Colossians 2:9-15<\/strong> For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power]. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature], <\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins,<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Previously, I had lived in Ward and worked with Dennis Burkhart, on his cray fishing boat. This was the first real job that I enjoyed to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dennis is also a great employer. Dennis and his wife Barbara went out of their way to help me. In many ways, this was a major turning point in my life. I went from a fruitless life on the dole, addicted to drugs and alcohol, to earning my own way and eventually buying a house in Ward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I still give the credit to God my Father in Heaven. He has helped me and protected me all the way, because He always loved me, and had a great plan for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Golden Elm trees you see, in the photo, I planted about 25 years ago. When I first purchased the half acer property. There was just knee high grass with no fences or hedges. I spent a lot of time renovating and landscaping the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once upon a time I had always desired to live the Kiwi dream with a family and a home. Three times I thought I had it, then lost it all, mostly due to my own fault, living in the sinful, worldly ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Jesus Healed me, and set me free from those demonic strongholds and destructive ways. He has fulfilled that dream for me now, as I have my family in Christ and a mansion awaits me in my real, eternal home with Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 5:17 <\/strong> Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 14:2-3 <\/strong> In My Father\u2019s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We had left Blenheim late, as we needed to get brother Pio’s medication before leaving. This turned out to be a quite a mission as local doctors would not see him, because he come from out of town. But the Lord made a way, as we contacted an online doctor’s practise, just in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250929_182043-scaled-e1759552399151.jpg\")
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