Author: Ayana Mathis
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0385350295
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 334
Book Description
The newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection: this special eBook edition of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. The arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction. A debut of extraordinary distinction: Ayana Mathis tells the story of the children of the Great Migration through the trials of one unforgettable family. In 1923, fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented. Hattie gives birth to nine more children whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. She vows to prepare them for the calamitous difficulty they are sure to face in their later lives, to meet a world that will not love them, a world that will not be kind. Captured here in twelve luminous narrative threads, their lives tell the story of a mother’s monumental courage and the journey of a nation. Beautiful and devastating, Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is wondrous from first to last—glorious, harrowing, unexpectedly uplifting, and blazing with life. An emotionally transfixing page-turner, a searing portrait of striving in the face of insurmountable adversity, an indelible encounter with the resilience of the human spirit and the driving force of the American dream.
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah's Book Club 2.0 Digital Edition)
Author: Ayana Mathis
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0385350295
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 334
Book Description
The newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection: this special eBook edition of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. The arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction. A debut of extraordinary distinction: Ayana Mathis tells the story of the children of the Great Migration through the trials of one unforgettable family. In 1923, fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented. Hattie gives birth to nine more children whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. She vows to prepare them for the calamitous difficulty they are sure to face in their later lives, to meet a world that will not love them, a world that will not be kind. Captured here in twelve luminous narrative threads, their lives tell the story of a mother’s monumental courage and the journey of a nation. Beautiful and devastating, Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is wondrous from first to last—glorious, harrowing, unexpectedly uplifting, and blazing with life. An emotionally transfixing page-turner, a searing portrait of striving in the face of insurmountable adversity, an indelible encounter with the resilience of the human spirit and the driving force of the American dream.
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0385350295
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 334
Book Description
The newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection: this special eBook edition of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. The arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction. A debut of extraordinary distinction: Ayana Mathis tells the story of the children of the Great Migration through the trials of one unforgettable family. In 1923, fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented. Hattie gives birth to nine more children whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. She vows to prepare them for the calamitous difficulty they are sure to face in their later lives, to meet a world that will not love them, a world that will not be kind. Captured here in twelve luminous narrative threads, their lives tell the story of a mother’s monumental courage and the journey of a nation. Beautiful and devastating, Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is wondrous from first to last—glorious, harrowing, unexpectedly uplifting, and blazing with life. An emotionally transfixing page-turner, a searing portrait of striving in the face of insurmountable adversity, an indelible encounter with the resilience of the human spirit and the driving force of the American dream.
Twelve Tribes
Author: Ethan Michaeli
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062688871
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 416
Book Description
An "illuminating" and "richly descriptive" (New York Times Book Review) portrait of contemporary Israel, revealing the diversity of this extraordinary yet volatile nation by weaving together personal histories of ordinary citizens from all walks of life. “In Twelve Tribes, Ethan Michaeli proves he is a master portraitist – of lives, places, and cultures. His rendering of contemporary Israel crackles with energy, fueled by a historian’s vision and a journalist’s unrelenting curiosity.” — Evan Osnos, New York Times bestselling author of Age of Ambition and Wildland In 2015, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned that the country’s citizens were dividing into tribes: by class and ethnicity, by geography, and along lines of faith. In Twelve Tribes, award-winning author Ethan Michaeli portrays this increasingly fractured nation by intertwining interviews with Israelis of all tribes into a narrative of social and political change. Framed by Michaeli’s travels across the country over four years and his conversations with Israeli family, friends, and everyday citizens, Twelve Tribes illuminates the complex dynamics within the country, a collective drama with global consequences far beyond the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Readers will meet the aging revolutionaries who founded Israel’s kibbutz movement and the brilliant young people working for the country’s booming Big Tech companies. They will join thousands of ultra-Orthodox Haredim at a joyous memorial for a long-dead Romanian Rebbe in a suburb of Tel Aviv, and hear the life stories of Ethiopian Jews who were incarcerated and tortured in their homeland as “Prisoners of Zion” before they were able to escape to Israel. And they will be challenged, in turn, by portraits of Israeli Arabs navigating between the opportunities in a prosperous, democratic state and the discrimination they suffer as a vilified minority, as by interviews with both the Palestinians striving to build the institutions of a nascent state and the Israeli settlers seeking to establish a Jewish presence on the same land. Immersive and enlightening, Twelve Tribes is a vivid depiction of a modern state contending with ancient tensions and dangerous global forces at this crucial historic moment. Through extensive research and access to all sectors of Israeli society, Michaeli reveals Israel to be a land of paradoxical intersections and unlikely cohabitation—a place where all of the world’s struggles meet, and a microcosm for the challenges faced by all nations today.
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062688871
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 416
Book Description
An "illuminating" and "richly descriptive" (New York Times Book Review) portrait of contemporary Israel, revealing the diversity of this extraordinary yet volatile nation by weaving together personal histories of ordinary citizens from all walks of life. “In Twelve Tribes, Ethan Michaeli proves he is a master portraitist – of lives, places, and cultures. His rendering of contemporary Israel crackles with energy, fueled by a historian’s vision and a journalist’s unrelenting curiosity.” — Evan Osnos, New York Times bestselling author of Age of Ambition and Wildland In 2015, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned that the country’s citizens were dividing into tribes: by class and ethnicity, by geography, and along lines of faith. In Twelve Tribes, award-winning author Ethan Michaeli portrays this increasingly fractured nation by intertwining interviews with Israelis of all tribes into a narrative of social and political change. Framed by Michaeli’s travels across the country over four years and his conversations with Israeli family, friends, and everyday citizens, Twelve Tribes illuminates the complex dynamics within the country, a collective drama with global consequences far beyond the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Readers will meet the aging revolutionaries who founded Israel’s kibbutz movement and the brilliant young people working for the country’s booming Big Tech companies. They will join thousands of ultra-Orthodox Haredim at a joyous memorial for a long-dead Romanian Rebbe in a suburb of Tel Aviv, and hear the life stories of Ethiopian Jews who were incarcerated and tortured in their homeland as “Prisoners of Zion” before they were able to escape to Israel. And they will be challenged, in turn, by portraits of Israeli Arabs navigating between the opportunities in a prosperous, democratic state and the discrimination they suffer as a vilified minority, as by interviews with both the Palestinians striving to build the institutions of a nascent state and the Israeli settlers seeking to establish a Jewish presence on the same land. Immersive and enlightening, Twelve Tribes is a vivid depiction of a modern state contending with ancient tensions and dangerous global forces at this crucial historic moment. Through extensive research and access to all sectors of Israeli society, Michaeli reveals Israel to be a land of paradoxical intersections and unlikely cohabitation—a place where all of the world’s struggles meet, and a microcosm for the challenges faced by all nations today.
The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Author: Andrew Tobolowsky
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1009089137
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel is the first study to treat the history of claims to an Israelite identity as an ongoing historical phenomenon from biblical times to the present. By treating the Hebrew Bible's accounts of Israel as one of many efforts to construct an Israelite history, rather than source material for later legends, Andrew Tobolowsky brings a long-term comparative approach to biblical and nonbiblical “Israelite” histories. In the process, he sheds new light on how the structure of the twelve tribes tradition enables the creation of so many different visions of Israel, and generates new questions: How can we explain the enduring power of the myth of the twelve tribes of Israel? How does “becoming Israel” work, why has it proven so popular, and how did it change over time? Finally, what can the changing shape of Israel itself reveal about those who claimed it?
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1009089137
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel is the first study to treat the history of claims to an Israelite identity as an ongoing historical phenomenon from biblical times to the present. By treating the Hebrew Bible's accounts of Israel as one of many efforts to construct an Israelite history, rather than source material for later legends, Andrew Tobolowsky brings a long-term comparative approach to biblical and nonbiblical “Israelite” histories. In the process, he sheds new light on how the structure of the twelve tribes tradition enables the creation of so many different visions of Israel, and generates new questions: How can we explain the enduring power of the myth of the twelve tribes of Israel? How does “becoming Israel” work, why has it proven so popular, and how did it change over time? Finally, what can the changing shape of Israel itself reveal about those who claimed it?
Twelve-Tribe Nations
Author: John Michell
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594777578
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 220
Book Description
The symbolism and use of the number twelve in organizing ancient societies • Connects the zodiac, the twelve months of the year, and the political divisions of ancient nations • Explores the sacred geography of ancient landscapes in Europe and Israel Throughout the world--in countries as far apart as China, Ireland, Iceland, and Madagascar--there survive records and traditions of whole nations being divided into twelve tribes and twelve regions, each corresponding to one of the twelve signs of the zodiac and to one of the twelve months of the year. Best known are the twelve tribes of Israel under King Solomon, but there have been many others. Wherever they occur, they are associated with an ideal social order and a golden age of humanity. Exploring examples of these twelve-tribe societies, John Michell and Christine Rhone explain the blueprint for this organizational structure and look at the musical, mythological, and astronomical enchantments that kept these societies in harmony with the cosmos. They also examine the astrological landscapes of classical Greece, the aligned St. Michael sanctuaries of Europe, and the true site and function of the Temple in Jerusalem. They show that the sacred geography of these sites was part of an ancient code of knowledge that produced harmony between nature and humanity and is as relevant to our present and future as it was to our past.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594777578
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 220
Book Description
The symbolism and use of the number twelve in organizing ancient societies • Connects the zodiac, the twelve months of the year, and the political divisions of ancient nations • Explores the sacred geography of ancient landscapes in Europe and Israel Throughout the world--in countries as far apart as China, Ireland, Iceland, and Madagascar--there survive records and traditions of whole nations being divided into twelve tribes and twelve regions, each corresponding to one of the twelve signs of the zodiac and to one of the twelve months of the year. Best known are the twelve tribes of Israel under King Solomon, but there have been many others. Wherever they occur, they are associated with an ideal social order and a golden age of humanity. Exploring examples of these twelve-tribe societies, John Michell and Christine Rhone explain the blueprint for this organizational structure and look at the musical, mythological, and astronomical enchantments that kept these societies in harmony with the cosmos. They also examine the astrological landscapes of classical Greece, the aligned St. Michael sanctuaries of Europe, and the true site and function of the Temple in Jerusalem. They show that the sacred geography of these sites was part of an ancient code of knowledge that produced harmony between nature and humanity and is as relevant to our present and future as it was to our past.
The 12 twelve tribes of Israel
Author: Rodrigo Andrade
Publisher: Letra Viva Edições
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 94
Book Description
The story of the twelve tribes of Israel is a fascinating and rich account dating back to ancient times. Descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, these tribes played crucial roles in the formation of the nation of Israel. Each tribe possessed distinct characteristics and territories, contributing unique abilities and blessings to the political, economic, and spiritual life of the people of Israel. Over the centuries, tribes have faced challenges, wars, and moments of faith and apostasy. Their stories reveal the diversity of experiences, the resilience of the people of Israel, and their connection to faith in God. This study will delve into each of the twelve tribes, revealing their origins, distinct characteristics, influences on Israel's history, and the relevance of their trajectories to the construction of the nation's collective identity. Each chapter will be a journey through time, exploring the heritage and legacy left by the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. With this, we will seek to understand the complexity and richness of Israel's history, as well as the importance of each tribe in the formation of the nation. As we examine the individual journeys of each tribe, we will see a complete picture of the journey of the people of Israel, from their origins to the accomplishments, challenges, and legacies left for future generations. This investigation will lead us to appreciate the diversity and unity of the people of Israel and their connection to shared faith, history, and destiny. We will delve into all the Tribes, their Characters actions and contributions, highlighting David and Jesus Christ. Impactful Stories names of Jesus in the Bible their meanings more than 280 names and descriptions of Jesus, The 12 Tribes in the Present Day, we will talk about the 144 thousand mentioned in Revelation the 12 Tribes in the New Testament if there are major Tribes and because, all the descent of Israel, in the end we will expand more on relevant aspects of each Tribe prophets, false prophets, trivia, and a complete Bible Study Guide to the 12 Tribes.
Publisher: Letra Viva Edições
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 94
Book Description
The story of the twelve tribes of Israel is a fascinating and rich account dating back to ancient times. Descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, these tribes played crucial roles in the formation of the nation of Israel. Each tribe possessed distinct characteristics and territories, contributing unique abilities and blessings to the political, economic, and spiritual life of the people of Israel. Over the centuries, tribes have faced challenges, wars, and moments of faith and apostasy. Their stories reveal the diversity of experiences, the resilience of the people of Israel, and their connection to faith in God. This study will delve into each of the twelve tribes, revealing their origins, distinct characteristics, influences on Israel's history, and the relevance of their trajectories to the construction of the nation's collective identity. Each chapter will be a journey through time, exploring the heritage and legacy left by the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. With this, we will seek to understand the complexity and richness of Israel's history, as well as the importance of each tribe in the formation of the nation. As we examine the individual journeys of each tribe, we will see a complete picture of the journey of the people of Israel, from their origins to the accomplishments, challenges, and legacies left for future generations. This investigation will lead us to appreciate the diversity and unity of the people of Israel and their connection to shared faith, history, and destiny. We will delve into all the Tribes, their Characters actions and contributions, highlighting David and Jesus Christ. Impactful Stories names of Jesus in the Bible their meanings more than 280 names and descriptions of Jesus, The 12 Tribes in the Present Day, we will talk about the 144 thousand mentioned in Revelation the 12 Tribes in the New Testament if there are major Tribes and because, all the descent of Israel, in the end we will expand more on relevant aspects of each Tribe prophets, false prophets, trivia, and a complete Bible Study Guide to the 12 Tribes.
Jacob's Dozen
Author: Will Varner
Publisher: Friends of Israel Gospel
ISBN: 9780915540396
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 108
Book Description
Jacob's Dozen is a study of the biblical history and prophecies associated with each of the tribes of Israel. It is based on Jacob's deathbed prophecies concerning each of his twelve sons found in Genesis 49. The remarkable manner in which each prophecy was fulfilled in that tribe's history is clearly explained. Other fascinating subjects, such as the lost tribes of Israel and the role of the tribes in the end times, are explored. You will be amazed and blessed by this scholarly, yet readable prophetic look at the tribes of Israel.
Publisher: Friends of Israel Gospel
ISBN: 9780915540396
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 108
Book Description
Jacob's Dozen is a study of the biblical history and prophecies associated with each of the tribes of Israel. It is based on Jacob's deathbed prophecies concerning each of his twelve sons found in Genesis 49. The remarkable manner in which each prophecy was fulfilled in that tribe's history is clearly explained. Other fascinating subjects, such as the lost tribes of Israel and the role of the tribes in the end times, are explored. You will be amazed and blessed by this scholarly, yet readable prophetic look at the tribes of Israel.
Better Than a Turkish Prison
Author: Sinasta J. Colucci
Publisher: Ockham Publishing Group
ISBN: 1912701677
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 283
Book Description
Better Than a Turkish Prison is the true story of a needy young man who encounters a religious cult known as "The Twelve Tribes". With no better options in sight, he decides to join them in their pursuit to build the kingdom of God on Earth. After years of brainwashing and servitude, he must break free from a powerful delusion in his search for freedom and truth. Not merely a deeply personal portrayal of one man's struggles, this book also serves as a critical analysis of religious ideals and their effects on humanity as the author divulges his presently held beliefs.
Publisher: Ockham Publishing Group
ISBN: 1912701677
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 283
Book Description
Better Than a Turkish Prison is the true story of a needy young man who encounters a religious cult known as "The Twelve Tribes". With no better options in sight, he decides to join them in their pursuit to build the kingdom of God on Earth. After years of brainwashing and servitude, he must break free from a powerful delusion in his search for freedom and truth. Not merely a deeply personal portrayal of one man's struggles, this book also serves as a critical analysis of religious ideals and their effects on humanity as the author divulges his presently held beliefs.
The Acts of the Apostles
Author: P.D. James
Publisher: Canongate Books
ISBN: 0857861077
Category : Bibles
Languages : en
Pages : 93
Book Description
Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James
Publisher: Canongate Books
ISBN: 0857861077
Category : Bibles
Languages : en
Pages : 93
Book Description
Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James
The Lost Tribes of Israel
Author: Tudor Parfitt
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson Limited
ISBN: 9780297819349
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 277
Book Description
Tudor Parfitt examines a myth which is based on one of the world's oldest mysteries - what happened to the lost tribes of Israel? Christians and Jews alike have attached great importance to the legendary fate of these tribes which has had a remarkable impact on their ideologies throughout history. Each tribe of Israel claimed descent from one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the land of Israel was eventually divided up between them. Following a schism which formed after the death of Solomon, ten of the tribes set up an independent northern kingdom, whilst those of Judah and Levi set up a separate southern kingdom. In 721BC the ten northern tribes were ethnically cleansed by the Assyrians and the Bible states they were placed: in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the city of Medes. The Bible also foretold that one day they would be reunited with the southern tribes in the final redemption of the people of Israel. Their subsequent history became a tapestry of legend and hearsay. The belief persisted that they had been lost in some remote part of the world and there were countless suggestions and claims as to where.
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson Limited
ISBN: 9780297819349
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 277
Book Description
Tudor Parfitt examines a myth which is based on one of the world's oldest mysteries - what happened to the lost tribes of Israel? Christians and Jews alike have attached great importance to the legendary fate of these tribes which has had a remarkable impact on their ideologies throughout history. Each tribe of Israel claimed descent from one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the land of Israel was eventually divided up between them. Following a schism which formed after the death of Solomon, ten of the tribes set up an independent northern kingdom, whilst those of Judah and Levi set up a separate southern kingdom. In 721BC the ten northern tribes were ethnically cleansed by the Assyrians and the Bible states they were placed: in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the city of Medes. The Bible also foretold that one day they would be reunited with the southern tribes in the final redemption of the people of Israel. Their subsequent history became a tapestry of legend and hearsay. The belief persisted that they had been lost in some remote part of the world and there were countless suggestions and claims as to where.
The Study of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Author: Rev. Derrick Hill
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1425735886
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 107
Book Description
This material will be based on several things to tie a lot of things together, that might have been hindering us as Christians to grow to our potential. You see there are keys in the word of God that must be understood. To receive the total blessing of the promises we must be incompliance of God ́s revelation for man. Within the keys we fine many things and within this material we are going to be looking for a greater understanding of Christ Jesus. I found the best way to do that is to study the tribes. For which will enhance our understanding of the Old Testament, and exactly how things connected to the New Testament. And most of all give us better understanding of the Savoir our Lord Jesus Christ, through understanding His character. We will look at the four major characteristics of our Lord. To see how His perfection of the traits that combined together outlined the characteristic which the tribes possessed. Each trait is a key in our understanding of a closer walk with Christ. As we see the riches in getting closer to the perfect character of Christ Jesus in our daily life. To enhance our life in such a way that we can have victory in areas were we struggle. Not saying we are going to be perfect here on earth, but we can strive to be better each day. We will also decipher some keys which will unlock and give clarity in some things in the New Testament. That will enrich our lives forever! God Bless You! Let's get started. The power in God's revelation instead of man's interpretation sets free some things that hinders. This book will be looking at the qualities or traits that build characteristics that combined with other characteristics built Christ Jesus character. With the understanding of the Tribes will give the quality that builds characteristics that grows and develops character. Enjoy the readings you have my Blessings as well as my Prayers! God Bless
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1425735886
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 107
Book Description
This material will be based on several things to tie a lot of things together, that might have been hindering us as Christians to grow to our potential. You see there are keys in the word of God that must be understood. To receive the total blessing of the promises we must be incompliance of God ́s revelation for man. Within the keys we fine many things and within this material we are going to be looking for a greater understanding of Christ Jesus. I found the best way to do that is to study the tribes. For which will enhance our understanding of the Old Testament, and exactly how things connected to the New Testament. And most of all give us better understanding of the Savoir our Lord Jesus Christ, through understanding His character. We will look at the four major characteristics of our Lord. To see how His perfection of the traits that combined together outlined the characteristic which the tribes possessed. Each trait is a key in our understanding of a closer walk with Christ. As we see the riches in getting closer to the perfect character of Christ Jesus in our daily life. To enhance our life in such a way that we can have victory in areas were we struggle. Not saying we are going to be perfect here on earth, but we can strive to be better each day. We will also decipher some keys which will unlock and give clarity in some things in the New Testament. That will enrich our lives forever! God Bless You! Let's get started. The power in God's revelation instead of man's interpretation sets free some things that hinders. This book will be looking at the qualities or traits that build characteristics that combined with other characteristics built Christ Jesus character. With the understanding of the Tribes will give the quality that builds characteristics that grows and develops character. Enjoy the readings you have my Blessings as well as my Prayers! God Bless