Hello, my name is Sochiel Dixon.

I'm sharing a personal story in today's encouragement from our daily bread, a meaningful hyphen.

As I prepared for my mom's celebration of life service, I prayed for the right words to describe her hyphen years, the years between her birth and death.

I reflected on the good and not so good times in our relationship.

I praised God for the day my mom accepted Jesus as her Savior

after she saw him changing me.

I thanked him for helping us grow in faith together

and for the people who shared how my mom encouraged and prayed for them

while showering them with kindness.

My imperfect mom enjoyed a meaningful hyphen,

a life well lived for Jesus.

Not one believer in Jesus is perfect.

However, the Holy Spirit can enable us to live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.

According to the Apostle Paul, the Church of Colosset was known for their faith and love.

The Holy Spirit gave them wisdom and understanding and empowered them to bear fruit in every good work growing in the knowledge of

God. As Paul prayed for and praised those believers, he proclaimed the name of Jesus, the one in whom

we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

When we surrender to the Holy Spirit,

we too can grow in our knowledge of God,

love Him and people, spread the gospel,

and enjoy a meaningful hyphen,

a life well- lived for Jesus.

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