Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

You Matter!

5/31/2017

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." -Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

It can be easy to think of ourselves and what we need or want. College basketball coach John Wooden said that, "Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." There are times when we may become too focused on what we have or don't have that we miss both our blessings and opportunities to help others.

Being conceited, self-centered, or selfish may seem like a way to get ahead in society, but it will not result in the satisfaction that we think it will. To be happy and satisfied in life, we need to look beyond ourselves. We need to look to God and all that He can do to fulfill our lives. As followers of God, we are called to look at those around us. We should take the love that He has shown us and humbly spread His love to others in ways that value others and show them that they matter to God!

Think of more than yourself as you humbly show others that they matter!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your love and my worth. Help me to spread Your love and to show others that they matter to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Not "If"

5/30/2017

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” -Mark 9:23 (NIV)

I recently saw an inspirational quote that read, "Everything you ever wanted is one step outside your comfort zone." There are times when we may doubt ourselves. We may wander if we can do something. Having confidence is important to overcoming doubt and for stepping outside our comfort zone, but we need to be sure our confidence and belief are placed on the right foundation!

The foundation for our beliefs should be God and His teachings. When we are following God's plan for our lives, there is no "if." As long as we believe in God and have faith in Him, everything is possible. God gives us both strength and direction. He multiplies our efforts and blesses us. With God on our side, we shouldn't stop and ask "if", but we should call on God and know that, with Him, we can!

When following God, don't wander "if", but know that with God you can!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power and love You show in my life. Help me to trust that all things are possible through You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be a River!

5/29/2017

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." -John 7:38 (NIV)

Henry David Thoreau said that, "Life in us is like the water in a river." One of the characteristics of a river is that the water doesn't stay in the river. It flows and joins other rivers leading to larger and larger bodies of water. The living water in our souls must also flow, building larger bodies of living water in an expanding group of believers!

God has place a river inside each of us that transforms our lives, but it can do more than that! With God's river of living water in us, we can be filled to the point of overflowing. We can use the overflow to impact others and to show them the power of God in our lives and their lives. We can allow the river of living water flowing out of us to flow into the lives of others, creating larger and larger bodies of living water. We can allow God to impact our lives and the lives of others in ways that continue to build His Kingdom!

Believe in Jesus and allow God's living water to fill you and then flow into others' lives!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your power, grace, and love that fill my life. Allow Your living water to flow from me and to show others Your amazing grace and power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Love Each Other

5/28/2017

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." -John 15:12 (NIV)

The world is full of many different people. With so many differences, there are bound to be people we disagree with and some with which we agree. Even though we are all unique individuals, but we can get along. As Mother Teresa said, "Together we can do great things." We just need to begin by loving each other!

Jesus came to Earth to demonstrate God's love in human form. Even though we are sinners, God loves us and wants to redeem us. Jesus showed love to those around Him and He showed His love for us by dying on the cross for our sins. After we accept the gift of salvation offered through Jesus, we should be ready to spread God's love to all those around us, just as Jesus has shown us!

Love Jesus, then spread His love to those around you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for redeeming me. Help me to spread Your love to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be a Helper!

5/27/2017

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." -Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)

When we hear of tragedies, we may also hear of a quote that Mr. Rogers shared from his mother. He said that in times of tragedy or need, she always encouraged him to, "look for the helpers." The author of a recent article wrote to remember the quote, but also to share an experience where Mr. Rogers took the time to help him, a complete stranger, work through some of his problems and emotions. Mr. Rogers lived the advice of his mother by not just looking for a helper, but by being one on TV and in person!

God calls all of us to be helpers. We can find strength, love, and hope in God. From what God has given us, we can share with others. We can be a listening ear, a sympathetic hug, an empathetic hand up, or an uplifting smile. We can work to bring justice in places of injustice. We can defend the rights of those that are most at risk of losing their rights. In our lives, we can look for other helpers as inspiration, we can look to God for strength and love, and we can become the helpers and defenders that others around us need in their lives!

Be a helper by drawing on the love and strength from God and sharing it with others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the helpers I have encountered and witnessed in my life. Help me to be a helper that shares Your love and strength with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Once and Twice!

5/26/2017

"So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." -Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)

We all make mistakes. After mistakes, we may look for second chances. If we get a second chance, we shouldn't waste it. God sent Jesus to offer us a second chance, a way to break free from sin. We definitely shouldn't waste it!

Jesus Christ first came to die as a sacrifice in our place. All of our sin has been forgiven because of His Christ's life, death, and resurrection. We can rejoice in the new life we have through Him. We can also prepare to celebrate with Him and enter into His eternal glory. We can be forgiven once and never have to think twice about eternity!

Accept the forgiveness given through Jesus Christ and prepare to celebrate with Him for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and the forgiveness I have received through Him. Help me to share Your Message with others for an eternal glory with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

A Good Name

5/25/2017

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." -Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)

A colleague was recently describing a conversation with a student about what it means to be a personal reference. She wanted students to understand that their behaviors, whether in an interview or on a job, would reflect not only on themselves, but also on those used as references. The power of a name on a reference is important and protecting that good name is important, too!

We can remember this advice as we live our lives. We want to build a good name for ourselves. We want to be respected, to be a "good" person. By following God's will for our lives, we can move towards this goal. However, we must also remember that our lives should also reflect God's presence. People may look at us differently because we are followers of God and we must remember that, even though we are human and make mistakes, our actions and reactions will reflect on God and our commitment to Him. We should strive to follow God's will and we should repent and move away from sin whenever we fall short of His will, then we can have a good name that reflects God's amazing power in our lives!

Protect your good name and show His Good Name by following God's will!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and patience with me. Help me to follow Your will in my life so that I can have a good name that reflects Your amazing grace, power, and glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Heart + Mind = Empathy

5/24/2017

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." -Romans 12:15 (NIV)

One attribute that my daughter seems to possess is empathy. She is very perceptive to how others are feeling and looks for ways to help. Her actions remind me of a quote from Jane Goodall that says, "Empathy is really important. Only when our clever brain and human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our full potential." To be empathetic, we need to have hearts that are filled with love and a mind that is open to understand!

God can fill our hearts with His love and our minds with His wisdom. When we are filled by God, then we can be open to showing others His love. We can then be happy to celebrate with others in their times of joy and mourn with others in times of mourning. God can help our minds and hearts to act in harmony in order to more fully understand each other and what we are going through in our lives. We can be perceptive of others' feelings and be empowered to act in ways that are meaningful!

Allow God to connect your heart with His love and mind with His wisdom so you can be empathetic!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me empathy. Please fill my heart with Your love and my mind with Your wisdom so they can be connected in showing Your love and empathy. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

What Have You Said?

5/23/2017

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment" -Matthew 12:36 (NASB)

I have seen statistics that say the average person speaks about 860.3 million words over the course of his or her lifetime. One source says that is like speaking the entire King James Bible 1,110 times! As we communicate, we talk a lot, sometimes without stopping to think about our words. However, our words matter!

Whenever we are ready to talk, we should consider the source and purpose of our words. Are we talking just to hear ourselves? Are we trying to bring out something good or are we doing the opposite and trying to tear someone down? God is love and truth. Our words should reflect both God's truth and His love. We should speak in ways that bring out goodness and love. If we don't have the words to say, we can always ask God to guide our tongues and give us careful, meaningful words that serve His purpose!

Choose your words carefully and you won't have to account for them later!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and for being willing to help me. Please guide my words so they are carefully chosen for Your purposes. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

One Debt

5/22/2017

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." -Romans 13:8 (NIV)

When listening to one of my local radio stations, you can hear a number of hosts giving financial advice and their own methods for getting out of debt. Financial debt is one concern, but we also can carry other debts in our lives. As we strive to become better each day, we can consider clearing our debts, except for one!

We should try to pay our financial debts, but we should also consider the other debts that we may owe. There are times when we may hold grudges. We may not offer forgiveness as readily as we should. There are times when we may not honor others. In all of these circumstances, we can learn to erase these debts through God's love. By owing nothing but love to others can help us fulfill our calling as Christians. As followers of God, we can turn our attention to loving those around us as well as ourselves. In this way, we can work to get rid of all our debts except love!

Focus on God's love and on having one debt: to love each other!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me. Help me to make progress in erasing all debt except the debt of love for all others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sunshine and Rainbows!

5/21/2017

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." -Genesis 9:13 (NIV)

As winter turns to spring, it is nice to be able to enjoy warmer weather. Spending time outside in the sunshine and fresh air can renew our spirit. However, without the change of seasons we may not have the same appreciation for the sun. We know that in our lives we will face challenges and have days that are not always sunny, but we also can appreciate God for His promises in all of our days!

God has made promises and we can know that He will always keep His promises. Even when things seem dark and we feel stranded, God is ready and waiting for us to call out to Him. When we call on and have faith in Him, we can know that He will guide us through the storms and bring us to brighter days. We know that we will see the rainbow of God's promises and His faithfulness in keeping those promises. We shouldn't get discouraged by the cold, dark times in our lives, but we should call on God and trust in His power to help guide us to His promises!

Don't get stuck in the storm. Follow God's guidance to times filled by sunshine and rainbows!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being willing to guide me. Help me to call on You and to trust in Your plan to get me through any storm I may face. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Complain, Praise!

5/20/2017

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." -Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

Spring has brought the first of our warmer weather. As I talked with a neighbor today, he reminded me how quickly our attitudes can change. He remarked how people have already begun complaining about the heat when less than two months ago they were complaining about the snow. We can always find reasons to complain, but we also always have reason to rejoice and praise!

With God in our lives, we can rejoice in every moment. Instead of looking for reasons to complain, we can remember all of the reasons we have for rejoicing and praising God. Every day and every breath that God gives us are reasons to praise! We can rejoice in our Salvation and overcoming sin through God's grace and mercy. The strength that we God gives us to face our challenges can be a reason for rejoicing. We can rejoice because we are able to call on God and know we are safe in His love and power. When we stop and consider our lives, we will surely see that there is more reason to rejoice than to complain!

Don't get caught up in complaining, but remember the many reasons for rejoicing and praising God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to be a person that is always rejoicing instead of complaining. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Too Much?

5/19/2017

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." -I Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)

In a recent conversation with a friend at the nature center, we were discussing the availability of "stuff" around us. We accumulate things that we need and things that we want, but there comes a point when there is too much. When we think about de-cluttering our lives, we have to address what we do with excess. One thing we can do is use our extra to help others!

In our spiritual lives, God blesses us and gives us extra, too. God gives us forgiveness and love that can overflow from our souls. We can take God's love and share it with others. We can learn from God's forgiveness and apply it in our relationships with others. No matter how much or little we have in material things, we can all have an abundance of what really matters - God's love! We cannot have too much love if we choose to use it in ways that show others God's glory and presence in our lives!

You can't have too much love and forgiveness when you choose to always share it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love and forgiveness that bless my life. Help me to take the love and forgiveness that You have shown me and show it to those around me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stiff Neck

5/18/2017

"But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high." -Psalm 3:3 (NIV)

Waking up this morning, I soon realized that I must have slept wrong last night because I had a stiff neck. Turning or looking up can take more time and remind you of your body's support. Going throughout the day with a stiff neck draws attention to even some of the simplest, most routine movements!

In our spiritual journeys we can encounter those times that impede our progress. We can let sin and doubt creep in and keep us from moving the way we should or looking up to God. When we feel that we are being held back, we need to refocus on God. Even if we can't lift our heads on our own, we know that God will protect us and help us. With God, we know that we can always lift our heads high in order to break away from whatever is holding us back!

In your spiritual walk with God, allow Him to help you lift your head high!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for protecting me. Help me to hold my head up high and break away from whatever holds me back. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Boasting Him!

5/17/2017

"But, 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.' For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." -II Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)

There are times when we are proud of ourselves for the things we accomplish. We may have the urge to tell somebody - or anybody - about our actions and their results. It is good to celebrate achievements, but we have to remember the source of our talents, abilities, actions, and outcomes. We need to remember that the glory belongs to God because of His grace in our lives!

We often view boasting as rude or inconsiderate. Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying, "Grace puts its hand on the boasting mouth, and shuts it once for all." When we consider God's grace for each of us, we should look at boasting differently. It is through God's grace that we are forgiven and that we can face the challenges and triumphs of each day. Because of God's activity in our lives, instead of boasting about ourselves, we should boast about God and all that He does in our lives. Maybe we shouldn't allow God's grace to silence our boasting completely. Instead of being silent, our boasting can become centered on God!

Boast about all that God does in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to not boast about myself, but instead to boast of Your power, grace, and glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Nothing to Everything!

5/16/2017

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." -Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV)

Even though we are creative beings, it can be hard for us to imagine something that is formless, empty, and dark. Whether we are creating from a blob of clay, a blank canvas, or a rock to be sculpted, there is something in front of us to work with, to form, to mold, or to sculpt. The beginning of all creation was different. God created everything from nothing!

The formation of the universe, the solar system in which we live, and our home planet emerged from nothing at the command of God. He didn't have directions to follow or a basket of materials to experiment with. It was by His command that all matter and life became our home. As we express our own creativity, we can remember to power and glory of God. We can appreciate the Spirit of God that was there at the beginning and is still with us today and forever!

The God created everything from nothing was there at the beginning and is still with you today!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the creativity that I have and can express. Thank You for Your creation. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Stand On the Rock!

5/15/2017

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." -Psalm 1:8 (NIV)

Thomas Jefferson said, "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." We will likely face moments of style and principle in our lives. While it may be easier to just go with the flow of the current, there are times when we will need to stand tall and not be shaken!

Taking a principled stand is not always easy. Whether it is in church, at home, at work, or in society at large, we may face criticisms and personal attacks. Yet we can know that as long as we are talking to and following the path that God has set before us, He will support us. God promises to always be by our side. By keeping our eyes on Him, we can have confidence. We can stand on God our Rock so that we can stand like a rock for His principles!

Allow God to be your Rock so you can stand tall for the things that matter!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being my Rock and for supporting me. Help me to have the confidence and courage to stand tall, knowing that with You, I will not be shaken. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be Overflowing!

5/14/2017

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13 (NIV)

This past summer was a dry one and by the end there were concerns about the low levels of the reservoirs that collected water for use in the city. Restrictions on water use were put in place, but now we have seen a wet spring with many rainy days that have helped replenish the reservoirs almost to overflowing. We, too, need to avoid dry spells and rejoice in the overflowing of hope in our souls!

There are times in our lives when we experience difficulty. There are also times when we drift away from God and what He is calling us to do. In these times, we may feel dry, we may not be taking in the living water that God provides. However, we do not have to stay dry and deal the restrictions in our spiritual lives. We can turn to God, call on Him, and trust that He will fill us with love and hope. Through God's power and grace, He can fill us until our souls are overflowing!

Call on God and trust that His living water will fill you with hope until you are overflowing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit that brings hope. Help me to continue to trust in You and to turn to You for renewal. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Working Together

5/13/2017

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." -Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

Volunteering at the local nature center reminds me that it takes many hands to make the events and programs of the center possible. An idea may come from an individual, but the successful ideas only become reality through the work of many people pitching in with different talents or skills. The same is true as we work for God's Kingdom!

God calls us to work for Him, to spread His word throughout the world. We can have ideas and try to work for God in our own lives, but we can become more effective when we are part of a community that is working together for the purpose of widening God's Kingdom. Using God's Word as our guide, we can be the united body of Christ that plans together, works together, and succeeds together in spreading God's love and the message of His Kingdom!

Become a member of God's family and work together to spread His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and guidance. Help me to be part of a productive community for the sake of Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Step Outside!

5/12/2017

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." -Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)

Being outside has long been a place that I could go to think and to talk to God. Whether walking in the woods, mowing the grass, or working in the garden, the fresh air allows me to refresh and the time in nature reminds me of God's power. I feel closer to God when I step outside of the man-made world and into His glorious creation!

Sometimes we become too insulated by all of the stuff that we accumulate. Our man-made things can distract us from God, but His creation is always showing His power and glory. When we take time to walk with God in creation, we can learn from Him through lessons revealed by all of His works. Whether we are stressed or in need of time with God, stepping outside spending time in His creation can help to renew and teach us!

Step outside and take time to talk to God and learn from His creation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the world that You have created. Help me to continue to appreciate, protect, and learn from it. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Living in the Moment for the Future!

5/11/2017

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." -I Peter 1:13 (NIV)

I recently hear a speaker that talked about how life doesn't change in a day, but that it can change in a moment. He shared his story of tragedy and triumph through his faith and the support of others. He encouraged all of us listening to live knowing that things could change in a moment.

There will be many moments in our lives. Some will seem small and inconsequential and others will be life changing. The way to prepare for the moments of our lives is through our faith in Jesus, being aware of His sacrifice for us and His glory present and future glory. We can be talk to God and know His plans for our lives. We can also trust in God's promises of grace, mercy, and glory that will be shown when He returns. Through all of the moments of our lives, we can trust in the future that He has prepared for each of us!

Know God, live in the moments and His presence, and trust in the future He has prepared for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and guiding me through each moment and preparing an eternal future in Your presence. Help me to live according to Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Mercy and Sinners

5/10/2017

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." -Matthew 9:13 (NIV)

Whether in the classroom, at home, on the playground or sports field, or out in public, it is easy to appreciate the behaviors of "good kids." It can be easy to express satisfaction with good behavior, but it can sometimes be a challenge to address less than desirable behavior. Fortunately for us, God knows how to respond to our sinful nature!

God sent Jesus to save us while we were still sinners. We should always try to be better people and live better lives through God's love and guidance, but He doesn't expect us to save ourselves. He offers redemption to all of us because He knows that there is nothing we could sacrifice, nothing we could do, that could earn redemption or escape our sinful nature. After accepting God's forgiveness, we can better understand God's mercy. As we grow and understand God's mercy, we can show it to others!

Be thankful that God saved you while you were still a sinner and show mercy to others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me even though I was and am a sinner. Help me to live a better life and to show mercy. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Slippery Slope?

5/9/2017

"When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' your unfailing love, Lord, supported me." -Psalm 94:18 (NIV)

Our decisions have consequences. Sometimes one thing can lead to another and it can feel as if we are sliding down a slippery slope. When we feel we are slipping and looking for a lifeline, we don't have to look far!

God is our foothold. He is our support system. We don't have to wait until we are slipping to call on God. He is always with us and He will celebrate our accomplishments as well as support and lift us up in our times of need. With faith in God, we can be confident and sure-footed. We will not slide down a slippery slope as long as we call on God!

Call on God and allow Him to keep your foot from slipping!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for supporting me. Please keep my feet from slipping from Your path. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Choose Your Battles!

5/8/2017

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." -I Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

There may be many things with which we disagree. The world is full of examples of behaviors, beliefs, and ideas that differ from our own. As we think about all that needs to be changed in the world, we can become overwhelmed, but as a colleague once reminded me, we need to choose our battles!

We cannot address everything that we see in the world, but we can control how we interact and react with what is happening around us. As we go out into the world each day, we need to begin with a prayer and a request that God go with us and guide us, then we must listen to Him! We may at times need to flee or disengage from certain situations, activities, or people in order to pursue the path that God has set before us! God can show us which battles to choose and which to walk away from!

Call on God and follow His direction when choosing your battles throughout life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding me. Please be with me each day and show me which battles to choose and the path that You have prepared for me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Reflections

5/7/2017

"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." -Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

In the movie "Snow White", the evil queen looks in the mirror and asks who is the fairest in the land. She expected the mirror to tell her what she wanted to hear each time. While we don't have a "magic" mirror, we often look in the mirror to learn more about our appearances. Often, when looking at ourselves, we are more realistic than the queen and we see both beauty and flaws, but we need to look beyond our physical reflections!

Mirrors are helpful in allowing us to see and adjust our appearance, but our lives - our actions and words - are more important reflections of who we truly are and what we believe. As followers of God, we are held to His higher standard. We are called to live lives in God's love and truth. Sometimes, proclaiming God can cause us to be placed under additional scrutiny, but we should respond to God's calling. We should ask God to fill our hearts so the words and actions of our lives reflect His love and grace. We can call on God to help us put our hearts in the right place so our lives reflect Him!

Look at your life as a reflection of your heart and be sure that everything is in the right place!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me. Please fill my heart and help me to reflect Your love throughout my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.