Yesterday was a bummer of a day. It started out great, then people got mad and upset, said things they shouldn't have, I didn't handle things well (should have said something instead of feeling wounded), found out I couldn't trust someone, didn't get the chance to tell some people how proud I was of them before they left the occasion. Oh, there were a few highlights, my granddaughter's love for the gifts we gave her, the honors my students' accumulated, my husband who is always there for me and the very honest conversation he and I had yesterday.
What to do today about the sadness and regret I feel? What went wrong yesterday? I go to Hebrews 12:1-2.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Yes! I am throwing off the entanglements if this world and starting new today knowing that Christ died for all my sins. The tings that go wrong because of my sins and others', I can get through knowing I am still righteous in God's eyes through Christ...and so are all the other Christians out there whether they had a bad day, a good day, or were the cause of either one for someone else!
For I am convinced that neither death nor life
nor angels nor demons
nor present nor future
nor any powers
nor height nor death
nor anything else in all creation
will separate us from the love of God
which is found through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 8:38
Amen to that!
Friday, May 29, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Be thou my vision
God is in us all the time. In our hearts. Just as this great hymn describes.
Be Thou My Vision attributed to Dallan Forgaill
8th cent. translated by Mary E. Bryne, 1905
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r:
Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Be Thou My Vision attributed to Dallan Forgaill
8th cent. translated by Mary E. Bryne, 1905
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r:
Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Great is Thy faithfulness
Our study today was about a great old hymn. Many Biblical truths are found in it. Can you see them?
Great Is Thy Faithfulness Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not; thy compassions, they fail not.
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see,
all I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow -
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Great is God's faithfulness! What does this song say? God is always faithful, and constant, and compassionate, and eternal, and merciful, and generous, and loving. God is so faithful. Nature is a witness to his faithfulness, mercy, and love. Who can be more faithful than God? He gave us Christ for the forgiveness of our sins; He is with us always; Our strength can be found in Him; He is our hope; He bestows blessings on us more than we know or will understand (think "hind-site"). Great is God's faithfulness!
Great Is Thy Faithfulness Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not; thy compassions, they fail not.
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see,
all I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow -
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Great is God's faithfulness! What does this song say? God is always faithful, and constant, and compassionate, and eternal, and merciful, and generous, and loving. God is so faithful. Nature is a witness to his faithfulness, mercy, and love. Who can be more faithful than God? He gave us Christ for the forgiveness of our sins; He is with us always; Our strength can be found in Him; He is our hope; He bestows blessings on us more than we know or will understand (think "hind-site"). Great is God's faithfulness!
Monday, May 18, 2015
Fruits of the Spirit - Goodness
Today's reading was about the fruit of the spirit - Goodness. There were several examples of how people had done all the right things and been praised for those acts. They felt they were justified by their acts. Then they were convicted (the Holy Spirit is always at work). They realized that all the good things they did, their good behavior, their kind words, etc. were all done so that they could "look good." They received praise and honor for it, but it wasn't really about displaying God's love.
You have to give them credit. At least they behaved in a way that people respected them. Isn't that what they wanted? However, as they soon realize, saying nice things, always "appearing" to be considerate, didn't save their soul...and didn't make them the hands and feet of Christ either. They received their reward on this earth...praise from others. They did not receive their reward in heaven as that is NOT about works. It is about believing in Christ and then trying to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and then loving our neighbor as ourselves (as Christ loves us). That is very different.
I watch people who are so sweet to everyone all the time, and I wonder what I am doing wrong. I am not a sweet person. I am an honest person. I try to be honest, yet not too blunt (doesn't work all the time), and that makes me NOT the sweetest person in the world. So, as I mulled over today's devotional, the scriptures, the comments from the devotional, I realized that I can stop beating myself up for being honest. The people who are so sweet, might not be doing it because it is from God...it is from their desire to please others on this earth. Well, I don't have to worry about that! As I said, I am honest and that becomes blunt sometimes. So, I am not being hypocritical and trying to please man.
Lest I pat myself on the back, my problem is that I am so concerned about honesty that I forget about other people's feelings! Yikes! I have had to work on this my whole life, and I have to ensure that I am doing this for God's glory, not just to be honest...just as I am sure people who are always nice have to work on being genuine and ensuring it is for God's glory and not theirs.
So, I guess we are all in the same boat. We all need to focus on God and giving Him the glory, not us! Hmmm, I still have so much to learn and so much growing to do! I guess that means I am still alive on this earth!
Another aspect that I noticed today, was that whether we are trying to be honest or sweet to everyone, we have to ensure that we are in a right relationship with God. Sweet people aren't necessarily save, and honest people are not necessarily saved. Do we believe in Jesus Christ, God's own son, His death, God raising Him from the dead, that He died so that are sins can be forgiven and we can someday live in heaven and eternity with a Holy God who knows no sin? If not, then all of our acts are in vein; if we do believe, then we should be careful that everything we do is for God's glory and not ours.
Father, please help me to focus on you at all times...not myself! Please help me to share your glory, goodness, mercy, patience, love, joy, hope, and goodness with others all the time. Please help me!
You have to give them credit. At least they behaved in a way that people respected them. Isn't that what they wanted? However, as they soon realize, saying nice things, always "appearing" to be considerate, didn't save their soul...and didn't make them the hands and feet of Christ either. They received their reward on this earth...praise from others. They did not receive their reward in heaven as that is NOT about works. It is about believing in Christ and then trying to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and then loving our neighbor as ourselves (as Christ loves us). That is very different.
I watch people who are so sweet to everyone all the time, and I wonder what I am doing wrong. I am not a sweet person. I am an honest person. I try to be honest, yet not too blunt (doesn't work all the time), and that makes me NOT the sweetest person in the world. So, as I mulled over today's devotional, the scriptures, the comments from the devotional, I realized that I can stop beating myself up for being honest. The people who are so sweet, might not be doing it because it is from God...it is from their desire to please others on this earth. Well, I don't have to worry about that! As I said, I am honest and that becomes blunt sometimes. So, I am not being hypocritical and trying to please man.
Lest I pat myself on the back, my problem is that I am so concerned about honesty that I forget about other people's feelings! Yikes! I have had to work on this my whole life, and I have to ensure that I am doing this for God's glory, not just to be honest...just as I am sure people who are always nice have to work on being genuine and ensuring it is for God's glory and not theirs.
So, I guess we are all in the same boat. We all need to focus on God and giving Him the glory, not us! Hmmm, I still have so much to learn and so much growing to do! I guess that means I am still alive on this earth!
Another aspect that I noticed today, was that whether we are trying to be honest or sweet to everyone, we have to ensure that we are in a right relationship with God. Sweet people aren't necessarily save, and honest people are not necessarily saved. Do we believe in Jesus Christ, God's own son, His death, God raising Him from the dead, that He died so that are sins can be forgiven and we can someday live in heaven and eternity with a Holy God who knows no sin? If not, then all of our acts are in vein; if we do believe, then we should be careful that everything we do is for God's glory and not ours.
Father, please help me to focus on you at all times...not myself! Please help me to share your glory, goodness, mercy, patience, love, joy, hope, and goodness with others all the time. Please help me!
Friday, May 15, 2015
Patience
My study went from hope yesterday to patience today. Patience appears to be the bridge between hope and God.
Longsuffering and being passionate through it gave been listed as descriptions of patience. Iv think I can be long suffering, but I am not sure I fulfilled the hope pay off it...I think I just suffered. So, that is not really longsuffering (patience). It is just suffering. The fruits of the Spirit sewn to indicate longsuffering should be done with hope. So, I need to ensure I an looking for the hotel side of my suffering.
I also need to be passionate, not just hopeful, but passionate about the hope! What a difference that would make through the hard times!
As I was finishing my study, I ran past a verse about the Holy Spirit Talents are through the Holy Spirit and talents. I know that many times I don't exercise patience very well when it chime to something I am talented in. I want everyone else to live it like I do, and most times they do not. So, I can be disappointed and/or impatient with them. Even angry.
As Exodus 31:3 says, God filled a craftsman with many talents to do what God need him to do. That makes me feel so much better, because that means God gave me these talents. These passions. They are not mistakes. They do cause me to be impatient at times, and I need to learn to be more patient and longsuffering, but I can do that while remembering that God gave me these talents and passions. Both patience and talents are from God! Praise God for His wonderfully simple, yet complicated, plan for me...for alk of us.
Longsuffering and being passionate through it gave been listed as descriptions of patience. Iv think I can be long suffering, but I am not sure I fulfilled the hope pay off it...I think I just suffered. So, that is not really longsuffering (patience). It is just suffering. The fruits of the Spirit sewn to indicate longsuffering should be done with hope. So, I need to ensure I an looking for the hotel side of my suffering.
I also need to be passionate, not just hopeful, but passionate about the hope! What a difference that would make through the hard times!
As I was finishing my study, I ran past a verse about the Holy Spirit Talents are through the Holy Spirit and talents. I know that many times I don't exercise patience very well when it chime to something I am talented in. I want everyone else to live it like I do, and most times they do not. So, I can be disappointed and/or impatient with them. Even angry.
As Exodus 31:3 says, God filled a craftsman with many talents to do what God need him to do. That makes me feel so much better, because that means God gave me these talents. These passions. They are not mistakes. They do cause me to be impatient at times, and I need to learn to be more patient and longsuffering, but I can do that while remembering that God gave me these talents and passions. Both patience and talents are from God! Praise God for His wonderfully simple, yet complicated, plan for me...for alk of us.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Peace...God's peace
One minute I am on the road to peace, the next I am in control again...and not at peace. I don't know that that struggle will ever change since we are in a fallen world, but I do know that if I focus on God, if I pray for God's will before I try to make MY plans, if I memorize scripture so that it will pop in my head, that I will have God's peace. He promises that.
In a Bible study I am doing at my church, we are focusing on "continually praying." To do this, I need to have markers, or reminders, that bring me back to God to start talking to Him again instead of doing your own agenda. This is helping me. For instance, I put a permanent note at my desk to remind me I am here to glorify God (not me). Every time I look at it, it brings me back to God and away from my agenda. I also started a habit of not getting out of bed until I have done a devotional and prayed. That is not easy when I am running late, but it does make a difference!
One person in the study said that for everything she picks up and cleans, she prays for someone else or for a fruit of the Spirit. When I wake up at night with someone on my mind that I am not happy with, I pray for them (and then for my attitude). This changes my whole attitude and gives me peace!
So, I pray that I can stay in God's peace where He wants me to be.
In a Bible study I am doing at my church, we are focusing on "continually praying." To do this, I need to have markers, or reminders, that bring me back to God to start talking to Him again instead of doing your own agenda. This is helping me. For instance, I put a permanent note at my desk to remind me I am here to glorify God (not me). Every time I look at it, it brings me back to God and away from my agenda. I also started a habit of not getting out of bed until I have done a devotional and prayed. That is not easy when I am running late, but it does make a difference!
One person in the study said that for everything she picks up and cleans, she prays for someone else or for a fruit of the Spirit. When I wake up at night with someone on my mind that I am not happy with, I pray for them (and then for my attitude). This changes my whole attitude and gives me peace!
So, I pray that I can stay in God's peace where He wants me to be.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Fruit of the Spirit...Joy
Joy. My current Bible study is about the fruits of the Spirit. I don't freer I know much about these, so I am enjoying learning in this study.
Today was joy. It was reassuring to read the scripture and the devotional. However the responses from other studiers, really hit the message home for me.
Many other readers had situations that were not the best: loss, uncertain future, personal struggles, a husband issue, etc. Yet, they commented about being joyful in all things.
They understand they might not be happy with what is happening in their lives, but no matter how bad things were, they could be joyful.
How can they be joyful when things appear to be falling apart around them? They can be joyful because God loves them no matter what. They can be thankful because Christ died for their (and the person who is causing them grief) sins; sins that can be washed away and never remenbered. They can be joyful because they know the Lord and their confidence is in Him...that he wants what is good for us (according to His will) and is always watching over us.
I can be joyful because I have God in me and He is always watching out for me. Thank you Father!
Today was joy. It was reassuring to read the scripture and the devotional. However the responses from other studiers, really hit the message home for me.
Many other readers had situations that were not the best: loss, uncertain future, personal struggles, a husband issue, etc. Yet, they commented about being joyful in all things.
They understand they might not be happy with what is happening in their lives, but no matter how bad things were, they could be joyful.
How can they be joyful when things appear to be falling apart around them? They can be joyful because God loves them no matter what. They can be thankful because Christ died for their (and the person who is causing them grief) sins; sins that can be washed away and never remenbered. They can be joyful because they know the Lord and their confidence is in Him...that he wants what is good for us (according to His will) and is always watching over us.
I can be joyful because I have God in me and He is always watching out for me. Thank you Father!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Not my will but Yours
I spend allot of time trying to decide what to do about certain situations or what is right or how to fix things. Unfortunately, even though I think I am on the right track, my trying to fix this shows that I am not on the right track.
No, the right track is to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. My right track is just that, mine, not the Holy Spirit's. I really need to learn to listen to the Spirit rather than myself. Iv don't do this very well. It is an area of concern for me.
One day, I am so convicted; the next I am back to my own agenda. I am glad my new Bible Study this week will be about the fruit of the Spirit as I do not do well in that area. In fact, I don't think I understand it at all.
Father, please help me to understand the fruits of the Spirit and to let the Holy Spirit reign in my life. I want that. Amen.
No, the right track is to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. My right track is just that, mine, not the Holy Spirit's. I really need to learn to listen to the Spirit rather than myself. Iv don't do this very well. It is an area of concern for me.
One day, I am so convicted; the next I am back to my own agenda. I am glad my new Bible Study this week will be about the fruit of the Spirit as I do not do well in that area. In fact, I don't think I understand it at all.
Father, please help me to understand the fruits of the Spirit and to let the Holy Spirit reign in my life. I want that. Amen.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Persevering
2 Timothy 4 -Perseverance
Paul is telling Timothy to keep going, keep believing, keep hoping.
Right now, I am swamped! Mother'sDay is around the corner, we bought backsplash to o put up in our kitchen, I have judging to do for a committee I am on, I have a program and presentation sure in a week so everyone else can get their stuff done on time, and I have four more weeks to teach my students what they need to know. I am overwhelmed.
I have forgotten more on my to do list than I have remembered, but I will press on. As Paul treks Timothy, keep going, reach the goal, ,and always focus on the gospel!
I am do busy, a m I am not focused on the gospel...just my to do list!
Father, yet again I pray for your help to focus on you, not my to do list. I know that if I focus on you, everything I need to do will get done and done with the gospel instead of without it!
Paul is telling Timothy to keep going, keep believing, keep hoping.
Right now, I am swamped! Mother'sDay is around the corner, we bought backsplash to o put up in our kitchen, I have judging to do for a committee I am on, I have a program and presentation sure in a week so everyone else can get their stuff done on time, and I have four more weeks to teach my students what they need to know. I am overwhelmed.
I have forgotten more on my to do list than I have remembered, but I will press on. As Paul treks Timothy, keep going, reach the goal, ,and always focus on the gospel!
I am do busy, a m I am not focused on the gospel...just my to do list!
Father, yet again I pray for your help to focus on you, not my to do list. I know that if I focus on you, everything I need to do will get done and done with the gospel instead of without it!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Godlessness in the Last Days
I
Godlessness in the Last Days
3 But understand this, that yin the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be zlovers of self, alovers of money, bproud, barrogant, abusive, bdisobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 cheartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, dnot loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, eswollen with conceit, flovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but gdenying its power.hAvoid such people. I Timothy 3:1-5
I read this today and was thinking how horrible that people will behave like this...that THEY already do act like this. How m any times have people cut you off in traffic, talked behind your back, been more interested in getting the sale price than being nice to the cashier, doing what makes us happy no matter how it affects others, and so on and on!
Then I read through the passage again, and I though about how selfish I was yesterday, how I was concerned about my retirement instead of someone's feelings and how they charged me incorrectly and I was rather blunt about it, how proud I was to think I was right and they were wrong...need I go on? You get the point, I did all those things just yesterday! Oh my! How can I be a Christian here on this earth? There is no way this kind of behavior will work in heaven!
Then I remember that I am forgiven through Christ, led by the Holy Spirit (when I listen) and loved by God. I am a Christian! I make mistakes; I mess up; I don't do what I should. However, I can ask for forgiveness and have all my mistakes wiped away! I can go to heaven, because my sins are wiped away through Jesus Christ and I am as white as snow...holy.
Father, please help me to remember how merciful you are to me and to show that same mercy to those I encounter every second of every day...because you love them to with all their faults just as much as you love me with all my faults!
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Growing in prayer
The past year has been a year of great growth for me. Something I pray for. My prayers are being answered. Growth isn't always fun. Sometimes, I wonder if what I am learning is correct and have to investigate, pray, and wait for answers (I would prefer to have the answer right away...shocking, I know). So, learning isn't quick. It takes time, thought, prayer, waiting on answers, working through things, applying them, questioning the results of the application and starting all over again. Still, when I look back, I can see that I have grown in my Christian walk which means I am better person today than I was last year! Yes!
So, here is what I have been doing. First, we finally added back a weeknight Bible study. We had gotten out of the habit at our previous church, but when we changed churches (to be with our youngest son's family), we felt compelled to get back to a study. It has been great. The people we are with, although we don't agree on everything, love in depth Bible study, laughing, and are GREAT prayer warriors (something I learn to learn to be). I realized how poorly my prayer life was!
I used to think some people were gifted with the ability to pray. However, we then started attending a Sunday morning Bible Fellowship class, besides church, and guess what the class was about? Prayer! How cool is it that God works everything out! So, now I am learning how to be a better prayer.
Something that keeps me longing to be a "better" prayer is that I have been learning that prayer is a conversation with God (which I knew that much already) and we are entering the throne room when we pray. How cool is that?! Also, I have learned that prayer life is a direct correlation with our relationship with Christ/God/the Holy Spirit! Ouch!
I also learned that Jesus, the greatest prayer, prayed and then acted. So, according to Blackaby, prayer was when God talked TO Jesus. Then Jesus knew what he needed to do! That is something to think about! Isn't it!
So, here is what I have been doing. First, we finally added back a weeknight Bible study. We had gotten out of the habit at our previous church, but when we changed churches (to be with our youngest son's family), we felt compelled to get back to a study. It has been great. The people we are with, although we don't agree on everything, love in depth Bible study, laughing, and are GREAT prayer warriors (something I learn to learn to be). I realized how poorly my prayer life was!
I used to think some people were gifted with the ability to pray. However, we then started attending a Sunday morning Bible Fellowship class, besides church, and guess what the class was about? Prayer! How cool is it that God works everything out! So, now I am learning how to be a better prayer.
Something that keeps me longing to be a "better" prayer is that I have been learning that prayer is a conversation with God (which I knew that much already) and we are entering the throne room when we pray. How cool is that?! Also, I have learned that prayer life is a direct correlation with our relationship with Christ/God/the Holy Spirit! Ouch!
I also learned that Jesus, the greatest prayer, prayed and then acted. So, according to Blackaby, prayer was when God talked TO Jesus. Then Jesus knew what he needed to do! That is something to think about! Isn't it!
Monday, May 4, 2015
Favorite scripture passages
Some of my favorites...and I don't remember where they all are from!
If God is for us, who can be against us!
We can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
Jesus said, I have already overcome this world.
He who is in us, is greater than he who is in this world.
Jesus said, I go and prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and return you unto me. For where I go, there you may go also.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor present nor future, nor any powers, nor height nor death, nor anything in all of creation will be able to separate us from God's love which is found through Jesus Christ.
If God is for us, who can be against us!
We can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
Jesus said, I have already overcome this world.
He who is in us, is greater than he who is in this world.
Jesus said, I go and prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and return you unto me. For where I go, there you may go also.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor present nor future, nor any powers, nor height nor death, nor anything in all of creation will be able to separate us from God's love which is found through Jesus Christ.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Fear
In 2 Timothy today, I read about the affect of fear. It can ruin your witness, your day, your happiness. It can take all the joy from your life. It is from the devil!
We have nothing to fear as we have God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit on our side. Fear is a focus on things other than God.
God, please keep my focus on you only. Keep my actions and words in accordance to your will. Your will be done. Amen.
We have nothing to fear as we have God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit on our side. Fear is a focus on things other than God.
God, please keep my focus on you only. Keep my actions and words in accordance to your will. Your will be done. Amen.
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