Pastor Chase Austin at Champions Community Church

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one,  the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him,  she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus . He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, " The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:26‭-‬35 NKJV

• God's favor is scary sometimes. Mary was called favored but then told her she'd be pregnant out if wedlock from someone other than her fianceé which in those times could be seen as disgraceful.

• God's favor can seem impossible. Mary had never had sex but it was prophesied that she would give birth.

• There are no complicated answers for God's favor because it's always the Holy Spirit.

• You are favored, but you will have to go through things.

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:38 NKJV

• Faith in the site of impossibility. 

• Zacharias response was different.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

Luke 1:13‭, ‬18‭-‬18‭, ‬20 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."

Acts 2:1‭-‬4‭, ‬12‭-‬13 NKJV

• The Holy Spirit brings events that can't be explained and may look crazy to others who don't know Him and have not received.

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:1‭-‬8 NKJV

• Oftentimes we are looking for a quick fix but God has something more

• Once you receive everyone in service should know that He has moved in your life

• This man was crippled from birth, but God's power manifested something that would take a lifetime to do.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

John 14:16 NKJV

• Jesus left the Holy Spirit to abide in us

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

I Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

• You have to move to activate what's already in you. 

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

II Timothy 1:6 NKJV

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:11 NKJV

• Fire consumes everything it touches, it spreads. If nothing changes when you touch it, then maybe you haven't activated the power at work within you. 

1. ​El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
2. El Elyon (The Most High God)
3. Adonai (Lord, Master)
4. Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
5. Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
6. Jehovah Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
7. Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
8. Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
9. Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
10. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
11. El Olam (The Everlasting God)
12. Elohim (God)
13. Qanna (Jealous)
14. Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
15. Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
16. Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

8 Things That the Power of Praise Does in Your Life

1. Gets focus off of ourselves and back onto the Lord.

• We're prone to selfishness but we have to actively turn our attention back to Him.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Psalms 150:2 NKJV

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalms 34:1 NKJV

2. Praise brings us to a place of humility.

• We admit that God has all control.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord  is the great God, And the great King above all gods.

Psalms 95:2‭-‬3 NKJV

I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

Psalms 35:18 NKJV

to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai , that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3 TLV

https://bible.com/bible/314/isa.61.3.TLV

3. Praise makes the enemy flee.

• Pushes back the darkness.

• Light and darkness cannot coexist

• Jehoshaphat: As they began singing and praising, Adonai set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. For the Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to exterminate and annihilate them. When they had exterminated the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When Judah came to the lookout in the wilderness and looked for the multitude, behold, only corpses were lying on the ground—no one had escaped. When Jehoshaphat and his people went to take the plunder, they found an abundance of goods, clothing and precious articles, which they pillaged, more than they could carry away. For three days they were taking the plunder because there was so much.

2 Chronicles 20:22‭-‬25 TLV

• Confuses the enemy

4. Praise leaves no room for complaining.

• The power of life and death are in the toung.

5. Praise makes room for God's blessings for our lives.

6. Praise invites his presence.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.

Psalms 22:3 NIV

Bless Adonai , O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquity. He heals all your diseases.

Psalms 103:2‭-‬3 TLV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9‭-‬10 NIV

7. Our spirits are refreshed and renewed.

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 16:11 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.16.11.NKJV

8. Paves the way for miracles to happen

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalms 63:3‭-‬4 NKJV

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Acts 16:25‭-‬30 NKJV

• Praise breaks chains

• You don't see the opportunity if you aren't praising.

-Jeniro on the go!
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It's Just a Matter of Time

Pastor Joel at Lakewood Church

We know God's promises but we can't see anything changing. We then get discouraged but

Then Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat your fruit again!" And the disciples heard him say it.

Mark 11:14 NLT

When Jesus spoke, nothing changed on the outside.

The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up.

Mark 11:20 NLT

The moment you pray, God cuts off the source! The roots have been cut off.

"All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, But  the horns of the righteous shall be exalted."

Psalms 75:10 NKJV

When Jesus spoke to the tree there was no evidence that anything has changed.

You can't be moved by what you don't see, be moved by what you know.

Stay in faith until what you're believing for manifests.

Clipping a Rose from it's bush

It may bloom and blossom but it's still dead.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

Roses should last up to one week and possibly longer after being cut. The truth is that your fresh cut roses aren't going to last forever...just like your difficulties.

The enemy makes the most noise on their way out. 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

I Peter 5:8 NKJV

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

You have to be healed in your spirit before you are healed in your body. It happens right when you pray!

The Osteens prayed for Mama Dodie's healing on December 11, 1981 and she believed she received that healing right then while always thanking God for it.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

In the unseen realm things have already changed.

Pastor John prayed for 2 cows but instead bought the meat for the conference.

Leadership Testimony Segment

Tauren Gabriel Wells, Lakewood Worship Leader, American Christian rock and pop 

Operate in Excellence 

Excellence isn't a stage of life it's a Spirit that we carry.

Do the best you can with what you  have. 

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 22:29 NKJV

Alveda Williams, Lakewood Member, Ph.D Corporate Director of Inclusion for Dow Chemical

Be an ally.

Meet people where they are and stand in the gap no matter what their background is.

Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

Psalms 54:4 NKJV

Brett Gunning, Lakewood Member, Houston Rockets Assistant Coach

Seek God for wisdom

Call on God because he will tie everything together.

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

Jeremiah 33:3 NLT

-Jeniro on the go!
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***This message will self-destruct.

The Power of an Empty Net

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing (to go for some goal)." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn (theyd been fishing all night) Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said (do it God's way), "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn. "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. "I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go."  Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."

John 21:1‭-‬19 NLT

• Apart from me you can do nothing (not even catch fish)

Sometimes the worse thing that could happen is easy success.

• God knows sometimes we need to go through a "long night" before the full net

• If they would have filled the net before the long night (EARLY) then they would have missed Jesus.

Our impulse is to go our own way and do things without God.

How much would we pray?

• The empty net teaches us our dependence on God.

• Both the empty net and the abundant net were gifts from Jesus.

It takes 20 years to make an overnight success.

Eddie Cantor

What if you get the full net but lose focus of the purpose of getting the fish...the bigger picture.

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need. If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you! Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise. The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.

Proverbs 11:25‭-‬30 NLT

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Genesis 12:2‭-‬3 NKJV

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me—I'm such a sinful man." For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"

Luke 5:4‭-‬10 NLT

• The empty net makes us willing to do it God's way.

Once you're humbled you're more willing to do things God's way because whatever you have been doing isn't working and you're "hungry"

This entire fishing miracle was leading to breakfast; an opportunity to Fellowship with Jesus.

Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live.
⚡🌸💪🤘💚⚡

Positioned for Increase

We've seen God's favor in the past but it seems like that favor is being taken away: a close friend leaves your life, a business deal ends, etc....

Sometimes God removes what is working to stretch your fait

Manna was temporary provision but they got used to it and counted on it.

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Joshua 5:12 KJV

They would have lived off of manna for their entire lives even though other things were available.

You're close to your promise land when the Manna dries up. 

The friend who left may have been limiting you. 

Tony Dungy

Was pushed pushed out of his Tampa Bay coaching job but then was offered a position with the Colts and won the superbowl

Would have missed the abundance that belonged to them if God kept providing manna.

If something stops then it wasn't supposed to be permanen. Don't have a Manna mentality.

The closer the Israelites got to the promised land, the less God helped...they had to grow up. They got new responsibilities.

The longer we hold on, the more miserable we'll be. 

Elijah 

And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,  Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.  And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.  So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord : for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.  And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.  And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.  And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,  Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

1 Kings 17:2‭-‬9 KJV

Youversion

YouVersion was founded by Bobby Gruenewald and Life.Church in 2008.

By November 2018, the YouVersion Bible App now had been installed on over 345 million unique devices all over the world, offering 1,797 Bible versions in 1,247 languages.[15] At the end of 2018, it was revealed that during that year on the app, 27.2 billion chapters of the Bible were read, 950 million Bible plan days had been completed and 409 million Bible verses had been shared.

-Jeniro on the go!
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Put Your Trust in Redemption

Lisa Comes

Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.  Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

2 Timothy 4:9‭-‬18 NLT

Joseph Prince @ Lakewood Church

God will make a clear difference between his people and those against.

"Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. "Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.

Isaiah 60:1‭-‬5 NLT

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it." So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.

Exodus 10:21‭-‬23 NLT

America has been the #1 nation to spread the gospel.

And the Lord replied, "If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake."

Genesis 18:26 NLT

Our hopes cannot be in fallen creation, it must be in redemption. Don't put your trust in what you eat and exercise...put your trust in God.

On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.

Acts of the Apostles 20:7 NLT

Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Acts 20:7 NKJV

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

I Corinthians 11:30 NKJV

There's divine sentence. The blood is a sign that your house will not suffer under the divine sentence. It's not your good works or your good name or anything you could do.

'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord . Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

Exodus 12:12‭-‬15 NKJV

The children of Israel were out in the wilderness with no doctors or medical care. He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there  was none feeble among His tribes.

Psalms 105:37 NKJV

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

God has made provision ALREADY! We need to eat everything.

Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails.

Exodus 12:8‭-‬9 NKJV

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

I Corinthians 11:29‭-‬30 NKJV

Animals were killed humanely but Jesus was not. Because :

But He was  wounded for our transgressions, He  was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

"No one outside a priest's family may eat the sacred offerings. Even guests and hired workers in a priest's home are not allowed to eat them.

Leviticus 22:10 NLT

A hired serving cannot partake because it is a gift of grace that you cannot earn.

The gift of righteousness 

Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men;

Isaiah 52:14 NKJV

You're not saved JUST by following his teachings.

But it was the Lord 's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord 's good plan will prosper in his hands.

Isaiah 53:10 NLT

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53:10 KJV

And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover.

Exodus 12:10‭-‬11 KJV

-Jeniro on the go!
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Change Your Name

Don't believe the lies that people tell about you. 

Born to lose tattoo....before you're stamped with a name you already accepted it in your mind.

Benjamin

According to the Hebrew Bible, Benjamin's name arose when Jacob deliberately changed the name "Benoni", the original name of Benjamin, since Benoni was an allusion to Rachel's dying just after she had given birth, as it means "son of my pain". He hadn't done anything wrong but sometimes the people who are supposed to speak life into you take their pain out on you. 

What God names you overrides what people name you. 

Don't let what people can't see in you talk you out of your promises.

Counselor told a guy he didn't have potential and should apply to a basic job so he did. That company closed so he applied for a similar job but the new company required an IQ test. The IQ Test showed that he was a genius.

You aren't what people call you,  you're what you answer to.

Erwin McManus

Abraham and Sarah , @

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny