Emergency Calls Only?

We just had a pretty strong earthquake - 5.8 (correction - since the quake first hit, the magnitude has been downgraded to a 5.4).

I really hate earthquakes. You feel completely at their mercy - how long they last, how strong they shake, how much damage is done.

My sweet husband and I were sitting in the living room listening to Pastor Mike's revised weekend message when the room started to rumble, the chandelier started to sway, and... well, I don't remember what happened next because I started to pray so loudly and firmly that I couldn't quite process anything else. All I know is it was long and it was pretty strong.

My cell phone isn't allowing me to check on my parents or sibs to see how they're doing because my cell service is stating "Emergency Calls Only."

I'm okay right now, but when we go to bed tonight, I probably won't sleep very deeply. My shoes will be beside the bed and I'll probably wear shorts under my nightie.

When I go to the grocery store later today, a few more canned goods will end up in my cart. I'll be checking our bottled water supplies to make sure we have the advised amount.

For all my preparations, there is nothing I can do to prevent or postpone an earthquake. However, when it does come, I can rest in knowing that it was ordained by God (Psalm 139:16). I am also secure in knowing that God will never block my prayer, like my cell phone blocks my calls. He is waiting to hear from me, even if it is during an earthquake He has ordained.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for allowing the earthquake to feel mild enough that nothing even fell off our walls. We praise You that You are always waiting and willing to hear from Your children. Thank You that all our days are ordained by You; nothing comes to us that You don't know about and haven't allowed for our good and Your glory (Romans 8:28). Please strengthen those who may have suffered injury or damage during the quake. Please give the rescue workers wisdom and clarity as they help those more greatly impacted.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Thank You, Mrs. Beresford

When I was a little girl, I spent hours at the piano, driving my family crazy with my pounding and pretending. I wanted to be a proficient piano player, but I didn't understand why I couldn't just sit down and play a piece of music like my mother could. I wanted to have the ability to beautifully perform, but I didn't want to do any of the work.

I took a few piano lessons here and there, but the only lesson I learned was how to give the teacher my parent's check without practicing very much in between lessons.

Then I went to college. I had a deep interest in music, but my "instrument" at the time was voice. In order to graduate in my major I had to pass a piano proficiency exam. My years of not seriously practicing wasn't going to cut it.

My music theory teacher was a wonderful woman who played the piano beautifully. Since I needed some help, she offered to tutor me. I believe the lessons ran $7 a week.

In her closet-sized office, she showed me how my hands should look like butterflies flitting across the keys. She pushed and encouraged me until I could finally play Debussy's Clare De Lune. She unveiled the secrets of embellishing hymns. Then one day, I found I was able to sit at the keyboard and sight-read a piece without much trouble, just like my mom.

Last Fall I cleaned out a closet and found a box of old papers from college. Surrounded by text books, term papers and exams, I sat and cried as I realized all I had gained from knowing this woman, my professor and piano teacher. As a young college student, I had no understanding of the indelible mark she was leaving on my life, both spiritually and musically.

So, I wrote her a letter and told her so. And, she wrote me the sweetest note back, in the same handwriting I remembered from my old music theory books.

Today I received word that Mrs. Beresford passed away last Wednesday. So here I sit. And cry. I am extremely thankful for what God did in my life through her. And, I am exceedingly glad I got a chance to tell her so.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for all the wonderful gifts you give us - for the beauty of music and the love of mentors who share their experience with us. Thank You for the gift of people and how You enrich our lives through others. Please use us in the lives of those around us for Your glory. And, please help us to remember to thank those who have helped us.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Thank You, Lord

I stumbled upon this story today and just had to share it.

This was originally a blog post by Bible-teacher Beth Moore. It makes me wonder how many times I've argued with God, only to lose a blessing in the end. Here's a story of someone who did what God said and encountered Him in an amazing way.

April 20, 2005

At the Airport in Knoxville

Waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I’d had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say that because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.

I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I’d just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport…..an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere?

There I sat, trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let’s admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man. I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I’ve learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing.

I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. “Oh, no, God, please, no.” I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, “Don’t make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I’ll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don’t make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!” There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, “Please don’t make me witness to this man. Not now. I’ll do it on the plane.” Then I heard it… ”I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.”

The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, “God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I’m on this Lord. I’m you’re girl! You’ve never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am on him. I am going to witness to this man.”

Again, as clearly as I’ve ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. “That is not what I said, Beth. I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.” I looked up at God and quipped, “I don’t have a hairbrush. It’s in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?”

God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God’s word: “I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:17 I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself.

Even as I retell this story my pulse quickens and as I retell this story, I feel those same butterflies.

I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, “Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?” He looked back at me and said, “What did you say?” “May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?” To which he responded in volume ten, “Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you’re going to have to talk louder than that.” At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, “SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?” At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, “If you really want to.”

Are you kidding? Of course I didn’t want to. But God didn’t seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, “Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don’t have a hairbrush.” “I have one in my bag,” he responded. I went around to the back ot the wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger’s old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man’s hair.

It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don’t do many things well, but must admit I’ve had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I’d done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man’s hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair.

I know this sounds so strange, but I’ve never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God’s. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant’s. I slipped the brush back in the bag, went around the chair to face him.

I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees, and said, “Sir, do you know my Jesus?” He said, “Yes, I do.” Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, “I’ve known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn’t marry me until I got to know the Savior.” He said, “You see, the problem is, I haven’t seen my bride in months. I’ve had open-heart surgery, and she’s been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride.”

Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we’re completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I’ll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I’d acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft.

I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, “That old man’s sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?” I said, “Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!” And we got to share.

I learned something about God that day. He knows if you’re exhausted because you’re hungry, you’re serving in the wrong place, or it is time to move on, but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you’re hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you’re sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!

I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one I had missed along the way… all because I didn’t want people to think I was strange. God didn’t send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Life shouldn’t be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, “Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!"

Ice Cream and Brain-Freeze Lessons

It's strange how quickly a good thing can become a bad thing. Ice cream is definitely a good thing, but too much of it in one bite and you'll experience brain-freeze.

I remember sitting at my grandmother's dining room table, where we ate every Sunday after church, anticipating the moment when I would be served a cold bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream. I was practically salivating while I waited for my serving to be dished. I was eager to dig in because, as the old Shake 'n Bake commercial used to tout, "I helped!"

My younger sister and I helped by feeding the big blue ice-cream-making-machine plenty of crushed ice and salt. Being accustomed to licking bowls of cake batter and homemade frosting off the beaters, I always tried to eat the salt and ice, thinking it would be a tasty precursor. Of course, they weren't tasty. No matter how pretty the rock salt looked, one small taste was more than enough.

As our dessert was served, I was always warned to take small bites and eat slowly. When I didn't, the inevitable and instant headache helped me slow down for the next bite. Actually, I was incapacitated for a few moments, so that slowed me down, too.

Unfortunately, not every good thing in life offers brain-freeze to help you slow down and take the proverbial small bite. I'll bet you can think of a few examples in your life of good things that in large quantity have begun to feel like bad things.

For instance, you probably have a long list of good things to accomplish this week, but they seem like bad things because the list feels so overwhelming. Or maybe you've eaten a few too many bowls of ice cream this summer and now need to take the time and energy to lose the extra weight. Maybe God has answered your prayer for a spouse, but the extra laundry and cooking threaten to overwhelm you.

Whatever your good-thing-turned-bad might be, the Bible has some encouragement for us. It tells us, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1.

What's the season of your life right now? We aren't meant to do every thing every day. Life isn't good about telling us this truth. Unlike the brain-freeze we get from too much homemade ice cream, life beckons us to do it all, right now.

Maybe this isn't your season to get plenty of sleep, so you can spend time holding your little one. Or maybe your to-do list never gets completed because you've gone back to school. Perhaps you wish you could take a big bite out of success, but you know that you weren't created to work 50, 60, 70 hours a week.

"There is a time for everything." When we listen for our Heavenly Father to tell us what we should include in this season, and obey when He tells us to drop something good, we will experience joy and peace.

It's a little like finishing a delicious bowl of homemade ice cream without getting brain-freeze.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the seasons of our lives. Thank You for creating a time for everything. Please help me understand what You want for me in this season of my life. Please enable me to concentrate on what You want me do right now. Help me to listen and obey when You ask me to drop something that seems good, but is only getting in the way of what You've designed for me in this season. Thank You for caring about my life.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

If you'd like to subscribe to the Gathered Chick weekly posts, click on the "Subscribe to Gathered Chick" RSS feed icon in the upper right hand of this blog. I hope this post encouraged you in your walk with Christ. Thanks for reading!

The Dress

I'm currently going through a wonderful discipleship program at our church called Partners. Last week, my Partners' mentor and I discussed the chapter on the Holy Spirit. We committed to working harder at listening for the Holy Spirit's prompts in our lives. Later that week, God taught me a wonderful lesson about really listening to Him with a right heart.

On Saturday, my husband and I were to attend a swanky wedding on the beach in La Jolla, and I knew I didn't have anything in my closet that would be appropriate to wear. I don't enjoy shopping for clothes, so I dreaded having to go out and buy something.

On Friday, I asked God to please make me aware of His voice and lead me to the right store and the right dress for me. I have to admit that I didn't really believe He would do so - but I certainly hoped He would. I, frankly, just wanted Him to quickly solve this problem for me so I could get on with my day.

Even in the midst of my concern that I wouldn't find a dress, I resolved to trust Him with my whole heart (Proverbs 3:5-6). Shopping tends to cause me a lot of anxiety and I really did desire to stay calm so I could listen for His promptings.

I started Friday morning by spending between 30 - 60 minutes each at five different stores. Although I found one dress that could work, it was more than I wanted to spend and this dress made my calves look enormous - not the look I wanted. I put that dress on hold and continued my quest. As I exited each store, my ability to stay calm and continue to trust God diminished.

At lunch time, I wearily made my way home. I was certain that fat-calf-dress was going to have to do. Tired and discouraged, I made myself some lunch and felt God prompt me to head over to a mall that I don't often frequent. I kind of ignored this prompt for about an hour - I just didn't want to go out there again. After all, I thought I'd been listening for His voice, was determined to trust Him with my whole heart (Proverbs 3:5-6), and had become discouraged by all the time this was taking. Didn't God know I wanted to solve this quickly!?!

I arrived at the mall, hot and tired. Immediately, I remembered a section of dresses that I had seen there a few weeks ago. One dress in particular had caught my eye, but at the time I had no need for such an item so I passed it by. I wondered if the dress would still be there?

When I arrived at the dress section, I was surprised to see the dress still displayed for sale. I tried to quell my excitement as I searched the rack for one in my size. After all, how many times have I seen something cute while shopping only to determine the price was too high or the store no longer had any in my size.

This time the price looked about right, but the size was an issue. They had ten dresses in size 16 and one in size 8. I just knew neither size would work and spent the next 15 minutes scouring the store for a misplaced dress in my size. The thought kept coming to me that I should just try the size 8, but I ignored the thought. There is nothing worse than being excited about an item only to have it be a disaster in the dressing room.

Finally, I realized I had no choice but to try on the size 8. There were no other dresses that even slightly appealed to me, and the store didn't have any other sizes of the dress.

And you know what? The size 8 fit. It was like this dress was made for me. I stood in the dressing room for quite a while, thinking I was delusional. There was no way this dress should have fit, but it did.

I was immediately floored by God's graciousness. He had gently taught me a lesson and allowed me to get a beautiful dress for a great price. What was the lesson? God wants me to listen to Him, but He wants me to listen with a right heart.

I thought my heart was right from the beginning, but I was full of selfish motives. I wanted to involve God in my dress shopping because I had hoped He would make it less painful for me. But really, I wasn't interested in Him being my God, I wanted Him to be my personal shopper.

God loves His children and wants to give good things to us (Matthew 7:9-11). But, He demands a rightful place in our lives. In the Ten Commandments, we are told that we are to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20). My "other gods" included wanting what I wanted, wanting not to spend excessive time shopping, wanting Him to hurry up and serve me.

God knew my heart wasn't completely pure, but He knew I wanted it to be. I think He brought me to the end of my own ideas of where to shop and the end of my own physical strength to show how His ways and thoughts are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:9) - He is GOD. And, He can be trusted (Proverbs 3:5-6).

If I will lay down my own plans and desires and allow Him to truly reign in my life, He will respond in ways much greater than I can imagine (Ephesians 3:20) - like finding me a beautiful dress and teaching me a little about listening to Him with a pure heart.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for allowing us to see Your goodness in the land of the living. Please give us ears to hear Your promptings in our lives and help us always check those promptings against the truth of your Scripture, knowing You would never contradict Your word, The Bible. Thank You for speaking to us.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

If you'd like to subscribe to the Gathered Chick weekly posts, click on the "Subscribe to Gathered Chick" RSS feed icon in the upper right hand of this blog. I hope this post encouraged you in your walk with Christ. Thanks for reading!

God Alone Can Make Easters of Good Fridays

Philip De Courcy spoke last weekend at Compass Bible Church. If you missed it, click here. His message was truly profound.

Pastor De Courcy's sermon, entitled "It's Not As Bad As You Think," was taken from Genesis 50:20. In this passage, Joseph is speaking to his brothers not long after their father's death. He tells them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good." That's a pretty loaded statement to make to anyone, but especially to your brothers.

Sadly, Joseph's family was just about as dysfunctional as it gets. In case you don't know this story, the trouble started because Joseph was clearly his father, Jacob's, favorite. His ten older brothers didn't appreciate Joseph's high position in their family - especially when he shared a dream in which he learned his family would one day bow down to him (see Genesis 37).

This "dream" of Joseph's was too much for his brothers. They sold him into slavery and allowed their father to think his favorite son was dead (Genesis 37). Long story short, Joseph found himself wrongly imprisoned but, later, found himself in the palace of Pharaoh (Genesis 40-45). "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."

It is easy for us to think that God is only involved in certain, good details of our lives. Surely, He has no hand in the evil that happens. But, Pastor De Courcy reminded us that God is Sovereign and has allowed everything that happens. This is because God knows what the ultimate outcome will be, and, for the Christian, it is always for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

As Pastor De Courcy profoundly shared, "On Good Friday, when the devil was doing his worst, God was doing His best - redeeming man." Good Friday didn't make sense to most who were present that day. It appeared that God had lost and Satan had won. God's Son was being killed - a most grievous evil. But, only God knew that in this heinous act, His Son was doing what no one else could do - take the punishment for the sin of the world (John 1:29).

This does not mean that God is the author of sin, but He does ordain everything that comes to pass. This can be a hard fact to swallow, especially if you've gone through something especially tragic at the hands of another. But, if you are a Christian, then God has ordained that terrible thing for some kind of good. We may never see what that good is this side of heaven, but we are promised in Romans 8:28 that the good is there.

Do you believe that God has allowed a terrible tragedy, or even just a bad day, in your life for good? Can you trust that God has allowed what you didn't want to have happen for the ultimate good of your life?

Remember, God alone can make Easters of Good Fridays. Don't take my word for it, click the link at the beginning of this post to view Pastor De Courcy's message in its entirety.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your great and precious promises in Your word, the Bible. Your promises are true, even if I can't see evidences of some of them right now. Please strengthen my faith in You and Your word as I wait for Your promises to come to fruition in my life. Thank You that all Your promises are "Yes!" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). Please help me to trust You as I believe the truth of Romans 8:28 - That in all things You work for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose. Thank You for this encouraging truth.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Still Squeaking and Squishing

I just heard Squeak-Squish walk through the complex on her way back from the pool. (Who on earth is Squeak-Squish? Click here to find out.)

The distinctive sound of her wet flip-flops meeting the pavement is part of the evening ritual around here. I have no idea what time she goes to the pool, but it appears she likes to stay as long as she can. If it's Squeak-Squish, it must be after 10 o'clock - the time the pool closes.

This woman's dedication to her evening swim is inspiring to me. I hear her faithfully going back and forth to the pool almost every night. It is clear that this activity is simply something she enjoys. She isn't going to the pool to get a tan and doesn't appear to be going for a swim in order to improve her appearance or fitness. I think she just likes to end her evening this way.

Not many people have the luxury of choosing to do something they want to do every day. Most of us struggle to get done only what is essential - and even much of that is often left undone.

Do you ever feel frustrated when your head hits the pillow at night?
The day was too short and your to-do list was too long?
Do so many tasks seem urgent that it becomes difficult to view the importance of each task with clarity?

Sometimes the way to get everything done is to do nothing. No, I don't mean that the way to handle your to-do list is to ignore it and go for a swim (although that sounds pretty nice on this warm evening.) The way to get everything done is found in Psalm 46. In verse 10 we are told, "Be still, and know that I am God."

In the frenzy of each day's activities, the last thing I usually feel like doing is being still. But, oh, how important it is to sit in God's presence and know that He is God. Slowing down our hearts and spending time to reflect on this truth can transform who we are, how we view our circumstances and what tasks remain on our to-do list.

Instead of being frustrated that I'm not accomplishing all I want, I'm going to let the squeaky-squishy sound of wet flip-flops remind me to meditate on who God is and the truth of His word. I hope you'll do it, too. It will be more refreshing for our souls than a cool swim on a warm summer evening.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being God and for revealing this truth to us through Your word, the Bible. Please remind us to still our hearts so we can spend time knowing who You are. Please continue to reveal to us Your holiness, justice and love, for Your glory and our good.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Coincidence? I Think Not!

My husband is a photographer by trade and has a special passion for landscape photography, so we've visited a number of National Parks lately. But of all the beautiful pictures he's taken recently, the picture above stands out as one of my favorites.

On a recent Saturday, my husband and I started the day in Jackson, Wyoming at a 5:30 am sunrise photo shoot of the Grand Tetons. This shoot was at the tail end of a wonderful trip to see our extended family in Montana. Because we love National Parks so much, we couldn't resist stopping at both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons on our way home.

The sunrise that morning was truly beautiful, and the chilly 32 degrees didn't give us an opportunity to feel very tired. After catching every bit of good light we could get, we said goodbye to the Tetons and decided to head home - all the way home. It would mean over 1000 miles of straight driving. Our goal was to drive as far as we could for the rest of the day in hopes of making it home to sleep in our own bed. We knew it would be a long, uncomfortable day in the car, but we thought it was worth a try.

For the most part, our drive south went rather smoothly, except for a 30-minute unplanned detour near Salt Lake City and the anxiety of dodging furniture in the road outside of St. George, Utah. By the time we entered Las Vegas that evening, we felt it would be silly to stop and decided to try to make the additional four-hour drive home.

We knew we needed something to eat, especially since coming up was a long, lonely stretch of dark desert. Deciding an In-N-Out shake might make our last few hours a little more enjoyable, we pulled off the freeway. The crowded, but quickly moving, traffic on the freeway made us completely unprepared for the gridlock we encountered at the bottom of the off-ramp. Bumper-to-bumper cars warned us that In-N-Out wasn't going to be a quick stop. Not to be deterred from our ultimate goal, my husband deftly maneuvered our Subaru back onto the freeway. There wasn't any ice cream in the world that was worth this kind of delay.

We quickly realized that stopping in Las Vegas would put us too far behind to make it home before fatigue caught up with us. So, we decided we would make a stop for food in Primm, Nevada. We had eaten at a Carl's Jr. there on our way up north and figured the traffic would be lighter there.

We both felt like zombies as we pulled off the freeway in Primm. Not enough food and too much time in the car had wiped us out. So, you can imagine how startled I was when my husband shook me from my stupor by shouting, "Oh my GOODNESS!" My eyes were so blurry from being in the car so long that I couldn't quite comprehend what he was yelling about. All I could see were two people walking to their car. Two people who looked oddly familiar.

When I realized who I was seeing, I jumped out of the car before my husband fully stopped the vehicle just to verify what I saw - my Aunt Linda and Uncle Joe.

It took everyone a few minutes to stop hugging and get over our shock. We never, ever expected to see each other at a fast food restaurant so far from both our homes.

Even though we had all driven up north together, we all came home separately. Linda and Joe had planned to explore Zion National Park, as we zoomed south on I-15. We never even thought to check up on each other to see where the other was. We assumed they were in Zion, they assumed we were somewhere photographing landscapes and wildlife.

God is funny that way. I think He knew we were all exhausted from our long trip and that we would get a kick out of seeing each other.

By the way, Linda and Joe were this Carl's Jr.'s last customers that evening. We caught them just as they were walking to their car with their food. So, we all went to the still-open McDonald's next door. They ate their Carl's Jr. while we ate our McDonald's - laughing and so glad to see each other.

So, the picture above is pretty special to me. Of two people I love. Eating Carl's Jr. At a McDonald's. In Primm, Nevada.

Nahum 1:7 reminds us that God is good; He cares for those who trust in Him. Sometimes God's goodness is seen in a kind word, or a beautiful glimpse of nature. We can always see it in His Word, the Bible. And sometimes we see God's goodness and care in a McDonald's. In Primm, Nevada.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You SO much for Your goodness to us. Thanks for the fun surprises You sometimes allow our way. Thank You for this tangible reminder that You see and You care for those who trust in You. Open our eyes to see the good things that You are doing in our midst each day.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Memorial Day - Raising My Ebenezer

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

“O Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Hymn, written by Robert Robinson in 1758.

I love this old hymn. However, for a long time I didn't understand what raising my Ebenezer meant in the second verse. In 1 Samuel 7:12, we see the common Old Testament practice of using a stone to memorialize God's provision. Samuel named this stone Ebenezer, literally "stone of help." This stone was to serve as a tangible reminder of God's help in the past - to help the Israelites trust God for His help in the future.

On this Memorial Day, what's your Ebenezer? What has God done for you that shouldn't be forgotten? On days when bills come due, I remember the time we received a check for exactly the amount we owed on a large bill. This helps me trust God to provide for our current needs.

I have a journal that I used to keep only my praises and thanks in - my Ebenezers. But, I haven't been good about keeping that journal current. On this Memorial Day, I want to be sure to memorialize God's goodness to me by committing to write in that journal more regularly.

I hope you'll consider starting an Ebenezer Journal, too. God is truly the fount of every blessing.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your goodness to us. Thank You for being a trustworthy God. Help us to remember the help You've given us in the past, so we can trust You in our present and future.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

The Bible - God's Word to Us

I've just started a verse-by-verse study of the book of James in the New Testament. This book is full of practical encouragement and helps - even though it was written perhaps as early as A.D. 45.

You know, that's one of the things I love about the Bible. It was written over a period of 1500 years, on three continents, by over 40 writers, in three languages. But the Bible is cohesive and timeless. The Bible doesn't contradict itself - which is amazing because even I contradict myself. The Bible is very applicable to our lives today. This is not a coincidence.

The Bible is sometimes called "God's Word" and that's exactly what it is! God spoke through the authors and still speaks to us through the Bible today.

The Bible can be trusted. Just as God can be trusted. And what God says in His word is right and true. For instance, James 1:5 encourages Christians to ask for wisdom and to trust God to give it to them "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Do you need wisdom? Maybe you're like a young man I met earlier this week, wondering if the Bible was just written by a bunch of crazy guys. You want wisdom to know whether this is a book you should wholeheartedly follow or fully reject.

Talk to God about your thoughts and feelings. Ask Him to give you wisdom. Then watch for His answer. He still speaks to us today.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for promising to give Christians wisdom when we ask. We can sometimes believe in You but not believe Your word is fully true. Please reveal the truth of Your entire word to those who ask You. Thank You for loving us and for giving us the Bible.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Perfect Timing

Last week my mentor asked me to read "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer, in addition to my regular homework. And am I glad she did! This may be the most important book I have ever read, other than the Bible.

I emailed her after reading the first six chapters (half of this little, but powerful, book) and shared, "I sobbed, journaled and am just catching a glimpse of what a real relationship with God is like."

Although Tozer wrote this book in the late 1940's, his writing is exceedingly relevant. One of the many pertinent topics that touched my heart was about God's eternalness.

God exists outside of time. He has always existed and will exist forever (Psalm 90:2, Revelation 1:8). He has no time limits (John 8:57-58).

Usually, after being reminded of this truth, I would shrug and say, "Yes, so?" But, not this time. After reading "The Pursuit of God," I have a better understanding and appreciation that God is eternal.

For instance, one of my "issues" is being freaked out about time; it seems to be constantly tapping me on the shoulder. I'll be 40 this year so my youth is almost officially gone (although I contend that you are only as old as you feel. Some days I feel 18 and some days I feel older than my 91-year-old grandmother.) I have no idea what I'll be doing in six months or even what the work of my hands is supposed to ultimately be. I'm not a mom yet. My inability to meet the world's timetable sometimes makes me feel ashamed and wonder if God cares.

As Tozer wrote, God "is eternal, which means that He antedates time and is wholly independent of it. Time began in Him and will end in Him. To it He pays no tribute and from it He suffers no change."

Yes - God is eternal. This is the hope and answer to all the worries I've stated above.

God isn't bound by some arbitrary time frame. As I seek Him, He will let me know what the work of my hands will be -- in His own time. As I trust Him, share with Him and listen for His guidance, direction and wisdom, I find that everything happens in His perfect timing.

In fact, God's eternalness also affects my daily task list. It is a lie to believe that I do not have time to accomplish what God has given me to do. God will help me get everything done He wants me to get done. Sometimes, that will be less than I think. And sometimes I sit in amazement over how quickly I am able to accomplish a task that should have taken much longer.

This isn't the "everything happens for a reason" mindset. This is following hard after God. Thinking about Him, asking Him what He wants, seeking Him moment by moment. And, as we do, we find that His timing is perfect.

God,
I thank You for being Eternal and praise You for being outside of time. Because of who You are and what You have done for me, I can rest in knowing that Your timing isn't just good, it is perfect.
Please speak to each of us this week about Your timing - for our lives and for our day.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen

People Who Need People

I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand social networking -- of any sort. I want to be connected with people, not for what they can give me but out of genuine friendship.

The longer I live, however, the more I realize how important it is to invest in relationships. As much as I might want to, I don't live in a vacuum. I need people.

Oh sure, I can happily spend a week alone at home without speaking to another human being. But, too much me can be just that -- too much. Pretty soon I'm like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving back.

My church is on a campaign to get as many members as possible signed up on Facebook. My first reaction was, who has the time for that? I signed up on Facebook a few months ago and saw it as a complete waste of time, although it has given me the fun of reconnecting with some old college friends.

As if he read my mind, my pastor wrote a very interesting note called Why Facebook. I have to admit that I can't refute his reasoning to join this social networking forum. Read his note for yourself and let me know what you think.

In the meantime, I'll be working on using my Facebook account a little more actively. Because even if I'm home alone, it's good to be around friends.

Heavenly Father,
The only thing that will last for eternity after this life is You and other people. Thank You for giving us the privilege of being in relationship with others. Thank You for the encouragement, molding and refining that happens when we're with other people.
Please help us to be the kind of friend You want us to be.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Joyful for a Cold?

I've been sick. And it has been really frustrating because it has kept me from getting anything done. I had to ring a bell and hold up a note in order to accomplish even something as simple as getting a Popsicle.

Although I didn't want to be sick and didn't feel I had the time, my only choice was to surrender to the cold and let it have it's way with me.

Do you have any circumstances in your life that are demanding their way in your life? Try as hard as we might, we sometimes can't change what is happening to us and have to just go with it.

The Bible has some wonderful encouragement for us when life doesn't go our way. Psalm 33:11 says, "But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." That means that nothing happens to me that God hasn't allowed as part of His plan - not even a cold.

And, as Christians, any suffering we endure is used for God's glory and our good. In fact, we are instructed in James 1:2 to actually count suffering as JOY because of the way we can benefit if we are suffering for the right reason and praise God for it.

You might not have a cold today but something is probably not going the way you planned. Ask God to help you "count it all joy" knowing that He has allowed this into your life as part of His loving plan.

Heavenly Father,
Even though the world in which we live isn't perfect, and is even sometimes bad, I praise You for working the circumstances in my life for good (Romans 8:28). Please help me to remember that You've allowed whatever is happening in my life. Enable me to praise You in the midst of my trials and help me see Your joy and blessing fill my heart.
Thank You, Lord, for what You are doing in my life.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I saw this adorable video on Patsy Clairmont's blog and just had to share it.



I love that this child knows all the words - not a mumbled "watermelon" to be heard. (If you've never been in choir, "watermelon" is what you sing if you can't remember the words. Doesn't work with a solo, though.)

Every Gathered Chick should know these words, too. Many people claim they can't memorize Bible verses but almost everyone on the planet can sing the theme to "Gilligan's Island." If you have trouble memorizing scripture, try finding it in song form or make up a tune of your own. Psalm 100 reminds us to "make a joyful noise" so don't worry if you don't sing well, it just matters that you do it. Think about little Zoei - she didn't care how she sounded. She just sang with her whole heart. That's what we should do, too!!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for little Zoei's reminder that we can memorize scripture and we don't have to have a good voice to sing to You. Thank You for giving us the Lord's Prayer. Please help us as we live for You. Thank You that, as Gathered Chicks, we can call you "our Father."
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Overcoming Fear - a vulnerable post

Why is it that as we get older, life feels scarier? Maybe I'm just speaking for myself.

I was probably more cautious than your average child but I was willing to do things back then that I would never do today.

I spent many happy hours riding my bike as a teenager. I explored Victorian neighborhoods and enjoyed the wind in my face. All in the days before bike helmets.

I willingly got on an airplane with excited thoughts of where I would travel and what I would see.

I looked forward to riding roller coasters!

Today my bike hangs forlornly in my garage. The thought of getting into an airplane literally makes me want to cry. And the last thrill ride I rode will probably be just that - my last.

My fears easily overcome me because I don't want to overcome them.

I don't want to get over my fear of flying because it would mean doing the exact thing that scares me so much. I see no reason to become friends with my bike because I can view a cute neighborhood from my car just fine. And why would I ever need to ride a roller coaster?

I may get through life just fine without ever riding a bike or an airplane or a roller coaster again. But I do need to live according to Jesus' teaching in John 14:27. He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (italics mine).

Whether I like it or not, I need to overcome my fears.

In her book, Having a Mary Spirit, Joanna Weaver gives some wonderfully practical suggestions to help overcome thoughts of fear or worry. One suggestion is to "add Dear Jesus to your fear and turn it into a prayer." Although this is an obvious piece of advice for a Christian, I have to admit that I haven't prayed much about these fears. Because, again, I don't want to overcome them.

My husband is flying tomorrow and I don't want him to go. But I know it would be out of God's will for him to avoid this trip. Would you pray that I give God my fears and not allow the fear to control me? Let me know your fears so I can encourage you to not let your heart be troubled, too.

Dear Jesus,
I'm afraid of bike riding, and airplanes and scary rides. Would You please help me overcome my fears so I can live according to Your command to not let my heart be troubled or afraid? I want to obey You. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live inside me so I can live for You. And, thank You for Your peace.
In Your precious name,
Amen

I've Got Nothing

I've been known to use the phrase I've got nothing on occasion. Sometimes it is in response to not having the answer to a question. Sometimes it is in response to the cards I feel life has dealt me. Sometimes it is in response to something greater.

Last week I shared that I've been thinking about the cross. Not about the resurrection, but about the cross - what it means, how I was involved, and how it changes me. As I reflected on what Jesus' sacrifice really means, I am brought to the realization that I've got nothing. I really don't have anything to offer God in terms of making myself right with Him. God's righteous standard is far above anything I could ever attain. Even the little good that I have to offer is fathoms below God's goodness.

I've seen a few "man on the street" videos lately where a passerby is asked if they know for sure they'll go to heaven and how to get there. A startling majority stated that the way to get to heaven is to do good things. "Be nice to people." "Don't hurt others." "Be a good person."

But if everyone is being good, how does one explain the way people drive? Driving is the one place where I'm not shy to say what I think about my fellow travelers. This knocks me out of the running for being "a good person." And, I'm pretty sure none of them are going out of their way to "be nice" to me. If someone wants to be nice to me on the freeway, then why isn't there more room between me and the car behind me?

As for "don't hurt others," I feel wounded sometimes by what others unintentionally don't do for me. "Why didn't she email me?" "Why didn't he appreciate me?" How can I meet the standard of not hurting others when one friend might perceive my actions to be kind while another might feel hurt by me for the same act?

It's a confusing world and there are few things on which I have clarity. But, one thing I know for sure: I've got nothing when it comes to being good enough to get to heaven on my own merits.

Jesus, thank You for the cross. Thank You for providing the way for us to be reconciled to our holy and righteous Creator. Thank You for pouring out Your life so I didn't have to try to meet my own standards (as if I could). Because I've got nothing, I live for you. Thank You, Lord.
In Your holy name,
Amen

Click here for more information.

The Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Isaac Watts (1707)

During most Easter weeks, I focus on the resurrection of Christ. Because that's the happy ending that I like. I get to dress up, decorate, eat brightly colored candy and enjoy gorgeous spring arrangements.

But this year, I'm going to focus on the cross. Because I need to. Because without the cross we don't get the resurrection. None of the happy ending happens without the drama of the cross.

John Stott says it so well in his classic "The Cross of Christ:
"...whether we like it or not, we are involved. Our sins put him there. So, far from offering us flattery, the cross undermines our self-righteousness. We can stand before it only with a bowed head and a broken spirit. And there we remain until the Lord Jesus speaks to our hearts his word of pardon and acceptance, and we, gripped by his love and full of thankgiving, go out into the world to live our lives in his service."

I'm going to focus on the cross this week because, as Stott put it, I am involved. I pray that we would each see how our sins put Christ on the cross and that we would all, gripped by His love, hear His word of pardon and acceptance.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the cross. Please give me the ability to truly, humbly see my sin for what it is. Give me a bowed head and broken spirit so that I can better understand the meaning of the cross. Grip me by Your love and fill me with thanksgiving so I can live my life in Your service.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Starting a Fire From Lemon Seeds

I've had a couple of fire - shall we say - mishaps.

The first happened because I had a confidential document for my former boss that I couldn't just throw away. Not owning a shredder, I'd had to tear up this ever-changing document into tiny pieces when I needed to dispose of it. One day, it occurred to me that it would be faster just to burn the document in the kitchen sink. It sounded safe to me - and easy. (I wonder how many houses have burned to the ground after such a thought.)

I lit the corner of the paper, amazed at how quickly the flame grew. I realized that it wouldn't take much to catch the window valance over my kitchen sink on fire. After a moment of sheer terror, I realized I could put the growing fire out by just turning on the water.

As I recovered from being scared half to death, I realized that our home smelled like a camp fire. And it continued to smell this way for days. Although it was very chilly outside, we kept the windows open, hoping that the smell would dissipate. Which eventually it did.

My next fire scare came a few weeks later after I had burned popcorn in our microwave. That smell lingered longer than the burned document smell. After a few days of saying "eeeeewwww!" every time we used the microwave, I decided to look on the Internet for a cure. I read a number of recommendations that microwaving lemon juice or vinegar until it evaporates will take care of the smell. My husband detests the smell of vinegar so I opted for the alternative.

I squeezed out all the juice from half a lemon into a Pyrex measuring cup. When the seeds dropped into the cup, I decided to leave them in there, actually - consciously - thinking that perhaps the seeds would help the smell in the same way lemon rind can give off a nice aroma.

I started the microwave and set the timer for five minutes after which it appeared that none of the juice had evaporated. So I set the timer for another fifteen minutes and left the room to answer some emails. I had all but forgotten about the microwave when I heard a strange buzzing sound. At first, I thought it was coming from a car outside but I quickly realized that the sound was coming from the kitchen. As I entered the kitchen doorway, I saw flames shooting up from the Pyrex cup. Thoughts of "my husband's not home" and "wow, that is a huge flame" and "Jesus, Save Me!" all ran through my head. I didn't know what to do but had to do something so I opened the door of the microwave and thankfully the flame died down. It was (somewhat) safe enough to pull the cup from the microwave so I grabbed a potholder and directed the cup under the faucet where I ran the water to put out the remaining fire. After seeing that the inside of the microwave had melted from the flame, I pulled the plug to the microwave. This new smell was actually worse than before. And, I had successfully killed the microwave. And the Pyrex cup.

Let me tell you, when you see a flame that isn't under control, you think about your life.

Both of my fire mishaps were caused by stupidity on my part, but my life isn't ultimately under my control. I could be on earth for another 40 - 50 years or I could light something else on fire this afternoon.

Because I belong to God, I'm okay either way. Knowing that it was God who kept me safe from the microwave fire, made me fall to my knees and weep at His goodness to me. I could have easily been in the bathroom when the fire started and would never have known what happened - but I was alerted to the noise in the kitchen. The flame in the microwave might have become greater by opening the microwave door thereby catching the above cabinets on fire - but the oxygen from the room didn't make the fire increase at all.

God has determined the time set for me and the exact places where I will live (Acts 17:26). And He has done the same for you. Your life isn't random. The very next verse in Acts tells us why: God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

God is near. Even when you start a fire with lemon seeds.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for caring about my life. Thank you for determining the length of my life and the exact places where I will live. I'm so glad that our lives have a purpose. Please make my life a blessing to You and to others for Your glory.
In Jesus' Precious Name,
Amen

Peace - Worth A Fight

ANNE: I can't eat. I can never eat when I'm in the depths of despair.

MARILLA: The depths of despair?

ANNE: Can you eat when you're that way?

MARILLA: I've never been that way.

ANNE: Can't you even imagine you're in the depths of despair?

MARILLA: No, I can not. To despair is to turn your back on God.

From the movie "Anne of Green Gables"

Poor Anne Shirley. She is in the "depths of despair" because she has learned that Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert wanted a boy, which Anne is most certainly not.

Every time I watch "Anne of Green Gables" Marilla's reply to Anne moves me. Perhaps it is because when I've been tempted to despair, I haven't considered that my doing so truly involves turning my back on God. Interestingly, when I make a cannonball dive for despair it is because I think God has turned His back on me.

When convincing myself to despair, my self-talk goes something like this: If God loves me, then He would (fill in the blank of what He would do or fix here).

Sometimes my self-talk sounds like Anne, herself: "Mrs. Hammond told me that God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared for him since."

Emotions about what I want God to do can be dangerous. When I focus on the God of the universe in this way, I have relegated Him to having the unfavorable position of simply being my cosmic vending machine. Instead of a relationship, I receive things that I want. Instead of a Savior, I run the show by telling God how situations are going to turn out.

Since no amount of wishing will ever put me in charge, when those emotions of despair come, watch out! Unlike Anne, I can eat when I'm in the depths of despair.

Since despair and an incorrect perception of God isn't in my best interest, what's the antidote? In short, it comes from being anxious about nothing, praying about everything and fighting against the enemy of despair by carefully monitoring what I think (Philippians 4:6-9).

Anything that pulls my heart in two different directions is a reminder that I should talk to God about it. And, in my case, that means I do a lot of talking to God. After I share the situation and my feelings with Him, I ask Him to take care of the situation and tell Him that I trust Him for the outcome. Peace inexplicably floods my heart when I pray about my emotions and focus on aligning my thoughts with what is true and lovely.

Simple yet profound. That's the Christian experience in a nutshell.

If you'd like more information on these concepts, please click here to view Jon Benzinger's teaching at Compass Bible Church last weekend called Unimaginable Peace. Jon did a fantastic job of reminding us that we must war against despair as if it is a lion coming to kill us. After all, isn't peace worth a fight?

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving us, through Your divine power, all we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of You who called us by Your own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3). We love You, Lord, and are willing to fight for peace by ruling our emotions rather than letting them rule us. Thank You for never turning Your back on Your children.
Because of Jesus and In His name,
Amen

There's My Noise

It is strange the way my memory works. I can remember with complete clarity what happened at certain times in my childhood, but I often can't remember what my husband just said to me. Maybe it's because I was paying better attention when I was two. Maybe it's because I wasn't on information overload when I was two.

I distinctly remember waking up one morning when I was really little. I recall thinking that Mommy would be pleased if I dressed myself. So I pulled on a little pair of pants and (I think) a little turtleneck. Maybe it wasn't a turtleneck but I do remember the little pants; I think they might have been red corduroy.

I marched out of my room and past the stereo cabinet in the living room. I remember walking beside the stereo and thinking how tall it was. My parent's stereo is a large piece of furniture; it's probably three feet high and five feet long. Since I'm five feet, six inches now, this was a long time ago.

When I got to the kitchen, I saw my mom hanging laundry outside the french doors of the apartment we rented until I was about three years old. I climbed up into my high chair and I think I was given a bowl of cereal for breakfast. At some point during the morning, Mommy and I went outside again so she could hang up more laundry. I remember hearing a plane go by and thinking that I would remember that moment for the rest of my life.

And, so far, it seems that I have.

I used to hear the noise of a plane overhead and instantly remember the details of that morning. Now, I also think of something a little more significant. Every time I hear that noise, I feel like God is saying "I love you!" This is my special reminder to thank Him for His love for me. It always makes me feel happy to hear it.

Do you have any special reminders of God's love? God has put reminders all around us. The sound of birds singing, the scent of flowers in the breeze, and the sound of a laughing child can help us remember that God is and that He is loving.

Ask God to give you a reminder of His love today. He's full of creative ways to show His love.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving me personally and for showing me tangible evidence of Your love for me. Please help me to pay attention to the ways You declare Your love. I want to know You more and love You better.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen