Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 21, 2023 7:10:10 GMT -6
Care Casting
"Casting all your care upon Him." 1 Peter 5:7 A Gallup poll showed that U.S. adults are rating their own mental health the lowest in twenty years. Less than a third consider themselves in excellent mental health, and nearly a quarter are seeking treatment.
If you’re struggling with mental health issues, reach out to your pastor, church, or doctor. There’s help! And don’t neglect the promises of God and the reassurances of Scripture, for God’s Word is the foundation for sound thinking and healthy attitudes.
Peter wrote, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). Why must we humble ourselves before God? We cannot “fix” ourselves; we need His help to navigate the distresses we face. We need to be willing to cast everything at His feet and place everything in His hands.
Life is filled with many worries and anxieties, but God is eager for us to pour out our worries to Him, which we can do through prayer. No matter what your concerns are today, bring them to your Heavenly Father, give them to Him, and ask Him to work where you cannot. "Cast your care on Him, He that calls the stars by their names and leads them out by numbers." Charles Spurgeon
Dr. David Jeremiah.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 22, 2023 6:54:00 GMT -6
Praise Amid the Problems
"Blessed be the God and Father…who comforts us in all our tribulation." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Renée Bondi is a quadriplegic who, incredibly, writes about praising God, even amid troubles. “During the last two decades,” she wrote, “I’ve learned many life lessons. I’ve been in the valley of darkness and I’ve been on the mountaintop. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is how important, even foundational, it is for believers to praise our Lord at all times.”
That’s a lesson learned over time and with experience. Our natural reaction to valleys of darkness is to collapse in panic attacks or fits of depression. Most of us react with understandable fear when bad news comes. But we can’t remain in a fearful, depressed state.
When trouble comes into our life, one of our first responses should be to praise God. As we praise Him for who He is, peace and comfort will flood our heart and life. Take a moment today to praise God for who He is and all He has done for you. "It’s more natural to gripe and complain and question than it is to praise in the midst of disappointment and confusion. Yet we’re to give praise continually. How? We can give praise continually by remembering God, including Him in our day and filtering whatever happens through His perspective." Renée Bondi
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 23, 2023 6:56:24 GMT -6
The Breeze of Grace
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 Archeologist Steven Brann was using his metal detector near Little Round Top at the battlefield at Gettysburg last February when he got a hit. Digging about 20 inches into the soil, he found an entire artillery shell, which had been fired by Confederate gunners around 160 years ago. The Army’s 55th Ordnance Company took it to a secluded part of the battlefield and blew it up before it could do any harm.1
It’s amazing how deeply artillery shells can remain buried in our heart and how long they can remain hidden there. When we’re hurt, abused, ignored, slighted, or offended, it’s like a projectile is fired into our spirit. We can carry the wound for a long time. We can fire back and land a shell in someone else’s heart.
The Bible counsels us: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil…." Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "...It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord...” Romans 12:17-19.
We serve a God who will watch out for us and take care of our adversaries. Release your bitterness, and let it dissipate in the breeze of His grace. "Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits." Hannah More
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 24, 2023 6:57:50 GMT -6
Big Steps: Courage JUNE 24, 2023
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 Chronicles 20:12
It comes as no surprise that the English word courage comes from the Old French word corage, from the Latin cor—or “heart.” The connection between courage (and its opposite, fear) and the heart appears in Luke 21:26 describing the End Times: “Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.” Some modern translations render this as “fainting from fear” brought on by expectations and apprehensions.
The need for courage almost always comes from expectations and apprehensions about the future. That was certainly true for King Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Armies from three nations had surrounded Jerusalem, and the future looked grim. But rather than look at the armies bent on Judah’s destruction, Jehoshaphat turned his eyes elsewhere: “We have no power against this great multitude . . . but our eyes are upon You.”
If you are surrounded by forces too strong for you, take a giant leap of courage: Turn your eyes upon God and away from what you fear.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face." Helen Lemmel
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 25, 2023 6:25:20 GMT -6
"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Psalm 147:9
Our Prayer: O Lord, we praise you that we can rely on Your providence which feeds not only us, but supplies bountifully the wild animals in their mountain homes. We shall ever answer You with grateful praise for Your goodness!
Amen.
Blue Letter Bible
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 26, 2023 7:09:16 GMT -6
Up in Smoke
"I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel." Philippians 4:2-3 A couple in Liverpool, England, checked into a hotel to celebrate the man’s birthday. They got into an argument, and the woman locked herself in the bathroom crying. In anger, the man used his cigarette lighter to set fire to a towel, which triggered the fire alarm. There were eighty wedding guests in the hotel, and none of them appreciated being herded out into the street in the middle of the night in their bedclothes. 1
Rightly does James say, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” James 1:20.
Oh, how God’s children need to avoid foolish arguments and damaged relationships. There are too many cases of Euodia and Syntyche in our churches. If there’s a broken relationship in your life, ask God to give you the strength to forgive the person and the wisdom to know how to live at peace with them. "At peace with the Father, and at war with His children? It cannot be." John Flavel
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 27, 2023 7:28:01 GMT -6
Be a Peacemaker
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. Romans 12:10 In 2012, the New York City Police Department handled some four hundred hostage negotiations. Another year they handled a negotiation that lasted fifty hours and employed seventeen crisis negotiators. Talking a suspect “down” requires great skill and focus. The immediate goal is the safety of the hostages and the suspect by defusing the situation using patience and empathy.1
Hostage situations are not the only things that need defusing. Relationships can be tense and potentially explosive as well, requiring the skills of someone who can calm the situation. Paul provides a template for how to bring calm into a tense situation: “Be kindly affectionate . . . giving preference to one another. . . . If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:10, 18). A tense moment calls for calm and the lowering of temperatures. We can do that for one another if we have love, affection, and humility toward every person.
If it is possible” today, be the calming presence if you encounter a tense situation. Be a peacemaker wherever you go
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9 "Humility binds Christians together in peace." Thomas Watson
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 28, 2023 7:02:00 GMT -6
Take Time to Be Holy
"Be a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled." Titus 1:8 It’s hard to keep our language clean when everyone around us is cursing. It’s hard to keep our minds clean when pornography is only a click away. And it’s hard to keep our nerves healthy in a polarized and deteriorating culture. It’s actually impossible without Christ.
When we receive Him as our Savior, He comes into our life by means of the Holy Spirit. Notice the word “holy”! It’s the Holy Spirit who does a work of renewal inside us, surging through our mental catacombs and flushing out our emotional passageways. He breaks the power of canceled sin and sets the sinner free. He delivers us from the slavery of our habits and perfects that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8).
It’s easy to allow our environment to influence how we live, but when we live according to God’s Word, He will bless us. Today ask the Holy Spirit to take the Holy Bible and by His power and grace make you an increasingly holy person. As the hymn “Take Time to Be Holy” says: “Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.” "The Word of God is the means employed by the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ." Alistair Begg
Dr. David Jeremaih
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 29, 2023 6:36:32 GMT -6
He’s Worth It!
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Becket Cook was a gay production designer in Hollywood, and his career was very successful. Yet he was overwhelmed with a sense of emptiness. One day at a coffee shop, he saw open Bibles on the next table. He asked, “Are you guys Christians?” The fellow patrons began sharing the Gospel with him, and within days Cook gave his life to Christ. His testimony now is this: “My hope is that people will realize how much more amazing it is to deny yourself and follow Christ rather than to just give in to sin now just to satisfy some immediate need…. With God, I feel this unconditional love…. Like He’ll never leave or forsake me. I’m happy to leave that dead man [my old me] behind because He’s worth it.”
We can leave so much behind when we know He will never leave or forsake us—covetousness, sinful habits, and the pressures of life.
Pray aloud today: “I praise You, Lord, for You never for a moment leave me and will never forsake me!” "Because we are His children, His love will never leave or forsake us. There will always be a place for us in His heart." Bryan Chappell
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jun 30, 2023 6:12:18 GMT -6
All Things
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 The words trials and temptations are from the same root word. So it is no surprise that they are also connected spiritually as well as grammatically. A test can become a trial, and a trial can lead to temptation. Take Job, for example, in the Old Testament. He was tested, and his test became a lengthy trial during which he was tempted to doubt God’s fairness and goodness. But he hung on and resolved his trial by affirming his faith in God’s goodness.
Paul summarized his approach to hardship by writing, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His words convey the same truth as the words of Moses to the generation of Israelites entering the Promised Land: “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away” (Deuteronomy 30:11, NASB). And Paul said he did not resent the tests and trials in his life because they gave him opportunity to display the grace of Christ in his experience (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
God always makes a way through trials and temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). You can do all things today through Christ. "Temptations are everywhere, and so is the grace of God." Unknown
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 1, 2023 6:27:58 GMT -6
New Testament Missionaries: John the Baptist
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light." John 1:6-8
John the Baptist was the original missionary in Christian history; he preceded Christ, prepared His way, proclaimed repentance, and set the stage for our Lord’s earthly ministry. God had prepared John for that very moment, even from before his birth. His mother, Elizabeth, exclaimed to the virgin Mary, “As soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:44).
John’s boldness came from his sense of calling, and his calling went back to his earliest days. In the same way, God has appointed us from birth to be His servants and messengers (Jeremiah 1:5). We’re not all career missionaries, but we’re all called to share Christ with boldness to those to whom the Lord sends us.
Scared at the thought of witnessing? You were born to do it, so ask God for boldness!
"We cannot speak boldly if God does not work mightily…. We are therefore authorized to ask in faith for God’s accompanying power." A. T. Pierson
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 2, 2023 6:29:03 GMT -6
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
How incredible to know the Lord so delights in His children! How wonderful to know that we, the people of His hand, are a pleasure to Him! Rejoice in the Lord's rejoicing in you! Delight in the Lord's delighting in you! Exalt your God all you people and know that He is well-pleased to have you as His own!
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 3, 2023 6:41:55 GMT -6
Confession and Restoration
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions." Psalm 51:1 People are often heard to exclaim, “Oh, that is just perfect!” when referring to a gorgeous vista in nature, a beautiful painted or photographed portrait, or a delicious dessert. But as often as we use the word perfect, we know there is no such thing. And that is definitely true of human beings. As Scripture says, “For all have sinned” (Romans 3:23).
Even godly characters like David—a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), a man who wrote numerous psalms of worship to God—failed to live a perfect life. His adulterous affair with Bathsheba, complicity in the death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, and concealing of his sins marred an otherwise imitable life. But the redeeming part of David’s imperfect life is the mercy and forgiveness he found when he confessed his sins to God. He wrote an entire psalm about his confession and restoration (Psalm 51). And therein lies the lesson from David’s imperfection for us.
First John 1:9 serves as a one-verse summary of Psalm 51: If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us. Don’t imitate David’s failures; do imitate his response. "The beginning of repentance is the confession of guilt." John Calvin
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 4, 2023 6:58:41 GMT -6
The Conquering Grace
"Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" Job 2:10 How many question marks arise in your soul? There are more than two hundred of them in the book of Job. Almost every chapter is filled with questions, and many of them are by Job himself, who was described as the most righteous person on earth (Job 1:8). His first question, however, demonstrated how his faith survived the darkness: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (NIV)
Jesus warned us that we fill face troubles in this world, but be of good cheer! For He has overcome the world and all its troubles (John 16:33). He does all things well and works all things for good.
We often cannot understand what God is doing in our own or someone else’s life or why. Yet Christ is working in deep areas of our life beyond human eyesight and also in deep patterns of providential circumstances. When we can’t answer “Why?” we can certainly remember “Who.” We can place full trust in the Sovereign God who is always in control. "Faith is the conquering grace; this is what gives the victory; this is what crushes this tremendous foe…. How does faith overcome the world? By leading the believer to the cross of Jesus." Octavius Winslow
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 5, 2023 6:55:33 GMT -6
Cover and Content
"And [Kish] had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people." 1 Samuel 9:2 The best-selling book in history is the Bible because it never disappoints. Other books may have colorful covers and illustrations, yet they have a disappointing message. As they say, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
When Samuel anointed Saul as Israel’s first king, his “cover” did not disappoint. He was tall and handsome; he fit the world’s image of a king. His cover was beautiful, but his content disappointed. He failed to obey God and ended up taking his own life in a battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 31). Jesus, by contrast, had a plain cover: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2, NIV). His cover was plain, but His content has never disappointed.
It’s easy to be attracted to, then be disappointed by, the world and its rulers. But Jesus Christ is the Servant-King who has never disappointed—and never will. "If you wish to be disappointed, look at others; if you wish to be disheartened, look at yourself; if you wish to be encouraged, look to Jesus." Anonymous
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 6, 2023 6:58:03 GMT -6
Because He Lives
"A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also." John 14:19 It was the end of the tumultuous decade of the 1960s, and Christian songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither were expecting their third child. Bill was recovering from illness, and Gloria was discouraged about the state of the world into which they were about to bring a child. In the midst of their circumstances, God gave them an insight: “Because [He] lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone”—words which became the song “Because He Lives,” which received a Dove Award for song of the year in 1974.
Jesus’ disciples faced their own trying circumstances as they realized He was about to leave them. But He gave them a promise: “Because I live, you will live also.” It was a promise not only to the disciples, and to Bill and Gloria Gaither, but to every Christian as well. Because Christ lives, we can live also—now and for eternity.
If you are facing hardship or trials today, remember that Jesus Christ is alive in you. The life you live today is through faith in the One who lives for you. "Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth living just because He lives." Bill Gaither
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 7, 2023 7:24:48 GMT -6
How Can I Serve?
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 Gaetan Roy is an evangelical leader who rubs shoulders with some of the world’s most powerful people. He has one question for each leader he meets: “How can I serve you?” Currently Roy is the representative from the World Evangelical Alliance to the United Nations. His duties involve promoting peace in war-torn regions and working on issues involving human rights and religious persecution. He considers servanthood a Christlike tool.
Not many world or national leaders are committed Christians, nor were they in the days of Peter and Paul. Yet Paul said, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1), and Peter said, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).
At some point in time most of us will encounter a leader we don’t agree with, but by honoring and respecting them, we honor God. Whenever your path comes near to a leader, ask, “How can I serve you?” Let us obey authorities to live independent lives in which we owe nothing but to love others. And let us honour God by honouring his created order. Wyatt Graham
Dr. David Jeremiah
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 8, 2023 7:23:50 GMT -6
New Testament Missionaries: Paul
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory." 1 Corinthians 2:7
In her book, Journey to Confidence, Kimberly Sowell suggests we BOW before God and pray, asking Him to make us His witnesses. She suggests using the word BOW as a reminder to plead for these three things: Boldness, Opportunity, and Words of Wisdom.1
The apostle Paul took advantage of all three divine provisions. God gave him boldness at crucial times, such as during his ministry in Ephesus, where “he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8). He found opportunities everywhere to preach both through word and life, as he said in Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all.” And he spoke words of wisdom: “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).
To be a better witness, which of those three do you most need? Let’s BOW and ask for aid.
"Would you be so adventurous as to not only be open to witness for Christ, but to petition Almighty God to grant you witnessing opportunities?" Kimberly Sowell
Dr. David Jeremaih
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 9, 2023 6:15:42 GMT -6
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26
Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. He describes Him as the Counsellor or Paraclete (the One that comes alongside to encourage). The Holy Spirit is sent from the Father (in Jesus' name) and one of His ministry is to teach us all things and to remind us of what Christ has told us.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jul 10, 2023 6:54:30 GMT -6
Seeing the World
"And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding." Daniel 2:21
There are two ways to look at the world and its affairs: through our eyes or God’s eyes. Through our eyes, we see kings and rulers acting dictatorially, causing great harm to their own citizens as well as others. We think, “Why would God allow a ruthless and evil person to wield such broad power?”
Even when we look at the world through God’s eyes, we still ask, “Why?” The difference is this: When we ask, “Why?” from a purely human perspective, we have no reason to believe there is a good answer. The rise and fall of rulers seem arbitrary and capricious. But when we ask, “Why?” from God’s perspective, we know there is an answer; we know God has reasons for what happens in the affairs of mankind. Daniel was shown by God that He sets up kings and takes down kings—the opposite of something that is random or arbitrary.
Don’t be discouraged when you see what the world’s rulers do. Instead, give thanks to God that He is in control, that kings come and go for a reason. "The Christ who rules us rules all things for us." J. I. Packer
Dr. David Jeremiah
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