (like Richard I) leading their armies to the Holy Land. Today, however, that seems entirely unlikely to happen. Even with majority Catholic countries like Italy, Poland or Hungary.

So what do you think it would look like for a Crusader Army in the 21st century to organize? Would it have a naval and/or air component? Would it entirely rely on small arms and some light artillery like the Ukrainians against Russia? Or would it find backing from at least one nation to supply it with higher level arms like jet fighters, bombers, helicopter gunships, SAMs, JDAM, troop transport ships, maybe even some frigates or destroyers?

I dunno, what do you imagine it would look like? Cause I sure don't think it'd be marching on Jerusalem with swords and mail.

“This package eliminates $9 billion in unnecessary and wasteful spending at the State Department, USAID, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The American people will no longer be forced to fund politically biased media and more than $8 billion in outrageous expenses overseas. While Republicans continue to deliver real accountability, restore fiscal discipline, and protect taxpayer dollars, Democrats continue to defend waste, fraud, and abuse. This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. We look forward to passing additional rescissions bills throughout the 119th Congress.”

The first rescissions package that has passed in over thirty years!

"We're trying to elevate the real food perception of Lay's. If you think about the simplest and most natural snack, it is a potato chip; it's a potato, it's oil, and it's a little bit of salt—the most simple, no artificial ingredients," said CEO Ramon Laguarta in a call with investors.
The company also said it was expanding use of avocado and olive oil across its brands, rather than the canola or soybean oil it uses. The MAHA movement has questioned the health benefits of certain food oils.

Kudos to Pepsi. C'mon the rest of you companies, get with the MAHA bandwagon.

YouTube Channel Video Devo
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“All That Matters”
Revelation 4:8 NIV
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, ’who was, and is, and is to come.”

In church this past Sunday morning, we sang one of my favorite worship songs, “Holy Forever”. As we were singing, I felt a strong reminder by God saying, “Zach, all that matters in life is that you worship Me and focus on Who I Am.” As we continued to sing the song, I felt chills from the reminder that God is absolutely beyond amazing.

The past couple of months I’ve been struggling with so many things on my mind and not completely focusing on positive things. I’ve shared that in the past months, I struggled with some depression and how worship music brought me out of that. Well, the struggle is off and on and I realize that I have to really be intentional big time all the time to make sure I am focusing on God. No matter what is going on in my life, nothing changes how amazing and awesome God is.

While singing this song on Sunday, I was reminded that all that ever matters in life is how amazing and wonderful God is. Nothing in my life compares to that! Does that mean that my struggles and things that are very concerning are not important? No, absolutely not! God certainly cares about all of the things going on. However, when I get so focused on certain things going on in my life and NOT on God, that’s my problem! God has reminded me of that. I need to let go and trust Him 100%. I haven’t been doing that.

All that matters in life is that we focus and worship God. That is where our total focus needs to be, no matter what is going on. Today I am reminded that nothing in all of life is more important than God and me worshipping Him daily. Everything else falls under that, period. Nothing that I am doing means anything if I am not fully focused on serving Him. I need to be locked in and focused every day.

These words from the song captured my attention today:
Your Name is the highest
Your Name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your Name stands above them all

This is ALL that matters, period. There is so much power behind these words and what they mean. God is above and beyond everything we experience and all we struggle through in life.

If we completely focus on Him, then the rest of life will not overcome us. God is always with us.