Lent Day 19: Thankful for God's glory

"The flag wasn't a sign that she thought her country was better but a reminder of her country, of what she had left behind for the gospel's sake." One of my dissertation readers who lived overseas remembers the pleasure of the American flag waving overhead.

We all love our own people. Those of us who live in "foreign" settings feel glad to have a touch or taste of home.

However, when "home" is a world power, it can be difficult to be objective. The person in the literature definitely felt the superiority of her birthplace in comparison to where she served.

Listening to the story of David this morning (read from the book of Samuel), I pondered the fall of strong nations. Blessings come to people whose government or rulers serve God and follow his ways. Sadly, when nations become strong, they forget Moses' warning to his own people:

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ...

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God."(Deut. 8:10-20)

Reading the history of the early C20, I am astonished at how many Christians––including the American presidents of World Wars I and II––prayed for military victory. The American army helped other countries overcome their foes in Europe and Asia. But did the God of Gideon need the added troops and weaponry of the USA? Of course not. But God's people were praying fervently in Europe and America and God granted their military a successful partnership to end the wars.

The danger is not only during times of battle but perhaps more severe afterwards, when victory is assured and we are tempted to say, "Our strong arm and our superior might has won the day!"

The writer of Acts tells of the downfall of King Herod, who accepted the worship due only to God:

Herod had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. (Acts 12:20-23)

The consequence of arrogance is a decline in morality and societal values; death and financial ruin are on the horizon. It's always been that way ... because God will share his glory with no other person or system.

With all he accomplished, Jesus always glorified his heavenly Father, rather than pointing to himself. Whatever we achieve, let's remember that blessings come from God. Honor, wealth, and prosperity are in his hands not ours, even when he lends them to us as his stewards. Have we been successful or singled out for acclaim? If so, have we acknowledged God as the origin or are we depending on our own wisdom and savvy?

Read more:

*So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Let my people go, so that they may worship me.'" Exodus 10:3

*Be still in the presence of the LORD,   and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land. Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity." Psalm 37:7-11

*Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

*God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

Moravian Prayer: Gracious God, give us the courage and the strength today to stand up to the powers of evil in our lives. These can walk all over the powerless and sometimes close their ears and eyes to cries for help. Pour your power into us to act. Amen.

Lent Day 18: Thankful for God's will

"How can I know God's will? Is this the right thing to do?"

W and I are old people in the faith. We've served God since childhood and heard those two questions almost as often as we've asked them. "Should we choose this or that? What will happen in the future if I go this direction?"

I have two stories today about finding the will of God. The first is from my childhood. An old preacher told our youth group to get into motion if we wanted to know what God wanted. "Have you ever tried to turn the wheel of a car without power steering? It is very difficult when the car is sitting in the driveway but once you start moving you can easily turn the wheel.

"In the same way, God will direct you if you will work hard and do what is at hand. If you sit and wait around, you may not be ready for the job that comes along."

The second story illustrates the old man's admonition. This weekend, a high-schooler did the impossible. With a few seconds to go in the state championship basketball game, his basket wins the game and leads his team from heartbreak to victory and the prize. (Click here to view the astonishing moments = Watch #4.)

I've watched the footage of the final seconds of the game many times, tracking where this youngster comes from before he makes the play.

Coaches will be inspiring their teams with the clip in coming years. Rather than waiting to see what would happen, the player sprints from center court toward the basket. There is no play that would have specifically called for him, no strategy that requires his action.

Yet he runs at full tilt ... and when a split-second opportunity means a win or loss, he is THERE! The announcers can't believe what they've seen and they can't find him on the replays. All of a sudden, he's changed the whole game and his school's history. Doing what needs to be done, heroically on the spot! Winning because he is in motion and in the right place at the right time ... after years of rebounds and dribbling and layups and boring drills.

How many times would God ask us to do the impossible with his help, but we've not been nearby? How many opportunities have we missed to share the gospel, help the hurting, or get that perfect job? Are we willing to practice and train, to get up early to study scripture and devote ourselves to God, to do the mundane tasks in preparation for extraordinary moments?

Where do we fit into God's will? Realistically, some of us will never have that "glory moment" when everyone looks at us with stupefaction and wonder. We'll never be the star who shoots the winning basket. Instead, we may play on the team to let someone else shine. The young man could not have done his amazing tip-off without his team.

However, sometimes the star misses her chance and the underdog becomes the hero. For that to happen, someone has to be in motion, fearlessly becoming the one who saves the day! Let it be you. And let it be me, O Lord.

Read more:

*Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:1–6

*O Lord our God - we set our hope on you. Jeremiah 14:22

*We wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13

Moravian Prayer: Almighty God, we lift our hearts to you; and our eyes are fixed upon your unchanging glory. We rejoice in the promises of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power and majesty. Amen. (from Reign of Christ Liturgy, MBW p109)

Lent Day 17: Thankful for ascribed cleanliness

"Stop!" The funeral process halted, mourners temporarily silencing their wails in shock. Not even the grief-stricken widow was immune from Jesus' interruption. Her only son had died and she had no tomorrow. No one would care for her though she'd strained her resources to provide a decent funeral for her only child.

Jesus walked up to the bier and touched it. "What is the rabbi doing? He won't be around us for at least a week," whispered bystanders. "He's unclean."

"Sit up, lad," Jesus said to the corpse wrapped in linens. As the young man's spirit returned to his body, he sat up. "Here is your son," Jesus smiled at the widow, bestowing God's favor.

By touching a dead body in a culture of ritual cleanliness, Jesus had made himself unclean. Most religious authorities shrank from contact or proximity to death and disease. (Jesus' example of the Good Samaritan proved a surprising exception to listeners, who understood when Pharisees and scribe hurried away from a man who had been beaten, robbed, and left for dead.)

I'm amazed that Luke does not record cleansing rituals following such "contaminating" events. Jesus––touching the uncleanness of humanity––does not himself become polluted or despoiled. Instead, wherever he goes, whatever he touches, however he heals, he brings life while remaining pure and clean.

I want to be like Jesus: uncontaminated while not shrinking away from those who have become filthy by sin, wrecked by bad choices, and stinking from the deathly consequences of brokenness. After all, Jesus touched me when I was ruined and dirty. He does not abandon me nor cast me off even now when I fail him. The hymnwriter says:

Grace, grace, God's grace - grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace, grace, God's grace - grace that is greater than all my sin.

Thanks be to God for his holiness, ascribed to his children––and to me––today.

Read more:

*Suppose you sin by violating one of the LORD's commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin. For a guilt offering, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional sin, making you right with the LORD, and you will be forgiven. This is a guilt offering, for you have been guilty of an offense against the LORD. Leviticus 5:17—19

*The Lord executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger. Deuteronomy 10:18,19

*We ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth. 3 John 8

Moravian Prayer: God of justice, you are never biased. However, you always notice the powerless, the marginalized, the downtrodden, the hungry, the homeless and the addicted. You call upon us to do the same so we might be co-workers with the truth. Give us courage to face the forces of power and work for justice in every arena of our lives. Amen.

Lent Day 16: Thankful for grace

I'm stuck. Head empty. Fingers flinging photos and fluff from the keyboard.

Move on.
   Or wait.

God gives grace enough for each day. Amen.

Read more:
*Exodus 17:1-18:6; Matthew 22:41-23:12

*For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

*Christ says, "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

Moravian Prayer: Grant us, this day, dear Lord, the assurance that you are a constant companion. We live in the hope that you will grant us our every need instead of our every selfish want. Amen.

Lent Day 15: Thankful for meltdowns

The music flowed over me, harmonies splashing, melodies soaring, and rhythms relaxing in one worship song after another. It was time. Maybe past time.

Once in a while I have a meltdown. Winters are very hard on me: the lack of sun and time outdoors gradually shuts down my systems. This morning, after working in rooms away from my sun-simulator lamp for 2 weeks, everything collapsed. So I staggered over to piano and sat down, eyes closed and hands ready.

One after another, choruses and hymns of praise and thankfulness began to wash off the weariness of study, the darkness and grey climate, and the puttering that fritters away hours of depression. After a half hour, I opened my eyes and wiped away the tears. Renewed. I walked upstairs to my office and flipped on the lights (besides a south window, I have 5 overhead bulbs and a super-Verilux sun lamp). I opened my computer and started the day's work with a lighter heart.

Sometimes God needs us to come close, to relinquish the ideas and hopes of days past and future to wait near in his presence. As we open our hands and hearts in worship, he refreshes us from the inside out.

Jesus stole away for hours with his Father. As I worship, I remember, "Even in this, O Christ, you are a model of life and Life." Thanks be to God.

Do you need time with your heavenly Father today? What gifts can you offer him, that will refresh you and glorify him?

Read more:

*Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28: 6-7 NIV

*My words that I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children's children. Isaiah 59:21

*The word of the Lord endures forever. That word is the good news that was announced to you. 1 Peter 1:25

Moravian Prayer: We give thanks to you, gracious God, for the gift of Christ - your communication of who you are and what you want us to be. We have experienced your good news and we are determined to pass it on to future generations through our words and actions. Guide us in this endeavor. Amen.

Lent Day 14: Thankful for sound leadership

The queen began her Diamond Jubilee tour to a warm welcome. "Her lifetime of service to others is truly an inspiration," said her grandson Harry, off dancing and banqueting in Jamaica. The Old Testament shows exactly the influence good and bad leadership has on a nation. When the king sought God, the nation prospered. When he was godless, the people suffered.

This year Queen Elizabeth II and her family celebrate her 60 years of rule over the Commonwealth. This tiny woman receives enthusiastic welcomes wherever she goes. No one has to drum up crowds or force supporters to line up or parade their support; she has gracefully persevered as political power has been stripped from the monarchy. (I watched the flutter of Obama's helicopter touchdown at the university with amusement: we are naturally star-struck by those over us, no matter how republican we claim to be or who our sovereign or representative is.)

"What's the purpose of the monarchy," some wonder. "Do away with her and her children. They cost money and do nothing."

I disagree. We need role models and heroines. Watching Elizabeth II––decidedly German in her 60-year devotion to duty––I am inspired. From the time she was young she has behaved well, something that can be said of few other rulers, men or women.

Good leadership manifests itself by steadying a nation, looking out for the good of others. A great leader accepts due honor with humility and thrift rather than pride and extravagance. Queen Elizabeth has not denied herself fashion or horses or castle maintenance. But she does not flaunt her power. Always in the public eye, she's been steadfast in a changing world, amid political turmoil and the tumult of raising children and watching them make difficult adult decisions. Her dignity in treating others with respect provides a model for commoners and royals alike.

As a teen, watching her Silver (25) Jubilee, I wondered if she would stay the course. Would she still be as nice and focused on service? Apparently so. Elizabeth forged her character by attending countless openings, not yawning or groaning at endless award ceremonies, unveiling thousands of plaques, and lending visibility to worthwhile causes. She's traveled the globe––in more comfort than you and I do, mind you––as an ambassador of peace and faithfulness, a symbol of good rule and goodwill.

Elizabeth II is not like us. She regulates her life strictly by appointments. Her homes are opulent beyond our imagination. I've visited several palaces and marveled that such things exists on earth and wondered at the surpassing beauty of heaven. However, she eats sparsely and exercises to stay in shape. She and her husband have saved the monarchy for her grandchildren by their frugal lifestyle and sound advice.

Recently, I watched footage of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It reminded me that royalty may have perks but it demands conformity and courtesy that would kill most of us. Elizabeth II has survived years great and horrible––family breakups and scandals, fires and thefts, travel schedules that would put most of us under the table in our prime, never mind when we're 70 and 80!

She says her faith in God guides her and sustains her in her duty to her country and her family. She won't notice this small tribute but I salute her and hope I can be a role model for people who know me as she has been for us.

God bless the Queen. And may He inspire decency, modesty, and service to God and country among the leadership here, too.

Read more:

*Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see." Psalm 36:6–9

*Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:2-6 NIV

Today's Prayer: Our Lord and King, preserve and protect those who rule over us. Though we constantly want to control our lives, we recognize that you place us under authority. Give us peace and grace to submit to and support those you have placed in government. We pray for the American elections ahead and ask that you would bless kings, queens, and princes with your wisdom for the good of their people and the expansion of your Kingdom. Amen.

Lent Day 13: Thankful for waiting

Ziggy and Missy looked at me expectantly. They were ready to eat and I usually fed them at that time of morning. Their eyes followed me around the room and when I walked out the door to get a page from the printer, they got up to follow me. Tails wagging, they promised to please me any way I wanted, if only --

"C'mon, c'mon, you have the food and we are hungry. We always depend on you. Why are you not delivering?"

They were especially excited when I went into the conservatory to water the ferns. Their sleeping crate and feeding mat is out there so of course they expected breakfast. Disappointment, sorry!

"Here we go, come here," I called, drawing them back into the house. They came reluctantly and plopped themselves beside me, eyes open to every move. Waiting. Waiting.

I'd planned to go to the library on that winter cold day. I didn't want them shivering in the car while I worked. After that, I had an hour-long appointment which would have meant more sitting in a confined space. Their food was ready but they'd be enjoying it--and the run of the warm conservatory--while I was away. We'd go for a walk when I came back which they love. In the meantime, they had to wait even though they couldn't understand the reason.

I'm a people lover and a dog like-er. Sometimes  the two little black beasts who live at our house demonstrate the difference between God's supreme knowledge and our human hopes and aspirations. They know a lot but not what's on my mind.

I have made several requests to God over and over: health for our daughter, protection for a small church (which just closed), good work when studies are done, and ongoing pleas that God would intervene for friends and family who urgently need his touch.

Like the dogs who anxiously watch me move around, we see God at work and wonder why he isn't attending to our needs. We can't bribe him with good behavior or demand that he answer us. He knows so much more than we do, has every provision in hand, and his plan is perfect. I'm thankful today that we can trust the One who asks us to wait on Him. Waiting reminds us that he's in charge.

What make you fretful or impatient today? How can you release the timing and God's answer back to him?

Read more:
*For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe. Deuteronomy 10:17

*Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, 'Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man "Your sins are forgiven," or "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk"? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.' Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!'

And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, 'We've never seen anything like this before!'" Mark 2:8–12

*From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Romans 11:36

Moravian Prayer: Almighty, omnipotent God, we adore you and we praise you. You inspire awe within us as we contemplate the magnificence of your creative ability joined with the splendor of your unconditional love for us, your creatures. What a glorious combination! Amen.

Lent Day 12: Snow daze

White wonderland.

Really? It's March and snowing in Seattle. Like the weather, life is uncertain.

We hold our precious bundles of joy as our mothers held us,
bathe and feed them through toddlerhood,
teach them to run and play with others during elementary years,
counsel and comfort them through their teens,
and hope for the best as they walk down the aisle or apply for the new job.

Stepping back,
we pray them through tears of passage,
hold them through disappointments,
yelp with them at joyous surprises,
and wonder where the days have gone.

My grandma used to say, "Kleine Kinder, kleine Sorgen (sorrows); grosse Kinder, grosse Sorgen." In life's passages, she's proved to be right again.

Praying for challenges great and small, I wonder: if prayers were wishes, how would you appeal to our heavenly Father on this snowy day?

Read more:

*Exodus 12:21-51; Matthew 21:33-46

*May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. Psalm 67:7

*Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3

*Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Moravian Prayer: Generous God, you have so generously blessed us in manifold ways. How can we be but grateful? Forgive us for taking that grace for granted and lead us into deeper thankfulness. Amen.

Lent Day 11: Vorwärts! Los!

We have a date! On March 20 I defend my dissertation, which continues to be a work in progress after being sent off to committee. Based on feedback, I'm clarifying the dissertation's objectives and reinforcing primary literature.

The past two weeks, my brain has remained in limbo. I tried to continue intense study after I handed in the dissertation. But without a time frame, my mind and body refused to cooperate or engage. I'm deadline and task oriented so the simple email with a calendar appointment from my adviser has injected me with adrenaline and the will to live.

Meanwhile, my fellow pastor and friend Kim has been writing on leadership and church ministry. Her encouragement to see God's work as process rather than a hierarchy or establishment helps me keep this walk of studies in perspective. Whatever God is doing in this doctoral journey is part of God's preparation for what lies ahead, in the greater picture of the church.

Beginning with a provocative post about Power and church, Kim's been examining the role of those who remove obstacles and train members of Christ's body to minister in the world. I highly recommend her blog Deep Imprints.

God's Word confirms that each person is vital to his plans. The overarching goal is becoming Christlike in being and doing. You are part of that--and so am I.

How is your day or your week shaping up, in light of that?

Read more:
*But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" God said, "I will be with you." Exodus 3:11-12

*Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."

But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, "What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!" Mark 2:3–7

*It is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. 2 Corinthians 10:18

Moravian prayer: As we recall in a common Advent hymn: "Not in our own strength, Lord, we move; your kingdom falls not when we fall, but forward presses day by day until your truth is known to all." Dear Lord, remind us always that it is only by your grace that we have been justified. Amen.

Lent Day 10: Thankful for Auntie Molly

"She would have been 84 today," says Uncle Erich. We're laughing and sighing over wonderful memories of his wife and my "best auntie" Amalia. From what Mom tells me about her big sister, Auntie Molly was a cheerful happy girl. Uncle Erich confirms that she had lots of friends all her life.

Uncle Erich and Aunt Molly were a team, married over 50 years. In the opportunistic manner of youngsters, we felt bad that they didn't have kids of their own, but we were happy in their undivided affection. They'd let my cousin and me sit with them in church, take us home for flavorful home-cooked meals, and tuck us into thick feather-beds for sleepovers. In short, their home was a child's heaven.

I learned to pray by listening to them pray. I learned to cook by smell in the fragrance of their kitchen. I learned hospitality by watching them create meals and set the table for hundreds of guests. I learned beauty and decor from Auntie Molly's daring schemes: the crimson velvet drapes from their living room now hang in our chocolate-brown bedroom.

When I was 11, we moved across the country––so they never scolded me about boyfriends, modern styles, or anything else that bugs adults about teenagers. Our phone calls and visits were joyful and affirming. Their fervent prayers surrounded my days and guard my nights. Their godly examples reminded me that people with a heart for God have hope and a future.

God made us, called us to love and work, and guides our steps. He did not give these caring folk biological children but they have been spiritual father and mother to many of us.

This morning's BBC reported on a Kenyan family who cares for 49 orphans beyond their own three kids. I recognized that family's love and prayers from my own childhood, a haven of loving embraces, strict morality, high expectations, and kneeling together to talk to God. I just have to hear Uncle Erich's voice to have a flood of warm memories fill me to bursting. I often wish I could run across town to sit at his table for tea or invite him for dinner.

If you're single or childless, I appeal to you to find children who are hungry for attention and significance. My family was healthy and happy: Mom and Dad didn't neglect or abuse us. But that extra-special touch from my Auntie Molly and Uncle Erich colored my life-pages with enduring beauty.

Today, I thank God for those who––knowing how God loved us and gave his Son for us––share that love with others. You live your private moments and unheralded ordinary days filled with grace, generosity, and hospitality. We children never forget how you take us in, put up with our childhood messes, and make us feel like no one else in the world is more special than we are to you.

During Lent, grateful for the Savior's love, I can say about my sweet auntie on her birthday (and of my uncle, too), "I have seen Jesus reflected in you." Thank you!

Read more:
*God knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:22

*Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. Mark 4:22 (NIV)

Moravian Prayer: Revealing God, we know your intent is always to open yourself to us in every way imaginable. Help us to have the ears to hear and the eyes to see the truths that you are constantly laying out before us. Guide us to live in accordance with those truths. Amen.