Repentance; April 27, 2023

Posted on April 28, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 78:38-39 Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.

The Psalmist was aware that if God wanted to He could destroy mankind, but having no concept of physics at all he had no idea how very simple it would be. There are countless things about the existence of life, not to mention the universe itself, that if they were just the slightest bit different, everything would fall apart. The odds against all of this coming together by chance are beyond calculation, but there are still people who want to insist a Creator doesn’t exist, simply because they don’t want to acknowledge their accountability to Him. The Psalmist has been recounting some of God’s disciplinary measures toward the Israelites, and here he is talking about God’s restraint in what He did. We too are treated better by God than we deserve, whether we want to acknowledge that or not. Books have been written about “Why bad things happen to good people,” but the fact of the matter is, every one of us has done things that by rights should disqualify us from the eternal life of fellowship with our Creator. It started in Eden and has continued right to today. God was aware of the moral weakness of His creatures, which is why He planned for the Incarnation and the cross from the point of creation. (Revelation 13:8) That’s why repentance is absolutely essential. If we say we believe, yet don’t repent of our rebellion against God, then our “faith” does us no good. James went on at some length about that, and Luther, in a reaction against the teaching that you could essentially buy your way into heaven, called the letter of James “a book of straw.” However, from the first of His public ministry Jesus proclaimed that people should “Repent and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:15) When we read all the things people did in the Bible that brought God’s judgment down on them we need to look at ourselves honestly, and be deeply grateful for the grace and mercy of God.

This certainly applies to me! I have commented many times that if I had been God, I would have squashed me a long time ago! I am deeply impressed with God’s mercy and patience. I think it was Jack Hayford who used the analogy of a field with a huge boulder in it. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and repent of our unbelief, that boulder of sin is taken away. However, as we walk around our “field” we find lots of “head-sized” rocks scattered around it, and we have to deal with each one, generally lugging it out of the area. Then we start to notice all the fist-sized rocks that seem to be everywhere! That is what Paul was talking about when he was insisting he hadn’t reached perfection. (Philippians 3:13) I certainly agree with him! Major lapses may be a thing of the past, but I know I’m capable of them, and if I get complacent I could fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12) I’ve got to keep my repentance up to date, and rejoice in the gracious mercy of my God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m certainly not the best judge of my own actions. Thank You that I can indeed trust everything to You, (2 Timothy 1:12) and rest, relax, and rejoice as You have told me to. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Education; April 26, 2023

Posted on April 27, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

At 72 verses this Psalm doesn’t begin to approach the 176 of Psalm 119, but it is still a hardly trivial attempt to do exactly what this verse says. In those days they didn’t even have printed books, much less the flood of digital information we deal with, so oral transmission of information was of extreme importance. Illiteracy was the norm, which is why even today a major feature of a bar mitzva, the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony, is reading from the Torah, the books of Moses. Jewish children have been taught to read for thousands of years so that they would know the Law of God. A side effect of that has been the incredible intellectual achievement of the Jewish people, because education has been undervalued by many cultures. I don’t know the figures, but a remarkable percentage of the Nobel Prize winners have been Jewish. In the early days of America literacy had a similar motivation, and the Bible was a staple of every schoolhouse. Naturally, the devil hates that, and in America he has made a concerted attack on education, first turning the public universities into cesspools of indoctrination and now extending that down all the way to kindergarten. When children are not taught about God they have no mooring, no foundation on which to build their lives. When they are actively taught things in violation of God’s law, chaos results, as we see around us every day. Thankfully some parents are waking up, even though their own foundations may be very weak. This verse needs to be a rallying cry in order to rescue society.

My family has been committed to education for several generations at least, with all four grandparents being 4-year college graduates and even great-grandparents being educated. Sadly, some of my relatives have been led astray from the purpose of education stated here, seduced into intellectual conceit, and that is sad. Thankfully, my father got his PhD at 23, but he poured himself into following God, and the university he was involved with still proclaims the dying words of the founder: “Seinan, be true to Christ.” I have considered getting a doctorate, but realized that the title would bring no genuine benefit, and the programs I investigated included lots of essentially meaningless busy work. I have supported my ministry activities in Japan by teaching, and though the curriculum has been secular, I have sought to communicate Christ in the process. Just this month I have decided to retire from secular teaching at the end of the school year (which is March in Japan). However, I hope and intend never to retire from telling succeeding generations about the greatness of God, His incredible love and grace and how He has demonstrated that down through the centuries and even today. My motivational gifting is that of Teacher, and I hope to exercise that until the day my Lord takes me home to be with Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s very encouraging and affirming. Help me indeed exercise all that You have poured into me to accomplish Your purposes for me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rest; April 25, 2023

Posted on April 26, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.

Rest can seem like a rare commodity at times. The Japanese expresses the first line as, “My soul is quiet, just waiting expectantly for God.” That really is the secret to rest. When we think, “I’ve got to do something, I’ve got to fix things,” we won’t really rest whatever we are doing otherwise. That sort of attitude, as destructive as it is, is actually rooted in self-centered pride, elitism if you will. It has caused countless problems in the world, as people who are convinced that they alone are smart enough to get things right proceed to mess things up totally. Genuine rest comes from humility about yourself and an accurate awareness of God. That awareness is encapsulated in the last two verses of this Psalm: “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Psalm 62:11-12) When we understand the power and character of God we are able to entrust, release, everything to Him, and that is rest indeed. Paul put it this way: “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) At the time he wrote that Paul was awaiting his execution! That’s not a time when most people can really rest, emotionally at any rate. However, the better we know God, the less this world will tie us in knots. As David says here, we need to receive our hope from Him, and rejoice!

Yesterday I had an interesting bit of training in this. I had a meeting at a church in another town. I’ve been there a couple of times before, but each time I had someone with me who was very familiar with the location, and yesterday I was by myself. I got completely lost, and had to call for rescue! Then after the meeting I managed to get lost again, failing to get back to the main road I had come in on, and had to stop and ask a gas station attendant the way to Omura. The sky was overcast, making east and west hard to distinguish, so that was probably a factor in my getting lost on the return, but all in all it was another blow to my pride, because I very seldom get lost. In it all, I’m grateful that my emotions didn’t get into more of an uproar, but it still wasn’t very restful! Physical exertion is tiring, but at the same time generally satisfying. Emotional exertion, on the other hand, can be exhausting but is not satisfying. I’ve got to remember what David says here, aiming to become like Paul was at the end of his life, refusing to let the devil steal my peace or my joy, receiving my hope from my loving Lord.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the lessons of yesterday. I still have no confidence I could find that church without a map, but that’s fine. Help me be totally assured of who and what You are, convinced that Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trusting God; April 24, 2023

Posted on April 25, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?

It has rightly been said that the definition of courage is not the absence of fear, but rather acting in the face of fear. David is honest enough to say that sometimes he is afraid. The particular turn of phrase is, “in the day of fear.” Here he is making the commitment to trust God even in such days, for they come to everyone. He repeats the sentiment a little differently later in the Psalm: “In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise–in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (vv. 10-11) Trust is ultimately a matter of choice, but it is a choice we can make, and it makes a huge difference. That’s why America’s enemies are so incensed that the national motto is, “In God we trust.” It’s on all American money, even though that seems laughable at times. Far too many people trust money, rather than God! Recent events, with inflation and the like, have shown just how untrustworthy money is, but as the Bible points out repeatedly, foolish and/or evil people have trusted in their wealth from time immemorial. We live in scary times, with threats ranging from China to AI to pandemics. The choice is clear: do we trust God, or not? The devil does all he can to erode our trust in God, but the choice remains ours. God is the only thing, the only One, who is absolutely trustworthy. In these scary times, He is our hope and our refuge.

I don’t think I’ve ever been a particularly fearful person, and I’m grateful. I see people all around me who seem consumed by fear. Japan has been open to the idea of “flu masks” for a very long time, but still it is sad to see people walking alone outdoors with masks on even now. I was very happy yesterday when the groom of a couple that came for counseling before their wedding didn’t wear a mask, and I happily ditched the face shield that I use to keep from offending people. I have had COVID, and it wasn’t fun, but I’m very thankful that I never cowered in fear of getting it in the over two years from the point it was “released into the wild.” With my wife’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, some people would be constantly fearful of how it might progress. I choose not to be, even though I am quite informed, medically speaking. A friend was killed last week by a driver distracted by their phone. That could happen to me, and I’ve had a few close calls when I’ve been out walking, but I choose not to walk in fear (pun intended). I have seen God rescue me from even very dangerous situations, and I have total assurance of my ultimate destination, so I have every reason to trust God and rest, relax, and rejoice, just as He has told me to do.

Father thank You for Your incredible faithfulness. New things come up with remarkable frequency to try to steal my peace. Help me consistently submit to You and resist the devil, so that his attacks on my mind and heart may blow away like dust, (James 4:7) and I walk in assured obedience to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stress; April 23, 2023

Posted on April 24, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

This verse has been beautifully set to music, and it is essentially quoted by Peter: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) The Psalm as a whole is an interesting one, obviously written after David was king in Jerusalem, surrounded by luxury but beset by duplicitous men to the point that the life of a dove in the desert looks attractive to him (vv. 7-8) He was essentially stressed out, just as we get sometimes. The answer, for David and for us, is trusting God enough to release things to Him. Frankly, that’s often easier said than done! A particular Japanese word, used both here and in 1 Peter, is very interesting. It is most often translated as “worry,” but that would make it inappropriate when applied to God. It is literally, “distribute the heart.” The same characters, read differently, indicate kindly concern. In other words, if applied to someone else, it’s a good thing, but applied to yourself, it can be destructive. That is true indeed! David was stressed out and anxious, but he knew the solution, as he states here. His conclusion to the Psalm, in the very last line, is one we all need to declare to God: “But as for me, I trust in You.”

I’m not what psychologists would call an “anxious personality,” but that doesn’t mean I don’t stress out at times. This week is completely packed, with something big and/or out of the ordinary every day. Thinking about it ahead of time definitely tends toward stress, so I’ve got to be active in my trust. Any one of the things coming up would not be such a big deal by itself, but the aggregate is daunting. That’s why I need to take one day at a time, just as the song says. I have experienced God’s guidance and support countless times, so I know from experience that He can get me through this with no problems. I’ve just got to rest, relax, and rejoice, as He has told me to do. Other people are involved in every one of the upcoming events, and I need to be available to God as His instrument of blessing to each one. If I’m focused on me and my stress, that won’t happen. The Lord is indicating that my work will change greatly in about a year, but I don’t know how. I need to approach this week as training to prepare me for how the Lord wants to use me for His glory.

Father, thank You for all that You are doing, and for including me in some of it. Help me not try to run away from any of it. I certainly have that impulse at times, just as David did. Help me be fully present all the time, allowing You to pour Your strength through my weakness, accomplishing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Evil Men; April 22, 2023

Posted on April 23, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 52:1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?
Why do you boast all day long,
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

The “Doeg the Edomite” about whom this was written was a genuinely nasty guy, as recorded in 1 Samuel 21 and 22. The thing is, there have been nasty people throughout history. Those who aren’t that way have great trouble understanding their motivation, but it’s all a focus and amplification of things that exist in all of us. It has become a cliché, but the saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I,” is very true indeed. Every human being is capable of great evil, whether we want to recognize it or not. Just recently someone who was thought to be “a nice guy” took a gun to the bank where he worked and killed several of his coworkers before police killed him. We will never know the exact mechanism involved in his case, but it was a matter of his swallowing the lies of the devil, who is always out to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) It is very interesting to me, and a bit of a shock when I discovered it, that in this Japanese translation the second half of the verse reads, “God’s grace is always there/available.” Once again I’m left wondering what on earth the Hebrew says, but actually there is a major connection, going back to the “cliché” I mentioned. God’s grace is available to every human being, but we have to choose to accept it. Choosing otherwise turns us to the devil, and it’s very obvious where that leads. When we encounter evil people we are not to be surprised, but neither are we to hate them. We are to hate their actions, certainly, but they themselves are to be pitied, because they will go to the destruction that was planned for the devil and his demons. When we open ourselves up to hate, we are opening ourselves up to the devil, and that is never a good idea.

This brings to mind a verse that was very liberating to me: “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Peter 1:8-9) The part of that passage that really set me free was, “he has been cleansed from his past sins.” I was dealing with a “besetting sin,” and the devil was hiding from me the reality that confessed sin is forgiven, period. If it’s forgiven, then I have a clean slate, and I can move forward to serve God. Even Doeg the Edomite, had he repented, could have been saved. I’m not to yield to evil people, but I am to pity them and pray for them, that somehow God’s truth may penetrate and set them free from all the lies of the devil that have made them what they are.

Father, thank You for this reminder. My friend being killed in a traffic accident this week was a sharp reminder that we don’t have an unlimited time to repent. He had heard the Gospel from me, but to my knowledge had not acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and a driver distracted by her phone took him out. I ask for anointing and boldness, that Your words through me may indeed penetrate the wall of lies that trap so many, and set them free to repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wealth; April 21, 2023

Posted on April 22, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 49:12-13 But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is like the beasts that perish.
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.

This whole Psalm is about the futility of wealth in the face of mortality. I chose to write on these two verses on the basis of the phrase, “trust in themselves,” in the NIV, only to discover that the Japanese doesn’t say that, but rather calls such people “foolish.” It is certainly foolish to trust in yourself, but this makes me wonder what the Hebrew says. Regardless, the writer himself, knowing his Creator, trusts that death will not be the end for him. (verse 15) That was a pretty high level of faith for someone who didn’t know about the cross and resurrection of the Messiah! The writer doesn’t dwell on that, but closes the Psalm with his own summary of it: “A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” (verse 20) The writer concedes that riches are counted as a blessing and certainly bring social advantages, (verse 18) but he is warning us not to be blinded by them. Going back to my original passage, it is indeed very dangerous to approve of someone just because they are wealthy or “successful,” much less become their follower. However, we see that around us all the time. People become oddly blind when shown great material wealth! If we are financially blessed we need to be grateful, recognizing that it is God who gives us the ability to produce wealth, (Deuteronomy 8:18) but remembering that just as this Psalm says, material wealth is insignificant on the scale of eternity.

I don’t think I’ve ever been especially overawed by wealth for its own sake. Pictures of huge mansions, such as are plastered over the Internet, largely disgust me. At the same time, I recognize that poverty can be grinding indeed, so I don’t discount the material in terms of this life. Right now Cathy and I are at the most financially comfortable place we’ve been in our marriage, but we still don’t reach the level that I saw in an article just yesterday that defined “middle class” in the US. Regardless, I feel assured that I have “the riches of glory,” (Ephesians 3:16, etc.) and that is more than enough.

Father, thank You for Your provision on all levels. Thank You also for the awareness that every bit of it is grace. Help me be the steward You want me to be of all of it, whether it is material, intellectual, or spiritual. May I be a useful vessel in Your hands, for Your provision to flow as You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tools; April 20, 2023

Posted on April 21, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 44:6-7 I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.

The Sons of Korah, to whom this Psalm is attributed, were one of the clans of the Levites. As such, part of their responsibility was to transmit the oral history of Israel to the succeeding generations, as is referenced in the first three verses of this Psalm. From verse nine on, this Psalm is essentially a complaint that God isn’t living up to His previous track record. It is also interesting that verse six is in the first person, making all of this more personal. All of that said, what is expressed here is very important for everyone of every generation to remember: our tools or weapons don’t accomplish what is needed, God does. We have such a tendency to forget that! Tools and weapons are helpful, but they are never the final answer. When we trust them ahead of trusting God, they become idols to us, and that is dangerous indeed. America has had the preeminent military in the world for the past 80 years, maintaining a balance of peace that has prevented major conflicts. However, the devil has been sadly successful in separating America from its Christian heritage, and our marvelous technology cannot save us. In military matters, as in every area of life itself, we need to keep our focus on the One who created and sustains us, because apart from His grace, we wouldn’t even exist.

I’ve had assorted lessons in this area. Having been drafted and spent two years in the Army I have more than a passing awareness of military hardware, but this of course goes far beyond military applications. I’ve always been something of a techie, a geek, and technology has always interested me. However, I’ve certainly had plenty of experience with technology failures. I’ve learned the hard way that anything physical can fail. At the same time I’ve learned that God is totally reliable, but I’m not to be presumptive. I’ve had more than enough trouble with conceit! I am to approach every situation in humility, grateful for the tools God has provided, but remembering that it is not the tools that will get the job done, but God, if I will be obedient to Him. The writer of this Psalm is sure that he has not strayed from God’s path, (vv. 17-18) but I need to be more humble than that. I need to let the Holy Spirit show me the state of my soul and be quick to repent as He indicates. He alone is my shield, my guide, my deliverer.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I can easily see how it applies on the national and international scene at the moment, but I’m not currently aware of issues to deal with personally. Keep me from being presumptive. Help me rather listen to You always, in grateful obedience, so that I may fulfill all of Your purposes for me on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Focus; April 19, 2023

Posted on April 20, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 40:5 Many, O Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.

Much of the time David really got it right. We know from the last half of this Psalm that it was written at a point when he was really in a bind, with people out to kill him. However, he starts out by reminding himself of all the times God has rescued him, and here he declares that they are too many to count. That’s actually true for everyone on earth, if we have the spiritual perception to recognize it. God is indeed a God of mercy and grace, and the more we focus on that reality, the better able we are to endure the trial of the moment, whatever that might be. The hymn, Count Your Blessings, is one of my wife’s very favorites, and that’s saying something, considering how many hymns she knows. Right know she’s going through a lot, health-wise, but she is very aware of how much God has blessed her over the years. The devil tries to get her attention off of that, but he doesn’t succeed very often or very long. That makes her an example and an inspiration to all who know her. None of us is exempt from problems, just as Jesus warned us. (John 16:33) However, it we keep our focus on our almighty, loving Creator, we can get through anything, as Paul said many times in many ways, (2 Corinthians 4:17) and other writers did as well. (Hebrews 12:2)

Living with the wife I have, my conscience quickly rebukes me if I try to get into a pity party! I certainly agree with this verse, and I need to let it be reflected in every one of my interactions. This morning I get to share the Word with an interdenominational prayer meeting that meets here, and I am grateful. At the same time, I’m a bit stiff and sore from the gardening work I did yesterday. That said, I made real progress in getting things planted, and I can look forward to the harvest. I have negatives and positives all the time, and I need to choose to keep my focus on the positives, and most especially on the reality that my Creator loves me so much that He sent His Son to die for me and His Spirit to live in me. That in itself is too wonderful to express fully in human words! When I let myself be distracted by aches and pains, physical or figurative, I reduce my availability to my Lord for Him to use me in blessing others, and I don’t want that. I indeed need to “fix [my] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that [I] will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I live this day and every day in gratitude and praise, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Righteous; April 18, 2023

Posted on April 19, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalms 37:30-31 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

Several times in the Bible, particularly in Psalms and Proverbs, there are descriptions of “the righteous.” Here, David starts by what a righteous person says, but then he gives the secret, the foundation of it all: the law of his God is in his heart. This of course agrees with that very famous verse from the longest chapter in the Bible, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Without God’s Word, we have no reliable standard to know what is right and just and good. Dennis Prager has put out a video about how unreliable our consciences are, saying that generally, even mass murderers sleep well at night. He’s something of an expert on that, having studied Communism for most of his life. Human reasoning and intellect will always tend toward the self-centered; only God sees and cares about the whole universe. Our very limited perspective is a major reason why we have to rely on God to have any hope of getting things right. However, the benefits of relying on God are without number. David here says, “his feet do not slip,” and that covers a wide range of our life experiences. One thing to remember is that God’s law needs to be in our heart, not just our head. In our head, we compartmentalize and think, “this applies here but not there,” but in our heart it gets to who we really are and works itself out in every area of our lives. That is when we start to become genuinely righteous, and our words and actions reflect the God we serve.

Of course this applies to me. God is the judge of whatever degree of righteousness I might have, but looking at myself I can see plenty of areas for improvement. As I am reminded frequently, James 1:22 certainly applies to me: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” I have been steeped in the Bible from childhood, but I have quite a track record of leaving it in my head and not letting it govern my heart. That’s not being righteous! Of course, legalism is simple and easy, but not very smart. That’s when we let our minds rule, instead of letting God’s heart be in charge. I’m not to let my emotions be in charge either; God is absolutely holy, and how I “feel” about something doesn’t change anything. If I want to be righteous, and I do, I’ve got to stay focused on my Lord (Hebrews 12:2) and speak and act always in full agreement with Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ll be speaking in class this morning, with a friend this afternoon, and then tomorrow morning I have the message at an interdenominational prayer meeting. And of course, I’ll be interacting with my wife and various other people throughout each day. Help me do every bit of that on the basis of Your Word, Your Spirit in me, and not just out of my own thoughts and reasoning. May I draw people to You by demonstrating You to them, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment