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Scripture

I John 4: 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 

Fear of punishment is part of our every day lives. If we, as sinners, lack this fear, we behave in foolish ways.  Therefore, God uses the fear of punishment for good in human society.  St. Paul writes about this in Romans 13:3, “3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” In a society composed of sinful human beings, God holds human government responsible for this important public role.  No government is perfect. Some abuse their power. Some refuse to protect all members of society. Some use their power to terrorize and control those they are called to protect. Governments are composed of sinful people.  In the end, all governments will be held responsible for their actions by God and will have to give an account to God for their stewardship of this high responsibility.  When we pray “give us this day our daily bread” in the Lord’s prayer we are praying for our government!  The government, in restraining evil, is called to support all people so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives, and raise our families in faith in God, good order in our homes and personal discipline in our dealings with others. Governments that fail in this regard, have nothing but terror to face at the judgement.  Therefore, we should pray for those in authority.

What are governments supposed to do?  The course outbreaks of sin are supposed to be restrained by the governing authorizes and, therefore, a proper fear of punishment for those who are tempted to hurt others exists.  If the aggressive and criminal are allowed to tear apart the fabric of a community, everyone suffers.  Lacking the hard boundaries of civil law, a society falls into violence, chaos, and disorder.   When governments fail to do their job and restrain violence, rioting and disorder quickly take over.  When governments continue to fail to maintain order, people fall into vigiantilism and take matters into their own hands.  Vigiantilism is no answer either, for such responses to the outbreaks of sin are contrary to God’s plan for order. Obviously, our world is deeply flawed and sinful.  How are any of us not going to live in terror of God’s judgement?  How can we begin to think of loving God when this God has every right to destroy us?

We have no hope of ourselves, but, God, who is perfect in justice, is also perfect in Love.  God fulfills the Law, He doesn’t just fail to enforce it.  He came, in the flesh, Jesus, true God and man to bear the horrible penalty for humanity’s, crimes, murders, sins, dishonesty and all other sins.  Jesus fulfilled the law in HIs life and then offered Himself on the cross to pay the debt of human wickedness.  In perfect Love, God forgives the sins of all who trust in Jesus.  They are forgiven as a gift through faith. Those who are baptized, as Jesus commanded, are incorporated into His body, the church.  In His body, we are transformed into God’s children and our slavery to sin is daily overcome.  We are at last free in Jesus! 

So, where is the fear of God?  There is no terror of God for those who are in Christ Jesus.  Jesus has removed the punishment that we deserved and allowed us to relate to God as a loving Father. God is the Father who cares for us and will bring us to the joys of eternal life.  That is the life that we live now in this creation.

This is the Gospel.  God has taken away our terror and given us HIs love in Jesus.  He has restored us to Himself and granted us eternal life.  He has freed us from our slavery to sin and strengthens us to walk in His ways. As it is written in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”  AMEN

Let us pray

Heavenly Father I thank you for your rich grace and mercy in sending your Son Jesus to be my Savior.  I praise you Lord Jesus for bearing the just penalty for my sin, and also the sins of the whole world.  Strengthen my faith in you that as your forgiven child I may walk in your ways now and forever.  I pray for those who govern our nation and communities so that they will fulfill their responsibility to restrain evil.  Grant those who believe in you and serve in government courage and faithfulness in their service.  In your name I pray, AMEN

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I John 4: 14-15  14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 

How can you know that you are saved?  It seems like things are changing so much in the world.  Things that people counted on as true are being torn down.  Blame and guilt are being tossed around like firebombs.  A person who doesn’t respond with aggression, may well respond with depression.  One could easily question everything and even doubt the substance of the Gospel.

So, how can you know that you are saved?  This isn’t just an exercise in religious knowledge, a sort of easy slam dunk for those who confess the Gospel.  It is a real question that helps us to sift out the encroachment of pride and self righteous attitudes.  If these are allowed to continue in our hearts, we are actually weaker.  We are more susceptible to doubt. 

God’s Word says something amazing about how you can know that you are saved.  I John 4:15  “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”  What does this mean?

First of all, a confession isn’t just a statement of fact.  A confession is an “I believe” statement of faith.  To confess that Jesus is the Son of God is to confess everything that God tells us about Jesus in the Holy Bible.  Jesus, true God and true Man, came into the world to save us.  He died on the cross, rose from the grave, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved!  Whoever does not believe will be condemned.  This is the Christian faith.

And it is important to remember that this faithful confession is itself a gift of God.  

Do you remember the meaning of the 3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed which teaches the work of God the Holy Spirit.  There we are taught of the truths of God’s Word when we confess, “I believe that I cannot of my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but, the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”  We believe because God, rich in Grace, has given us faith!

So, how are you saved?  You are saved by the Grace of God through faith in Jesus. You are saved because God has created a new heart in you and given you faith. Therefore it is clearly true and joyfully true that,  “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 

Amidst all the changes and uncertainty of this life, nothing shall change this eternal work of God. As it is written in Isaiah 43:1 ““Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Let us pray,  I thank you Lord Jesus for giving me the miracle of faith and allowing me to confess that you are the Son of God.  I praise you for abiding in me, and overcoming, day after day, all the powers of the evil one, forgiving my sins and strengthening me in the life of faith.  Help me to find comfort each day in this great joy and blessing.  Bless us, your church, as we bring the gift of this message to all nations.  I ask this in your name.  AMEN

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One Restored, Lee Daniel Johnson, 

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I John 4:4

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Often the world feels like a frightening place.  We fear crime, disease, and threats from enemies at home and abroad. We have become aware of unseen threats to our, personal freedoms, income, security, identity, and privacy.  We have serious concerns for our lives, livelihoods, and the future freedom and welfare of our families.  The powers in the world seem so large that a rational person could be tempted to give up hope.

I am not going to lie to you and say that the condition of the world really isn’t all that bad. But, I also am not going to tell you to simply to give up.  What are the alternatives?

I could tell you just to have a positive attitude.  But, that would be wrong on two counts.  First, the threats are real.  Pretending things are just fine is lying to yourself.  Secondly, a positive outlook that ignores reality is foolish. Like the old phrase, “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” such thinking is even more depressing.  Just drowning our fears by numbing up with drugs or alcohol is perhaps the most common approach among fearful people.  But, this only makes problems worse.  Eventually the numbing effects of food, drink, and drug wear off and reality comes rushing back with a vengeance.  

I actually have good news for you.  This good news is real and comes from God Himself through his Word.  Listen to God’s Word for today again.  This is from I John 4:4.

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

As powerful as the threats in the world truly are, God is greater.  And God isn’t far away.  In fact, He is in you!

How is God in you?  When you were baptized, God incorporated you into the body of Jesus.  He took away the condemnation of your sins through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection.  God overcame your slavery to sin, and through His Gospel sets you free to live in faith towards God and love towards your neighbor.  

God’s greater power is seen in the life of Jesus.  How does the life of Jesus show God’s greater power?  The world is all about retribution, and filling personal emptiness by taking from others.  God is greater because God is abundant in all good things.  Therefore, in the case of sin, God can do the impossible,  God forgives. Jesus willingly subjected Himself to the reality of human sin and restores those who trust in Him as a gift through faith alone.  The world is all about taking from others, because it has nothing of its own. Without robbing others the world is bankrupt.  God, is the source of all things.  God is full of underserved gifts, a grace to all who trust in Him.  God comes to us with the gifts of life and even makes HIs gifts personal through Baptism, Holy Communion, and the preaching of His Word.

I think you are starting to get the idea, aren’t you?  We are called from fear of the world to faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. As fearful as the enemies of Christ appear, their threats were broken when Christ rose from the dead.  It is this true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, abundant in life and rich in every blessing, that is within us.  God is truly greater than any evil in the world. And from His riches we are enabled to forgive those who sin against us.

Jesus sent His disciples into all nations with this good news.  He sends those who believe in Him into this world as witnesses to God’s greater power and peace.  May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Jesus today and always.  And may God bless your witness that you may be a source of encouragement to all living in fear.  Amen!  He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Let us pray,  Lord God heavenly Father, I thank you for your abundant mercy and grace that has saved me through my Lord Jesus Christ.  Grant me your grace towards all people, that they may see my life, and give you glory for your love.  In Jesus Name, AMEN

I John 4:5-6  

5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  

One of the comforts of being in church is being surrounded with fellow believers.  Is it just that Christians like being around people who agree with them?  To anyone who actually goes to church, that statement is hilarious!  Christians are a free people, therefore while they do have common beliefs on the truths taught in the Bible, they have a wide range of opinions on earthly things.  They express their ideas and frequently disagree.  If Christians exhibit such a variety of thought, what is their common bond?  What defines a person as Christian?

At the core, Christians are those who know God through Jesus.  How does one know God?  By listening to God’s Word, the Bible.  Those who listen to the teachings of the Holy Bible are those who know God.  Those who will not listen to God’s Word are not from God and will allow no place for God’s Word in their lives. This difference between truth and error hangs on whether one knows God through His Word or not.  Without the Word, there is no truth.

Knowing God, through His inspired Word, we are the workmanship of God the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, teaches us to know ourselves through God’s Word. There we learn God’s Will for us.  We see what perfect Love looks like and how God would see that love fulfilled (made perfect, or complete through action) in our lives.  We also come to see that we have fallen short of the glory of God through every failure of love, which is the definition of sin.  

But, where our love fails, God’s love succeeds.  Jesus came and offered Himself on the cross for our forgiveness.  In love, God chose forgive and give life through His Son.  In Jesus, we see what true love looks like.  By the words of Jesus, the words of the Holy Scriptures, we are called to repent of our sins, trust in God’s Son Jesus for our forgiveness. We are encouraged and set free to follow Jesus’ example.

The willingness to listen is a gift of God the Holy Spirit.  Through this gift, we are given faith in Jesus and the certainty of eternal life.  When we are gathered among other believers, we may have a variety of opinions on earthly things, but these are insignificant in view of what we share in Jesus.  In Jesus, God shows that He knows us, and has come to meet our greatest need.  Through faith in Jesus, we know do God, and rejoice to listen to His voice.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord God for the gift of your Word and that you have created faith in my heart.  May I always be among those who know you and listen to your voice.  May your Gospel continue to bring joy and comfort to those who have yet to know you.  May all those hearing your voice this day for the first time, come to faith, repent and know your love in Jesus. In your name, AMEN.

I John 4: 2

 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

You have probably heard the word “antichrist” before.  Do you know what it means? The antichrist is someone who violently opposes Jesus, the true Christ.  The antichrist strives to hide the true person and work of Jesus.  The antichrist is a destroyer of faith, of lives and of hope. The antichrist leads people to destruction.  Therefore, it is important that we are aware of the antichrist and wise to his tactics so that we will remain strong in the one true faith.

The antichrist is the spirit that is in any teacher that denies the confession of God’s Word about Jesus, in particular Jesus’ incarnation, which means, His coming into the world in the flesh to save.  Why is this so significant?

When Jesus Christ came into the world, true God and true Man, He came in power to overcome the rule and realm of the evil one.  Jesus came forgiving sins (granting absolution instead of satan’s accusations), healing people of their diseases (granting hope rather than satan’s despair), and driving out demons (granting freedom in place of satanic possession.) 

The victory of Jesus in this world began at HIs temptation and continued throughout HIs ministry.  Therefore, the first step of the antichrist’s attack is to deny Jesus’ existence.  The antichrist denies the reality of Jesus’ entrance into this physical creation.  The doctrines of the antichrist intend to make the war over the Gospel a mere squabble over philosophical concepts rather than the physical realities of sin, death and devil – and Jesus true victory through His cross and resurrection.

Why is it important for us to know this?  We live in the real world, and so also is the substance of our faith is grounded in the real world!  The Christian faith isn’t a philosophy!  Jesus isn’t just a teacher or another historian figure. Jesus is true God and true man who came to save us. 

Therefore when we confess “I believe in Jesus Christ,” we mean  “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.”  We believe this Jesus came to save us though all that He did in the real world.  Jesus’ life, death, resurrection all happened.  And His coming again in glory to judge the living and dead will happen. 

Therefore, today we are warned of the antichrist so that we will be prepared.  The antichrist would still lie about the reality of Jesus coming into the world and strive to enslave people in fear.  In the face of this persistent lie, we confess the pure truth about Jesus Christ, true God and true man.  Jesus has overcome our sin, death and the devil. Because of this we live each day in faith, hope, love — without fear — anticipating Jesus’ coming again in glory to judge both the living and the dead.

Let us Pray, I thank you Heavenly Father for the clear confession of your Holy Word about your Son Jesus, who has truly come into the world in the flesh to save me.  I thank you for the warnings of your word about the lies of the antichrist who would cause me to doubt the physical reality of Jesus and what He did for me.  Strengthen my faith in you and my love for others.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Scripture

I John 4: 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

“Don’t believe everything that your hear.”  This is pretty common advice.  And it is good advice, especially when it comes to your faith in God and the real threat of false prophets. 

What is a false prophet?  A false prophet is someone who presents himself  as one speaking God’s Word, but is actually speaking his own ideas.  Why would anyone do that?  There are many reasons.  But, in the end, whether the reasons are intentional or delusional, the false prophet has a different god in his heart rather than the one true God.  The false prophet’s idolatry results in the ruin of many people

I John chapter 4 teaches us how to “test” the spirits.  The test begins with who God is, and in particular, that God has come in the flesh in Jesus.  Why would this be such a big deal?

Jesus is the heart of God’s saving work in the world.  Without Jesus, there is nothing left of the Gospel.  Once Jesus is removed, the empty shell of that religion can then be filled with anything.  False prophets have used this tactic to turn congregations into nothing more than promoters of political movements, or cults of personalities.  Where Jesus once was, they have inserted the idol of their own hearts.  Where God’s Gospel once brought eternal life, the false prophet has placed a false god that has nothing to offer. To distract people from the emptiness, the false prophet must promote one crisis of the moment after another.

This has actually happened among people and is happening around the world today.  How can you tell?  One simple thing I have found helpful is just to listen for the name of Jesus.  Is the name of Jesus used often?  Is the name of Jesus heard at all? If not, why not?  What other name has taken His place? The first thing that a false prophet does is remove the name of Jesus.

The next thing I listen for is what is mentioned about Jesus.  When Jesus came, God in the flesh, He came to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God.  Jesus is the one sacrifice for the Sins of the world.  God removes guilt through the cross of Jesus, and frees people to live their lives restored in faith towards God and love towards their neighbor. Through Jesus, God gives the resurrection of the dead, confidence on judgement day, and the joy of eternal life.  A false prophet not only avoids the use of the name of Jesus, but attached to it, replaces the work of Jesus with something else.  Instead of receiving an eternal gift from God’s grace, people are driven to focus on their own actions through the use of guilt as a tactic. Here again, look for cults of personality, political agendas, and a recycling of every false doctrine from history.  In the end, the false prophet has no Jesus, no cross, no forgiveness of sins, no resurrection from the dead, no confidence on judgement day, and no hope in eternal life.  In changing the message, the false prophet has no Gospel, no good news, no peace, only an unending harangue and burden of guilt.

“Many false prophets have gone out into the world.” God has not left us without defense.  In the clear warnings of the scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus our Good Shepherd watches over His flock.  Therefore, we will remember this instruction from God’s Word.   We will test the spirits.  We will listen for the name of Jesus and the clear confession of what Jesus has done to save us, and with us, all the world.

Let Us Pray

I thank you Lord Jesus for coming into the world in the flesh to save me.  Guard and protect your church throughout the world from false prophets who deny your name.  Grant me your understanding to test the spirits, recognize your voice, and rejoice in your true Gospel. AMEN

Scripture. John 15: 13-14

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

There are many kinds of friends.  There are the friends that we have at work.  Since we share time together in the workplace, it is good to be friendly and care for each other.  There are friends that we have in our neighborhoods.  In a similar way, it is helpful to have a neighborly friendship with those we see in the community.  While we may call all of these friends, there is something more.

Though they may be fewer in number, true friends are all together different.  True friends are friendly, fun to be around, and may even live in our neighborhood, or be in our workplace.  But, they are more.  A true friend has a quality that surpasses those of mere acquaintance.  Do you know what that quality is?  I think you do.

A true friend is willing to make a sacrifice for you.  Lighter friendships will only bear with so much sacrifice.  Sometimes, hardly any sacrifice at all.  Very quickly shallow friendships tire if they are not getting something in return.  This is not what we have seen in Jesus.

In the Hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus” we are immediately met with the line “all our sins and griefs to bear.”  What would exhaust human friendship, didn’t exhaust the love of God in His Son.  Jesus came to bear our sins and our griefs on the cross.  There He removed them from our lives and carried our sorrows.  Through faith in Jesus we share in His resurrection from the dead. We have been given eternal life.

Jesus commanded us to think of friendship with each other in the same way.  That is how we are called to love one another, by remembering the pattern of our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection.  So, Jesus continues,

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  

What does that mean?  Jesus is showing us that friendship with God involves our own sacrifice!  We shouldn’t expect that God, who gave His life for us, has given us a faith that is nothing more than a fleeting fair-weather friendship to one another. 

God releases us from pride and self-centeredness.  He allows us to hear His commands and see the opportunities He lays before us. God calls us turn towards Him in faith and towards one another in Christian Love.

This is the true friendship that Jesus taught His disciples. As we grow in faith, we will hear the prophesy of Jesus fulfilled, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

Let us Pray

Lord I thank you for granting me the gift of faith so that I am truly your friend.  Please strengthen me each day in repentance and new life.  As you have given your life for me, I offer my life to you by following your commands of Christian love towards my neighbor.  In your name I pray.  AMEN

Scripture. John 15:12

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

What does it mean to love one another?  Love is the reason for many wonderful things in the world.  However, “love” can also be blamed for terrible things.  People, driven by their passions, are capable of truly horrible things.  So, what does Jesus mean when He tells us to love on another?

Jesus speaks very clearly so that we will not follow our own passions and somehow think we are doing his will.  He tell us to love one another “as I have loved you,”  Jesus directs us to His own example so that we will have a true pattern to follow.

We do need Jesus’ pattern!  Due to our fallen nature, we struggle to love one another as we ought.  Our own desires and motives can easily eclipse godly love in our lives.  We lose our way and fail in our love for others.  How can we remember Jesus’ love for us? 

The pattern of the services of God’s house show us God’s love.  As we enter God’s house of prayer, we spend time in silent prayer.  Why is this?  We enter God’s presence to listen to His word.  Silence is proper before one whose Words bring life.  Therefore we begin in silence, and pray for an open heart to God’s Word.

Next, we turn to the Lord in repentance for our sins.  God’s love is seen in this, that while we were sinners Christ died for us.  The Word of God shows us our sins and need for a Savior.  In love, God does not destroy us.  Rather, he calls us to return to Him with all our hearts.  The absolution of God, Jesus’ very Words of forgiveness spoken from the cross, calm our hearts and allow us to experience His love.

As the service progresses we hear the Words of God as recorded in the Holy Bible.  We see in various ways how humanity has sinned and how we have failed our Lord.  But, the point of it all, is that God is faithful. He comes to us as our Savior, and through Jesus death on the cross and resurrection shows us the full measure of His love.  We never tire of this message, nor do we outgrow our need for the Gospel.

As we kneel at the altar, we receive the body and blood of Jesus offered for the forgiveness of our sins. Here we have a personal encounter with God.  God forgives our sins and transforms our whole being.  God the Holy Spirit empowers a new life in us that can truly care for others.  

“…as I have loved you” is the pattern of the Divine service lived out in communities across the nation and around the world.  May the love of God that you experience in Jesus be the pattern of your love towards all people.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus, I thank you for leaving me a pattern of love to follow in the service of your church.  Strengthen my faith and reception of your mercy so that I may love others as you have loved me.  In your name I pray,  AMEN

Scripture. John 15:

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

The expression “blank check” refers to a check that is signed, but the amount has been left the blank.  The person who receives this check has thus been given complete freedom of action.  And this is also why you have probably never been given a blank check!  

Complete freedom of action among sinners is a recipe for disaster.  Our selfish motives quickly overcome higher goals for the benefit of others.  This is why our government works with a system of checks and balances.  This is also why corrupt governments around the world today cause so much pain, poverty, and oppression.  Sinners can’t handle a blank check.

Sir John Dalberg-Acton is best known for the remark, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men…” Why then would Jesus give His disciples a blank check?  Can we really “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you?”

Yes!  But, only, as God’s Word clearly states,  if you abide in Jesus and His Words abides in you.  If you are not abiding in Jesus through faith, and if His Word has no place in your heart, then God will certainly NOT answer such prayer.  God will not allow His power to further evil, or lead to your own damnation through sin.

But, as we are in Christ Jesus through faith, and His Word abides in us, we will never be without what we need to accomplish His purposes.  The blank check is real in these ways.

First of all, the blank check is real when we go to Jesus confessing our sins.  The priceless gift of forgiveness was purchased by our Lord for us through His suffering and death.  If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

Secondly, as we have been forgiven, so God sets us free from slavery to sin and allows us to walk freely in His Will.  The fears and desires that drive sinners to ruin are replaced with the urgings of God the Holy Spirit that lead to eternal life.  The dissipation that wastes human energies through sin are overcome and a generous and productive attitude reigns in our hearts.  Instead of seeing all that we have as a means to get our way in life, we see all that we have is God’s way of accomplishing good in this world now, and perfection in the life that is to come.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”  The outcome of God’s blank check in our lives is that people meet the reality of the Gospel through us.   By this, God is glorified and all people at last can rejoice.

Let us pray

I thank you Heavenly Father for your generous love in giving me all things necessary through the ministry of Jesus my Savior.  Please lead me daily in repentance and faith so that I will remain in Jesus.  May your word be in my heart throughout today.  In your abundant blessings to me, your will is done, and you are glorified.  AMEN