Love Is Knocking, Let It In

Good Morning!! God sent messenger after messenger to proclaim his word, describe his people’s sins, and call them to repentance. But soon the prophetic era would come to a close. No longer would the word of God be heard. There would be a famine, not of food, but of hearing the message of the Lord. The people were losing a tremendous gift. Not until the time of John the Baptist would God’s living word be heard again.

I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do.—Romans 7:19 (NLV)

We miss so many opportunities to be blessed, and to be a blessing to others. To often we don't hear, or heed, the word of God. And just like today's verse implies, our actions bring about the opposite, of our desires,...and still, we can't seem to stop. We want to be loved and connected to someone,...but we won't or can't let our guard down, to allow anyone to get close to us.

No one is beyond God's love,...we just have to open the door, and let it in.

Give us ears to hear Your wonderful words of life, and the mine to understand. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

Love, Above All Else: part 2

Good Morning!! Love means putting another's needs ahead of your own,...are you really willing to deny yourself in order to accommodate the needs of another? Is there a time when we can speak an encouraging word that will lift a spirit or cause a lonely heart to feel love,...when we ourselves are low? A smile while it may seem a small thing,...and at times hard to muster, can create a huge impact on someone's day.

...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."—Mark 10:43-45 (NIV)

We need to seek opportunities to be of service to others. It may be family, friends, or perfect strangers but if we look there is usually a way we can lighten another's load. It isn't necessarily the big things we do that have the greatest impact,...sometimes it is the small things that mean the most,...especially when done with a willing and cheerful heart.

God’s primary goal is restoration. That is why he sent Jesus. Trust him today!

"What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, but never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are cold? Because they are all the time receiving and never giving out."
(Dwight L. Moody)

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

LOVE, Above All Else: Part 1

Good Morning!! Jesus said that the greatest of all of God's commandments, is LOVE,...and in following this, we are able to follow all others. But how long can you,...would you love someone that did not,...could not love you back? So often we are called to love others that have never learned to love,...they did not get it from their mother or father,...who are suppose to love without question or condition. So they have trouble loving themselves, and they are unable to understand how anyone else could love them. Only by continuing to love those considered unlovable, can we ever hope to become Christ-like. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" (v.21)

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."—Matthew 18:22 (NIV)

We all have our golden moments, but more times than not,...we want to give, no more than what we get. I often repeat a quote that I got from my friend, and teacher, Dorothy Cherry,..."Hurt people, hurt people." This is why we can extend curtsies to strangers that have not yet harmed us,...that we won't to the very people in our lives that we claim to love. Sometimes we can have this love with our children, or maybe our parents. But if we are continually wounded, or the love we offer, is unreturned,...without God as our center, the well will at some point dry up,...and we will have nothing more to give.

Pray and try until you can't,...no one can tell you when you've had enough, but you.

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you. (Amos 5:14 NIV)

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

Repent Or Be Judged

Good Morning!! "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." No one likes pain. But according to the prophet Amos, it is one of God’s ways of getting our attention. And nothinig hurts so much as the death of a close friend or relative. Amos reports five pain-inducing calamities in verses 6 through 11: famine, drought, blight, plagues, and war. And none of them had aroused any interest in God’s people, for returning to Him. Even after so much pain, Israel like so many of us, just went right on living in their sinful and disobedient ways.

"I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, and carried away your horses, and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.—Amos 4:10 (NIV)

It is true that God at times allows both good things, and tragedies, to happen. But we believe that everything He does is for our good. Whatever the means He uses, God’s message is the same,...He wants us to live in close relationship with Him.

Return to God in repentance,...or meet Him in judgment.

"We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from His love."
(Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10).

"When God measures a man, He put the tape around his heart, instead of his head."

Righteousness

Good Morning!! "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." These words from Psalm 95:6-7, beautifully describe the true believer’s desire to honor God, and acknowledge His greatness in worship. It's one of the greatest calls to worship found in the Bible.

"Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings—boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do," declares the Sovereign LORD.—Amos 4:4,5 (NIV)

Now in comparing those words, with today's verses from Amos,...what a contrast! You can detect the sharp sarcasm in Amos’s words. Worship was flourishing at Israel’s sanctuaries, with abundant sacrifices and plenty of music. But instead of honoring God, their rituals had become transgressions,...not unlike in today's churches. The word which is translated transgression (4:4) actually means “to rebel.” The problem was a basic lack of righteousness and justice in their lives and society.

Don't just settle for looking righteous,
...move to bring about righteousness and justice in our lives and society.

Dear Lord, help our worship to be heartfelt and consistent,...and let us honor You in our living. Amen.

"When God measures a man, He put the tape around his heart, instead of his head."

Chosen

Good Morning!! One of the great themes of the Old Testament is that of the chosenness of the people of Israel. As God declares, Israel was chosen out of all the nations of the earth to be his unique people. That was a wonderful privilege. It meant not only that God was their deliverer, but also their helper and their strength. As a well-known credit card company puts it: "Membership has its privileges."

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.—Amos 3:2 (NIV)

Privilege also brings with it responsibility. The original covenant agreement was, "I will be your God and you will be my people." God had kept his side of the covenant, but Israel had not. The main problem was that they refused to be the Lord’s people. They continually disobeyed and broke his commandments. "Therefore," the Lord continues, "I will punish you for all your iniquities."Verse 3 speaks of two agreeing to walk together.

Walking close to God, is the key to living as His covenant people.

Lord, help us to walk close to You in our daily lives, and to trust, yield and obey. Amen.

"When God measures a man, He put the tape around his heart, instead of his head."

Real Love

Good Morning!! Love is to be a deeply rooted way of life among us, not fickle or unreliable, not depending on how we feel or on the circumstances of our day. This love covers a multitude of sins. It knows when to look the other way. It’s said that love is blind. But those who say that are thinking of infatuation. Real love does not look on the other with naive eyes or blinders. It sees the flaws, but it sees more in the other than what the cold observer sees.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.—1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

This doesn't mean that we must remain in an abusive situation, or not demand justice. Rather, it means that we must not let the evil we experience, take root in our hearts, so that it colors and determines our response. When you forgive your tormentors, and do not hate in response, you not only preserve your own soul, but you also inject into that darkness a light, and kindness,...which is a thing of precious beauty.

To live the life of heaven is to live a life of love.

Holy Spirit, help our love forgive, as readily as our Heavely Father's love forgives us. Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

The Perfect Example

Good Morning!! As followers of Jesus we are called to continue to do good,....while we suffer. even if unjustly. In tough times, it can be extremely tempting to either return evil for evil, lashing out and hating,...or to sink into passivity, fueling a slow burn and growing bitterness. But we as Christians are called, instead, to continue to do good, not because it’s strategically wise, but because it is in step with the ways of God’s heart,...as disclosed in the cross of Christ.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.—1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)

This doesn't mean that we must remain in an abusive situation, or not demand justice. Rather, it means that we must not let the evil we experience, take root in our hearts, so that it colors and determines our response. When you forgive your tormentors, and do not hate in response, you not only preserve your own soul, but you also inject into that darkness a light, and kindness,...which is a thing of precious beauty.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. v23

Dear God, may our hearts be so filled with Your love, that there is no room left for hate, fear or pain. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

The Example Of True Compassion

Good Morning!! Compassion was one of the great qualities of Jesus’ life and ministry. He always sympathized with people in need. Compassion is literally “to suffer with another,” and it describes the sorrow that is produced by the distress or misfortune of others. The frequent references in Scripture to the compassion of Christ, reminds us how He truly fulfilled the Messianic prophecies.

Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.—Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)

Out of compassion the hungry multitude is fed; out of compassion the sick and suffering are healed; and out of compassion men burdened and imprisoned by sin are set free, as Jesus goes to an awful death,...that we might have eternal life. This is the compassion of Christ.

Our Lord’s compassion involved more than an emotional reaction,
...it always included action to minister to the needs of man.

Lord, give us a compassionate heart and the opportunity to help. Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

If We Faint Not

Good Morning!! Most of us don't really need to be reminded that we live in a time of great crises,...there are problems everywhere. Not only are there problems in the world, but there are also problems in our lives. Despair, fatigue, and doubt confront us daily. How we react to these difficulties is very important. We are expected to handle them, as Christ would. So ask yourself; As a Christian do I overcome the world, or does the world overcome me? Am I a victor, or a victim in life?

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world,...our faith.—1John 5:4 (NIV)

As Christians we're to be victors over all these conflicts. We are in Christ, and He is within us. Death is just the gateway to great glory,...we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Living in the consciousness of Christ’s presence we can overcome the world, and all it has to throw at us.

Don't become so involved and burdened in the cares of this life that you forget your faith, and your hope.

Sweet Spirit of God, don't let us forget the promises of God. The mere fact that Jesus is the Son of God should comfort the heart. We need to be reminded that victory is ours. We have been brought to a new life in Christ,...and that life shall overcome all foes,...even Satan. Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

He's Waiting

Good Morning!! Giving your life to God,...some churches have a very specific ritual, or formula for doing this. Some are so stead fast, you would almost expect them to have diagrams and flow charts. But it all boils down to this: the truly determined person, who would never submit to anyone, realizes that God’s love has drawn him or her to yield. There is resistance, sometimes postponements, relief and assurance that God can be trusted, and finally received as "Lord of our life."

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.—John 1:12,13 (NIV)

In it's simplest form; we believe that Jesus died for us,...and we then offer up our loyalty, love, and life to Him. It’s the very best decision you'll every make. You feel as though the world is on your shoulders, and you have to do everything on your own,...but there is One to carry it with, and for you,...you have only to ask.

Receiving Christ is the gateway to understanding all that God wants to teach us,
...and experiencing all that he has to give us.

Holy Spirit of God, help all who are hurting, or searching, for the Way. Move them today, that they might lighten their load, come to the Father. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

If He Does, Or If He Doesn't, Trust Him

Good Morning!! There are times when we pray for things, or persons, and our prayers are answered just as we prayed them. Then, there are times when we pray and our prayers seem to go unheard, with no answer at all. God may be forcing us to wait,...as He tests and grows our faith. Most times we can handle it,...if our minds can make sense of it. We pray, God leads and we start to get it. We can even see what is coming as God reveals things to us. As our faith is being increased,...we finally start begin to gaining some spiritual strength, and understanding. So that when out of the blue, something happens that changes our course so drastically, that we feel the air has been knocked out of us,...and we find ourselves in a place of desolation or despair,...our first thought is to trust God, anyway.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."—Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Today's verses are ones that I learned early on from my Christian Grandm. I heard them quoted often,...and I have spoken them many times,...both to others, or to myself. I'm not always sure if they are comforting words, or if they are confronting words. Intellectually, I know that God's thoughts and ways are not like mine. Of course my ways are not like God's, God is God,...and me, not so much. When things aren't going my way, and I begin to question why God does or doesn't move one way or another,...I find that these verses put me in check. It's not about me,...It's God's Will,...not ours.

God is God,...sometimes He answers us, and sometimes He doesn't. Trust Him anyway.

O' Lord, we know that You love us more than we can ever comprehend, and everything You do is in our best interest,..even when we can't see it, or understand it. Your desire is for us to trust You totally, and completely. Forgive us for the times we've allowed ourselves to feel as though You had abandoned us, or maybe just forgotten about our needs. We ask that You help us to understand more of Your ways. And that You open our minds to comprehend the scriptures. We trust that Your higher ways will always be what is best. Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Dead To Sin, Free To Live

Good Morning!! Even though we as Christians, are dead to sin, sin's strong appeal can still cause us to struggle with feeling that we are more alive to sin, than we are to Christ. But Romans 6:1-11 teaches us that what is true of the Lord Jesus Christ, is true of us,...in terms of our relationship to sin and death. God the Father allowed His Son to "be sin" in order that all the sins of the world,...past, present and future, would fall on Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were on Him. But when He rose from the grave, there was no sin on Him. When He ascended to the Father, there was no sin on Him. And today, as He sits at the Father's right hand, there is no sin on Him. Since we are seated in the heavenlies in Christ, we too have died to sin.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.—Romans 6:11 (NIV)

Today's verse, summarizes what we are to believe about our relationship to sin,...because of our position in Christ. It doesn't really matter whether we feel dead to sin or not; we are to consider it so,...because it is so. People wrongly wonder, "What experience must I have in order for this to be true?" The only necessary experience is that of Christ on the cross, which has already happened. When we choose to believe what is true about ourselves and sin, and walk forward on that basis, our right relationship with sin, will work out in our experiences.

Christ already died to sin,...and because we are in Him, we have died to sin too.

Thus says the Lord;
""Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.""

(Isaiah 1:18 NIV)


"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Unmerited Favor

Good Morning!! I love the Old Testament stories that tell of God bringing someone into favor, in an unfavorable situation. Daniel was given favor in the king's palace,...even though he was a captive, and taken prisoner. Joseph was given favor with the guards, as a prisoner in Egypt. And even David, before he was king, was given favor when he sought refuge in enemy territory with the Philistines. Why such favor with these people, in these situations? Was it because of who they were, or what they had done to earn it? No. It was because of who God is.

Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,...—Daniel 1:9 (NIV)

There are many times that we need to ask God to give us favor, in certain situations, or with certain people. Sometimes we hold back from asking, because we feel unworthy, or undeserving. But the Lord really wants us to ask,...because He loves to provide. I have been given favor in situations where nothing but wrath was deserved. When we truly embrace God's grace, we can begin to understand just a snippet of how much He truly loves us.

Even before we ask, God's favor is set upon us.

Father God, we thank You,...and pray that Your hand, stays on us. We ask that You continue to bless us,...and all that cross our paths. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Not Us, But God

Good Morning!! The Lord warned the Israelites to be very careful when they entered the new land of promise and prosperity. They would be tempted to think that their success and wealth were of their own doing. But the Lord wanted them to remember that; He was the One who brought them up from the land of Egypt,...He was the One who delivered them from slavery and bondage,...and He was the One who brought them to this land of blessings. As humans, we can be so arrogant at times. Not only do we start to think that we have made our own way by our own strength, but we also turn away from the One who blessed us in the first place.

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."—Deuteronomy 8:17 (NIV)

When times are hard, we cry out to God for help. We press into Him. He is our only hope. We tend to be less attentive to God when we are doing well and life is cruising along. Regardless of where you are today, remember one thing: you have a Lord and Savior who only wants you. We have a Lord who desires to be with us, have a relationship with us, and wants us to desire Him above anything else in the world. He is a jealous God and He will do whatever it takes to get our attention. Draw closer to Him today. Don't get caught up in the things of life, and lose sight of your relationship with Him.

You may truly believe that you picked yourself up, by your own bootstraps,
...but where did you get the boots?

Father God, at times we seem to working so hard to avoid pain, suffering, and trials,...the very thing that draws us to closer to You. As we learn to praise You any how, again we give You thanks for all that is happening in our lives,...the good, and the bad. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Strength In The Lord

Good Morning!! As Christians, we are told not only to believe in Jesus,...but to follow Him. In Luke 14:27-28, Jesus speaks of those who choose to follow Him, that they must leave everything else behind. He tells them to count the cost before they make their decision. But we live in a world today that promotes "self" and all of the accolades that go along with self gratification and satisfaction. We want to be comfortable, we do not want to suffer. But the truth is; As we live and breath, we will have troubles in this world,...despite our efforts to avoid them. Live long enough, and we will have sickness, needs, and distresses.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

We have our days so well-planned, so tightly-scheduled that even one deviation from our plan can send us into a frenzy. Even the weather can dampen our spirits. Throw in sickness and other types of problems and we soon find out where our strength is based. If our strength is not in Christ, then we are headed for a fall,...and for some that means several times a day. Jesus says that when we are weak,...He is strong. When we truly follow Jesus, we will discover just how weak we really are.

It is in the weakness of our lives that God is best able to show His power, and might.

Father God, today instead of complaining about our circumstances, regardless of how painful they may be, we're asking You to give us Your strength to see our way through them. Allow us to be weak, and depend on You. And, finally, we give You thanks for all that is happening in our lives,...the good, and the bad. We look up to see Your glory, for You are above the activities of this world. Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

What Do You Boast In?

Good Morning!! Intelligence, money and strength are three areas that we think we can measure. Our intelligence is measured by how hard one needs to study, and the grades one receives. We form an instant opinion when hearing of certain colleges that were attended, and the credentials that were awarded. Money tends to reflect success. If someone is wealthy, and can manage their money well,...we give credence, as well as respect, to what they have to say. And strength is the last characteristic that helps us form our opinion of someone. Are they athletic? Do they handle pressure well, do they have the energy and focus to get important things done? Do they have a disciplined body and mind, or good self control? These are things, we admire,...in fact, these are things we boast about, in ourselves, and others.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.—Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

But God does not value our intelligence, our wealth, or our strength. God values a person who trusts, and boasts in Him. All of those characteristics are gifts,...God given gifts. In light of eternity, they mean nothing,...and each one, could be taken away in an instant, through illness alone. Only God is the Creator, and Sustainer of life. I would rather boast in the name of the Lord, my God, than to put my trust in any man, despite their traits and credentials. Turn to the Lord and seek His face. Know that you serve a God who gives gifts to men,...and the greatest gift given, was Jesus.

We have nothing,...that was not given by God.

Father God, lift us when we fall,...You are our rock, and strenght. We have nothing, and are nothing without You. Forgive us for putting more faith in our gifts, than in the Giver. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

Trust The Promise

Good Morning!! As believers, we face so many obstacles that can take us out of serving the Lord. We have thoughts that control us, wants that consume us and feelings that move us. Because none of us were born understanding God’s ways, our natural inclinations work against living out a Spirit filled life. Coming to Christ means that we lay aside our natural inclinations and ask the Lord to fill us with His wisdom instead. That process is known as submitting. To submit means to be under obedience. So we take what we want to do, what we feel is right to do, and what we think is best, and put it aside,...telling the Lord that we want His Will instead. Waiting and trusting begins.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.—James 4:7 (NIV)

To resist the devil means that after we have submitted to God, we go to the Word of God to counteract our thoughts, feelings and wants. The devil is fully aware of who we are, and how we think. As a result, he uses our desires to entice us to keep from submitting. We start questioning the love of God, and His motivation. We begin to fear and hold on, instead of trusting and let go. We have to realize that the devil is alive and well. His desire is to use our fleshly desires against us so that we may continue to sin against God.

If Jesus, the Living Word, needed to speak forth the written Word to resist the devil and have him flee,
...then how much more do we need to submit to God, in the same way.

Father God, we know that You know what's best for us. We believe You, we trust You,...and as we become better at submit to You, the devil will flee from us,...this is Your promise. Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

Stand And Soar

Good Morning!! No matter how firm we think we are standing, we will have moments when our faith becomes weak and uncertain. It may be the result of emotional wounds, or tragedy. Regardless of the source, if we approach these times remembering that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and that it is through His strength that we are able to stand against incredible odds,...He will enable us to keep pressing forward.

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.—John 8:31-32 (NIV)

It is usually during these times that we are most likely on the brink of discovering more of His truth, and He will reveal more of Himself to us. It is His truth that ultimately sets us free from all the doubt, and uncertainty,...and our faith will once again soar. We must continue to hold on to His Word and promises, especially during the difficult and uncertain moments in our lives.

It is only by the strenght and grace of God, that we stand.

We thank You Lord, You are good, You are unchangeable, You are our strength, our joy, our confidence. It is in You that we will continue to walk and to grow and to learn. In Your strength our faith will soar, and we will stand. Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

Don't Look Back

Good Morning!! A reference to going back to Egypt is made often in the Old Testament. The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egypt,...and for the most part, their time there consisted of hard labor and enslavement. They cried out to God, and He answered their cries. The book of Exodus describes their departure from this life of bondage, as Moses led the way. But, as soon as they encountered trials on their journey, the people were quick to want to go back to Egypt,...and return to their old way of life. You might ask; why would anyone want to go back to a life that was filled with bondage and suffering? Because they at least knew what to expect,...and for most people, that's more comforting, than having to face an uncertain future.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.—Isaiah 31:1 (NIV)

As Christians today, we have God’s Holy Spirit, who is our Helper and our Comforter. Trials and hard times are inevitable in our lives because we live in a fallen world, that will bring sorrows and pains. Though we will be tempted at times, to give up and to go back to our familiar territories, we must press on towards the upward call of Christ Jesus. Do not put your trust in the strength of men, or money, or worldly power,...but put your trust in the Lord only. Let's keep our eyes on the path of Jesus, as He has marked the way.

Keep your focus on Jeses,...and He will see you through.

Lord, remind us that we were never given a spirit of fear, but rather One of power. Holy Spirit, encourage, and move us to a position of trust, that we may not prove weak in the face of men,...but trust fully in our God. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."