October 19, 2015

Posted on October 20, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

This is a dangerous passage for a man to comment on! However, the truths expressed here are liberating to men and women alike, and they certainly are worthy of being understood and grasped. The world does not generally agree with what Peter says here. There are whole industries (yes, plural) dedicated to physical externals, both for men and for women. The cosmetics industry is just one case in point, and the money and effort consumed by the fashion industry is astronomical. Peter is pointing out the ultimate waste all of that is. It has been going on ever since Eve decided that one fig leaf looked better than another, but that doesn’t make it right. There is nothing wrong with looking nice, but standards of “beauty” have changed drastically over the centuries, and what Peter is talking about is true for all time. Inner beauty, beauty of character and personality, is indeed timeless, and actually can get better with age, like a fine wine. The same can actually be said of men, though men’s fashions haven’t been as much in the forefront as women’s. A physically gorgeous woman posted a video not long ago of her boyfriend proposing to her at the reception of a mutual friend’s wedding. The comments were absurd to the point of being nasty, because her boyfriend was far from the physical specimen that society would expect to go with her physical beauty. Her response was to list the qualities she saw in him that made her value him far above any “hunk” she knew, and made her rejoice to accept his proposal. We need to choose to see as God does. As He told Samuel many centuries ago, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

I am incredibly blessed to be married to a woman who gets better all the time. She could have been one of Peter’s good examples, had he known about her! She has never been one for much makeup, to the consternation of some of her lady friends. She doesn’t need it, with the radiance of her character. People are drawn to her to the point of real inconvenience at times. She is greatly loved! That such a woman would love me and would choose me above all others is an honor I strive to live up to.

Father, thank You for the wife You have given me. Sometimes I wonder about the “helper suitable for him” bit, because she is far better than I deserve! Thank You for the current health problems that are causing people to express to her the love they have for her. There have been periods when she didn’t feel that so much, but now it feels like Niagara Falls! I do pray for complete healing for her, and I pray that these events will cause people to understand that what they love so much in her is actually You, so that they too may turn to You in repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 18, 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

This is the opposite of the mantra of society: if it feels good, do it. The world knows nothing, really, of holiness. Things are called holy that are not, and genuinely holy things are often not recognized as such. People take pride that they are “above” the animals, and then they turn around and delight in acting like animals, or even worse. Whatever society in general is doing, that’s no excuse for children of God to act that way. Children often complain to their parents that other children are allowed to do such and such, so why can’t they. The answer is often that they have better parents than their friends do! If the parents are good, the more obedient the child is the better their life will be. God is the perfect Father, so it stands to reason that being obedient to Him is the best course, in any situation, all the time. However, when we are first born again as His children (as Peter refers to in verse 23) we are ignorant, not knowing what our Father wants or how to live correctly. That’s one of the functions of the Church, as more mature believers come alongside the “newborns” and teach, guide, and train them. We don’t get mad if a baby messes their diaper (though we may get tired of dealing with it) but we simply change the diaper. We don’t banish the baby from the family! However, past a certain point, lack of toilet training indicates a serious problem. The same is true in the Church. Every child of God needs to have holiness as their goal and be active in encouraging others toward that same goal. This doesn’t at all mean humorless rigidity. That is very far from genuine holiness. Rather, it means submitting every thought, every action to God and delighting in Him, above, before, and beyond everything else.

I certainly can’t say that holiness has always been a conscious goal for me, but I had the enormous advantage of being raised by parents who lived holy lives. Our home was filled with music and laughter, and it was filled with love and reverence for God. Actually, the first time I remember my parents specifically using the word, holy, with me (other than in hymns and in references to the Holy Spirit) was in the message from my father that my mother relayed to me at my wedding, (since my timing had made it impossible for my father to attend) and it was in reference to my wedding night. He said that I should remember that it was holy, pure, and beautiful. Good advice, and very far from the world’s attitude. As a pastor, you could call me a “holiness coach” for the congregation. I am to model a holy lifestyle, with humor and joy, so that they may see through the lies of the world and understand that holiness is both possible and desirable for them.

Father, thank You for my positional holiness in Christ, and that You work that out in and through me by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that Your Spirit is indeed holy, so the more I am filled with Him, the more holy I am. May I be an obedient child on all levels, so that You may be pleased with me and You be glorified. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 17, 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

The passage immediately after this is to me one of the most glorious in the whole Bible, but it strikes me right now to whom it is addressed. As far as the world was concerned, they were the dregs of society, scattered strangers. However, from God’s perspective they were chosen holy ones, purified by the blood of Son of God. The Bible says repeatedly that God does not judge as man does, and that’s a very good thing indeed. The “foreknowledge” that is referred to many times is the fact that since God sees the end from the beginning, He knows how people are going to respond to the opportunities He gives them to repent, believe, and serve Him. He doesn’t force anyone to do that, but being outside of time He knows what we will do because from His perspective we have already done it. Thinking about that too much can get us really confused, because we are very much in the flow of time and we don’t know what the future holds. That’s where faith and trust come in. When we have that faith and trust, we indeed “are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for [we] are receiving the goal of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9) We are not to see ourselves as the world sees us, but know that in Christ we are children of God, heirs of the universe and more, whatever condition we might be in at the moment, and rejoice!

I have always loved 1 Peter. Part of that comes from being very aware of just how human Peter was, and how badly he had stumbled. That gives me hope for myself! I am aware that the beauty of the flowing prose of 1 Peter owes a lot to the literary gifts of Silvanus (Silas) who acted as Peter’s scribe, (1 Peter 5:12) but the content itself comes from Peter’s own experience, anointed and guided by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter betrays how rough Peter’s Greek really was, but that doesn’t make him any less God’s instrument of truth. Rather, it shows how we are to work together to do God’s will, bringing His kingdom to this earth. I am never to think I can accomplish God’s will by myself, nor am I ever to despise the contributions of anyone toward His kingdom. He involves us all, and we need each other. We may be scattered strangers, but in God’s economy we are a mighty, glorious army, empowered by the Creator to destroy the works of the devil.

Father, sometimes I look at the church here and I wonder how You are going to fulfill the vision You have given us. Thank You that we couldn’t possibly do it on our own! Thank You for the recent reminders of the fruit of the past 34 years of ministry, indeed scattered around the world. Humanly speaking, I’d like it to be more concentrated right here where I could see it, but Your plan is best. Help me continue to grow in faith and obedience, so that all of Your plans involving me may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 16, 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

I think this verse needs to be preached much more widely and thoroughly than it is. Churches are filled with people who think in terms of “What’s in it for me,” and they aren’t thinking much about heaven! That’s the biggest problem with the “name it and claim it” crowd: they are focused on this life, and particularly the material. It’s not at all that there aren’t blessings in this life, or that this life isn’t to be enjoyed, but rather that our focus must be beyond all that. The old Spiritual has it right: “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through.” We treat physical death as such a tragedy, when for the person who is in Christ, it is entering into all that they have been promised. It is indeed tragedy for someone who is not in Christ, because it means they have used up their chances to repent and believe for salvation, and it is temporal loss for those left behind in any case, but for the genuine believer it is graduation and victory. When we really understand that we are simply travelers here and not permanent residents, material possessions become far less important. After all, taking a trip with too much luggage is a real drag, both physically and emotionally. Really grasping our temporary status is liberating indeed.

As an American born and raised in Japan, this has been perhaps easier for me to grasp than for some. We didn’t move around nearly as much as some missionaries or military families, but we did pick up and go to the US periodically for what was called “furlough.” I didn’t see what the benefit was in having to leave all that was familiar to me and be plopped down in a place where people expected me to feel “at home,” when it it really seemed strange to me. At the same time, I had the stress of looking different from those around me even when I was where I felt “at home,” and consequently being accepted as belonging only by those who really knew me. Actually, that is still a very real factor in my life. This year Cathy and I have lost 14 people who were close to us, two of them members of this church, but some not yet Christians. It’s those latter ones that hurt most. At this point we are extremely aware that none of us is here permanently, which makes this verse be one of joy and hope. Several people have reacted to Cathy’s health problems with “God’s not fair!” When we grasp the reality of this verse we understand that such complaints come from a distorted perspective. We live in a fallen world, and that’s all the more reason not to fix our hearts on it. When we indeed seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) then we realize what doesn’t fit into that category, and our peace and hope are in God.

Father, thank You for all that You allow us to experience. Thank You for the various reminders of the impermanence of the material. Help us rejoice that our status, our “permanent residence,” is in Christ, and bring as many people as possible along with us on our journey, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 15, 2015

Posted on October 16, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

These three verses are individually well known, but it just struck me how connected they are. Americans tend to be very individualistic, but this passage focuses on interconnectedness. For starters, the pronouns are all plural. We are all individually responsible and accountable before God, but we are members together of the one Body of Christ. The Bible knows nothing of “lone wolf” Christians! We together hold to hope in Christ, remembering that even though we are weak, the One in whom we hope is not, and He is indeed faithful. With that as our starting point, we are to be concerned with one another, helping each other live as the children of God that we are. We all can use a pat on the back – or a little lower down – at times! This is what Paul was talking about when he said, “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16) Teaching is a pat on the back, admonishing is a whack on the seat! In order to do that, we need to get together. We gather to worship God, certainly, but we also gather for what has been called Body life. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment He was careful not to leave out what He called the second commandment. (Matthew 22:36-40) We are to love God with all that we are, but we must not forget to love our neighbor. That is at the core of this passage, and it needs to be at the foundation of our daily lives.

Left to myself, that’s how I like to be: left to myself. The Lord has had to work on me to get it through my head how interconnected I really am, and should be. As a pastor it has been a problem that I have seen the flock as needing me, without grasping how much I need them. I am not naturally a “social animal,” which is why the Lord paired me with a partner who has never met a stranger in her life. By her influence I am now reasonably social, and by my influence she now finds her way around a computer pretty well. We needed, and need, each other! On a lesser scale, but no less importantly, the different members of the Body of Christ complement and complete each other. One of my tasks as a pastor is to help people recognize that and receive one another, gifts, weaknesses and all. We are to be accepting of each other, but at the same time spurring one another on toward love and good deeds, as this passage says. Pastoral ministry can feel very much like herding cats, as the popular analogy says, but God will supply the necessary wisdom, patience, and everything else if I will trust Him and be obedient.

Father, I was wondering what I was supposed to speak on Sunday! Thank You for making it so clear, and for causing me to write so that I could pretty well preach from this directly. Guide me in laying it out in outline form so that I won’t miss anything You want me to say. May it be Your Word indeed, feeding the sheep what they need so that we may grow together to be the Body You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 14, 2015

Posted on October 16, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 7:24-25 Because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

All this discussion of priestly orders and the like seems quite arcane to most Gentiles, but it’s important to realize that God doesn’t neglect any detail. What is stated here is a glorious truth that should comfort and encourage every believer from whatever background. The whole concept of intercession is a foreign idea to many, but very simply put, it is one person pleading on behalf of another. We see it in the news when, for example, someone is kidnapped and a family member pleads with the kidnapper to release them. That analogy is pretty close to what Jesus does for us, because we get taken captive by sin and Jesus asks for our release, not on the basis of how good we are but on the basis of His own sacrifice on our behalf. That is complete salvation. The average person on the street thinks of being saved in strictly physical terms, as in being saved out of a flood or the like, but salvation in Christ is eternal. He does often get us out of fixes here on earth, but His salvation is far deeper and greater than that. There have been people who have recognized that from even long before Jesus walked this earth. Daniel’s three friends come to mind, when they told the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) They knew that God’s salvation is eternal and complete, and we need to remember that too.

As a pastor I constantly deal with people who want to get out of their current fix but who have no concept whatsoever of eternal salvation. I try to deal with them gently, but sometimes it can really try my patience! I am to speak the truth in love, and love them in truth, and let the Holy Spirit use my words and actions to open their eyes. If I fail to live out my faith, then others will have less reason to believe that what I tell them is true. How I respond to situations, both good and bad, either validates or denies the Gospel I proclaim.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for the current situation we are experiencing, and for the many people who are watching us as we go through it. I pray that they would see Your hand in our lives and understand that You love them as much as You do us. May what we experience draw many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 13, 2015

Posted on October 14, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.

The imagery in this passage is as clear as mud to many people today, partly because of mixed metaphors but mostly for cultural reasons. To understand it we have to know about the veil, actually a thick curtain, that separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place in the temple. This originated in the Tabernacle of Moses (Exodus 26:31-33) and was duplicated in the temples of Solomon and Herod. This is what split, from top to bottom, when Jesus died on the cross, (Matthew 27:51) eliminating the barrier between mankind and the manifest presence of God. Accordingly, “within the veil” (as it is traditionally expressed) means “in the very presence of God.” The other cultural/historical mystery is the mention of Melchizedek. Hebrews talks about him a good bit, but he was the priest/king of Salem, later called Jerusalem, to whom Abraham gave a tithe of the spoils when he was victorious in battle. (Genesis 14:18-20) Hebrews attaches great meaning to that, partly because we know so little about him as a historical individual but most especially because Abraham, the progenitor not only of the Jewish race physically, but spiritually speaking of all who believe, tithed to Melchizedek. With those cultural mysteries explained, we have the mixed metaphor of a ship’s anchor being inside a curtain. That wouldn’t have gotten a good grade in any of my writing classes in college! However, everyone needs an anchor point in their lives, as many have recognized. There are countless songs to that effect, and many people stumble around trying to find just such a reference point to give meaning to their lives. The vitally important thing this passage is saying is that the hope we have in Christ, that can be had no other way, is exactly the anchor we need, and since it goes to the very presence of God, it is eternally unshakable. Once the mysteries are cleared up, that’s a pretty important truth to know!

Growing up in the home I had, this was not taught so much as it was a fundamental fact of life. As an adult I have come to realize what an incredible blessing that was, as I have met so many people with no real anchor at all, much less the only one that is eternal. People comment on my response to circumstances and events, sometimes with amazement, and they are envious of the peace I enjoy. All of that comes from exactly this point: I have an eternal hope. This is exactly what Peter was talking about, (1 Peter 3:15) and is the best tool for evangelism. To be honest, it is a mystery to me why more people don’t believe that hope is available to them, even when I tell them about it. I need the anointing of the Holy Spirit, because I obviously can’t get it across effectively on my own. My life work, really, is transmitting that hope to as many people as possible.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You indeed for the hope You have given me, that is beyond expressing in words. I pray that more and more people would catch that hope, as a sort of “blessed infection,” for an epidemic of salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 12, 2015

Posted on October 14, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 6:11-12 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Many have said it, but it can’t be overstated: Christian faith is for the long haul. Modern society is all about instant gratification, but that is a trap of the devil more often than not. This passage should convict many people, but sadly, most of us don’t even recognize that we have become lazy. The simple matter of making time for daily personal devotions strikes a lot of people as too much trouble. The world is literally falling apart around us, and yet we can’t be bothered! We have many who have gone before us in faith, far more than at the time this was written, so we have no lack of good examples to follow. The Bible is filled with exhortations to hang in there, and Hebrews is particularly strong on that point. Much “evangelism” today seems to promise quick fixes, and “your best life now,” when that is pretty far from the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God. It’s not at all that there aren’t immediate benefits to faith, but rather that the far greater benefits are ahead of us. Even martyrdom is no big deal on the eternal scale! Recently there was a school shooting in the US where the gunman asked his victims if they were Christian, and if they replied affirmatively, said, “Well, you’re going to see God in about a second,” and then shot them in the head. The thing is, his words were true. For them, the next moment was glorious, even though it was tragedy for their families. The same could be said of the people in Iraq, including a 12 year old boy, who were pressured by ISIS to deny their faith and were tortured and killed when they refused. It is not wrong to see that as tragedy, but at the same time we must remember that for those who are in Christ, nothing on this earth is ultimately more than a bump in the road. The time is coming when all genuine believers will need to come to that realization. It actually is very liberating!

I am frequently reminded that I have never really had to suffer for my faith. 1 Peter 1:3-9 is a beautiful statement of the attitude we need to have. Reading that, I sometimes wonder about the quality of my own faith! However, everyone is presented with a different road and different challenges. My task is to be faithful and diligent in what is laid out for me. Since many are watching me, I need to be an example of the peace and joy that are available in Christ in any and all circumstances. Naturally, walking in that is the path of greatest blessing for me, but I’m not doing it just for myself, but for those who look at me as well. If they don’t see it in me, they aren’t likely to believe it is available to them as well. Right now the Lord is allowing a period of high stress. Praise God! I need to demonstrate that life is not a matter of what we experience as much as it is of how we respond to what we experience. I must not become lazy or apathetic, but keep pressing in so that the Holy Spirit may fill and use me for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for all that You did in the day yesterday, and for all that You have planned for today. I pray that today and each day I may rest, relax, and rejoice in You, applying myself fully to whatever tasks You set before me, giving You the thanks, praise and glory You deserve. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 11, 2015

Posted on October 14, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

This is a somewhat difficult passage, because it doesn’t seem to fit an “eternal security” narrative. Peter speaks of us being built together into God’s house as living stones, (1 Peter 2:5) and Paul speaks of believers being God’s household. (Ephesians 2:19) Why then do we have this passage that says we are God’s house if we hold onto our confidence (NIV says “courage”) and hope? I think it’s a matter of whether we are able to enjoy the benefits of being God’s house. To go to Peter’s analogy, we might be living stones, but if we aren’t aware of Who lives in the building, it’s no different for us than if we were just rocks in a field. God really does everything, but we receive it all by faith. If we discard the faith, then we no longer receive the benefits of what God has done and is doing. Faith is ultimately a choice, an act of our will, because God provides it as a gift, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but we have to receive it. Salvation is ultimately God’s business, because we can save no one. The whole issue of whether salvation can be lost once gained has created major splits in the Church, and the only one happy about that is the devil. The point is that salvation is precious indeed, and is to be both cherished and shared.

I am not going to make dogmatic statements as to who is or isn’t saved, but I must never stop sharing the Biblical guidelines for salvation. I have seen people, even in this church, who seemed to be on fire, even, but who then fell away. I can only pray God’s grace for them. At the very least they are currently not enjoying the blessings of participation in the household of God. However, God knows who are His, (2 Timothy 2:19) and I often don’t. Just the other day we had someone show up here completely unannounced, inquiring about funerals. She was baptized well over 30 years ago but has not been active in church for most of the time since, quite possibly because of marriage to an unbeliever. I’m sure she’s been taken off of the church roll where she was baptized, but God hasn’t forgotten her. I expressed a warm invitation to her, and would not be surprised if she shows up for worship this morning. I am not to be pushing people away, but rather expressing God’s invitation as clearly and as winningly as the Lord enables me to.

Father, thank You indeed for those who are Yours, though I don’t know them all. Thank You for the lady who came Friday, and for her two friends who came along to give her moral support. I pray that she would be restored to full participation in Your family and that her friends would enter in as well. Father, I have felt for many years that You had many “free agent” children in this city. I pray that they would all be brought to full participation in the Body of Christ, and as a result many more be brought to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 10, 2015

Posted on October 11, 2015 by jgarrott

Titus 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

This chapter is loaded with good, practical teaching about how to live a life pleasing to God, and here we have Paul’s instructions on how to go about transmitting that truth to others. Cretan culture of the day was pretty rough, and to many today would have seemed pretty rude. That’s why the focus here is on correction. In different circumstances, the style can be different. However, two things stand out to me, and they are two sides to the same thing. Titus is told to act with “all authority,” (the Japanese says, “sufficient authority”) and not to let anyone despise him (the Japanese says, “take lightly”). Pastoral ministry is not for wimps! Gentleness is certainly called for, but it is a gentleness that comes from strength and not from weakness. Some people have the image of a pastor being a milquetoast, and sadly, some fit the image! Jesus is certainly our example here. As a carpenter, He was hardly the effete, skinny figure we often see in paintings. When He drove the merchants out of the temple, (John 2:13-17) they had every reason to get out! That’s not at all to say that every pastor should be a body builder, certainly, but that the office is not one of weakness. It is important that when Jesus gave the Great Commission He started by saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) When we operate under that authority, it in turn operates through us. Pastors need to remember that they are part of the “chain of command” of the entire universe, and not let the devil’s lies shake them.

This is an issue I have thought about many times over the years, but have not always acted on properly. I have tended to misuse my authority by not using it, rather than by oppressing anyone. That has caused problems. I recognize that I have been given a lot of authority not just in this church but in this city and this region, but I need God’s wisdom and guidance as to how to exercise it. I must not be puffed up over it, but neither am I to fail to use it as God directs. Spiritual warfare is an area that needs more attention, and the authority of Christ is certainly paramount in that. I’ve been given a message for tomorrow on “Person of God.” I need to listen to it myself, and act as His agent in destroying the works of the devil, (1 John 3:8) setting people free for their salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There are those who are telling us we are to exercise the authority of Christ in commanding healing for Cathy’s body. I’m not sure where I am on that one. It would be wonderful for her to avoid any of the surgeries that are scheduled, but I see You working in the current situation as well. I know that apart from submission to You I have no authority. Help me recognize and do each thing that You desire of me, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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