In this episode of Bible Bytes, “The Role of Providence in Deliverance,” we explore how God’s unseen hand continues to guide the unfolding story of Esther after Haman’s downfall. Building from Esther 8:3–8, we watch as Esther boldly steps before King Ahasuerus once more—risking everything—to plead for the safety of her people. Even with Haman gone, his deadly decree still hangs over the Jews, and Esther’s intercession reveals both the lingering danger and the remarkable favor God continues to give her and Mordecai. The king’s response, empowering Mordecai to write a new decree, becomes a turning point that demonstrates how divine providence often works through courage, timing, and human obedience.
From there, we move into Esther 9:20–22, where Mordecai establishes the feast of Purim as a lasting memorial of God’s deliverance. This celebration becomes more than a tradition—it stands as a testimony to the transformation from sorrow to joy, mourning to celebration, and peril to peace. In recounting these passages, the episode reflects on how God’s providential care still moves in circumstances that seem irreversible, reminding us that the Lord can redeem what appears hopeless and bring light into the darkest seasons of our lives.
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Speaker 1: In a moment when all hope seemed lost, Esther stood again before King Hazorus, this time pleading not for herself, but for her people.
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Speaker 1: The decree of destruction still hung over them, yet God’s providence was quietly at work, turning her fear into faith and despair into deliverance.
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Speaker 1: Today on Bible Bytes, we explore how God works behind the scenes to bring salvation in this episode entitled The Role of Providence in Deliverance.
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Speaker 2: We gather here today with open hearts and minds To grow in faith and truth in every
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Speaker 2: Every word we find the pages of the word alive and full of grace Inspiring faith with him as we seek his face Bible
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Speaker 2: Bible bites In starting faith one bite at a time With care free first we find our way
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Speaker 2: To live our lives in his light and shine.
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Speaker 1: Welcome to Bible Bites, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite at a time.
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Speaker 1: I’m your host, Randy Black.
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Speaker 1: When we last saw Esther’s story unfold, Haman had been executed for his wicked plot to annihilate the Jews.
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Speaker 1: The enemy had fallen
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Speaker 1: Yet the decree he had written in the king’s name could not be revoked.
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Speaker 1: By Persian law, the edict remained in effect, putting the entire Jewish population at risk
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Speaker 1: Even after the triumph over Haman, a day of potential destruction still loomed over God’s people
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Speaker 1: Our episode today focuses on Esther chapter 8, verses 3 through 8, and chapter 9, verses 20 through 22, showing us how God’s providence operates in ways that may not be immediately visible.
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Speaker 1: Esther’s courage, Mordecai’s wisdom, and the careful unfolding of events reveal the hand of God directing outcomes in the midst of human history
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Speaker 1: is a powerful reminder that God can work through ordinary people and seemingly impossible circumstances to bring about deliverance.
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Speaker 1: Before we dive into our study of the Scripture, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.
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Speaker 1: Heavenly Father
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Speaker 1: We come to you today grateful for your faithfulness and your providence.
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Speaker 1: Thank you for the story of Esther and Mordecai, which reminds us that you were always at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.
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Speaker 1: Help us to recognize your guidance in our lives, to act with courage when you call, and to trust your timing in every circumstance.
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Speaker 1: May this episode today strengthen our faith and encourage us to rely fully on you.
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Speaker 1: In the name of your son Jesus, we pray.
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Speaker 1: Amen.
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Speaker 1: Esther chapter 8 verses 3 through 8 begins with Esther once again approaching the king
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Speaker 1: This time with a petition that goes beyond her personal concern, she intercedes for the entire Jewish people.
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Speaker 1: Verse 3 tells us that she fell at the king’s feet, weeping, and pleaded with him to revoke Haman’s edict that would lead to the destruction of her people.
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Speaker 1: The narrative here emphasizes her humility and her courage, for approaching the king uninvited was a risk of death under Persian law
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Speaker 1: Yet, Esther’s courage was fueled by faith and by a deep concern for her people
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Speaker 1: King Hazurus responded with mercy, extending the Golden Scepter to Esther.
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Speaker 1: This act of favor allowed her to speak freely, an opportunity that she used wisely
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Speaker 1: Esther requested the king’s permission for Mordecai to write a new decree, granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against any attack on the appointed day
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Speaker 1: The king granted her request, demonstrating both his authority and his willingness to act justly in the midst of a dangerous situation
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Speaker 1: Verse 8 notes, write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you in the king’s name, and seal it with my king’s ring
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Speaker 1: for the writing which is written is the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring may no man reverse.
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Speaker 1: Here we see the limitations of human law.
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Speaker 1: The original edict could not be revoked.
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Speaker 1: Yet God’s providence provided a way through the very system that seemed unchangeable.
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Speaker 1: What was intended for harm became an opportunity for protection and deliverance.
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Speaker 1: Mordecai’s elevation to authority, Esther’s bold advocacy, and the king’s cooperation all work together under God’s unseen hand.
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Speaker 1: Moving forward to Esther chapter 9, verses 20 through 22, we find Mordecai establishing the feast of Purim.
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Speaker 1: Verse 20 explains that he sent letters to all the Jews in every province, instructing them to observe the days of deliverance
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Speaker 1: The people were called to remember the sorrow that had been turned into joy, and the morning that had become a good day.
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Speaker 1: These celebrations were not merely ritual.
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Speaker 1: They were intended to instill gratitude, remembrance, and a communal identity grounded in God’s providence.
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Speaker 1: Verse 22 emphasizes the practices of feasting, rejoicing, and giving gifts to the poor, highlighting the outward expression of thanksgiving and of community
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Speaker 1: God’s deliverance was not a private event for Esther and Mordecai.
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Speaker 1: It became a public communal experience
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Speaker 1: These verses underscore that when God works behind the scenes, his purposes extend beyond immediate survival to a long-term pattern of faith, celebration, and gratitude
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Speaker 1: Theologically, this section reminds us that God’s providence is often subtle.
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Speaker 1: Haman’s plot could not simply be undone.
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Speaker 1: Instead, God orchestrated events so that his people were protected within the framework of human law and governance.
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Speaker 1: The Jews’ survival demonstrates that God’s power is not always displayed by the removal of danger.
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Speaker 1: but by the orchestration of circumstances that fulfill his plans.
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Speaker 1: Looking at Esther and Mordecai’s story, we see principles that are as applicable to day as they were then
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Speaker 1: God’s providence is real, and it often unfolds through human action, patience, and courage.
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Speaker 1: These passages in Esther invite us to consider how we might respond faithfully.
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Speaker 1: When circumstances seem to be overwhelming.
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Speaker 1: One of the first truths revealed in this story is that God’s providence often works through persistence and faithful action
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Speaker 1: Esther had already approached the king once, yet she returned again, interceding for her people.
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Speaker 1: Her courage demonstrates that faith is not a single act, but a continual willingness to trust and obey
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Speaker 1: God’s hand is often revealed gradually through our persistence and his careful orchestration of events.
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Speaker 1: We also see that God can redeem situations that appear irreversible.
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Speaker 1: Haman’s decree could not be revoked, yet God provided a solution within the system itself.
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Speaker 1: Life often presents challenges that feel final or unchangeable, but God can transform these circumstances into opportunities for deliverance
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Speaker 1: What is intended for harm can be turned to good when we trust his providence.
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Speaker 1: Another lesson is the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness
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Speaker 1: Mordecai established Purim to to ensure that God’s providence would not be forgotten.
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Speaker 1: Gratitude for past blessings strengthens our faith and equips us to trust Him in future difficulties.
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Speaker 1: Remembering what God has done reminds us that he is always at work even when his hand is unseen
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Speaker 1: God’s providence also unfolds according to his timing.
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Speaker 1: Esther acted carefully, and Mordecai did not rush to implement change impulsively.
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Speaker 1: Each event prepared the way for the next.
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Speaker 1: Waiting on God is an act of faith, and the pauses we experience are often the spaces in which He accomplishes His purposes
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Speaker 1: Trusting His timing deepens our faith and reliance on Him.
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Speaker 1: Finally
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Speaker 1: Deliverance leads to an overflow of joy, generosity, and community.
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Speaker 1: The celebration of Purim was communal and outward focused, including feasting, sharing gifts, and supporting the poor
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Speaker 1: God’s blessings are meant to be shared, and the joy of salvation should inspire us to bless and encourage others, reflecting His goodness in our lives
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Speaker 1: These lessons from Esther and Mordecai challenge us to recognize God’s providence in our own lives.
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Speaker 1: Deliverance does not always mean the removal of danger.
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Speaker 1: But God’s hand can guide, protect, and provide even when the outcome seems to be uncertain.
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Speaker 1: When we reflect on Esther’s story in these chapters,
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Speaker 1: It reminds us that faith is rarely a single act.
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Speaker 1: Esther’s courage didn’t end with Haman’s downfall.
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Speaker 1: She returned to the king a second time, standing for her people, despite the continued risk.
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Speaker 1: That persistence calls us to consider our own lives.
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Speaker 1: Where are we being invited to step forward in faith again, even when the first step has already been difficult?
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Speaker 1: Perhaps it’s a decision at work or a conversation with a family member or a prayer we’ve been hesitant to voice.
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Speaker 1: Like Esther, our faith is revealed in our willingness to act courageously, not in our absence of fear.
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Speaker 1: We also see that deliverance doesn’t always look like what we expect
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Speaker 1: The decree that was given could not be revoked, yet God provided a way for his people to survive and even thrive.
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Speaker 1: Sometimes our prayers are answered in ways that we don’t anticipate.
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Speaker 1: The path to God’s provision may be through channels that seem strange, difficult, or impossible.
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Speaker 1: This challenges us to trust that God’s perspective is higher than ours, that he is working behind the scenes in ways that we cannot see.
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Speaker 1: It’s a reminder that his timing and methods are perfect, even when the situation appears dire.
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Speaker 1: Another aspect we can reflect on is the importance of remembrance.
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Speaker 1: Mordecai established Purim to ensure that God’s providence would not be forgotten.
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Speaker 1: In our own lives it is it is easy to move from one challenge to another without pausing to acknowledge what God has already done.
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Speaker 1: When we intentionally remember his faithfulness through prayer, journaling, or celebrating milestones of victory, our trust in him grows.
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Speaker 1: Our memory of God’s work becomes a foundation for courage in future trials.
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Speaker 1: We are also called to consider the communal aspects of God’s deliverance.
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Speaker 1: The joy of Purim was not a private celebration.
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Speaker 1: It involved giving to one another and caring for the poor, reflecting God’s goodness outwardly
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Speaker 1: Likewise, when God works in our lives, the blessing is not meant to be kept to ourselves.
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Speaker 1: Deliverance and provision inspire generosity, compassion, and community
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Speaker 1: How can we, like Esther and Mordecai, respond to God’s faithfulness in ways that bless others around us
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Speaker 1: Finally, this reflection invites us to recognize the subtle, sometimes hidden ways God is at work in our daily lives
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Speaker 1: There may be moments of fear, uncertainty, or apparent danger that seem beyond our control.
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Speaker 1: Yet God’s providence is present, orchestrating circumstances for our good and his glory.
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Speaker 1: As we consider Esther’s courage and Mordecai’s wisdom, we are reminded that God calls us to trust him with every detail of our lives
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Speaker 1: to act in faith, to wait patiently, and to celebrate his goodness when deliverance comes, always ready to extend his blessing out to others
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Speaker 1: Before we preview our next episode, let’s close out our study of the scripture with a word of prayer.
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Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, thank you for the story of Esther and Mordecai and for the reminder that you were always at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.
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Speaker 1: Help us to trust your providence in our lives, to act with courage when you call, and to wait patiently for your perfect timing.
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Speaker 1: May our lives reflect your faithfulness, and may our gratitude and joy overflow and bless others.
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Speaker 1: In the name of your Son Jesus, we pray.
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Speaker 1: Amen.
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Speaker 1: In our next episode, Faith in God’s Promise, The Birth of John the Baptist, we’ll look at Luke chapter 1, verses 5 through 25, and explore how God moved in the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth
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Speaker 1: an elderly, faithful couple who never stopped praying for a child.
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Speaker 1: When an angel appears with a promise that seems impossible, their story becomes a powerful reminder that God’s timing is perfect and his purposes never fail.
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Speaker 1: Join me as we walk through this remarkable moment that sets the stage for the coming of Christ.
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Speaker 1: So join us on that next episode of Bible Bites, the podcast, where we work to inspire faith.
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Speaker 1: One bite at a time.
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Speaker 2: Bible bites.
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Speaker 2: Bible bites.
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Speaker 2: Inspiring faith one bite at a time.
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Speaker 2: Free first, we find our way to live our lives in his life and shine.
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Speaker 3: Bubble bites, bubble bites, inspiring faith one bite at a time