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Hello, friend.

This is Max Lakato.

Thanks for tuning in.

It's an honor to be with you.

As we study God's word together,

may our time uplift and encourage you.

If you could use some hope, I pray you find enjoying a few restful days as this year comes to an end.

I hope you're reflecting on all the blessings in your life that came your way over the last 12 months.

Or, perhaps for you, this year was challenging and you're glad to see it go, ready for a fresh start.

Either way, there's something refreshing and exciting about a new year, isn't there?

You know, no one knew what it was like to wait desperately for a sign of a new beginning. For 40 days,

it rained. For months, he and his family floated in the ark, eating the same food,

smelling the same smells, and looking at the same faces. After a certain point, you run out of things to say to each other. You even begin

to run low on hope. Can God recreate this world? Is he able to start over? Can he and we really begin

again?

When the boat finally stopped rocking, Noah sent a raven on a scouting mission.

It never returned. He sent a dove. It came back shivering and spent, having found no place to roost.

He tried again.

He pulled a dove out of the bowels of the ark and ascended the ladder.

The morning sun caused both of them to squint.

And with a prayer he let it go and watched until the bird was no bigger than a speck.

...