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Some of the most influential work in God's Kingdom happens quietly behind the scenes, often without fanfare
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It happens in homes, workshops, and workplaces where ordinary people commit their lives and talents to God's purposes.
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Acts chapter 18 verses one through three introduces us to one such partnership, Priscilla and Aquila
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Together, they modeled faithfulness, courage, and dedication, providing both practical support and spiritual mentorship to Paul and others in the early church
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Their story reminds us that God often accomplishes great things through committed partnership, through shared work and shared vision, and through steadfast hearts united in service.
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This is Ministry Partnership, Priscilla and Aquila's work.
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We gather here today with open hearts and eyes.
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To grow in faith and truth in every word we find the pages of the word alive and full of grace, inspiring faith with him as
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We seek his face, Bible bites, Bible bites, installing faith one bite at a time with
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Every first we find our way to live our lives in his light and shine.
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Welcome to Bible Bites, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite at a time.
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I'm your host, Randy Black.
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Today we turn to Acts chapter 18, verses 1 through 3, and meet Priscilla
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Anaquilla, a couple whose partnership in faith and service became a cornerstone of early church ministry.
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Paul arrives in Corinth, a busy and challenging city, and finds them recently displaced from Rome due to Emperor Claudius' decree.
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Alone in a new city, they could have focused solely on survival.
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But instead, they opened their home, worked alongside Paul, and used their trade as a platform for ministry.
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Their story shows that God often accomplishes great things through faithful partnerships, through shared work, shared vision, and shared devotion.
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Ordinary people can support ministry, mentor others, and multiply the impact of the gospel.
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As we explore their lives today on this episode, we'll see how courage
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Commitment, and collaboration helped advance God's kingdom, and how their example challenges us to consider our own roles in partnership and in service
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Before we jump into the scripture, let's open up with a word of prayer.
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Heavenly Father, we thank you for Priscilla and Aquila, whose lives remind us that
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Faithfulness is often lived out quietly, in the midst of daily work, in partnership with others, and in the commitment to your kingdom purposes
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Teach us to recognize opportunities to serve together, to support one another in practical and spiritual ways
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and to bring our work, our homes, and our relationships under your guidance
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Help us to be steadfast, courageous, and devoted, trusting that you will multiply our efforts for your glory.
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We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus.
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Amen.
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Acts chapter 18, verses 1 through 3 tells us this
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After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth, and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, and his wife Priscilla
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Because that claw because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome and come unto them.
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And because he was of the same craft,
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He abode with them and wrought, for by their occupation they were tent makers
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At first glance, these verses appear straightforward, yet they reveal much about God's provision, partnership, and the intersection of work and ministry.
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Priscilla and Aquila had recently fled Rome uprooted by a political decree.
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They were strangers in Corinth, navigating displacement, uncertainty, and a new environment.
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Many might have been overwhelmed or discouraged, yet they aligned their lives with God's purposes, welcoming Paul into their home and into their lives.
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Their faithfulness in a moment of personal instability illustrates that ministry often requires courage, perseverance, and the willingness to step into uncertainty alongside others.
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Their occupation as tent makers is more than a historical footnote.
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Tent making was skilled labor, providing for their needs while also offering flexibility to engage in ministry.
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Paul's decision to stay and work alongside them shows a profound principle.
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Secular work and sacred ministry are not mutually exclusive
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God can use our daily labor, our skills, and our diligence as platforms for kingdom impact.
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Later in 1 Corinthians 16, 19, Paul will send greetings to the church that met in their home
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confirming that their trade and home became a vessel for discipleship and for fellowship
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Partnership is central here.
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God rarely works through isolated individuals alone.
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Moses had Aaron.
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David had Jonathan.
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Jesus had the twelve disciples.
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Priscilla and Aquila embody this principle of collaborative faith.
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Together they were able to support Paul, nurture other believers, and extend the reach of the gospel beyond what one could accomplish alone.
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In Romans chapter 16, verses 3 and 4, Paul refers to them as helpers of my very heart, highlighting the deep mutual commitment and love that characterizes faithful ministry partnerships.
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Furthermore, their home became a place of instruction, mentorship, and hospitality.
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Later in Acts 18, verse 26, we see them teaching Apollos.
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a passionate and knowledgeable believer showing that ministry partnership extends beyond shared work.
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It includes shared teaching, guidance, and nurturing of others for kingdom purposes
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Their willingness to open their home and their hearts exemplifies how everyday spaces and relationships become conduits for God's work.
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Finally, there is a quiet but profound lesson about faithfulness and adversity.
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They were displaced, facing an unfamiliar city and uncertain circumstances.
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Yet,
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They persevered in work and in ministry.
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True partnership often requires us to step into discomfort and uncertainty, trusting God to multiply our efforts when we remain faithful in collaboration
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With others Priscilla and Aquila remind us that faithful partnership is intentional and aligned with purpose
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They did not merely share a home or a trade.
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They chose to unite their lives around the mission of advancing the gospel
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By welcoming Paul into their home, they provided not only lodging, but a place of encouragement, teaching, and support.
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This illustrates that God often works through partnerships where shared vision, mutual commitment, and complementary gifts amplify kingdom impact beyond what any individual could accomplish alone
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True partnership requires deliberate alignment of hearts, talents, and objectives, all for God's glory.
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Their story also demonstrates that work and ministry are inseparable in God's economy.
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Tent making was their profession.
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Yet through it they created a platform for service, discipleship, and influence.
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Their daily labor was not separate from their calling.
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It became the vehicle through which God provided for them and positioned them to serve others
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This teaches us that faithful work done with integrity and purpose can become a powerful tool for ministry and witness in ways that may not be immediately visible
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Yet it bears eternal significance.
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Another profound takeaway here is the role of hospitality and mentorship in advancing God's kingdom.
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Priscilla and Aquila's home became a place where new believers could be nurtured, and later where Apollos received guidance in understanding the gospel more fully.
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This reminds us that ministry is not only about preaching or teaching from a pulpit, but also about opening our lives, homes, and hearts to others
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Faithful partnership often involves practical, relational, and spiritual support, forming the foundation for growth and discipleship in ways that ripple far beyond the immediate moment.
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Their example also shows that courage and perseverance are essential in ministry partnerships.
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Having recently fled Rome due to political persecution.
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They could have withdrawn into safety or focused solely on survival.
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Instead, they stepped into an uncertain city, continuing their work and embracing ministry alongside Paul
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True partnership in God's work often requires facing discomfort, facing uncertainty, and even facing personal risk with steadfastness, trusting that God
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can use even challenging circumstances to accomplish his purposes through united, faithful service.
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Finally, Priscilla and Aquila teach us that partnership multiplies impact and prepares others for kingdom service.
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By combining their skills, hospitality, and faithfulness, they not only strengthened Paul, but also shaped future ministry leaders
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Their mentorship of Apollos is a vivid example of how God uses collaboration to equip others for greater work in the kingdom.
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This reminds us that investing in partnership is not just about immediate results, but about leaving a lasting generational influence that extends
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the reach of the gospel far beyond what we are able to accomplish alone.
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Priscilla and Aquila's story invites us to consider the ways God calls us into partnership with others for his kingdom.
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Their lives were ordinary in many ways.
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They worked with their hands, managed a household, and faced uncertainty as recent exiles.
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But their choice their choice is to serve, to support.
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And to mentor others, we're extraordinary in impact.
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Reflection begins with examining our own opportunities for collaboration.
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Where might God be inviting us?
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to step into faithful partnership, offering our skills, time, and resources to advance his work alongside others.
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Their courage and their perseverance also challenge us to remain steadfast in the face of uncertainty.
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Just as Priscilla and Aquila did not retreat when circumstances were difficult.
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We're reminded that ministry often unfolds in situations that are uncomfortable or unpredictable.
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Faithful service requires trusting God's provision and timing, even when the results are unseen or delayed
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Standing firm with others in shared purpose can amplify our impact in ways we may never fully measure
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Hospitality and mentorship emerge as practical expressions of partnership, opening their home and guiding fellow believers
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They provided space for growth, for learning and for encouragement.
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In reflecting on our own lives, we can ask, how might
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We create environments, either physical or relational or spiritual, where others can be nurtured in faith
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Ministry is rarely about preaching or teaching.
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It often happens in the quiet, relational spaces where discipleship, encouragement, and guidance take root.
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Finally, their example shows that faithful partnership prepares the way for future ministry.
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By investing in relationships and shared service today, we participate in a ripple effect that extends beyond ourselves.
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Just as Priscilla and Aquila equipped Paul and later Apollos, God can use our commitment to partnership to shape others for the work he calls them to do.
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Reflection calls us to ask this.
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How can our consistent, collaborative faithfulness today prepare others and ourselves for the purposes God has planned?
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Let's close out our study of the scripture with a word of prayer.
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Lord, we thank you for the example of Priscilla and Aquila, a faithful couple.
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whose partnership advanced your gospel and nurtured believers.
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Help us to walk in unity with others in service, mentorship, and shared ministry
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Teach us to recognize opportunities to combine our gifts and to use our homes, work, and relationships to glorify you.
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May we be steadfast in partnership, courageous in service, and faithful in collaboration, trusting that you will multiply our efforts and accomplish your purposes through our combined devotion
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We ask these things in the name of your son, Jesus.
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Amen.
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Before we close today's episode, I want to share just one more brief thought with you
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If Bible Bites has encouraged you in your walk with Christ, we are truly grateful.
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This podcast is a labor of love grounded in prayerful study of God's Word and a desire to help believers grow in faith and faithfulness.
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There are a few ways you can support this work.
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First and foremost, and most importantly, please continue to pray that God would use these episodes for his glory.
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Second, consider sharing Bible bites with someone who would benefit from spending deeper time in the scripture.
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And if you feel led to partner with us financially, you can give any amount by visiting Bible-bytesbyts.
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com slash support.
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Your generosity helps cover the time, the tools.
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And the resources needed to continue producing faithful, scripture-centered content week after week.
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Thank you for partnering with us as we seek to point hearts back to the Word of God
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Now, as we bring our time together today to a close, let's briefly reflect on the truth we've considered today.
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Remember that ministry often thrives in the quiet, faithful work of ordinary people working together.
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Priscilla and Aquila's partnership shows us that shared vision, mutual support
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and dedication to God's purposes can multiply impact in ways one person alone could never achieve.
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Their faithfulness in work
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Home and mentorship provides a model for how collaboration strengthens the church and nurtures discipleship.
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Next time on Bible Bytes, we'll continue exploring their ministry as we turn to Teaching the Truth, Priscilla's role in Apollo's growth.
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That's from Acts chapter 18, verses 24 through 26.
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You'll see how mentorship, guidance, and courage and teaching helps help others to grow in knowledge, in faith.
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and in effectiveness in God's work.
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Thank you for listening to Bible Bites and join us on that next episode as we work to inspire faith.
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One bite at a time.
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Bible bites.
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Bible bites.
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Inspiring faith one bite at a time.
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We first we find our way to live our lives in his life and shine.
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Bubble bites, bubble bites, inspiring faith one bite at a time