Healing; December 29, 2024

Posted on December 31, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

I think this chapter is one of the most important in the whole Bible, right up there with Genesis 1 and John 3. This particular verse is quoted by Peter in 1 Peter 2:24, and is greatly used by those with a specifically healing ministry. The thing is, healing isn’t limited to the physical. Jesus’ suffering on our behalf wasn’t limited to the physical, though that is most famous. As John said, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11) If we feel we have been rejected, Jesus had it worse! He had a relative about whom He cared deeply, John the Baptist, be arrested and then murdered by the authorities. He had one of His closest companions, whom He Himself had chosen, literally sell Him out for some silver coins. Any time we are tempted to have a pity party, we need to meditate on what Jesus did for us! The thing is, He went through all of that so that we could be healed, not just for us to admire His fortitude and endurance. The mechanisms by which that healing takes place are often in the realm of mystery, and it is also a mystery why some healings take place and others don’t seem to. Joni Tada is an excellent example here, because she certainly believes in divine healing, yet she has been wheelchair-bound since she was 16. However, in that long period God has shown Himself to be very real to her, and her faith has been a magnificent example to many. The thing is, Jesus took everything bad about us on Himself and turned it around for good. We don’t necessarily get to specify how He’s going to turn it around, but we can have assurance that He will do it. (Romans 8:28)

I quote this verse as part of my faith declarations, which I’ve been using for well over 40 years now. I start each one with, “By the grace of God,” since I know I can’t “pull myself up by my own bootstraps,” as the saying goes. This particular one says, “By the grace of God, each day I and those under me are walking more fully in the health of Jesus Christ, for it is written, ‘By His stripes we are healed.’” I added “and those under me” over 30 years ago because we had a young man in our church who required dialysis three times a week. He’s no longer here, but since then my wife’s medical issues have come to the forefront, and I’m certainly not going to drop the phrase now! In general, I am amazingly healthy for my age, but as I have been writing, I just had a goodly bout of influenza. That doesn’t negate this statement by Isaiah by any means. Disease is endemic to this planet, and is part of the “troubles” Jesus mentioned in John 16:33. However, as He said there, we aren’t to get down about anything, but remember that He has already overcome it all, and we just have to wait for the manifestation of that victory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for my recent experience of needing Your healing. Thank You for providing it! I pray that as people gather this morning for the last service of the year that joy and gratitude would be the main themes, with rich testimonies of Your grace, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Purpose of the Incarnation; December 28, 2024

Posted on December 29, 2024 by jgarrott

Colossians 1:19-20 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

When you think about it, it’s rather incredible that Paul would write something so poetic, and at the same time so theologically deep, in a letter to a group he didn’t know personally. He obviously had a high level of trust in the Holy Spirit, that He was working in the hearts and lives of this group of believers. That said, Paul wanted to be sure that the Colossian believers understood the purpose and efficacy of the ministry of Jesus. This is an important thing for us too to remember, right after we’ve been singing and thinking about Jesus as a little baby in a manger. Too many people would like to leave Him there! However, that little baby grew up, confounding the teachers in the temple at His bar mitzva, calling apostles to abandon their previous lifestyles and follow Him, healing the sick and raising the dead, calming a storm with a verbal command, going toe-to-toe with the Pharisees on what the Law of Moses actually means, and then willingly taking on the penalty for our sins in horrible suffering, and proving it was real by rising from the dead. We must not leave Him in the manger! We need to meditate on what Paul wrote here to the Colossians and let it work into us, correcting our traditions and our misconceptions and setting us free to enjoy the fulness of Christ’s work for us. Since Japanese does very little with pronouns, the translation I use repeatedly says “the Son,” which helps us remember that this isn’t just some random guy off the street. God’s plan of salvation was set from Creation, and we continually learn more of its magnificence.

I’ve long had a warm spot in my heart for this passage, since the Lord gave me a calypso-feel musical setting for verses 15-20 (skipping a few things along the way) in 1978. However, knowing the words and even singing them isn’t necessarily the same as letting them sink in to control our thoughts and actions. This doesn’t seem like a very “directive” passage, but the more I make it part of me, the less I will be shaken by all the little things that happen in life. Physically, I’m very grateful to say that I seem to clearly be “over the hump” of the influenza I’m had the past several days. That has been a reminder that I can’t do anything on my own, but am totally dependent on my Creator and Lord. I’m not quite 100% yet, but the difference is enough to make me very happy. I told my wife this morning that her dishwasher was back in working order! There are various things to be done today in preparation for the service tomorrow, and it’s very nice not to dread them from a physical standpoint. I have long loved John 16:33, and I am indeed learning to take heart in the middle of this world’s troubles, because Jesus is Lord!

Father, thank You for Your overflowing grace to me. Help me not draw back from anything, but know that in Christ You will take me through, until I stand before You in glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Going by the Rules; December 27, 2024

Posted on December 28, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

It’s interesting that Luke completely skips over the magi and the escape to Egypt. It’s quite possible he didn’t consider it that germane to the story, or even that Mary forgot to mention it when he was interviewing her for this Gospel. In any case, the point of this verse is that Joseph and Mary did everything called for in the Law, just as Jesus said that He hadn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17) We need to remember that everything God tells us to do has a good purpose, and we will be blessed in the doing. The loss of a Sabbath rest for the vast majority of society is a huge loss indeed, leading to burnout, misplaced priorities, and even mental illness. Some of the OT laws were for that time and those circumstances. I am personally very thankful to not have to abstain from shellfish, but in the time of the Exodus and even much later, only people who lived on the shores of the sea could eat them safely, because there was no refrigeration, and no understanding of breeding cycles. Even today we need to be very careful of such things. I had a cousin die from eating oysters in August. The irony is, he was a biologist! The point is, we need to go by the rule book, unless the Lord makes it clear there’s to be an exception, such as when He gave Peter the vision of “unclean” animals and told him to “kill and eat.” (Acts 10) The final answer is that God’s rules are for our good, and we need to remember it.

I have written many times about my struggles with spiritual pride. One manifestation of that is thinking you are “above” the rules. Politicians certainly seem to fall prey to that! It is even sadder when church leaders get tripped up by it. I have seen too many anointed people trash their ministry with that attitude, including some close to me. Like Paul, I don’t want to admonish others and then fall short myself! (1 Corinthians 9:27) Right now, with what seems to be a goodly case of influenza, I am very aware of my physical limitations, and pride doesn’t seem to be in the picture. Praise God! In God’s gracious timing, all I have to do today is draw up the January Scripture list, since this coming Sunday is just singing and testimonies. I need to rest, relax, and rejoice in my Lord, just as He has told me to do, whatever my body feels like, and leave the results up to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I could be “upright” to talk to the man from the company that will be painting our roof and walls next month. I pray that we would be agreed on such things as colors, and that the finished result would be fully attractive to draw more people in. May we recognize what You want us doing when, and do it with joy and laughter, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Details; December 26, 2024

Posted on December 27, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

This passage makes it definitive that the magi didn’t show up at the stable with the shepherds, countless “manger sets” notwithstanding. Leviticus 12:3-4 specifies that what is recorded here happened at least 41 days after Jesus was born, because babies were circumcised on the 8th day, and then there was a 33-day purification period. It’s interesting what errors creep into the Church when people fail to read the Bible, and instead prefer their own traditions. We know that this incident didn’t occur after the magi’s visit, because Joseph took his family and escaped into Egypt immediately, as Matthew 2:14 says clearly. It is also worth noting that this story makes it clear Joseph and Mary weren’t well-off, because Leviticus 12:8 specifies the offering they brought for those who “couldn’t afford a lamb.” Something I had never thought of before is that they couldn’t have brought a lamb because Jesus Himself was the Lamb of God, and the time for His sacrifice was not yet. There are always deeper levels of understanding if we keep reading the Bible! There is much to say here about Simeon, his faithfulness to God and God’s promise in response to that, but I think the overall point is that there are no unimportant details. The degree of importance can vary greatly, but God is in total control. Our place is to seek God’s will and commit ourselves to following it, knowing that will produce the absolutely best result.

I have experienced this countless times, discovering after the fact that some “minor” detail was actually vitally important. That’s why I know that the only logical course is to thank God for everything, since it all comes through His loving hands. That includes whatever it is I’ve got now. He got me through the Eve candlelight service, but yesterday morning I felt lousy and had a fever of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4). This morning I feel better, but my temperature is still 37.3 (99.14) and my nose is running, which it wasn’t doing particularly before. I don’t know what God’s purpose is in allowing this, but I trust Him, so I thank Him for it. Now, I need to allow Him to show me what my schedule is to be, so that I will fulfill His purposes for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the unavoidable things on today’s schedule. I pray that I wouldn’t spread this bug around, and that I would experience Your full healing in Your timing, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Matthew; December 25, 2024

Posted on December 26, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 2:17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

Matthew is far and away the most Jewish of the Gospels. There is good literary evidence that it was originally written in Aramaic, and only later translated into Greek. Matthew goes to the most trouble to indicate how Jesus fulfilled assorted Old Testament prophecies, and I have heard that even today it is the most effective book to use in evangelizing Jews. Many are shocked that it is so Jewish! Americans don’t have much framework to understand the difference between Hebrew and Aramaic, but a fairly close analogy would be calling Hebrew “King James English,” and Aramaic, normal, every-day conversation. With all his references to fulfilled prophecy, Matthew wasn’t trying to appear erudite, he was just trying to show people that Jesus was the promised Messiah for whom they had been waiting. It’s interesting that Matthew was so well read in the Old Testament, because he was never a scribe, but rather a tax collector. That occupation would certainly not produce many Bible scholars! I think Matthew had a lot in common with John Newton, who famously wrote Amazing Grace. They both were in occupations that were considered deeply sinful by most people, but God met them where they were and overwhelmed them with His acceptance, grace, and love. It is a blessed thing indeed when we grasp the character of God without going off the deep end in the other direction first!

I have experienced God’s grace on a very personal level. I keep coming back to this, because it was a defining experience in my life. As I have said, I grew up steeped in the Bible, knowing a great deal about it even as a child, and I allowed that to lure me into spiritual pride. I thought any church I walked into was blessed! It was after I got out of the army, with a wife and one daughter at that point, that the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and, when I turned, showed me a mirror, so that for just a moment I could see the blackness of my soul. I think that’s much like what Matthew experienced when the Lord called him to follow Him, right from the outdoor tax office. I know that when it happened to me, I fell to my knees and cried out, My Lord and my God! The experience obviously transformed Matthew, and I trust it has transformed me. My task now is to draw others into the Family of God as well, not from any point of pride but with the desire that they also discover the grace and love of their Creator, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for getting us through the Eve candlelight service last night, and that today is Christmas day. Thank You that physically, I feel pretty miserable at the moment. Thank You for enabling me not only to lead the service last night but also to sing, which I was concerned about. Thank You that today is a relaxed schedule. Help me not waste the day, but rather do precisely what You want me to do, when and how You want me to do it, whether it’s resting or anything else, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Acting on Truth; December 24, 2024

Posted on December 25, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 2:5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:”

It has always bothered me that the priests and scribes were so familiar with the Old Testament that they could come up with this answer, but they had so little expectation of prophecy being fulfilled that they made no move of their own to try to find the child of whom this was prophesied, even though magi had come a great distance to search for Him, convinced that the prophecy was fulfilled. Human beings are capable of incredible rationalizations and justifications that have no basis in reality! We get so completely blinded and absorbed by what our senses tell us that we don’t listen to God at all. We expect everything to be business as usual, when God is saying, “Behold, I do a new thing.” Things can change! Recently something happened in Washington DC that Bill Whittle characterized as pigs flying: a 1500+ page Continuing Resolution was cut down to less than 10% of the original, and then was passed overwhelmingly. There is hope for change in Washington! As momentous as that might seem, it is relatively insignificant on the eternal scale, and it is not very personal for most of us. We need to be listening to God and doing what He tells us. Many are pointing to signs of prophetic fulfillment, indicating End Times, but many more are oblivious. That’s on the eternal scale. On the personal scale, God tells us to speak to someone, but we’re embarrassed or just can’t be bothered, and so we miss out on participating in something God wants to do. The priests and scribes who essentially ignored the magi and Scripture were not unusually bad. In a way, they were all too typical of how we respond to the truth God presents to us.

I have long felt that James 1:22 was written expressly to me: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” I have been steeped in the Bible all my life, but I too fail to apply it consistently to my daily life. God speaks to me in various ways all the time, but I am all too prone to say, that’s nice, and just go on my way as though I never heard Him. That’s the height of stupidity, deceiving myself, just as James said. As a pastor, I am forever telling others to listen to God, but I don’t bat 1000 myself. I’m reminded of something Jesus told His disciples: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (Luke 17:10) I haven’t even done everything I was told to do! I am not to put people down for their failures, but walk with them in spiritual growth, knowing that God alone is perfect, and He is incredibly gracious and loving.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ve always been down on those priests and scribes, but I’m not much better! Help me not only take in what You say to me, but follow through to do it, in Your strength and wisdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Perspective; December 23, 2024

Posted on December 24, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

This is such a familiar passage, I knew which verse I was going to write on before I even read it just now! That’s the thing about the Christmas story: it is in some ways numbingly familiar, yet it is at the same time marvelously deep and rich. Again, I have no idea how many times I’ve written on this verse, but some things bear repeating. Taking this verse in the English word order, it starts by saying the shepherds went back to where they had been and what they had been doing. You can say that and it would be true, but the shepherds themselves were profoundly changed by what they had experienced, and nothing would ever be exactly the same. That said, pivotal experiences sometimes mean a complete change in lifestyle, but sometimes things just simply have to be done, as was the case with the shepherds. They couldn’t just drop everything and suddenly become itinerant prophets, because their responsibility with the sheep was real. Bethlehem was where sheep destined for temple sacrifice were herded, and they could not walk away. At the same time, I’m sure they couldn’t stop thinking and talking about what they had experienced. This was life-changing indeed! We have no idea how devout they were before this experience, but they were certainly the firmest of believers afterward! Never having had an experience anything close to what they had, I can only imagine their state of mind and heart. I have a feeling they didn’t complain about anything for at least quite a while after that! They knew without any question that God cared about His people Israel, and they knew that somehow, for some reason, He had chosen to involve them in what He was doing. I hope none of them later devolved into pride, that they had been chosen for this role, but somehow I doubt it. Their hearts were totally focused on God, and that put everything else into perspective. We may never have such a dramatic experience, but we need to be equally focused on God. If we will do that, everything will fall into perspective for us as well, and that’s something we all need.

I didn’t know what my key word would be when I started writing, but I see that it is perspective. That’s certainly something I need! I am as prone as anyone to get caught up in what is in front of my nose. It is only when I fix my heart on God, His love for me and what He has done, for me and through me, that I can gain right perspective on whatever is going on at the moment. That is an issue every Christmas, but I think I’ve done a little better about it this year than sometimes. Last night, as we were gathering to prepare to go caroling in the neighborhood, I did have a moment akin to a panic attack, just wanting to get away from it all, but I was able to confess that to one of the believers, and she said she understood that about me. That helped me step back just a little and settle me down, and the rest of the evening went very well indeed. We were blessed, and we blessed those for whom we sang, and God was glorified. I even got a glimpse of some things God might be planning for the future, and I am comforted and encouraged. I have things on my schedule for today, and tomorrow we have the Christmas Eve service, and then the pressure is largely off for a while. It’s been many years now since God told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, but I’m still learning. By His grace, though, I will indeed gain the perspective I need, not only to receive all that He has for me but also to be His instrument in blessing those around me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for all that You are doing. Thank You indeed for all that You did yesterday, and all that You will continue to do. May indeed Your name be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, as perfectly in this world as it is before Your throne in heaven. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Justice; December 22, 2024

Posted on December 23, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 42:4 “He will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

I was a little surprised that the Japanese translation I currently use said “judgment,” rather than “justice,” in this verse, and I checked, and one edition back of that same translation does indeed say “justice.” Justice is indeed closely tied to court cases, where judgment is rendered. The US Department of Justice indeed oversees the courts as well as the law enforcement agencies, with the exception of the Supreme Court, which is subject to the Constitution alone (or at least that is my understanding). The thing is, there is actually an authority that is higher than all of that, and we do well to remember it. I think I will always remember the case, in Arizona I think it was, of a particularly horrible murderer who escaped the police into the desert, but he was later found dead of dehydration and exposure. The official police report said, “Remanded to a higher court.” Just recently there has been a spate of pardons and commutations, some of genuinely despicable criminals. Neither we nor they are to think they have gotten off “Scot free.” They will eventually see justice, regardless of what happens on this earth. We are to work for justice in society around us, but we are to remember that God is the ultimate Judge, and nothing escapes His notice. I have always liked the last line of this verse, having been born and raised in the islands of Japan. The ESV renders that as “coastlands,” but I have a natural preference for “islands!” The idea that the islands wait in hope for the teaching of the Lord motivates and encourages me greatly! Reading the prophecies in the Bible is a powerful encouragement. Seeing how many have already been fulfilled gives me anticipation for the rest to be fulfilled! Recently many sober, grounded Christians have been expressing an anticipation, an expectation, that the Lord’s return will be soon, when all the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled. May it even be so, in God’s timing and for His glory!

As I have already indicated, this is all quite personal to me. I myself am innocent only by virtue of the shed blood of Christ, but I do have that assurance, and my life is committed to getting as many people as possible to share that assurance by repentance and faith. At the same time, I do sometimes get tired of the hassle of it all. I enjoy life and get satisfaction from what the Lord allows me to do, but the idea of eternity with my Lord, without all the injustice and imperfection of the world as we experience it, is attractive indeed! I am to be faithful at the tasks the Lord sets for me, striving to listen obediently to Him at all times, so that all of His purposes for me may be fulfilled on His schedule, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for bringing us through to this point, and for Your plans for each day to come. I ask for anointing, and for open hearts, not only in this morning’s service but also in the caroling we will be doing this evening. I pray for those You are preparing and drawing to come to the Candlelight Service on the 24th, that Your Spirit would break through and lead them to repentance and faith for salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Christmas Story; December 21, 2024

Posted on December 22, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

From the standpoint of the world, Joseph and Mary were very small cogs in society. The government spoke, and they had to act. The whole idea of democracy, of being ruled by elected representatives, hadn’t even occurred to the vast majority of people. And of course, technology, and particularly communications, were what we today think of as very primitive. There was no exemption for Joseph because of distance or family circumstances. He had to go register, because he was the householder. It seems doubtful that Mary was legally required to go, but social circumstances meant that Joseph couldn’t see leaving her behind. Her “unplanned” pregnancy made her something of a social pariah, I would imagine, so she wouldn’t have had the support structure for the delivery, and might even have risked stoning in Joseph’s absence. Those are very difficult circumstances! I would imagine Mary’s love for Joseph was cemented in that time, as she saw what he went through to care for her. Theirs was doubtless an arranged marriage, or at least engagement, since such were very much the rule back then, but love will indeed grow, even in such circumstances, when there is a foundation of commitment – and Joseph certainly demonstrated that he was committed to Mary! So many things about the Christmas story speak of the love and grace and provision of God as we consider them from this perspective, but in the middle of it, Joseph and Mary probably felt pretty overwhelmed! We think of the miraculous divinity of it all, but we need also to think about the very real, nitty gritty humanity of it. God becoming a human baby was both divine and fully human, and we must not forget it.

Of course, I’ve been familiar with the Christmas story for as long as I can remember. My family did a tree, stockings, and gifts, but we were never big on Santa. On Christmas morning, after stockings and then breakfast, my father would read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke, and then pray for all our relatives. That was always the longest prayer of the year! That said, as a child I of course had little grasp of the difficulties encountered by Joseph and Mary, (though I had seen puppies being born). As an adult, I need to have more appreciation for the commitment, dedication, and simple endurance of all the people involved in the story. I have nothing to complain about, but I still manage to complain at times. Rather than being burned out at the same things year after year, I need to be deeply grateful, not only for God’s plan but for everyone who participated in it, because only then will the true joy of it all be manifested.

Father, thank You for the way You continue to grow me. Thank You for how You are teaching Cathy and me to let go of things and just rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told us to. May the activities of the next few days indeed bless us and those we interact with, as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Seeking God; December 20, 2024

Posted on December 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

I have long loved this verse, and have written on it countless times. However, it still resonates within me every time I read it. Different translations render it in different ways, but all of them speak of the desire to see and know God, as a reflection of His desire for us. Solomon spoke of this impulse as God “setting eternity in the heart of man.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Different people perceive it differently, and how we respond to it varies very widely. Solomon himself departed from it rather tragically, trusting in the abilities God had given him rather than seeking after the One who had given them. If we indeed follow this impulse, God promises that we will encounter Him, and that is a marvelous thing. (Jeremiah 29:13) That road is often different for each individual. Just yesterday I watched a YouTube video of the testimony of a mathematician who had been an atheist but had a strong moral sense, and eventually came to the revelation that there was Someone behind morality, or else morality had no basis. Not too many people come to God that way! There are probably as many variations on finding God as there are people, so we need to remember that, as C. S. Lewis said, when we get to heaven we will all discover that each of us got it wrong somewhere. Paul put it this way: “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) The point is to seek God and trust Him to get us there, ultimately not trusting in anything but Him.

Growing up in the home that I did, my problem was in feeling that I already knew God, so why keep seeking Him? That was probably Solomon’s attitude, and it can be deadly. God in His gracious mercy opened my eyes to my foolish pride, and I have been seeking Him ever since. That may sound like an exercise in futility, if I have to keep seeking, but He keeps showing me more of Himself every day, and that is glorious! The thing is, He is infinite, so I can never run out of more to learn of Him. Just like Paul, I eagerly anticipate the day when I will stand before Him and know Him fully, as He knows me. As the pop song of many decades ago says, “To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him, and I do.” This isn’t just emotional, because as Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23) I am to seek Him with all I am and express my devotion to Him with full obedience, knowing that the rewards are infinite.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for allowing me to seek You, and for meeting me in so many ways along the way. May I draw many to seek You as well, so that together we may walk in the obedience that comes from love, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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