Spiritual Growth; March 16, 2020

Posted on March 19, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse should settle the perennial “faith vs. works” argument, and the fact that argument still exists shows that people aren’t as familiar with the Word as they think they are. As this states very clearly, genuine faith causes us to do things (works), and genuine love causes us to put our all into it (labor). On top of that, if we understand what God has prepared for us in Christ, we will be able to make it through any trial because of the anticipation (hope) that we have of God’s resolution to it all. Looking at it that way, we can gauge our own spiritual development fairly easily. Looking around, we can easily see people who seem to be deficient in one or more of these areas, but judging others isn’t our job, as the Bible says in multiple places. However, we can and should encourage each other to grow in faith, love, and hope. Such encouragement will do far more to correct undesirable behavior than trying to deal directly with the behavior. And always, we need to remember that we ourselves will always have room to grow in each of these areas, which should keep us from pride.

As a pastor, encouraging spiritual growth is the biggest part of my job description. At the same time, people tend to expect (demand) perfection from me in each of these areas. Since even Paul didn’t have it all together, (Philippians 3:12-14) their expectations are certainly misplaced! It is certainly desirable that I be as far along the road as possible in each of these areas, and indeed it is encouraging to look back and see that I have progressed, but any temptation to pride is quickly checked when I stumble over really trivial things. Just as I tell others to do, I need to be consistent in taking my eyes off of myself and fixing them on my Lord Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 12:2) When I do that, He surprises even me by the things He does through me. Yesterday was a good case in point. We had some new people in the service yesterday who arrived a little late, so I had no interaction with them until after the service. It turned out that for one of them, my sermon couldn’t have been any more direct and personal. That was manifestly not anything I could have planned, since I had never met that person, much less known their background or that they would be in the service. God doesn’t miss a beat! My job, when I was preparing the message, when I was delivering it, and always, was and is to listen obediently to my Lord and yield myself fully to Him. That will produce the work, the labor, and the endurance that He desires.

Father, thank You for Your wonderful patience and faithfulness toward me. Thank You for using me yesterday. Your appointments are the best! Help me be available for each of the appointments You have for me today, so that I will keep growing and keep doing Your will, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Perspective; March 15, 2020

Posted on March 18, 2020 by jgarrott

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

This passage should take care of all complaining employees, because it is addressed directly to slaves! I don’t think this should be applied to sex trafficking, which is the most common form of modern slavery, but it certainly deals with every employment situation we can think of. As with so many things in life, it is all a matter of perspective. When we are focused on the temporal, the here-and-now, it’s easy to get dissatisfied and frustrated. However, when our focus is on the eternal, everything looks different. As Paul told the Corinthians, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) That’s not to say we are to be doormats, accepting any kind of abuse. We are to be agents of righteousness and justice, since we serve a just and righteous God. However, most of what irritates us doesn’t fall into that category. We are to seek improvement when possible, but not be uptight about it in the mean time. (And some employers can be pretty mean!) The point Paul is making here is that we indeed serve Christ, before, above, and beyond any merely human person. That’s why Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Employers make themselves pretty small when they pick on employees, so I think you could apply that here.

I’ve never been in anything like some of the horrendous work situations I’ve read about, but I’ve definitely had friction with employers. In such situations it has been very helpful to remember that my employment in no way defines me, even when it is descriptive. In other words, I may work for so-and-so, but that is not who I am. Who I am is a child of God, created by Him for fellowship with and service to Him and destined to inherit eternal glory that makes everything on this earth fade into insignificance. As long as I keep that awareness, bumps in the road remain minor, even when they might look huge to an outside observer. The difficult think for me is in remembering this consistently. I get irritated or panicked at little things just like anyone else! That’s why I need the Holy Spirit to remind me, and I also need my brothers and sisters in Christ to remind me, because otherwise I forget, and lose out on the peace and joy that God intends and has provided for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. As a pastor I constantly deal with people who need to be so reminded, if they ever had it firmly in their head and heart to begin with. I ask You to enable me to speak the truth in love to everyone, so that Your children may escape the traps of the devil and walk in all that You intend for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Getting Real; March 14, 2020

Posted on March 18, 2020 by jgarrott

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This whole chapter is solidly practical, spelling out in concrete terms how God’s truth is to be lived out in our daily lives. The Bible is actually not very friendly toward “ivory tower” theologians, or even academics of any sort. Paul was very well educated, with the equivalent of doctoral or even post-doctoral studies, but he knew from experience that if the truth he had learned wasn’t lived out in daily life, it wasn’t worth the papyrus, much less parchment, it was written on. That lesson seems to be lost on many academics of all sorts today, who seem more in love with their theories than with the real people on whom they inflict them. I remember from my college days when we would occasionally tell each other to “get real,” meaning to move from the theoretical to the practical. God gave us the ultimate example of “getting real” when He sent His Son to be born as a human baby, to live and grow just as we do with all that means, and then to take the penalty on Himself for all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. When that reality really breaks through into our hearts and minds, then the things Paul wrote in this chapter follow completely naturally. In considering this particular verse, it’s important to remember that in the culture of the day, doing something “in someone’s name” meant doing it in harmony with their character and will. We tend to overlook that when we tack “In Jesus’ Name” onto whatever we happen to ask for in prayer. Here Paul is telling us to live every part of our lives in harmony with Jesus Christ, which means doing it under the guidance of and by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are doing that, all the theories and all the rules are irrelevant, because we are in Christ and He is in us.

This certainly applies to me as much as it does to anyone. I have done plenty of “deep thinking,” pondering all sorts of theology and any number of other things, but the longer I live, the more I realize it’s the practical obedience to God that counts, and really, nothing else. I am in a sense amused by the people who are so incensed by things Donald Trump says (and tweets), all the while they are enjoying and profiting from the things he has actually done. I am a man of words, but if my life, my actions, don’t line up with the truth I speak, then my words are useless. American Evangelical Christianity has focused on “the sinner’s prayer” to the point of making it seem magical, with no real heart change called for. I must not be like that, but remember what John the Baptist said: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8) Jesus likewise said a lot about backing up our words with our actions. (eg. Luke 6:46) I need to live out the truth I know and teach others to do likewise, so that we may be the disciples that Jesus desires. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed do and say everything in perfect harmony with my Lord Jesus, giving You the thanks and praise that You deserve, so that Your truth may be manifested in and through me, drawing many into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Walk of Faith; March 13, 2020

Posted on March 16, 2020 by jgarrott

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

This is excellent advice for everyone who has believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Far too often we tend to think of our salvation as a past event, when nothing could be further from the truth. Being in the flow of time we have trouble grasping the reality that God, being outside of time, sees everything as now. Past, present, and future are all the same to Him. Being in time ourselves, we are called to grow and mature over time, but from the moment we committed ourselves to Jesus as Lord, we passed from death to life, from darkness to light. The issue then becomes one of how we live out what God has made us to be in Christ Jesus. The Japanese here, in more literal agreement with the Greek, speaks of “walking in Christ,” rather than “living.” Walking is by definition active: you can’t do it sitting down. We tend to want to be spiritual couch potatoes, just taking in God’s blessings and not doing anything. That doesn’t cut it! Faith in Christ is something that is to be lived out actively in every area of our lives. We tend to act as though being a Christian were like watching sports on TV, when actually we are the contestants in the game. Sometimes we see believers who are like Olympic-level athletes of faith and so discount our own efforts, but the fact remains that we are all in the same game, and the same Lord guarantees our eventual victory, if we will simply follow His directions.

This of course applies to me, and as a pastor I seek to help believers understand that it applies, and how it applies, to them. I feel like I have wildly varying success with that! Some people are like caterpillars, steadily consuming the Word on a daily basis, and I know they will eventually be beautiful butterflies indeed. Others seem like fleas, hopping around at times but generally contributing little more than discomfort to the Church. I am not to be judgmental but I am to be discerning, not allowing the “fleas” to distract me from God’s plans for this church. God can even transform “fleas” into butterflies, if they will get into the Word and allow it to abide in them. If I focus in the “itch” they generate at the moment, I myself will fail to overflow with thankfulness, as Paul specifies here. If I fail to keep my eyes on Christ, instead being distracted by people’s failures, including my own, I will indeed lose the gratitude that opens my heart to receive the abundance of God.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Help me now get it into an appropriate outline to be able to share it with the flock on Sunday. I feel like I have a great deal to do today, but You got me through a packed schedule yesterday, and You will do it again today. May I not run away from anything You have on my schedule, today or any day, but do each thing in turn by Your wisdom and strength, so that everything will be done as You intend, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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Roots

Posted on March 15, 2020 by jgarrott

March 12th we had the privilege of driving to Fukuoka to see an exhibit at the Seinan University Archives on 79 Missionaries,highlighting all the missionaries who have taught at the school in the over 100 years of its existence. That was of great interest to us since my father founded the University Department of the school shortly after my birth. (The school as such had existed for quite a few years before that, but hadn’t gone beyond High School. It now goes from Middle School through Graduate Studies.) Of great interest was the large poster they had with names, faces, and dates of the missionaries. It was interesting that they were missing pictures of some of the missionaries whom I knew personally, and some of the pictures were frankly unflattering. It was also of interest that the dates they posted were the dates those missionaries actually taught at the school, rather than their years of missionary service. I think I’ll get them to check their records, because it was my understanding that my mother had taught in the High School some while I was quite small, but only the years she taught after I was an adult were listed. That said, the overall exhibit was quite moving, covering as it did the period of WWII as well as the riotous times of the 1960s. (One missionary chancellor actually died of a heart attack while he was blocked into his office by student demonstrators.)
We were pleased to hear that the biography of my father is scheduled to be released next year. The English manuscript is essentially complete, but it will need to be translated into Japanese for simultaneous publication, and that is no small task. I’m glad I wasn’t asked to do it! The Chief Archivist was thrilled to hear that we have many pictures of my parents, particularly, as well as other missionaries, and it is quite possible some of those will find their way into the book.
I told the Archivist that the exhibit reminded me of the way I was introduced several years ago by the head of Nagasaki Rehabilitation College, where I teach. A new part-time teacher was there, and the school head said, “This is Garrott. He’s nothing much, but his father was really remarkable.” I laughed at the time, and still do, but I also agree completely!
We don’t choose our ancestors, or our other relatives, for that matter, and I have been marvelously, graciously blessed in that department, and I am deeply grateful.

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God’s Truth; March 12, 2020

Posted on March 15, 2020 by jgarrott

Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I should have used this in my message the other day on Children of the Light! One thing about the Bible is that its major themes are repeated many times by many different writers, so they come across in different styles to hopefully hit home in the hearts of all people, as wildly different as we are. That’s why it’s a red flag when someone “proof texts” a particular teaching from just one passage, and particularly when they insist on just one translation of that passage. God’s truth is universal and eternal, (Matthew 24:35) but language is a function of culture, and meanings often shift over time. An example would be the English monarch who, on first being shown St. James Cathedral in London, said it was “awful.” Translated into modern English, that would be “awesome.” We need to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit when we read the Bible, as well as read the Bible through in various translations, to have the best chance of really hearing what God is saying to us. That said, receiving the Gospel into our hearts really is a matter of going from darkness to light, death to life, just as Paul says here.

I’ve lost track of how many different translations of the Bible I’ve read from Genesis to Revelation, but I’ve only read the Apocrypha in one translation, and that just once. It has interesting stuff in it, but I can really understand why it was not accepted into the Canon. That aside, reading the Bible is a joy, as familiar as it is. In my preaching I rarely stick to just one passage, but pull in other passages that apply to the same truth, too often overloading my hearers! That keeps me from being the best person to teach completely new believers, because they don’t yet have the foundation to bear the load. I’m reminded of Paul’s long, convoluted sentences. There’s just so much marvelous truth, and it’s all interconnected! That’s why I need to let the Holy Spirit apply the brakes when I am speaking. He’s been talking to me recently about not saying hurtful things unintentionally, but I also need to let Him sharpen the point, so to speak, when I am saying necessary, important things, so that my extra words won’t cloud the truth, or even bury it, that He wants to get across through me.

Father, thank You for this Word. I certainly didn’t expect it when I started reading! Thank You that we’ll be able to visit Seinan University today to see their exhibit on 79 Missionaries. My parents are in that number, but when I contacted them by email yesterday to confirm that the museum wouldn’t be closed today because of COVID-19, the response made it seem like the person writing didn’t recognize my name. That was, frankly, disappointing, since my father founded the University Department of the school, but then, that was 70 years ago! I ask You to keep a check on my words and actions today, that I will be kept from projecting any attitude of self-importance, but will rather be a blessing to all I encounter. Thank You. Praise God!

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Walking Bibles; March 11, 2020

Posted on March 15, 2020 by jgarrott

Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Earlier verses in this chapter are justly famous, and indeed I quote them often, but at this moment this verse resonates with me. To some people this might seem like pride to the point of hubris, but we need to remember that Paul’s readers didn’t have the New Testament to rely on; he was still writing it! I am reminded of the hymn, Let Others See Jesus In You. I translated it into modern Japanese, and we sing it fairly often in this church. The second verse has a line that says, “Your life’s a book before their eyes; they’re reading it through and through.” I had to put the specific character for “read” into the lyrics, because just entering it phonetically, it sounds like “people are calling you.” Actually, the first time we used my translation here, some people thought I had used the wrong character, because Japanese doesn’t have the expression, “I can read him like a book.” The thing is, the average person on the street isn’t going to pick up a Bible to read it, but they’re going to see Christians. That second verse of the hymn continues, “Say, does it point them to the skies? Let others see Jesus in you.” We need to live as Paul did, as “walking Bibles,” so to speak. We tend to shy away from this because, frankly, we like to sin every once in a while! Now, we are going to sin, because of our human frailty, but we certainly shouldn’t plan to sin, and far too often we do even that. We are commissioned as witnesses for Christ, (Acts 1:8) and we need to live accordingly, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Another thing comes to me from this verse, and that is Paul’s stress on “put it into practice.” We have the Bible to read, and Paul was busy being the Bible, as well as writing it, but in any case it is to be put into practice. Those who admired Paul from a distance, so to speak, got little or no benefit from their admiration, but those who applied what they learned from him discovered the same God he served, and that is the greatest of blessings. And finally, Paul reminds us here that God is the God of peace. The verses leading up to this are famous in terms of dealing with anxiety, but ultimately, the key is applying the truth we know. Just as James said, anything less is deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22)

Even as I seek to be a “walking Bible” for others, I need to be careful to apply the Word myself. Frankly, I won’t be an accurate “translation” of the Bible unless I am living it out myself. That is a constant challenge! Distractions are limitless, and the devil is a crafty adversary. I can’t overcome him in my own wisdom and strength, but if I am fully submitted to my Lord in obedience, then and only then can I resist the devil and have him flee. (James 4:7) In my years in Omura I have had many people express admiration and even envy of my faith, but distressingly few have accepted such faith for themselves. I’m not to give up, but rather keep speaking the truth in love, living it out so that the Holy Spirit will have every opportunity to draw these people to Christ, for their salvation and the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I am daily impressed with the reality that I can’t save anyone on my own. I pray that You would indeed save the people of Omura, of Japan, whether I am involved or not, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Spiritual Growth; March 10, 2020

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jgarrott

Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Paul told the Corinthians to “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 11:1) but here he makes it even more direct: we are to be like Jesus. Actually, he said this several times in various ways, and every one of those is a challenge to us. However, Jesus Himself said things along this line, particularly in the Upper Room Discourse, in which He talked repeatedly about our “abiding in” Him and the Father and them abiding in each other and in us. The whole thing is totally beyond merely human ability! That’s why we need to submit and rely totally on God. After all, He sent His Son to save us and His Spirit to fill us. That’s precisely how we can be like Jesus. I saw a fascinating medical report just yesterday that illustrates this, I think. A young woman in India was in an accident in which she lost both of her hands. A medically suitable donor was found, but it happened to be a man with much darker skin than the woman. The transplant surgery was successful, and the woman is regaining feeling and use of both hands (which is a huge testimony to the advances of modern medicine) but the fascinating thing is that the complexion of her hands has faded to match that of the rest of her body, and in a photograph I couldn’t tell any difference! They also had a picture from right after the transplant, and the difference was striking. The thing is, the longer we are abiding in Christ, the more we look, think, and act like Him. We aren’t to despair at the differences we are aware of right now, but are rather to understand that Jesus Christ is the goal and the example that the Holy Spirit is working toward, and we are to be enthusiastic participants in that journey.

I was talking with someone about this just this past Sunday! He commented that my recent blog posts indicate that God has been working on me, and I replied that yes, He is very faithful to do so, but that completion will come only before His throne. It is encouraging to look back over my life and see how I have changed over the years, but at the same time I am in total agreement with Paul that the process won’t be completed in this life. (Philippians 3:12-14) With that awareness, I am to have patience with those under my care, extending to them the grace and mercy that God has showered on me. I would love to be able to “wave a wand,” so to speak, and correct all the issues that I see holding people back, but then, I would like to be able to do the same for myself! I am reminded of something He told me personally over 20 years ago. I was lying in bed, not consciously praying but just thinking, “There are so many things I wish were different.” At that point, as clearly as if it had been an audible voice, I heard Him say to me, “How do you think I feel?” I was naturally blown out of the water! However, the difference is that God is omnipotent, as I obviously am not. He still has His perfect plan, and He is working toward it. I am to participate in that plan by consistently, consciously, submitting myself to Him, doing what He indicates to do and holding back from anything on which He puts a check. Actually, that is exactly what Jesus did, and that is what Paul is telling us here to do. (John 5:19) I’m not to be such a perfectionist that I give up when I don’t get it right, which is often enough, but keep seeking the help of the Holy Spirit to be and do what He desires, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for Your incredible, gracious patience with me. Help me keep growing as You intend, being an effective channel of Your grace to others in the process, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Suffering; March 9, 2020

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jgarrott

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.

Reading this I immediately thought of a report I read just recently of persecuted believers in China, but it applies equally to believers undergoing persecution anywhere in the world. The reason I thought of the Chinese believers was that one of them was quoted as saying what an honor it was to be persecuted for their faith. This verse doesn’t use the term, honor, but the implication certainly seems to be there. It isn’t easy to receive suffering as an honor! I am reminded of something Peter said: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2) It’s not at all that we are to desire, much less seek, suffering, but rather that we are to praise God for it when it comes, because we know that when trials are submitted to Him, He will use them for our good. (Romans 8:28) There are all kinds of suffering, of greatly varying intensity. Again, something that one person could deal with relatively easily might be almost unbearable for another person, because we all respond differently. Whatever the kind of suffering, we need to remember one of my favorite quotes from Jesus: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Again, as Peter said, we aren’t to be surprised when suffering comes. (1 Peter 4:12) Rather, we are to place our trust in Christ, who suffered unbelievably for us under the scourge and crucifixion, and rejoice in His victory, even before we experience it in the flesh.

I always feel a little strange talking and writing about suffering, because I feel I have suffered very little. A friend recently let us know of incredible emotional suffering they had encountered and are still experiencing, and my wife deals with pain every day from Parkinson’s Disease and a number of other medical issues. I feel I have no room to complain whatsoever! That can make it doubly awkward to counsel people who are focused on their personal difficulties and seem unable to rejoice. However, I am reminded of a note in the Nursing English textbook I use. In the lesson on symptoms of the common cold, after teaching such terms as “runny nose” and “stuffy nose,” it points out that some people, instead of saying “I have a runny nose,” will say, “I am suffering from a runny nose.” Much of the “suffering” I deal with in pastoral ministry seems, objectively speaking, to be on the level of a runny nose, especially when compared to that of those with chronic pain, much less those undergoing persecution. I am to keep that perspective about the “dips” in my own life, and seek to help others gain that perspective as well, but especially in dealing with others, I can’t do it in my own wisdom and strength. However, as Paul testified, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Actually, when Paul said that he was referring to bearing up under his own circumstances, so it is particularly appropriate for this subject!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the full day yesterday, and all that You enabled us to do. Thank You for the fellowship we had, unplanned by us but planned by You to build up the Body of Christ. Thank You for enabling us to be where we needed to be, when we needed to be there. Thank You for Your plans and schedule for today. Help me not resent a moment of it, but rejoice to be Your agent in every situation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Control; March 8, 2020

Posted on March 10, 2020 by jgarrott

Philippians 1:3, 6 I thank my God every time I remember you, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I have been encouraged by this passage myself, and I have written verse six in the Bibles of more new believers than I have kept track of. That said, it is dangerous to let familiarity breed contempt, especially when it comes to the Bible. Verse three is an encouragement to me because it recognizes the reality that we don’t think about other people constantly. God is the only one who can do that and still function otherwise. As dear as the Philippian believers obviously were to Paul, he still didn’t think of them without pause. That is obsession, and leads to all sorts of problems. However, his thoughts of them were couched in gratitude to God for all He had done in, for, and through them. The reason for that gratitude is expressed in verse six. Paul realized that absolutely everything good is grounded in God. Our very existence depends on Him, and as Jesus said, we can do nothing without Him. (John 15:5) For that very reason we can rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, focusing not on performing for him, but rather on abiding in Him and allowing Him to live through us. When I write this reference in a new believer’s Bible it is with the prayer that they will allow this truth to sink into them and free them from all sorts of lies of the enemy, so that they may enjoy all the abundance God has for them.

I often apply this to others, but it applies to me just as well. I have been involved in all sorts of things over the years, to the point that I can’t keep track of them in my own memory. Yesterday I was contacted by someone who was here about 20 years ago, and it took a while to retrieve the memories of someone to whom she referred. I do thank God for her and for God bringing her here for a season, but she is certainly not constantly in my awareness. We did stay in touch for a while after she left, and God obviously did some very good things in and through her, but they weren’t directly related to us here, and contact faded. Then yesterday she contacted me through the church Facebook page, and I was reminded of the glorious reality that God never loses track of anyone. There are many like her, both here in Japan and literally around the world, and I am grateful for them all. I am also grateful that I’m not responsible for them all, either in what they do or in keeping track of them! I am reminded that the family of God is far too big for me to sort out, but that doesn’t change the reality that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and that is wonderful indeed. Today I will be meeting a brother and sister for the first time, who have gotten connected through my blog. I trust our conflicting accents won’t cause problems! There too, God is carrying to completion the good work that He has begun in each of us, and we are to rejoice.

Father, thank You for all that You are doing. I can’t begin to keep track of it all! Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, allowing Your Holy Spirit to carry me along, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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