March 3, 2015

MY FRIENDS, “MULTITUDES ARE PERISHING WITHIN REACH OF ABUNDANT HELP”

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 (KJV)

My friends what is our responsibility as God’s chosen? October 30 1974, one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing took place in Kinshasa Zaire, “The Rumble in the Jungle.” It pitted a 28 year old Foreman who seemed an overwhelming favorite against the 32-year old Ali.

After being stripped of his license and title in 1967 Ali once again was given a chance to fight for the world championship. Ali had told everyone that he had a secret plan for Foreman. A plan strategy Ali later dubbed the rope-a-dope.

As a result, Foreman spent his energy throughout the fight throwing punches that either did not hit Ali or were deflected in a way that made it difficult for Foreman to hit Ali at all. As the fight drew into the eighth round, Foreman’s punching and defense became ineffective as the strain of throwing so many wild shots took its toll.

The fight showed that Ali was capable of taking a punch and highlighted his tactical genius, as Foreman struck Ali with hundreds of thunderous blows, to no effect. No one, least of all Foreman, anticipated that Ali would do what he did, which was to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability to meet and master any other man on any terms.

Six thousand years ago Satan thought he had stripped Christ of all rights to call this world His domain saying in his heart ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the Most High. Isa. 14:13,14 (KJV)

But God told us all, He had a plan for man’s salvation, and the victory would be won, not in Kinshasa Zaire, but on a site called Calvary. And no matter how many thunderous blows Satan would throw, they would be of no effect.

My friends we all know God’s tactical plan that His only begotten Son would die on our behalf  and “who so ever would believe in Him would not parish but have life everlasting” John 3:16 (KJV)

In addition, God’s word gives us a step by step account on how it was fought and won and now, what is our responsibility? As Christ was dying on the cross He “saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart,[and] how few would be willing to break from its power.

He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.“(E.G, White) My friends let’s focus today on, “He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help”

Once again I ask the question to all who feel they are a part of God’s chosen, do you have the passion to serve? Somewhere deep down inside, does God’s spirit continued to let you know that “multitudes are perishing within reach of abundant help” as we fall on our knees in heartfelt prayer and ask for forgiveness for all of Gods precious time we have wasted as we cry out in repentance, Dear God “not my will but, thy will be done”?

My friends, it must become personal, you must have a passion to serve, knowing what sacrifice was made for you, We must never forget that Christ is the victor and He now reigns in the heavenly courts above, advocating on our behalf.

In addition, there are still “multitudes that are perishing within reach of abundant help” and it is up to us as a body of believers who know’s God’s plan and  who have been given the awesome responsibility through God’s power to go and be “witnesses, as we tell the multitudes “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” That Jesus saves.

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

MY FRIENDS, DO WE CARE IF WE ARE DESCENDANTS OF GOD ENTITLED TO ALL HE HAS?

“The steps of a good man [or woman] are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. Psalm 37:23-26 (NKJV)

Now my friend, we must now focus on who is Gods descendants? And do they walk among us each day?  Well Paul tells us in Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV) “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

My friends that text tells you and I that we are offspring’s to the Father. “created in Him image” ”But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (NKJV)

Now that should put a smile on all of our faces, that is why He tells us, He will never leave nor forsake us” because we are His children His descendants, heirs to all He has. But what takes us from being His descendants, to life eternal in His kingdom, which is not accepted by everyone but if you do accept that challenge, the requirements is faith, endurance, dedication and a passion to serve Christ. The text also tells us we must “suffer with Him if we are to be glorified with Him”

Christ also tells us Himself in Luke 14:27 (NKJV) “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Yes my friends we are descendants of God and heirs of all He has but “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ [And my Friends the saddest words we will ever here will be] And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you;” depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” Matt 7:21-24 (NKJV)

Now Christ, because of His grace, mercy and love towards us, allows us to choose our on destination that is why he follows up what He tells us in Matt. 17:24-27 (NKJV) with “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell and great was its fall.” My friends our savior has allowed us to make our own decisions about our salvation.

So, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matt 7:!3-14 (NKJV) what is your decision today time is running out.

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR BODIES IS IT A SIN?

Ezekiel 16:49-50 declares, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, [and] overfed…..” But as Christians we attempt to explain away the biblical condemnations of one sin over another.

The area where Sodom and Gomorrah was, is now uninhabited wasteland. Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a vigorous example of how God feels about sin in general. Satan would like for us to think, one sin in Sodom, was greater than the other.

Prov. 15:26 (KJV) tells us even “The thoughts of the wicked [are] an abomination to the Lord.” In our rapid moving society that functions at a rate, which seems at times faster than the speed of sound, high tech, got to have it right now society, faster is much better.

Take for instant our fast food industry which has quickly been adopted as the no.1 food of choice, as advertisements have premiered daily on billboards throughout our neighborhoods, schools, and of course the billion dollar business of television ads costing in the billions.

Burger king promotes its famous whopper and McDonalds its Big Mac. Each item on the menu for decades has defined the expected American diet no matter how much data the food and drug administration (FDA) in our government puts out about the detrimental effects of its over the top consumption.

But my friends, we must remember that the corporate goal is to make these American fast food chains much more of a household name in our homes than the word of God. The media takeover in our communities takes control of our mind, mouth and stomachs.

In addition, their success comes from taking advantage of the fast pace mostly low income parents or single parents in the home, working fifty and sixty hour work weeks with no time for the togetherness of family dinners.

So they offer consumers a quick, cheap, convenient meal Thus, our delicate bodies become deteriorated by improper eating habits which is Satan’s objective, a deteriorated mind and body by the constant consumption of improper eating habits.

Consistent with this, fast food is all too often high in fat, salt content and low in fiber and calcium and the most detrimental of them all, obesity which leads us away from one of God’s precepts that states whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor, 10:32 (ESV)

Friends remember it is Satan who seeks all of Gods glory, it was he who said “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Is 14:14 (NIV) So if our goal is to be like Christ we must ask God daily in everything we do will it increase or deteriorate our focus on this Journey Christ has placed us on to the promise land.

As I see it, it will be the small things that seems insignificant to us but in the sight of God is an abomination to Him. So each habit that will deteriorate this wonderful body Crist has given us must be eliminated. Paul tells us “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 1 Cor. 6:9-10 (NKJV) which is everyone “who sins and has fallen short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23 (NIV) with no remorse.

Jerimiah also says “Your words were found, and I ate them and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;” Jer. 15:16 (NKJV) God’s word my friends is what we must have a daily supply of  so that we will “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, [as we] run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

And one day soon we are going to be able to “lay down our cross, and all it took to get over as we enter God’s kingdom, if we could just lay it all at the feet of the Master today and say with passion and all of our heart  “not my will, by thou will be done.”

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb 28, 2015

MY FRIENDS, CAN GOD BRAG ABOUT US BEFORE THE STORM STARTS?

“There was a man named Job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil.…….. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan,

“From where do you come Satan?” Satan answers, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, and my question to you today my friends, before the storms of our life even begin, can our Savior give a shout out to all who will listen as He tells the world “Have you considered my friend and servant?

In addition, there is none like him [or her] on the earth, a blameless and upright man [and woman], one who fears God and shuns evil. Satan tells God You have made a hedge around him and all he has on every side this is why you can boost about him Job 1:1-10 (NKJV) God’s faith in His friend is now tested as He tells Satan, you can touch all areas of his life only don’t touch Him. Job’s faith is then stretched to the limit. He loses everything, including His Children.

Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head; fell to the ground and worshiped God in the midst of His storm. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Before Job’s storm started, Christ knew the character of His friend, because Job had walked and talked with God daily, allowing a complete transformation of His character into the likeness of God. So“In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” In other words he did not complain to the Lord saying Lord! Why are you allowing these things to happen in my life?

Then in Chapter 2 Satan comes back again, God has all bragging rights now “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth,….And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

God knew His friend and what type of faith and endurance he would exemplify because Job never ceased to praise God in all seasons of his life and in every situations and circumstances.

So Satan now ask permission from God. Let me touch His body? For us it might be cancer, or MS, or heart disease, or diabetes. My friends, we all know health issues in this sinful world are endless. But what God tells Satan is once again so amazing, we should all Pray that one Day God has this much faith in us.

In Job 2:6 (NKJV)  it states, and the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” In other words sift him as much as you want only spare his life. Satan then touches Jobs body with boils and Jobs faith is tested once again, his wife even tells Job to “curse God and die”

Woman! You speak foolish [are you crazy], he tells her. “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10 (NKJV) My friends, where do we stand in adversity?

Can God boast and say to Satan and to the world “have you considered my servant my friend who prays without ceasing, the one who never stops telling others about Me and praising my name, whose time, money and talents, yes all they have they dedicate to Me.

My friends, if God cannot say those things about us, time is running out because if we are God’s Children “soon and very soon” He comes and His “reward is with Him, and He will give to each person according to what they have done.”Rev. 22:12 (NIV)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

MY FRIENDS, SATAN WANTS TO SIFT US AS WHEAT BUT JESUS IS PRAYING FOR US!!

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said,“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Sifting wheat during Christ time was a fierce process which separated the grain (wheat berry) from the stalk and the chaff, literally tearing the wheat apart by beating it with a flail. Christ is telling Peter; “Satan wants to sift you as wheat”

So today my friends let’s focus our attention on the fact, if God does  allow us to be sifted as wheat by Satan it is only to strengthen our fragile faith for He knows “that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope….” Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV)

And like Peter, his only objective is to make us stronger through adversity, and afflictions and the day to day trials of our life and as our faith strengthens we my friends can then “strengthen our brethren.” As we tell them of the good news of a risen Savior.

In addition, Christ is the one “who became sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 cor. 5:21 (KJV) “our high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God……who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin. Heb 4:14-15 (NIV)

Our Savior, our friend, ”a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.” 2 Peter 1:9 (NIV) this same Jesus will be praying for all “……who will believe in Him through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:22-23 (NKJV)

My friends “if God is for us who can be against us” but the problem is when our passion to watch, and pray becomes obsolete as we begin to allow the affairs of this world to have more of an influence over our life then God and once we allow that to happen we then lose focus on our eternal destiny.

In addition, there is a spiritual warfare that is being fought over our souls daily and sifting becomes part of that process where our character, like the wheat has to be rid of all its coarser, and impure particles.

So God does allow His children at times to be sifted on our Journey to the Promise Land as Satan tries to crush and destroy us through his sifting process, but if our life is centered on Christ and we have allowed a transformation to take effect through His Spirit our faith will hold firm and then Christ can  present us to His father as His Children, who are “a Brand Plucked From the Fire?”

My friends, time will run out one day soon. In Judges 21:25 it tells us In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Which is the image of our world today, so if Satan is sifting you as wheat today, hold firm, Christ Himself is praying for you, He also “holds our right hand; [as he tells us], “fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 26, 2015

PARENTS, IF YOU BELIEVE, OUR GOD’S PROMISES ARE SURE HE DOES NOT LIE!!!

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” Psalm 127:3 (KJV)

Oh the heartfelt prayers and a parents pain especially a mother who always has that special relationship of birthing that son or daughter even sometimes in pain, partitioning the Good Shepherd as she feels the kick of that child within her.

Lord, “You have seen me tossing and turning through the night and I know “You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded everyone in your book.” Ps 56:8 (KLV) please let this child grow up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4 (NASV)

My friends what a wonderful feeling to know our God hears a parents prayers and stores our tears that we shed for our children in His heart as he records them for any and all situation and circumstances our Children may encounter from Satan throughout the child’s life.

In addition, He hears, even after the parents have been laid to rest as they wait for a call from the Master, let’s go home your children are waiting. If you had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home as far back as most of us can remember, all we had going spiritually at times were our parents prayers and tears.

For some, maybe it was not your parent’s prayers maybe it was your grandparents or aunt and uncle or sister or brother or maybe just a friend who loved you more than life itself. I now understand after all these years “God will not turn away our petitions, and leave you and yours to the buffetings of Satan in the great day of final conflict.

It is for you to work with simplicity and faithfulness, and God will establish the work of your hands. The lifework performed on earth is acknowledged in the heavenly courts as a work well done. With joy unutterable, parents see the crown, the robe, the harp, given to their children….

The seed sown with tears and prayers may have seemed to be sown in vain, but their harvest is reaped with joy at last. Their children have been redeemed.” (E.G. White A Mothers Prayer) Satan may kill this body of ours but he must never kill the Spirit, as our partitions never stop going up for our children each day.

In addition, they our ours, and no matter how far they have drifted away from the love and admonition of Christ and the Christians values we have instilled into them, they are His gift to us.

My friends, like God, we must also never leave or forsake the Child Christ has given us to shepherd. Also, our God’s promises our sure for He is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Num. 23:19 (KJV)

So if God’s promise tells us “Train up a child in the way he [or she] should go and when [they] are old will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6 (NKJV) you can be just as assure of that promise as you are of, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 (NKJV)

So my friends when we are all seated at the banquet table of the redeemed where our Savior sits at the head and next to us will be our family, friends, and love one’s, God’s promises throughout our life was, He would never leave or forsake us, that is why seated by age next to us, are our children. Oh the grace and mercy of God who gave his Son and a Son who gave His life so that we can all be there together throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb 25, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS A GENERATION THAT HAS RISEN UP WHO DO NOT KNOW THE LORD OR THE WORKS HE HAD DONE.

“The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works He had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.

They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works He had done.” Joshua 2:7-10 (HCSB)

My friends, I hope that everyone that is able to read this devotional today will not only read, but understand that our Salvation depends on what I am writing today. In addition, as we fix our sights on the kingdom of God where the streets are gold and many mansions are waiting for occupancy that our God has prepared for the redeemed, that Salvation has to become a passion, and what we must do to achieve it.

Salvation is a free gift, but Christ must still be our example as we “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. So my friends, we must also sacrifice our all as we serve others right here at the threshold of the promise land.

Each day I am able to see up close and personal the hope and ambitions of a people where the future looks very bleak, and I hope each of you, that are a part of the body of believers who seeks God’s kingdom will recognize we are losing the battle with Satan because he has taken control of an entire generation through the entertainment and media industry.

He begins to cultivate their mind from the time they leave their mothers wound and all of this is happening as we sit in our pews each week singing “In a little while we’re going home.” Never before in the history of our world is it more important that we take the church out into our communities because if we stay silent that personal reward of life eternal promised to you and I, throughout God’s word will be given “to the rocks, as they sing out!” “lo this is our our God who we have waited for”

But today because of His grace and mercy Christ is making a personal appeal to each of us if our desire is to be in that “multitude which no man could number” John talks about in Rev. 7:9 (KJV)

So if that is our desire we  must recognize and heed His voice crying out to each of us “feed my sheep” please “feed my sheep” which is our home and church but most of all our focus must be built around our communities and how we can become more appealing to the generation we are losing then Jay Z, Beyonce and the video game “call of duty”

Remember “after us there is another generation that has risen up who do not know the Lord or the works He has done.”  So my prayers is that we all reevaluate our priorities because in a little while Christ will be coming to take those who are ready back home with Him.  So we must look beyond our pews to a world and a generation that is “sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore.”

God , who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6 (NIV) And He is depending on us to take this light and  motivate and inspire others while telling the world if they believe there is a place that awaits them that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man….” 2 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

MY FRIENDS, WE ALL HAVE BECOME DROWSY AND FALLEN ASLEEP!!

You know the story, you’ve heard it throughout your life since childhood, so I am not going to start from the beginning of Christ parable of the five foolish and five wise virgins, I am going to start at the point when “they all became drowsy and fell asleep”

Then, when they were least expected, there was the sound of a mighty rushing wind and it was closer now than it had ever been in the past and through that wind and turmoil of this world somehow they even thought they could hear the trumpet of Gabriel calling it is midnight, it is midnight, it is time to go home.

In addition, your Savior approaches with thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand of His celestial choir singing holy, holy, holy unto the “Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.”

All of a sudden the dead in Christ rises to meet him in the air along with all the faithful who endured till the end. At that point “all ten of the virgins wake up and begin to trim their lamps realizing the dream was a warning.

The foolish virgins then say to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out, the Bridegroom will be here soon. It’s amazing “they all became drowsy and fell asleep” at the same time, also all ten of the virgins had the same dream at the same time, as the parable continues in Matt. 25:9-12 (NIV) the wise virgins reply “No!!!

[There may not be enough for all of us if we give you part of ours]. Therefore go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” But while they were on their way to buy the oil the bridegroom arrived [and] The wise virgins who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And [my friends] the door was shut.

“Later the [foolish virgins] returned. [knocking on the door frantically, just like when Noah shut the door of the ark, at that point it is to late, the unrighteous will remain unrighteous, their fate is sealed but they still cry out “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!”

“But [the Bridegroom] replied, [the saddest words, they had ever heard repeated] “I don’t know you.” [because you never witnessed too my sheep, or fed my flock when they were hungry and thirsty or provided shelter and clothes for them and you never visited the sick or those in prison. And why was my time and money squandered on the foolishness of this world?

Yes, “I do not know you.” My friends we have “all become drowsy and fallen asleep” while the prophecy of Matt. 24 is being played out before our eyes as nations rise against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms, famines throughout the world especially for the word of God, earthquakes in various places.

Consistent with this, Crime and corruption is abounding as wickedness increases and the love of most grows colder and colder each day. Yes my friends, we have “become drowsy and fallen asleep” But God’s grace have not left us because if we are God’s chosen, we still here that still small voice that is telling us to “come out of Babylon.”

Please come out and do not share in her sins and if you come out and unto me “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the [promise]land…and you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:26-28 (NIV) Wake up my friends, wake up! and “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” that the trumpet of Gabriel will sound “The midnight cry”

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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